5 Comments

We stopped being excited when movie/show/animation creators decided to self-insert their experiences in stories where there should be none. Western mainstream cinema is like that even when tackling other cultures. I turn to independent works and those of Europe and Asia to be fully immersed and older films always please.

Expand full comment

I can absolutely relate to bring checked out of popular culture, although I remain very excited for Christmas and its festivities.

Talking to my sister a little while ago, she was shocked that I don't really watch TV (except a kid's documentary series for my son). I used to be a rather big devotee of comedy and films. None of it appeals now. Sub-par, morally dishonest crap. Sister was horrified though, "You don't have Netflix? And you don't have Amazon Prime? What do you watch?!"

Expand full comment

Your writing is always so lucid and honest. Joy Division and Ballard make a perfect combination.

Expand full comment
author

Thank you.

Expand full comment

Thank you for the compliment. You're right, it was more effort than that movie deserved, and I think I put more effort into it than the entirety of the creative staff, but I just had to get it out of my system. I think that you're correct in your postulation that there is no ubiquitous American culture anymore, I'd say there is a shocking amount of people who still consume mainstream content. Who are they? I don't know. I can't tell you. But when it comes to the schlock on mainstream television, I still think there's a big - and brain-dead - audience who still consumes that. A silent mass in middle America that is still just going along to get along. How much longer they can afford to do that is the question, though.

Also, funny you should mention Harry Potter. I think I'm going to have to write something about that series soon myself. It's been a long time coming, but for various reasons... it's been on my mind again.

Expand full comment