VL-IV: Chap 9- Close-ups

[Mark Kohut]

Laura:
"We get from the context that Frenesi's making a documentary about Farmworkers.  Is her passion, even if it's combined with naivety and narcissism, misplaced? 
Is someone, a total asshole, say, who makes a doctrinaire movie about the oppression of farm-workers no better than the growers who do the oppressing?  That seems to be what you're arguing.  If so, I disagree, though I'd agree that one-sided diatribes don't make for compelling filmmaking."

MK: 
As TRP has written about the unseen richness of Melancholia, I think his richness of societal criticism is showing. No, oppression of farmworkers is far worse than a doctrinaire movie about, but it is not working, Cesar Chavez-like, for justice.

Laura: 
"I agree with you that TRP finds this rhetoric silly.  These slogans and the lefty-pc conversation that follows ("Signism!") is a parody of the overblown posturing of the time.  But it's an affectionate parody.  TRP's met these types, toked with them, and while he might think they're full of shit, has no argument with their views on social justice.  Kind of like his take on mediums and tarot-card readers."

MK: I want to suggest it is more than 'affectionate parody' although it is that, I guess. It exemplifies that their 'action' is 
a parody of real comitted action for real change. 




 




-----Original Message-----
>From: Mark Kohut <markekohut at yahoo.com>

>
>Ah, Good...real differences of opinion for a good discussion....feeling my way here.
> 
>Yes, many documentarians DO ask the right questions but not fps in Vineland, I suggest. 
> 
>evidence bit #1 Read the paragraph when Frenesi says "Mm, in the short run," Frenesi guessed, "but to see injustice, etc..... ending with:  [She was] "aware at each moment of the lens gathering in her own image."
 
>My case: TRP, so aware of the mediation of reality, so saturating this book with the simulacra of reality,
>here says, I argue that Frenesi's vision is, almost literally, narcissistic...she sees HERSELF in the lens...
>Why would OBA write that sentence.

We get from the context that Frenesi's making a documentary about Farmworkers.  Is her passion, even if it's combined with naivety and narcissism, misplaced? 
Is someone, a total asshole, say, who makes a doctrinaire movie about the oppression of farm-workers no better than the growers who do the oppressing?  That seems to be what you're arguing.  If so, I disagree, though I'd agree that one-sided diatribes don't make for compelling filmmaking.
 
>A-And: p. 197 'A camera is a gun. An image taken is a death performed.".....Maybe some guns ARE good
>in TRPs written world, but WITH these metaphors?......

I agree with you that TRP finds this rhetoric silly.  These slogans and the lefty-pc conversation that follows ("Signism!") is a parody of the overblown posturing of the time.  But it's an affectionate parody.  TRP's met these types, toked with them, and while he might think they're full of shit, has no argument with their views on social justice.  Kind of like his take on mediums and tarot-card readers.
 
>I'll go way out on the limb you can all vote me off of.....[do post on the Differences of opinion, all, please?]
>fps work is like TV pics at base..........entertainment for Thanatoids......
> 
>Mr. Often Wrong
>

Ms. Often Wrong salutes you!

Laura