Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Economy vs. radical romance
The relation of the economy to the radical romance is this idea of instant gratification. In todays market, it is so easy to get a hold of something. The problem is this: people watch the romatic comedies and see these people getting almost anything they want. They come up with these clever schemes to treat the person they are trying to win over. Instant gratification has developed from these movies to create a culture where we try and appear like these characters to gain the appeal and lives they have, yet to do so may require ourselves to plunge into debt. The reason we still do it is because marketers today allow you to not pay anything for over a year, or zero percent interest, or a small amount at a time. All these options give the idea that something can be achieved when it really cannot all to appease the need to have it now. The movies don’t really show people saving up for something anymore, rather they just have money or money comes to them. What is this teaching in society today other than the idea that we need to spend now so we can acquire now even if we don’t have the money to spend.
Observance
Strange as it may seem, for my observance I chose a gay club called “Tiger Heat”. I will admit that this coincided with my gay friends birthday and while it may have been his decision, I figured that I might as well capitalize on it. My reasoning really was to step outside the box and see the world through a different set of eyes. I will admit, being a straight man in a gay club was a little awkward, but the girls we took with us defiantly provided a some sanctuary. But enough blathering, to my observances.
In a world that sees heterosexual couples as the standard, and in a country where homosexual couples is just starting to become an accepted idea, this little club turned out to be a doorway into another world. Or rather, opposite world. One, the go-go dancers were men in underwear. Two, I’ve never seen that much dude in one place. Three, it was one of the best clubs I’ve been too.
I suppose your wondering about now what I am getting at. Well to put it plainly, the romantic comedy. Romantic comedies are portrayed as boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back. Very much a heterosexual ideology. And yet, I believe this is still a valid idea, the only thing I would change about this statement is the sex to gender. Granted, we are each a male or a female in sex. But a new form of thinking has been coming out in the idea of Gender. Gender is not the same as sex. Sex is the difference between an X and a Y. Gender on the other hand is whether a male or female is more masculine or feminine in nature. Couples tend to have a masculine and feminine person or even switch at times. The point is that this seemingly odd club, going against the “norm”, is a new look at popular culture. Because of course, the question we must ask is “to whom is this popular”. Well from my observations, there were a few differences in this setting but for the most part, people were the same. The “girls” (gender wise here) were dancing in the middle with the “guys” scoping them out. Exchanges were similar to those in a club, perhaps a little bolder. However, its what wasn’t the “normal” club that struck me as interesting. I have never had a case where the men’s bathroom line was longer then the women’s. The bar had some of the best service. Probably what shocked me the most was that the music was good. A little to much Pink played but then again its not my usual sort of place. As for similarities, you still saw a lot of single people milling around looking for someone to dance/connect with. Some people were obviously couples and had been for some time. Others still went around flirting a little with everyone. Dress attire ranged from button downs and jeans, to t-shirts and jeans, to just jeans, to underwear. I suppose it depends on what your looking for. On this I thought was very interesting was the style of clothing. I will admit that there is a certain “gay“ image that society determines is gay. I honestly didn‘t see this “image“ all that much. In fact, I saw some very interesting couples that were multiracial, others that were dressed very hip hop gansta, and still others that were dressed up. The diversity here was amazing. It was an eye opening experience because its as if we went from high culture (the straight club), to low culture (the gay club). I did not anticipate having fun, but did surprisingly.
On to more in depth observations. When I walked in to the main dance area, I noticed a very tall guy that caught my attention. Mainly because he was really tall and looked uncomfortable. Then as I came around front when my group passed him, I noticed him clutching this girl that was closer to half his size. It was an interesting sight. Her having a great time, him looking like a fish out of water. Must be straight I thought to myself. I secretly wished him luck knowingly full well that I probably looked the same.
Throughout the night I caught myself looking at these huge screens where music videos were being played. There were balconies up there, and many couples too I found out. One caught my eye, mainly because they weren’t moving to the beat of the music like everyone else. Instead, time seemed to have slowed for them and they were too caught up in each other to care. As the turned in they’re orbit of each others mouths I realized that it was two guys. I instantly thought afterward that it shouldn’t be that surprising in a gay club. Still what caught me off guard was the fact that you never really see a homosexual couple show that much affection and feeling in public. Generally, most of their displays of affection are usually behind closed doors. It struck me as sad, for seeing the level of pent up passion the two obviously held, made me realize that they probably aren’t accepted outside this place. Tonight was special in the sense that they could go somewhere and not be afraid to show how they felt. Love is a beautiful thing, but it is a sad reality to see it caged.
Now the reason I brought in the idea of Romantic Comedy is because this genre does to a certain extent, emphasize the “correct” way of meeting someone. It generally is a heterosexual idea but if you put sex aside, the ideas of love and meeting people are the same. Everyone is looking for this special kind of relationship. Romantic comedies both hinder and guide us on what a relationship should consist of. The thing about Romantic Comedies is the same as this club I ventured into with my friends. Its thrilling and exciting and funny, but then the novelty wears off at some point. And pretty soon, you realize that all either one is doing is building a cage to protect you and keep you from the outside world. Very much like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Our ideas are safe inside the cage, but at the same time, nothing will change if we remain in the cage.
Popular Culture is what is current and relevant in today’s society. Change is brought about when people go against this norm. Yet you cannot bring about change from above. High culture can only go so far. Rather you must start from the ground up, and change the low culture to the new high culture. Real change is possible, but you must play by the rules of the popular culture machine to achieve it.
In a world that sees heterosexual couples as the standard, and in a country where homosexual couples is just starting to become an accepted idea, this little club turned out to be a doorway into another world. Or rather, opposite world. One, the go-go dancers were men in underwear. Two, I’ve never seen that much dude in one place. Three, it was one of the best clubs I’ve been too.
I suppose your wondering about now what I am getting at. Well to put it plainly, the romantic comedy. Romantic comedies are portrayed as boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back. Very much a heterosexual ideology. And yet, I believe this is still a valid idea, the only thing I would change about this statement is the sex to gender. Granted, we are each a male or a female in sex. But a new form of thinking has been coming out in the idea of Gender. Gender is not the same as sex. Sex is the difference between an X and a Y. Gender on the other hand is whether a male or female is more masculine or feminine in nature. Couples tend to have a masculine and feminine person or even switch at times. The point is that this seemingly odd club, going against the “norm”, is a new look at popular culture. Because of course, the question we must ask is “to whom is this popular”. Well from my observations, there were a few differences in this setting but for the most part, people were the same. The “girls” (gender wise here) were dancing in the middle with the “guys” scoping them out. Exchanges were similar to those in a club, perhaps a little bolder. However, its what wasn’t the “normal” club that struck me as interesting. I have never had a case where the men’s bathroom line was longer then the women’s. The bar had some of the best service. Probably what shocked me the most was that the music was good. A little to much Pink played but then again its not my usual sort of place. As for similarities, you still saw a lot of single people milling around looking for someone to dance/connect with. Some people were obviously couples and had been for some time. Others still went around flirting a little with everyone. Dress attire ranged from button downs and jeans, to t-shirts and jeans, to just jeans, to underwear. I suppose it depends on what your looking for. On this I thought was very interesting was the style of clothing. I will admit that there is a certain “gay“ image that society determines is gay. I honestly didn‘t see this “image“ all that much. In fact, I saw some very interesting couples that were multiracial, others that were dressed very hip hop gansta, and still others that were dressed up. The diversity here was amazing. It was an eye opening experience because its as if we went from high culture (the straight club), to low culture (the gay club). I did not anticipate having fun, but did surprisingly.
On to more in depth observations. When I walked in to the main dance area, I noticed a very tall guy that caught my attention. Mainly because he was really tall and looked uncomfortable. Then as I came around front when my group passed him, I noticed him clutching this girl that was closer to half his size. It was an interesting sight. Her having a great time, him looking like a fish out of water. Must be straight I thought to myself. I secretly wished him luck knowingly full well that I probably looked the same.
Throughout the night I caught myself looking at these huge screens where music videos were being played. There were balconies up there, and many couples too I found out. One caught my eye, mainly because they weren’t moving to the beat of the music like everyone else. Instead, time seemed to have slowed for them and they were too caught up in each other to care. As the turned in they’re orbit of each others mouths I realized that it was two guys. I instantly thought afterward that it shouldn’t be that surprising in a gay club. Still what caught me off guard was the fact that you never really see a homosexual couple show that much affection and feeling in public. Generally, most of their displays of affection are usually behind closed doors. It struck me as sad, for seeing the level of pent up passion the two obviously held, made me realize that they probably aren’t accepted outside this place. Tonight was special in the sense that they could go somewhere and not be afraid to show how they felt. Love is a beautiful thing, but it is a sad reality to see it caged.
Now the reason I brought in the idea of Romantic Comedy is because this genre does to a certain extent, emphasize the “correct” way of meeting someone. It generally is a heterosexual idea but if you put sex aside, the ideas of love and meeting people are the same. Everyone is looking for this special kind of relationship. Romantic comedies both hinder and guide us on what a relationship should consist of. The thing about Romantic Comedies is the same as this club I ventured into with my friends. Its thrilling and exciting and funny, but then the novelty wears off at some point. And pretty soon, you realize that all either one is doing is building a cage to protect you and keep you from the outside world. Very much like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Our ideas are safe inside the cage, but at the same time, nothing will change if we remain in the cage.
Popular Culture is what is current and relevant in today’s society. Change is brought about when people go against this norm. Yet you cannot bring about change from above. High culture can only go so far. Rather you must start from the ground up, and change the low culture to the new high culture. Real change is possible, but you must play by the rules of the popular culture machine to achieve it.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Battle of First
Sex Comedies really can be based on one thing: competition. It really
comes down the the idea that both of these people have the urge to
pursue this game and end it in sex, its the how that we follow. The
reason I call it a competition and game is because the winner is the one
that gets the other in bed. The one to give in and release ground
loses. Its all a game, a battle of the sexes. This battle actually has
been around since the start of mankind. The idea that the man came
first. Therefore he won. Winning is associated with being better. Man
is better then. Everything is a competition in this regard. This is
why brands are better, because they came first or where the first to do
something like this. Back to the sex comedy, this "battle of first" is
a defining part of our culture. We live in a patriarchal society based
on this idea. Man is first in these things therefore he is better. The
real question is, if it were accepted that woman came first, would they
be in power? I have no solution to this game as a frequent player
myself. Rather, I wanted to simply emphasize the success of these
battle of the sexes because society relates to it. This is a defining
part of our culture, with the prize being sex, or rather the first to
make the other give in.
Disney Vs. Romantic Comedy
Are disney movies romantic comedies? Prince meets girl, Prince loses
girl, Prince finds girl in dangerous situation, prince gets girl back.
Disney’s princess tales are quite possibly one of the biggest influences
on todays society through our childhood experiences. Through subliminal
messages in the story structure, we are influenced as to what is the
norm, and what isn’t.
Allow me to explain,
--The simple structure of the princess tales is a woman who is searching
for something because she is not complete on her own.
--As beautiful, charming, (well we shall get in to all that later), but
as much as she is, she is not complete.
--Somehow she is also in danger on her own as well.
--She needs to enlist the help of forest creatures, fairies, dwarves.,
fish, etc
--The villains are mainly women. Intelligent women.
--Princesses - generally naïve, compassionate, never really smart,
--Aladdin however, is under the ruse that it is different, but in
reality it is not.
REALISM is male
FANTASY is female
Even if we just look at the princesses portrayed. They are generally
helpless on their own and rely on thier innocence and naive beauty and
kindness to get them anywhere. They get into trouble when they become
to curious and ask to many questions. They always end up in some
compramising situation where the male must save them. They fall head
over heals in love with the first real man they meet, which ultimately
saves them. They are all the prettiest women in the kingdom and are
idolized for that.
Even the supposed exception of Aladdin, really is just the same. It is
about a girl that isnt happy with her perfect life. Attempts to screw
it up, but is saved by someone who knows better and goes back to her
perfect life and finally settles down her rebellious nature.
Response Paper: Popular Culture as seen through James Bond
Gunfights, gadgets, cars, women, danger, suspense, world danger, badass. All of these could be summed up rather quickly with just a few words: “Bond…James Bond”.
In 1962, Dr. No premiered, and our entire culture has been shaped by it since. James Bond has become an entire genre of its own, and yet it is more than a film, it is a way of life. Our life to be exact. James Bond was perhaps and still is one of the most honest expressions of popular culture in today’s time.
For example, lets start with the man himself. James Bond, a man above men. Every man would tell you that they would love to be Bond. Why? Perhaps because of the revolutionary stuntwork always known to be in a film. Perhaps for the top of the line gadgets created. Perhaps for the souped up Bond cars. Perhaps to triumph over evil. Or perhaps it’s the Bond girls that surround him. Bond has become an icon and an ideal of what a man should be. Today we are influenced by Bond more that we realize. In fact, it wouldn’t be to stretched to play with the idea of Bond being a sort of Midas, everything he touches turns to gold. The jet ski was actually first invented for a bond film. Many cars have been promoted and bought because of a bond film. Certain dress and attire is hot because of a bond film. Even Bond’s swagger and drink have become mainstream ideas of what is suave. But above all, James Bond is a player. He is always pursuing women, hence the sex icon surrounding him. Yet the thing that allows James to get away with this behavior that was pushing the envelope of film etiquette, is that he learns from these women, and he cares for these women.
This took Kinsey’s 50% percentage and threw it out the window. Bond was actually considered very racy for its time, mainly because of the sex. Almost every Bond Girl in the films sleep with Bond and if not usually share some sort of sexual tension. The movie is juxtaposed by sexual tension. it’s a good reflection on the world that Kinsey revealed, the stereotypes of Men sleeping before marriage and women not simply were absurd. While many romantic comedies and sex comedies dealt with the issues of sex by eventually having the couple get married, Bonds never did. This is one of the reason Bond films may have escaped this RomCom fate, they don’t emphasize the idea of this flawed couple coming together despite differences and finding true love. Bond shows how the world really reacts. People connect to other people through these sexual Bonds. If I could give a character tag for James Bond, I would simply use his last name. Bond is looking for someone to bond with. The thing about these bonds are that there is no promise to keep them. Its bonding for the sake of bonding, not bonding to become one. Thus the difference in marital sex and any other type of sex for that matter. Yet while this explores the underlying theme of Bond, it does not decipher his character.
Bond in a way, is very much a Holly character. Independent despite relationships, sexual, witty. But most especially in the way Holly refers to herself and Cat, they, like James, don’t belong. James Bond can try as he might to fit in, belong, even having relationships like Holly, but he still does not belong. Holly in the movie stays mainly because the production company wanted a happy ending. Bond in the same light always ends up with the girl, and yet by the next movie that’s all gone. I want to emphasize the fact that this points out that Bond isn’t getting the happy ending, the audience is. Bond will still need to leave and return back to work from the dream world because in the end, Bond will never belong so long as he is a part of MI6.
MI6- Bonds cage. Cat on a hot tin roof could also be correlated because Bond, like Brick, is stubborn and tends to drink (although not alcoholism as seen in Brick). But like Brick, Bond is trapped. Bonds cast is his duty to his country, and this will always deter him. Margaret would be any Bond girl in the film. Yet while they seduce Bond, is Bond truly happy? Does he stay? No. Bonds biggest cage is that he cares about his allys: the girls. This is his weakness emphasized in every film. Here is were Bond is like Margaret. He is alone, fighting to save a world he has no one to share it with. So, like Maggie, he is willing to go to extreme means to try and achieve his goal, no matter how delusional and temporary it may be.
However, while James Bond may be the protagonist and unifying theme throughout the genre, there are equally important
James Bond Films can be put in a similar category to RomComs and Sex comedies because much of the ideologies are the same. The movie is one big masquerade where Bond may pretend not to be an agent, a Bond girl may pretend to be on his side, both pretend to be doing something they’re not. Many times girls may start of hating Bond yet fall for him in the end. The movie is action based but the subplot is the romance. Bond relationships are described by the sexual tension and game of cat and mouse played by Bond and the Girls. No movie relationship in any of the films is truly the same, although they are based upon RomCom ideals. The main thing about Sex Comedies not described is that to have a good game of cat and mouse, both the man and woman need to be strong independent characters. If the woman was the passive, stereotypical role, there wouldn’t be a tug of war, the game would have already been won. In the same fashion, Bond girls are independent and powerful. They give a new look at the woman ideal. These women have saved Bond a number of times in his journeys and are key components to his success. Bond may work well alone, but his weakness is also his biggest strength, these women.
In all, James Bond is a revolutionary genre that has always sought to broaden the cage that binds our society. The power of the genre lies in its successful subplot of the sex comedy, disguised in an action film, utilizing characters that both uphold yet break stereotypes created by society. James Bond influences our culture in many ways, but its most effective is perhaps the “bond” it creates between men and women through the shared enjoyment and empowerment of the Bond films.
In 1962, Dr. No premiered, and our entire culture has been shaped by it since. James Bond has become an entire genre of its own, and yet it is more than a film, it is a way of life. Our life to be exact. James Bond was perhaps and still is one of the most honest expressions of popular culture in today’s time.
For example, lets start with the man himself. James Bond, a man above men. Every man would tell you that they would love to be Bond. Why? Perhaps because of the revolutionary stuntwork always known to be in a film. Perhaps for the top of the line gadgets created. Perhaps for the souped up Bond cars. Perhaps to triumph over evil. Or perhaps it’s the Bond girls that surround him. Bond has become an icon and an ideal of what a man should be. Today we are influenced by Bond more that we realize. In fact, it wouldn’t be to stretched to play with the idea of Bond being a sort of Midas, everything he touches turns to gold. The jet ski was actually first invented for a bond film. Many cars have been promoted and bought because of a bond film. Certain dress and attire is hot because of a bond film. Even Bond’s swagger and drink have become mainstream ideas of what is suave. But above all, James Bond is a player. He is always pursuing women, hence the sex icon surrounding him. Yet the thing that allows James to get away with this behavior that was pushing the envelope of film etiquette, is that he learns from these women, and he cares for these women.
This took Kinsey’s 50% percentage and threw it out the window. Bond was actually considered very racy for its time, mainly because of the sex. Almost every Bond Girl in the films sleep with Bond and if not usually share some sort of sexual tension. The movie is juxtaposed by sexual tension. it’s a good reflection on the world that Kinsey revealed, the stereotypes of Men sleeping before marriage and women not simply were absurd. While many romantic comedies and sex comedies dealt with the issues of sex by eventually having the couple get married, Bonds never did. This is one of the reason Bond films may have escaped this RomCom fate, they don’t emphasize the idea of this flawed couple coming together despite differences and finding true love. Bond shows how the world really reacts. People connect to other people through these sexual Bonds. If I could give a character tag for James Bond, I would simply use his last name. Bond is looking for someone to bond with. The thing about these bonds are that there is no promise to keep them. Its bonding for the sake of bonding, not bonding to become one. Thus the difference in marital sex and any other type of sex for that matter. Yet while this explores the underlying theme of Bond, it does not decipher his character.
Bond in a way, is very much a Holly character. Independent despite relationships, sexual, witty. But most especially in the way Holly refers to herself and Cat, they, like James, don’t belong. James Bond can try as he might to fit in, belong, even having relationships like Holly, but he still does not belong. Holly in the movie stays mainly because the production company wanted a happy ending. Bond in the same light always ends up with the girl, and yet by the next movie that’s all gone. I want to emphasize the fact that this points out that Bond isn’t getting the happy ending, the audience is. Bond will still need to leave and return back to work from the dream world because in the end, Bond will never belong so long as he is a part of MI6.
MI6- Bonds cage. Cat on a hot tin roof could also be correlated because Bond, like Brick, is stubborn and tends to drink (although not alcoholism as seen in Brick). But like Brick, Bond is trapped. Bonds cast is his duty to his country, and this will always deter him. Margaret would be any Bond girl in the film. Yet while they seduce Bond, is Bond truly happy? Does he stay? No. Bonds biggest cage is that he cares about his allys: the girls. This is his weakness emphasized in every film. Here is were Bond is like Margaret. He is alone, fighting to save a world he has no one to share it with. So, like Maggie, he is willing to go to extreme means to try and achieve his goal, no matter how delusional and temporary it may be.
However, while James Bond may be the protagonist and unifying theme throughout the genre, there are equally important
James Bond Films can be put in a similar category to RomComs and Sex comedies because much of the ideologies are the same. The movie is one big masquerade where Bond may pretend not to be an agent, a Bond girl may pretend to be on his side, both pretend to be doing something they’re not. Many times girls may start of hating Bond yet fall for him in the end. The movie is action based but the subplot is the romance. Bond relationships are described by the sexual tension and game of cat and mouse played by Bond and the Girls. No movie relationship in any of the films is truly the same, although they are based upon RomCom ideals. The main thing about Sex Comedies not described is that to have a good game of cat and mouse, both the man and woman need to be strong independent characters. If the woman was the passive, stereotypical role, there wouldn’t be a tug of war, the game would have already been won. In the same fashion, Bond girls are independent and powerful. They give a new look at the woman ideal. These women have saved Bond a number of times in his journeys and are key components to his success. Bond may work well alone, but his weakness is also his biggest strength, these women.
In all, James Bond is a revolutionary genre that has always sought to broaden the cage that binds our society. The power of the genre lies in its successful subplot of the sex comedy, disguised in an action film, utilizing characters that both uphold yet break stereotypes created by society. James Bond influences our culture in many ways, but its most effective is perhaps the “bond” it creates between men and women through the shared enjoyment and empowerment of the Bond films.
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