Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 22:00:29 -0800 (PST)
From: Maldoror <insektus-AT-yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: American Francophilia



> But let's not fall into an all-negative, practically
> satirical portrayal of things.

if you read, i wrote that was the best part about
america. it's a comedy from the ny times to friends.
everything in america is entertainment. it's to the
point that conversations about reality are on a level
on par with television. a prime example of this is the
recent sniper killings. it was watched with the same
(maybe a little less actually) attention as nypd blue
and they actually had to say on television that the
crime would not be solved in an hour like on tv. well
duh. but ppl on the streets in nyc were actually
complaining that it wasn't solved as quickly as it is
on tv (and it was said with serious faces). how dumb
must a country be where it has to be explained on tv
that it won't be solved in an hour.

it's the same with bin laden. 'why haven't we found
him yet with all of the technology?' well america,
it's because it's not a movie. denzel washington will
not find bin laden like he and his pals did in 'the
seige.'

america is so opiated on television and this pixelated
reality that real life is viewed through an
entertainment lens as though fiction is a reality to
which 'the real reality' must conform.

it's this absense of thought that is so sickening
about this country but at the same time what makes it
so interesting. it's like an amusement park where the
only ticket you need is ignorance to appreciate the
ride.

america is funny. it's like one big comedy. if this is
seen as negative well it should be but there are
elements of positivity to it to in the sense that it's
interesting to study on a pop cultural level (is there
any other level anymore in the US).

to not question these things and criticize them is to
allow it to perpetuate. however, i think the only way
to do it with any effectiveness is to do it through
the mass consumption outlets of the media. scholarly,
or at least intelligently written, books have become
outdated here (and that's not really an insult to
those of you writing books. there is value in them but
only isofar as they're consumed. how many will read
your books vs. how many will mouth the lyrics to
'white america' or the 'irresponsible hate anthem'?).
that's why eminem and manson are important because
they're doing the job that education cannot anymore in
it's schools. recording artists will continue to make
millions which will boost the incentive to continue to
create, while teachers will continue to be underpaid
and have less and less incentive to teach. america
cares not for education. entertainment though, sure
give that entertainer another million, and worse who
will protest it.

gr3g

i love these discussions. 

====
'if you believe in nothing, you'll never be disappointed.'   
-anonymous 


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