musings: the shame.
GT was one of the blessed lambs to see Precious over the weekend and I’ll say two things: Monique…get ready for your Oscar Nomination (GT bows down to you) and if you’re unafraid of raw truth and untypical movie going, then Precious is the film for you. I’ve been reading the outrage of posters and commenters who’ve been bursting a blood vessel chiming in their thoughts on Lee’s Daniel’s prerogative to create film. And to that I say *Hmmmmm*. When you argue with reality you create unnecessary stress for yourself. I like to take risks and speak from my gut and it is quite bewildering how people can look for opportunities to be offended by someone’s right to create the work that speaks to them. I’m all for debate and hype; but sexual molestation, incest and rape are a reality. And unfortunately they are a quiet “sweep under the rug”reality because for the most part they disproportionately affect women. But my question is: Why do we look to films to be squeaky clean perfect representations of life? Why can’t creativity be flawed? I know that shame is a real emotion but sweeping grimy dirt under a rug is never a solution. In fact when the Pandora’s box is opened it can be quite liberating.
Posted by gt on November 10, 2009
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enisio — November 10, 2009 @ 2:28 pm
“Why do we look to films to be squeaky clean perfect representations of life? ”
I would say because going out to the movies has generally been viewed as entertainment. I haven’t seen Precious yet but I would imagine I would need to prepare myself mentally before stepping into the movie theater. I would go to be enlightened, informed, but probably not to be entertained.
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PJ — November 10, 2009 @ 2:33 pm
I have not seen the movie, but I am anxiously awaiting it’s release here in Austin. I totally agree with you on this, GT. Too often society wants us all to live in “La La” land particularly when it comes to speaking, seeing or hearing the truth on issues that are VERY real. I am fortunate, as well as so many others to have not had to deal with this form of pain, but i realize that is it someone’s PAIN! It is not my reality, but it is someone’s REALITY! My heart goes out to those who have endured, conqured and triumphed through such mental, emotional and physical adversity! We have to stop pretending that issues don’t exist and put it out into the universe so that dialogue, ACTION and HEALING can begin.. Very profound and thought-provoking message, GT!
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TJ — November 10, 2009 @ 2:53 pm
Honestly, I think people just want to complain. Just sit up and complain. If they see the squeaky clean representation of life, they complain it’s not real. Precious is too real. Whatever. They can always assemble their own projects instead of working their jaws.
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Kim — November 10, 2009 @ 3:45 pm
I agree with @enisio – people go to the movies expecting to be entertained. When a movie forces them to think it becomes a disappointment, and we complain about the things/people that disappoint us.
I look forward to seeing “Precious” when it comes to Detroit. Minus the abusive mother, I know two generations of a family who have lived her life (and are still in denial). It will be interesting to see a filmmakers perspective on the horror that is child abuse, incest, and rape.
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kristine — November 10, 2009 @ 3:50 pm
About 8 or 10 years ago I found myself gravitating more towards independent films because they cause me to think. They often don’t have a squeaky clean Hollywood ending and many times they end without resolution, leaving you thinking and wondering. My husband has gotten used to these qualities in my film choices although sometimes he will tell me that he wants to chill and be entertained, not think and have his world rocked. There’s nothing wrong with entertainment, I just like the extra twist and challenge of viewing humanity in all of it’s raw vulnerability. While I expect Precious to be a difficult film to watch, I cannot wait to see it.
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Alicia — November 10, 2009 @ 3:51 pm
People seek escapism in their entertainment; a true fantasy world outside of the harsh realities that many people face.
It’s an extremely tough topic to deal with and the movie theatre isn’t one of those venues where people want to be faced with those issues. It can make people incredibly uncomfortable…but IMO, those feelings of discomfort actually incite discussion and thought, which are GREAT things.
I agree that the news shouldn’t be the only place where we have to face reality, but I can understand why people are upset.
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First L8dy — November 10, 2009 @ 4:10 pm
@TJ. I totally agree with you about ‘complainers’. No matter what the movie, what the synopsis, what the deal they will find something to critique.
@GT.
Creativity: imaginative ability: the ability to use the imagination to develop new and original ideas or things, especially in an artistic context….
True creativity IS flawed. The secret ingredient of the recipe ‘unique’.
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Simone — November 11, 2009 @ 12:30 pm
I think part of the criticism is the belief that the lives of Black people are too often depicted as toxic and unhealthy. Our lives are not presented in their diversity when it comes to film and some ppl are tired of it.
This doesn’t give them the right to censor and say certain things should not be seen, but I understand where some of this is coming from.
I don’t know that I will see this film not because I don’t believe it will be good, but because the subject matter is hard. Sometimes, I’m just not up for it. I’ll see what happens.
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gt — November 11, 2009 @ 1:04 pm
There’s…
Chameleon Street
Medicine for Melancholy (which I loved)
Have Plenty
Soul Food
Daughters of the Dusk…
Dave Chapelle’s Block Party
Akeelah and the Bee
Lackawanna Blues
The Great Debaters…
to name a few…I don’t mind the criticism but I think what’s missing from this conversation is dimension. A great film isn’t just about the image representation…it’s about entertainment, catering to what the market wants, staying true to a novel (as in the case with Precious), and a director making a film cause its his/her gift/creativity/art that they want to share….
Criticism is way too easy…the same folks who complain complain complain wouldn’t even know how to write a script, get funding, can it, get it in a festival, market it…only to have people not only not support it monetarily, but diss the hell out of it…
Even The Great Debators (with Oprah’s name behind it ) flopped…Which proves..you can’t win.
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ceecee — November 11, 2009 @ 1:25 pm
I don’t necessarily view it as criticism but constructive feedback. Granted once it’s in theaters there is not much the audience can do to change the content. But asking these questions/posing these concerns are valid. I don’t think it’s fair to dismiss people’s concerns as hating. Everyone has different points of view that the makers may not have thought about. So IMO, they should take it in stride and aim to do better the next time around. Great example is Tyler Perry who has come a long way from Madea type movies because he paid attention to the feedback.
BTW, Medicine for Melancholy is a great movie! I’ve gotta get it on DVD.
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3 Piece — November 11, 2009 @ 1:33 pm
I tried not to comment because I have been building my strength to go see Precious. It cuts too close to my story and for that reason I for one applaud this movie’s moxie. I read the NYT review and the reviewer stated in summation “All black entertainer’s celebrate their mothers so this depiction doesn’t seem real” but it is real it is very real. There are thousands of little black girls who this movie will free from their bondage of silence and I applaud it for that. I plan to see it this weekend after a tall glass of pinot noir.
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Shell — November 12, 2009 @ 12:05 am
I want to see Precious and support. One of my closest friends died of a d.o earlier this year, but his death really came from his pain over being raped repeatedly as a boy. This subject hits close to home to me.
I love movies that entertain and educate. I do hope it will bring to light what I feel is a silent epidemic of children and teens being raped and abused from all walks of life.
Sometimes art needs to challenge us to heal us as well.
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Simone — November 12, 2009 @ 1:03 pm
I hear you GT. Don’t believe that I don’t. I’ve seen most of the films on your list. I’m simply playing Devil’s Advocate, which I do quite often. The creative process is a subjective one, no doubt about that. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure & I belive both points of view are valid.
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D. Bell — November 23, 2009 @ 10:44 pm
When I was taking voice lessons with Marjorie Eliot she would tell me I was trying to make the music sound pretty and that jazz isn’t always pretty. Applies to all art forms IMO.
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