You can't please all of the people all of the time

[amari_z]

So, I went to see the 300 this afternoon. I wanted to like it, I really did. I had tried to check my historical sensibilities at the door and suspended my disbelief, and, especially given the mood I've been in lately, I was all too eager to watch some ass kicking--but you know what? I actually left the theater despising it.

Oh, the visuals were neat, the male bodies nicely sculpted, the fight scenes interestingly staged, but, seriously? Every racist stereotype, every homophobic prejudice taken and run with. It pushed all the wrong buttons, pandered to prejudice, and I'm actually appalled.

(And don't tell me that this is based on reality. Xerxes was likely as white skinned as Leonidas, who, by the way, was one of two kings. Sparta was not a democracy in any modern sense of the word but a society built on slave labor. Historically, Spartans were known as lacking in art, culture, learning and philosophy--and placing no value on such things. So, white men fighting for liberty, rationality, freedom, democracy, civilization, etc. against ethnically monstrous hordes of cowardly exotics enslaved to a false god. Yeah. Sounds just a little familiar.)

I know a lot of people enjoyed this movie, and I really wanted to, but just no fucking way. I can't turn off my brain to that extent. And in the world we unfortunately live in today, I can't write this off as just harmless stupidity in the name of "entertainment."

If you disagree or think I'm overreacting, I'm, despite my vehemence, happy to discuss. So, what did you think?

Comments

[amari-z.livejournal.com]

Hey, if we all agreed about everything, what would be the fun of that? I love a good argument (surprise, surprise), and we all have the validity of our opinions. And I certainly don't think you're a Texan, whatever you called yourself. (Well, except the Texan part ; ) ). Don’t put yourself down.

I tried to articulate my main issue with the film a little more clearly in response to Maria's comment above. It's not the non-history that bothers me--I didn't expect that much, and unlike KA, the moviemakers didn't taunt me and actually invite my ridicule with a claim of being the real story. My problem is that I find the visual choices made to be, IMO, pandering to racist stereotypes. And, for me, the fact that this is from a graphic novel doesn't make any difference--even if these images come from the graphic novel, it just means that the filmmakers decided to adopt them, and that I would dislike the graphic novel as well.

I wish that I could view this as mindless silly fun, a la FF or Spiderman, but this was like a punch to the gut while I was watching the movie, and so I couldn’t like it. And I do worry a bit about how the images are going to creep into the subconscious of idiot Americans (not you!).

Anyway, no worries on voicing your opinion. I argue vehemently with all my good friends, not to mention my family, and when we finish barring our teeth at each other, our smiles are genuine.

[sasha-b.livejournal.com]

I read your response to her. :p

You wouldn't like the graphic novel, then. Here's the thing with Frank Miller. I think he's a mysognistic, old white man that is an incredible artist. That's the reason I was willing to see Sin City, and that's the reason I was willing to see this. Aside from the naked men. :p

Perhaps - because I try and see this type of film/book/comic for what I feel they represent - true, old school trashy "shoot 'em up" stories - that I don't even fathom the idea of mirroring it with current issues or political or racist ideas. *shrug* But again...that's me. If it makes me look like an idiot, so be it.

I spent a lot of years as a child and teen and then in college studying this type of filmmaking - don't get me started on Rambo or anything in that genre - so what I go for now when I see this type of film is something that strikes me visually or something that I'm blown away by in the soundtrack or the costumes or whatever. I cannot stand Frank Miller as a human being and I think a lot of his storytelling is ridiculous and old fashioned and one dimensional (did you see Sin City, btw? I'd be interested to hear what you thought), but his art is just...wow. So ... worth it for me.

I'm a big fan of over the top sfx and gore and unrealistic fantasy driven stories. Especially right now when my RL is so chaotic and hideous and lonely. So...it worked for me. I'm really sorry you had such a viscerally bad experience.

So...how about them Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? *wink*

[amari-z.livejournal.com]

I'm writing this quickly, because I really need to work, so I hope it makes some sense.

For contemporary art especially, I don't really believe in the concept of art having value purely just because it is art. For very old art, where the context is long gone, and so it is possible to view it without it stirring any kind of propaganda/imagery that the original consumers would had understood--not a problem. But where contemporary "art" does things I find offensive, that art looses me. I don't believe art can be viewed as intrinsically "good" or having "value" or whatever simply because it's "art". Because it is often so very (and so insidiously) powerful, there is a responsibility that exits there (just as we are all responsible for what we do or say) and artists shouldn't be excused from the content of what they portray just because of their creative/technical/imaginative skills. (Just to be clear, though, I'm not advocating for censorship of any kind.)

What in the end disturbs me most is not whether the creators were bigots/racists/ignorants-who-had internalized-racism or whatever they are. They are what they are. Nor is it really about ME. I know what I think and I know (I think) to what degree I have to check my own internalized racism. It's about the fact that especially in mass art/entertainment, images are powerful, insidious things that we all subconsciously internalize. I doubt that the average viewer is going to pick up that, hey, wait, historically, Xerxes and all of his army shouldn't be black/dark. They are just going to be left with an image that once more associates dark skin with evil. And I can't brush that off in the name of art or just fun entertainment.

I don't have any problem with escapism and fantasy at all--I went to the movie for that purpose. Which was one of the reasons I was so pissed to realize that this wasn't going to be escapist for me at all.

And, knowing you don't like to debate, don't feel compelled to answer if you don't want to--although, I would, of course, welcome, and be very interested in hearing, your pov, and have appreciated you engaging me here.

[amari-z.livejournal.com]

Oh, and forgot to say that I haven't seen Sin City. I've been meaning to, but given this one--not sure any more.

[sasha-b.livejournal.com]

I think that's it for my turn at the debate wheel.

:p