O’Hagan
And the Oscar for navel-gazing goes to… | Dt Opinion | Opinion | Telegraph — This is actually an excellent critique of the Oscars by a film critic who obviously wasn’t invited. I liked the essay for it’s bite, but his assertion that the Oscars should be a political platform is a bit much.
The Oscars, more perhaps than any other US institution, is a powerhouse of strictly American feelings, and the world as a whole is not always crazy to have that kind of feeling stuffed down its throat. Hollywood is a very small community of wealthy and successful people, devoted to the high-gloss business of congratulating itself. And despite its gestures towards “respecting” and “recognising” foreign excellence, the Academy Awards ceremony only knows how to celebrate foreignness in purely American terms. That’s to say – patronisingly.
More than 80 per cent of Americans do not own a passport. Hardly any young people speak a second language. Though a majority of the population are said to favour military intervention in the Middle East, fewer than one in 50 can name the countries that border Iraq. (This might explain why the British movie Borat, which satirises this situation, won nothing at the Oscars.)
Navel-gazing?
….Excessive introspection, self-absorption, or concentration on a single issue
OK, I admit it. We are a nation of star fuckers!! So what!! I shan’t go in to the inclinations of the British and such. Have a nice day. 🙂
How can one take seriously any criticism from a culture that eats something called “spotted dick”?
“Hardly any young people speak a second language.”
It’s the same over here in Britain, and I’m surprised the journalist doesn’t know that, since he’s apparently living here. English-speaking people have little need to learn anything else. There’s less opportunity, too–in Europe, for example, quite a few American and British TV programs will be being screened. They don’t dub them all: they add subtitles. Every episode of a police series or a comedy show is an informal and painless form of langauge learning.
In other words, we have yet another supercilous journalist who doesn’t even stop to think before shooting his mouth off.
Here’s a crazy idea: Don’t watch them!
I didn’t.
John, you really should learn the difference between “it’s” and “its”. Here’s what Bob the Angry Flower has to say about it:
http://www.angryflower.com/itsits.gif
This was an “an excellent critique” of the Oscars?!
First, he criticizes the Oscars for being primarily American. Well, guess what? The Oscars is primarily American. It is the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences!!! Does he have a turd for a brain?!
Next he attacks US citizens for not having passports or knowing foreign languages. First, until recently we didn’t even need passports to go across the border! Second, while people in UK can travel to France, Italy, Germany, Switerland, etc., we’re stuck basically going to Canada and Mexico. Not exactly an exciting get away. And lastly, he’s apparently ignorant of the fact that the overwhelming majority of Canadians speak English. Exactly where are we going to travel nearby where we’d need a foreign language?!
Next he attacks the US for protecting its border from illegal immigration. Apparently he’s also ignorant of the fact that as an island the UK doesn’t really have that sort of problem. Exactly how is that piece of ignorance “excellent”?!
Next he attacks an awards show for movies for not focusing on his particular political agenda. Maybe he should start an award show for political agendas. Heck, maybe people would like it. But to force it upon the Oscars is simply ludicrous and as far from “excellent” as I can imagine.
God John, I’m really having trouble understanding you on this one.
If you have any doubt that this country is becoming a nation of morons, I refer you to today’s NY Times Editorial:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/27/opinion/27tue3.html
9. “If you have any doubt that this country is becoming a nation of morons…”
Technically, we’re not morons. We’re ignoramuses. But thanks for caring.
#s 8, 10 –
OK, who are you? – and what have you done with Jerk-Face??
#s 8, 10 –
Very sensible – which prompts my next question:
OK, who are you – and what have you done with the real Jerk-Face??
11. “OK, who are you – and what have you done with the real Jerk-Face??”
Why don’t you do us all a favor and post a picture of your tits!
There are you happy now? 😉
Reversal time:
How many Brits can name, from memory, more than half the states in the US? More than ten?
How many Brits can name, from memory, which states border Colorado?
How many Brits can point out Kansas on a map?
Brits are looking pretty stupid now, eh?
How many Brits can name all of their own sovereigns, in order, from 1200 to 1600? From just 1300 to 1400?
How many Brits can tell you the names of half the members of the House of Commons? A fourth?
How many Brits can recite, from memory, an entire poem by T.E. Eliot? One of Shakespeare’s sonnets?
How many Brits can… oh the Hell with it. You get the idea: How ‘stupid’ people appear just depends on the questions they’re asked.
#12 –
Oh, it is you. Had me worried there…
Right! Carry on. 😉
#13 – Chris Evans
Well, in comparison to other countries, American and British students come in roughly the same, which is none too good.
However, aside from that, why in the world would you expect Brit students to know American geopolitical divisions? Last I checked, American kids weren’t being taught UK geography either. How many counties in England can you name? Or how many counties border Somerset? Can you point out Nottinghamshire on a map?
That part of your argument makes no sense. But otherwise, generally speaking, I agree with your point – and that of my right honourable friend, Jerk-Face. This guy’s anti-Yank snobbery is on shaky ground.
#14 – “However, aside from that, why in the world would you expect Brit students to know American geopolitical divisions?”
Why expect average Americans to know middle eastern geopolitical divisions? Not that you are particularly arguing with my point (thank you for that), but I do think it’s fair to restate that anyone can be made to look stupid with the right questions.
“Last I checked, American kids weren’t being taught UK geography either.”
Most aren’t taught a foreign language — it’s not a requirement in most schools — and yet not learning one is being held against them. So, I in my turn hold against British kids that they cannot do things _they_ aren’t being taught.
“How many counties in England can you name?”
Ceremonial or actual? 🙂
“Or how many counties border Somerset?”
Four, if memory serves.
“Can you point out Nottinghamshire on a map?”
Yes.
[Full disclosure: I lived in England (Norwich, to be precise — and God! do I miss the bacon sandwiches from the market square), so I fear you’ve picked the wrong American to make a point on.]
“That part of your argument makes no sense.”
As I stated, I’m just underlining that the questions you ask determine, to a great degree, the answers you get.
Ask Oxford professors to name NASCAR drivers and they’ll more than likely fail miserably. But saying that means they’re stupid would be the height of lunacy.
Grr. Comment above (#16) was directed at #15, not #14 (which was me).
Guess I should go to bed instead of wishing dvorak.org/blog had an auto-threaded comment system…
#16 – Chris Evans
“Why expect average Americans to know middle eastern geopolitical divisions?”
Ah, but you see, world geography (unlike that of another, arbitrary country) has tremendous import. Knowledge of the context, geo / politico / historical, of that area is essential even the most limited understanding of the current conflict; and to say that the future of the human race in many ways is dependent upon the events unfolding there is no exaggeration.
So, American kids who know nothing about it, because they’re sitting around with their collective heads up their asses watching MTV, are soon to become apathetic asshole adults sitting around with their heads up their asses, watching The Big Game – and letting the neocons continue to set us all up for Armageddon…
This is not, as Madame Curie would say, “a Good Thing.”
#8 — It was his style that was excellent, not his points. I wrote TWO meager sentences and my main point (and apparently I have to write more so you can get it) was that I liked it for its “bite.” It had plenty. It sure got you off your caboose. Cripes. And I’m the first one — in the headline — to call him an America basher. So what are you reading into all this regarding me?
#18…So, American kids who know nothing about it, because they’re sitting around with their collective heads up their asses watching MTV, are soon to become apathetic asshole adults sitting around with their heads up their asses, watching The Big Game – and letting the neocons continue to set us all up for Armageddon…
Because when Democrats (like JFK) was in power life was wonderful and we never had to worry about Armageddon…
What the Eurotrash forget it that Amercia is big. In any european nation its a two to three hour drive to another european nation where you used to need a passport and speak another langange. Here its a one to two day drive to Mexico or Canada and only one place you need to speak another langange, sorry Quebec. Only now will we need passports to go to either. It seems that ignorance about what goes on over here is far worst than our so call ignorance of all things European, and mispelling.
Only 35% of grade 12 kids can read at a grade 12 level. But isn’t the percentage of kids who go on to university or college higher than that? That explains a lot of what goes on in college classrooms….