Fascinating thing about apocalyptic films
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dbentley666 — 1 year ago(December 01, 2024 04:29 PM)
Not sure what W-W would say, but I think it's an easy one. Environmental disaster targets us quite squarely–all us consumers. Movies about racism, sexism, slavery, etc allows us to say: hey that ain't me, babe. I'm sure many Germans don't want to see movies about how Germans were complcit in Nazi crimes, but enjoy movies about American racism.
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Innocent User — 1 year ago(December 01, 2024 05:14 PM)
I think Hep's AI response summarizes the situation quite well. You can't write a story about a crisis that's a death by a thousand paper cuts.
We'll have to agree to disagree, because I don't think we're going to introduce anything new to the discussion to change either of our minds.
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Professor Kirk — 1 year ago(December 01, 2024 04:19 PM)
Bents, your response raises an important critique of Hollywood’s approach to storytelling, especially in the context of disaster films. While I agree that Hollywood often leans toward speculative, visually extravagant narratives rather than nuanced depictions of reality, I think the dynamic you describe—audiences preferring escapism over introspection—reflects a deeper cultural tension.
Environmental disaster films, when grounded in realistic scenarios, inherently challenge the status quo by pointing to systemic issues—consumption, economic structures, and individual accountability. These are uncomfortable truths for a society heavily invested in convenience and growth. Hollywood, as both a cultural institution and an industry driven by profit, rarely takes the risk of alienating its audience with narratives that demand radical change or self-reflection.
Wallace-Wells’ perspective aligns with the idea that audiences resist messages about austerity, but this resistance may be more complex than a simple preference for “low-level entertainment.” It reflects our collective anxiety about change and guilt over complicity in environmental degradation. In that sense, disaster films featuring heroic figures overcoming externalized forces of evil serve as a form of psychological relief. They shift blame outward, allowing viewers to confront disaster without grappling with their own role in its creation.
However, reducing all film to mere entertainment may overlook its potential as a medium for cultural influence. Movies like Don’t Look Up or Snowpiercer have demonstrated that speculative scenarios can provoke thought and spark dialogue about systemic issues, even if they don’t always offer realistic solutions. While Hollywood does prioritize spectacle over subtlety, the tension you identify—between entertainment and philosophical truth—could be reframed as an opportunity. If storytellers were to balance escapism with meaningful critique, disaster films could transcend their usual tropes and engage audiences with deeper, more transformative narratives.
But I'm blethering. Let's get on to the nitty gritty: how deeply did Trump's victory **** you in the ass? -
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Dr Kirk — 1 year ago(December 01, 2024 05:28 PM)
There is nobody lowlier than me. All I stole was a loaf of bread, Jean Valjean style.
Though I also have the PhD at Oxford and the other one at Cambridge, sweetie.
Just remember to call me by full title, Bents: Dr Dr Orsen. -
dbentley666 — 1 year ago(December 01, 2024 05:34 PM)
Gibson is a white supremacist and an ass. The only decent acting he did was in the very first Mad Max. From what I've read about Apocalypto, it's completely unscholarly and inaccurate about the Mayans, and has been compared to Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but set in South America.
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Innocent User — 1 year ago(December 01, 2024 05:38 PM)
Of course it's not entirely factual, but if any scholar claims the Mayans weren't into human sacrifice then they're a liar.
Gibson doesn't stray as far from fact as the woke brigade would have you believe.
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Innocent User — 1 year ago(December 01, 2024 07:51 PM)
Without watching the movie…
Didn't you say movies are low level entertainment? Why is Gibson expected to make his stories factually correct?
Lefties are weird.
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