And it dawned on me that I have seen the same sort of catch title for many films during the last decades, be they with S. Stallone, C. Eastwood or some other Hollywood star. "The last cop", "The survivor", "The last hero", whatever...
This recurrent notion of the last one cannot be without some meaning in the end. Wasn't there "The last of the Mohicans" 200 years ago?
There seems to be a certain American anxiety here that translates into this sort of Hollywood production. Like the audience probably is receptive to the idea that this situation isn't totally unfamiliar, and even bears some likeliness.
And maybe do we witness some echo in the History of America when the colonists and later, the settlers of the American frontier had to confront a wild nature as well as the native Indians.
We were talking survival then and this insecurity feeling may have lasted up to now. Like a red thread in the American psyche.
Don't know, just asking.
(For some reason I know my English is worse on this post that it usually is... My apologies to all.)
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So the cinema is back, good idea (and good idea for La danseuse d'Izu too, by the way).
Or should we say the movie industry. As LASunsett suggested, entertainment is an activity even more important than what is commonly called industry. It imposes his standards not US-wide but world-wide. And if you think like me, you will be like me, you'll act the same.
And to start with, the idea that the last man (a woman would be so much more hopeful) on earth will be an American (Italian-American, Austrian-American, etc). Will he be surrounded by monster Indians? Why them Italian-Americans or else constantly think they are surrounded by a host of dangers? They should come back here, it is relatively safe...
No really, America ranks among the funny ideas of Europe from the 16th to nowadays: why had one to find it, to settle there, to conquer and submit to a foreign lifestyle and religion and cosmology and ideas ?
Now, to quote Lenin, what is there to do?
Shall we think backwards, keep the curious spirit about the world but start to reconsider the borders, any border? One day there will be no frontier at all, i am definitely sure of that.
Etchdi
I’m not sure if there is some hidden psychosis to the trends you describe. I rather think it depends on what you choose to believe, and why you believe it. For example, the History Channel frequently teaches us about “Mega-disasters,” and “The end of days.” Threats of meteors slamming into the earth, rampant diseases killing off all human kind, melting ice causing massive floods — it tends to produce people who scratch their heads and mumble, “Huh?”
According to the History Channel, Nostradamus suggests many horrible future events, but no worse than the mushroom inspired prophesies of John of Patmos. And if that isn’t enough, there are the predictions of Meso-American sages who assure us the world will end on 12 December 2012.
Meanwhile, the main advertiser on the History Channel represent pharmaceutical interests, who encourage us to stock up on Viagra, heart-disease prevention medications, and pills designed to stop the anal leakage associated with weight-loss programs.
I think it is understandable if people, in their confusion, turn in to psychopathic moviegoers. My solution, in the remote event that any of this is true, is that everyone should start smoking, drink alcohol with a Viagra chaser, and chase the opposite sex with utter abandon. I mean, if we’re all going to die anyway (and I think this is a guarantee), we might as well go out in style.
Dr. Mustang
Dr. Mustang,
//My solution, in the remote event that any of this is true, is that everyone should start smoking, drink alcohol with a Viagra chaser, and chase the opposite sex with utter abandon. I mean, if we’re all going to die anyway (and I think this is a guarantee), we might as well go out in style.//
I ran your recommendations by my wife. Needless to say, it did not go so well. How about a prescription for Xanax 1 mg (or some other benzodiazipine) QID PRN Severe Anxiety? That should help, a little.
Thanks Doc.
(For some reason I know my English is worse on this post that it usually is... My apologies to all.)
Your English is very good and was fine on this post.
Etchdi said, "a woman would be so much more hopeful"
Ahhh... that was sweet. :)
Et merci pour tes gentilles mot chez SuperFrenchie. ;)
When I look at all of the ridiculous programming on television from "boom" stuff, to end-of-the-world paranoia scenarios, silly reality shows and sit-coms, it does lead me to believe that there is a certain lack of any seriousness in the general population and I wonder what kind of overall mentality in the populace leads the networks to this kind of programming. After all, they must air those programs which make them the most money.
All we have in terms of serious programming is PBS and C-SPAN. The other news programs usually spend their time investigating murders and the lives of Hollywood stars. Serious programming is just not that profitable in the U.S. :(
And to think that this very populace which spends its time watching this type of programming is the same populace which votes for the president of the U.S. Scary..
Re Izu no odoriko
Je ne pouvais pas rester sur l'échec des "Belles Endormies" d'il y a 15 ans...
Ni ne rien connaître du tout à la littérature japonaise...
A moi donc, Pays de neige, Tristesse et Beauté, Chronique d'Asakura...
Mustang,
"I’m not sure if there is some hidden psychosis to the trends you describe"
The word psychosis is yours (although I specialize in paranoia...)
Fear and anxiety in front of the unknown (the future) is universal of course, but I had a feeling the notion of "the last man" seemed to reverberate something of American History. Like "the last frontier" concept.
It is "un genre" of American films like the films noirs or the westerns. Only Hollywood would produce these sort of flicks.
And there's nothing wrong here.
Hi Joann,
We have the same sort of crap on French TVs alas...
But the German ones, ran by each German State, are exceptionnally good and diverse. Many documentaries and talk shows. I had no idea the Germans were so fond of discussions...
There was a Columbo episode last night in German...
"Meine Frau immer sagt mir..."
(Hi LA)
We have the same sort of crap on French TVs alas...
Hi Flocon!
Yes, France has its fair share of idiotic programs on television. However, when I was in France I noticed that what you have doesn't hold a candle as compared to the ridiculous, paranoid, "boom" kind of plastic crap that we have.
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