To: Rambi who wrote (34189 ) 8/8/1999 8:55:00 AM From: Neocon Read Replies (2) | Respond to
"When we were grad students in theatre, we would sit for hours discussing the stupid masses and how all they wanted was pap, how they refused to see the deep meaning behind some of our productions and their favorites were always the lightweight comedies. Now, I realize that those stupid masses were already living the issues we wanted to turn into artistic symbolic works and explore. THey wanted to forget the pain, not have it thrust at them. I think people mostly are looking for escape not epiphanies."....Having allowed for a cooling off period, I thought that I would comment on this. While it is true that it takes all kinds to make a world, and there is nothing wrong with wanting to be entertained in one's off hours, we do not judge the value of a work of art by a show of hands, or we would judge Three's Company, one of the most popular shows ever on television, as better than, say, Hamlet or Othello, which are never big box office. It is not snobbery to say so. But further, it is not even true that the "masses" shy away from that which is ugly, shocking, lurid, upsetting, and vulgar, or they would not watch Married with Children, flock to the Friday the 13th movies, watch Sally Jesse Raphael, read the National Star, and so forth. The difference is not one of light, life affirming fare versus heavy, gruesome stuff, the difference is one of shallowness, easy digestibility, and sensationalism versus challenging, subtle, and deep treatment of themes. You were righter, even if unnecessarily cruel about it, in college...."Perhaps you don't mind seeing us this way- I choose to believe in man as capable of more vision and beauty and dignity and personally that's my focus.": I still wonder why you think my insinuating that you may have missed the point is more offensive than your suggesting that I have a sordid view of humanity. But c'est la vie.....
