tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25448986388232874232024-03-13T22:48:19.590-07:00Beelzebub's BrokerThe obscure writings of Jamie Clubb.
"It rained last week because God was crying about how sceptical you are, Jamie" - Sarah ChipperfieldPhilip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comBlogger202125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-31009272607531441732017-05-16T05:04:00.002-07:002017-05-16T05:04:28.577-07:00My Conflict with Conflict<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUvd3MGCuoTD7BljMyRc9-Gg4d0Hbi5pdvxFt5xIGHyYSBQWiezmRMPM3xc_dPjYJoZDtLl8oo59UJZKVT0rl84rkWBD3YZURtIjFgM8jUKlFZwvigTpSirVJTlx3xtBVAiQSyPg77yU/s1600/angela+carter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUvd3MGCuoTD7BljMyRc9-Gg4d0Hbi5pdvxFt5xIGHyYSBQWiezmRMPM3xc_dPjYJoZDtLl8oo59UJZKVT0rl84rkWBD3YZURtIjFgM8jUKlFZwvigTpSirVJTlx3xtBVAiQSyPg77yU/s1600/angela+carter.jpg" /></a></div>
So I saw one of these "Be a better writer..." ads pop up on my
newsfeed recently. Maybe I was tired and my mental defences were low,
but I read the first paragraph. The key thing, this short story expert
was telling me, was that a story HAD to have conflict. It's just a
journal entry if it doesn't have conflict, it says in absolute tones.
You cannot have a good story without conflict. Your protagonist has to
face an opponent, be it another person, nature, god or circumstances<span class="text_exposed_show">...
Sounds great. I love a good dust up. I love stories about overcoming
adversity. I love them in the traditional and the unusual sense. Some of
my favourite writers are masters of devising and setting up conflict...
Then there is Angela Carter... </span><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
You see, last February I went on a week's holiday. Totally out of
character for me, but I did it. I also decided that I needed a break
from reading a) research non-fiction books and b) pulp fiction and
comics. I needed some real literature to get my teeth back into. I
justified it as a way to improve my English. Even if I was working on a
non-fiction behemoth, it wouldn't be any good if it wasn't written in an
entertaining style. I am confident about the content, but I want to be
more than just the reporter or relayer of informaiton. I want people to
enjoy reading the book as a separate experience from being interested in
the material. Weak justification to one side, this was an unmitigated
indulgence. I have always had an omnivorous taste in literature.
However, good literature requires (and deserves) time and patience. So, I
decided to take Angela Carter's complete collection of short stories on
holiday with me and make an effort to read it from cover to cover. I
started it in Gatwick Airport and finished it on the plane home. Mission
accomplished!<br />
<br />
I loved it completely. It was a real treasure and
a real insight into how a master of the craft can articulate their
imagination. The prose showcased a wide range of styles, sometimes
sticking rigidly to certain themes and other times sporadically hitting
what appeared to be fleeting ideas. She happily told "jourmal entries",
but made them into good literature. Conflict, although present in some
of the stories, was not a strong feature. She cared little for it as a
device and there were plenty of examples from earliest works to her
final ones where conflict were absent.<br />
<br />
So, is it always
necessary? The example I have given is of an individual that has
unanimous acclaim as one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) short
story writer of the 20th century. Salman Rushdie, in his introduction,
even went as far as to say that short stories were her forte. So, this
isn't just a language or artistic freak of nature who could get away
with tackling anything within her discipline and be forgiven for defying
convention based on aesthetics. She was a master of the craft. Whereas
telling someone that conflict is an important device, is it always
necessary? Can it get in the way of a good tale?<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=jamclu-21&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=0099592916&asins=0099592916&linkId=fb9369d1d7ee20a37eb5bd566a75180d&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-46935611090155252532016-12-23T09:31:00.001-08:002016-12-23T09:31:15.008-08:00The Year the Music Died<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XlHibc4V3_eT8lKezsBCB7ai50__u8gbqEtI_6IkCEX4GsfbYCs_xo6S0taKF2ymAT3nSFevdCtE9fcqoJVluPtj8SScWrxD76-vOgf41GadMB3Y9CJGyFLK76SbMxfhfCxf-Q5LGJc/s1600/music+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XlHibc4V3_eT8lKezsBCB7ai50__u8gbqEtI_6IkCEX4GsfbYCs_xo6S0taKF2ymAT3nSFevdCtE9fcqoJVluPtj8SScWrxD76-vOgf41GadMB3Y9CJGyFLK76SbMxfhfCxf-Q5LGJc/s320/music+2.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Within the space of 10 minutes my morning radio channel was
haunted by two cover songs: Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and John Lennon’s
“Imagine”. Not before this I saw everyone go crazy on social media about Disturb's cover Simon and Garfunkle's The Sound of Silence. These classic songs are so well-known they are almost the equivalent
of hymns in the history of popular music. They have been covered so many times
that there are even lists of the top 60 (!) “best ever” versions of these
songs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I write this in 2016, the year
saw the unexpected deaths of David Bowie and then Prince. Both these trailblazing
musicians were undeniable critical and commercial auteurs. They achieved the
elite distinction of being known for their creative integrity and yet could
also reach a wide range of people. </i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wrote that first paragraph back in May 2016. Little did I
realise that so many other truly influential artists would follow suit during
this year. Leonard Cohen must join both Bowie and Prince as a great loss from
my all-time list of great recording artists/musicians. There have been others,
which might not have been to my taste but nevertheless were hugely influential
in their particular genre. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2016 was also the year that saw the great Muhammad Ali leave
us as well as comedians such as Victoria Wood, Ronnie Corbett and Caroline
Ahern. Maybe the reason for this is that these individuals belong to the Baby Boomer
generation. In short, there was an awful lot people born between 1946 and 1964,
and it is little surprising that we are now seeing so many of them die now. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A more specific and likely reason that it is occurring this
year is that it is a coincidence. There is also another coincidence that makes
the great artistic apocalypse of 2016 seem all that more poignant and ominous. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Going back to my earlier paragraph regarding the
amount of unoriginal cover versions of songs that are appearing all of a sudden,
I found a precursor to this nostalgic musical upsurge. Adam Pugsley, writing
for the alternative music website <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chart
Attack</i> in January 2016, noted that the previous year was the first time in
recorded U.S. history that catalogue music (music that was released more than
18 months ago) had outsold new releases.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmubY5i0zrM61zRFnRiVsnULE0-ac3ePZbrvmzi2d-mywP5ZzwZOFuU7Jssske3y202mfuqz4Um7i41RqUHRaG4fdsRQcTj_oInN0-IONBmI_w5DrOQVE9yRAdk-Ed6XOHK82AZB_i20/s1600/crap+music.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmubY5i0zrM61zRFnRiVsnULE0-ac3ePZbrvmzi2d-mywP5ZzwZOFuU7Jssske3y202mfuqz4Um7i41RqUHRaG4fdsRQcTj_oInN0-IONBmI_w5DrOQVE9yRAdk-Ed6XOHK82AZB_i20/s1600/crap+music.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before I go any further with this ramble let me indulge in a
disclaimer of sorts. I begrudgingly accept an associate membership to that
demographic cohort that has become known for its cynicism: the late Generation
Xer. Whilst the confession and metaphorical self- flagellation is going good, I
am further embracing the mantle of Grumpy Old Man. I do this because of the inevitable
counter-argument of me bemoaning “the music of today”. This obvious retort posits
that I am just repeating a familiar cycle of discontent that older generations
feel for the current state of things. With the onset of becoming part an age
group that is moving further away from where the majority of exciting new ideas
and products are targeted, it is unsurprising that my generation will express
several negative feelings starting with a sense of disconnection. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From the Bible to Marie Antoniette and plenty before and since
something trite has been said about nothing being truly new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I have quoted enough times in my
martial arts essays! This is certainly the case when it comes to art in general
despite the illusion of diversity and imagination. Every story or theme can be
boiled down to one of a few simple formulas. Every style that has been done is regurgitated
again. Delve too deeply into any genre you wish to dismantle and you will start
to feel like a hypocrite because all art shares certain consistent qualities.
Everyone copies to some degree. The influential critic then decides where on
the scale the work falls from being inspired by to an outright plagiarism of
some other work or works. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Furthermore, the old has always criticises the new. It is a
trait that can be found in Ancient Rome when the up and coming Julius Caesar was
ill-regarded in the Senate for the liberal way he fashioned his toga, seen as a
sign of his radical thinking. Likewise, every new decade of music has been
criticised by the previous generation. Jazz was the work of the devil. Frank
Sinatra openly despised Elvis Presley as an artist. There are differing reports
on the King’s opinion of The Beatles before and after he met them with Ringo
Starr even saying that he believed Elvis had tried to have them banned when
prior to touring the US. Even born-again Christian preacher Alice Cooper had a
few choice things to publically say about his natural latter day successor,
honouree satanic priest Marilyn Manson, long before the two teamed up on a tour
together. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s also just as common to
see the young criticise the old. Indeed many artistic movements are caricaturised
as critiques of the movement that came before them. 1970s Punk Rock was
generally perceived as the anathema or antidote to the rock music that preceded
them. Punks were quick to set upon each other, often devouring their own
influences. A vibrant alternative music movement thrived and grew throughout
the 1980s and 1990s, providing a plethora of Heavy Metal, Gothic Rock, Post-Punk,
Post-Industrial and Grunge acts on the rock scene alongside Alternative Hip Hop
and the controversial Acid House and Rave dance scenes. All of this allowed for
the continuing existence of a counterculture and several levels to an
underground scene. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many might argue that what allowed for these counter-culture
genres and movements to flourish was the existence of an establishment. It is
easy to wax romantic over the past. Taking the longer view this has happened throughout
history with art, literature and music. However, it often leads to
re-imaginings and exciting hybrids, which eventually results in a reaction
creating another movement and so it goes on. Unfortunately there are periods of
very little artistic output. Billy Connolly once reflected that Elvis “saved us
all” with the release of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heartbreak Hotel</i>,
as the popular songs of the time were so whimsically infantile. However, such
songs were the choice of mainstream audiences. Check out the charts of any era
known for its great music idols and you will see that they were competing with
a lot of utter dross. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLs2DuQedwQy9VmbfiuDmMhHMmO0WAXJhklAO_EFjyBlQYVrIAhng7YgiVZyHnjdtlfJPt2JhnZ46vxZkk27O4zDp2s-i1q2k-9J43S-XsyPzmo1EXItqrTUnpxPELHDM_ipaZdNS0ayE/s1600/music+sucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLs2DuQedwQy9VmbfiuDmMhHMmO0WAXJhklAO_EFjyBlQYVrIAhng7YgiVZyHnjdtlfJPt2JhnZ46vxZkk27O4zDp2s-i1q2k-9J43S-XsyPzmo1EXItqrTUnpxPELHDM_ipaZdNS0ayE/s1600/music+sucks.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, the music world is seemingly devoid of its rebels. It
comes to something when back in around 2008/9 Neil Tennant, co-founder and lead
vocalist of The Pet Shop Boys, tells a radio interview there is no longer an
underground scene. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also says
something when the song chosen as protest vote against the predictable
corporate business of having the winner of the X Factor TV show as the
Christmas chart number one is Rage Against the Machine’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Killing in the Name</i>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
signature song is as identifiable with the band as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Goldfinger </i>is with Shirley Bassey, as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Great Balls of Fire </i>is with Jerry Lee Lewis, as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Stairway to Heaven </i>is to Led Zeppelin –
you get the picture. It is also as identifiable with the generation that
preceded the one voting in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">X Factor,
American Idol </i>and other corporate manufactured Christmas number ones as
Nirvana’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Smells Like Teen Spirit. </i>You
guessed it, the entire campaign was driven by an older generation that appeared
to be having the sort of power and influence not seen in popular fashion since
before the age of Rock ‘n Roll began in the 1950s. Another comparison might be
seen in the political world with the democratic success of Brexit. This was
quite telling, as the vote to remain in the EU was mainly considered to be
anti-conservative one and many have postulated that it was the Baby Boomers who
led the charge in this instance, wishing for a return to a romanticised view of
the 1950s. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/D7d0Li4zfZo/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D7d0Li4zfZo?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As the internet allows human tribes and cults to engulf
themselves into little pockets of confirmation bias, protecting them from the
acid tests of life, where are the artists that can really upset our parents?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking at a list the most controversial
music artists currently active you will see that they are dominated by those of
the Baby Boomer and Generation X eras. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eminem
and Lady Gaga seem to have been the only two post-2000 musical artists to
create the sort of stir that started with Jazz and ended with Manson. They are
the epilogue. At present the likes of Kanye West, Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus
are the individuals who provoke the ire of the people. However, it tends to be
the wrong type of ire. They are not readily embraced by the spirit of rebellion
but rather disliked for their anti-intellectualism, arrogance and lack of
creativity. Their music perceived as being firmly rooted in the Establishment.
Not one of them could be considered to be a part of any sort of counterculture
movement or alternative music scene. They have received condemnation from
artists of previous generations, but this usually comes with the support of the
kids. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ttEMYvpoR-k/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ttEMYvpoR-k?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The death of so many
talented musicians in 2016 just feels like a morbid comment of what has been
happening in the music world. However, with the prevalence of more cover songs,
the growing popularity of more nostalgic radio channels and the simple fact
that classic singles are now outselling new releases it would appear that
although the older generation are predictably bleating on about how bad the new
music is the kids are starting to agree with them. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EZTMwbyze6A/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EZTMwbyze6A?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CMThz7eQ6K0/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CMThz7eQ6K0?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-49957937928661161362016-06-21T09:50:00.000-07:002016-06-22T08:53:58.144-07:00EU English Civil War<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtlDLOWP_om8K9RTbez8lMmlLbVwp33D7PSG1cdhFFchTFglRV9xHWKWGFUHFqHhQVy5FR0cD6W_ZLUm8cioCdSusZIOWlVAl8hbkzIc1buVLCePfktLaTjE65XgnNRo7lvM_ivXZ92k/s1600/remain+leave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtlDLOWP_om8K9RTbez8lMmlLbVwp33D7PSG1cdhFFchTFglRV9xHWKWGFUHFqHhQVy5FR0cD6W_ZLUm8cioCdSusZIOWlVAl8hbkzIc1buVLCePfktLaTjE65XgnNRo7lvM_ivXZ92k/s320/remain+leave.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don't need to be told about how important the upcoming EU
Referendum is to the UK. I am not in need of scaremongering on either side and I
appreciate the irony in me moaning yet adding to an already bloated social
media newsfeed of opinion on the matter. Where my vote will land is well known
to those who know me and I don't feel a desire to evangelise it on here, wasting
both your and my precious time. However, as a writer, historian and burgeoning
social commentator of sorts, I cannot help but take the wider view on this unfolding
event. I don’t recall a single issue in my lifetime that has divided so many people
right down the middle. In the era of slacktivism - where armies of keyboard warriors grow ever more enraged and less empathetic behind their monitors - it metaphorically resembles an
English civil war, separating not only political parties but even families and households. <i>Please note that this article will not be using the horrid buzzword Brexit or its forced counterpart Bremain. I don't wish to encourage tribalism but tolerence over individual decisions on an undeniably important issue. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Debate is healthy and it is also an affirmation of
individuality that two good friends can differ strongly on crucial opinions. A sign of maturity
is the ability to isolate an issue of disagreement from all other topics and
especially keep it quarantined from deeper feelings of friendship, kinship and
mutual respect. Sadly, perhaps as a direct result of the “Yes” culture of
positive thinking, such impassioned differences of opinion have resulted in
individuals exhibiting extreme anger at one another. Such responses are usually
reserved for when people feel personally betrayed. If you are feeling is akin
to a personal sense of betrayal then you could probably do with growing up a
bit. You are acting like a spoilt brat that wants their own way and becomes
devastated when they realise that another human being’s non-compliance on a
matter suggests that you may not be at the centre of the universe. It also
reminds me of zealotry and I guess that is probably what instinctively repels
me the most about extreme reactions to this issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPXpySCJv4Jt2svwiKJsVsilXTQIUB3D2f8wsG0ZrS77pDn5KnZ5-0fA18tMzkuA904_3tJjwoJ8uvw9FBx3OBmGg9rmQEGPLrmCcXnn_Se_MVdXaRG_bPw5OOup0TcLtVl_8qom-7XE/s1600/it-does-take-great-maturity-to-understand-that-the-opinion-we-are-arguing-for-is-merely-the-quote-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPXpySCJv4Jt2svwiKJsVsilXTQIUB3D2f8wsG0ZrS77pDn5KnZ5-0fA18tMzkuA904_3tJjwoJ8uvw9FBx3OBmGg9rmQEGPLrmCcXnn_Se_MVdXaRG_bPw5OOup0TcLtVl_8qom-7XE/s320/it-does-take-great-maturity-to-understand-that-the-opinion-we-are-arguing-for-is-merely-the-quote-1.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are a multitude of different motivations that prompt
people to take either side, which should be demonstrated by the fact that the
UK’s two main political parties are also split on the issue. The party leaders
may be in agreement to remain, but they both face a good portion of rebels
within that are pro-leave. This reason alone should indicate that the issue is
complicated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> British people both embrace an island mentality, which was brilliantly manipulated by Winston Churchill at the right time, and also seeing themselvs as European. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Neither are accurate historical/cultural viewpoints. Despite being an actual island, the Englishness of Britian, which is really at the forefront of the nostalgic leave propaganda, stems from a culture that began with Germanic occupation. After the mass immigration/invasion of Anglo-Saxons, this country of England was later conquered by Normans, which then reshaped our culture again. Prior to the writings of Geoffrey Chaucer, the English language was the language of the peasant and French and Latin were the language of the literate. For centuries the English saw parts of France to be their property in the same way as they claimed Ireland, Scotland and Wales at different times. Throughout history Britain has sought, used and needed alliances with European countries. Likewise, attempts to Europeanise Britain have failed. Changing licensing laws in a hope that the British will stop binge-drinking and behave more like Western European alcohol consumers have failed to change British drinking culture. Britons don't feel a need to learn European languages as much as their neighbours do. As much as our culture might retain a type of exotic fetishism about foreign countries, our characteristic are of the black sheep of the European family. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This brings me to the type of person that never fails to
annoy me on the issue of politics: The MCV (mindless compass voter). MCVs have
their moral north set unwaveringly to right or left. Rather than considering
individual issues with rationality they just swing towards primal political
instincts. It overrides even their personal morality and fastens itself to single
arguments as if they were cast in stone. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblmP9A4eX8WvHUN77EwlcJikp8fLxs0CapRH5RVS0w3OxjmOulQFr9PUln18ULdLL3UyNV0f2bCAhvWB8A6tcFu-aGy7JNL2RlbSiJhaEYnFVwXCk2hvQGeb-NnbUmAKodkQ7tSwo1Xg/s1600/leave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblmP9A4eX8WvHUN77EwlcJikp8fLxs0CapRH5RVS0w3OxjmOulQFr9PUln18ULdLL3UyNV0f2bCAhvWB8A6tcFu-aGy7JNL2RlbSiJhaEYnFVwXCk2hvQGeb-NnbUmAKodkQ7tSwo1Xg/s320/leave.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So we have some who talk about taking back control, but
really just think that by not being a part of the EU they will be able to
reduce the number of immigrants coming into their country. It’s a massive
assumption not based on a lot of evidence and with certain precedents, such as
Norway, indicating that this might not be as strong a decision as one might first
think. Many pro-leavers looked to Norway as a model for a post-EU Britain, but
the leader of its country’s own Eurosceptic Conservative Party has warned the
UK that they suffer from not being a part of the EU and that includes having to
take in far more immigrants per capita than the UK. The leave-voters often
ignore how much the UK has been a part of the EU and helped shaped their
various policies. A rather silly leaflet compares EU investment in a Greek
bridge with the fact that we have to contend with the nuisance of potholes. I
have never visited a single country inside or outside of the EU have not got a
pothole problem of some sort. The leaflet ignores how much EU investment has
gone into projects in the UK in the same manner as the offending Greek bridge.
It’s a very poor argument. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82cQNzn4Cw3ySLFstP_9ddHdmp0x7um9GMjdpq_oxfS7UBtEH7RSTkpmqck0IaLeVMZl0UsIy5tGVJ4cKMllHcW4mwvu8nTGb0NMFU0g7x3cLSHiP7S_QaM0oU5KHHTWZk5x5AdhWgM0/s1600/remain+meme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82cQNzn4Cw3ySLFstP_9ddHdmp0x7um9GMjdpq_oxfS7UBtEH7RSTkpmqck0IaLeVMZl0UsIy5tGVJ4cKMllHcW4mwvu8nTGb0NMFU0g7x3cLSHiP7S_QaM0oU5KHHTWZk5x5AdhWgM0/s320/remain+meme.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then we have those on the remain side that just feel it is
their duty to offer a contrary argument to what they wrongly perceive to be
just plain old fashioned British bigotry. One meme being circulated feels a
need to celebrate multiculturalism in Britain, waxing nostalgia to compete with
rose-tinted pre-EU Britain, singing the praises of the British Chinese takeaway
and the Anglo-Indian appeal of the Vindaloo. The article commits all the worst
crimes of political correctness in its middle-class stereotyping, patronising
immigrant Italians to coffee and ice cream sellers. Its blind spot on the wider issues
regarding arguments on controlling immigration are evident. Many who wish to
leave argue that by having more control they can allow fairer immigration from
outside of Europe, including Asia, which makes the takeaway nostalgia appeal a
redundant argument. It is unfounded nonsense to suggest that to vote to leave
automatically makes you anti-immigration. I would say that the majority just want
more independence from Brussels. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Predictably those with a left political compass vote to
remain and those with a right political compass vote to leave. Broadly
speaking, I have respect for anyone who votes against their natural political
leaning. In short, the majority of those who want to leave the EU are not foolhardy
racist bigots and those who wish to remain are not all timid champagne
socialists. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaqmeINjeEiRocLo_nUa1BtG3q-EV8vsuxSpE6VJahyphenhyphen-6FKW0gWop7PVnq4vwvBsThMX_KMyWCrD2_CJOjfKen7YKYBwvy6DtaL4OVURYWfGvNUVtBxSiCKgKEI1JmHy5gz3s86EvKFU/s1600/opinion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaqmeINjeEiRocLo_nUa1BtG3q-EV8vsuxSpE6VJahyphenhyphen-6FKW0gWop7PVnq4vwvBsThMX_KMyWCrD2_CJOjfKen7YKYBwvy6DtaL4OVURYWfGvNUVtBxSiCKgKEI1JmHy5gz3s86EvKFU/s1600/opinion.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, even with the MCV blinkers off one see why an
individual of a political persuasion might feel uncomfortable voting against
type. The behaviour of many on both sides of this argument has sickened me. Both
have gone overboard with the scaremongering, which is a sure sign of zealotry,
and the internet has been bloated with half-truths, wild speculations and
outright lies. This is all mainly being peddled be individuals who have
defaulted into election mode rather than sticking to the main issues at hand. It
is sad to see intelligent and kind-hearted individuals allowing their emotions
to take control and often throwing desperate off-the-cuff arguments at each
other that they probably don’t really mean. This is another aspect that reminds
me of family squabbles and feuds. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Indeed it is enough to inspire one not to vote at all or, at
least, spoil their ballot paper out of protest. However, as it turns out, I
have a strong informed opinion coupled with a personal interest in the issue
and have enough respect for those who fought for the right to vote that I won’t
allow the dregs of our society to put me off.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDI5z88MD4GQk9PhMurQ11v82V1ZSScMu4iqQaPY-cq7EH-6ELT_ttTJpCdPyfvHelUk2YzCjU4tc7UZEt3CspTDBpcYmSK8ViST9ZrjcrX3tkTeUnzgC0rQs54PMk04-vSI_nz-kMKFc/s1600/empathy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDI5z88MD4GQk9PhMurQ11v82V1ZSScMu4iqQaPY-cq7EH-6ELT_ttTJpCdPyfvHelUk2YzCjU4tc7UZEt3CspTDBpcYmSK8ViST9ZrjcrX3tkTeUnzgC0rQs54PMk04-vSI_nz-kMKFc/s1600/empathy.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Clash’s song, "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" has become an anthem for this particular time. It's a great song from one the best bands in rock music history. Although it is a bit obvious and there has been at least one terrible cover on my local radio station with rewritten lyrics that I hope will be erased from my memory soon. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cLQJVKP3YlM/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cLQJVKP3YlM?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
Their other single, “The English Civil War”, appears to be more apt. Joe Strummer wrote it as a
cautionary song about uninformed political opinions on both sides. On one hand the rise of
the far right was a clear concern and addressed by the fact that song was first
sung live at a “Rock against Racism” concert. However, it was also a reaction
to the governing left’s failure to deliver on its promises and the cover of the single is a
still taken from John Halas’s animated adaptation of George Orwell’s political
allegorical fable, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Animal Farm. </i>The
picture shows the moment the rest of the animals realise that the pigs in the
story, representing the Communist Party with promises of equality and unity,
have become no better than the oppressive farmer they had overthrown. Our
country is divided up on an issue that has personal meaning to a lot of people
and a vote either way shouldn’t be a vote for an ideology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The most famous English Civil War divided two different factions of the same religion. The echoes of that division lasted for centuries and into our current lifetime when one considers the problems in Northern Ireland. We know that only through tolerence of each other could any sort of peace really be achieved. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aIGwwmvVY6w/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aIGwwmvVY6w?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WqHe46qgxGkJ5Y-qiIyE15dOLeXXYo2lmJfhQefavlOChiKGmS6p7-JYD4-Ymam_JwSPN5RqFTkfQl9aSFztxjt7vRDKtfb67RJMxZX2FpVN7pttlEusslAUQlNMjtNFkOqO0wqVwlM/s1600/eu+satire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WqHe46qgxGkJ5Y-qiIyE15dOLeXXYo2lmJfhQefavlOChiKGmS6p7-JYD4-Ymam_JwSPN5RqFTkfQl9aSFztxjt7vRDKtfb67RJMxZX2FpVN7pttlEusslAUQlNMjtNFkOqO0wqVwlM/s320/eu+satire.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-77268604223047888682016-06-03T08:33:00.001-07:002016-06-03T08:33:35.478-07:00Night to Remember? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ad-uRBbSFa8pQnh8DkLQ2V-e_sDqDzS0GFvUGPONjsGt8k7lwk19O6o5C-QoBiucqovfHih6hdne_I6e_SDwaoBJWy0hDlrdfJWUrAbrCgfWfM2ILzNMmuUPBbbc4xQ4a0DOVSVXLJg/s1600/night+of+the+hunter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ad-uRBbSFa8pQnh8DkLQ2V-e_sDqDzS0GFvUGPONjsGt8k7lwk19O6o5C-QoBiucqovfHih6hdne_I6e_SDwaoBJWy0hDlrdfJWUrAbrCgfWfM2ILzNMmuUPBbbc4xQ4a0DOVSVXLJg/s320/night+of+the+hunter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="reviewText">
<div class="clearfix">
<div id="intelliTXT" name="intelliTxt">
<span>
Plot:<br />
<br />
<br />
1930s West Virginia: A bogus preacher, Reverend Harry Powell
(Robert Mitchum), who has been secretly murdering wealthy widows, finds
himself in a cell with a robber, Ben Harper (Peter Graves), convicted
to hang. Harper has confided the location of the money he stole to his
son, John (Billy Chapin), but mutters a verse from the Bible in his
sleep that gives Powell a clue. Upon his release, Powell tracks down
Harper's widow, woos her, marries her and kills her. However, in order
to get the secret stash he needs to convince young John and his sister
to tell him. The hunt begins... </span></div>
<div id="intelliTXT" name="intelliTxt">
<span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wYvwmUYE0OE/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wYvwmUYE0OE?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Review:<br />
<br />
<br />
According to perhaps the most successful horror writer in
history, Stephen King, "Night of the Hunter" is one of the greatest
examples of classic horror cinema. Over at least a decade I have
periodically trudged through the list of horror literature and horror
films King provided in his non-fiction book on the horror genre, "Danse
Macabre", and in several unusual instances I had to agree with his
conclusions. For example, "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" is a
contentious entry, as many might not agree it is an obvious horror
picture. I feel that it has all the hallmarks of American gothic horror.
Just because it doesn't conform to the most common ideas of horror
doesn't make it not a horror film. However, I have to disagree with his
verdict on the original "Night of the Hunter".
I have problems defining as a horror film or a standout classic. This
is despite it containing elements of the horror genre and also an
interesting premise along with a good and edgy performance by Robert
Mitchum. </span></div>
<div id="intelliTXT" name="intelliTxt">
<span> </span></div>
<div id="intelliTXT" name="intelliTxt">
<span> </span></div>
<div id="intelliTXT" name="intelliTxt">
<span>The 1950s were a bad time for horror films on the whole. In fact,
when I made my list of the 10 best horror films and decided to restrict
myself to one move per decade I had to break my rule. There were simply
much better horror films before and after the 1950s to justify even
putting in Hammer Horror's excellent productions of "Dracula" and "The
Curse of Frankenstein" (although "Dracula" was a very close call). It
was a great era for science fiction crossovers and I loved "The Fly",
but this just seemed to be just one example of a minor classic film that
wasn't as important or good as its re-make (see 1951's "The Thing" for
another example). Anyway, most listings of great 1950s horrors don't
even consider "Night of the Hunter". So what made King champion its
importance so much? And why is it considered such a classic as to be
"culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the US
Library of Congress? It was a question that haunted me through my first
and only viewing of the picture when I finally got around to watching
it.<br />
<br />
<br />
First up, the setting is pretty good. The Deep South of the USA
has long since become a popular setting for modern horror movies. I have
observed a lot of fear directed to these southern states by the more
industrialized and liberal northern states. To many it conjures up
prejudiced images of vast empty spaces and backwards people high on
intolerance and religiosity. Horror works when it cuts straight into
primal fears and brings us close to chaos. The Deep South has been used
to do this in numerous "Hill Billy" horrors and supernatural films, but
this film fits into neither of these categories. Instead we are given an
Elmer Gantry type of avarice motivated killer "preacher" who tracks
down true innocence in the form of the two children. The idea is fairly
powerful and perhaps the reason why the film's basis, the thriller novel
of the same name, won so much critical acclaim.
Next the film falls under the direction of the great actor Charles
Laughton (his only directorial effort). Laughton apparently drew a lot
of his inspiration from the German impressionist movement (think
"Nosferatu", "Faust" and "The Cabinet of Dr Caligari"). This pervading
silent era eeriness is probably what Stephen King picked up on. It is
creepy in parts, particularly in the film's final act, as Robert Mitchum
and his elderly antagonist unite in a hymn whilst he stalks her
property and she defends it with a shotgun. Finally we have Robert
Mitchum's performance - the great actor trumping his other heart-throb
contemporaries, with possible exception of Tony's Curtis's portrayal of Albert DeSalvo, by taking on a truly edgy role.He plays an understated
menace that would not be rivalled until the days of Pacino and De Niro
over a decade later.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XiBMDIXyH_4/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XiBMDIXyH_4?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
So, the ingredients and the respected acclaim
are all there. Why do I find myself not agreeing? Quite simply the film
doesn't build momentum well. The scenes that should inspire horror are
few and far between and don't have enough impact to get the heart
racing. Against any of Hitchcock's thrillers of the time, "Night of the
Hunter" is no match. Whereas Hitchcock could draw out and distract
viewers for incredible lengths of time before bringing in the suspense
and shocks, "Night of the Hunter" scores near misses - Mitchum's odd
hysterical scream towards the end - and is anticlimactic. The film's
epilogue, for example, seems like a protracted moral lesson and only
further confirms the relatively uneventful feel of the picture. It's a
real shame, as I want to love it, but in the end it just felt like a
very good episode of The Waltons after Friedrich Murnau got his hands on
it. </span></div>
<div id="intelliTXT" name="intelliTxt">
<span> </span></div>
<div id="intelliTXT" name="intelliTxt">
<span><br />
It's certainly worth watching for the positive reasons I have
outlined and maybe to get something from it that was clearly lost on me.
"Night of the Hunter" is a disturbing drama with a standout performance
from Robert Mitchum and wonderful neo-expressionist stylization ideas
from Charles Laughton. However, a classic horror movie it is not.</span> </div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-47488623593992992342016-04-26T08:58:00.001-07:002016-04-26T08:58:17.723-07:00The Great Organic Swindle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjot6ai49WjysN3sRgO2HeVtJMa6gfJPpUH6FkNfSIWnOP-F7YBFLzPUMhgthxrX3PiRWrLcu_LR23cq8VI24Hj1lnLmBfDFmX9trSAl_YM-Y4cikHBTXZloUMWJi9C9_gmAtNHNsD1atk/s1600/OrganicT30J09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjot6ai49WjysN3sRgO2HeVtJMa6gfJPpUH6FkNfSIWnOP-F7YBFLzPUMhgthxrX3PiRWrLcu_LR23cq8VI24Hj1lnLmBfDFmX9trSAl_YM-Y4cikHBTXZloUMWJi9C9_gmAtNHNsD1atk/s320/OrganicT30J09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Making my way over to my hotel’s
breakfast bar I was immediately struck by the many odd-shaped fruits
that greeted me. Their roughness and complete lack of uniformity seemed
at total odds with the plush surroundings of the hotel. I couldn’t help
but be amused by how things had changed. Only a few years previously,
such hotels would have been disgusted at the thought of displaying such
unaesthetically pleasing fruit. Now, food of this description is proudly
eaten by the elite. Inverted snobbery has never been better represented
than through shabby chic and its total insincerity has never better
been exemplified than through the organic food industry. The term
“organic” has now seeped deeply into our society becoming a by-word for
more ethical and healthier food production and consumption. However, the
only awareness being shown by the corporations and retailers who use
this label is an understanding of people can be hoodwinked into paying
more for snake oil. <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />As I have mentioned in a previous article,
the organic food movement has its basis in the eccentric Victorian
health culture and food faddism promoted by the philosopher/esotericist,
Rudolf Steiner, and the playwright/publishing magnate J. I. Rodale.
Although one of its pioneers was the botanist and agricultural advisor,
Albert Howard, the movement arose more from spiritual and philosophical
motivations than the agricultural farming industry or the world of
mainstream science. <br />The motivations and ideas surrounding organic
food are largely based on something the mainstream scientific community
calls “chemo-phobia” – the irrational fear of chemicals - and often
pegged on a logical fallacy argument known as the appeal to nature – the
view that if something is natural it is inherently better and whatever
is synthetic is inherently bad. The irrationality of the chemical
argument falls apart when we realise that virtually everything is a
chemical, including water. Water is present in a huge number of poisons
and substances that are lethal if consumed by human beings. Even without
being combined with other substances water can be toxic and its
over-consumption has killed people. A rational argument over the
toxicity of a product is not determined by whether or not it contains a
chemical, but its dosage. This is regardless of whether it the chemical
is organic or synthetic. The appeal to nature argument can be exploded
by the undeniable fact that we are surrounded by naturally occurring
poisons. Bacteria, plants and fungi all produce substances that you
wouldn’t want on your food whereas the development of various synthetic
substances has directly contributed to the lengthening of the developed
world’s life expectancy. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8X7A80JkDfsa6LluG5U1_5kSKH9RsGwLYpdk5iLYUwuPCvuzagtHJLiPN00GwRoeEXmp60iUfTxresyRptMsXHThvPMkLfW-TWXcqP3XCuwIRCzE5Ju5ATYdUtn_YkI8-RQxLQh2sSgY/s1600/appeal+to+nature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8X7A80JkDfsa6LluG5U1_5kSKH9RsGwLYpdk5iLYUwuPCvuzagtHJLiPN00GwRoeEXmp60iUfTxresyRptMsXHThvPMkLfW-TWXcqP3XCuwIRCzE5Ju5ATYdUtn_YkI8-RQxLQh2sSgY/s1600/appeal+to+nature.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Contrary to popular belief, organic
farming has produced little evidence to show it is better for the
environment or better for the non-consumer than conventional methods.
Organic farming’s stance against GMOs is representative of the political
dogma stretching through its philosophy. This means that they won’t use
crops that have been genetically engineered even if that means using
plants that would drastically decrease their use of pesticides,
fungicides and herbicides. This flags up another issue often not known
by those who eat organic produce: organic farming does use pesticides.
However, their types of pesticides are ones that are derived from
natural sources and then are either processed lightly or not at all. Due
to organic pesticides often being less efficient than synthetic ones an
organic farm will use more of them to have an impact. That means more
toxins leeching into the surrounding waterways and causing more
potential harm. The other issue is that organic farming requires far
more land mass to yield crops than conventional farming. The end result
is a product that hasn’t proven to be any safer or nutritious than its
non-organic counterpart. <br />This isn’t to say that conventional
methods cannot be improved or that there is nothing good between organic
farming methods and conventional methods. We need more sustainable
farming and the use of GMOs in conjunction with certain organic farming
technique to reduce the use of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides
would definitely be good for the environment.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />The organic
movement puts forward an ethical quality type of reasoning. They argue
it is more expensive to produce products that use methods that are less
harmful to the environment and healthier for the consumer. The retail
and marketing world are no strangers to the concept of perceived value.
One has only to look at the first chapter to Robert B. Cialadini’s
“Influence: Science and Practice” to see the extent that sales can be
increased by raising the price of certain products. The same companies
that produce and sell products that don’t bear the organic label have
little trouble pushing this pricier and more fashionable alternative, so
most organic consumers are mistaken if they think they are “sticking it
to the man” (see image). If a company did have serious concerns
regarding the impact on the environment their products might be causing
they might first consider dropping all their so-called “non-organic”
products. However, what would be better would be for the company to do
some impartial scientific research into the matter.<br />
<br />
<span>Useful links: </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://michaelroberts4004.wordpress.com/2016/04/08/organic-farm-denies-use-of-dihydrogen-monoxide/"><img alt="https://michaelroberts4004.wordpress.com/2016/04/08/organic-farm-denies-use-of-dihydrogen-monoxide/" border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWND4Eq6cuX_-ilt5To7ruSlcg-gD0apLEeoI8qp2JOoLt-gPI4Y-UzKybx0t020ls7nuveH-kBv_gAGDX19XgjRwTiTWANlPgN_7EnqbZ2pzosE1-CsLaXpxi3owdaZMahn8agvnV2k/s320/dihydrogren-monoxide-farm.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<h2>
<a href="http://No Health Benefits from Organic Food">No Health Benefits from Organic Food (Science Based Medicine)</a></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/H3CoIqpyPYY/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H3CoIqpyPYY?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-87184043731751319682015-11-27T08:43:00.000-08:002015-11-27T08:43:33.546-08:00Worst.Vampire. Hunters. Ever.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAInnxHTxhRsL-kj2lS9BZh6b8X2A-y6L6xJ0_dhH2bGpWWqOZrAQpirssguTtarUG9FUhl9JkeU14WALVcM6HVhc_QwF8KvI4TPvQdJmd334fe9KFfFlhgE4B8fcVZzeSG3NrCtpkiI/s1600/strain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAInnxHTxhRsL-kj2lS9BZh6b8X2A-y6L6xJ0_dhH2bGpWWqOZrAQpirssguTtarUG9FUhl9JkeU14WALVcM6HVhc_QwF8KvI4TPvQdJmd334fe9KFfFlhgE4B8fcVZzeSG3NrCtpkiI/s1600/strain.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“The Strain”, </span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">it would appear, was a puzzling
labour of love for director/writer Guillermo del Toro. In 2006 he put the idea
for a vampire TV series to producers, but it wasn’t picked up. Not to be
deterred, del Toro recruited Chuck Hogan, an author with a strong orientation
towards screenplay writing, to write a trilogy of novels. I confess to not
having read the novels or much into the background of <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Strain </span>prior to watching the TV series. I am currently watching
the second season, neatly based on the second novel. The third season is out
next year, which might only take in half the final part. Del Toro believes that
two seasons would do the third novel the most justice, but he is also open to
divergences for the benefit of a successful adaptation. One cannot help but
read that as his hope to keep the franchise going as long as possible. </span></i></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/56cr7Iee-qI/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/56cr7Iee-qI?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Plot: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dr Ephraim
"Eph" Goodweather (Corey Stoll) of the Center [US sp.] for Disease
Control and Prevention is pulled away from a mediation meeting with his wife (Natalie
Brown) and son (Ben Hyland) to attend to an emergency investigation into a
Boesing 747. With everyone save four passengers dead on board yet with no
obvious signs of violence, it is suspected that a virus might be a cause.
Meanwhile, pawn shop owner, retired history teacher and Jewish holocaust
survivor, Professor Abraham Setrakiaheld (David Bradley) sees the danger and
tries to warn Goodweather along with his colleague and former lover, Dr Nora
Martinez (Mía Maestro), of the impending disaster. Little do they any of them know,
billionaire Eldrich Palmer (Jonathan Hyde) and Augustin "Gus"
Elizalde (Miguel Gomez), a Mexican gang member just released from juvenile
prison, have been engaged by the sinister Thomas Eichhorst (Richard Sammel) to
ensure the virus and plane’s most important cargo, the entombed undead body of
a powerful vampire get out… </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Review: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“The Strain” </span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">is undoubtedly more in del Toro’s
commercialised US action mode than in his Mexican dark fantasy. You can love <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pan’s Labyrinth </i>with ease without
feeling a thing for this series. When I first read about del Toro’s involvement
with this project I saw the title “executive producer” and wrongly assumed he
had little actual involvement with the project. Think Tarantino or Spielberg’s
names attached to works that have the most tenuous connections to their usual
projects. As it turns out del Toro wrote and directed the pilot episode and has
regularly worked on the series whenever his busy schedule has allowed. We often
assume that artists of a high calibre begrudgingly do commercial work to pay
the house bills. This is not always the case. My guess here is that del Toro
originally wanted to pre-empt <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">True Blood </i>by
two years in giving us an 18 certificate ongoing vampire serial. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Treading the
well-worn and proven apocalypse plot style best exemplified by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Walking Dead,</i> we follow the
adventures of a gang of dysfunctional vampire hunters and their opponents, a
legion of vampires headed by The Master and his two lieutenants, a business
mogul hungry for immortality and a vampire Nazi. The story takes us from the
fruitless attempts to contain the virus by two biologists and a lone vampire
hunter to the ongoing struggle by their assembled team to thwart the spread of
the virus. All of this drama is laced with various internal politics on both
sides. Before the first season is out, sub-divisions are revealed that
complicate the war further. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Buffy the Vampire Slayer”</i> with an 18
certificate, featuring vampires that are clear stylistic variations on the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Predator/Alien</i> inspired Reaper vampires
of del Toro’s “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blade II”</i>. These
vampires are in the mould of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nosferatu’s </i>Count
Orlok, as were the reapers. With one of the vampire hunters being the city’s
pest control man who first spots the emergence of the monsters in the sewers by
the behaviour of the rats, the look of the vampires might not be the only nod
towards the 1922 silent masterpiece. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6mkvKdYWha00beYFFqLyWFWMMyzju-5jh7oLsfJasUAgciJEMRXb791aeRMm37grSlOh-cLvHtbhutVNNWAlSxV2ozwiYEV-50E0HHiN_lYZ9cWEzjKqwGbJBdYx-RxS5aN8M_IpNKI/s1600/the+strain3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6mkvKdYWha00beYFFqLyWFWMMyzju-5jh7oLsfJasUAgciJEMRXb791aeRMm37grSlOh-cLvHtbhutVNNWAlSxV2ozwiYEV-50E0HHiN_lYZ9cWEzjKqwGbJBdYx-RxS5aN8M_IpNKI/s320/the+strain3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After a very
promising two hour pilot that did a great job in building tension and
introducing an interesting cast of characters, the series descends into science
fiction vampire clichés. As the title suggests, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Strain”</i> deals with vampirism as if it were an actual biological
virus. However, we swiftly discover that this is so much camouflage. Del Toro
deals with surreal and supernatural material, and no amount of self-awareness
of the illogicality of the vampires being voiced by the story’s resident virus
expert is going to distract the viewer from that point. The series attempts to
further distance itself from its vampire trappings a little by having them
occasionally referred to as strigoi. The strigoi were the traditional names
Romanians gave to vampires. Romania, because of its association with Bram
Stoker’s famous creation, is the country most often linked to vampires.
Unfortunately using the old strigoi title for del Toro’s particular brand of
vampire is far from original. There have been examples of the name being used within
vampire fiction up to the present time. There is even a 2009 movie using the
name as its title. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Master
character, in name and appearance, appears to be a rather lazy steal from both <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Buffy </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Salem’s Lot</i>. Unfortunately the special effects for this character,
once he is revealed, don’t mitigate this felony. For this first season he looks
a giant evil muppet, which might be spooky in the context of – well, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Muppets”</i>, but it doesn’t fit in with
the high visceral gore and body horror on display. Only a Peter Jackson
comic-horror like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Brain Dead </i>can get
away with that sort of thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The looks,
noises and behaviour of most of the vampires are in line with the flavour of
adrenalized vampires, zombies and other monsters we have seen in the past 20
years. They can be killed by UV, which echoes “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blade” </i>and several other more sci-fi themed vampire franchises, but
has its roots in “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nosferatu” </i>where
death-by-sunlight was first introduced into vampire fictions. The traditional
use of silver against vampires is retained as a weakness. However, being
impaled through the heart has been done away with. Instead the story keeps to
decapitations as the method of killing a vampire. Actually, cutting the head off
is overkill in this franchise. Del Toro and Hogan decided they would skip over
to George Romero’s vampire-related zombie camp of ideas and steal the “kill the
brain” idea for their brand of vampire. Indeed, save for a select elite
minority, the vampires behave a lot like zombie drones. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjhrH5TKQWEM_0hRmE4Qwdqve3pOO9TVIjWfEcDSto7VPnRUsJS_wdQ-8LUn1Cuqn7N_Az0sB7QW8KtMcJzlal802_jIyFBuIA5O1wwxxrfgIjap672-MMN0LPdgg3vL18qAUFufv7hg/s1600/strain2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjhrH5TKQWEM_0hRmE4Qwdqve3pOO9TVIjWfEcDSto7VPnRUsJS_wdQ-8LUn1Cuqn7N_Az0sB7QW8KtMcJzlal802_jIyFBuIA5O1wwxxrfgIjap672-MMN0LPdgg3vL18qAUFufv7hg/s320/strain2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The series
relies a lot on deux ex machina and sheer luck for the vampire hunters,
especially when they seem to bungle so much. All the team members make regular stupid
mistakes in order to further the convoluted plot. Frequent attempts are made to
split them off to meander into subplot journeys, which I cannot help but assume
is inspired by the success of “Game of Thrones”. Expect to see a lot of ongoing
series attempt this strategy and fail by diluting the essence of the story.
“The Strain” damages its fragile suspension of disbelief by the very silly
excuses often made all the cast members when they decide to go off alone into
the vampire apocalypse, often going on ridiculously risky missions. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I can
appreciate the value of the latter. It has echoes of the “V” franchise in this
respect and the internal politics of the drama is one of the show’s most
appealing features. None of the team has any military training or combat
experience save for Professor Abraham Setrakiaheld (yes, the wizened vampire
hunter leader is called Abraham!) who has learnt through his lengthy time
fighting the strigoi. The in-fighting, egos and strained external loyalties
understandably compromise the team’s ability and I think we can all buy that.
However, this is often inconsistent with the remarkable killing abilities they
all seem quickly acquire when facing armies of vampires. Having been able to
handle multiple bloodsuckers in hand-to-hand combat and deftly manage a variety
of firearms, the team suddenly become total losers when it comes to devising
certain escape strategies. The other irritation here is the inconsistent threat
of the vampires. Within the first few episodes we see how incredibly easy it is
to be infected by a vampire. A single worm only has to land on your skin for it
to quickly burrow in and doom you to servitude under The Master. Each vampire
is loaded with these ever-multiplying vectors of evil. Yet the team and many
others happily wade in with swords, knives and clubbing weapons without so much
of quick check afterwards to if any of the worms has attached itself to an item
of clothing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UaqTY6-EKuU/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UaqTY6-EKuU?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“The Strain”
has a competent cast, including regular cult TV actors like Kevin Durand
working on familiar territory and former hip-hop artist, Miguel Gomez, does
well to uphold the strong parallel sub-plot. Mía Maestro also deserves a
mention in a role that seems to be constantly playing second fiddle to Corey
Stoll’s and could have been provided with more expansion. As a result her
performance is very sympathetic and almost cruelly treated by the events that
transpire. David Bradley gets his opportunity to shine and this alone is good
reason to give the show a fair viewing. Having risen from playing creepy
characters in the “Harry Potter” series of films, the first season of
“Broadchurch” and “Game of Thrones”, the award-winning Shakespearean actor
overshadows lead actor, Corey Stoll, throughout the series. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I don’t wish
to diminish Stoll’s performance too much, but I have trouble feeling sympathy
for his complex character. Eph comes in as an ego-driven control freak of a
genius who is bonded to his career. Nevertheless, his work is driven by
humanitarian altruism and he garners affection around him. He has a good
relationship with his son, but due to his huge flaws his marriage is over. Much
of the story’s sub-plots are dominated by ongoing problems with his wife and
child, and his loyal work colleagues, including his relationship with Dr Nora
Martinez, which take on a much more complex dimension once the vampire war
breaks out. He is the typical male hero and intended sympathetic lead, but is
less interesting than the equally complex Dutch Velders played by Ruta
Gedmintas who gets far less screen time. Gedmintas conveys a lot of humanness in
her character that redeems a lot of the storyline’s absurdities. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Master
might be at the centre of the struggle but the main badness is provided by his
two decidedly different lieutenants. Jonathan Hyde’s Eldrich Palmer is
reminiscent of a rather hammy, more vulnerable and less intelligent version of Ian
Richardson’s Francis Urquhart from the UK’s original “House of Cards”. Richard
Sammel’s Thomas Eichhorst also plays melodrama as a stereotypical Klaus Kinski
Nazi villain, but his go-for-broke tactic in acting provides a more enjoyable
performance. Sammel does spite very well and his exchanges with both Hyde and
Bradley’s characters are always memorable. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you are
looking for a truly original entry into the vampire genre, I direct you towards
Neil Jordan’s criminally under-rated “Byzantium”. However, I would urge you do
this before watching season five of “American Horror Story”, “Hotel”, as this
has clearly stolen and bastardised Byzantium’s unique interpretation of the
character. That being said, “The Strain” is entertaining and compelling viewing
with relatively high production values if you can get over the ineptitude of
the vampire hunters.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5LHQm8LmK9M/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5LHQm8LmK9M?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-4494325240368869622015-11-12T07:28:00.003-08:002015-11-12T07:30:05.520-08:00Continuiry Bond - A Review of "Spectre"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGjoUroELDMhcEayBWqKREqoRIgTYnyAZH40iZtiABvSlOzYJPBgcbs4-GdJDvTDb59pF0JPGQdbxMBmAmn1OwJ9ySQhZ0cxikV9pHaS7_9rS6A7RsHXgywdV79upXMeekC7UYHS5oQM/s1600/spectre+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGjoUroELDMhcEayBWqKREqoRIgTYnyAZH40iZtiABvSlOzYJPBgcbs4-GdJDvTDb59pF0JPGQdbxMBmAmn1OwJ9ySQhZ0cxikV9pHaS7_9rS6A7RsHXgywdV79upXMeekC7UYHS5oQM/s1600/spectre+poster.jpg" /></a></div>
With this, Eon Films’ fourth
instalment of their James Bond reboot starring Daniel Craig, there was
clearly a strong intention to both pay homage to the previous franchise
and to reward those who have stayed with the current one. Clearly the
geek-factor that nearly all Hollywood franchises take seriously is at
the very heart of “Spectre”, which is currently the most expensive movie
in the history of Bond. How this geek-factor is dealt with in the
made-by-committee blockbusters of today can determine the quality of the
art being produced.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EIqwjO2eb60/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EIqwjO2eb60?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
The iconic gun barrel sequence is back at the
beginning, which was the case for every one of the 20 Eon-produced
movies prior to the reboot. In “Casino Royale” a very different
variation on this theme was provided, ending rather than starting the
pre-credit sequence, where the viewer actually got to see Bond’s
shooter. “Quantum of Solace” and “Skyfall” put the gun barrel sequence
at the end. With the gun barrel sequence now back in place, “Spectre”
makes the statement that all the previous films have been leading up to
reestablishment of the familiar Bond institution.<br />
<br />
<br />
“Spectre” opens on
Mexico’s Festival of the Dead, which echoes both the grandiosity of the
Rio’s Carnival festival in “Moonraker” and macabre flamboyancy of “Live
and Let Die”. Fans and film pundits alike had already remarked that the
festival skull mask, used as a misdirecting backdrop in the film’s
promotional material, was channelling “Live and Let Die”. With correct
rumours circulating that an old franchise villain was going to make his
first appearance in the new canon, many would have been forgiven to
think this was the iconic Baron Samedi. It turns out that we see the
formation of an even more famous villain, whose position in both the
novels and Eon films assures his place as Bond’s true arch-nemesis.<br />
<br />
<br />
If
all of this wasn’t enough “Spectre” features the fully established
line-up of Bond’s support team fans have come to love of M, Q and
Moneypenny. Even Felix Lester gets a namecheck, having been out of the
action since first meeting Bond in “Casino Royale”. The film also
features Q’s gadgets, including a fully loaded Aston Martin DB10
complete with a unique twist on the ejector seat, which was last seen in
“Goldfinger”. There is also reference to the perpetually unlucky 009
who was last seen in 1983’s “Octopussy”. An appropriate octopus emblem
used by the Spectre organisation might also be a nod towards this
particular movie outing. Then there is Mr Hinx, played by mixed martial
artist and pro-wrestler Dave Bautista, a super-powerful and persistent
man mountain henchman assassin in the mould of Oddjob, Jaws and others.
The extensive globe-trotting that was a heavy feature of most of the
Bond franchise seems to have taken up a good portion of the budget
again. This includes Bond’s first visit to Rome. Although filming did
take place in the former seat of the great ancient empire, a key scene
set in Rome actually took place in the courtyard of my local Blenheim
Palace.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5BhuxLVMj4U/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5BhuxLVMj4U?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
The movie’s opening credits are no less subtle than the
film’s opening pre-credit sequence in the geek message they are putting
over. However, this time the film offers heavy reassurance that fans of
the new franchise have not been neglected. As Sam Smith’s melancholic
Bond entry, “The Writing’s on the Wall” delivers two verses that
indicate Bond will be facing shadows from the past the opening credit
sequence provide us with an array of graphics that feature images from
the previous four films. “The Writing’s on the Wall” is the first Bond
theme to enter the charts at the number one position. Interestingly it
didn’t stay there for long and was soon occupied by Adele’s latest
single. Adele’s previous single had been for “Skyfall”, which was the
most successful Bond theme up until Sam Smith’s song (yet definitely its
artistic superior). “The Writing’s on the Wall” is fairly restricted in
the overall score of the picture and rightly so. There is a fair
argument that it brings home the tragedy in Bond’s life and the looming
fears, but Sam Mendes does not hang about with the action and the song,
including its instrumental, is best left behind once those credits stop
rolling. After that there are clear strong samples of familiar Bond
music, culminating in familiar big band James Bond theme tune being
played out in full during the end credits. The film is making the
statement that everything else has been a prelude to this picture.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8jzDnsjYv9A/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8jzDnsjYv9A?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
However,
this isn’t really the case. Despite what the real “Team Bond” of three
writers, a director, two musicians, the marketing department and
everyone at Eon Productions would like you to think, “Spectre” is not
the culmination of a smoothly plotted story arc that began in 2006’s
“Casino Royale”. Rather it is a slick exercise in continuity retconning,
which long-time comic-book, long-running serial and soap opera fans
will know all too well. Taking advantage of the end of the decades-long
legal of war of attrition over the intellectual rights of the Spectre
concept, the Quantum organisation that first appeared in “Quantum of
Solace” has since been changed to be just one of the tentacles of the
real threat behind the scenes. We’ve been here before with Star Wars,
where it has been implied that the six-movie franchise were all part of
George Lucas’s grand plan. The previous Eon canon cared little for
continuity. The only thing indicating any form of chronology came in the
references to Bond’s ill-fated marriage in “On Her Majesty’s Secret
Service”. Bond films have always reflected the era they have played and
have a strong reputation for getting it right or even being ahead of
their time. In this respect, the new canon is a massive improvement on
anything that has gone before.<br />
<br />
Critical responses to “Spectre” have
been mixed. Perhaps inspired by a sense of patriotism, pre-release UK
critics were overwhelmingly positive about the picture. Now we find
polarised responses from professional and amateur reviewers alike. Many
of the positive critics enjoyed the way the film played to “audience
expectations” and worked in so much of the Bond formula (my
“geek-factor” if you will). Predictably the negative criticism felt that
the picture was something of a mishmash of unoriginality in order to
pander to the box office. Some were bored by the film falling back on
the many established mainstays of the series.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/F6fGdVZJy9o/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F6fGdVZJy9o?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Curiously the first
critical praise I heard, declared the film to be a thoroughly
action-packed spectacle whereas the negative responses I received from
friends were that it was “too involved” and “long-winded”. Prior to the
release close-to-home critics of an earlier generation moaned about the
new canon’s lack of humour. They were probably representative of those
who weren’t happy with the Roger Moore to Timothy Dalton transition,
particularly those who weren’t impressed with 1989’s “Licence to Kill”.<br />
<br />
I
found “Spectre” to be an easy ride. The Eon Bond movie is always going
to be a made-by-committee formulaic picture and they perfected this
craft long before Hollywood lost its film-lovers in favour of
media-moguls in the early ‘90s. Often a Bond film can tell us a lot
about our movie-viewing habits and sometimes we don’t like what we see.
“Licence to Kill” was ahead of its time in providing a Bond that was
closer to Fleming’s original character and we saw this re-emerge in the
new canon. I appreciate the desire for developing backstory and
preserving continuity whilst delivering familiar instituted trademarks.
The geek-factor might be cynical, but it isn’t patronising or entirely
predictable.<br />
<br />
<br />
Unlike previous Bond instalments, including “Quantum of
Solace” the only direct Bond sequel to date, the film relies a lot on
the viewer having seen and remembered the previous three movies to some
degree. This makes a refreshing change and, in true Bond fashion, this
reflects the influence of television as well as comic-book movie
franchises. However, Mendes keeps events flowing at such a pace that no
one could really accuse him of lingering on anything. Unfortunately this
does come at the expense of regular deux ex machina occurring that
makes Bond seem incredibly lucky. Seriously, this is not a guy who ever
has to worry about getting an appropriate form of transportation out of
anywhere or to any place. Maybe, it is a British wish fulfilment comment
on public transport problems.<br />
<br />
I cannot see that the “drawn out”
argument can be fairly made, but I can see that some might be irritated
by the regular plot reminders and others by the simple fact they cannot
remember or have seen the previous three films. The writing team do a
decent enough job of suspending disbelief and papering over glaring plot
holes in their retconned story arc in a manner that would get the
approval of most comic-book readers.<br />
<br />
<br />
The strong cast do a solid job,
although only Daniel Craig and current favourite baddy actor,
Christopher Waltz, get a chance to really shine. Ralph Fiennes slips
into the M role as if he was there since “Dr No”, although fans get
treated to a Judy Dench cameo in a very contrived plot point. Naomie
Harris’s Moneypenny is decisively more streetwise and long overdue. I
have enjoyed Ben Whishaw’s work since “Perfume”, although I wasn’t
overly keen on his voice acting in “Paddington”. His Q doesn’t attempt
to resemble the weary and grouchy character created outside of Fleming’s
material and most famously popularised by Desmond Llewelyn. Rather he
happily plays within the cool nerdy sidekick mould you can find in any
number of superhero or spy TV shows of today. Andrew Scott and Léa
Seydoux are probably the only miscast roles in the film.<br />
<br />
“Spectre”
was never going to reach the level of integrity and class set by “Casino
Royale”. It didn’t have the benefit of any unused primary source
material offered by Ian Fleming and it was too long gone into the new
franchise to start showing restraint. Nevertheless, it does a grand
enough job playing the movie blockbuster game of its time.<br />
<br />
<br />
You can't
please everyone, Mr Bond, but this perhaps one the best examples of a
film doing a decent enough job trying to do exactly that.<br />
<br />
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-80486536974936167412015-11-05T09:18:00.000-08:002015-11-05T09:21:36.788-08:00Striking from the Shadows of '50s Pulp Fiction - Review of Robert Bloch's "Psycho"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNILnUC26FR5oy1xW2Yi8bM35ffgvzsnoCXd2otnmjhDYqs_m0stM9nV68PRi-OQFMhNxXWMTEptVwlFSPUK5dbnpF4wz0pTUf8MxjujqyxqfoH3cKLyNMsxtKbu7B9xqxHBneXjjUUJg/s1600/psycho+book+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNILnUC26FR5oy1xW2Yi8bM35ffgvzsnoCXd2otnmjhDYqs_m0stM9nV68PRi-OQFMhNxXWMTEptVwlFSPUK5dbnpF4wz0pTUf8MxjujqyxqfoH3cKLyNMsxtKbu7B9xqxHBneXjjUUJg/s1600/psycho+book+cover.jpg" /></a></div>
Just off a junction on a busy highway there still exists Bates Motel. This struggling business is run by <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Bates" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Norman Bates">Norman Bates</a> who endures an oppressive relationship from his unhinged mother who seems hell-bent in keeping her son single and away from the outside world. Then, one night, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psycho_%28novel%29" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Psycho (novel)">Mary Crane</a> arrives at the Motel. She is on the run with $40,000 she has stolen from of a client of her real estate company. Soon a private detective and her sister will be after her, but none of them expect the horrors that will ensue the night Mary accidentally turns off the highway and meets the Bates… <br />
<br />
<br />
We have Peggy Robertson to thank for the franchise that this 1959 pulp fiction thriller spawned and keeps on giving to this day. Apparently Robertson had read a good review by <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Boucher" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Anthony Boucher">Anthony Boucher</a> of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Bloch" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Robert Bloch">Robert Bloch</a>’s seminal thriller, “<a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054215/" rel="imdb" target="_blank" title="Psycho (film)">Psycho</a>”, despite Paramount Pictures already rejecting the story’s premise. Hitchcock, never one to back to down to anyone in movie world except maybe his wife, thought differently and fought a hard battle against virtually everyone to get the film greenlit. My copy of Bloch’s novel is a paperback published not long after the film was made, but looks fairly plain. In fact, the thin little novel was so indistinct amongst my book collection that I had a job to find it earlier this year. <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yRNl6qR4inM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yRNl6qR4inM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
Like “Jaws”, “Psycho” was a successful piece of pulp fiction that has been largely overshadowed by the blockbuster success of its cinematic adaptation and subsequent legacy that remains popular today. It also shares a few other traits with “Jaws”. Both films hold the standards in suspense for which all other horror-thrillers are now measured, both films are remembered for their effectively simple scores and both films were helmed by two of the most celebrated movie directors in history. Yet before the films, there was the original material and I often feel a debt towards a creator if I have especially enjoyed an adaptation. Indeed, if the adaptation has become a deserved phenomenal success, I feel somewhat embarrassed for not even attempting to look at it original medium. <br />
<br />
<br />
“Psycho” is an unpretentious story and looking at it within the time it is was written one cannot help wondering what would have happened if Hitchcock’s long-time assistant hadn’t picked up on its favourable review. This isn’t to say that story isn’t remarkable, but this is definitely a case of “it’s not what you do, but the way that you do it” rather than an example of ground-breaking genre fiction. Certain social taboos are touched upon, which might have seemed daring in the late 1950s America at the time, but the novel never suffered any of the censorship obstacles the film had to negotiate. It isn’t lurid in its descriptions or gory, which are traits it shares with the film. In fact, it is the banal way that certain horrific concepts are touched upon that might mark its genius. For example, the decapitation of a victim in the shower is delivered as a powerful yet very plain ending note to a chapter. The chapter, in question, would become one of the most iconic scenes in movie history yet it would be executed in a totally different style than what is written in the prose. Both are effective in their own way. <br />
<br />
<br />
On the subject of banality, Bloch’s characters are not especially colourful yet they are well-developed and the reader feels a certain degree of sympathy for all the main protagonists. We can relate to them. Mary Crane’s actions are out of the ordinary, but this is only because she has lived an otherwise unremarkable life. This is her cry against a predictable and humdrum life. Sam Loomis is no swashbuckling or pearly-white teeth male love interest. He is no rakish or moody Byronic anti-hero either. He is just your average lower-middle class 1950s American male, in debt yet sensible in other ways. Likewise, Lila, Mary’s sister shows plenty of energy and desire to be proactive but nothing seems to suggest she is more than a rightfully concerned sibling. They all seem human enough, each with their own flaws. Their normalcy is a standard device of horror/thriller writers who wish to present the juxtaposition of the story’s sensational hook and core. However, Bloch’s misdirection is a little different in that no one really knows the identity of the murderer, not even the murderer.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0h-YunQjCwU/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0h-YunQjCwU?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Only private detective, Milton Arbogast and Norman’s mother appear to be exceptional people in the main narrative. However, what they make up for in positive and negative attributes they lose in depth. Arbogast is not a deviation from standard modern western world hardboiled private detective. Even his name feels like a cliché, as if he were the lead character in a series of whodunits. This makes him work better as a device more than a character; a device that the reader will feel is comfortable and reliable, after recovering from the drama of the story’s first brutal murder. It doesn’t matter whether or not Arbogast has a backstory or any foibles to the reader. He is there to present the reader with the assumption that he will save the day. In this respect, he is yet another layer of normality we don’t see. Mrs Bates is something altogether different. She is offstage for the majority of the book. Her disembodied voice never far away from the only target of her negative attentions: Norman. She’s a puritanical harridan who bullies her son and we think we have her number. <br />
<br />
<br />
And what of that son? Perhaps the biggest difference Bloch’s novel offers compared to the legacy it would inspire is the pivotal character of Norman Bates. Introduced at the story’s beginning, which <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Stefano" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Joseph Stefano">Joseph Stefano</a> wisely changed, Norman Bates is an overweight, balding man with a drink problem. All of these factors were eliminated when Anthony Perkins was cast as the role and his shadow has remained, even with the modern day prequel reboot TV show, “Bates Motel”. What we are presented with is a less sympathetic character, but is nevertheless still a human being who appears to be under the monstrous domination of his mother. <br />
<br />
Bloch took his inspiration for “Psycho” from the real crimes of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Gein" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Ed Gein">Ed Gein</a>, a hillbilly murderer who would go on to inspire Thomas Harris’s Buffalo Bill serial killer and Tobe Hooper’s b-movie classic, “<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Texas_Chainsaw_Massacre_%282003_film%29" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003 film)">The Texas Chainsaw Massacre</a>”. However, the Gein case, which occurred only 35 miles from where Bloch lived, is often given too much credence for how much “Psycho” derived from its particulars. <br />
<br />
<br />
Bloch’s murderer is not a fictionalised Ed Gein. What Bloch was inspired by was the idea that a simple, regular loner, well-known in the local community could have a dark and murderous side hidden from everyone. The same concept could be applied to any number of more prolific killers in crime history before and since the publication of “Psycho”. Gein wasn’t technically a serial killer, depending on whether or not you believe he killed his brother. He was diagnosed to be schizophrenic, which is not the same condition as the novel’s killer. However, with a copy of Marquis De Sade’s work in the possession of the killer and the dynamic of an oppressive mother present, what might seem eerier than the parallels of Gein’s life is the idea that these factors would be present in the discovery of serial killers that struck years after the book’s publication. <br />
<br />
<br />
“Psycho” is a product of its time. It is one of many mystery novels and horrors that were being churned out in the 1950s. The musty pages of my edition only added to the feel of me stepping back into the time it was created and it is easy to get lost in Bloch’s accessible prose. Don’t expect deeper psychological explanations at the end of the novel or a better understanding of the characters. However, what you can expect is to be taken on the type of ride pulp fiction rarely offers today. The degree of restraint and pacing would have appealed to Hitchcock, and even if you know all the twists it is easy to get lost in them. Unlike, the regular trend of horror fiction the author mainly stays in the here and now. You won’t read passages like “[insert character’s name] was dead the moment he walked through the door”. Despite Hitchcock’s film staying fairly faithful to the text, it is possible to read the original novel without this influence. The characters all serve the same functions and the plot is the same, but there are enough differences that work better in text than they would have done on film. <br />
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com<br />
<div class="zemanta-related" style="clear: both; margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://tysonadams.com/2015/09/21/book-vs-movie-psycho-whats-the-difference/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/363291551_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://tysonadams.com/2015/09/21/book-vs-movie-psycho-whats-the-difference/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Book vs Movie: Psycho - What's the difference</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://en.memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Robert_Bloch?diff=1750307&oldid=1750304" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/363865075_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://en.memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Robert_Bloch?diff=1750307&oldid=1750304" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Robert Bloch</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://whatculture.com/film/12-horror-sequels-you-should-die-before-you-see.php" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/362844896_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://whatculture.com/film/12-horror-sequels-you-should-die-before-you-see.php" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">12 Horror Sequels You Should Die Before You See</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.today.com/parents/jamie-lee-curtis-channels-mom-janet-leigh-recreation-psycho-shower-t44411" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/362608943_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.today.com/parents/jamie-lee-curtis-channels-mom-janet-leigh-recreation-psycho-shower-t44411" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Like mother, like daughter! See Jamie Lee Curtis recreate 'Psycho' scene</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-65813665711418682432015-11-02T09:07:00.004-08:002015-11-02T09:07:56.652-08:00A Fresh Cut - A Review of "Byzantium"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg322w0-N_qynzcp2jRcWy_wn9qimTu4FZ2bim6d7CEZ9T51iEBie7qbHTMhlPIDb6LYa600c-vrKhWSMyjY-_NEiXzRaaY-hF86sLGB3IyXYuT6RGqhGTcJmT0lWGdtbiemaVsEf82iX4/s1600/red+hood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg322w0-N_qynzcp2jRcWy_wn9qimTu4FZ2bim6d7CEZ9T51iEBie7qbHTMhlPIDb6LYa600c-vrKhWSMyjY-_NEiXzRaaY-hF86sLGB3IyXYuT6RGqhGTcJmT0lWGdtbiemaVsEf82iX4/s320/red+hood.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Eleanor Webb (Saoirse Ronan) and her mother, Clara (Gemma
Arterton), are vampires. They have been this way for over 200 years. The pair
regularly flees from the pursuit of The Brethren, an all-male secret society of
vampires who seek to destroy the two females for violating their code. Eleanor,
an eternal teenager, writes accounts of her life and throws the pages into the
breeze. Arriving in a coastal town, Clara befriends Noel (Daniel Mays) who has
inherited a dilapidated hotel called Byzantium. Clara, who was forced into
prostitution when she was mortal, sees an opportunity to run a brothel at the
hotel. Meanwhile Eleanor befriends a terminally ill waiter, Frank (Caleb Landry
Jones), who reads her life story… </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Byzantium” is an extremely rare example of original,
creative and beautiful filmmaking. The film firmly establishes Neil Jordan as
one of my all-time favourite directors. He never seems to fail to deliver with
his work, carefully weaving artistry with entertainment without falling into
pretentiousness at one end or selling out at the other. However, before I
discuss how much I feel this film has been criminally overlooked I feel we need
some perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_zu2cW7AhO8/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_zu2cW7AhO8?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you will forgive the hackney-eyed pun, the vampire genre seems
to have been bled dry. Yet, writers and producers still come suckling as eager
as ever. TV never seems to take a breath for yet another new popular vampire
story to materialize. The ‘90s had the super-heroic “Buffy”, the 2000s had the
darkly comedic “True Blood” and the 2010s have “The Strain”, which seems to be savagely
dredging the depths of undead clichés and modern mythology like Brian Lumley’s
necromancer vampire Boris Dragonsani ripped his secrets from the dead.
Meanwhile, the past 20 years of vampire films have seen Marvel comics’ “Blade”
show some promise with the first two entries before driving a stake through its
filmic heart with the teen-aimed third attempt. There have been a wide range of
different angles attempted, with just about every other incarnation being yet
another lacklustre stab at Dracula. The problem with overwhelming majority of
vampire films and television is that as that despite giving a superficial
appearance of being original, they are just slight variations on ideas set down
by 20<sup>th</sup> century cinema. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Byzantium” creates its own mythology and does so in a
manner that echoes the magical folkloric roots of the vampire myth and shows a
genuine desire to do something creative. The vampires in dramatist Moira
Buffini’s screenplay are not a contagious. In fact, they are part of an elitist
and aristocratic brotherhood that jealously protects their gift. This pits them
against the stories two renegade female vampire leads, a prostitute and her
daughter. Much like Bela Lugosi’s Count Dracula, the vampires have no fangs or
mandibles of any description. Instead they grow a sharp thumbnail, which they
use to open veins and arteries of their prey. Death by sunlight is a mainstay
in the vast majority of vampire fiction since F.W. Murnau’s 1922 expressionist
masterpiece, “Nosferatu”, but it isn’t present here just as it isn’t a part of
traditional folklore. The vampires do not shift shape or enlist any sort of familiar
or slave. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Vampirism is not presented as a force of evil or even as a
curse or disease. Rather, it is a blessing conveyed on single individuals who
have access to an enchanted island. This saves us from the old clichés of
demons intent on taking over the world, spreading pestilence in their wake, or
the Anne Rice inspired self-pitying lonely Goth. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/I_7NTyeo6a0/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I_7NTyeo6a0?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sex is present in many forms throughout the story, in the
form of relationships as well as prostitution and rape, but the vampire seducer
– in either Lord Ruthven or Carmilla moulds - is not present. True, Clara
seduces Noel, but this is in line with her skills as a prostitute who
understands the desire in many lonely clients to simply be shown kindness
rather than any sort of mystical and hypnotic sexual power. This dispenses with
a lot of hackneyed plot devices and styles. There are no undertones of
xenophobia either, which were firmly established by Bram Stoker’s novel. Rather
than having the vampires seen as type of invasive species or disease carrying
immigrants, they are mainly part of an exclusive old boys club of noblemen
called The Brethren. Even when their snobby and sexist sensitivities are violated
by the allowance of a low-born female prostitute being made a vampire, they do
not seek to destroy or control Clara just forbid her from being a part of their
group. It is only when she breaks one of their rules that they becomes
antagonists in the story. Likewise, the film’s most obvious villain is not a
vampire but a predatory male who abuses the advantages of his noble birth and
military rank to mistreat Clara and Eleanor.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is no overt or obvious religiosity within “Byzantium”,
which has been a part of vampire myth since its earliest incarnations in
peasant superstition. Yet, unlike other modern vampire fiction that dispenses
with the crosses, holy water and selective sacred scripture in favour of
offering a scientific sounding rational for their supernatural bloodsuckers,
“Byzantium” feels no need to explain anything. As if to further establish this
work’s place as a classy standalone movie within the vampire genre, neither
Jordan nor Buffini feel a need to explain any of their vampire lore. This
refreshing contrast to virtually anything else presented with the genre,
returns the story back to the folk tale essence. It has that type of magical
realism accepted in such simple tales that stem from the oral peasant
traditions of a time where the existence of the fantastical was an accepted
reality in the minds of listener and teller alike. We don’t even get any of the
postmodern irony or speculation over vampire rules for the geeks to enjoy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, “Byzantium” isn’t completely devoid of influences
taken from classic vampire fiction. Since John William Polidori wrote his
novella, “The Vampyre: A Tale”, the aristocratic vampire is a common Gothic
staple. More recent vampire fiction has used it to establish an elite sect of
vampires set above others. We see it in the 1998 adaptation of Marvel Comics’
“Blade”, where the film’s main villain usurps the rule of the vampire elders of
the House of Erebus who viewed themselves as purebloods – born vampires – and
believed in keeping a low profile. Likewise, The Brethren’s codes are mainly
used to keep vampirism a secret from humanity. However, it is interesting that
Buffini chose a villainous aristocratic mortal to take on the name Ruthven. Ruthven
is the name of the vampire in the title of Polidori’s story and it is most
probably based on Lord Byron. The name and the character have appeared in
fiction many times since Polidori’s novella as a vampire or as a metaphor until
Bram Stoker’s famous bloodsucker overshadowed him. Nevertheless, in stark contrast
to what we are used to seeing and reading, the mortal Captain Ruthven is only character
who overtly behaves like a predator, has a sexually transmittable disease,
controls others through the benefit of his social/professional position and is totally
evil. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Vampirism might not be seen as a disease in the story, but
three diseases crop up as key plot points in the story that ultimately lead
three characters to become vampires. Each of the diseases is very apt in their
subtext. These are tuberculosis – which was often mistaken as vampirism when a
person died from it, syphilis – of which it has often been speculated Bram
Stoker’s vampirism was used as a metaphor in “Dracula” – and leukaemia, the
cancerous disease that is mainly seen in the way it affects the blood. Many
vampire authors have played with connecting supernatural vampirism to a range
of diseases both symbolically and literally. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The vampire thumbnail slashing method rather than biting
might be a reference to Jordan’s adaptation of Anne Rice’s “Interview with a
Vampire”, where we see the vampire, Lestat, using a specially designed thumb ring
to do something similar. This brings us onto possible nods to Jordan’s previous
work. Buffini must have been aware of these points when she wrote the
screenplay, as Jordan is conspicuous by his absence on the film’s writing
credits. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1986’s “Mona Lisa” is the most obvious reference. Firstly,
Clara’s job as a prostitute and her loyal lifelong protective attachment to
another girl echoes the character of Simone. This is particularly evident in
the way she manipulates a vulnerable male and is up against a violent shadow institution.
Swap the criminal underworld of “Mona Lisa” for the Brethren of vampires in “Byzantium”.
Next, the setting in a coastal town and a lot of the action occurring on the
peer are also present in “Mona Lisa”. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A bit more a stretch might be the figure of Eleanor being
trapped as a teenage vampire for eternity as Claudia was in “Interview with the
Vampire”, but Eleanor’s innocence being protected by her mother leading
conflicts pushes a more obvious comparison with the adolescent Rosaleen from “The
Company of Wolves”. If this is too subtle, check out her blood red hoodie. In “The
Company of Wolves”, Rosaleen is playing the role of Red Riding Hood and the
hood is symbolic of menstrual blood. She is caught between the protective prison
of her patriarchal family and the sexual threat of the predatory he-wolf.
Eleanor’s red hoodie is even more on the nose in its vampire symbolism. However,
like Rosaleen, Eleanor also finds herself to be at the mercy of different
controlling forces and her final decision in the film is also comparable to the
one made by her “Company of Wolves” counterpart. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Byzantium” is an understated Gothic fantasy that brings a
refreshing take on the vampire story. The casting features proof that Gemma
Arterton is not just a movie star but a genuine actress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her handling of Clara demonstrates she can
take on roles with more depth than what her recent CV might imply. She doesn’t
hog the screen from Irish actress Saoirse Ronan either who deftly handles the
treacherous role of being a paranormal teenager. Such castings more often than not
offer up some truly irritating characters, but not in this instance. There is
an unmistakable Angela Carter brand of feminism running through the story yet a
wonderfully simplistic flow at its heart. The film works as a horror in its
eeriness, sense of mounting dread and the cruel meanness of unfair controlling
elitist systems – both in the mortal and immortal world. Neil Jordan is on good
form and the film has alerted to work of Moira Boffini.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Byzantium" failed to make much of an impact
anywhere, although it has received above average reviews. The ideas put forward
are not the stuff of vampire franchising. Having said that, the fifth season of
"American Horror Story" features Lady Ga Ga playing the part of a
head vampire. When a newly made vampire enquires about their lack of fangs, he
is told that "we cut". She brandishes a very Lestat-like thumb ring.
The obvious reference is "Interview with the Vampire", but it is
worth noting that those vampires certainly did have the prominent and
retractable canines we first saw surface in the 1950s. Perhaps
"Byzantium" is having a slight influence here and there. Let's hope
more horror directors will take note of the film's desire to produce something
fresh.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvy8NDc4vQNEtlTDgBVJoJx-sEGOw-ZJNkMUO-xjB6hLkSCVBIDg2RSBi-cpdrxmZVnk6Vs08bGWRtxxb8gJ077JbsoSUnqGspgfoGUhzOJkPjoA5HCH7cvRzHph0uy6FCwtgSDKFuNz0/s1600/byzantium+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvy8NDc4vQNEtlTDgBVJoJx-sEGOw-ZJNkMUO-xjB6hLkSCVBIDg2RSBi-cpdrxmZVnk6Vs08bGWRtxxb8gJ077JbsoSUnqGspgfoGUhzOJkPjoA5HCH7cvRzHph0uy6FCwtgSDKFuNz0/s1600/byzantium+cover.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-57576825205314976272015-09-25T09:52:00.003-07:002015-09-25T09:52:43.740-07:00“Gums 2” or “Why a Jaws Remake will Probably Suck!”<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jaws_boxset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Jaws (franchise)" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="358" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2a/Jaws_boxset.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 251px;">Jaws (franchise) (Photo credit: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jaws_boxset.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]--><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Following on from my article regarding reboots, my attention
was recently drawn to the threat that a remake of “Jaws” was in the works.
Forgive me for being out of the loop on this one, as it’s been in the public
forum since at least April this year. Even more horrifying than this prospect
is the fact that it appears to be more than a slight ripple in the rumour tank.
The auteur director of the original classic, Steven Spielberg, officially
announced this proposal to the executives at Universal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to INSC Magazine, Spielberg has
been “vehemently” campaigning for super-geek Kevin Smith to direct the picture
due to Smith’s clear love of the original. This all seems like more of the
cynical geek-chum we have come to expect from remade/rebooted/readapted
blockbusters I mentioned in my article about reboots. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When asked about making a sequel to his original film,
Spielberg said that "making a sequel to anything is just a cheap carny
trick". However, he did consider taking on “Jaw 2”. This was before he
would direct sequels to “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, “Jurassic Park” and would
even make an original sequel to J.M. Barrie’s “Peter Pan” in the form of
“Hook”. Now, Spielberg believes the time is right to remake “Jaws” taking
advantage of the CGI effects available to us. The director was known for his
frustrations with the temperamental mechanical sharks used in the original,
which were all called “Bruce”. The same INSC Magazine also mentions Spielberg’s
interest in such ideas as having an internal monologue for the shark being
provided by Ben Affleck, showing that the fish had larger motivations than pure
instinct. It gets worse! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here are few reasons why a “Jaws” remake, going on the
wealth of evidence provided by the film’s legacy might be beyond redemption. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jaws was Never an
SFX Film </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When you see a list of the greatest special effects movies
of all time, on an idiot would put “Jaws” in there. Despite the painstaking
work done on the ill-fated mechanical sharks, there were no massive cinematic
breakthroughs in this particular department. In fact, by the time I first
became mesmerized by the film as a child growing up in the 1980s people were
already laughing at the “rubber shark”. However, that wasn’t to say they
weren’t still jumping out of their seats and feeling the tension with the
film’s mounting suspense. That was the enduring strength of “Jaws” and 40 years
on it still grips audiences. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few years ago it was on TV and I was casually watching it.
The famous chum scene where the shark comes out of the water still took my
surprise. A long enough gap had occurred between then and my previous watching
and I was truly quite amazed at how well I could be set up by the scene. Years
later I witnessed a shock reaction given by a jaded 20 something horror fan
upon their first viewing. Again, the film just happened to be on television and
they stopped to watch a scene. “Fucking hell” she said in awe as the film, for
the first time in the picture, the outline of the shark pass under a boat. It
wasn’t the effect that generated the desired response in either of our cases.
It was all the other factors, including the direction of a then ambitious,
visionary and gifted young Steven Spielberg. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/w6nfLZV08AA/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w6nfLZV08AA?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The “Jaws” Legacy
is Big Enough</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Far be it for me to say that a franchise has been exhausted.
Boil anything down in the world of fiction and you can say it has all been done
before. The art is often found in how something is redone. This is why I don’t
have a problem with remakes in principle and I don’t really see why anyone
should. However, the legacy of “Jaws” is so vast now that a remake is destined
to be drowned as yet another weak pretender. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The essence of the voyeuristic and unseen terror of “Jaws”
can be seen in both “Predator” and “Alien”. The concept of the shark having a
vendetta is explored in “Orca”, which did a far better and more plausible job
than the ludicrous “Jaws the Revenge”. As for gore and more visual stimulation
we have only to look at “Deep Blue Sea”, “Piranha”, “Dinoshark”, “Crocodile”,
“Lake Placid”, “Grizzly” and over four decades worth of Jaws copies to see that
this exploitation ocean of possibility has been dredged. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/55c0hXx-mBU/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/55c0hXx-mBU?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Jaws” the movie is a triumph of cinematic simplicity. Spielberg
used test screenings to perfectly time his two jump moments. The cinematography
both in and out of the water is excellent in juxtaposing human perceptions of
paradise against the primal brutality of nature. Applying voyeurism to the
shark on its hunt by filming from its perspective brought shades of brilliance
that made “Peeping Tom”, “Psycho” and “Black Christmas” so effective in
inducing fear. It would become a staple of the slasher movie, but with “Jaws”
it offered something far larger. This wasn’t just an individual maniac stalking
its prey in their own world. In “Jaws” the same thing was happening but from a
reverse perspective. The targets for the main antagonist’s indiscriminate
violence those that were touch upon its world. By not showing the shark we were
seeing much more. We were seeing the savage kingdom of the predator, which
dwarfed all the petty politics and holidaymaking occurring above the surface of
the water. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
John Williams’ music makes up more than half of the film’s
effectiveness. The great composer has such an impact on the movies he touches
that it is almost impossible to divorce any of them from their respective
scores. “Superman”, which has had a strong and established continuous presence
in media four decades before Williams scored “Superman: The Movie” and
continued to do so, has been the only one to make a successful separation with
the “Man of Steel” reboot. Even then, consider that there was one attempt to
continue the “Superman: The Movie” series 19 years after the last sequel
retaining Williams’ score in the ill-fated “Superman Returns”. When this didn’t
work and the hard decision was made to start anew most of us couldn’t help feel
a degree of sadness to not hear the memorable score over a live action film of
America’s favourite boy scout. There is no doubt that a huge amount of what
made “Jaws” great was its score.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Outside of these elements there is a great cast and the film
is reasonably faithful to Benchley’s novel. However, their purpose is to appear
miniscule compared to the horror that is surrounding them. Each of the three
shark hunters are stretched beyond their limitations and the community they are
defending seems to be at a complete loss in being able to handle the force of
nature that has targeted their lives and livelihoods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is the power of the vision of “Jaws” the
film. It’s a film about using the unknown to create fear. However, as with both
“Alien” and “Predator”, once the monster was revealed the window was only so
big to bring everything to a satisfactory conclusion. The only reason why
“Alien” succeeded to come back with credible sequel was because the new
director switched tactics and created an action movie. A similar move was
executed well with “Terminator 2”. The same would not be the case for “Jaws”.
The first sequel, which isn’t a bad film, gave us more of the shark and more
dramatic death sequences with an even more explosive (and more ludicrous)
finale, but there was nowhere good to go after it had finished. This was left
to the “Jaws” imitators who have a freer rein to take whatever successful
concepts they like to make films that are better than anything officially
connected to the “Jaws” franchise. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The base elements of the original film, so expertly designed
and timed, are what makes any attempt to imitate it seem clichéd and silly.
Consider Jaws’ only real equal in suspense filmmaking, “Psycho”, as an example
of this similar principle. I think the two films share several parallels, which
make them two of the best horror pictures ever made. Only Psycho’s first sequel
(made 22 years later) has any degree of credibility as a film. Its next two
instalments equalled Jaws’ subsequent third and fourth parts in their levels of
descending awfulness. Observing the intimidating brilliance of the first film’s
direction, score and cinematography, one director felt that the only way the
film be could be remade and updated was to shoot it frame-for-frame. The result
was terrible. The remake of “The Omen” was not as slavish, but by sticking too
closely to the original film it also produced an unmemorable and unnecessary
homage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Certain films become classics because of core fundamentals.
Filmmakers, even those involved with creating the original, attempt to remake
them at their own risk. I would rather see another honest “Jaws” imitation with
a totally different storyline and concept on the big screen, such as “Meg”,
which is still in production hell, to finally surface.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It’s Not Going to
be a Re-Adaptation </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It would appear that everyone, including Spielberg, has
forgotten that “Jaws” was an excellent piece of pulp fiction a year before it
became the prototype for the summer blockbuster. The same sad truth can be said
about “Psycho” and “The Godfather”. Spielberg had problems with the original
novel and one of them was his dislike of the characters. This is what led to
several rewrites of the script, including Peter Benchley being replaced.
Although the characters of the film are excellent and well-cast, Benchley’s original
versions were more flawed and the story is grittier. Given that the fashion
with a lot of franchises these days is to make everything “darker”, it might
not be the worst pitch to go back to the original Benchley characters that
Spielberg so loathed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rather than looking towards the special effects and adding
in silly new gimmicks like anthropomorphising the shark, one thing that has
changed in today’s audiences is the demand for more complex characters and
patience for plot developments in genre pieces. Within the wake of shows like
“Game of Thrones”, “Blacklist” and “True Detectives”, a television audience
might be better drawn to a more character driven work. Television is currently
beating movies hands down with bigger budgets and lengthier runs to expand upon
character and plot development. “Bates Motel” has proven to be successful in
its complete reinvention of “Psycho”. The series is far from perfect and is too
far removed from its essence, but it is still far better than anything produced
in the franchise since “Psycho II”. The “Hannibal” TV drama is the best example
of reimagining a franchise by going back to the original works. Even Hannibal
Lector creator, Thomas Harris seemed to have lost his way with the
disappointing and implausible prequel, “Hannibal Rising” (in both novel and
film), but the television series helped reinvent the character and his world by
working hard to bring the psychology of Harris’s novels to the screen rather
than just re-tread the plots. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No Teeth</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back in the early ‘80s the only truly British comic-book I
read was “Buster”. The only reason I read “Buster” was for the American
inspired superhero, Leopard Man. However, I did read all the other strips and
amongst them was an anthropomorphised marine menace known as “Gums”.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2544898638823287423#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span></span></span></a>
Gums was always on the look out to eat people but was never as successful as
the shark that inspired his creation. This was down to the simple problem that
he had a pair of false teeth that he often ended up losing. Targets of the “evil”
Gums would, at first, fear the approaching menace. However, this would soon be
changed to amusement at his failing. Such a metaphor befits the vast majority
of the school of “Jaws” imitators. Sadly, going by the most likely direction it
is headed, it would appear it’s a fate that awaits its remake. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;">
<br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2544898638823287423#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span></span></span></a> It
is worth noting that a common mistake for many people who have seen “Jaws” is
to assume that the title is the name of the shark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only did Gums get given a name, but
“Action Comics” also titled the lead antagonist of their violent “Jaws” cash-in
“Hook Jaw”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides the aforementioned
“Bruce” title given to the rubber sharks, the fish in the book and the film has
no official name. In typical cynical fashion the title for the original novel
came from Benchley’s publisher suggesting that it nicely fitted on the front
cover. He was right and it makes a great movie logo too.</div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
My other "Jaws" articles: </div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="http://beelzebubsbroker.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/image-via-wikipedia-film-jaws-has-gone.html">The Best Films Inspired by Jaws </a></div>
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<a href="http://beelzebubsbroker.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/the-lines-before-score-reflection-on.html">The Lines Before the Score (review of the original novel) </a><br /><br />
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-55622386213230242992015-09-22T07:52:00.001-07:002015-09-23T02:32:06.371-07:00Art and Artist? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxolIH0fpgr1fkBv9KNoNijlncD3Ws1QerzN7U9h9HL3lsG4_ZXh91vjlXBA4T6Jg4noTc0qjYD72jnrJ461kVh3qaQzDyjN2-_0t2zxKzpN6r6P3Ts7ZuZ8WTn7nZcJpRkKjpIWDVqfY/s1600/fairy+fellers+master+stroke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxolIH0fpgr1fkBv9KNoNijlncD3Ws1QerzN7U9h9HL3lsG4_ZXh91vjlXBA4T6Jg4noTc0qjYD72jnrJ461kVh3qaQzDyjN2-_0t2zxKzpN6r6P3Ts7ZuZ8WTn7nZcJpRkKjpIWDVqfY/s1600/fairy+fellers+master+stroke.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I read the below
article, <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201509/our-woody-allen-problem?utm_source=FacebookPost&utm_medium=FBPost&utm_campaign=FBPost">"Our Woody Allen Problem"</a> a few days ago in "Psychology
Today". It is interesting that others have pondered the cognitive
dissonance we seem to face when we don't agree with the morality of the artist,
but we are a fan of their work. I think a huge amount of latitude needs to be
applied. If I was to go through all the films, novels, plays, songs,
installations, sculptures, paintings, poems etc. etc. and make an assessment of
the key artists involved against my own morals, ethics or even personal
philosophy, there would be no one left.<br />
<br />
This has been a problem for me since childhood. Growing up in a culture that it has often been fashionable to persecute, traditional circus, it became all-too-common to discover that some icon or other opposed what my family did for a living. Not only did I have to make a decision to either separate the individual from what they produced, but I was often at war with my tastes when a certain prejudicial or gross insult to my people suddenly appeared in a favourite programme, book or other work. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Looking at the example presented in the Woody
Allen<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>article - and I appreciate this
isn't the entire thrust of the psychological argument -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the problem here is that the morality of the
artist's life casts a troublesome shadow over the themes of his work. Indeed, this was the same issue I encountered when a gross distortion was made about my people. It ended up leading me to question the validity of a certain individual's work. Even in the realm of fantasy and fiction were they a farce? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Arguably a far larger problem has occurred with Bill Cosby's
work since his multiple historic sexual assault allegations. The fact that
Cosby has gone on record admitting that he used Quaaludes for sex and even
President Barak Obama felt the need to imply the extent of Cosby's guilt, makes
it seem virtually impossible for anyone but the man's most hard-core fans to look
upon on the man the same way again. The problem here is that whatever the
outcome, the concept of the old school and wholesome Cosby life is shattered
and this illusion was something he brought into just about every medium he
touched. Even his brilliant adult stand-up had a firm grounding in the tales of
his family life, and Cosby's moral lessons - not to mention his ability to
mention sex without vulgarity - were part of the parcel. Cosby always provided
me with a refreshing contrast to the majority of my favourite comics who often
did little to stand on the edges of prudery. Even Groucho Marx, who Cosby
adored and worked hard to keep in front of a changing audience to the extent
that he played the straight man in their onscreen work, used innuendo and made
rakishness part of his persona. I recently saw an internet meme showing two
decades apart photos of Cosby. One was the picture of the jolly 1980s
middle-American Dr Huxtable he created for "The Cosby Show" and the
other was the clearly deeply worried and troubled bald man we have seen
photographed today. One poster responded with knee-jerk pathos - "It's
sad". They were immediately shot down: "It's sad what these women
have been put through for so long!". We are often shamed by such remarks.
We feel selfish to bemoan the thought of losing Cosby's art when we should
really be feeling anger towards yet another example of a celebrity abusing
their position of power and influence. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div class="zemanta-img">
<a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CognitiveDissonanceDiagram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="A diagram of cognitive dissonance theory. Diss..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="266" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/CognitiveDissonanceDiagram.jpg/350px-CognitiveDissonanceDiagram.jpg" style="border: medium none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="350" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;">A diagram of cognitive dissonance theory. Dissonance reduction can be accomplished in various ways, broadly including the addition of more, consonant elements, or else changing the existing elements. (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CognitiveDissonanceDiagram.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, the likes of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Glitter" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Gary Glitter">Gary Glitter</a>, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Savile" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Jimmy Savile">Jimmy Savile</a>, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolf_Harris" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Rolf Harris">Rolf
Harris</a> and many others became institutions that made up the fabric of our
childhood culture and their demonization does have some effect on us all.
Managing the paedophilic Glitter was the easiest. He represented glam rock,
which could be marginalized like any other music trend or deviation. I never
liked his image or his music. I know several people who worked with him and few
of them spoke highly of the man before he was first publically accused of his
various crimes. However, something doesn't quite sit right with me when
decisions have been made to completely remove him from works that have been
created to celebrate the history of glam rock. Savile's legacy is a little bit
more difficult. Besides once writing a letter to a show that almost put him in
a Santa Claus demi-god position for children, "Jim'll Fix It",
Saville did not have a particularly large obvious influence over my tastes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, he is currently recognized with the
paradoxical distinction of being one of the UK’s most prolific charity fundraisers
and prolific sexual predators. It should be noted that the prestige he gained
from being the former aided him to commit the crimes of the latter. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rolf Harris appeared in many different forms throughout my
childhood. The most memorable of these for my particular generation was
probably “Rolf Harris’s Cartoon Time”. The show was one of those early evening
programmes that became part of many a child’s television watching ritual. We
loved the eccentric way he hummed and chatted to us - a method he had perfected whilst rehearsing to a doorknob! - as the various Warner
Brothers cartoons took shape on his drawing board to the tap and squeak of his
thick felt pens. My love for Looney Tunes long outlasted my interest in Harris’s
cosy little show, but it was still a happy memory of a certain period of my
life and provides a bitter taste in my mouth think of what was occurring in the
lives of Harris’s victims at that time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Does the passage of time put everything into perspective? I
love the works of Byron and Shelley. I, like many others, was first drawn to
them more by the stories of their outrageous lifestyles and their iconic
influence than by their literary merit. However, these two great romantic
poets, who wrote such beautiful prose about love and friendship, did not have a
great record for the way they treated their lovers. Byron, who popularized the
type of bold hero that now bears his name, ended his days behaving like any
other foppish and privileged celebrity who mistakes his self-righteous ego for
the true spirit of revolution. Shelley, who married the daughter of the mother
of feminism and a strong liberal philosopher, used the concept of "free
love" as a licence to mistreat women. As discussed in two previous posts
on here I have written, Shelley's own selfish interests and drives that helped
create a lot of misery around him are probably the inspiration for his wife's
most famous literary creation: Victor Frankenstein. Both Byron and Shelley's
scandals, which helped build up the rock star blueprint that would ensure the
iconography of many others to follow, stem from the shattered lives of those
who trusted them. At least this is the opinion voiced by the likes of Claire Claremont,
Lady Caroline Lamb and William Polidori. These are just the names of the illustrious
and the literate, and those who were fiery enough to fight back in some
fashion. Similar thoughts could be expressed about the hypocritical libertine, Mozart,
and even Oscar Wilde, who used teenage rent boys who were probably forced into
their profession by the poverty of the time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On watching a documentary about the rock history's greatest excesses,
I couldn't help but wonder at the double standards we allow and even celebrate
in certain icons. One story that really brought this to mind was the story of a
competition between glam metal Motley Crue founding members, Nikki Sixx and
Tommy Lee. Apparently both were competing to see how long they could go without
washing and still get sex off groupies. In the end, Sixx won the bet when one groupie
who was giving him oral sex was so overwhelmed by the noxious fumes of his body
odour that she threw up on him. It became an amusing anecdote in rock circles
and fellow glam metallers, Guns 'n Roses even named one of their albums after
it. Some might argue that the groupie in question was a consenting adult and
deserved everything that she got for being such a mindless devotee to fame, but
it's always easy to judge. Seeing the huge numbers of groupies that various
celebrities make their way through, one has to stop and ponder the average age
of them all. Furthermore, given the tribal nature in human beings don't those
positions of influence have some degree of responsibility?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whenever one thinks about the separate way we might think of an art and artist, the subject of Richard Dadd is an obvious example. One of my favourite authors, Angela Carter, even wrote "Come unto these Yellow Sands", a play based on Dadd's life.
Dadd was incarcerated in 1843 in Bethlehem psychiatric hospital, the place most famously dubbed "Bedlam Asylum", and later in Broadmoor Hospital, which has housed a veritable rogues gallery of British killers. Dadd, who was probably a paranoid schizophrenic, had killed his father believing him to be a demon and later took a razor to kill a tourist en route to Paris. His personality had undergone a dramatic and violent change a year previously whilst on an expedition through Europe and into Egypt. However, once Dadd was under care he began producing some of his most famout work. One particular piece, the unfinished masterpiece "The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke", has gone on to inspire many other artists from the rock band Queen to the fantasy author Terry Pratchett. Dadd accompanied the work with a long poem he wrote one year after the artist stopped working on the piece. Amid the brilliant, incredible and intricate details of the picture, which have to be viewed as extensions of Dadd's complicated psyche, there is the almost hidden figure of an apothecary holding a mortar and pestle. This is a portrait of Dadd's murdered father, Robert. Few would call into question Dadd's insanity and therefore might absolve him from his violent acts. Few would condemn those who encouraged Dadd to continue with his work as a type of therapy whilst he lived out his incarcerated life. However, how do we judge ourselves when we celebrate this beautiful work?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sOfVp8ifIlY/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sOfVp8ifIlY?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The examples I have provided are varied in their severity. I
am trying hard not to make comparisons or even suggest an argument. Better
writers have discussed how much fame seems to mitigate the crimes of
celebrities in the eyes of the public and how historical context turns
Alexander into a great conquering visionary and Hitler into the personification
of evil. My aim is to ponder the complexity of trying to separate a work from
its creator. I don't think anyone will arrive at an easy compromise.</div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]--><br />
<a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201509/our-woody-allen-problem?utm_source=FacebookPost&utm_medium=FBPost&utm_campaign=FBPost">Our Woody Allen Problem</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-89310479661008141942015-09-10T04:55:00.001-07:002015-09-10T04:55:30.260-07:00Saving the Soul of a Movie Franchise<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Batman_from_Dark_Knight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="The Batsuit of The Dark Knight, worn by Christ..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="375" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/18/Batman_from_Dark_Knight.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 250px;">The Batsuit of The Dark Knight, worn by Christian Bale. (Photo credit: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Batman_from_Dark_Knight.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Forgive my pedantry here, but there are feature film Remakes,
feature film Re-Adaptations of non-feature film material and – the subject of
this article - Reboots. When I read lists of good or bad remakes I often see a
mishmash of these three and yet each is quite different. Remakes are films that
make a clear attempt to produce a new version of a single film. A re-adaptation,
in the context of this article, describes a second or subsequent adaptation of
a novel, a play, video game or some other non-feature film source material. A
movie reboot occurs when an established franchise of films starts anew. The
overwhelming majority of reboots will start with a remake or a re-adaption, but
the motive of the producers is to refresh an established franchise anew,
disregarding previous continuities. A good reboot meets the torturous task of
doing justice to the core “spirit” of the original work with obvious respect whilst
laying believable foundations for the rest of the series. A bad reboot does the
complete opposite. Therefore, the purpose of this frivolous and unashamedly
geeky article is to put forward my favourite and least favourite attempts to refresh
a movie franchise. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
If we look at the lists of movie franchises that have
occurred throughout the history of motion pictures, we note that post-2000
offers the greatest volume of examples. Remakes and Re-Adaptations are nothing
new in the movie world. The concept of both pre-dates the invention of feature
films, and can be seen in the history of plays. However, the Reboot marks the
establishment of the historic and continued success of an ongoing series, and
is a clear indication of the increasing presence of the hard-core fan element. That
clearly came into bloom around the turn of the 21<sup>st</sup> century and has
become a distinguishing feature of the movie-making industry in the early part
of that century. Rebooting has accelerated so much that we are getting more
than one attempt to re-boot a franchise occurring within shorter spaces of
time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also have interesting
variations on the reboot, such as the “soft” re-boot whereby a franchise
re-starts as a sequel and either dismisses only some of the continuity, as in
“Superman Returns” or makes a clear new focus for the franchise, as in “G.I.
Joe Retaliation”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite growing
criticism over reboots, the nature of the franchise business indicates we will
be seeing an increasing number of them. It almost seems inevitable, but this
doesn’t mean that originality, creativity and artistic integrity have to go out
of the window. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/K5rsrd3P0dg/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K5rsrd3P0dg?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” trilogy was the perfect
example of how far good style can take a regimented formula. I accept that his
three films meet all the cynical production-pleasing criteria; including being
obedient to the standard script structure that has become sickeningly
predictable in Hollywood blockbusters, but the film still succeeds as art in
spite of this conformity. All due credit should go to Tim Burton and Sam Raimi
for laying down some brave foundations in the superhero movie world, but what
set Nolan’s vision above most was his honouring the core spirit of the
character. By grounding Batman in a more realistic world carefully crafted in
an exaggerated noir style reminiscent of Bob Kane’s earliest work and the 1980s
work of Frank Miller via Alan Moore, Batman finally got the respect he
deserved. If we add to this the excellent casting of Christian Bale, Gary
Oldman, Heath Ledger and Tom Hardy, the finished product is not only the best
example of a reboot, but is also amongst the best movie trilogies.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/f-iqrA-vGK4/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f-iqrA-vGK4?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sadly there are more bad reboots than good and they don’t
even get the mitigation of being called heroic failures. 1998’s “Godzilla”
regarded its Kaijū genre source material in the same way the original monster regarded
Tokyo and hungrily stole from the Jurassic Park franchise. The attempts to
reimagine the titular character were so abstract and pompous that the single
film might as well have gone by a different name. What further qualifies it as
a terrible attempt at a reboot is its hackney-eyed ending. It is a throwback to
“Critters”, “Venom”, “Alligator” and other creature features that tagged on
these lazy cliff-hangers in hope they could make a sequel even if little actual
forethought had gone into this possible future film. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pGemfKLV1JA/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pGemfKLV1JA?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The attempted 2014 reboot of “RoboCop” gets a mention for
exhibiting near enough the same level of cynicism and consumerism the first
film sent up. Whatever the merchandizers were trying to do upon the release of
the first “RoboCop” film it is quite clear that Paul Verhoeven’s 18 certificate
cyberpunk satire was not a superhero film. However, it would appear that the creative
team behind the remake had other ideas and set their sights on 12a certificate
market. The commercial success of this film appeared to be a triumph of clinical
algorithm prediction over artistic integrity. It delivered to the lowest common
denominator, appealed to a wider new audience and, in a shallow move that is
now a patronising staple element in most remakes/reboots, it threw titbits to
supposedly please fans of the original franchise. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/37SuVa0MnRI/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/37SuVa0MnRI?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, the soul of a franchise may yet be saved in the
same haven that has allowed a wide range of original drama to flourish. After “Hannibal
Rising” seemingly killed Thomas Harris’s franchise in both literary and filmic versions,
Bryan Fuller’s grotesquely brilliant “Hannibal” is the antithesis of bad
reboot. Nolan’s vision of Batman may have finished with his great trilogy, but
its spirit has risen within the even more understated and adult “Gotham”. The
acceptance of a patient audience that relishes a slow-burning plot and complex
character development to occur, regardless of the genre, provides creative
writers and directors with many possibilities. The strength of a franchise is
its ability to sustain the interest of its fans. Television provides the
perfect medium to achieve this objective, allowing a great movie idea to thrive
with less corporate influence. </div>
<br />
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com<br />
<div class="zemanta-related" style="clear: both; margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2015/09/04/is-transporter-franchise-worth-salvaging-without-jason-statham/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/360806786_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2015/09/04/is-transporter-franchise-worth-salvaging-without-jason-statham/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Is 'Transporter' Franchise Worth Salvaging Without Jason Statham?</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.techgadgettalk.com/cabin-fever-reboot-sells-to-ifc-midnight/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/361481981_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.techgadgettalk.com/cabin-fever-reboot-sells-to-ifc-midnight/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">'Cabin Fever' Reboot Sells to IFC Midnight</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.avclub.com/article/steven-spielberg-might-return-universal-move-terri-224814" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/360507582_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.avclub.com/article/steven-spielberg-might-return-universal-move-terri-224814" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Newswire: Steven Spielberg might return to Universal in move with terrifying reboot implications</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.justjared.com/2015/09/02/rugrats-hey-arnold-could-be-rebooted-by-nickelodeon/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/360508825_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.justjared.com/2015/09/02/rugrats-hey-arnold-could-be-rebooted-by-nickelodeon/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">'Rugrats' & 'Hey Arnold!' Could Be Rebooted by Nickelodeon</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/dc-reveals-first-dark-knight-iii-the-master-race-cover" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/360528479_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/dc-reveals-first-dark-knight-iii-the-master-race-cover" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">DC Reveals First "Dark Knight III: The Master Race" Cover</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-12252022498560977132015-09-04T03:36:00.001-07:002015-09-04T03:37:31.551-07:00Of Ravens and Wolves - Tribute to Joan Aiken<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Wolves_of_Willoughby_Chase_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (film)" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="500" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d7/The_Wolves_of_Willoughby_Chase_cover.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 302px;">The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (film) (Photo credit: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Wolves_of_Willoughby_Chase_cover.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
Today I was reminded by a very nice doodle on <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.google.com/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Google">Google</a> that is the 91st birthday of the great <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children%27s_literature" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Children's literature">children's novelist</a>, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Aiken" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Joan Aiken">Joan Aiken</a>. Aiken was one of the staple children's authors who's work coloured a lot of my childhood upbringing in the Cotswolds. I heard her stories of Mortimer the raven on <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="BBC">BBC's</a> <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackanory" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Jackanory">Jackanory</a> and then again in my sixth primary school, where it seemed the majority of our reading material was illustrated by <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.quentinblake.com/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Quentin Blake">Quentin Blake</a>! Later on, I became aware of her other work. Her Wolves Chronicles, particularly the first installment, "<a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Wolves-Willoughby-Chase-Joan-Aiken/dp/0440996295%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzemanta-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0440996295" rel="amazon" target="_blank" title="The Wolves of Willoughby Chase">The Wolves of Willoughby Chase</a>", were particularly inspirational in later ideas I would have as an adult. <br />
<br />
When I moved back to the Cotswolds with my baby daughter, my thoughts often returned to Aiken's work, even if my eyes didn't. I found myself thinking on the worlds she created as I pushed a pram up a steep hill as winter drew near. That tinge of Gothic that touched upon most of Aiken's work put her years ahead of the trend that has shaped a lot of children's fiction, in film and literature, over the last two decades. Ahead of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.philip-pullman.com/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Philip Pullman">Phillip Pullman's</a> steam punk and other children's alternative history authors, Aiken presented futures that touched strongly on reality. She held her hand with discipline when it came to applying fantasy elements and wove them believeable into the text. This is what makes the Wolves Chronicles so appealing.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Sadly very little of Aiken's prolific body of work has been adapted to the big screen or television. Despite her winning several prestigious awards a fair evaluation of her work's impact on literature is long overdue. The entire Wolves Chronicles need reviewing for adaptation. In a time when <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_fantasy" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="High fantasy">High Fantasy</a> might have peaked Aiken offers us something decidedly different and yet, I feel, many will find surprisingly familiar. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0hSYSlMnRNA/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0hSYSlMnRNA?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cXfc2Q-wKUM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cXfc2Q-wKUM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/r85sjcaUfZA/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r85sjcaUfZA?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com<br />
<div class="zemanta-related" style="clear: both; margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.dolphinbooksellers.co.uk/blog/2015/07/31/the-arabel-and-mortimer-series-by-joan-aiken-and-illustrated-by-quentin-blake/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/355255340_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.dolphinbooksellers.co.uk/blog/2015/07/31/the-arabel-and-mortimer-series-by-joan-aiken-and-illustrated-by-quentin-blake/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Arabel and Mortimer Series by Joan Aiken and illustrated by Quentin Blake</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/google-doodle/11843286/Joan-Aiken-Childrens-authors-masterpiece-celebrated-with-Google-Doodle-on-her-91st-birthday.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/360751367_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/google-doodle/11843286/Joan-Aiken-Childrens-authors-masterpiece-celebrated-with-Google-Doodle-on-her-91st-birthday.html" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Joan Aiken: Children's author's masterpiece celebrated with Google Doodle on her 91st birthday</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-34229489279034131492015-09-01T04:59:00.002-07:002015-09-01T04:59:42.492-07:00Bride of Frankenstein - "to gods and monsters!" <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Brideoffrankenstein.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="With Boris Karloff in Bride of Frankenstein (1935)" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="273" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/79/Brideoffrankenstein.jpg/350px-Brideoffrankenstein.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;">With Boris Karloff in Bride of Frankenstein (1935) (Photo credit: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Brideoffrankenstein.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In honour of the 80th anniversay of "<a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Universal-Studios-Classic-Collection/dp/078323502X%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzemanta-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D078323502X" rel="amazon" target="_blank" title="The Bride of Frankenstein (Universal Studios Classic Monster Collection)">The Bride of Frankenstein</a>" I have unearthed this short review I submitted a fair few years back. <br />
<br />
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury I
present to you a fine example that not only puts forward the argument
that sequels can be great, but also that there were good sequels before
<a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Godfather-Part-II-Two-Disc-Widescreen/dp/B0007Y08MY%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzemanta-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB0007Y08MY" rel="amazon" target="_blank" title="The Godfather, Part II (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)">Godfather Part II</a>. The Bride of Frankenstein actually surpasses the
original film and is perhaps one of the greatest <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horror_film" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Horror film">horror movies</a> made.<br />
<br />
I
say all this in spite of its glaring flaws as a sequel. It commits all
the cardinal sins that a sequel should never do. It changes the tone of
the original by introducing comedy, it retcons the ending of the
original (if you have read or seen "Misery" this is an absolute no-no
with die-hard fans) and unforgivably it brings in a new actress to play a
leading role. If that weren't bad enough the titular character barely
makes a cameo appearance. So what makes it so good?<br />
<span></span><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/o2yKqa4VSRE/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o2yKqa4VSRE?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
The truth is
1935's The Bride of Frankenstein is <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Whale" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="James Whale">James Whale</a>'s masterpiece. Despite
exhibiting some of the first flashback sequences in a feature film
during its opening prologue and some direct links via minor characters
early on, the film stands alone as a great movie. Whale recognized how
humour can be a valuable tool when dealing with horror. The comedy from
the amazingly <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_%28style%29" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Camp (style)">campish</a> villaint Dr "It's my only weakness" Pretorious
(played by <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Thesiger" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Ernest Thesiger">Ernest Thesiger</a> and apparently personally directed with
relish by the openly gay Whale) , the black humour of Dwight Fray (once
more playing a wicked assistant) and the hilarious hyserical moments on
offer from the newly introduced Minnie the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Legacy-Collection-Bride-Ghost/dp/B0001CNRLQ%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzemanta-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB0001CNRLQ" rel="amazon" target="_blank" title="Frankenstein - The Legacy Collection (Frankenstein / The Bride of / Son of / The Ghost of / House of)">Frankenstein</a> housekeeper
(played by another Whale favourite, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Una_O%27Connor_%28actress%29" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Una O'Connor (actress)">Una O'Connor</a>) would have provided
the relief required for the movie's darker aspects. This would be used
again and again across the horror genre.<br />
<br />There is still the air of
menace with Karloff putting in another great performance as the monster,
but this time we get see more of his pathos - "We belong dead!"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rYD3-pIF9jQ/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rYD3-pIF9jQ?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
Despite
straying wildly off <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Shelley" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Mary Shelley">Mary Shelly</a>'s original novel, the film references
much of its source material. It even begins with the trio who conceived
the novel - Mary Shelly (the actual writer) and her two sources of
influence and inspiration, Percy Shelly (her husband) and <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Byron" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Lord Byron">Lord Byron</a>.
Having been excited by Byron's insistance on recounting the events of
the previouos film and the storm bellowing outside, Mary decides to tell
them both what happened after the monster's apparent demise. Other
references include a blind hermit (actually the blind elder member of
the De Lacey family in the novel) and, of course, the plan to build a
mate for the monster.<br />
<span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Vx9AFjNqZgo/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vx9AFjNqZgo?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
The Bride of Frankenstein stands out from all
the other Universal classics for its sheer audacity (as well as the
coded homeosexual element in Pretorious there are also plenty of
references to Christ in the monster, despite having plenty taken out by
the strict censors of its time), executed in true style.<br />
Please note:
My comments and score for this film take into account its age. The
special effects, particularly the make-up, were well ahead of their
time. <br />
<br />
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com<br />
<div class="zemanta-related" style="clear: both; margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://whatculture.com/film/10-upcoming-sequels-and-reboots-that-will-destroy-your-faith-in-cinema.php" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/356375105_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://whatculture.com/film/10-upcoming-sequels-and-reboots-that-will-destroy-your-faith-in-cinema.php" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">10 Upcoming Sequels And Reboots That Will Destroy Your Faith In Cinema</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://moviemorlocks.com/2015/08/20/mae-clarke-frankensteins-first-bride/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/358442957_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://moviemorlocks.com/2015/08/20/mae-clarke-frankensteins-first-bride/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Mae Clarke: Frankenstein's First Bride</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/115660/actual-film-votives-pay-tribute-to-horror-classics-and-more/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/354862905_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/115660/actual-film-votives-pay-tribute-to-horror-classics-and-more/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Actual Film Votives Pay Tribute to Horror Classics and More!</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-81144346172031764222015-08-12T02:34:00.001-07:002015-08-12T02:38:06.445-07:00Arrive, Park and Hand in Your Keys <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<i>“You keep using that term. I do not
think it means what you think it means… then again” - (Paraphrased
from) “<a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Bride-20th-Anniversary/dp/B000TJBNHG%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzemanta-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB000TJBNHG" rel="amazon" target="_blank" title="The Princess Bride (20th Anniversary Edition)">The Princess Bride</a>”</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRfjDq3ef9YHTTNP1WJwFIzsCdvIwniAoJ0O2-8X7gRnHgCzo1BOcVLrbtPZ06BUQ8GeCW86rkgy8vYXeREo6Fx5Qd9Q8G83tybhQAqC4eQWY7TtviHySNE-IcqksVxt45ii3W-LcGaE/s1600/meet+and+greet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRfjDq3ef9YHTTNP1WJwFIzsCdvIwniAoJ0O2-8X7gRnHgCzo1BOcVLrbtPZ06BUQ8GeCW86rkgy8vYXeREo6Fx5Qd9Q8G83tybhQAqC4eQWY7TtviHySNE-IcqksVxt45ii3W-LcGaE/s1600/meet+and+greet.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The term “meet and greet”, when associated
with airports, is widely accepted to mean a type of valet service
for passengers who don’t want to waste time parking. Those who book this
service expect to be able to drive close to the departures door and be
met by a valet. The passenger then hands the keys over without a
second thought in order to make his or her hasty way to the
frustrating/reassuring (delete where applicable) onslaught of increasing
bureaucracies and inconsistent security rituals, happy in the knowledge
that their faithful mechanical steed in going into safe stabling. Upon
their return, the tired passengers can then stumble through the arrivals
door and be greeted by the smiling chauffer with their car. Unless the
memorable scene in “<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferris_Bueller%27s_Day_Off" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Ferris Bueller's Day Off">Ferris Bueller’s Day Off</a>” has made you paranoid
about car parking attendants or you enjoy losing valuable time from your
life searching huge <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parking_lot" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Parking lot">car parks</a> for spaces whilst worrying about missing
your flight, I cannot imagine you would disagree with the virtues of
such a service. It was the service we happily expected at Standstead
Airport when we saw the title “<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_relations" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Public relations">Meet and Greet</a> Parking” on the package
deal we booked with “On the Beach”. However, the reality was somewhat
different.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/q6UrMGQbiu0/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q6UrMGQbiu0?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
So, what went wrong? Were we greeted by a grumpy valet?
Was our chauffer late? Did our car get damaged? What could possibly go
awry with such a straightforward service? Well, it all started when we
looked at our information form to see what telephone number we should
call when we were 20 minutes from the airport. That is the normal
procedure and there usually is no reason to check such information long
before one leaves their home, especially when the parking service is
titled “Meet and Greet”. There was a number, but the instructions were
not to call it. We were to drive to a car park, where we would be
greeted. Maybe the car park was directly outside departures and could
hand over the keys to the chauffeur. The car park was near airport, but
we still had a reasonable distance to walk to the lift that will take
you to the first floor where you check your baggage in. The chauffer is a
man or woman of mystery. We will never know their identity. Who we met
at the gate to the “Meet and Greet” car park was a parking attendant. He
walked up to the barrier, identified our car and told us the number of
our booked <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.break.com/topics/parking-fails" rel="break" target="_blank" title="Parking Fails">parking bay</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zMm-0f7qvy4KZtPVarJNAhrhkRXysOOGSWBYJzjTeQl6WH71ZZU08-qbV0jDQC4gGzbG_UTHUuND5wlrHyoORmB9tYg6zkzENowFrzCRq1kLjAjF7uD__8DQvbEdxnbK6JJ8m0DN-Pw/s1600/meet+and+greet2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zMm-0f7qvy4KZtPVarJNAhrhkRXysOOGSWBYJzjTeQl6WH71ZZU08-qbV0jDQC4gGzbG_UTHUuND5wlrHyoORmB9tYg6zkzENowFrzCRq1kLjAjF7uD__8DQvbEdxnbK6JJ8m0DN-Pw/s1600/meet+and+greet2.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Somewhat puzzled by the experience, we
located our <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parking_space" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Parking space">parking space</a> and walked our way over to the office to drop
off our keys. The whole point of handing your car keys over to anyone in
a car parking situation is to save on time. Not in this instance, where
the situation is reversed and you have more time added to your
experience. It provides zero benefit to the client, but allows the
parking service the ability to move your car around. Despite being
pre-booked via “On the Beach” with all our details we then had to go
through the tiresome procedure of telling the new custodian of our car
keys flight departure and arrival times.<br />
<br />
We couldn’t miss the
opportunity to express our annoyance at the way we felt we had been
misled. Yes, there are far worse things happening in the world, but no
one likes the feeling of being had. The staff responded with somewhat
smug faces, clearly used to this irritation over the pre-booked car
park’s misleading title. One individual who was doing a poor impression
of someone who was pretending to want to be our friend, informed us it
was “an oxymoron”. It wasn’t. It was a misnomer and we didn’t want to be
his friend. I confess to being uncharitable with a cheerful individual
who probably originally thought an oxymoron was a slow-witted acne
victim. At least he didn’t attempt to justify the firm’s title with a
pedantic discussion. This was reserved for the member of staff who met
after our return flight. “We meet you at the barrier”, she explained,
“and we greet you in the reception”. How wonderful. Rather than just
parking your car in a pre-booked space and heading off to the airport
with your keys safely in hand, we had the dubious privilege of “meeting”
a car parking attendant - who clearly didn’t buy into the whole “don’t
point, escort” <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customer_service" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Customer service">customer service</a> approach – and being “greeted” by
someone behind a computer screen who took our keys and asked us
questions about our flight they should have been told. We then had to
get back to the reception, at gone midnight, to check out our keys and
be instructed to a new parking space in the furthest reaches of their
kingdom. We were clearly living the good life.<br />
<br />
I put the term
“meet and greet” into an internet browser. I even put “meet and greet
Stanstead” into a search engine. This is partly due to me being a rather
sad individual and also to check if our original assumption about the
term was not unreasonable. The result was not variables on the title’s
implication, as the “<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greeting" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Greeting">greeting</a>” staff told us. You are provided with
several descriptions and pictures, clearly describing a chauffeur
service at an airport. In fact, I saw so much of this I found it
difficult to locate the actual website of the “Meet and Greet” firm we
used at Standstead.<br />
<br />
Looking at the website I note it makes offers such
as giving you free parking if you find another car park that is
cheaper, but none of that mitigates the misuse of its name. When it
comes to pre-booking your parking at an airport, learn from our mistake
and check out the firm you are using. Either go for a reputable
chauffeur service or just go for a straightforward pre-booked car park.
This implies the first, but delivers the second with extra hassle.
Meanwhile, I am considering trying the same gymnastic interpretation of a
description used by our return “greeter”. Maybe I can ask a mobile
phone company if I can pay them only when I actually go.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje241x6pEhrIZUq5n6abExqW1XCM7V_gsMjRqsYzjYHBXclf7FR6KHqwRpZ23tjwdfsMdL1ESCJxK_V1SX72ZpWDpy2JSWeCTg79EPTNI0sf-2MxnvlERKJpK519A43ZtZhQTDFO4NYUo/s1600/princess+bride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje241x6pEhrIZUq5n6abExqW1XCM7V_gsMjRqsYzjYHBXclf7FR6KHqwRpZ23tjwdfsMdL1ESCJxK_V1SX72ZpWDpy2JSWeCTg79EPTNI0sf-2MxnvlERKJpK519A43ZtZhQTDFO4NYUo/s1600/princess+bride.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-57538210446350274602015-07-24T09:19:00.000-07:002015-07-24T09:19:32.772-07:00Mary Shelley's Counter-Enlightenment<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAGp1YWNup-xj92a0_Ps-ar3Awe20ZZ4T6Qz7wRUgy9i2VUGjWh4j6bCcGjs6floRpzwTCcyPgN97vKMBj8japQOmSWFNCBOO0LZ7ApM7ZFj_LW_ifO_xrcqk1xXEY7oQJFEVq7dEFtg/s1600/frankenstein+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAGp1YWNup-xj92a0_Ps-ar3Awe20ZZ4T6Qz7wRUgy9i2VUGjWh4j6bCcGjs6floRpzwTCcyPgN97vKMBj8japQOmSWFNCBOO0LZ7ApM7ZFj_LW_ifO_xrcqk1xXEY7oQJFEVq7dEFtg/s320/frankenstein+cover.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For those who are unaware of one of the most famous stories
in Gothic literature, I would like to introduce you to “the story of
Frankenstein… I think it will thrill you. It may shock you. It might even
horrify you.” You won’t find any of these lines in the original 1818 novel,
although the author once famously remarked that she had wanted to write a story
that “…would speak to the mysterious fears of our nature, and awaken thrilling
horror -- one to make the reader dread to look round, to curdle the blood, and
quicken the beatings of the heart”. The image of Whale’s “Frankenstein” is just
one example of several horror icons that have become more readily identified
with their filmic representation than their source material. Colin Clive’s
hysterical portrayal of Frankenstein set the “mad scientist” stereotype, which
was far removed from Shelley’s original tragic Faustian version, and Boris
Karloff’s simple-minded, grunting, lumbering portrayal of The Monster was even
further away from the intelligent, blighted and scorned figure of Milton-esque vengeance
in the novel. However, the novel has bitten back over the years since Universal
did such a great job of immortalizing its own icons. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 1980s proved to be something of a
watershed in this respect and this is where we find the first publication of
Maurice Hindle’s edited text. It is this influential edition of the novel,
which has subsequently been reprinted in the same format several times now; I
am reviewing rather than the original story. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have published several reflections and reviews of Mary
Shelley’s seminal work, so I see little point in going over the plot outline
again. Nevertheless, due to the fact that the vast majority of dramatic
adaptations barely resemble the original text, perhaps I can offer some useful
insight to those who don’t know the story. “Frankenstein” is a Faustian tale
about a science undergraduate of Ingolstadt who, having been initially inspired
by his childhood reading of alchemy and driven by the sudden death of his
mother, pursues a dream to impart human life to lifeless matter. Upon
successfully achieving his ambition he is immediately appalled by his creation
and abandons it, hoping to live a normal life. However, his sins return to
haunt him in the form of the murderous Monster he has created and has since
been hardened by a life of rejection and scorn. Frankenstein will battle in an
effort to take responsibility for his actions in a tragic adventure that will
see him race across countries to the North Pole only to discover a kindred
spirit hell-bent and hell-bound to pursue his own over-reaching ambitions. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Suffice to say you won’t find detailed descriptions of the
“science” that is used to create the Monster, which has become an expected
staple of most dramatic adaptations of the novel. A bolt of lightning that fells
a tree and a reference to infusing “a spark into the lifeless thing” is the
only real indication that Victor Frankenstein will use this electricity to
bring his arrangement of corpse body parts to life via an alchemical perversion
of Luigi Galvani’s theory on “animal electricity”. Likewise, you won’t find a
vivid account of how Mary imagined her Monster. A single description is
provided by Frankenstein who tells us that all his careful selection of white
teeth, lustrous and flowing black hair, and proportioned body parts to make his
Monster seem beautiful come to naught when the composite corpse becomes
animated. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The scene is representative of the unforeseen consequences
of what happens when a person, however well-intentioned, chooses to challenge
God. The story’s alternative title, referencing Prometheus who was punished for
stealing fire from the Gods of Olympus, and the Monster’s identification with
Milton’s Satan of “Paradise Lost” all echo this premise. Mary Shelley, despite
becoming the wife to an avowed atheist, and a daughter to two radical social
reformers, remained a militant moderate. This is a point Maurice Hindle makes
in his detailed introduction to the 1985 Penguin Classic edition. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mary Shelley was living amongst radical liberals at end of
the libertine era and on the eve of the starkly prudish Victorian fashion.
These celebrities were the blueprint for the modern rock star. They were upper
classes who were practising “free love” in the western world almost a century
and a half before it became part of the counterculture of the 1960s. “Frankenstein”
should be seen as a counter-enlightenment piece and despite the fact that
Shelley was clearly very supportive of Mary’s novel, there is much within it
that could be seen as his wife rebelling against his excesses as well as the
radical liberalism that surrounded her at home and within her social circle. Mary
may have been daughter to the pioneer of the Feminist Movement, but her book is
far from a feminist a work. As rebuttals to the claim that it was really
written by Percy Shelley have clearly pointed out, the story’s theme is very
much a maternal fable and a chastisement for not taking personal responsibility
for one’s child. Much is often made of the story reflecting Mary’s own tragic
losses and it is difficult not to see these parallels. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mary and Dr William Polidori both would go on to write two
of the most influential stories in literary history after their famous
experiences staying one stormy summer with Percy Shelley, Claire Clairmont and
Lord Byron at Byron’s Villa Diodati near Lake Geneva. Hindle makes the now
often accepted argument that just as Polidori’s vampire antagonist, Lord
Ruthven, was clearly modelled on his notorious patient, the exiled poet Lord
“Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know” Byron so Victor Frankenstein was based on the
almost equally notorious poet, Percy Shelley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hindle quotes Shelley’s biographer, Thomas Jefferson Hogg in his
description of Shelley as perfect example of the poet’s similarity to the
figure of Victor Frankenstein: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"[He] then proceeded, with much eagerness and
enthusiasm, to show me the various instruments, especially the electrical
apparatus; turning round the handle very rapidly, so that the fierce, crackling
sparks flew forth; and presently standing upon the stool with glass feet, he
begged me to work the machine until he was filled with the fluid, so that his
long, wild locks bristled and stood on end. Afterwards he charged a powerful
battery of several large jars; laboring with vast energy, and discoursing with
increasing vehemence of the marvellous powers of electricity, of thunder and
lightning; describing an electrical kite that he had made at home, and
projecting another and an enormous one, or rather a combination of many kites,
that would draw down from the sky an immense volume of electricity, the whole
ammunition of a mighty thunderstorm; and this being directed to some point
would there produce the most stupendous results."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One can see how future filmmakers, including James Whale,
might have drawn upon these observations to help recreate the scene of the
Monster’s creation that is clearly missing from Mary Shelley’s text. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hindle justifies the inclusion of not only Polidori’s
novella, “The Vampyre: A Tale”, which would provide us with the blueprint for the
Dracula character and the most popular image of the vampire, but also Lord
Byron’s “A Fragment”. The latter was the source for Polidori’s story and we
learn of Byron’s public disgust for anyone believing that “The Vampyre” was his
original work. The Penguin Classic also includes all the original text from the
original 1818 edition of “Frankenstein” to accompany the 1831 edition, which is
the focus of the book. The majority of later editions of “Frankenstein”
respected Mary Shelley’s wishes and republished her work in the revised form.
However, Hindle’s inclusion of the largest passages in their original format as
an appendix serves to make this a complete volume. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Looking at Hindle’s introduction and the book’s three
significant appendices, we get something of an appreciation for the imaginative
dynamism present during that time and the fears of an individual like Mary
Shelley who suffered tremendous emotional trauma through most of her life. The
presence of Byron’s obscure literal fragment of a novel, which is far more
subtle than the supernatural descriptions he presents in some of his poems –
most notably “The Giaour” – and Polidori’s story provides us with some context.
Victor Frankenstein is originally inspired by the occult aspirations of
pre-enlightenment “sorcerers” and that contamination is then married with the
new aspirations of the scientific Enlightenment, the ideas of which Mary
Shelley tells us she overheard Byron and her husband discussing in typically
excitable reverence. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One year after Hindle’s edition was published Ken Russell’s
“Gothic” was released, which told the story of the Villa Diodati. Two years
later two other films set around the events of the Villa and the genesis of
“Frankenstein” appeared, “Haunted Summer” and “Rowing with the Wind”. The story
of the creation of the “Frankenstein” story and the roots of the aristocratic
Dracula vampire had taken on a life of their own. These trappings allow us to
see that although “Frankenstein” is an early example of the science fiction
novel its roots are firmly in Gothic literature.</div>
<br />
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-46914514798613215242015-07-21T09:27:00.001-07:002015-07-21T09:27:25.881-07:00Stumbling through the Tulips<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zuZnRUcoWos/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zuZnRUcoWos?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The modern horror movie is in a pretty sorry state if this
is what the kids are raving on about today. I didn’t read much into the hype.
All I knew was that it wasn’t yet another “found film” or a “torture porn”, and
Tiny Tim’s 1967 cover of the 1929 “Tip Toe Through the Tulips” was being a
creepy interpretation. It sounded interesting enough, although I haven’t held
out much for hope horror since around 2000. Barely a dozen of horror films have
impressed me since then and all are rivalled by shows like “Masters of Horror”
and “American Horror Story”. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As it turned out the first instalment of what has
surprisingly become a franchise was better than most of its contemporaries.
This isn’t to say it ranked amongst more original 21st century near classics
like “Antichrist”, “Byzantium”, “Jeepers Creepers”, “Let the Right One In”,
“The Grudge”, “Audition”, “Dog Soldiers”, “The Descent”, “Orphan” and “Saw”,
but it was enough to keep me interested to the end. You will note that each of
the aforementioned movies may fall under certain categories I now bemoan, but
the difference is between initiation and imitation. Likewise, I don’t have a
problem with sequels, remakes or even unoriginal concepts, so long as they are
played well. After all, isn’t this the beauty of seeing the latest version of
“Hamlet” or watching yet another adaptation of “Wuthering Heights”? The great
screenwriter and director can take something we are familiar with to the point
of boredom and then work it in such a way that we momentarily forget all other
comparisons. These masters work like artistic chefs, assembling ingredients in
such a manner that the end result is clearly much more than the sum of its
content.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Insidious” is a rough
patchwork of horror clichés with adequate yet clearly visible stitching. You
could write out a list of common horror devices present in successful chillers
over the past four or so decades and play a drinking game to them whilst
watching the film. Be warned though, you are liable to be paralytic long before
you see the film’s main antagonist. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The film’s strengths can be seen in the first act. The cast
allow us to suspend disbelief and we get the feeling that James Wan’s direction
will be restrained with a slow build up. There isn’t the annoyance of having a
tedious premise insisting that the events are based on a true story. Haunted
house and possession movies, such as James Wan’s other horror, the over-rated
and very tedious “The Conjuring”, like to use this tactic. This is usually due
to the fact that a lot so-called ghost-hunters and mediums have made a lot of
money through helping to traumatize distressed credulous residents and
publishing them in sensationalist books. With the original “Texas Chainsaw
Massacre” it was cheeky – the film was at best inspired by the crimes of real
schizophrenic double-murderer Ed Gein – but I forgive it for providing an urban
legend feel. “Insidious” chooses not to insult our intelligence and we are
eased into the lives of the newly moved Lambert family. Wan is successful in
creating a natural feel that is often missed in many “found film” horrors. We
know that there is something foreboding about to occur in the attic, but the
suspense is mounted successfully and everything goes pretty well until the
supernatural elements start to surface. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uWNyNw8RLB4/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uWNyNw8RLB4?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stephen King wrote in his book on the horror genre, “Danse
Macabre”, that the key to good horror is being able to weave the everyday with
the impossible. It isn’t always true of more atmospheric or surreal pieces, but
most horror either falls or rises on this weaving. Our guards need to be
suitably lowered to the plausible order set around us, so that the supernatural
elements can creep in and throw us into anarchy. “Ringu” did it by leading us
on an adventure movie that engaged our sense so much that we bought into the
conclusion before the real terror at the centre of the story crawled out of the
television. “Psycho” did it by losing us in a heist movie, calming matters
down, introducing a creepy yet somehow innocent voyeuristic sexual element and
then letting hell loose in the shower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All the great Satanic horror films of the ‘70s, “The Exorcist”,
“Rosemary’s Baby” and “The Omen” crept the supernatural terror in early but
wove it in such a way that we were made to question its legitimacy. “Insidious”
gets the setting right and has a half-reasonable premise for its horror.
However, when the horror arrives it is done in a crass, unoriginal and inappropriately
cartoonish fashion, destroying much of the intended impact. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Insidious” is one of those films that should turn every
horror fan born before the 1990s into a frustrated grumbler. I was sat there
watching it with a 20-something who was on his second viewing, having told the
whole world that it was the scariest film available. Same said 20-something
would derisively look at most movies made before 2000 as unimportant. You can
imagine the anger-infused lesson in geeky cultural history that my mortal teeth
were doing their best to withhold during this entire experience. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Insidious” steals, with no sense of respectful homage, from
several sources. It mounts tension using the attic cliché and blatant borrowing
from “Poltergeist” and “The Amityville Horror”. As soon as the possession element
comes in, we are almost right into “The Exorcist” territory. The use of “Tip
Toe through the Tulips” is reminiscent of “Stir of Echoes”, but is probably copied
from “Jeepers Creepers”. In another desperate attempt to bring us a new horror
icon the creative department came up with a hackney-eyed “Lipstick-Face” demon
in the typical Pan or fawn mould. You couldn’t get a more cartoonish appearance.
He has cloven hooves and a fork-tongue like any clichéd devil. His red markings
on black skin make him resemble Darth Sidious from “The Phantom Menace” and his
wide-eyed stare with mouth open remind me of Animal from The Muppets. He
sharpens his claws in a way immediately makes you think of Freddy Krugar,
especially since this all occurs in a spectral world only occupied by spirits. All
of this could still work in the right hands. Sadly it is too polished to have a
low budget gritty charm or even a so-bad-its-good comedic appeal. It’s just
pretty boring. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Having given a pretty damning review, I stand by my earlier
points about it being watchable and better than a lot of what else is on
offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The under 30s, which this is probably
aimed at, certainly took to the franchise and found it to be scary. For me, the
positive side I see in “Insidious” is that hopefully audiences are beginning to
pull away from a lot of the dross that has been dumped under the horror genre
title in recent times and they are yearning for something new. </div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-2253312123434242022015-07-07T08:33:00.001-07:002015-07-07T08:33:59.097-07:00Plausible Sequel or Too Far Out to Sea - Broadchurch 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYk8BWvG1Jju1yNAQhkDsVZLyxbJwhA3LRliUmKcwWiCiJGGhpto1XAwqzgGkjAwXJLssSauiU7unpwwbYQEX06on2ImpvxHQ5IAdfQzIKv1cR5D2p48E-MGwx91m85lxTQfaS3ouwiHU/s1600/affair+broadchurch.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYk8BWvG1Jju1yNAQhkDsVZLyxbJwhA3LRliUmKcwWiCiJGGhpto1XAwqzgGkjAwXJLssSauiU7unpwwbYQEX06on2ImpvxHQ5IAdfQzIKv1cR5D2p48E-MGwx91m85lxTQfaS3ouwiHU/s320/affair+broadchurch.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
<u><b>Plot: </b></u><br /><a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inspector" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Inspector">Detective Inspector</a> <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Hardy" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Alex Hardy">Alex
Hardy</a> (<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Tennant" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="David Tennant">David Tennant</a>) and his former partner ex-<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergeant" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Sergeant">Detective Sergeant</a> Ellie
Miller (Oliva Coleman), now a uniformed <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constable" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Constable">Police Constable</a> working
traffic, are brought together again over the resulting trial of their
previous investigation. Hardy is still troubled by his health and also
finds himself drawn back into the murder case he failed to solve before
his work in <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadchurch" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Broadchurch">Broadchurch</a>. Miller is wracked by personal guilt and the
impact the case had on her family. Meanwhile the Lattimer family
struggle to rebuild their family and will be put through new tortures as
the court case proceeds…<br />
<br />
<u><b>Review: </b></u><br />I feel the urge of the
completest to write this review above all else. I suppose that is quite
apt given the way the strength of this series’ continuation is based on
its audience demanding that certain loose threads be tied. Many critics
and good number of viewers reflected that it might have been better if
these threads had been left dangling. Given the focus on the mystery of
the first season being so masterfully executed, it was inevitable that
Season 2 was being lined up for a fall. The first episode, directed by
the main director of Season 1, boded well with both the public and most
of the media giving it a positive response. However, by the third
episode in I heard the collective groans and read the annoyed social
media statuses, with viewers expressing their disappointment. Looking at
the sporadic ratings and the to and fro reviews over the eight
episodes, it did look like the season was fighting a battle with
viewers. After the season finale, which received its biggest rating
after the premiere, one newspaper declared it to be another example of
how good ideas get milked dry. I could see the journalist’s point, but I
did not agree.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NQvPcF5ZJYc/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NQvPcF5ZJYc?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
“Broadchurch” Season 2 is a worthy sequel. It is not
the equal to the first season, but it follows a believable line from the
original story and makes some wise decisions. A lesser director might
have followed a “<a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.itv.com/midsomermurders" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Midsomer Murders">Midsomer Murders</a>” formula and had another murder be
committed in Broadchurch for our heroic duo to solve. Instead, we
receive a believable aftermath and some great risk taking with the
structure of the story. Chris Chibnail deserves the lion’s share of the
credit for keeping a consistent trajectory of character development and
for not surrendering to easy plot turns. I don’t think I am spoiling the
plot too much by saying that Ellie and Miller don’t have anything
remotely resembles a romantic relationship despite accusations being
thrown at them at one point. Both seasons do a good job of not caving
into the clichéd male/female will they/won’t they sexual tension. I got
bored with that after “<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dempsey_and_Makepeace" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Dempsey and Makepeace">Dempsey and Makepeace</a>” finished and I wasn’t even
a teenager. It’s such lazy writing and renders all viewers down to the
level of “Over the Garden Wall” gossiping stereotypes. Instead both
Tennant and Coleman are given mature material to work with in some great
scenes that showcase their complex contrasting damaged personalities
and burgeoning mutual respect.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WOeBBmmf4AQ/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WOeBBmmf4AQ?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
The impact of the simple idea of the
original story was always going to be hard replicate. Extra difficulties
are presented by the fact that more than enough had been revealed about
the case and the background of the child victim to warrant many twists.
By focusing on the unresolved murder case Hardy blames himself for not
concluding and the drama surrounding the trial, we get a story that is
interesting enough without feeling like a re-hash of what has gone
before or a betrayal of the characters or previous events.<br />
<span></span><br />
<br />
Although
“Broadchurch” was supposedly conceived as a trilogy viewers of Season 2
might, at first, struggle to see this idea. For example, if Season 1
appeared to be fairly self-contained then Season 2 proverbially padlocks
the treasure chest and sends it seaworthy. In this respect, the gesture
at the end that hints at the continuing adventures of Hardy and Miller
undermines the style of the show. Furthermore, the introduction of some
brand new characters that weren’t referenced in Season 1, including
junior barrister Abby Thompson who seems to be a more amoral character
replacement for journalist <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.crunchbase.com/person/karen-white" rel="crunchbase" target="_blank" title="Karen White">Karen White</a>, smacks of mechanical sequel
writing.<br />
<br />
Having said this, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.last.fm/music/Charlotte%2BRampling" rel="lastfm" target="_blank" title="Charlotte Rampling">Charlotte Rampling</a> is on her usual fine
form (apparently the other actors were originally intimidated by her
casting) and her character is a much better unannounced fit in a series
sequel than her role in the disappointing final season of “Dexter”.
There are also some great plot points taken from the original series
that have an unpredicted impact on the events in Season 2. This latter
point, of course, lends more credibility to Chibnail’s grand plan or, at
the very least, his imaginative agility.<br />
<span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvbzZI5EOM5SwwFACB0ryNmmrtOrXgHG4yu3N-a0QDXZnfnhKrNXf2hVPO1IjtnAXSJ79XmvtFksQvz8anGyvxDkjV_1789W4QSiPG4eyDV5Qx88bN9_GkJ2gCNSedIq5j1bToFmrGUA/s1600/creepy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvbzZI5EOM5SwwFACB0ryNmmrtOrXgHG4yu3N-a0QDXZnfnhKrNXf2hVPO1IjtnAXSJ79XmvtFksQvz8anGyvxDkjV_1789W4QSiPG4eyDV5Qx88bN9_GkJ2gCNSedIq5j1bToFmrGUA/s320/creepy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
A key strength of
“Broadchurch” is its ability to get inside multiple characters’ heads
and to present different viewpoints. The only other notable crime series
that does this at least as well is “Hannibal”. This can be deceptive,
but you get a feel for human nature in all its fallibilities.
“Broadchurch” both presents the mess of events and troubled characters
that are often behind a murder case and the traumatic uncertainties that
sow doubt in the minds of those involved in a court case. Season 2
continued in the same vein as Season 1 in the way it takes a mature look
at platonic relationships. In doing so, it holds up a mirror to the
narrow view our oversexed brains tend to cynically interpret the way
humans interact. A now deceased historian friend of mine once wrote an
excellent article on how modern society jump to conclusions about
companionship. In our efforts to become less naïve we might have lost a
degree of empathetic sophistication. Let’s hope the success of
“Broadchurch” will herald in more “human” drama. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tVME3sHS83c/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tVME3sHS83c?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com<br />
<div class="zemanta-related" style="clear: both; margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/06/25/hidden-object-adventures/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/349396930_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/06/25/hidden-object-adventures/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Why I Love Hidden Object Adventures</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.close-upfilm.com/2015/06/gracepoint-film-review/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/346516342_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.close-upfilm.com/2015/06/gracepoint-film-review/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Gracepoint (12) | Home Ents Review</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-54626122801065327412015-07-05T05:39:00.002-07:002015-07-05T05:39:25.147-07:00A CGI Rant<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Usafl_rend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="English: I made this image with computer-gener..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="350" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Usafl_rend.jpg/350px-Usafl_rend.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;">English: I made this image with computer-generated imagery. 2 views of a man with an M2A1-7 United States Army flamethrower. (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Usafl_rend.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There is definitely a lot to be said about the way <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer-generated_imagery" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Computer-generated imagery">Computer Generated Imagery</a> now dominates many fantasy and <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_fiction_film" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Science fiction film">science fiction movies</a>. It is as if my generations dreams were made a reality and swiftly became nightmares. I will explore the Era of the Geek at another point. Suffice to say that the below short article caught my attention, explaining that is not just a case of nostalgia why we are less impressed with today's blockbusters than those of yesteryear. My views on the matter?<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<span data-reactid=".37.1:4:1:$comment464643007040128_464706760367086:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".37.1:4:1:$comment464643007040128_464706760367086:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".37.1:4:1:$comment464643007040128_464706760367086:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".37.1:4:1:$comment464643007040128_464706760367086:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end:0:$text0:0">There's
a cold detatchment with over-use of CGI. Compare <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="The Lord of the Rings">LOTR</a> to <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbit" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="The Hobbit">The Hobbit</a>.
The second trilogy was inferior in a number of ways, not least of which
was the comparative lack of enthusiasm and need to satisfy the corporate
entity the original <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Film">films</a> created. However, its greatest sin was the
CGI balance. This is particularly evident in the first of three films.
Something else I have noticed since CGI and digitial effects first
started permeating the movie world: CGI denial. I got so sick of people
telling me how "real" it looked. No it didn't and it still doesn't. We
can discuss tricks of the mind and all that, but the aggressive need to
be perceived as real leads to less of a desire on the viewer's behalf to
suspend disbelief.</span></span></span></span><br />
<h1 class="article__headline">
<a href="http://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/films/heres-the-reason-you-dont-enjoy-blockbusters-like-you-used-to">"Here's the reason you don't enjoy blockbusters like you used to"</a></h1>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PRh1SC7SV2o/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PRh1SC7SV2o?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<h1 class="article__headline">
</h1>
<h1 class="article__headline">
</h1>
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-16183792505704149742015-07-02T09:22:00.000-07:002015-07-03T04:13:39.139-07:00A Pro Rational Tour De Force<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF14BbW2oR3C2QjiNe7u5ZnKYgrDDpB-UJrR8vaMY604sKnN6uJXwdsoIVJyAKV_zRg0Z3922KSPgCKiG5LLl0qZmgnYY57Xfs_cNav2PIoUcpQMJ3Y0THjY2KPA9vakI-jUJUhwrIaxU/s1600/mumbo+jumbo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF14BbW2oR3C2QjiNe7u5ZnKYgrDDpB-UJrR8vaMY604sKnN6uJXwdsoIVJyAKV_zRg0Z3922KSPgCKiG5LLl0qZmgnYY57Xfs_cNav2PIoUcpQMJ3Y0THjY2KPA9vakI-jUJUhwrIaxU/s1600/mumbo+jumbo.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Four hundred years ago the world made a major step forward
in its attitude towards information, learning and thinking. We call this period
The Enlightenment. It would see the emergence of the Scientific Revolution. The
United States of America would be founded on these principles and up until the
mid-20th century that same country would reflect The Enlightenment’s values.
Then something started to happen. Amidst the solid infrastructure in western
society that was built by the forces of reason, lurked an unchecked virus.
Irrational thinking was back and it had found its way into a whole range of
areas in our society. Francis Wheen believes it first properly blossomed with
the ascension of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Regan’s politics in the west
alongside the Ayatollah Khomeini’s rise to power in Iran. This is where his
2004 book, “How Mumbo Jumbo Conquered the World” begins. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wheen, who was a good friend of the outspoken
anti-irrational journalist Christopher Hitchens, does not take the usual route
of most sceptical books. His politics may be very similar to Hitchens but he
does well not to simply argue for the left. He delivers telling blows to both
sides of the political spectrum with impunity. President Ronald Reagan’s
regular astrological consultation and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s
Puritanical Christian outlook are given as much time in Wheen’s critique as
President Bill Clinton’s heavy endorsement of self-help gurus and Prime
Minister Tony Blair’s use of New Age treatments. All of these are strong
examples of the worrying amount of mumbo jumbo influencing important decisions
in top places for a long time. The author’s argument is simple: western culture
has abandoned reason and bought a lot of snake oil. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6CI2tbpceZY/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6CI2tbpceZY?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The arguments for a retro-gradation are convincing. Back in
the 1920s, arguments against evolution by natural selection were not high on
the agenda of Europe or the USA. Wheen quotes the then US president ridiculing
the very idea that anyone would argue a case for Creationism. Fast forward
almost a century and Tony Blair is allowing certain schools to “teach the controversy”.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Think Ben Goldacre’s “Bad Science” levelled at society at
large and you are somewhere close to Wheen’s approach. Written at a time when
Tony Blair was prime minister and we were in the winter of New Labour’s many
follies, at a time when spin doctoring had made most people giddy with
cynicism, “How Mumbo Jumbo Conquered the World” exposes how many of those
driving education and politics were in a personal war with reality. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This last point I think reveals the strongest emerging theme
in his book, the philosophy of postmodernism. Postmodernism can provide us with
a powerful portal and its influence can be useful for broadening an outlook.
However, since World War II we have seen it taken to an extreme end for too
long. The result is the ridiculous concept that all ideas and opinions have
equal validity. By considering that reality is an illusion might be an interesting
intellectual exercise, but it can be destructive premise allowing in lazy
thinking and opportunistic zealots. This has provided a rich pseudointellectual
breeding ground for conspiracy theory, ethnocentricity and extremist religious
ideas. By devaluing so much, it has also allowed a state of apathy to come into
play. When this has been addressed, people tend to snap back with thoughtless
judgement calls using a very crude political compass. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Blind politics are a dangerous thing and possibly part of
the postmodern by-product. I wince at the way individuals will swing left or
right on an individual issue without really thinking about the argument. The irony
is that swinging one way too far can mean you will meet the other side. Wheen
is fast to point out how many in Socialist France supported the Conservative
Islamic fundamentalist stance of the Ayatollah Khomeini against the Capitalist
USA. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wheen’s book is a tour de force of the way irrational
thinking took hold of the 20<sup>th</sup> century. The writing style is
accessible and frank. Wheen takes no prisoners and uses a range of different
sources to back up his arguments. Although one might hastily categorize “How
Mumbo Jumbo Conquered the World” alongside the works of Richard Dawkins,
Michael Shermer, Sam Harris and, naturally, Christopher Hitchens, it isn’t an
overt attack on religion. Wheen’s targets are the enemies of common sense
intellectualism. His work, in terms of its era and content, sits more with
Damien Thompson’s “Counterknowledge”, David Aaronovitch’s “Voodoo Histories”
and Richard J. Evans’s “In Defence of History”. He references the last one in
his main chapter on postmodernism. I would recommend the work for those willing
to take a step back from western society and consider the roots of a lot silly
decisions. If anything it offers a chance to take an introspective look on how
we think and why we are thinking this way today. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
I got my copy from a charity shop, so I
can't fault the value, but the cover price for a paperback is certainly
worth the investment. I have been using it as one of many resources for
my upcoming book on martial arts scepticism, so I am definitely
re-reading it and will be re-reading it some more. The information is
accessible and it is very well researched. The writing style is not
without humour. Jeremy Paxman found it "Hilarious!" apparently. There
are slides here and there that reveal the author's socialist or liberal
leanings, but I don't believe that undermines the general dispassionate
approach the author takes with this work. It's a strong example of
progressive and pro-rational 2005 journalism. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=jamclu-21&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B008GOBPXS&asins=B008GOBPXS&linkId=6N7CRMWU3YLEB24P&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-21782730430243721052015-07-01T08:53:00.003-07:002015-07-01T08:55:44.341-07:00Middle Class Marketing and Bubbles of Archiac Amusement<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCAOoO9BIT8Wcw4lkVq0m6PD8pKWo2Is93o4_NV6qE20Pjz3kSs9uxt3tePgF7ZZhvR8r6VoxYMfsuRGFdQxqhvOvlPtuAJBgTh1gJycY9qilXTxOVEnM5BuIsUdsOml-B6T3rOVz9Nc/s1600/appeal+to+nature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCAOoO9BIT8Wcw4lkVq0m6PD8pKWo2Is93o4_NV6qE20Pjz3kSs9uxt3tePgF7ZZhvR8r6VoxYMfsuRGFdQxqhvOvlPtuAJBgTh1gJycY9qilXTxOVEnM5BuIsUdsOml-B6T3rOVz9Nc/s1600/appeal+to+nature.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are few terms that scream middleclass marketing in the
21<sup>st</sup> century like “Organic” and “Fairtrade”. The marketing technique
is simple. Target people who can afford to pay more for a product and reward
them with either the caring or smug knowledge that they are doing something “good”.
In this respect it might be argued that they are close cousins in the world of
retail, but the two subjects have some distinct differences. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before we discuss these two topics, let’s get one thing
straight from the start. When you buy Organic or Fairtrade you are, more than
likely, buying from the same corporations who produce and sell their lower
priced equivalents. So, before you stand legs akimbo with your weekend Che
Guevara tee-shirt and declare that these two brands will be the fuel for your
anti-austerity/anti-capitalism march, don’t fall into the delusion. You are not
“sticking it to the man” in this particular shopping decision. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Organic Food Movement has its origins with the 19<sup>th</sup>
century Austrian mystic Rudolf Steiner. Steiner, like Harvey Kellogg, was just
one of many food faddists that exerted their cult-like influence over Victorian
society. Steiner believed in supernatural essentialism and promoted the concept
of a literal spiritual connection with earth. Much of the appeal of Organic
food comes from these pseudoscientific ideas and the appeal to nature logical
fallacy. We think of toxic chemicals poisoning nature and by extension not
doing us much good either. The term “chemical” gets ignorantly banded about as
if it were another name for poison. When tested against an exact non-organic
equivalent, a piece of Organic food has proven to have no more nutritional
value. There are various studies producing conflicting results, but what seems
to be the case is that freshness is more the determining factor in an item of
food than whether or not is produced in line with USDA Organic guidelines. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is it better for the environment? Dennis Avery of the Hudson
Institute's Center [US sp.] for Global Food Issues estimated that if the world
switched to Organic farming we would need to cut down “10 million square miles
of forest”. Say what you like about genetically modified and modern farming
methods, but they have a far better chance of feeding the world’s
undernourished and empowering third world nations than the Organic Food Movement. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fairtrade works off the premise that by paying more for a product,
such as coffee, impoverished and exploited farmers are paid fairly for their
work. This seems like a good system. Many corporations take advantage of cheap
and desperate labourers in third world countries to produce their products. Having
proportionality very little to pay their workers, the corporations can sell
their products at competitive rates and still make a fat profit. By using the
Fairtrade brand, the price increase is justified by the perceived good it does
others who live less fortunate circumstances. Retailers are unlikely to want to
take a cut in their profits in order to give their producer a larger share of
the profits. However, they are willing to make this change if their customers
are willing to buy their products at a higher rate, especially if they are also
getting a bigger cut of the profits than with other products. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, the story of Fairtrade is far from a simple
win/win. Firstly, only five per cent of Fairtrade price makes it back to the
farmers. Secondly, Mexico claims 23 per cent of the market share, making it the
biggest recipient of Fairtrade subsidiary. 181 of the 300 Fairtrade coffee producers
are located in South America and the Caribbean. Poorer countries like Rwanda
have a mere 10 and Ethiopia only has four. Thirdly, the Fairtrade set-up resembles
many broken systems that do not take into consideration all the other repercussions
that might incurred with what seems like a good idea on the surface. Indigenous
farmers outside of the Fairtrade umbrella suffer due to the market oversupply
encouraged by the need for Fairtrade to guarantee a minimum price. Meanwhile farmers
inside the umbrella are bound by strict rules that forbid them from employing
full-time workers, meaning they have to employ migrant workers at harvest time.
Fairtrade suppliers become locked into a system of producing crops that got
them into poverty in the first place and denying the rural poor a secure job.
The final insult has to be the insistence of a twee image of idyllic rural
families using traditional methods to produce these crops is cultivated to tie
in with the fashion loved by the middle class consumers. This means that the
use of modern farming methods, machinery and economical systems are denied.
Instead we have little barely sustained bubbles of antiquity that help us sleep
better at night once the caffeine of our coffee has worn off. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In conclusion I believe the concept of the Organic brand is
an outright con that finds its roots in quasi-religious Victorian food cults. I
believe that the Fairtrade concept is a good idea, but does not go nearly far
enough and might be disempowering to Fairtrade farmers and harmful to other
rural inhabitants. Organic and Fairtrade use the customer-perceived value
marketing strategy. However, whereas overpriced designer brands of clothes
appeal to the elitists in our society, the Organic and Fairtrade tactic targets
inverted snobbery, sentimentalism, self-righteous smugness and, in some cases,
exploits a genuine desire to be charitable.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Sources for this
essay provided upon request) </div>
<br />
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-29368112551989485792015-06-30T04:53:00.002-07:002015-06-30T05:01:54.633-07:00Widening the View - Children and Entertainment Today<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluI5_Zu8XJqEYByx5CYdCBYTsHFnAvlQGgirKuy7asldp-oUbO7B0hdwJ-d9yMLgPQibqcvlEHou4bhpbWiUC2dIuwsox3TMFAkT_rXz65M8Fe7itNTy3kLJs6K9U1YjFoxq1Vm4qHpk/s1600/apple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluI5_Zu8XJqEYByx5CYdCBYTsHFnAvlQGgirKuy7asldp-oUbO7B0hdwJ-d9yMLgPQibqcvlEHou4bhpbWiUC2dIuwsox3TMFAkT_rXz65M8Fe7itNTy3kLJs6K9U1YjFoxq1Vm4qHpk/s1600/apple.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I cast my mind back to 2010 and my then three year old
daughter has woken me up. It’s too early and I need my sleep. In desperation to
grab a bit more dozing time she is given a mobile phone with various
educational games. This will keep her happy for a while. Her eyes dark around
the small screen as her fingertips tap and swipe. She performs various tasks
that will stimulate her mind and build neural pathways. I was as dubious then
as I am now by the benefits of early education, but these games cannot hurt. My
daughter is actively engaging in something. She is being proactive whereas I
will soon turn on the radio or the television and passively receive whatever
information happens to be available. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was a child that grew up at the dawn of the fourth
terrestrial channel. It was also the era of the video cassette, personal home
computer and arcade games. With the romance of hindsight and that intoxicating
drug we call self-righteousness, it is very easy for me to say that we had the
perfect balance over today’s hedonistic, spoilt, overweight and unhealthy
wretched brood. We were the last and most representative of Douglas Coupland’s
Generation X and just followed the tail end of Andrew Collins’ “Where did it
all go Right” brigade. Our generation were the last to experience good
rebellious music as teenagers and the ones responsible for allowing our
children to be baptized in Don Tapscott’s digital ocean. We were also the first
to embrace large scale toy merchandizing alongside our traditional fairy tales.
Many of us cried when a giant robot was killed in a motion picture in order to
make way for a Christmas toy line. When we got to our adolescence we were
filled with a combination of righteous indignation whilst being simultaneously
softened by political correctness, which seemed set to ruin the childhood we
remembered, sanitizing it for those not yet into double figures. We were cynics
and sceptics, and we were also superficially sentimental. The science fiction
and fantasy of our youth now dominates the cinemas, which is barely enough to
distract us from the fact that we have been lapped by the Millennial
Generation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many of us have adapted very well to the rapid flow of
changing technology. Our generation and the ones before us are heavy internet
users. However, we are no match for those who have grown up in the digital
world. My generation had to learn how to touch type if we wanted that skill. I
completed module on keyboarding, where I was happy with the way I just about
got the hang of not looking at the keys – except if they were numbers! I even
recall a sit-com from the ‘80s where a professional secretary proudly showed
her boss she didn’t need to look down in order to type. Touch-typing is no
longer considered a skill for those born as little as 10 years after me. This
generation does not require instruction manuals either. Their brains, along
with the development of technology, have arrived at a happy agreement whereby
people actively explore and learn how to work devices once they’ve found the
start button.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvSxpQ_4uQLjo5f_BZhhh46IVjV21RRuHwRECU9J9hyphenhyphenaG3lZXKwgOAJhFpDh-UJ2kkmbjGCw3d3NMM4fiGsiH5JFJOtibxueojn-gaaEoQJfrpaDgE3DwI21-PPX27EXASOh9wts8amY/s1600/facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvSxpQ_4uQLjo5f_BZhhh46IVjV21RRuHwRECU9J9hyphenhyphenaG3lZXKwgOAJhFpDh-UJ2kkmbjGCw3d3NMM4fiGsiH5JFJOtibxueojn-gaaEoQJfrpaDgE3DwI21-PPX27EXASOh9wts8amY/s320/facebook.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The internet has become an incredible resource for research,
exploration and education. Wikipedia is often scoffed at by the middleclass
intelligentsia, but its bottom-up method of collaboration has presented the
most peer-reviewed resource available to mankind. It’s far from perfect and
there are a myriad of examples of bad entries on there, but the self-correcting
format has led to a huge database of scholarly references and a global picture
on many subjects. The digital generation cooperates, builds, improves and
searches. Many of the games that they play have been shown to improve hand/eye
coordination and revolve around problem solving. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The writings of Lt Col. Dave Grossman, a common resource of
mine for certain aspects of self-protection training, have a political campaign
against violent video games. That is an issue for another day, but it is worth
noting the reasoning behind the argument is because of the level of
sophistication of “shoot ‘em ups”. They are at military simulation level, but
are being used recreationally. I cannot say I support his argument. Much of the
anti-violent video game correlation with classroom killings has proven to be
inconclusive at best and a result of confirmation bias for a certain political
agenda at worst. Grossman is anti-TV too in a manner that might be compared to
certain religious groups who restrict outside media influence. Such a thought
brings me back to 2010 and my passive listening to the news whilst my latter
day millennial daughter happily discovers patterns of coconuts on the mobile
phone game. I have never been overly convinced by the violence in entertainment
angle. After all, our great literature contains some of the most atrocious
examples of cruelty, brutality and sadism, and often for no better reason than
to titillate. If Shakespeare’s “Titus Andronicus” and Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex”
aren’t enough to convince you, try looking up older versions of well-loved
fairy tales for examples of cannibalism, rape, sadistic mutilation and a moral
core that is out of sync with even our great-grandparents’ generation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSRTjEgzxP7-jAoEBLpxjycGZCHv6FYoDg1Lk5CC7Ly2HvFkegIKYHXPXIDEQJtr8q9x4LwxtkUoi7Zm1K6KMRgjALIItVXyXfvVoZk4bABrlgaW4Mz9NB3fgeKerHwNsf3lRJ3wZNYI/s1600/violent+video+games.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSRTjEgzxP7-jAoEBLpxjycGZCHv6FYoDg1Lk5CC7Ly2HvFkegIKYHXPXIDEQJtr8q9x4LwxtkUoi7Zm1K6KMRgjALIItVXyXfvVoZk4bABrlgaW4Mz9NB3fgeKerHwNsf3lRJ3wZNYI/s320/violent+video+games.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, that isn’t to say that Grossman’s points regarding
the level of training being offered in some of these games aren’t irrelevant
and ironically there might be some positive benefits in what he is describing.
The military certainly think so. From pilots to drivers, many personnel have
been trained for years using computer simulations. Mind you, the military once
explored remote viewing and telekinesis, so let’s not get too excited. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji94VzYWvpZEL_4_Z5rmrTuNmd1kldA9ZcEEudVZH19IihSvpK4ZWDrgLGqsnWTkZMUhTnex9nJs-i_Lcyd1ciZ-cKe-rcl3zqpDDXnZmE1pX8TP1-FIpkMUQE41XJEX0meVRjj1LlDcA/s1600/video+games.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji94VzYWvpZEL_4_Z5rmrTuNmd1kldA9ZcEEudVZH19IihSvpK4ZWDrgLGqsnWTkZMUhTnex9nJs-i_Lcyd1ciZ-cKe-rcl3zqpDDXnZmE1pX8TP1-FIpkMUQE41XJEX0meVRjj1LlDcA/s320/video+games.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, having said all this, what about the big issue that so
many of us are seeing regarding pro-longed gaming or computer usage? They might
not make our children more violent or hinder their mental agility, but what
about their social lives, their physical health and their ability to process
information? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Socially there is perhaps even wider interaction than ever
before. Social media brings more people together and easily expands a person’s
social circle. With a global society working in real time, individuals are more
likely to find friends that genuinely share the same interests rather being
forced to compromise in order to fit into a local community. It also brings
with it certain inherent dangers and cultivates a darker side, but I have
already covered that in other articles. The rise of the “keyboard warrior”
might be worth comparing with a fall in common courtesy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The physical issue is a genuine concern. Although a bad diet
greatly contributes to the substantial rise in obesity seen at the turn of the
21<sup>st</sup> century onwards, overall health is more affected by whether or
not an individual sedentary. There have been various attempts to develop more
physically interactive games, but they rarely do a decent job of mimicking
anything substantial. They’ll burn a few calories, but users swiftly get bored
by the sheer gimmickry of the product and are more likely to get back into the
consistently more popular sedentary area of gaming. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I worry about the way the online community processes
information. Although it seems like there is no excuse to be ignorant given the
so-called Information Age we live in, human nature does not work in such simple
ways. Firstly, we have confirmation bias. If holds onto and invests strongly
enough in a belief they will be deaf and blind to contrary points. The internet
cultivates niche communities. It is a place where you can go, find likeminded
people and immerse yourself in a shared existence that will be impervious to
anything that might contradict your shared ideas. This is why conspiracy
theorists thrive online. Secondly, despite there being a fantastic array of written
material, the confirmed success of electronic books and the internet providing
more opportunities for writers than before, video and imagery trump everything
as the most popular resource. I have watched the two sides to gaining knowledge
from online videos in millennials. On the one hand they quickly learn nifty
tricks around machines, which has saved them a fortune and added to their life
skills. On the other hand their actual knowledge on subjects is fragile in its
superficiality. By not reading literary material or good quality academic
studies they come over as bluffers on certain subjects. Worse still, their
arguments fall away as they scramble for sufficient underpinning knowledge and
can do little other than bluster or bully their way through a discussion when
it is quite evident to all that are present that they are out of their depth
because they lack depth. In short, they’ve learnt the bluffer’s guide to
information and it could be argued that the need to pretend expertise in
everything is enhanced by the currency of fame that is never more evident than
it is today.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJyWa4lJCEGNb1hHqU1dnLLTak8wqX_I3FnXkM4M3lfwgb_JarX93A8AiDg-eRx3j0j8izZVwp_LuII8QezxHeL_qxcHWbSmUpYcgxQ-_pd4eU6JTzKCq1v9pZ_V4S73HHtU1ve7j4ow/s1600/internet+investigator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJyWa4lJCEGNb1hHqU1dnLLTak8wqX_I3FnXkM4M3lfwgb_JarX93A8AiDg-eRx3j0j8izZVwp_LuII8QezxHeL_qxcHWbSmUpYcgxQ-_pd4eU6JTzKCq1v9pZ_V4S73HHtU1ve7j4ow/s320/internet+investigator.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t worry so much for an over-reliance on online and
computer entertainment, but rather a lack of access to a healthy surrounding
environment. I grew up in a pretty unique environment, travelling until I was
seven, living in a caravan until I was a teenager and living most of my life in
the English countryside. Yet I was often referred to as a “telly addict”. My
mother saw TV as a drug and bemoaned the day I discovered “Play School” and the
“Godzilla Power Hour”. I got into films and I loved videos. She said some of
the best times she had with me when we were touring was when we were on grounds
that didn’t have electricity. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVUnMpdXnbRteKLxXtc5Ml9JuuupNB0aXA2zQd3JrnZDIKi76Qqt2cxUGGEGFDvnhJySoor7eISolZ2mxBQ_T2Ey8uun-FWRnD8QaVuQEjEWpHUbkxKvEyepYCCDJEEn1754ZWh5FwQc/s1600/godzilla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVUnMpdXnbRteKLxXtc5Ml9JuuupNB0aXA2zQd3JrnZDIKi76Qqt2cxUGGEGFDvnhJySoor7eISolZ2mxBQ_T2Ey8uun-FWRnD8QaVuQEjEWpHUbkxKvEyepYCCDJEEn1754ZWh5FwQc/s1600/godzilla.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whenever I visited my godfather in St. David’s I was shown a
life without television. Nevertheless, I was always skinny child with boundless
energy and did moderately well at track events before I discovered a passion
for martial arts. The countryside and the environment around me promoted exercise.
You just couldn’t help but do things. Maybe I wasn’t channelled in a particular
discipline until I reached my teens, but my generation of telly addicts would
watch our programmes and then exercise our bodies and imaginations by acting
them out together. I went to present a two-part documentary and appear in a
live production whereas my best friend now professionally teaches/lectures on
drama and dance. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hD9pJzZ1XGI/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hD9pJzZ1XGI?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Life in an environment that allowed me access to space and
natural instinctive exercise was more responsible for this introvert from
becoming a couch potato. My mother once checked me for the beginning stages of
arcade game addiction. She didn’t forbid me, but her words of warning helped
curb my interest and let it peter out. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I see a similar existence for my daughter. I look at the
array of channels and programmes she has access to and I have to admit I am
half-envious. I have acquired my previous generation’s level of indignation. “When
I was your age”, I can hear myself saying, “I was grateful to piece together
five minute segments of my favourite cartoons over a week of Timmy Mallet
annoying me. Stories were rarely in the right order and there was no attempt to
follow the US system of series of for kids. We had to endure the ‘Wide-Awake-Club’,
Roland Rat, ‘Going Live’ and the mind numbingly moronic ‘Get Fresh’ on a
Saturday morning to earn our right to watch entire old episodes of our
favourite cartoons. You get a choice of several different incarnations of your
favourite shows, played back-to-back!” She watches television every day, but
she commands it in a way that my generation didn’t. She will watch a reasonable
amount, get up and play. She doesn’t venerate it as I remembering doing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being involved in the entertainment industry, I have seen
both a healthy reaction to digital and non-live media in the form of a richer
variety of entertainment. Circus could be seeing a resurrection of sorts and
theatre seems to be experimenting in many different ways. There are more
schools teaching a wider range of skills for young people to access. On the
other hand, I sit firmly with the grumpy old people who despair at the mobile
phone culture. This is not just as a self-righteous member of my generation but
as a reformed mobile phone cyborg. For a brief period I was one of them. I have
to say it completely distorted a lot of my life and worked like a predacious virus
attacking me at my most vulnerable. Worse still, I could see the way it consumed
the lives of so many others. I watched on at lonely souls, living an imaginary
world of their own justification, cultivating their own sycophants or misery
feeders, “vague-booking” their statuses and oblivious to what they had become.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSmdJC1Vgl4I-aTG0M1259Lx-x6C0YZ_lWLWgv2voYFImnpNvirobQDIWAtQI6eLoCsWmfQ9kL5rctw7gtw7dLYU_nUbSvU7XSlamWWldHT1043ang6jdfpdzi3KZXPfP-naaz1FplVw/s1600/vaguebooking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSmdJC1Vgl4I-aTG0M1259Lx-x6C0YZ_lWLWgv2voYFImnpNvirobQDIWAtQI6eLoCsWmfQ9kL5rctw7gtw7dLYU_nUbSvU7XSlamWWldHT1043ang6jdfpdzi3KZXPfP-naaz1FplVw/s320/vaguebooking.jpg" width="264" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now seeing a group of friends gather in one place only to immediately
put their heads down and obsessively interact with their handheld devices is a
pretty pitiful viewing experience. We are in the age of the constantly
distracted conversation and where the actions of many dictate a seemingly
eternal desire not to be where they are at that precise moment. Watching people
endlessly put up pictures of what they are about to eat is a sad state of
affairs, as are the endless pictures of people’s legs that have largely
replaced holiday snaps. The ultimate extent of this cyborg existence can be
seen when the mobile device and its entertainment world meets exterior
entertainment. Few things are as irritating as being with people who want to
continuously take “selfies” when you are engaged in an activity. The experience
feels like the interactive equivalent of watching a movie and pressing the
pause button every few seconds. Then there are those who watch live shows
through their mobile devices. I see little or no justification for this
activity. Why would you want to stand or sit through the majority of a
performance you have paid good money to watch whilst holding your arms out in a
fixed position watching it through a small screen? The point is that you are
there to enjoy the “live” experience not create a bad piece of filming. If you
want to re-watch it on your computer or TV buy the DVD or download and get a
professional recording. The idiocy of such trends I hope and pray will soon
become evident in our society as more people appreciate the value of actually
living experiences.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmwcsDxFBZClii7GnNQT15J6hGNSaGnGL_JDfMrT-2rR09Nf9ER7L-BU8uSDq9XszO0zeBJbj-YDR71ImdBADt09rGY-6SmbAysJKO1yhqLVRKtdTbofpAeagMV8wF59h19uKOnZDmFM/s1600/facebook+movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmwcsDxFBZClii7GnNQT15J6hGNSaGnGL_JDfMrT-2rR09Nf9ER7L-BU8uSDq9XszO0zeBJbj-YDR71ImdBADt09rGY-6SmbAysJKO1yhqLVRKtdTbofpAeagMV8wF59h19uKOnZDmFM/s320/facebook+movie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My conclusion is that children have not, on the whole,
become reliant on television, tablets and other forms anti-social media for
entertainment. This worry reminds me of the 1964 children’s novel, “Charlie and
the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl. The book features an obnoxious child
telly addict, Mike Teavee, who exhibits all the worst fears of those who blame
television for many of the society’s ills. It even features a song that lists
all the damage television does and concedes its only backhanded virtue is in
its ability to keep children occupied whilst parents can get on with chores.
The book was just one example of how many artists responded to the proliferation
of television in the 1950s. My family’s circus even fled the country to tour in
South Africa in the same year as the book’s publication as a direct response to
the emerging TV menace. The incident is referenced in the novel “Love, Let Me
Not Hunger” by Paul Gallico. However, the sky did not fall down, creativity did
not peak and, despite the rise in obesity, we have some of the fittest people
to have ever walked this planet. Now circuses encourage their audiences to use
their mobile devices to help spread the word via social media. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RcyyDYucIXk/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RcyyDYucIXk?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, the environment we create around children is
perhaps more at issue. We live in a climate of fear. We jump at shadows when it
comes to our children, preferring them to be locked away in the safety of their
own home. The tragic irony is that most accidents and deaths occur in the home
and the majority of people who will commit offences against children will be
those the children know. We need to encourage a better sense of community in
order to safeguard security for our children and ensure their health. Most
children don’t want prolonged to be plugged all day long into their devices,
but they will be if they don’t have many other attractive alternatives. We can
create a balance for them that need not be a lot of hard work, but a simple
reassessment of daily life. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=jamclu-21&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=0349108390&asins=0349108390&linkId=LZ6SK2AINDUPD4NO&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=jamclu-21&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=0071508635&asins=0071508635&linkId=KHCOZ3YUMIARO6BL&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=jamclu-21&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B002WJM55A&asins=B002WJM55A&linkId=UUCEMHJKZTDZ73JM&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-45036868266161097482015-06-15T08:20:00.001-07:002015-06-15T08:20:34.983-07:00After Magna Carta "Sealed not Signed" <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hFfXB1R4dnt9L6u_JIAQ_xBeHO8sHBoQCIGeRutm9dxDZ7_TPegs8kIupl2MzF_k-XUcOBB7YTfVNwDqLVnSlKsCX1lCDS4UqeMNf6c59cV84-VlrHcjz-_xFZmH1OjuMqXLnsRlXrA/s1600/magna+carta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hFfXB1R4dnt9L6u_JIAQ_xBeHO8sHBoQCIGeRutm9dxDZ7_TPegs8kIupl2MzF_k-XUcOBB7YTfVNwDqLVnSlKsCX1lCDS4UqeMNf6c59cV84-VlrHcjz-_xFZmH1OjuMqXLnsRlXrA/s1600/magna+carta.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
So, my busy schedule puts me at a loss once again to produce anything particularly meaningful on yet another very important historic day. 800 years ago this week, on 19th June, King John and 25 rebellious barons shared a charter drafted by the Archbishop of Canterbury that was intended to restore peace between the crown and the aforementioned angered noblemen. John would give the charter his royal seal, but contrary to many dramatic depictions, including the one I describe later, he could not be forced into signing it. In essence, Magna Carta would protect the barons from being subject to limitless taxations by the king and also from unjustifiable imprisonment. The charter was radical document for its time and neither side stood by their commitments, leading to the First Barons' War. It would be called upon in response to the actions of another rebel, Simon DeMontford. DeMontford would covene a "parley" at Kenilworth Castle in 1264, consisting of demoncractically elected knights. This would be the first Parliament. He would eventually usurp the crown for a year, becoming a prototypical Oliver Cromwell before he was overthrown and killed by Henry III's forces. Henry would re-issue and re-edited version of the Magna Carta.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KRGaEr-bXis/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KRGaEr-bXis?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
The Magna Carta sewed the seeds for English and eventually British democracy. Its strongest idea was that no one, including the king, was above the law of the land. Such a powerful dictum would be put to its ultimate test when Cromwell's Parliamentarians brought King Charles I to trial and, upon finding him guilty of treason, executed him. Magna Carta's legacy underlines the core principles of democracy and The <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Declaration_of_Human_Rights" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Universal Declaration of Human Rights">Universal Declaration of Human Rights</a> 1948 is often described as the Magna Carta of our age. <br />
<br />
I come across references to Magna Carta all the time. I discussed it in my review of Melvyn Bragg's <a href="http://beelzebubsbroker.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/melvyn-braggs-books.html">"12 Books that Changed the World" (read here)</a>. The Henry III/Simon DeMontford drama is recounted in my review of <a href="http://beelzebubsbroker.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/king-arthur-ii-edward-i-re-examined.html">"A Great and Terrible King"</a>. However, my fondest reference to Magna Carta came via Alan Simpson and Ray Galton's <span class="st">Anthony Aloysius St John Hancock of 23 Railway Cuttings, East Cheam, played by Tony Hancock. Radio 2 has twice referenced it in the last couple of days. I tweeted yesterday, but it should have a place on the blog: </span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Does Magna Carta mean nothing to you? Did she die in vain? Brave Hungarian
peasant girl who forced King John to sign the pledge at Runnymede and close
the boozers at half past ten! Is all this to be forgotten?"
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Tony Hancock, in Twelve Angry Men.
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JNZosqiJISs/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JNZosqiJISs?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<span class="st">The below archive review I wrote about the historical action movie, "Ironclad", displayed about as much historical accuracy as Hancock's statement. </span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<br />
Plot:<br />
A medieval action film set
after the signing of the Magna Carta, "<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironclad_%28film%29" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Ironclad (film)">Ironclad</a>" covers the story of
<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John%2C_King_of_England" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="John, King of England">King John</a> (<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Giamatti" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Paul Giamatti">Paul Giamatti</a>) of England's backlash against the barons who
opposed him. The ink is barely dry before the vengeful King recruits an
army of Danish mercenaries to re-take his kingdom and punish those who
have opposed him. This led to an all-out war and the film focuses on the
siege of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochester_Castle" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Rochester Castle">Rochester Castle</a>. <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_d%27Aubigny_%28rebel%29" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="William d'Aubigny (rebel)">William d'Aubigny</a> (Brian Cox), one of the 25
guarantors of the Magna Carta, leads his group away from the vengeful
king, along with a wronged Knight Templar (<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Purefoy" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="James Purefoy">James Purefoy</a>), and to the
apparent sanctuary of Rochester…<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wNgW6jH44Ac/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wNgW6jH44Ac?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
Review:
"Have you ever killed a man, squire? It is not a noble thing. Not even when it is for God!" <br />
Since
the advent of TV series like “Rome”, historical action drama has taken a
decidedly more adult turn and reaped the financial benefits. At the
higher end we have the lavish, superbly casted, beautifully produced and
cleverly-plotted “A Game of Thrones” – its sex and violence never
taking anything away from its clever plot twists, intriguing character
development and very quotable dialogue – and then we have bottom-feeding
dross like “Spartacus”, where every scene is a vehicle to take us to
the
next piece of pornography. The Brits don’t seem to have fared that
well. “Camelot” was a classic failure of low budget and groping for the
lowest level of entertainment. However, if “Ironclad” is anything to go
by, it would appear that old Blighty might still have something worth
saying about adult historical action films. <br />
<br />
Of course, when I say
“historical” I mean that as a rather loose term. “Ironclad” may have the
look and feel of harsh medieval England and there certainly was a siege
at Rochester Castle involving William d’Aubigny, where starvation was a
major factor, but that is where the history pretty much stops with this
picture. Instead director <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_English_%28director%29" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Jonathan English (director)">Jonathan English</a> decides to ramp up the
brutality and lead us into a dark battle between a deeply vengeful King,
asserting his “God-given” right to rule, and the defenders of liberty
and honour.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uARIVM179lQ/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uARIVM179lQ?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
It’s a fairly black and white affair in terms of character
development. James Pureloy is adequate as the Knight Templar at the end
of his term, falling in love and wanting revenge on the spiteful king.
As the indomitable and courageous warrior he clearly takes the heroic
centre stage, but doesn’t fare well against the supporting cast. If this
was intended to be his star vehicle it was ill-advised. Brian Cox is as
impressive as he ever was playing the brave and resolute d’Aubigny who
proves he will stand anything to the bitter end for his beliefs and
those in his charge – playing martyr to his cause and his people better
than Mel Gibson ever could. <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Jacobi" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Derek Jacobi">Derek Jacobi</a> weighs in as <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald_de_Cornhill" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Reginald de Cornhill">Reginald de
Cornhill</a>, who was constable of Rochester Castle. Perhaps unnoticed by
the more casual of viewer’s Jacobi’s Cornhill could easily be mistaken
for a coward and humourless man of power with a trapped much younger
wife. However, I was impressed by the way Jacobi revealed him to be a
realist and a man of no lesser sense of responsibility than d’Aubigny.
Another notable is McKenzie Crook who is doing a fine job working in
straight roles. Here he plays an archer on the side of the barons.
Finally, Paul Giamatti gives us a ruthless, spiteful, vicious, driven
and unreasonable King John that would have been more than a match for
most Robin Hoods. Here and there we get glimpses of his reasoning for
his ruthlessness and religious excuse we see associated with Richard I,
Henry V and Charles I. Sadly, none of the female cast members stand out
and it is little surprising, this is clearly a lad’s film dressed up in
historically accurate settings and costumes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/symwcT6y0VQ/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/symwcT6y0VQ?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
However, this isn’t
to say it isn’t enjoyable. The real star of the piece is the film’s
director, Jonathan English. Among English’s CV is the horror film
“Minotaur” and this is somewhat key. Viewers have remarked on the film’s
realism, which is never more evident than in the film’s battle scenes.
However, I would go one step further. For a 15 certificate, even by
today’s standards, the violence is incredibly brutal and often cruel. I
appreciate the floodgates have been opened since the rise of shows like
“Rome”, but the film’s tagline says it all: “Blood will run!” Viewers
get an eye-full of blades slicing through limbs, necks, heads and so on,
often with the camera leering at the anguish and pain. This is an
action film that uses the violence of a horror picture and I have to
admit it is very effective. It has its moments of heroism and contains
excellent fight choreography, but there is clearly an interest to
showing the viewer the realities of fighting a battle.<br />
<br />
“Ironclad” rises above most action films in many ways. It is
beautifully shot, well-acted, has authentic historical settings and
enough twists to keep the momentum of a siege story going. Don’t expect a
character driven piece, even though it has a strong cast, but a fairly
unpredictable action picture that pulls no punches when it comes to
showing how fights are won and lost.<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=jamclu-21&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B004MYF6ZO&asins=B004MYF6ZO&linkId=MY3NJVFA4MLC6PZA&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=jamclu-21&marketplace=amazon®ion=GB&placement=B00EZQOHM2&asins=B00EZQOHM2&linkId=JO6K6HTDHKWXX7PA&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true">
</iframe>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=jamclu-21&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00004CJ6P&asins=B00004CJ6P&linkId=DPJDAO6MPJHQSQ6V&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=jamclu-21&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=1408427397&asins=1408427397&linkId=VDKRJ32MSN7LU6YA&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>
</div>
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com
</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-53677054872239013522015-06-10T08:45:00.001-07:002015-06-15T08:25:34.860-07:00A Review of "Marvellous"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiryK1QTSiOMEc6dtd0upOZbOGKg4hCLI7FAjMD6t28TiRsb1wIDPQy5srR_qk2brmSRRvJMBKGw_h623i3jcNyVwZ90dR8GF0s4MCzxG1oTU3tzqLOfVHNjSRVrGoinGBYRE5C-UgmVQ4/s1600/Marvellous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiryK1QTSiOMEc6dtd0upOZbOGKg4hCLI7FAjMD6t28TiRsb1wIDPQy5srR_qk2brmSRRvJMBKGw_h623i3jcNyVwZ90dR8GF0s4MCzxG1oTU3tzqLOfVHNjSRVrGoinGBYRE5C-UgmVQ4/s1600/Marvellous.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Plot: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Marvellous” is based on the true story of Neil Baldwin.
Baldwin was diagnosed with “learning difficulties” at school, but didn’t allow
the label to discourage him from achieving as much in life as his heart
desired. We meet Neil working as Nello the clown in the circus. He goes on to
get a regular role at Keele University, advising and helping students, and is
employed by his beloved football team, Stoke City. Along the way, his mother
worries profusely whether he will be able to look after himself after she dies. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/o6rKRoAEgS0/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o6rKRoAEgS0?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Review: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before I begin, I guess I better put in a mild caveat. A TV film
like “Marvellous” is probably not going to get the most unbiased of reviews
from me. It focuses on the life of someone who I never met, but nevertheless I
know plenty of people who do know him. This includes the great Norman Barrett,
a dear friend of my family, who features in a brief cameo at the film’s
conclusion and is also mentioned a few times, including his MBE status. These are
all anachronistic, but that takes nothing away from the nature of the film.
Norman’s budgies are also a plot point. For the most part, the film shows
circus in a good light, which is a refreshing change. Only the ringmaster of
the first circus is presented as something of a villain. This is becoming a bit
of a cliché now along with the assumption that the ringmaster is traditionally the
owner of the show. Nevertheless, many of my circus friends and family were
smiling when the film won the Best Single Drama category of the 2015 BAFTAs. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Marvellous” does not
pretend to be a historically accurate biopic and the style of composition,
including characters breaking the fourth wall to consult the real-life
personalities, are slightly reminiscent of Michael Winterbottom and Frank Cottrell’s
Boyce’s “24 Hour Party People”. The result is an interesting hybrid drama that
further proves the burgeoning strengths of television in recent times. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5rHYUP48Ivw/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5rHYUP48Ivw?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The sales blurb declares it to be part biopic, part fantasy
and part musical. If this is the case, then these parts are not evenly
distributed. The biopic description is the prevailing aspect to the point where
the fantasy might be interpreted as forgivable artistic interpretation and the
musical part – consisting entirely of Fenton Choir –comes across more as a
soundtrack rather than an integral part of the drama. The film is all the
better for this ratio. This is a tribute and celebration of the unique
character of Neil Baldwin, playfully realizing his dreams in an exaggerated fashion.
Demonstrating a lack of pretentiousness and a comfortable sense of
self-awareness, the film even has the real Neil Baldwin being asked by Toby
Jones whether or not an event occurred like it is depicted in the film. Baldwin
replies with a flat “no”. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The film is fervently non-judgemental without being
ridiculously positive. The locations are nearly always drab, often showing
examples of bad weather or uninspiring building interiors. Baldwin’s escapades
are described as unique techniques for blagging your way into various dream
experiences. Along the way he is met with unkindness that Neil isn’t oblivious
to, but he shrugs off as “banter”. Baldwin’s “learning difficulties” are never
really defined and the viewer isn’t prompted to be curious. This is dealt with in
a non-patronizing way. Baldwin and his mother just simply ignore the frustrated
efforts of others to get them to discuss his “condition”, and everyone cannot
help but be carried along by the lead character’s confidence. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OoeDUm_z1w8/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OoeDUm_z1w8?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Critics of “Marvellous” have rightly noticed that Julian
Farino took on a tall order with true style. A lesser director could have
easily descended into sentimental schmaltz or ironic irreverence. Do not expect
this to be another “Forrest Gump” or “Rain Man”. Don’t expect “Derek” either
for that matter. The film portrays Neil Baldwin in an honest light. This
includes the long suffering worries of his mother, portrayed by Gemma Jones in
a performance that deservedly earned her a best-supporting actress BAFTA, and
the clergy that are obliged to lend their charitable hand of support. In this
respect, “Marvellous” is as much a tribute to the spirit of collective humanity
as it is to the positive attitude of its lead protagonist. It is significant
that Baldwin’s aspirations are not achieved just because he is doggedly
determined and won’t give up on his dreams, but also because of the many people
who seem to find themselves helping him. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=jamclu-21&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00OD4YGM2&asins=B00OD4YGM2&linkId=MYJOGU3LKBBYFJ4Y&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2544898638823287423.post-56973229354429757822015-06-02T08:59:00.001-07:002015-06-02T09:02:26.759-07:00Many a Prophetic Word Spoken in Jest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5Rq4Kp4T-jvGTwX8bSu7zAajIimcVtmOdjfjwr4Gc12PNkENLXkES5mUTXSOu2BH1DwjVbgj_Kl6VPpwodu4wa1fvwzvvmFqq9GES1Y4-Amj769xyG7wcWoMh34cJ6U-SUUucYqSWI4/s1600/the+reader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5Rq4Kp4T-jvGTwX8bSu7zAajIimcVtmOdjfjwr4Gc12PNkENLXkES5mUTXSOu2BH1DwjVbgj_Kl6VPpwodu4wa1fvwzvvmFqq9GES1Y4-Amj769xyG7wcWoMh34cJ6U-SUUucYqSWI4/s320/the+reader.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="reviewText">
<div class="clearfix">
<div id="intelliTXT" name="intelliTxt">
Plot:<br />
<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Reader" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="The Reader">Michael Berg</a> (<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Fiennes" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Ralph Fiennes">Ralph
Fiennes</a>) is a dethatched man. Divorced but the father of a daughter he
doesn't see enough of, he reflects upon his past. At 15 years old (<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Kross" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="David Kross">David
Kross</a>) he was struck down by scarlet fever, but rescued by a 36 year
old tram conductor called Hanna (<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Winslet" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Kate Winslet">Kate Winslet</a>). After a lengthy recovery
period he tracks down his rescuer and they begin a secret affair. Hanna
is a very mysterious woman who, seeing that Michael is studying classic
literature, asks that he read to her before they have sex. Despite
Hanna's cold manner and Michael's childlike inexperience, the
relationship begins to further develop. Then one day, upon hearing she
is to be promoted, Hanna abruptly leaves her apartment without saying a
word to Michael. Years later as an undergraduate and whilst attending a
trial as part of a special seminar held by a concentration camp
survivor, Michael attends a trial for Auschwitz guards who presided over
several atrocities at the camp. One particular atrocity involved the
deaths of 300 prisoners who were locked into a burning church by the
guards. One guard is singled out as the ringleader of this particular
crime. Michael is shocked to see that this guard is none other than his
mysterious Hanna...</div>
<div id="intelliTXT" name="intelliTxt">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EBg1IBivcbk/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EBg1IBivcbk?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div id="intelliTXT" name="intelliTxt">
</div>
<div id="intelliTXT" name="intelliTxt">
<br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div id="intelliTXT" name="intelliTxt">
Review:<br />
If you told me that "<a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Reader-Kate-Winslet/dp/B001PPLJIQ%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzemanta-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB001PPLJIQ" rel="amazon" target="_blank" title="The Reader">The Reader</a>" swept
the 2009 Oscars I wouldn't have been surprised. It didn't despite being
nominated in some of the top categories. In the end only Kate Winslet
nabbed her long overdue gold, as she had done at all the other major
festivals, but more on that later.</div>
<div id="intelliTXT" name="intelliTxt">
</div>
<div id="intelliTXT" name="intelliTxt">
Back to the film proper and I have
to say that not only does it seem to be the sort of feature destined to
clean up at such shows, but it is actually very good. "The Reader" is
based on a 1995 German novel by <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernhard_Schlink" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Bernhard Schlink">Bernhard Schlink</a> and provides an
interesting situation for filmmakers. It is an English speaking film
made in collaboration with Germany and America distributed by the
Weinstein Company. The result is an English speaking picture filmed in
Germany, but given the exposure of offered by Hollywood. The film only
received a limited release, but this type of picture was never destined
to be an opponent for "The Day the Earth Stood Still", which was
released on the same day. Its rivals were more obviously other
thought-provoking dramas such as "Doubt", which came out a couple of
days later. "<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Curious_Case_of_Benjamin_Button_%28film%29" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (film)">The Curious Case of Benjamin Button</a>" was also another
obvious rival. It came out in the same month too. However, it is here
where we can see the superiority of "The Reader" of this particular
film. Although a good movie, Benjamin Button doesn't really prompt a
tremendous amount of thought, at least not on subjects that really
challenge the viewer. I would even go as far as saying that the make-up
effects performed on Kate Winslet rival the visual effects in Benjamin
Button, which nabbed its Oscar for this particular area.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ErpSxX6n3hw/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ErpSxX6n3hw?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
The first
half of "The Reader" comes across like a European film. In this sense it
is very honourable to the structure and spirit of Schlink's book.
However, it has been accused of eroticizing the serious issues it covers
and even creating a type of perversion. What these critics are
referring to, of course, is the fact that Kate Winslet spends a good
part of this first half completely naked and fulfilling a 15 year old
boy's fantasy. Shown as a touching intimate relationship, it is
uncomfortable to acknowledge that this is actually a positive depiction
of an ex-<a class="zem_slink" href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/31" rel="unesco" target="_blank" title="Auschwitz Birkenau ">Auschwitz camp</a> guard committing paedophilia. I don't think this
shakes the film's moral core. The scenes may be sentimental, but they
are far from pornographic in their execution and didn't strike me as
disturbing.</div>
<div id="intelliTXT" name="intelliTxt">
<br />
<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Daldry" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Stephen Daldry">Stephen Daldry</a>'s direction with these scenes - and indeed
the rest of the film - should be acknowledged. Daldry, like Winslet, is
another criminally overlooked talent. As those of you are familiar with
my reviews might know, I have a soft spot for works based on plays or
that have gone into inspire plays. It is then not surprising to me that
Daldry's background is in theatre. A good theatre director, especially
one that specializes in straight drama, has a special relationship with
his actors and is usually perfect for character-driven works, which "The
Reader" is. He keeps scenes moving at the right pace throughout the
film and even in places that an inferior director might make ponderous,
something that is easy to do with an adaptation of a novel that doesn't
have a great deal of action throughout.<br />
<br />
A far more direct criticism
of both the book and film is that it sympathizes with the perpetrators
of one of history's most diabolical evils and downplays the relevance of
the holocaust. As with other films such as "Dead Man Walking" and "The
Woodsman" this type of criticism really misses the point. Like these
films, the horrors of Hanna's actions are never mitigated. She is not
put across as a warm character, but rather a person with someone
disturbing personality traits and a corrupt sense of values. What the
film does that the others I have mentioned also do, is show humanity in
all its guises. This includes being honest about human relationships. It
refuses to acknowledge that everyone involved in atrocities are one
dimensional monsters, a view that although might sit nicely with our
clear cut morals but doesn't help explain anything. People who wish to
see this sort of thing in history or even works of historical fiction
retard our ability to understand. They remind me of those who justify
the revision of history for "the good of the cause".</div>
<div id="intelliTXT" name="intelliTxt">
</div>
<div id="intelliTXT" name="intelliTxt">
What will upset
these critics even more is the sense of apathy that the film reflects on
the holocaust as time moves on. Even the unforgiving daughter of a
survivor admits that nothing of value came out of the camps. On that
note I would say that the great Jewish philosopher, holocaust survivor
and author of "Man's Search for Meaning", Viktor Frankl, would disagree.
Nevertheless, the point is that this piece of terrible history that has
dominated the German national psyche for the rest of the 20th century
is becoming more and more detached from the living. "The Reader"
explores this without casting judgment, but prompts thought and
reflection.<br />
<br />
Overall this we have the metaphor of reading and, more
specifically, reading allowed. "Der Vorleser", the original name for
Schlink's novel, actually implies "reading allowed" as opposed to just
reading. Hanna's journey goes from being a detached illiterate person
who only receives information to a person who can read and therefore
immerse herself in the classics she enjoyed listening to. Likewise the
horrors of the holocaust and the situations Germans found themselves in
during the time that the Nazis were in power are juxtaposed with the
feelings of those who weren't there.</div>
<div id="intelliTXT" name="intelliTxt">
</div>
<div id="intelliTXT" name="intelliTxt">
Aside from Kate Winslet's
performance as Hanna throughout the picture, including having to endure
over seven hours of prosthetics to show her aging, the film also stars
Ralph Fiennes playing the older Michael Berg and German actor David
Kross as his younger counterpart. Fiennes is as reliable as ever putting
in a reserved performance as the reflective Berg and Kross shows
serious potential throughout his performance. Given the restrictions of
the film being English-speaking yet based in Germany and on a German
novel, it is always awkward to decide how to handle dialogue. Having all
the actors speak in a German accent often only works in the
tongue-in-cheek manner seen in "The Shadow of the Vampire", but here it
almost feels like we are watching a German film that for some reason we
can hear in English. It's quite a skill and interesting something that
Schlink, the book's author, insisted upon, believing the issues deserved
a wider audience.<br />
<br />
Postscript:Incidentally being a big follower of
Ricky Gervais's work I guess I couldn't leave this review without my
comment on his comical prediction that came true. For those who are not
aware of this prophetic example of this "many a true things spoken in
jest" moment, I will explain and at the same time try to put down a
rather disturbing racist conspiracy theory at the same time. In episode
three of his series, "Extras", Kate Winslet, playing a self-parody,
comes back with a cynical ulterior motive when she is commended on
raising awareness of the holocaust:<br />
<br />
"My god, I'm not really doing it
for that. I don't think we really need another film about the Holocaust,
do we? It's like, how many have there been? We get it! It was grim!
Move on! No, I'm doing it because I've noticed that if you do a film
about the Holocaust: guaranteed Oscar. I've been nominated for four.
Never won! The whole world is going, 'Why hasn't Winslet won one?'
That's it. That's why I'm doing it. Schindler's bloody List. The
Pianist. Oscars coming out of their ass!""Kate Winslet's win this
time around seemed to prove Gervais's point exactly and he ribbed her
about it publically at the Golden Globes Awards, "I told you, do a
Holocaust movie and the awards come, didn't I?" As is the nature of
Gervais's humour, the point ridicules Hollywood sentimentality and
intentionally shocks by using a taboo subject. Some have interpreted the
original lines to be inferring to the great Jewish conspiracy that is
supposedly behind everything, but this is highly unlikely. Gervais is
known as a strong rational sceptic, which one would assume would deter
him from anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, and besides given the
criticism this film and the novel it was based on has incurred it is not
the sort of holocaust film that would be approved of by the supposed
"Elders of Zion".<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MitJMh2ZWZo/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MitJMh2ZWZo?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iAweiV944qI/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iAweiV944qI?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
I wrote this review back in February 2010. This was before Ricky Gervais's material went downhill with the "Ricky Gervais Show" podcast onwards and the guy proved to be a bit of hypocritical animal rightist.<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=jamclu-21&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B001O9AQXC&asins=B001O9AQXC&linkId=2MVHXHUFKPODDCXD&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=jamclu-21&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=0753823292&asins=0753823292&linkId=TDFY5UAFFDGPG67M&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Don't forget to check out Jamie Clubb's main blog www.jamieclubb.blogspot.com</div>
Philip Astleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06033366953482801496noreply@blogger.com