Why is it wrong to be happy?

[mizkit]

We caught the last 40 minutes or so of “Singing in the Rain” on TV the other night. A couple of things really struck me about Gene Kelly’s performance, his body language, and his actions.

The first bit that caught me was when they’re dubbing the vocals for the film-within-the-film. Debbie Reynolds is singing, and Gene Kelly comes to sit at her feet

Comments

[ellenmillion]

YES.

I vow to put some happy into today.

[janne]

This recession doesn't seem to have triggered sappy happy escapism to the same degree as the pre-war one. ah well , cheer up, the wurst is yet to come. Which I think is a recession joke punch line, but what do I know :)

[agrimony]

Probably because the pre-war one didn't have a constant barrage of media telling them that they are worse off than ever before and that things won't ever get any better.

[ursulav]

Leaving aside that the happiness thing seems somehow counter to the Protestant work ethic, I think part of the problem is that happiness doesn't seem permanent enough. We get stories of 'happily ever after' not 'hey, I'm happy right this second.' We expect stuff to make us happy FOREVER AND EVER and have very little experience with letting ourselves be happy at the moment (or frankly, even noticing "hey! I'm happy right now! How 'bout that?") And yet happiness is inherently a thing of the present, and you can't bank it for the future.

Misery, on the other hand, bangs on the door all the damn time.

[mizkit]

I think happiness bangs on the door a lot, too, but people are so damned determined to be miserable they don't see it. But yes, you're no doubt right.

[tamago]

Hrithik Roshan's dance numbers remind me a lot of Gene Kelly's style: muscular grace with pure joy motivating it. Bollywood has not forgotten the art of uncomplicated schmoop.

[mizkit]

I've got to get into Bollywood. I suspect I would love a lot of it.

[kateelliott]

[mizkit]

Yeah. It's wonderful. I hadn't seen it in forever, but it hasn't lost its charm. :)