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Monday, March 15, 2010

Man Bites Dog

I was thinking about going to see a screening of the above film, known as "C'est Arrive Pres de Chez Nous" in its original French release. I was reading some reviews. I came across the following:

"...as this generation's most telling and unflinching look at our views on violence."

I really do not think we have unflinching looks at anything at all. If we did have unflinching views on the violence that's going on, we'd all go mad.

2 comments:

trousers said...

My own comment about "Man Bites Dog" would be that it unflinchingly addresses the issue of desensitisation towards violence - not least cinematic violence - in a very charged way. On that basis I would recommend it.

Montag said...

Good point, Trou.
I am left wondering whether "Man Bites Dog" itself is the same as the documentary being shot within the film, and the people making "MBD" are in the exact same quandary as the people in the story...

and if this is so...and it certainly appears to be the case, then desensitisation towards violence can be pointed out to us, but in doing so, we are further desensitised to it, as it has now become a filmic device.

(I don't think I ever thought too much about this before...some, but not a lot.)

It seems that we have to go - somehow - outside ourselves to become sensitive again.
There's that business of outside ourselves...sounds a lot like "a higher power" or one of the other silly metaphors we use to describe the Holy. (also reminds me of Zen meditation, the Lord Buddha, and ...well, lots!)

Trou, I think you're onto something here. I am going to wrestle with this for a while.
I am very glad you commented on this I am always glad when people comment. As I have pointed out before, I don't really think too much, and I rely upon others to say things to motivate me.......sort of a Nero Wolfe of the realm of blog.