love. it's still complicated

because sometimes all you need
is a pat on the head
a little hand in yours
a toothy smile
and the world can be beautiful
again

because sometimes all it takes
is to look up
shoulders straight
walk on bravely
and the world can be safe
again

because sometimes that’s all you get
no more no less
but just enough
to get you by
and the world can move on
again

PC be damned! All I want is to be entertained!!

The really f*cked up thing about being an academic in media studies is the moment I start deconstructing a film/television programme/piece of advertising drivel, very quickly I lose the initial ‘OMG that was such an amazing piece of work’ feeling.

The reason this sucks is because it is really not my intention to be a cynical (perhaps ‘critical’ is more suited given the context) bitch and bag the writers each time I turn on the television and/or visit the cinemas. Like most people, I watch films because I want to ogle at pretty people be entertained. And given that I can’t act/direct/produce/write scripts to save my own skin, I really want to applaud the producer/director/scriptwriter and cast for a job well done. Unfortunately by the time the credits start rolling, I’m almost always distracted by how f*cked up the entire plot was.

I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who thinks this way: Gender inequality, overt white superiority (or ‘whiteness’ to use Hage’s term), orientalism/occidentalism, class and more commonly these days, the very dismissal portrayal of LGBTQ and racial (or minority) nationalities.. I could go on but then this rant will become an essay so I’ll stop there and get on with what I’m trying to say which is, and please excuse the burst of hypocrisy, “is it really fair to expect fiction! writers to fix/address the world’s problems?”

I’m not saying that such portrayals are not problematic because they are in more ways than one. But short of casting 6 billion actors/actresses and giving everyone equal screen time and of course, intelligent/witty/awesome/none of those self-degrading stupid lines, I really think it is simply impossible to produce a politically-correct film.

Of course there is no harm in trying to create a rosy world. But in the event that doesn’t happen, well for gods’ sake, just move on and watch another film.

P/S In case you were wondering, here’s the post that incited (instigated?) this rant. In spite of its many flaws (here’s another damning post if you feel like reading more), I am for the moment well and truly obsessed with BBC! Sherlock. Maybe the lack of strong, decent and likable female characters will be addressed in Season Two. Maybe it won’t. I guess there’s little one can do but wait and see~

PP/S I’m pretty sure what’s written makes little sense.. it’s late and my brain is half asleep.. but ah well, I just needed to vent.

Fortysomething

Hugh Laurie. Benedict Cumberbatch. Wicked UK Drama. Enough said. Someone up there loves me =D