‘Despite the strange takeover of culture by tasteless scolds, I still believe there’s nothing better than a story that grabs you and won’t let go.’ Kat Rosenfield joins The Free Press.
I have loved the British series "Call the Midwife," even though it definitely had some left (not woke) messages. I loved the focus on birth and new life, the wonderful array of characters, the complexity of the plots. I'm also now enjoying another British series, "All Creatures Great and Small," which is sort of like Call the Midwife, but for cows and other animals. So far, nothing is woke, and the accents enchant me.
Thanks for an excellent summation of what now passes for “culture.” It’s not just in tv and movies that the woke ideology is being forced upon us. Classic operas are destroyed by changing plot lines to fit woke ideas; orchestras are required to play music by under- recognized and under-represented composers. Audiences are voting with their feet- right out the door.
On the other hand, i saw Anatomy of a Fall at the movie theater, and i was transfixed. Compelling acting, great soundtrack, and a suspenseful building of plot.
"What We Do In The Shadows" is terrific. Speaking of formerly good shows that wokeness is ruining, I give you the latest season of "The Boys." There's a black character called Sister Sage, whose superpower is being "the smartest person in the world." First of all, how do you even measure that? (You can't, it's absurd). Secondly, she's not even smarter than me. She's just another smug, condescending jackass who cries racism every time someone disagrees with her or calls her out on her bullshit.
All in the Family and MASH, were two of the most politically-tinged television series ever created...but the politics never interfered with the shows being tremendously funny.
Today's woke scolds masquerading as producers, writers, directors, and actors could take a lesson.
"At what point did art criticism become more about Rousseau than about Rembrandt? That’s a rhetorical question: artists, and those who write about art have long tended toward a left of center bent, but of late much of what passes for criticism does not seem to be about the art at all, or at least not about art as an end in itself or of its structural relationships or how it achieves an emotional effect, but more about what it signifies in terms of a defined version of social consciousness and to what extent art furthers the ultimate triumph of societal perfection." See my essay, 'Othello in Blackface'.
Absolutely agree. I’m also a mother who disallowed “stupid” to my 90’s children.
Yesterday, sitting in a Medical facility waiting room, I began reading a magazine article entitled, “The 58 Best Things to Do in California”. Born and raised in California, extensively traveled, having also lived overseas, and a fan of Atlas Obscura, I’m always looking for new and interesting places to visit. Taking prominence on this list were visiting the Taco Bell in Pacifica, any In & Out Burger and the Pasadena birthplace of the cheeseburger! Did the article ever mention either of the Getty Museums, the La Brea Tarpits, Big Sur, any of the 21 historic Missions, and all the other “Traditional” and gorgeous “Natural” spots that grace our state? I didn’t get to finish, but I read far enough to doubt it. Their audience clearly prefers a culture promoting tastelessness.
I've recently watched some wonderful old movies: "The Red violin" and the original "The Red Shoes." I've also read an excellent novel about women nurses in Vietnam: "The Women."
So…I hardly watch TV these days, and my wife watches lots of British crime, drama, and comedy.
I remember taking a class in grad school (I couldn’t explain the topic in a paragraph, but…) where we had an assignment to price an option for a portfolio of movies, which gave the right to make the sequels. We were given a list of 100 movies, their production cost, and their gross…also performance on existing sequels. I remember that Karate Kid II was the only sequel to outperform its original, and most of the sequels were dismal failures.
Back in the 70’s I asked myself if I really needed a song telling the glory of blowing people away on the street with a machine gun (Another One Bites the Dust).
Last, I have a friend from high school who’s still in the music game in his late 60’s. He insistently tells me I don’t know what I’m talking about when I try to point out the difference between ‘art’ and what industry calls ‘product’.
Bonus: did anyone else note that The Rolling Stones tour is sponsored by AARP?
I love reading you for your penetrating analysis and wit! However, I am almost completely ignorant of popular culture. My wife and I have not been to a movie theater since 2000 or 2001 -- we saw "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" -- and the only television shows that we watch are on PBS. We watch A LOT of
old movies from the 1930's to the 1960's that I borrow from the library. (We used to watch TCM all of the time until we stopped getting it because it was too expensive.) These movies tell interesting stories and have great actors like Bette Davis and Gregory Peck. They don't contain gratuitous sex, violence, and profanity that are only in the film to shock audiences. These films have well-written scripts, good direction, and great acting. They are classic films for a reason: they have stood the test of time. Perhaps we live in a bubble, but we like it!
We used to holiday at a place with an old movie cable channel. I was surprised at how superior those old movies were. Properly paced, characters developed, pathos, not trying to lecture.
Also, because they weren't so heavily industrialized they are harder to predict. Any modern movie is so hackneyed the lead, love interest, protagonist are instantly recognisable the moment they appear in their fist scene. Similarly plot elements are way too predictable in modern films.
I only watch old movies, and will only read books published after 1990 if they come recommended by someone I highly respect. I’ve been burnt too many times by “the must watch” or “the hot new release!” And I don’t care to watch / read what everybody else does. Leave me out of it all, with just the literary giants of a bygone era to keep me company. Not only do they make me feel and think, but they impart wisdom on universal human truths whilst be bewitching with their language. Barely anyone can do that anymore, because in publishing at least aspiring authors are encouraged to focus on growing a social following rather than honing their craft. Don’t fall for the latest Netflix release people, you don’t *have* to watch it. You can discover the legends of cinema instead. Just some rambling thoughts 🤷🏻♀️
I have loved the British series "Call the Midwife," even though it definitely had some left (not woke) messages. I loved the focus on birth and new life, the wonderful array of characters, the complexity of the plots. I'm also now enjoying another British series, "All Creatures Great and Small," which is sort of like Call the Midwife, but for cows and other animals. So far, nothing is woke, and the accents enchant me.
Thanks for an excellent summation of what now passes for “culture.” It’s not just in tv and movies that the woke ideology is being forced upon us. Classic operas are destroyed by changing plot lines to fit woke ideas; orchestras are required to play music by under- recognized and under-represented composers. Audiences are voting with their feet- right out the door.
On the other hand, i saw Anatomy of a Fall at the movie theater, and i was transfixed. Compelling acting, great soundtrack, and a suspenseful building of plot.
Quentin Tarantino became a household name in the 90s.
Viva Rosenfield
Hooray! Welcome to the dark (fun) side Kat! I can’t read to read more
"What We Do In The Shadows" is terrific. Speaking of formerly good shows that wokeness is ruining, I give you the latest season of "The Boys." There's a black character called Sister Sage, whose superpower is being "the smartest person in the world." First of all, how do you even measure that? (You can't, it's absurd). Secondly, she's not even smarter than me. She's just another smug, condescending jackass who cries racism every time someone disagrees with her or calls her out on her bullshit.
Thank you, Kat, for an epic read. Looking forward to your column! I am still lamenting that Curb has come to an end.
All in the Family and MASH, were two of the most politically-tinged television series ever created...but the politics never interfered with the shows being tremendously funny.
Today's woke scolds masquerading as producers, writers, directors, and actors could take a lesson.
"At what point did art criticism become more about Rousseau than about Rembrandt? That’s a rhetorical question: artists, and those who write about art have long tended toward a left of center bent, but of late much of what passes for criticism does not seem to be about the art at all, or at least not about art as an end in itself or of its structural relationships or how it achieves an emotional effect, but more about what it signifies in terms of a defined version of social consciousness and to what extent art furthers the ultimate triumph of societal perfection." See my essay, 'Othello in Blackface'.
Some TV series I enjoyed were "Seinfeld," "The Big Bang Theory" and "Atypical,"
Absolutely agree. I’m also a mother who disallowed “stupid” to my 90’s children.
Yesterday, sitting in a Medical facility waiting room, I began reading a magazine article entitled, “The 58 Best Things to Do in California”. Born and raised in California, extensively traveled, having also lived overseas, and a fan of Atlas Obscura, I’m always looking for new and interesting places to visit. Taking prominence on this list were visiting the Taco Bell in Pacifica, any In & Out Burger and the Pasadena birthplace of the cheeseburger! Did the article ever mention either of the Getty Museums, the La Brea Tarpits, Big Sur, any of the 21 historic Missions, and all the other “Traditional” and gorgeous “Natural” spots that grace our state? I didn’t get to finish, but I read far enough to doubt it. Their audience clearly prefers a culture promoting tastelessness.
I've recently watched some wonderful old movies: "The Red violin" and the original "The Red Shoes." I've also read an excellent novel about women nurses in Vietnam: "The Women."
So…I hardly watch TV these days, and my wife watches lots of British crime, drama, and comedy.
I remember taking a class in grad school (I couldn’t explain the topic in a paragraph, but…) where we had an assignment to price an option for a portfolio of movies, which gave the right to make the sequels. We were given a list of 100 movies, their production cost, and their gross…also performance on existing sequels. I remember that Karate Kid II was the only sequel to outperform its original, and most of the sequels were dismal failures.
Back in the 70’s I asked myself if I really needed a song telling the glory of blowing people away on the street with a machine gun (Another One Bites the Dust).
Last, I have a friend from high school who’s still in the music game in his late 60’s. He insistently tells me I don’t know what I’m talking about when I try to point out the difference between ‘art’ and what industry calls ‘product’.
Bonus: did anyone else note that The Rolling Stones tour is sponsored by AARP?
I love reading you for your penetrating analysis and wit! However, I am almost completely ignorant of popular culture. My wife and I have not been to a movie theater since 2000 or 2001 -- we saw "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" -- and the only television shows that we watch are on PBS. We watch A LOT of
old movies from the 1930's to the 1960's that I borrow from the library. (We used to watch TCM all of the time until we stopped getting it because it was too expensive.) These movies tell interesting stories and have great actors like Bette Davis and Gregory Peck. They don't contain gratuitous sex, violence, and profanity that are only in the film to shock audiences. These films have well-written scripts, good direction, and great acting. They are classic films for a reason: they have stood the test of time. Perhaps we live in a bubble, but we like it!
We used to holiday at a place with an old movie cable channel. I was surprised at how superior those old movies were. Properly paced, characters developed, pathos, not trying to lecture.
The old movies generally show you, rather than lecture you. They knew that the latter is bad form, and bad art.
Also, because they weren't so heavily industrialized they are harder to predict. Any modern movie is so hackneyed the lead, love interest, protagonist are instantly recognisable the moment they appear in their fist scene. Similarly plot elements are way too predictable in modern films.
I agree!
I only watch old movies, and will only read books published after 1990 if they come recommended by someone I highly respect. I’ve been burnt too many times by “the must watch” or “the hot new release!” And I don’t care to watch / read what everybody else does. Leave me out of it all, with just the literary giants of a bygone era to keep me company. Not only do they make me feel and think, but they impart wisdom on universal human truths whilst be bewitching with their language. Barely anyone can do that anymore, because in publishing at least aspiring authors are encouraged to focus on growing a social following rather than honing their craft. Don’t fall for the latest Netflix release people, you don’t *have* to watch it. You can discover the legends of cinema instead. Just some rambling thoughts 🤷🏻♀️
Well said!
Love this, such good points!