tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post3269778694537822108..comments2024-03-27T03:19:11.216-04:00Comments on Assistant Village Idiot: Making One UncomfortableAssistant Village Idiothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978011985085795099noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-68600167976044471712018-07-08T21:53:01.933-04:002018-07-08T21:53:01.933-04:00Ann is usually a more astute observer, and I'm...Ann is usually a more astute observer, and I'm surprised she doesn't realize 'making people uncomfortable' is a pretty low bar to clear.Christopher Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00396671757183163171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-45450782565894262972018-07-08T15:52:51.679-04:002018-07-08T15:52:51.679-04:00I suspect the prevalence of the idea "this gr...I suspect the prevalence of the idea "this great thing should make you uncomfortable" is inversely correlated with how uncomfortable your baseline is. I've known a lot of 3rd world missionaries (as have many of us here I'm sure), and I'm pretty sure none of them lead with "this should make you uncomfortable" when they're in the 3rd world.<br /><br /><br /><br />bs kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02871717971078952304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-71834346630530714152018-07-08T13:24:41.408-04:002018-07-08T13:24:41.408-04:00When it comes to "intellectual statements&quo...When it comes to "intellectual statements" for art, I roll my eyes. If I want an intellectual statement, I will read a book or a magazine article instead of looking at a painting, a movie, or a sculpture. To me, good art looks good. Instead of "intellectual statements," I prefer emotional impact.<br /><br />The husband of my favorite cousin has made a living as a sculptor for decades. While he informs us there is often supposed to be some "intellectual statements" behind his sculptures, I view his sculptures from the "Do I like how it looks" viewpoint.<br /><br />Film has been used from the beginning for "intellectual statements," a.k.a. propaganda. Consider Triumph of the Will. <br /><br />Years ago, I saw a "documentary" on Che Guevara put whose Argentine-born creator was a New Jersey community college instructor. From a visual standpoint, it was stunning. Beautiful. For "intellectual statements," not so good. Someone interviewed in the film claimed that by executing Che soon after his capture, the Bolivian Army had violated Che's human rights. That may be, but the film ignored Che's bloody hands as a guerrilla leader in executing recalcitrant guerrillas and also Che's role as <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw2Tr9xBw1Y" rel="nofollow">Lord High Executioner</a> when he was a prison comandante shortly after the 1959 takeover.<br /><br />On more than one occasion, a prog/lefty has recommended to ma film- in lieu of a book or magazine article- to support the prog/lefty point of view. Which tells me something about the seriousness of lefty "intellectual statements."RichardJohnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07490819511630683969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-17315139324009241312018-07-07T20:58:40.737-04:002018-07-07T20:58:40.737-04:00Ugly art makes me uncomfortable. And so much of w...Ugly art makes me uncomfortable. And so much of what it called "art" is ugly, some of it intentionally.Sam L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00996809377798862214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-6377039617768207692018-07-07T17:06:01.019-04:002018-07-07T17:06:01.019-04:00Long long ago the word "art" had somethi...Long long ago the word "art" had something to do with skill.<br /><br />Going for "uncomfortable" seems like cheating. Is your movie dull? Throw in a car crash, or have the woman take her clothes off.jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01792036361407527304noreply@blogger.com