Saw a dreadful movie called _Crash_ the other day, and wonder if any
other list members were exposed to it?
_Crash_ is a ripoff of the technique used in _Magnolia_, but
something even more insidious is contained in it. The movie
addresses the tragedy of racism by showing its effects on the
intertwining lives of various characters. But--and here's the
insidious part--the movie refuses to allow viewers to face the tragedy.
Seems like most effective tragedies leave their audience in the
tragedy, dealing with the emotions of tragedy, dealing with the
thoughts stimulated by the tragedy.
_Crash_, on the other hand, has the troubling technique of
dissolving the audience's concern by showing montages of the
characters being "thoughtful," while a female vocalist intones
"thoughtful" music. It seems to imply that there's nothing so
troubling in life that can't be addressed by a female vocalist
singing "thoughtful" music.
You're dying? Cue the female vocalist. Iraq War bother you? Cue the
female vocalist. Anguished by the fascist trends in your country?
Cue the female vocalist. Fear it will all end in mushroom clouds?
Cue the female vocalist. World hunger got you down? AIDS? Cue the
female vocalist. Cue the female vocalist.
This new trend of drowning tragedy in music that smooths over the
surface is very distressing. I am distressed. Oh that's right. Cue
the female vocalist.
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