I really appreciate this take, especially in contrast with the general criticism of this movie. The unfulfilled expectations seem to have impaired people's analysis (althoughh I do think it's pretty interesting to observe how hungry we all are to see our dystopia / political division play out on screen). This movie had me gripped– palms sweaty, stomach turned– and I feel certain that much of the audience shared that response. I think part of the horror of it is that we don't need the director to fill in the blanks. Our minds go there alone, which is maybe more disturbing (the call is coming from inside the house!).
Love the note about "the work of making people care." There is such an interesting paradox that plays out here– in the effort to document the violence and move people to care, the journalists are necessarily desensitized, and stopped feeling as moved themselves. We see this in Joel's adrenaline junky attitude towards the war, Jessie's character development, and finally in the Abu-Ghraib esc photo the film closes with. I think this mirrors the same desensitization that we as consumers of this media experience. In the effort to document, spread alarm and make people care about war, we become numb to it. Photography and media is almost used by the journalists (and by us as consumers) as a weapon and shield against the horrors of the world and of violence. The way they carry their cameras as they crouch and follow soldiers during battle scenes mirrors the way those soldiers carry their own guns. Lee offers to photograph Jessie at the gas station as a means of protecting her. Etc. Etc.
Alsooo the Americana noir of it all!!! Amber waves of grain with bomb smoke stacks rising. "Go Steelers!" backdropped by nooses. Striking, American landscapes and the dark underbelly laid bare. Lovedddd it.
Okay that's all!!!! Loving this brand of academia that Phil primed us for. Can't wait for the next read <3
Re: paragraph #2, this was another aspect of analysis I wanted to follow, but I was worried it would become too muddied with all of my other thoughts. I found it fascinating that Lee, the character becoming more and more troubled by conflict, is the one who dies. While Jessie's arc moves towards that "adrenaline junky attitude" you describe, and ultimately, she is the one who gets the shot.
Polky! Kicking off the socratic seminar here ;)
I really appreciate this take, especially in contrast with the general criticism of this movie. The unfulfilled expectations seem to have impaired people's analysis (althoughh I do think it's pretty interesting to observe how hungry we all are to see our dystopia / political division play out on screen). This movie had me gripped– palms sweaty, stomach turned– and I feel certain that much of the audience shared that response. I think part of the horror of it is that we don't need the director to fill in the blanks. Our minds go there alone, which is maybe more disturbing (the call is coming from inside the house!).
Love the note about "the work of making people care." There is such an interesting paradox that plays out here– in the effort to document the violence and move people to care, the journalists are necessarily desensitized, and stopped feeling as moved themselves. We see this in Joel's adrenaline junky attitude towards the war, Jessie's character development, and finally in the Abu-Ghraib esc photo the film closes with. I think this mirrors the same desensitization that we as consumers of this media experience. In the effort to document, spread alarm and make people care about war, we become numb to it. Photography and media is almost used by the journalists (and by us as consumers) as a weapon and shield against the horrors of the world and of violence. The way they carry their cameras as they crouch and follow soldiers during battle scenes mirrors the way those soldiers carry their own guns. Lee offers to photograph Jessie at the gas station as a means of protecting her. Etc. Etc.
Alsooo the Americana noir of it all!!! Amber waves of grain with bomb smoke stacks rising. "Go Steelers!" backdropped by nooses. Striking, American landscapes and the dark underbelly laid bare. Lovedddd it.
Okay that's all!!!! Loving this brand of academia that Phil primed us for. Can't wait for the next read <3
P.S. I think we know who Joel reminds us of ;)
Re: paragraph #2, this was another aspect of analysis I wanted to follow, but I was worried it would become too muddied with all of my other thoughts. I found it fascinating that Lee, the character becoming more and more troubled by conflict, is the one who dies. While Jessie's arc moves towards that "adrenaline junky attitude" you describe, and ultimately, she is the one who gets the shot.