Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Clay Aiken Nation
How ‘bout filming some guerilla theatre? We could even have a fight scene. I’ve always wanted to be denounced as a pop culture entertainment menace by the blue nosers.
Posted by Harry on from 01/05 at 07:10 PMSander Hicks, who is re-releasing my WWII book, mused about making a short film to hype the book...a film that featured me in a martial arts capacity. I’d be sort of a wandering sifu...spreading the zen of critical thought and kicking some ass if necessary. Who knows? It still might happen.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from 01/05 at 08:29 PMNot to be too depressing, but I think in ten years (assuming I’m not blowed up) they’ll have reality executions, where viewers dial in to vote. I assume the victims will be political prisoners (maybe terrorists!).
Just bought 7 sins but haven’t read it yet. Had to explain things to some friends at a bar last night when someone commented on how great it was that the US was sending troops to “help out” in Aceh. Like that once the cameras went away they’ll be back to training soldiers to shoot the people they helped. Nice PR though.
Cheers,
Rob
Posted by Rob on from Toronto 01/05 at 10:00 PMVery forward-thinking of you, Rob...sort of “Live from Guantanamo.” Watch the terrorists fry. Why does that sound sooooo possible?
P.S. Thanks for buying my book.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from 01/05 at 10:03 PMMy “Dream” Reality TV Show features President(sic) Dubya and his cabinet members being drugged, tagged, blindfolded and dropped off in Iraq, where they awaken to find themselves working as orderlies (if they’re each capable of it) in a pediatric ward of an Iraqi hospital. Whoever is able to prove that their alleged heart is not made of pure granite is the winner!
Posted by Rev Joe on from So. Colliefawnia 01/05 at 11:57 PMThanks, Rev...I like it. The initial scenes of the groggy politicians waking up to realize where they are would be priceless.
BTW, I got your book in the mail and hope to read it soon.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from 01/06 at 05:36 AMI will admit to watching “American Idol” - it’s light, it’s frivolous, and mostly inoffensive, with the exception that so much of our culture is geared towards competition. And I will admit that I have watched a few episodes of “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”, which let’s face it, is a hoot! But the other shows are all about competing with one another - talk shows have this thing now where they give free stuff away to audience members, in an effort I believe to be loved by their audiences. I don’t watch those shows very much. I watch the Independent Film Channel sometimes.
I’ve always had mixed feelings about entertainment - I think the world is so crazy that sometimes it’s a good idea just to watch something that is mindless to take our minds off of things. But on the other hand, it’s important to be careful about what we put inside our heads, since it seeps in there and affects us, usually adversely.
My sister lost one of her closest friends in the tsunami last week. Her friend was from Sweden (my sister lived there for six years, and goes there every summer for vacation).
I would like to see a reality tv show called “Animal Rescuers”, with brave AR activists documenting the conditions of factory farms, and rescuing as many animals as they can realistically find sanctuaries for (and the profits would be used to create more sanctuaries!) I’d also like to see reality shows that are not about competition, but you “win” through cooperation. A show with scientists trying to find environmental friendly alternative fuels/energies so we can end our dependency on oil (which would save many, many lives, wouldn’t it?).
Peace
Posted by Rich G on from Boston 01/06 at 08:40 AMVery cool idea, Rich...but you put me in a tough position. I’d like to pick a “winner” from the ideas submitted here, but that would only play into the competition game we’re trying to challenge. Hmm…
On a more serious note, I’m sorry to hear about your sister’s friend. You know, after 9/11 it was common to hear fellow New Yorkers tell of friends, family, or co-workers who died in the WTC. My wife and I actually knew at least 3 or 4. One can only imagine what it’s like to live in an area where one in 20 residents have died.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from 01/06 at 09:08 AMWe watched a few episodes of Survivor, bits and pieces of other such - I think it’s pure violence-voyeurism. We just decided as a family (hoping daughter goes along with it) not to watch any reality shows. Just last night, we saw a promo for a show in which a guy (in one of those “stick a bunch of people in a house and see what happens” shows) gets so angry, while drunk, that he puts a knife in his pants and goes after another person on the show! Doesn’t show results, but suggests violence. My daughter and I decided it’s not long before they just go right on and show someone get murdered, raped, etc. right there. I’m feeling sick, just writing about it. Violence is addictive. We’re caught in this spiral of real and virtual violence, each feeding on the other.
There’s little market for anything without that component. Depressing.Posted by John Eden on from Georgia 01/06 at 09:38 PMIt’s instructive to consider how much violence network TV is willing to show in a promo like the one you mention...and how little we see of dead Iraqi civilians and maimed GI’s.
Selective conditioning.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from 01/06 at 09:42 PMYep. I’ve concluded that Good Americans don’t mind their children dying in war. It brings them the approbation of the community and proves their patriotism, gives them a sacrifice to feel proud of. But they don’t want to see the grisly side of it. They want to remember the victims fine and smiling in their dress whites in the post-mortem picture in the newspaper.
Posted by John Eden on from Georgia 01/06 at 09:52 PMI’m close to signing a deal to do a book on an alternative view of patriotism, e.g. events and people in U.S. history that radicals and progressives can take pride in.
More soon…
Posted by Mickey Z. on from 01/06 at 09:57 PMI’ll be first in line to buy a copy, or copies, of THAT book, Mickey. I know you’ll keep us updated on its progress. And thanks again for buying my book - I hope you enjoy it.
Posted by Rev Joe on from 01/07 at 11:10 AM
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