HOLLYWOOD IN A PITAPop culture, a super-size version of soap-operatic and punchline comic entertainment is a response to the culture of the day. High level politics can be manifested in 99 red balloons, the sinking of the Titanic can also have the greatest love story ever told, and a famine in
In the past few days, I have watched a few programs on TV that have attempted to reconcile the War in
Popular culture as reflection of the times is nothing new, especially for anyone of the 60’s and 70’s where the Vietnam War shaped the culture and the sexual and drug liberation in San Francisco found its way into the songs of the Beatles. Today,
But by definition, popular culture does not set the trend and merely reflects it. Even so, movies like Three Kings, and movies with even subtle references to terrorism, such as Inside Man (where the police confuse a Sikh for a terrorist) fall far short from the cult-like movies like Apocalypse Now.
This awkward reflection of contemporary issues reminds me of Al Jolson dressing up as a minstrel as a response to the racial inequality of the day which is as out of place as a black boy sitting at the table of a white family in an I&J Family Meal advert. Perhaps then, pop is a reflection of contemporary culture, which is false and totally misunderstanding as to why there is global chaos in the first place.
4 comments:
M,
Your article is interesting but ultimately flawed.
I will tell you why:
Pop Culture has always responded to current events with a touch of seriousness and a touch of satire. Especially in the world today, it is clear that culture cannot be as direct as it has been historically in tackling important issues, such as islamophobia due to the propensity of this media to alienate and challenge mainstream views.
What statement is american pop culture trying to make about islamophobia? Is "American Dreams" asumming that muslims ultimately want to be american, because it offers the potential to perform live with Mandy Moore on stage? Is it delegitimising their struggle, or ultimately poking fun at weird shows like American Idol?
I agree with you that I don't think its really saying anything, but then again i don't think that its trying to either.
It would be hypocritical for american culture to narrate something like islamophobia, because ultimately its not their struggle to narrate. Films like "Paradise Now" as well as "House of Sand and Fog" talk about islamophobia from a perspective that actually has a grasp on the issue, that of the muslims themselves. The closest hollywood has come to making a real statement, is probably Crash, but this was lost amidst a mish mash of other racial struggles.
Ultimately Mach, one has to realise that films like "Apocalypse Now" and "Platoon" show a distinctly american struggle - name one vietnam movie shown from the perspectice of the NVA or VC!
Hollywood, today, has so little grasp on the depth of islamophobia that its almost ridiculous to expect them to narrate it justifiably.
But Hollywood is but one part of a larger global culture that does narrate these issues in the microchosms where they are understood.
Dan
P.S. Al Jolson was reinforcing racial stereotypes by getting dressed up as a minstrel, not breaking them down. Wearing blackface was the norm in the 1920's, and Jolson's behavior is not an indication of a need to dispel racial stereotypes.
el hermo, in your reply you actually confirm exactly what i was sating.
there is an awkward silence in this century, and pop culture doesnt know how to respond to this awkward silence...call it uncertainty islamophobia or whatever...but these pop shows are trying to fill this gap of this awkwardness and by doing so are making it more awkward by having token iraqis, arabs or whatever in there pop culture movies and tv shows.
it was the same in south africa. we didnt know how to resolve the awkwardness and subtle antagonism between races after 94' so white adverts had a token black guy at the family table or braai.
same in the 30's. america felt awkward about its race relations then. al jolson was a reflection of this awkward silence and not a demolisher of social barriers.
so we on the same page.
yes i am aware that it is "their and not there" as well as the countless grammatical errors but you know what dan...i was writing this quickly without checking it
bro, we always on the same page...
you my boy blue!
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