So, my daughter is only getting ready to turn 3 but I see it everywhere, places in our media mainstream that I am going to need to counteract early and often. In an age where information is so fluid my job as a parent is to keep pace as much as protect my daughter from some of the damaging models out there for young girls. Gone are the days where concerns of Barbie being unrealistic and keeping HBO out of the house for its graphic language and nudity are the main concerns. Now in building my daughter's self esteem I must somehow navigate the conflicting images and exploitation of young girls. I found this film 5 Girls that I think is a great start. I am emailing it to my 8 and 13 year old neice. Take a look and tell me what you think.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
This and That in the world of TV and Film
I have a bit of scattered brain right now around what I would like to talk about, so rather than jump heavily into any one topic just now, I will go through the list and come back to some of them later.
1) Rest in Peace Estelle Getty (of Golden Girls fame) a class act who brought great laughter to situation comedy in the mid-80s and a lasting tribute to the visionary genius of NBC's late Brandon Tartikoff.
2) Mad Men - yes I am watching it on ON DEMAND, yes I did it because of all the Emmy nominations. NO, I am not proud of the sheep-like behavior it displays. The jury is still out on what I think, I am only four episodes in and am not convinced that great acting is covering for not so great plot lines. I'll be back on this one over the weekend when season 2 premieres
3) The end of an era - Roger Ebert is stepping away from his long association with the movie review show he and the late Gene Siskel pioneered - "At The Movies". I didn't always agree with Roger and sometimes thought he had lost his mind when reviewing a film, but I ALWAYS felt his great passion and love for film - all films from drama to action to documentary films. Before it was fashionable, Siskel and Ebert were talking about films like Roger and Me and Hoop Dreams as 'must see'films.
Which brings me to my final point today, Snag Films. Here is film viewing with a purpose and well worth your time. Here is a site that provides documentary films an outlet they would not otherwise get. It's one stop shopping for thoughtful rarely seen, but unbelievably priceless filmmaking. As someone who became obsessed with moments in history chronicled on film like "A Day in September" which chronicles the murders of the Isreali's at the '72 Munich Olympic Games documentaries time and again show us through film that life is often more compelling and dramatic than anything we could have scripted. Broken into categories of interest, there is a hodgepodge of films to choose from which you can view FOR FREE online. In the YouTube world we now live in, this is a great addition to the old information highway (yes, I just dated myself with that term). As if that wasn't cool enough, they have linked the films to charitable organizations connecting people inspired by the films to get involved.
So by my vote, not a bad way to spend evening or some idle time.
1) Rest in Peace Estelle Getty (of Golden Girls fame) a class act who brought great laughter to situation comedy in the mid-80s and a lasting tribute to the visionary genius of NBC's late Brandon Tartikoff.
2) Mad Men - yes I am watching it on ON DEMAND, yes I did it because of all the Emmy nominations. NO, I am not proud of the sheep-like behavior it displays. The jury is still out on what I think, I am only four episodes in and am not convinced that great acting is covering for not so great plot lines. I'll be back on this one over the weekend when season 2 premieres
3) The end of an era - Roger Ebert is stepping away from his long association with the movie review show he and the late Gene Siskel pioneered - "At The Movies". I didn't always agree with Roger and sometimes thought he had lost his mind when reviewing a film, but I ALWAYS felt his great passion and love for film - all films from drama to action to documentary films. Before it was fashionable, Siskel and Ebert were talking about films like Roger and Me and Hoop Dreams as 'must see'films.
Which brings me to my final point today, Snag Films. Here is film viewing with a purpose and well worth your time. Here is a site that provides documentary films an outlet they would not otherwise get. It's one stop shopping for thoughtful rarely seen, but unbelievably priceless filmmaking. As someone who became obsessed with moments in history chronicled on film like "A Day in September" which chronicles the murders of the Isreali's at the '72 Munich Olympic Games documentaries time and again show us through film that life is often more compelling and dramatic than anything we could have scripted. Broken into categories of interest, there is a hodgepodge of films to choose from which you can view FOR FREE online. In the YouTube world we now live in, this is a great addition to the old information highway (yes, I just dated myself with that term). As if that wasn't cool enough, they have linked the films to charitable organizations connecting people inspired by the films to get involved.
So by my vote, not a bad way to spend evening or some idle time.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Real vs. Reality TV
OK, so I have mentioned here and there my random opinions on reality TV without doing a deep dive on the subject. It struck me today (the 4th of July) that this would be an apt time to revisit the subject. The reason being today, like on New Years Eve and to a lesser extent Thanksgiving Day Parades, there is a smattering of "real TV" to be found throughout the evening. Over on PBS there is the annual Boston Pops concert, there is Capitol 4th from DC and of course the granddaddy of them all - Macy's 4th in the New York City Harbor. All three have large fireworks displays in common. I should disclaim here that I am not only a native NYer, but a native of Suffolk County Long Island and therefore was raised on Grucci fireworks and believe they are second to none. Having said that, at no point in my life have I thought - ooooh I can't wait to watch fireworks on TV! For me the purpose of things like fireworks, parades, even live concert performances is to be there in the moment and experience it with all five senses, not merely our eyes and ears. Granted HDTV makes the experience more bright, but for me some things are meant to be experienced in commune with your neighbor or the stranger you call your neighbor for the duration of any given event. Yet every year these things get broadcast when if experienced live there is truly no comparison.
For those of you thinking sports should fall into this category, I will simply say this - sports is always better live, period. But sports has an undetermined outcome which makes it innately compelling whether being viewed from a seat in the arena/stadium or on your living room couch. The same can not be said for a fireworks display over the East River or a parade down Broadway.
My point in bringing this up is because I wonder sometimes about what it is we seek to experience. Reality TV gets a bad shake because of the fringe shows that exploit people deliberately (a la the recent despicable Baby Borrowers). But then there are shows that's purpose is to display talent and merely entertain. My summer favorite - So You Think You Can Dance would fit into this category. Shows like the latter I feel are the grandchildren of the old variety shows - certainly not Ed Sullivan, but without a doubt a look back to that vein of television. Reality TV when done in that spirit provides an escape for the viewer - pleasure and entertainment with no ulterior motive. How is it so different from people who feel the need to gather around a 32 inch television set to watch fireworks they are no where near?
I don't know that there is any significance to this post other than an observation that in some form or another we have been watching a form of "real TV" practically since its inception. The 'ick' factor that has embodied the term "reality TV" I suspect has more to do with the exploitation of both the willing participants and the voyeuristic tendencies of the television viewers. I mean really is there any other explanation for the continuation of a show like "the Bachelor and Bachelorette"?
For those of you thinking sports should fall into this category, I will simply say this - sports is always better live, period. But sports has an undetermined outcome which makes it innately compelling whether being viewed from a seat in the arena/stadium or on your living room couch. The same can not be said for a fireworks display over the East River or a parade down Broadway.
My point in bringing this up is because I wonder sometimes about what it is we seek to experience. Reality TV gets a bad shake because of the fringe shows that exploit people deliberately (a la the recent despicable Baby Borrowers). But then there are shows that's purpose is to display talent and merely entertain. My summer favorite - So You Think You Can Dance would fit into this category. Shows like the latter I feel are the grandchildren of the old variety shows - certainly not Ed Sullivan, but without a doubt a look back to that vein of television. Reality TV when done in that spirit provides an escape for the viewer - pleasure and entertainment with no ulterior motive. How is it so different from people who feel the need to gather around a 32 inch television set to watch fireworks they are no where near?
I don't know that there is any significance to this post other than an observation that in some form or another we have been watching a form of "real TV" practically since its inception. The 'ick' factor that has embodied the term "reality TV" I suspect has more to do with the exploitation of both the willing participants and the voyeuristic tendencies of the television viewers. I mean really is there any other explanation for the continuation of a show like "the Bachelor and Bachelorette"?
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