Contradicting the MAN

Jack Gustafson


Outside of the way that television and Hollywood has spoofed, and will spoof, the end of Thelma and Louise, we must understand that the film itself is still relevant, even outside of the “gender wars”. Not much has changed since the early Nineties, at least in terms of how a rape victim would be treated by the law in that similar situation; most people would say, “she was asking for it”. This is a shame, but I highly doubt that attitudes towards this will change anytime soon.
The way that the film took off after the shooting of the racist may be over-the-top, but we must not see this film as realistic, but as highly representational. What Thelma and Louise represents is an overthrow of the system of male-authority. The best example of this is when the two women put the police officer in the trunk of his own car. What makes this notable is the way the power system changes so suddenly. At first, the cop (a man) is about to thwart their attempt for freedom, but they turn the table on him. They take his gun, his belt, and his ammunition, essentially emasculating the officer, leaving him a crying mess. While the officer is crying about his wife and kids, Thelma and Louise act in an authoritarian manner. This role-reversal is still relevant today in the arts.

The film may be dated---nineties fashion and Brad Pitt being a good actor—but we mustn’t see this as an indicator for us to think that these issues have been resolved. In Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, we see the same issues played with in an even more representational fashion. This dystopian novel shows what happens under a purely male-driven authority system with a heavy Christian influence. Although religion does not explicitly play a huge role in Thelma and Louise, the residual effects of Christianity are given. Thelma’s relationship with her husband is evidence of this, and I am sure that her husband would not object to living in Gilead. Her husband expected her to be completely subservient to his wishes, and as much as she breaks that mold, the film says something about the consequences. Thelma and Louise rejects the traditional male society through the actions of the characters, but at the same time reaffirms the society. The ending shows that there is no hope for women like Thelma and Louise, they are destined to fail within our society’s structure.

Gender Wars

Thelma and Louise raises significant issues related to gender. I was not in attendance for the class screening, but have previously viewed the film and vaguely remember the outlines and mainpoints. I am not certain if it is because I am seething liberal or otherwise that I attribute merit and purpose to the film.

There were many instances that made me think and that reiterated the importance of bringing issues like rape and identity to the forefront of the American, popcorn eating consciousness. Furthermore, the film's intentional portrayal of what amount to 50's era female stereotypes reminds us that even though the film was made in the early 90's, the struggle for female equality has hardly ended.

Comparing the Handmaid's tale with Thelma and Louise is rather easy. Much like an odd version of the "Stepford Wives," the characters within both of the aforementioned works are considered comparable "peons" who serve the worthless and utterly slovenly corridors of high society. Both Thelma and Louise, like the character in the novel, are portrayed as subservient, "stay at homes," and sort of fulfill the archetype of the female "June Cleaver."

The interconnected nature of expectations and the simplicity of their daily existence, the females within the movie and the novel would never be readily believed if, say, like in Thelma case she was raped. The patriarchal nature of authority both in cinema and reality dictates that females often neglect to inform medical and legal personnel about the incident. Much like an invisible ceiling exists within corporate America, the perpetration of rape constructs a rather unavoidable "it is my fault" and wounded mentality that precludes women from rightfully expressing their hurt and victimization.

When contrasting "Thelma and Louise" with Handmaid's Tale is that, unlike Thelma or Louise,the Handmaid was a resident of a highly stratified class structure that disabled her from removing herself, by choice, from the negativity and economically deprived situation that she confronted.

Some critics of feminism would view (especially) the issue of rape as a matter of women's failure to "speak up," but that is a simplistic and rather flawed logic that fails to address the reasons why many women who were, like Thelma, abused do not curb future violence by way of non-disclosure. The film does an artful and tasteful job of demonstrating the necessity of continued feminism. While many males would like to believe that we have have "outgrown" the necessity of feminism, any female can underscore the very contrary and probably provide a "Thelma and Louise" like example to demonstrate their sentiment.

I would say that the end of "Thelma and Louise" reiterates the notion that an idea or movement must be externally reinforced and the problem sort of portrayed to be perpetuated for the issue to remain legitimate and relevant. Much like the NAACP and other organizations that strive for diversity, often only the negative or most extreme examples are promoted or publicly discussed because if nothing negative is happening the organization and leaders within are devoid of a continuance catalyst. In some instances it can be said that the overwhelming positive-in the instance of feminism the progress made, can be neglected or swept under the rug so that people do not perceive the issue or series of issues to be of diminished salience.

"Thelma and Louise" concluding with the idea that women will have a difficult time advancing by way of gender structure, is real. Unfortunately,the harsh reality of gender inequality will continue to so long as there exist societal members who deny rather than acknowledge pressing matters of inequity.

Corey S. Dutra

aWW-some

The question if this film is still relevant I believe is a yes, a resounding yes. It was cleverly done and while a lot of the movie I did roll my eyes or fail to see what would be liberating about just getting into a car and driving. I have done it several times and across complete states. When watching the movie I thought it had been done maybe in the 1980’s sometime it just seemed like a world apart, even though we found out they were from Arkansas but still the whole movie seemed alien to me. Why wouldn’t women be believed, why wouldn’t they be able to drive somewhere to go fishing. I thought the fishing premise was weird I only know one girl who likes fishing and even then she goes to get a tan. The fact a woman wouldn’t be believed by the cops or the whole premise of “she was asking for it” I mean that is what struck me as when was this thing made. Granted I were only four when this movie came out but the world I grew up in was nothing like that portrayed in the movie. The whole movie would have been over 30 minutes in had they just went to the police station and said what had happened, the movie deals with a lot of prejudices; women feeling/treated as second class citizens, women being subservient to their husbands, women lacking overall freedom. The movie revolves around all these ideas, the women themselves though were either blasé and air-headed or hard and cold. So the characters in my opinion are not what I picture or know most women to necessarily to be, so this movie has a lot of built in prejudices that help to keep this movie going. This movie also takes a weird turn when they decide to turn into paladins. So was the person exposed to get from that if woman have too much freedom look at what happens; tankers for some odd reason blow up, people get shot at, stores get robbed and police officers are held captive. I mean this movie just jerks you around from one spectrum to the other and maybe that was what it was going for. We cannot forget the easy going, honest, trusting cop because police officers don’t hold grudges at all they don’t have their own baggage they bring to the job. When answering the question is this movie still relevant, I feel you would have to defer the question to a woman since the movie was based on them. From looking around the room from time to time you could see girls in the class enjoying themselves and paying attention so I believe the movie still does have some relevance. I think it is a shame it does because it means there are still some prejudices out there and those I believe need to be removed. The movie I am sure served its purpose when it was out and opened people’s eyes but it seemed that many things in the movie were relics of the past. Robert Foster

Feminism Fantastica

Blog Question: What is the legacy of “Thelma & Louise” in 2009? Is this film relevant today or is just another relic from the gender wars of the past?
I have a feeling that this blog will bring out my inner feminist, which although has a largely negative connotation, I have to remind myself often that being a “feminist” is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. The term feminist dates back to the women who worked for women’s suffrage. Not only should I be damn proud to lump myself in with those astounding women, I should feel that I am hardly worthy of that title. That tangent aside, I would like to talk about “Thelma & Louise.”

There are many aspects of “Thelma & Louise” that I find very relevant in 2009. Although the movie was dated, with a young studly Brad Pitt, and, let’s be honest, Susan Sarandon does not look that young anymore, I think that all of the major issues are still very real in the lives of women (and some men) today. Let’s start with the first hiccup; the attempted rape. The issue of rape, specifically with reporting rape, is still very much around today. Many women feel that they can’t report for the same reason Thelma couldn’t. No one would believe her and even if they did, the finger would be pointed at her. Now I’m not here to debate the epic battle of men vs. woman, and I will openly admit that men deal with some of these same issues, and even to a different extreme, but today I will limit myself to a specific gender discussion revolving around “Thelma & Louise.”

There are many similarities and differences that exist between “Thelma & Louise” and The Handmaid’s Tale. Both women had appointed roles in their society that they were expected to fulfill. Offred to be a Handmaid and provide babies for unproductive high society wives. In the same way, Thelma is expected to stay at home, clean, cook, look pretty and wait on her husband hand and foot. When Thelma drinks and dances, she is expected to “put-out.” Louise plays the role of the raped and wounded, bitter, unmarried woman. If she’s single at her age there must be something wrong with her, at least that’s what society says, and the role that Louise fulfills. However, there are some differences. For example as it was at the time and is even more so now, woman have some choice as to what role they fill in society. We can choose to be single or married, have kids or not have kids. However, the Handmaid’s had no choice. They were appointed into roles given certain circumstances that existed in their lives prior to the creation of the new class system.

I think that Thelma and Louise, although it could never be as great as this version, especially because it was on the verge of the new feminist movement. This movie is a classic and I hope that they don’t mess with it.

Beth Goin

ConspireSmire

1. The Illuminati: group that plans to take over the world. Believe in one, united world. Their symbol (pyramid with the eye) on U.S. currency.

2. Area 51: nickname for an air force base in New Mexico believed to be a holding unit for alien spacecraft.

3. Kennedy Assassination: Kennedy killed by government leaders and agencies.

4. Martin Luther King Assassination: also killed by government because if he ran for president he’d have a chance to win.

5. Marilyn Monroe’s Death: government murdered her because she learned too many government secrets during her affair with JFK.

Beth Goin

More like POS!

How would I remake the movie “Red Dawn” in this post 9/11 world that we live in? I wouldn’t. Red Dawn may have been shocking at the time of it’s initial release in the 1980s, but after hundreds of movies destroying New York City due to global weather changes, giant amphibians, and super heroes, and the release of a hundred more “War on Terror” movies, you couldn’t possibly remake “Red Dawn” and have the same affect that it did on audiences in the ‘80s.

That being said, if some lame money hungry moviemaker was going to remake it- it would be terrorists instead of Cubans and Russians. And you can be almost positive those terrorists would hate the United States and everything they stand for. They would then attack our favorite places, the places were American greedy consumerism is at it’s best. Malls, amusement parks, airports, all those places were the masses flock to and where we like to spend lots of money. Unlike Red Dawn, small towns in the middle of nowhere would probably be safe, same for places we don’t spend any time anymore, public libraries (when is the last time you were in one of those) and any place of retail that only takes cash (because who carries that anymore.)

In conclusion, if you are thinking about remaking “Red Dawn” in today’s political world, please don’t.

Y2WHAT?!

Blog Question: Brainstorm 5 “unthinkable” things that absolutely cannot occur (according to conventional political wisdom) in the political world of 2009.

5 Unthinkable things that couldn’t occur in the political world of 2009 because we’ve become to fat & lazy to worry about such things:

1. Chemical warfare.

2. Depletion of heavily relied upon natural resources (such as gasoline.)

3. Global Warming turns out to be true.

Beth Goin

4. War taking place on U.S. soil (hasn’t happened in several generations-government & citizens would be completely unprepared.)

5. Y2K- except for real this time. All computer and information systems fail us. Then where would we be?

Conspire, Conspire!

My Five Favorite Conspiracy Theorists

The first theory is the Roswell Crash and Area 51 and the government cover up. I believe that this is the king of all conspiracy theories maybe because I was made to watch The X-Files when I was little with my father and uncles. The most interesting one because most believe we are not alone in this whole universe it is similar to thinking we are the center of the universe. Most Americans believe that aliens or something has landed on earth ad there has been many encounters between governments especially our own and something from not around here. The second conspiracy theory is closer to home, the Kennedy Assassination from actually watching the video to seeing Oliver Stones take on the whole thing everybody has a opinion on this. The Kennedy assassination was such a high profile case because it was a President, he were looked at by a doctor and the simple fact he was such a loved man who would want to kill him. The truth is Kennedy had made a lot of enemies in America and outside it, from the Soviet Union to the Italian Mob that helped him get elected. The shooter is also what raises the bar when discussing the death of the president. The next conspiracy theory is moon landing with a small but growing amount of people who see the magnetic field holding us back from getting deep into space and the more we learn about sun’s deadly rays. Many people look to the video from the lunar landing and people wonder why every flight doesn’t land on the moon and establish further our colonization of it. People look to varying things like no stars in the background, film tricks and the flag waving in the background. People see that space is very hostile from debris flying around from old space stations, gamma rays and solar flares that doubt has continued to creep into people’s minds. The fourth conspiracy theory is 9/11 and how people see the whole day and how the events played out. People see the fact that the Patriot Act was pushed through in less then 30 days and destroyed our civil liberties. People look to see the fuel, turbines and sheer velocity of a place hitting a building would knock it down. I personally doubt this one very, very much because of Popular Mechanics and the way they looked at the whole scenario along with the calls form the plane wishing the best to the ones they love. The last conspiracy theory was FDR knowing that the Japanese were going to bomb Pearl Harbor. People in history courses always say he knew and that he saw it was an advantage but I hope this is not true because a lot of Americans died that day. People see that the Ambassador was kept waiting for longer in the waiting area. The fact our aircraft carriers were conveniently out of the harbor that day it allowed us to still fight a war and defend ourselves. People see that America needed to get into the war to save Europe and even when the Germans didn’t do anything to us.

Robert Foster

WHOA!

Whoa, man. Have you ever really looked at your hands? They’re like maps of the universe. I bet God did that.

-jack gustafson


I have always loved to read about conspiracy theories, but I have always had an unchangeable prejudice towards those who actually believe in them. To me, people who hold on tighly to conspiracy theories are no better than the religious fanatics, in that both groups of people try to forge their identities out of sheer ridiculousness. With that said, here are my “Top 5 Favorite Political Conspiracies(!)”

1: Who shot JFK?
I don’t really care. If I am forced to answer the question “Who do you think shot JFK?”, I will tell them that Lee Harvey Oswald shot President Kennedy. Whether this is true or not, I do not care, I just like to get a rise out of assholes. Maybe there was someone on the grassy knoll, maybe Oliver Stone was getting on to something, maybe there was something “back and to the left”, but in all actuality it doesn’t matter. I will remain a sheep of the masses, blindly following the whims of the “ignorant”.


2: 9/11 was an inside job.

I wish all those Ron Paul followers would just shut the fuck up. I don’t care how complex their “theories” are of how the Twin Towers fell as a result of detonated explosives set up by the government may sound, they are full of shit. Islamic terrorists flew planes into the buildings, and they fell. Do us all a favor and smoke some more pot, and talk about how the government is out to get us, but just do it in your parent’s basement and not outside. You’re an eyesore.
3: Victims of Hurricane Katrina were intentionally ignored by the U.S. Government.
George Bush hates black people…well maybe he doesn’t, I don’t know, why don’t you ask him? The government didn’t let anybody down; bureaucracy was just doing its job. I’ve even heard some nutcases (see answer 2) say that the levees were detonated with explosives, and that’s why the city flooded so badly, but come on, that’s just stupid.
4: The Government has been infiltrated by communists(!)

Now for the way-back machine. Good-ole-boy Joe McCartney silenced his opposition by accusing people of being “card-carrying” communists. His actions were responsible for the destruction of many people’s careers, regardless of evidence. That sure was funny.

5: There are WMD’s in Iraq.

This may not technically be a conspiracy theory, but see what happens when you listen to the nutjobs that think like that. It’s our own fault.

Conspire this!

The top five political conspiracies of the “modern era” in my opinion are as follows:
NUMBER ONE: JFK | without dispute, I believe the number one political conspiracy is the legendary incredulity surrounding the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. In my opinion, the aforementioned conspiracy has fostered debate that is more scholarly, research and sheer mystery than any other in our thus far abbreviated national history.

Conspiracy Backgrounder: Refusing to believe traditional theories and conjectures about the assassination of JFK provided by the Warren Commission, hundreds of thousands of American citizens have embraced the idea that the former president was assassinated by the Secret Service because of his “radically progressive ideas.” The aforementioned conspiracy dictates that items such as Kennedy being permitted to ride in an open-air vehicle, the communications breakdown that ensued the tragedy, photographs that appear to have been professionally doctored and a skull that perhaps does not physiologically match that of the victim, are all indicators of a significant government concealment.

Number Two: MOON | While perhaps not political, the second greatest conspiracy is inevitably, whether the United States actually landed a rather combustible structure on the surface of the moon. Like the former conspiracy, this particular one involves the alleged doctoring of photos. Come on, can a flag wave on the surface of a celestial body devoid of atmosphere? Theorists cast aspersion on the legitimacy of lunar photographs that appear to have misplaced and inaccurate “cross marks” where the highly advanced cameras utilized in the endeavor would have captured the images. Of further note, is the similarity with which the Nevada desert resembles the lunar surface. While the significance or fervency around this theory have steadily diminished with the passage of time, it may be impossible to ever know whether this “out of the world” theory merits further skepticism or whether we should resign to the inevitable pride that resulted from the mission and avoid additional investigation on the matter.

Number Three: September 11, 2001 | definitely one of the more recent conspiracies to emerge, and maybe among the more sensitive to discuss, the attacks on 9/11 have been widely attributed to perpetrators other than Al-Qaeda terrorists. Theorists have stated that reviewing footage of a planned building implosion say, in Las Vegas, is identical to the explosion that flattened both 110-story buildings of the World Trade Center complex. Citing architect Minoru Yamasaki, the primary architect of the structures, theorists underscore that the complex was designed to withstand a direct contact with planes of comparable proportion. Mere jet fuel, these individuals state, could not have toppled the structures. The same experts cite the previous warning the government had received regarding the attacks-and their aligned lack of action thereon. The conspiracy-mongering citizens also point to the political capital and blanket political authority that was the resultant product of the attack as underpinnings for a governmental conspiracy.

Number Four: Lack of Marijuana Legality | Politicians often discredit the conspiracy rooted in this matter, because after all, how much legitimacy are bong-toking citizens afforded in America? Nonetheless, I find it a salient conspiracy theory rooted in unsound and minimally studied policies. Many who smoke marijuana or who are for its legalization, citing the lack of “underground” demand that they concomitantly believe will reduce gang presence and cartel-related homicides, believe that the government largely rendered their decision to outlaw marijuana based on the few voices of conservative, Christian influences. Further, these conspiracy theorists believe that government could legally tax the product much like cigarettes and that the benefits from doing so would be holistic. Sound research, not moral imperative is the modus operandi of the group valiantly fighting for this cause.

Number Five: Hurricane Katrina | this particular matter, while widely observed by a large audience, still has significant contributors. The theory alleges that the United States government intentionally and consciously avoided the amelioration of Hurricane-stricken areas because of the disproportionately African-American demographic of the affected communities. Theorists allege that attempt after rescue attempt, the lack of celerity with which aid arrived and solutions were delivered, among other items were evidential of Kanye West’s infamous line “George W. Bush does not care about black people.”

Corey Scott-Vincent-William Dutra

Red Piece of...

The remaking of Red Dawn would be much different in a Post 9-11 world because since that time as well as the 1980’s major upgrades have been done to the U.S. military and with Homeland Security in place almost impossible. There are no longer nations who are anti- America with a major superpower backing them. An operation like that from a formal nation would not be possible since the U.S. is the only hyper-power in the world. In a post 9-11 world the most obvious enemy would be Islamic fundamentalists but they do not have the capacity to knock out major cities in one swift move or the adequate forces to suppress an uprising. The technology is not there nor the manpower. The United States is known as a hyper power for a reason and that is because no single nation can fight us on so many fronts. The advances in Homeland Security, cyber technology and reining military might would give no one nation even the ability to carry out that type of mission. The fundamentalists might be able to offer a blow or two but not cripple the nation on a financial, military and sustainable invasion, the United States as well believes in citizens owning their own guns, that would make invasion almost twice as tough. The invasion would take resources currently no nation has. The bullying of many nations against the United States would be the only way such a move would be applicable. The teaming up against the United States would not occur or be allowed by the majority of nations. The only way this could occur would be perfect precision from different cells working together and having the financial backing of Saudi Arabia or another wealthy nation. The remake of Red Dawn would need to have many nations or organizations who do not do anything together working as one for one goal. No such goal exists between so many nations and many benefit from American society in one way or another. Greed is everywhere.

Robert Foster

Red Dawn Remake...Please Do Not!

Remaking "Red Dawn," a film that portrays the then very real concerns of Soviet preemptive attack, would be rather easy in the Post-9/11 world. The media has served to feed the American citizenry with a continuous and ostensibly incredulous stream of bull-shit. Hollywood has capitalized on the trend and produced movies depicting Islamic terrorists demolishing large structures and authors have banked on the aforementioned tragedy by convincing us that America's demise is imminent.

The corny and rather redneck scenarios that interplay in "Red Dawn," a movie that depicts the unlikely invasion of Soviet trips into small-town America via means of parachutes, could be vastly improved upon. I could not help but internally chuckle as I observed the ridiculous escape of a few citizens and their safety from the occupying force.

It has been an all-too-popular and slovenly production trend to portray the physical invasion of an occupying national military. Our increasingly globalizing society has reiterated that future terrorist attacks will likely aim to detriment and destroy technological and intellectual capital, rather than, to conspicuously target exceedingly tall skyscrapers. Said attacks entail the type of sophistication only made recently available in the twenty-first century and would significantly cripple the day-to-day financial, physical and infrastructure operations of America.

Producing a cerebral film about the catastrophic, terrorist-provoked explosion of America's technological, energy and infrastructure grid would be undoubtedly difficult to attract the dollars and attention span of a nation largely obsessed with seeing how many pounds, dollars and 15 minutes of fame their fellow citizens can attain by participating in mindless reality programs.

The time has come, however, when the true effects of our disproportionately powered tech economy and an attack on it should be elucidated. Think about the aftermath. ATM's would not function, stop lights would cease to provide adequate protection against the insanity of our signal controlled traffic, energy facilities would be unable to generate power, airlines would be without direction, and Blackberry and iPhone consumers across the country would protest and angrily bitch about the dysfunction of it all. The film of technological disaster could illustrate the danger, disillusionment, and humor that a situation of such a magnitude could inspire.

In the interest of further creative liberties, however, the attack would need to be depicted as transpiring under the watch of the previous administration. The current president's anticipatory and contingency operations could potentially dull the imagery, by quelling the situation with strategy and intelligent insight.

Corey Scott-Vincent-William Dutra

Remaking Red [Yawn]...Dawn

As kitschy, ridiculous and dated as the film Red Dawn is, the point of the film does not get lost through bad haircuts and Soviet fears. The very real fear of waking up one day and having everything around you reversed, is a fear that has been with mankind ever since two rival societies decided to vilify each other, an attribute of humanity that I believe has been with us for thousands of years. Because a quality of mankind is to distrust others, and to allow our imaginations to take us to the worst possible conclusions, I don’t think that remaking Red Dawn in a post 9/11 world would be too difficult.

What I would do to remake the film is to have a series of dirty bombs detonate in major U.S. cities, causing extreme panic and governmental breakdown. In the aftermath of this, the Chinese, Saudi Arabia and Iran, would invade the United States from the coasts. The U.S. government would have to operate from Chicago, as the survivors would reside in the Midwestern United States from Utah to Ohio. For the remake of Red Dawn, most of the battle scenes could remain similar, hell we could even keep the corny haircuts, as most of the people in the Midwest haven’t really changed in the last 20+ years, we just have “the google” now, and our fears have been shifted from Soviets to “Islamofascists”.

It would be really easy to pray off the fears of Americans and remake this movie from a “post 9/11” stand. The only thing that has changed since the 1980s is that the systems of media have become even better at inspiring a complete and total fear in the hearts of the masses. So by playing off these fears, and our given absolute trust/”attempt at contempt with ‘mainstream’ media” we can create a world within Red Dawn that realistically appeals to people fears. The biggest effort of the new Red Dawn would be to avoid turning the film into a hate-piece against Islam, as most Americans already have a distrust of Islam and this movie, in the “post 9/11 world” would serve to that distrust. However, if we were to involve the original production crew, they probably wouldn’t give two shits about how Islam is portrayed, and would do whatever it takes to get the most tickets sold.

The way to sell the most tickets would be to do what the original film did, to rely upon the story as an über-nationalistic mouthpiece, talk about “courage”, and show that the Americans who courageously thought with their gut were able to take back the USA from those goddamned Ruskies, but now we replace Ruskies with “towel-heads”. Divide and conquer, inspire with-us or against-us attitudes and you’ll get your $200 million back in no time.

Jack Gustafson

Thinking the Unthinkable

Five Unthinkables for the political world of 2009:

1: A military coup will overthrow and ascend to power in the United States.

2: The European Union will dissolve as a result of Islamic extremists assuming power in Great Britain and France.

3: Nuclear exchange between Israel and Iran.

4: Turkey invades Northern Iraq as a result of Kurdish fighters detonating dirty bombs in Istanbul.

5: After failed peace talks between Japan and North Korea, North Korea sends missiles toward Seoul and Tokyo, followed by North Korean and Chinese ground troops fully invading Japan and South Korea.

Jack Gustafson

The Unthinkable, You Don't Say?!

According to political wisdom of 2009, the following top ten incidents could not occur:
1. Iran launch a nuclear missile directed toward the contiguous United States.
2. North Korea cannot invade neighboring South Korea; establishing a concomitant government within Seoul, South Korea.
3. Al-Qaeda could not perpetrate the massive or furtive launch of simultaneous “dirty bomb” attacks within a major US city.
4. America could not confront a natural disaster superior to Hurricane Katrina.
5. A US city cannot fall to anarchy or other civil insurrectionism.
6. Domestic terrorism involving the explosion of a significant venue (athletic arena, etc) could not transpire.
7. Terrorism cannot occur in such a manner that would involve the decimation of American technological infrastructure-by internationally based hack artists.
8. American military North American Aerospace Defense Command could not be infiltrated by an “insider” permitting for the simultaneous launching of missile defense systems against Russia and China.
9. Another US executive leader cannot be assassinated by those in significant opposition to the potential progress entailed in a new government reformation system.
10. Mexico cannot invade Texas, Florida and California utilizing Mexican Federal Police and military squadron to reclaim formerly owned territories and form a new Chicano state.
Corey Scott-Vincent-William Dutra

Shot of REAL[ism]

Robert Foster

I idea of an American Camelot and the Kennedy’s was one of the most brilliant and easy things to do during the time John was running for office. His family exposure allowed this notion of a strong and good family to be portrayed even though behind the scenes it was quite the opposite. The idea was then crafted quickly after the assassination of John Kennedy to the legacy it is known for today, the accomplishments, the idealism it is much easier to contrast because quickly after it the hippie and Vietnam protests began. This is the innocence that people at before the radical departure that occurred during those years. The idea of Woodstock, student marches and ideology you can hold your own views but the time span during the Kennedy administration and compared to those times of sex, drugs and rock n’ roll during the LBJ administration pose striking differences. In the movie the Kennedy’s are shown as the saviors who did not to receive such actions, it is a two-minute dialogue in the movie. But people know that during this time that administration brought this upon themselves. It showed a united family sticking together and being the smartest people in the United States but also the most down to earth. The fights over toast and Ken lying in his wives arms saying these guys are the smartest in the room. The character of Bobby in my opinion shows this striking idea that he is misunderstood; he isn’t ruthless and smart. No, he is a good old-fashioned Catholic schoolboy who bad things seem to happen under their watch. It portrays them as being level headed and having to save the country from generals who want to destroy the United States but everyone knows the true way the Kennedy’s act. For my own mother who is in love with Camelot doesn’t wish to see the glaring black eyes or outright lies because everything is to complicated now. The fact these men took their family to church, stopped in the confessional box and worked around the clock to save the country while being so gracious. I doubt any President truly ponders the idea of how one can get to saying throw a life away or say he isn’t going to take some bait from a general. It makes these men look like gods who could do no wrong or harm no person. The movie shows a nation that produced the finest of men, the smartest people to ever win an election and bad things happening to them for no reason. The movie shows a president who posses all the best characteristics of someone up to that time. What we must remember is they made mistakes, they toppled governments, and they make Clinton out to look like a saint. Americans and especially Roman Catholic’s need to remember these were men who cheated on wives, back tapped people, ruined careers and perhaps even stole an election. They were connected with the most corrupt men from the Daley’s in Chicago to Tammany in New York, they were the best players in the political world perhaps to good.

Don't Challenge Me!

Jack Gustafson

In a previous column, I presented the idea that Hollywood is not of a liberal bias, and with this column, I must reiterate that stance. I am not going to say that Thirteen Days is not biased towards the Kennedy family, it most certainly is, however I must argue that the Kennedy family holds a certain place within the American Mythology. Americans, for the most part, do not care about the facts behind the Kennedy Administration, we want to hear things that go along with what we think, and this is a perfect task for Hollywood. Most Americans think of JFK as a good to great President, and we don’t want Hollywood mucking up our belief structure. Same goes with Nixon, we know he was a “bad guy”, which is why all movies about Nixon eventually show him as the flaw character that he was (and that we all are). With movies like Thirteen Days, we allow Hollywood to hold our hand as we “venture” into unchallenged myths.

Thirteen Days takes special care to convince the audience of its’ authenticity. Several scenes within the film are filmed in black and white, an effort by the director to make the movie seem based on specific facts, which I won’t deny. Artists have always messed with their medium to convince the audience of its’ authenticity, and even though I would hardly call this film “art”, and would also say that the use of black and white is a failure, I must respect the attempt. What does work is the use of real news clips to help guide the story while maintaining as sort of historical accuracy. Sadly, in this film with little character development, and lack of suspense, the news clips were the most exciting parts.

While the movie makes it obvious that it favored the Kennedy family through the attention paid toward the characters, I believe that it fails to successfully heap praise on them. If Hollywood was so liberal, you would think that they would take special care to make a good film, but in the end we get flat characters, a story that the national audience is already familiar with, and more Kevin Costner than should be allowed by law. I mean, look at the guy, his character seems to be a mold of like five or six different characters since the real Kenney O’Donnell had nowhere near the amount of power as the fictitious one did. It seems that Kevin Costner is only acting out his dream of hanging out with the Kennedy family.

Since the national audience is already familiar with the story within the film, the idea of creating this film should have been aborted, unless the director decided to add aliens, zombies, or alien zombies. The problem with making a movie like this is that everyone already knows how it will end. The only way to make the movie watchable is to show a different side of an already known character or to actually change history. Kevin Costner was not enough to keep me interested, and (surprise!) we beat the Ruskies. The result is that this film suffers the same fate as all Hitler assassination movies.

If this movie is deemed “Liberal” (capital l is intentional), then I have to believe that this is all part of the vast right-wing conspiracy; the movie does not entertain. In the end it is not about the story, but the size of the director’s ego.

Shame on You, Congress!

Blog Question: Does Congress deserve the bad rap it gets in the movies?

NOTE: This blog is Beth's addition from last week's events which precluded her from posting.

Dr. Meiers said in class that he would prefer to have 200 random people picked from the phonebook than the members of Congress we have now. I believe that’s an excellent idea. Politicians lose touch with the citizens of this country upon the election into office, particularly into the Congress. Any sense of working for the good of the citizens is depleted upon entering the game of politics.
For example, my most recent infuriation, in a recent story from the Kansas City Star on Feb. 21st about Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as possible secretary of health and human services, Kansas City’s “beloved” mayor, Emmanuel Cleaver is quoted saying “We’re just not going to be able to go there (referring to health care.) We have no money.” Are you kidding me? No money? Cleaver may have once done wonderful things for Kansas City, but I’m officially over him. No money? And you just spent billions of dollars on multiple corporate bailouts to line the pockets of CEOs again. You can’t find ANY money, to assist the million of people in the United States with out health care. And he calls himself a democrat, he should be ashamed.
Now that I’m off that soapbox, politics is a game that only snakes and skunks can play the best. And Congress is the forest harboring the worst kinds of vermin in this country. A person with good intentions and strong morals will never make it in politics, not ever. Even if you begin as a hard working, good willed American citizen looking to make a difference, the key to making it in politics is learning how to play the game. Once you’re in the game, it consumes you so completely, that you lose the simple, functioning ideals you came in with, and come out with a self serving ambition that can take you right to the top. The drive to please constituents, to make the money needed for re-election (and line their own pockets,) to take trips and have fancy dinners on tax dollars, and to pocket the right people to help you get what you want is what drives Congressmen to do what they do. But maybe, just maybe, if you took 200 random people, with no agenda, just coming with their experiences with the frustrations of middle and lower classes, Congress could finally get something accomplished.
Simply, Congress deserves every bit of the bad rap they get. Exploit the hell out of them, uncover all of their dirty little secrets and print them in your biased Medias for the world to see. I’ll eat up every word you tell me, because even if what you say isn’t true, deep down I know it’s probably that bad… or worse.

Beth Goin

The Loathsome Tale

If you hadn’t noticed already, I loathe all politicians. So it would be logical that although many Americans adore them, I consider the Kennedy’s to be no different. That being said I have to be honest that I know little to nothing regarding JFK’s time as president, being that I was not alive then and I don’t take much interest in history. I know that something JFK did must be shady because, let’s be honest, he got shot. Other than that my basis of information comes from Dr. Meiers brief summary before the movie. While I was watching Thirteen Days it occurred to me that Dr. Meiers has given these brief summations before movies the last few movies we’ve watched. And most of the time they show the ugly side of the topic of the movie. For example, Kennedy’s Operation Mongoose prior to the Cuban Missile Crisis. Dr. Meiers informed us about a series of terrible happenings the United States inflicted including rapes, burnings, murders and more. Interested and curious about the information given to us, I decided to do some of my own research on Operation Mongoose, as Dr. Meiers would tell us never to get all of our information from one source. I could not find one article discussing those types events taking place during Operation Mongoose. I want to be clear that I am not arguing the fact that these proceedings took place, but why would Dr. Meiers give us information that we would be unable to back up with an alternate source. In addition, why would he give us such controversial information before we watch a movie, so the whole time I’m watching, his synopsis of the events or people prior are fresh in my head resulting in my interpretation of the movie closely relating to the information given to me by Dr. Meiers. Maybe it’s a test. Maybe he’s looking to see if we gobble up and spit it back out, just like good little college kids. He could be checking to see if we form opinions of our own. Then another thought occurred to me. Is it possible that Dr. Meiers is a planning a political mutiny? And maybe he’s planting the seeds of revolt in the young, pliable minds of innocent college students to create an “army” when the time comes to enact a revolution? Doesn’t Dr. Meiers have a “following” of poli-sci students that take all his classes? Ok, so there’s probably no rebellion in the making. But it does remind me of an important point to remember. Use trusted sources and don’t get all your information from on place. Think for yourself and form your own opinions. Never trust a label- even PhD’s can have slanted ideas. What Dr. Meiers says makes sense. And as far as the Kennedy’s are concerned- politicians are snakes, especially those that make it to the presidency. Nothing surprises me, don’t believe what you see in the movies.

Beth Goin

Americans Only Watch Historically Quasi-Accurate Crap!

After hearing that President John F. Kennedy said "if I do not get at least a strange piece of ass everyday, I will have a migraine headache," it is almost painstakingly difficult to render a serious response to this blog inquiry. I will muster what analytical prowess I can in the spirit of completing this entry.

There is little secret regarding the power players, perfunctory cruelty and ruthlessness that the Kennedy administration often demonstrated. The film "Thirteen Days," however, does not adequately address said matters. The "sin of omission," while probably referenced by the more Republican or conservative viewership of the "B-" rate film, as underscoring an inherent liberal bias is undoubtedly done more for portraying the relevant and salient historical aspects of the military and diplomatic crisis that unfolded in 1962, than any deliberate attempt to further romanticize "Camelot."

Like many cases of artistic liberty, it is easy and rather mindless to criticize the proclivity of a film rather than to cite a production's true to period commitment. In this respect, there is one blatant misrepresentation within the film, the depiction of Laurence O' Donnell is misguided provided that the real-life character was charged with "prostitute procurement" for President Kennedy. The movie unnecessarily elevates the aforementioned character, much like Kennedy in other media, to the status of a devout Catholic-neglecting to mention the individual's morally questionable activities. This particular "liberty," surprised me because nothing makes for a more interesting and audience-entertaining story line than a politician chasing hookers for an venerated public figure. Credit should be given to the film's director and writer's for not taking the routine "low road," of Hollywood and maintaining a dedication to 'mostly' historical fact. The film, in all honesty, could have easily ventured into smut land-given the dastardly material that the Kennedy administration unknowingly generated for latter production value.

In terms of the depiction of the military within the film, according to my reference of administration documents, the portrayals are largely accurate. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, as shown in the film, was strong-willed and opposed to any interference or attempt at military direction without explicit "permission" of the president. To this end, McNamara allayed the sort of additional "shot over the bow" incidents ordered by other defense personnel-primarily, the Naval chief.

I was actually surprised that some moments of tense "pissed off" shots were shown regarding Kennedy. My expectation was that Kennedy would have continuously been idealized as the type of perpetually equable mind that many previous films and literature have falsely attributed to him. There is a certain reassuring humanity in knowing that in the midst of a national crisis the president of the United States remains demonstrative of real, powerful humanistic sentiments of which we can all relate to on an inferior stress scale.

"Thirteen Days," was actually directed and written utilizing "The Kennedy Tapes - Inside the White House During the Cuban Missile Crisis," an actual account of events within the Oval Office penned by Ernest May and Philip Zelikow. Analyzing the film and comparing it side by side with actual developments-though omissions were perpetrated, suggests a movie of unusual historical commitment.

Sure, "Thirteen Days" has its way with some minor historical facts, but if it were all real one thing is more certain than taxes and death, even fewer Americans than already did would have gone to see its cinematic debut.

Corey Scott-Vincent-William Dutra

Dave, Be Damned!

NOTE: Sleep deprivation and a general lack of enthusiasm for this film precluded an "above par" performance. We hope you enjoy this utterly unedited film review.