Hearing these reflections in your voice gives a distance not usually present when watching violence, real or simulated. Film and video invite us to relish the acts depicted; a voice is dispassionate. Which medium gives the greater clarity; expresses the greater truth? It's a query that raises issues of an almost talmudic intricacy, comparable to that classic conundrum "Which is the greater evil; to steal by day or by night?" Bravo, anyway. I great start.
I'd be curious to delve into the history of radio and the ways in which violence was depicted vocally back then ... a fascinating thought. Since at least the time of gladiators we've been scratching the itch until it bleeds ... it's one I can't seem to shake and I thought naming it might help. Thanks for the kind words friend. See you on the Mean Parisian Streets (tomorrow)
Funny enough, I just watched CIVIL WAR myself and I'm recapping it in this Friday's newsletter. I liked it overall, but found the writing/world-building to be severely lacking.
As American as apple pie indeed, and in this da I'd venture to guess as many people know how to make apple pies as they can assemble an AR-15.
Fair critique of CIVIL WAR, I actually loved that they didn't over-explain what was happening lest one side of the political spectrum co-opted it as a "warning" about the other.
I understood the intent, for sure, but for my money they should’ve distanced themselves more from “near-future” America and leaned harder into abstraction and surrealism.
I’ll have more to say in my post, but overall recommend the film.
That's quite the jazzy tune. Soon Trump shall return to a reality where he only exists in the television. A telereality, if you will. And then he can eat all the dogs he likes.
Though you are young enough to be my youngest son, I find we are intrigued/troubled by the same things and think similarly. These musings on violence and the complicity of the bystander have much in common with my own plaints and feelings of impotence as violence whelms us and then becomes normalized. After a recent Georgia school shooting, a state legislator insisted the solution is not addressing the gun virus epidemic but hardening the schools. That is, he said without saying, normalize gun violence in our children's lives and plan for it by turning schools into citadels. So sad.
I will look with interest for your followup to this post in which you explore the conflation of sex & violence in so much of the entertainment and imagery we are exposed to. And I look forward to our eventual meeting in Paris for my tour(s).
American English could also be considered more violent with everyday idioms. For example, “I’d kill for,” “bite the bullet,” “take a stab at it,” “twist your arm,” etc.
Excellent essay!
Merci mon amie
Hearing these reflections in your voice gives a distance not usually present when watching violence, real or simulated. Film and video invite us to relish the acts depicted; a voice is dispassionate. Which medium gives the greater clarity; expresses the greater truth? It's a query that raises issues of an almost talmudic intricacy, comparable to that classic conundrum "Which is the greater evil; to steal by day or by night?" Bravo, anyway. I great start.
I'd be curious to delve into the history of radio and the ways in which violence was depicted vocally back then ... a fascinating thought. Since at least the time of gladiators we've been scratching the itch until it bleeds ... it's one I can't seem to shake and I thought naming it might help. Thanks for the kind words friend. See you on the Mean Parisian Streets (tomorrow)
“It's funny how the colors of the real world only seem really real when you watch them on a screen.”
- A Clockwork Orange
It's about time for a rewatch of that ole chestnut. Looking forward to having you back in the land good sir.
Violence is as American as apple pie.
Funny enough, I just watched CIVIL WAR myself and I'm recapping it in this Friday's newsletter. I liked it overall, but found the writing/world-building to be severely lacking.
As American as apple pie indeed, and in this da I'd venture to guess as many people know how to make apple pies as they can assemble an AR-15.
Fair critique of CIVIL WAR, I actually loved that they didn't over-explain what was happening lest one side of the political spectrum co-opted it as a "warning" about the other.
I understood the intent, for sure, but for my money they should’ve distanced themselves more from “near-future” America and leaned harder into abstraction and surrealism.
I’ll have more to say in my post, but overall recommend the film.
😋🙀🐶 🎵🎵 they’re eating the cats. They’re eating the dogs. They’re eating the pets in Springfield.🎵🎵🎶
https://x.com/FearghasKelly/status/1833826081754808363
That's quite the jazzy tune. Soon Trump shall return to a reality where he only exists in the television. A telereality, if you will. And then he can eat all the dogs he likes.
Though you are young enough to be my youngest son, I find we are intrigued/troubled by the same things and think similarly. These musings on violence and the complicity of the bystander have much in common with my own plaints and feelings of impotence as violence whelms us and then becomes normalized. After a recent Georgia school shooting, a state legislator insisted the solution is not addressing the gun virus epidemic but hardening the schools. That is, he said without saying, normalize gun violence in our children's lives and plan for it by turning schools into citadels. So sad.
I will look with interest for your followup to this post in which you explore the conflation of sex & violence in so much of the entertainment and imagery we are exposed to. And I look forward to our eventual meeting in Paris for my tour(s).
American English could also be considered more violent with everyday idioms. For example, “I’d kill for,” “bite the bullet,” “take a stab at it,” “twist your arm,” etc.