tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830563225783203492.post8800884884691572975..comments2023-04-29T06:37:18.856-04:00Comments on Our God is Speed: UnfoldingsGreyhooshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14161781141733273715noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830563225783203492.post-33987118835544908332011-07-10T10:42:31.412-04:002011-07-10T10:42:31.412-04:00Checks are already in the mail. Par avion.Checks are already in the mail. Par avion.Greyhooshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14161781141733273715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830563225783203492.post-65634427878044895472011-07-09T23:18:57.116-04:002011-07-09T23:18:57.116-04:00BTW you owe me and K-Punk money for the quotes!BTW you owe me and K-Punk money for the quotes!David K Waynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10756535951359716522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830563225783203492.post-63755407900830296752011-07-08T23:15:31.948-04:002011-07-08T23:15:31.948-04:00Well that's the spooky part - infantilised adu...Well that's the spooky part - infantilised adults using infantile media to socialise kids (it seemed to be happening via reality TV over the past decade). Personally, I think kids now reaching adulthood have seen it for the fraud it is easier than my generation did. They don't have as much disposable income to be 'id' now.David K Waynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10756535951359716522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830563225783203492.post-40559572137172781682011-07-08T15:57:50.806-04:002011-07-08T15:57:50.806-04:00In terms of its audience/psychological appeal and ...In terms of its audience/psychological appeal and popularity, 'reality' programming and the like are a sort of a thing unto themselves. Still, it very much fits into all of this. But there is a pretense to it that plays into what you're talking about -- like say the faux-democratic format of the talent shows and whatnot, that offsets any feelings about the top-down insularity of the media. here's a lot I could say about it, but it'd take too long. <br /><br />Ultimately, it all hinges on an infantalization of the viewer/public. Or as Phil would put it, it's all <i>id</i>.Greyhooshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14161781141733273715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830563225783203492.post-2544426725934826812011-07-08T11:13:22.531-04:002011-07-08T11:13:22.531-04:00I think those contradictions - at least at the mom...I think those contradictions - at least at the moment - are expressed in vague nostalgia and yearning for stability, from both left and right. Whether its pushing for social progress or unregulated financial free-for-all, its tempered by contrary attachments to 'traditions', however mythical they may actually be. <br /><br />News media played a leading role in 'dumbing down' wider cultural production and definitely political discussion. If you watch a 'relevant' movie (or even read a 'relevant' novel), its more about how news media frames something, rather than reflecting a real 'public mood'. <br /><br />Reality TV shows are very odd for that - 'spying' on someone who's really performing for other media commenting on their behaviour. When its not right-wing campaigning or celeb exposes, UK tabloids have endless news stories about last night's reality TV, which stages more 'real-life drama' so it'll stay in the headlines. We've ended up with a media talking to itself, really.David K Waynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10756535951359716522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830563225783203492.post-34514502398376568662011-07-08T10:40:38.500-04:002011-07-08T10:40:38.500-04:00The final paragraph gets at the heart of the matte...The final paragraph gets at the heart of the matter (or a part of it, anyway). And demonstrates that once you strip the topic of certain site/context-specif details, it's more or less the same situation in both the U.K. and the U.S.<br /><br />And on the matter of "consistency" -- it always returns to that, the disconnect between one faction's supposed social values and their chosen political/economic orthodoxy. So often it comes back to certain people asking why society is going in a certain direction, while the answer is right there in front of them, intercoiled with the inherent contradictions in their own set of conflicting values. (As the saying goes, "If it were a snake, it'd have bitten you by now." Things is, seems like it has been biting, repeatedly and vigorously, lately...but analytical reflexes have chronically atrophied from too many years of disuse.) Certain types are quick to cry that the advertising and entertainment industries are responsible in leading the cultural race to the bottom, but the tabloid press -- and a good portion of the non-tabloid, as well -- are twice as guilty when it comes to capitalizing on/pandering to the base appetites of the public. I'm sure that point's a no-brainer for some, but it seems it's completely lost on a majority of folks.<br /><br />But it wasn't my aim in going off on a political tangent by posting on this topic. In most respects, it's the sociological/"media studies" angle of this story that I think merits scrutiny.Greyhooshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14161781141733273715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830563225783203492.post-91501242500939717432011-07-08T09:39:13.027-04:002011-07-08T09:39:13.027-04:00Anyway, back on topic and worth a read:
http://ww...Anyway, back on topic and worth a read:<br /><br />http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/william-davies/hack-gate-latest-cultural-contradiction-of-british-conservatismDavid K Waynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10756535951359716522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830563225783203492.post-61405916547745458202011-07-08T09:19:13.095-04:002011-07-08T09:19:13.095-04:00Well, his devotion to Hitchcock bordered on the er...Well, his devotion to Hitchcock bordered on the erotic. Carl Impostume noted the gay subtext of Scarface (a great movie BTW - like a Tex Avery gangster spoof!). I think he always was kind of camp. The Untouchables was the real Dick Tracy movie in all but name. Or the way he insisted on lead roles for the rather camp ham John Lithgow. Or the way he really foregrounded the silliness of Stephen King.<br /><br />I know he's an aquired taste to say the least, but I actually think he's a tad underrated. I reckon his Batman would be much better than Nolan or Burton's. He's have Michael Caine in drag.David K Waynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10756535951359716522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830563225783203492.post-66280458300088588002011-07-08T08:03:46.057-04:002011-07-08T08:03:46.057-04:00I must've missed all the worthwhile moments. A...I must've missed all the worthwhile moments. Admittedly, after suffering through 'Scarface' and 'Body Double' and a few others, I never had the inclination to knuckle down, bite a bullet, and wade through much else that he did. <br /><br />And as for the exception, it was this one...<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5qVJEg3qA<br /><br />Maybe camp was dude's true calling?Greyhooshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14161781141733273715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2830563225783203492.post-24171407263546927072011-07-08T00:03:10.976-04:002011-07-08T00:03:10.976-04:00Although I'm more than honoured at the shout-o...Although I'm more than honoured at the shout-out, I'd say Depalma had his moments. But I'm a sucker for soft-focus slo-mo.<br /><br />Was 'Blow-Out' the eception? Or Scarface - "the Depalma movie for people who hate Depalma movies", according to Pauline Kael?<br /><br />But yeah, I can't bear TV news either - just as horrible as tabloids, with different methods. Probably worse, because (in the UK at least) it clams to be 'impartial'.<br /><br />Think it's time for a critical reappraisal of lost 90s classic 'Mickey Blue Eyes' too:<br /><br />http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14052690<br /><br />Anyone who doesn't laugh at his scenes with James Caan has no soul!David K Waynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10756535951359716522noreply@blogger.com