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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
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