Monday, September 30, 2013

Is the Future-Present of the Politics of Popular Culture Aldous Huxley or George Orwell? Alternatively, Do Help Me Build My Netflix Queue if You are So Inclined

The Tea Party jihadis are about to shut down the United States government in an act of devotion to the political cult of Grover Norquist.

And once more, in the Age of Obama conservatism and racism are again and together one hell of a drug, which together subvert the common good. As we are in dire times, popular culture is a way to medicate us all into a state of compliance, indifference, managed anger, and exhaustion through spectacle.

Consider our viewing options this past Sunday night.

1. The Breaking Bad finale

2. Boardwalk Empire

3. The debut of Masters of Sex

4. The New England Patriots versus the Atlanta Falcons

5. The return of The Simpsons, Family Guy, American Dad, and Bob's Burgers

I feel dirty wallowing in the wealth of film and TV riches; the bounty overwhelms me. As detailed by this great political cartoon, Orwell suggested that human society would be controlled by censorship of literature and arts. In comparison, Huxley, hypothesized that we would be controlled by pleasure on demand, and having our senses overwhelmed by stimuli. Both were correct. A dualism of political and social reality is much more common than many binary thinkers are inclined to believe.

As such, I choose not to stand against the wind. There is a Klingon proverb which argues the wisdom of that approach. I have tried to internalize it as best a Terran is able.

To point. I have finally surrendered to the Netflix gods thanks to a kind sponsor. What shows or movies should I add to my queue? Do you have any suggestions? I have of course added Star Trek and Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I just watched a great documentary on the rise and fall of pinball in the United States, and the Star Wars documentary The People versus George Lucas. I will most certainly be adding some animal themed documentaries too.

Please help me build my Netflix queue. Where should I begin?


SunKissed said...

Mystery Science Theater 3000
Joel/Mike and the bots riffing on terrible movies never gets old. I recommend "Danger! Death Ray" "Manos the Hands of Fate" or, "Prince of Space" as a good start for hours of insanely well written and executed jokes. And please always watch out for snakes! (<-for those who get the reference, welcome my fellow mysties!)

Shady Grady said...

The Iceman
A Band Called Death
Hammer of the Gods
Stand Up Guys
The English Teacher

Shady Grady said...

Yes, that's the one. Good flick.

Vic78 said...

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood should make your Queue.

OldPolarBear said...

Wow, like with the 10 Essential Films list, you could be in danger of being overwhelmed with suggestions. TV riches, indeed. I don't watch much actual, realtime TV anymore; mostly I wait until they stream and do marathons if I want to see them. We watch a lot of streamed Netflix movies at our house.

I have heard conversations among coworkers who are "getting behind" in their TV viewing. They like series that are on the same time, so they will record them for each other. Then they say, "I have a whole season of CSI to watch," or "have you watched those 12 episodes of Dexter I recorded for you?" It makes TV-watching sound like a job! lol

I will just throw out, for no particular reason above anything else, Brotherhood of the Wolf (original French title: Pacte des Loups). I think probably you can get it in the original French or dubbed into English. Some people think it's too long, almost 2.5 hours, but it is excellent and I think worth it. It is a monster/horror movie with a costume-historical setting. I see a much deeper allegorical story going on as well.

For series, I really liked Caprica, the prequel to Battlestar Galactica (the newer, Edward James Olmos one) set 70 years before. Be warned, though (I didn't know before marathon-streaming it) that they cancelled it after one season and never made the second one, that I guess would have finished the story. There is a sort of preview trailer that has clips of where the creators wanted to go.

Are you looking more for series, feature films, documentaries, or everything? Do you have a disc option with your subscription, or is it all streaming? A great deal is available streaming, but I'm often surprised at what isn't too.

The Sanity Inspector said...

A Korean horror-comedy, Chaw.

Learning is Eternal said...

They have a lotta social documentaries on NF much to my chagrin. Try out some Kung-Fu/asian action flix while your at it. Infernal Affairs is one. This is the movie The Departed copied down to the letter just insert white actors. Check out some independents also. Hermano is a good film.

chauncey devega said...

I have seen both and love them. The original's ending is much better. An other recs?

chauncey devega said...

Will check it out. Thanks.

chauncey devega said...

Beasts of the Southern Wild is one of my favorite movies in recent memory. I need to see the Spanish version of Vanilla Sky...hopefully better than the Tom Cruise version.

chauncey devega said...

Brotherhood of the Wolf is amazing. I feel fortunate to have seen it during its theatrical release. I was mixed on Caprica. Did it get better? Did you get your book?

chauncey devega said...

Folks keep telling me to watch it. Now I need to given your recommendation.

Learning is Eternal said...

See, your the reason futbol scores are low; nothing much gets past you. Try Shaolin (Andy Lau also). Other than that go crazy with whatever they have in the NF stockade. Trust me, the tea-baggers'll be here when you get back.

chauncey devega said...

I am going to watch some of the Ip man movies and I still need to catch Hero. I ain't going nowhere too much tea baggery foolishness to discuss.

Vic78 said...

A person that's studied mysticism, race theory, philosophy, psychology, and likes action will appreciate what Arakawa's done with Brotherhood. She draws from a pretty deep well. Americans really need to step their shit up.

vintagepeugeot said...

I have a particular affinity for all shows British, check out:
That Mitchell and Webb Look
Inspector Lewis
The IT Crowd

I also recently enjoyed Troll Hunter, Monsters and The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra.

OldPolarBear said...

Hero has some beautiful visuals and scenes. When you see it, I would be interested in hearing your take on the overall plot and themes.

OldPolarBear said...

Yes, I got the book! I also just now sent you a longer email, about why I hadn't let you know sooner, and some other stuff.

Caprica was kind of a mixed bag. I started out watching each episode as it aired and then gave up and waited to stream them all at once. It's just too hard building a schedule around TV when I want to do other things too.

I liked having an out gay character on there and how it was no big deal. When he was first telling his nephew, "I used to come here at watch all the cute guys," I went "whoa, did I hear that right?" And then it was like a year later when I saw it again streaming and I had heard it right. There were problematic things in the series. A lot of racial essentialism, like for instance the Taurans were presented as almost genetically violent. But overall a lot of good musing on what it means to be human and the damage that is done by the obsessive fear of death.

OldPolarBear said...

I thought Troll Hunter was awesome! For another offbeat northern movie, try Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale. A different take on Santa Claus.

Adam H said...

Masterpiece Mystery!: Wallander
Annika Bengtzon: Crime Reporter
The Fall

The cultural backdrop of each is always interesting.

chauncey devega said...

What is The Fall about?

panther said...

Ken Burns Jazz