And the Oscar goes to...
I just watched a segment on the morning news about how out of touch "Hollywood" is with the "average" American regarding the movies we want to see (in reference to the approaching Academy Awards). Where do they visit to make this point? A very small town in the middle of Kansas. The people in Hollywood just don't know anything about the values of farming and church. Do most Americans? Last time I checked, most Americans were not farmers, so why is this rural-ness always romanticized as "middle America?" If they want to find the "average" American, they need to visit a populous town in Virginia, or Ohio, or New York state, you know, somewhere where numbers of people live? Not to mention the argument that if the majority of our population does live in cities along the coastlines, why do we continually say that "oh no, those crazy libby-rall city folk don't represent America!" Why do we continually define the "average" American as someone who lives in the Great Plains? Is actual landmass area more important? That is like saying the average Canadian lives in the northern two-thirds, well, just because it's bigger! The clincher of the segment for me was when they asked the local church's bell choir (composed entirely of elderly white women) if they had seen Brokeback Mountain or had any desire to. Guess what; they said no. The manipulated viewer is supposed to determine that the "average" American must have no interest in it, and I would even go as far to say harbors a great disapproval of it. Well, if they would have gone to Boston and asked a group of old white church ladies, they would have reacted the same way. My own Grandmother thought the Boy George I was listening to in the 80s was "sick, sick, sick!" and she was as northeast-city gal as you get. Since when are highly religious, conservative elderly women the "average" American?
Now I'm sure the "average" American doesn't "get" Brokeback Mountain, yet it would have been a fairer representation to get opinions from cities, suburbs, old, and young. However, in suburban North Carolina, I saw the movie in a full theater, weeks after release. Sure, there were a few snickers from a couple of gawkers in the crowd here and there, but most were simply watching and enjoying the movie. There were men, women, a young gay couple, and an elderly straight couple sitting around me. Are we not middle America? You can't tell me that Concord, North Carolina is a "libby-rall city."
In addition to "teh gay," the news report also made the point that Hollywood is additionally out-of-touch with America because the best picture nominees weren't the highest grossing films. Is this new? I didn't think so. Ceremonies that judge art don't usually determine winners by popularity, yet you don't see the news gathering outside the doors of the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame protesting the injustice. (Yes, I'm sure a segment of fans of a popular artist complain, but I'm talking about a media event lambasting the lack of respect for the "average" American) Once again, this is simply manipulation. I, the clueless viewer, am supposed to believe this is new and a sign that those gay libby-ralls are taking over the movie awards too! I guess the grammy for best album of the year should have gone to the bigger seller according to them, right? The Academy Awards judge a movie's integrity and artistic merit and showcase films that did NOT get "showcased" at the box office (which is the reward in and of itself for those movies). The day that Wedding Crashers wins best picture, well, will be the day. Or Star Wars, or Harry Potter (to be fair, knowing that I love those...but they are not best pictures!)
Brokeback Mountain is going to be an American classic. Sorry to upset the “masses.”
Now I'm sure the "average" American doesn't "get" Brokeback Mountain, yet it would have been a fairer representation to get opinions from cities, suburbs, old, and young. However, in suburban North Carolina, I saw the movie in a full theater, weeks after release. Sure, there were a few snickers from a couple of gawkers in the crowd here and there, but most were simply watching and enjoying the movie. There were men, women, a young gay couple, and an elderly straight couple sitting around me. Are we not middle America? You can't tell me that Concord, North Carolina is a "libby-rall city."
In addition to "teh gay," the news report also made the point that Hollywood is additionally out-of-touch with America because the best picture nominees weren't the highest grossing films. Is this new? I didn't think so. Ceremonies that judge art don't usually determine winners by popularity, yet you don't see the news gathering outside the doors of the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame protesting the injustice. (Yes, I'm sure a segment of fans of a popular artist complain, but I'm talking about a media event lambasting the lack of respect for the "average" American) Once again, this is simply manipulation. I, the clueless viewer, am supposed to believe this is new and a sign that those gay libby-ralls are taking over the movie awards too! I guess the grammy for best album of the year should have gone to the bigger seller according to them, right? The Academy Awards judge a movie's integrity and artistic merit and showcase films that did NOT get "showcased" at the box office (which is the reward in and of itself for those movies). The day that Wedding Crashers wins best picture, well, will be the day. Or Star Wars, or Harry Potter (to be fair, knowing that I love those...but they are not best pictures!)
Brokeback Mountain is going to be an American classic. Sorry to upset the “masses.”