Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site ames.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!tektronix!hplabs!ames!barry From: barry@ames.UUCP (Kenn Barry) Newsgroups: net.women Subject: Re: Rape - Another Solution Message-ID: <1089@ames.UUCP> Date: Fri, 16-Aug-85 03:18:35 EDT Article-I.D.: ames.1089 Posted: Fri Aug 16 03:18:35 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 19-Aug-85 23:05:15 EDT References: <2402@amdcad.UUCP> <1079@ames.UUCP> <2665@amdcad.UUCP> Organization: NASA-Ames Research Center, Mtn. View, CA Lines: 61 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. >> I wouldn't mind at all if films more often tried to show us a better >> world than the one we live in; I'm fond of optimistic stories. But without >> conflict there *is* no story. Nor, I think, is there any way to curtail the >> popularity of adventure and suspense, short of censorship. I agree we should >> vote with our $$$ for films we like, but we can't expect everyone else to >> always vote the same way. > >Your reply, and the notion that there always has to be a "story" shows >just how limited many people's views are because of the influence of >mass media. In film, for example, look at the work of Stan Brakhage, such >as his "The Text of Light", an hour and a half of pure visual images, >pure abstract film. Each frame is said to be a masterpiece in itself. I think you'll find that "story" predates the mass media by at least a couple of millenia. If you reread what I wrote, you will find that I did not *say* there had to be a story; 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) >Now let's look at even the enlightened city of Berkeley. Two weeks ago >there was a concert by the students of the Ali Akbar Khan school of music. >These people have obviously found a fascinating alternative to violence - >learning to play the sarod and the tablas, and composing music which >combines Western and Indian instruments. Yet only about 75 people >attended. How many people read the arts listings in detail and really >make an informed choice? They look at for the most widely hyped-up and >publicized works instead. 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? >Even the most highly educated people turn 30, start making a little >money, and turn their brains off. Wasn't money that turned off my brain, it was sex, drugs, and rock and roll :-). - From the Crow's Nest - Kenn Barry NASA-Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ USENET: {ihnp4,vortex,dual,hao,menlo70,hplabs}!ames!barry