A Pleasurable Headache: 12th July 2020
Links
Someone is Wrong on the Internet: A Study in Pandemic Distraction
I feel attacked. YMMV.
If you haven’t watched I May Destroy You yet, go do that. Then read this excellent Vulture/NY Mag profile on its creator and star, Michaela Coel.
“When she first began pitching the concept for I May Destroy You in spring 2017, Netflix offered her $1 million upfront — $1 million! But when she learned they wouldn’t allow her to retain any percentage of the copyright, she said no. No amount was worth that. She fired CAA, her agency in the U.S., too, when it tried to push her to take the deal after she learned it would be making an undisclosed amount on the back end. Throughout the fallout with Netflix and CAA, Coel asked questions relentlessly. She is eager, almost giddy, to say she doesn’t know something (even if she may have an inkling) because of the way it forces someone else to explain it to her. She has discovered that the explanation is where people begin to falter and the fissures of conventional wisdom crack wider. It may be business as usual, but is it right? Is it good?”
As a side note this interview with Thandie Newton, also at Vulture, is worth your time too.
“Then the head of the studio — I had a meeting with her, and she said, “Look, I don’t mean to be politically incorrect, but the character as written and you playing the role, I just feel like we’ve got to make sure that it’s believable.” I was like, “What do you mean? What changes would you have to make?” She’s like, “Well, you know, the character, as written, she’s been to university and is educated.” I’m like, “I’ve been to university. I went to Cambridge.” She went, “Yeah, but you’re different.” She’s like, “Maybe there could be a scene where you’re in a bar and she gets up on a table and starts shaking her booty.” She’s basically reeling off these stereotypes of how to be more convincing as a Black character. Everything she said, I was like, “Nah, I wouldn’t do that.” She’s like, “Yeah, but you’re different. You’re different.” That was Amy Pascal. That’s not really a surprise, is it? Let’s face it: I didn’t do the movie as a result.”
Conspiracy Theories Malign And Benign – Face Masks And Israeli Training Of US Police
MediaLens fighting the good fight once again.
Bryn Gelbert at Deep Hell with an interesting take on Sekiro.
“Like many FromSoftware titles, Sekiro is a game about cycles and giving the player agency to break them. The original Dark Souls is not entirely dissimilar, disguising itself as a hero’s journey the story ends with the all-powerful gods tricking the Chosen Undead into continuing a cycle wherein the old gods maintain power. The thematic focus of these games are about power, and how beings who have it will stop at nothing to maintain it – at the expense of everyone under them. Common bodies exist to be stepped on, broken and disposed of in order to serve the greater good – the needs of the few.”
Status
Another short one this time around, I’m afraid. I feel a tad overhwhelmed with information overload. Maybe a cull of the RSS, podcast feeds is needed? Althought I sense it’s something deeper than that. I feel the current crisis/crises, like most conflict, is bringing out the best and worst humanity has to offer.
Every day is like theatre. There are those on the stage doing their best, those at the front heckling away with directionless rage, and the rest in the audience trying to wonder how the hell they’re going to get through another production without being torn asunder mentally and emotionally.
In some parts of the world we are seeing amazing feats of collective and individual protest and political activism. All of this is done in the face of power structures that veer further right with each passing day, who will do anything to hold on to the influence and wealth they have left and grind anyone trying to get in the way into powder.
On the other hand you also have vast swathes of people abandoning any concept of selflessness, morality and acts for the greater good.
You want the same rights, opportunities and standard of living as everyone else?
Karen has a problem with this.
You want to be able to live free of the fear of sexual predation and assault?
Many men have opinions about this.
Wear a mask for an hour or two a day to help lessen an ongoing and enourmous global health crisis?
Boomers who constantly bring up the ‘blitz spirit’ and the ‘good old days’ will die choking on their own indignation before that happens.
It’s so easy to mutter and muscle your way through the words “Fuck off” than actually give a shit, to put the work in and think about the long term, the bigger picture.
I’m off to dip my brain in a Lazarus Pit.
See you in two!