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Path: utzoo!linus!gatech!amdcad!linda
From: linda@amdcad.UUCP (Linda Seltzer)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Rape - Another Solution
Message-ID: <2830@amdcad.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 20-Aug-85 12:01:54 EDT
Article-I.D.: amdcad.2830
Posted: Tue Aug 20 12:01:54 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 21-Aug-85 07:12:19 EDT
References: <2402@amdcad.UUCP> <1079@ames.UUCP> <2665@amdcad.UUCP> <1089@ames.UUCP>
Organization: AMDCAD, Sunnyvale, CA
Lines: 40
Summary: Slick violence vs. "amateurish" honesty

In article <1089@ames.UUCP>, barry@ames.UUCP (Kenn Barry) writes:
> From Linda Seltzer (amdcad!linda):
> >> 	Do I correctly understand that you are against the portrayal, not only
> >>of violence, but of "suspense, fear, suspicion, and emotional intensity"? If
> >>so, you don't seem to leave the artist much leeway.
> 
> 	I note that you quoted this part of my article without responding to
> it. I'd still be curious to hear your answer.
>  
My response was to two quotations from your article.


I said there had to be conflict
> before there *was* a story.
> 	Look, if you prefer films without story (or adventure, or
> suspense, or even emotional intensity), that's fine by me; didn't I say that
> in the article you quoted? I'm just a little more varied in my tastes.
> 
> >Now the mass media classifies this as "experimental" (i.e. esoteric and
> >not important) film.  The New Age movement in the arts in the US has
> >been dismissed by critics as "minimalism" - but luckily Steve Reich and
> >Meredith Monk have gained acclaim in New York, at least.
> 
> 	What does this have to do with violence? (incidentally, I like Steve
> Reich)
> 
> 	You keep bringing up the same false dichotomy. Now I have to choose
> between watching RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK and listening to amateur sarod
> players. Why is it not better that I do both, as the spirit moves me?
> 
I will reply to all of these at once.  Your comments show that
it is your taste which is limited to slick productions hyped up by the
mass media and by the "catchiness" of the presentation.  When people
have the attitude that students are "amateura" not worth listening
to then their choices are determined by commercialism and slick presentation
rather than honest feeling.  When I refer to emotional intensity, I
mean intensity in terms of fear, suspicion, suspense, and violence.
Quite frankly I am sure that one's taste is varied, and one can learn
to appreciate subtlety if one rejects the slick presentations of violence
offered by the mass media.