Thomas Frank's problem is that he's claiming comedy to be some sort of Republican conspiracy, which I hope you can agree is asinine, even as a non-fan of comedy.
Thomas Frank's problem is that he's claiming comedy to be some sort of Republican conspiracy, which I hope you can agree is asinine, even as a non-fan of comedy.
One small reason for the big economic change, I think, is the confusion engendered by the cultural change. The kind of liberation the rude gesture brings has turned out to be not that liberating after all, but along the way it has crowded out previous ideas of what liberation meant—ideas that had to with equality, with work, with ownership. And still our love of simple, unadorned defiance expands. It is everywhere today. Everyone believes that they’re standing up against unjust authority of some imaginary kind or another—even those whose ultimate aim is obviously to establish an unjust authority of their own. Their terms for it are slightly different than the ones in “Animal House”—they talk about the liberal elite, the statists, the social engineers, the “ruling class.” But they’re all acting out the same old script. The Tea Party movement believes it’s resisting the arrogant liberal know-it-alls. So did Andrew Breitbart, in his brief career as a dealer in pranks and contumely. So do the people who proposed that abominable gay marriage discrimination law in Arizona. Hell, so do the pitiful billionaires of Wall Street—even they think they’re standing bravely for Ayn Rand’s downtrodden job creators.
Thomas Frank's problem is that he's claiming comedy to be some sort of Republican conspiracy, which I hope you can agree is asinine, even as a non-fan of comedy.
I feel like the article makes a good point about how comedy, and particularly the comedy of the hoisted petard and the humbling of the snob, can be used to advance ideas that shift the Overton window in a more conservative, business-oriented, illiberal direction rather than an anti-establishment one regardless of intent, and that Ramis' films are very easily read that way and used to those ends. I mean, look at the Republican frontrunner now.
There are serious problems with it, of course, as with most such cultural critiques, but that point is not necessarily a bad one. Being sceptical of the base assumptions and dubious implications of a work meant to make one laugh or otherwise respond immediately is important. Is there a weird aftertaste or isn't there?
Thomas Frank's problem is that he's claiming comedy to be some sort of Republican conspiracy, which I hope you can agree is asinine, even as a non-fan of comedy.
I feel like the article makes a good point about how comedy, and particularly the comedy of the hoisted petard and the humbling of the snob, can be used to advance ideas that shift the Overton window in a more conservative, business-oriented, illiberal direction rather than an anti-establishment one regardless of intent, and that Ramis' films are very easily read that way and used to those ends. I mean, look at the Republican frontrunner now.
There are serious problems with it, of course, as with most such cultural critiques, but that point is not necessarily a bad one. Being sceptical of the base assumptions and dubious implications of a work meant to make one laugh or otherwise respond immediately is important. Is there a weird aftertaste or isn't there?
Yeah, I can actually agree with that.
I was basically objecting to the fact that he's basically mindreading Ramis and making him out to be this Republican conspirator despite having no proof of that.
The basic points about comedy aren't entirely wrong, and the article is potentially salvageable.
Thomas Frank's problem is that he's claiming comedy to be some sort of Republican conspiracy, which I hope you can agree is asinine, even as a non-fan of comedy.
I feel like the article makes a good point about how comedy, and particularly the comedy of the hoisted petard and the humbling of the snob, can be used to advance ideas that shift the Overton window in a more conservative, business-oriented, illiberal direction rather than an anti-establishment one regardless of intent, and that Ramis' films are very easily read that way and used to those ends. I mean, look at the Republican frontrunner now.
There are serious problems with it, of course, as with most such cultural critiques, but that point is not necessarily a bad one. Being sceptical of the base assumptions and dubious implications of a work meant to make one laugh or otherwise respond immediately is important. Is there a weird aftertaste or isn't there?
Yeah, I can actually agree with that.
I was basically objecting to the fact that he's basically mindreading Ramis and making him out to be this Republican conspirator despite having no proof of that.
The basic points about comedy aren't entirely wrong, and the article is potentially salvageable.
I don't think he's necessarily even trying to say that, but he could be clearer about what he thinks of Ramis' actual politics instead of waving his hands in that direction.
All this being said, I think we're doing the thing again, and while there has certainly been some constructive discussion I'd rather we... didn't do the thing?
You do know that when I said there was a lot of "look at this asshole" going around, I didn't just mean the pointing and laughing kind, right? But really, I was more referring to Calica's post, or more broadly to how this conversation has progressed entirely around some guy making a point badly, or declining in quality, or... something.
It's not like we're talking about Drumpf or something, which would be intolerable—media in culture has a lot worth unpacking—but I am getting some vibes that I don't like, and I feel like I contributed to them, if that makes sense.
Getting back on track: Yeah, Caddyshack and Animal House and the like were definitely about slobs punching up against (rich and white) snobs, but I can also definitely see how that could be turned into a critique of, say, second-wave feminism or more authoritarian-leaning leftist movements. Just look at Red Dawn.
My point is, given who Section is, it read like a little more than jumping the gun. I'd be much more inclined to read it as him not pointing to an article purely to emphasize disagreement, so much as that being the easiest route to his opinions on these sorts of cultural changes due to the nature of disagreement. Rather than or while trying to move on to broader points, which are harder due to known communication issues.
I mean, honestly? I wasn't even bothered by any of this until that very response, which more or less told me "If Crystal has trouble stating an issue she might as well not bother with HH and move it elsewhere," and that's uncomfortable.
Late comment because multitasking. Shrug, I guess.
Getting back on track: Yeah, Caddyshack and Animal House and the like were definitely about slobs punching up against (rich and white) snobs, but I can also definitely see how that could be turned into a critique of, say, second-wave feminism or more authoritarian-leaning leftist movements. Just look at Red Dawn.
Yeah.
The thing is, criticism of the authoritarian left is perfectly valid. It's just that most criticism of those sorts of people in a cultural context comes from similarly illiberal elements on the right masquerading as "the golden middle" or else "the side that believes in freedom." You see that with alt-right Gator types and blatant foam-mouthed reactionaries of the Cruz school alike.
My point is, given who Section is, it read like a little more than jumping the gun. I'd be much more inclined to read it as him not pointing to an article purely to emphasize disagreement, so much as that being the easiest route to his opinions on these sorts of cultural changes due to the nature of disagreement. Rather than or while trying to move on to broader points, which are harder due to known communication issues.
I mean, honestly? I wasn't even bothered by any of this until that very response, which more or less told me "If Crystal has trouble stating an issue she might as well not bother with HH and move it elsewhere," and that's uncomfortable.
Late comment because multitasking. Shrug, I guess.
It wasn't about Section, really. I know how he feels and how he interprets things sometimes. Thank you for making me feel worse than I already did.
I actually wasn't going to say anything because I knew it could very well upset the people involved and things weren't too bad but of course I stuck my foot in my mouth so.
I will be all right. Being sick has just made my nerves even rawer than they'd normally be and now I'm upset because I wanted to express my discomfort at something and now I'm derailing and ruining everything.
You are the end result of a “would you push the button” prompt where the prompt was “you have unlimited godlike powers but you appear to all and sundry to be an impetuous child” – Zero, 2022
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The Street View pegman is Link from The Legend of Zelda today
Comments
Thomas Frank's problem is that he's claiming comedy to be some sort of Republican conspiracy, which I hope you can agree is asinine, even as a non-fan of comedy.
Seemed only two weeks ago that I was heading home for the weekend.
Oh wait. It was.
I was basically objecting to the fact that he's basically mindreading Ramis and making him out to be this Republican conspirator despite having no proof of that.
The basic points about comedy aren't entirely wrong, and the article is potentially salvageable.
I'm sorry for any unpleasantness I caused.
I'm sorry for helping to make you feel bad about yourself.
They combine my two favourite things: muffins and blueberries.
And are people so stupid that they don't realise that if the loo door doesn't open, then it means that someone is using it?
Assassin poems, Poems that shoot
guns. Poems that wrestle cops into alleys
and take their weapons leaving them dead
Assassin poems, Poems that shoot
guns. Poems that wrestle cops into alleys
and take their weapons leaving them dead
Ahh, my bed has never been so comfy.
Assassin poems, Poems that shoot
guns. Poems that wrestle cops into alleys
and take their weapons leaving them dead
Assassin poems, Poems that shoot
guns. Poems that wrestle cops into alleys
and take their weapons leaving them dead
Didn't know being able to see my rib cage classed as "overweight"