Comments on: The Festival of Mediocrity http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/ culture blogging for the good of the planet Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:34:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: John Baker http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-1139 John Baker Sun, 11 Mar 2007 18:35:12 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-1139 There's nothing wrong with the form of the film. Art happens in stranger places. Theatre is also a collaborative form and that has not stopped it from realising artistic ambitions from time to time. OK, not much good has come out of Hollywood in recent times, but independent film-makers all over the world have been coming with good examples of film-as-art. We'll always be swamped with macaroni and cheese and the stuff that MacDonalds exports, but there's no reason, because of that, to say that no food can cut the mustard. There’s nothing wrong with the form of the film. Art happens in stranger places. Theatre is also a collaborative form and that has not stopped it from realising artistic ambitions from time to time.
OK, not much good has come out of Hollywood in recent times, but independent film-makers all over the world have been coming with good examples of film-as-art.
We’ll always be swamped with macaroni and cheese and the stuff that MacDonalds exports, but there’s no reason, because of that, to say that no food can cut the mustard.

]]> By: Brutus http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-1109 Brutus Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:51:11 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-1109 Mediocrity compared to what? Cinema and television don't even begin to rank as high art compared to, oh, literature, painting, music, poetry, sculpture, all the traditional forms and media that have existed for centuries. What do collaborative forms (which are heavily infused with killing commercial interest) really have to offer but low expectations? For a pop culture critic to complain that movies and television aren't good enough is like a food critic complaining that the macaroni and cheese isn't really very good. Maybe you should take the opposite approach and wonder why any movies manage to be entertaining at all after they've passed through the creative gauntlet. Mediocrity compared to what? Cinema and television don’t even begin to rank as high art compared to, oh, literature, painting, music, poetry, sculpture, all the traditional forms and media that have existed for centuries. What do collaborative forms (which are heavily infused with killing commercial interest) really have to offer but low expectations? For a pop culture critic to complain that movies and television aren’t good enough is like a food critic complaining that the macaroni and cheese isn’t really very good. Maybe you should take the opposite approach and wonder why any movies manage to be entertaining at all after they’ve passed through the creative gauntlet.

]]> By: John Baker http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-973 John Baker Wed, 28 Feb 2007 10:11:55 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-973 Jennifer, I don't want to stifle free speech or stop anyone from expressing their opinion. I only want somewhere to escape from drivel from time to time. OK, it's not possible, but a guy can dream . . . Jennifer, I don’t want to stifle free speech or stop anyone from expressing their opinion. I only want somewhere to escape from drivel from time to time. OK, it’s not possible, but a guy can dream . . .

]]> By: Tom Watson http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-968 Tom Watson Wed, 28 Feb 2007 02:41:29 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-968 Marty will sleep like a baby - he's a movie director. Marty will sleep like a baby - he’s a movie director.

]]> By: Dan Schneider http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-962 Dan Schneider Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:57:51 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-962 Esoth: Bingo! Esoth: Bingo!

]]> By: Dan Schneider http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-961 Dan Schneider Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:56:58 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-961 John, Sean's not exactly known for his intellect. John, Sean’s not exactly known for his intellect.

]]> By: Jennifer http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-957 Jennifer Tue, 27 Feb 2007 23:36:30 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-957 "Most everybody now thinks they’ve got an opinion and, worse, that we want to hear it." Hmmm, as far as I know, opinions are still free territory whether mediocre or not. As a woman, my ilk has only recently been allowed the option to not only have, but to voice an opinion. I'm pretty certain I'm mediocre, but I don't think I'm ready to go back to the school of, "When we want your opinion, we'll give it to you." “Most everybody now thinks they’ve got an opinion and, worse, that we want to hear it.”

Hmmm, as far as I know, opinions are still free territory whether mediocre or not. As a woman, my ilk has only recently been allowed the option to not only have, but to voice an opinion. I’m pretty certain I’m mediocre, but I don’t think I’m ready to go back to the school of, “When we want your opinion, we’ll give it to you.”

]]> By: John Baker http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-956 John Baker Tue, 27 Feb 2007 22:58:07 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-956 <em>If there's one thing that actor’s know . . . other than that there weren’t any WMDs . . . it's that there is no such thing as best in acting.</em> Sean Penn. If there’s one thing that actor’s know . . . other than that there weren’t any WMDs . . . it’s that there is no such thing as best in acting. Sean Penn.

]]> By: Esoth http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-955 Esoth Tue, 27 Feb 2007 22:33:27 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-955 What do you think will keep Marty awake even longer, the fact that The Academy denied him the prizes he deserved, or that they awarded him ones he didn't deserve? Fine Academy tradition observed, handing out the Oscar to a Director after he's sold out/gone over the hill. If you're in a mellow mood about it, you can see it as belated recognition for early, overlooked brilliance, but there is also something of Hollywood making the upstarts come down off their high horses and making crap just like everyone else. What do you think will keep Marty awake even longer, the fact that The Academy denied him the prizes he deserved, or that they awarded him ones he didn’t deserve? Fine Academy tradition observed, handing out the Oscar to a Director after he’s sold out/gone over the hill. If you’re in a mellow mood about it, you can see it as belated recognition for early, overlooked brilliance, but there is also something of Hollywood making the upstarts come down off their high horses and making crap just like everyone else.

]]> By: Dan Schneider http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-950 Dan Schneider Tue, 27 Feb 2007 19:47:36 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-950 Claire- allone has to do is act retarded, be defiled or indignant, and Oscar comes acallin'. Claire- allone has to do is act retarded, be defiled or indignant, and Oscar comes acallin’.

]]> By: Claire http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-949 Claire Tue, 27 Feb 2007 16:20:27 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-949 To quote Cole Porter: <i>It's always darkest, just before they turn on the light.</i> At least I hope so. Actually, MA Peel said something in her <a href="http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/24/the-unfinished-epic-of-peter-otoole/" rel="nofollow">Peter O'Toole post</a> that I think summed up the Oscars: <i>It may be that the Oscars can only measure degrees of excellence between the ordinary actors, not the dangerous ones.</I> The Oscars aren't about awarding the cutting edge or the genius, but more about rewarding the mediocre when they stretch beyond their normal bounds, even if it is ever so slightly. To quote Cole Porter:
It’s always darkest, just before they turn on the light.

At least I hope so.

Actually, MA Peel said something in her Peter O’Toole post that I think summed up the Oscars:
It may be that the Oscars can only measure degrees of excellence between the ordinary actors, not the dangerous ones.

The Oscars aren’t about awarding the cutting edge or the genius, but more about rewarding the mediocre when they stretch beyond their normal bounds, even if it is ever so slightly.

]]> By: John Baker http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-947 John Baker Tue, 27 Feb 2007 15:54:23 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-947 I went to have a look at that pink palace of opinionated-ness and got stuck. It's pretty pink, there's no getting away from that. Disconcertingly so for a man. But all those pictures and comments and opinions drew me in and after a while I started to think . . . I went to have a look at that pink palace of opinionated-ness and got stuck. It’s pretty pink, there’s no getting away from that. Disconcertingly so for a man. But all those pictures and comments and opinions drew me in and after a while I started to think . . .

]]> By: Self Styled Siren http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-946 Self Styled Siren Tue, 27 Feb 2007 15:35:56 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-946 Gentlemen: Cavalcade over 42nd Street, I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang AND The Private Life of Henry VIII. Mind you, Trouble in Paradise, Scarface and Love Me Tonight weren't even nominated! Twas ever thus. As for the proliferation of mediocre blogs, I glance at my own pink palace of opinionated-ness and wonder if I should say anything ... but I will anyway. Blogs are kind of self-winnowing. There are so many abandoned blogs littering the Internet like beer cans after a tailgate party. Gentlemen: Cavalcade over 42nd Street, I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang AND The Private Life of Henry VIII. Mind you, Trouble in Paradise, Scarface and Love Me Tonight weren’t even nominated!

Twas ever thus. As for the proliferation of mediocre blogs, I glance at my own pink palace of opinionated-ness and wonder if I should say anything … but I will anyway. Blogs are kind of self-winnowing. There are so many abandoned blogs littering the Internet like beer cans after a tailgate party.

]]> By: Dan Schneider http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-944 Dan Schneider Tue, 27 Feb 2007 15:11:52 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-944 Oliver over 2001: A Space Odyssey. Oliver over 2001: A Space Odyssey.

]]> By: blue girl http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-939 blue girl Tue, 27 Feb 2007 01:31:33 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-939 There was nothing mediocre about the props in the movie Antwone Fisher. Nothing, I tell you! I dare you to see them with your own eyes and then say they were mediocre. :) There was nothing mediocre about the props in the movie Antwone Fisher. Nothing, I tell you! I dare you to see them with your own eyes and then say they were mediocre.

:)

]]> By: Dan Schneider http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-938 Dan Schneider Tue, 27 Feb 2007 00:35:42 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-938 Ralph: Dances With Wolves over Goodfellas. Ralph: Dances With Wolves over Goodfellas.

]]> By: Tom Watson http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-937 Tom Watson Tue, 27 Feb 2007 00:17:10 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-937 What about the tooth fairy? What about the tooth fairy?

]]> By: John Baker http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-936 John Baker Mon, 26 Feb 2007 23:35:30 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-936 I can buy the Santa Claus thing, Ralph, if you're really sure about it but I'm not gonna be bullied into abandoning the Easter Bunny . . .. I can buy the Santa Claus thing, Ralph, if you’re really sure about it but I’m not gonna be bullied into abandoning the Easter Bunny . . ..

]]> By: Ralph http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-935 Ralph Mon, 26 Feb 2007 22:53:00 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-935 "How will we know when we're scraping the bottom"? Are you kidding me? If anything, the bottom fell out of the Academy Awards when Titanic won best picture and director instead of L.A. Confidential. I can't imagine 'sinking' lower than that! I must say that I am amazed at the lambasting of the Oscars every year by smarmy people who have such high standards for cinema they can't enjoy a popular film that does not match their narrow template for great cinema. Despite what you folks seem to imply, mediocrity has always been rewarded, while those truly deserving have been snubbed. Citizen Cane, which is hailed as the best motion picture of all time by many, DID NOT win best picture in 1941. According to Wikipedia, "Orson Welles was booed when he picked up Kane’s only Oscar for the night, for Original Screenplay." Hollywood is a business, not a salon where art is always prized over commercial success. This reminds me of people who whine about professional sports because it's all about money. Yea, well there is no Santa Claus or Easter Bunny kids. Time to grow up. “How will we know when we’re scraping the bottom”? Are you kidding me? If anything, the bottom fell out of the Academy Awards when Titanic won best picture and director instead of L.A. Confidential. I can’t imagine ’sinking’ lower than that!

I must say that I am amazed at the lambasting of the Oscars every year by smarmy people who have such high standards for cinema they can’t enjoy a popular film that does not match their narrow template for great cinema. Despite what you folks seem to imply, mediocrity has always been rewarded, while those truly deserving have been snubbed. Citizen Cane, which is hailed as the best motion picture of all time by many, DID NOT win best picture in 1941. According to Wikipedia, “Orson Welles was booed when he picked up Kane’s only Oscar for the night, for Original Screenplay.”

Hollywood is a business, not a salon where art is always prized over commercial success. This reminds me of people who whine about professional sports because it’s all about money. Yea, well there is no Santa Claus or Easter Bunny kids. Time to grow up.

]]> By: John Baker http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-933 John Baker Mon, 26 Feb 2007 16:35:37 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-933 Thanks for the comment, Kathleen. You are right in so many of the things you say. Let us hope that you are not wrong in the hope that opposites converge. Also, it's good to hear something positive, though difficult after an evening of celebrity-led self-indulgence and cringing banality. Thanks for the comment, Kathleen. You are right in so many of the things you say. Let us hope that you are not wrong in the hope that opposites converge.
Also, it’s good to hear something positive, though difficult after an evening of celebrity-led self-indulgence and cringing banality.

]]> By: Kathleen Maher http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-932 Kathleen Maher Mon, 26 Feb 2007 16:02:03 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-932 Of course you're right. Still, I doubt we're close to mediocrity's demise. Its existence tracks population growth. Its form and sound suits the popular norm, so yes, it usually will win most awards. Without abundant mediocrity serving as a backdrop for every art, we might miss the sublime. Even with our present surfeit, who's to say great art doesn't glow under wraps, expressing a glimmer of real meaning? Each person must judge for him- or herself. Keep an eye out, too, for the nadir, and all that falls within its range. Opposites converge, or at least that's the hope. If everyone is great then no one is. Of course you’re right. Still, I doubt we’re close to mediocrity’s demise. Its existence tracks population growth. Its form and sound suits the popular norm, so yes, it usually will win most awards.
Without abundant mediocrity serving as a backdrop for every art, we might miss the sublime. Even with our present surfeit, who’s to say great art doesn’t glow under wraps, expressing a glimmer of real meaning? Each person must judge for him- or herself.
Keep an eye out, too, for the nadir, and all that falls within its range. Opposites converge, or at least that’s the hope. If everyone is great then no one is.

]]> By: John Baker http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-931 John Baker Mon, 26 Feb 2007 15:44:06 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-931 Ten out of ten for the right answer. But how will we know when we're scraping bottom? Feels very much like that to me right now. On the other hand, after taking a peek at the commentary by St John of the Cross, I worry that the real Dark Night of the Soul could last a whole lot longer than any of us expect. Could be something like Bush's war: once it's been won, then the violence and the killings begin . . . Ten out of ten for the right answer. But how will we know when we’re scraping bottom? Feels very much like that to me right now. On the other hand, after taking a peek at the commentary by St John of the Cross, I worry that the real Dark Night of the Soul could last a whole lot longer than any of us expect. Could be something like Bush’s war: once it’s been won, then the violence and the killings begin . . .

]]> By: Dan Schneider http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-923 Dan Schneider Mon, 26 Feb 2007 13:15:14 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-festival-of-mediocrity/#comment-923 It will get worse, then better. Human nature shows that bottoms must be scraped b4 ascent starts. Jennifer Hudson wins an Oscar? C'mon, it's a joke, just as a 6 year old being nominated in the suporting actress category. Then again, idiots in Washington think a career poetaster like Donald Hall shd be Poet Laureate. Art's so hip, now. It will get worse, then better. Human nature shows that bottoms must be scraped b4 ascent starts.

Jennifer Hudson wins an Oscar? C’mon, it’s a joke, just as a 6 year old being nominated in the suporting actress category.

Then again, idiots in Washington think a career poetaster like Donald Hall shd be Poet Laureate. Art’s so hip, now.

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