tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post7897549417075402586..comments2023-11-05T03:12:10.925-06:00Comments on Renegade Eye: The Academy Award 2009 ThreadFrank Partisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03536211653082893030noreply@blogger.comBlogger204125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-12901959575166169812009-03-07T03:38:00.000-06:002009-03-07T03:38:00.000-06:00Mr Pagan:Forgot to mention I also agree that it is...Mr Pagan:<BR/><BR/>Forgot to mention I also agree that it is not just about the political cycle.Daniel Hoffmann-Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02531802987223516482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-78889901127880967492009-03-06T13:03:00.000-06:002009-03-06T13:03:00.000-06:00...we live somewhere between heaven and hell. Jus......we live somewhere between heaven and hell. Just never describe them in such 'absolute' terms or your argument is bound to lose credibility. Because dialectic is all about talking in terms of middle grounds (not uncovering them) and apagogical arguments serve no useful purposes, ever... < /sarcasm>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-62642714837501933722009-03-06T09:57:00.000-06:002009-03-06T09:57:00.000-06:00Mr. Pagan:People's individual political beliefs ar...Mr. Pagan:<BR/><BR/>People's individual political beliefs are very complex, on some matters you and I will, believe or not, agree totally, on others we will despise each others views and their will be much grey area.<BR/><BR/>In the shorthand of debate, much can get thrown aside and this becomes dangerous. Of course the extremes exist but most of us live somewhere in the middle ground, less exciting and more complex but a better place to be sure.Daniel Hoffmann-Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02531802987223516482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-17680071173145534002009-03-05T14:31:00.000-06:002009-03-05T14:31:00.000-06:00...you talk in absolute which means you are, unfor...<I>...you talk in absolute which means you are, unfortunately, wrong and your arguements lose weight.</I><BR/><BR/>How very absolutist of you, Danny boy. No wonder your arguments carry so little "weight".<BR/><BR/><I>One rule for you I think?</I> LOL!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-67158754235086691572009-03-05T13:13:00.000-06:002009-03-05T13:13:00.000-06:00Daniel-There's a lot of validity to your argument,...Daniel-<BR/><BR/>There's a lot of validity to your argument, in that the majority of people, even those that tend to identify solidly as with one party or another, actually tend to be more toward the center of the political spectrum. They can be moved in either direction, depending on the prevailing circumstances at any given time. The actual hard right and hard left does exist, and are the more immovable objects/irresistible forces. <BR/><BR/>It's just so unfortunate that, at least in the US, the parties tend to come to be dominated by the hard core leftists and rightists. There are any number of reasons for this, having mainly to do with funding, voting drives, and dependability at the voting booth. Still, either one, hard left or right, is solidly in the minority.<BR/><BR/>That is why neither party will ever secure a true mandate, and is very mistaken to assume they do just because fortune is with them over the course of one election cycle.<BR/><BR/>In America, no party ever has enough political capital to push forward the entirety of their agenda. They might have the votes in a transient sense, but the overall goodwill of the American people as a whole is a very fickle thing.SecondComingOfBasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03336586430250490679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-13649956783588973412009-03-05T12:56:00.000-06:002009-03-05T12:56:00.000-06:00I'm merely pointing out that the straw man you've ...I'm merely pointing out that the straw man you've built to destroy doesn't exist.<BR/><BR/>There are some generalisations but you do not talk in some, or maybe, you talk in absolute which means you are, unfortunately, wrong and your arguements lose weight.<BR/><BR/>And you would say the same if such over-reaching was used with the term 'Rightists'.<BR/><BR/>One rule for you I think?Daniel Hoffmann-Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02531802987223516482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-22663640814776998622009-03-05T12:51:00.000-06:002009-03-05T12:51:00.000-06:00Danny, best leave the question as to what does or...Danny, best leave the question as to what does or does not "exist" to those of us who possess a more accute understanding of both ontologies and absolutes. For unless you can follow Plato's "Parmenides" and "Sophist" dialogues you've no business opening your mouth on either subject.<BR/><BR/>And if there were no valid "generalized" distinctions between left and right, the PoMo New Left wouldn't have had to invent the term "social justice" to distinguish their moral sensibilities from those of the modern-classical liberals who preceded them and emphasized the "individualized" form employing the singular term "justice".<BR/><BR/>And I agree with you, PT, that the Left does tend to lean upon the force-full expedient we know as 'government' much more than the more than the wiser and relatively self-sufficient generations that preceded them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-49235950320977902982009-03-05T10:52:00.000-06:002009-03-05T10:52:00.000-06:00This 'left' you speak of does not exist, just as a...This 'left' you speak of does not exist, just as a homogenised 'right' does not exist.<BR/><BR/>Generalisations like this do no favours to either side.Daniel Hoffmann-Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02531802987223516482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-79664364224371613482009-03-05T10:50:00.000-06:002009-03-05T10:50:00.000-06:00FJ-The main problem with the Left, at least as I s...FJ-<BR/><BR/>The main problem with the Left, at least as I see it, is they want the government to control anything and everything. Though they see them as doing this "for the people", they are willing to give up far too much and in the long run I fear we would get precious little in return, and would give up far more exponentially. <BR/><BR/>Those who give up their freedom to the state are handing their fate over to the control of future potential tyrants. Then it's too late to cry about it.SecondComingOfBasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03336586430250490679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-59418682417090271552009-03-05T10:49:00.000-06:002009-03-05T10:49:00.000-06:00I can only comment on 'The Passion' as I have no i...I can only comment on 'The Passion' as I have no interest in and have not seen the other film.<BR/><BR/>'The Passion' was not a verbatim take on the relevent section/sections of the bible but rather an interpretation of the relevent section/sections, an artistic intepretation that was coloured by Gibson's beliefs.<BR/><BR/>Which is fine but it made for a poor film.<BR/><BR/>In art there are no absolutes, just opinions. You dug the film, I didn't.<BR/><BR/>Simple as.Daniel Hoffmann-Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02531802987223516482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-42630821859746528012009-03-05T10:45:00.000-06:002009-03-05T10:45:00.000-06:00Daniel-That's not exactly accurate. Passion Of The...Daniel-<BR/><BR/>That's not exactly accurate. Passion Of The Christ was a generally accurate portrayal of the events described in the Gospel of John dealing solely with the events leading up to and including the crucifixion of Christ. Whether those events were historical or mythological is a different matter, but as a rendition of the Gospel it was a very devout and faithful portrayal, though with a bit of artistic license, which is to be expected.<BR/><BR/>Any ant-Semitic content is taken verbatim from the Gospels, and is probably more accurately viewed not so much as racist on the part of those original authors as it was a slam at the general religious society of the day-the Pharisees in general and those who supported them. <BR/><BR/>Apocalypto, on the other hand, while there is some historical flaws as regards the time line of certain historical events, is an accurate rendition of Meso-American culture at its bloodiest. Gibson's and the films detractors complain about the film focused on that aspect while ignoring the notable contributions of the Maya in various different fields, notably astronomy, math, art, and architecture, but this is not the focus of the film. Understandably so, as the film is portrayed as through the eyes of an intended victim of a mass sacrificial rite. That is the context of the main character, and everything then is filtered through his mind and thoughts.<BR/><BR/>To do otherwise would be be like making a movie about a Jew being paraded on his way to a train to Auschwitz taking the time to ruminate on the wonders of modern German technology and great German composers and philosophers over the centuries. It would be ridiculous.<BR/><BR/>The point of Gibson's film was the culture of death and corruption which had permeated that society, which in turn rendered anything worthwhile all the more grotesque. Yes, it contained a Christian message that manifested at the end (thus the aforementioned problem with the film's time line).<BR/><BR/>The point to all this being, its fine to disagree with Gibson's views on society and question the message of his films, but its something else all together to just dismiss it as anti-Semitic or bigoted propaganda without taking the time to view his works in their totality without any honest consideration for the artistic merits.SecondComingOfBasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03336586430250490679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-26828487922442360072009-03-05T09:52:00.000-06:002009-03-05T09:52:00.000-06:00PT: nothing to do with the quality, aside from eff...PT: <BR/><BR/>nothing to do with the quality, aside from effecting the content in the Passion of Christ which, depending upon your views, thus effected the quality.<BR/><BR/>The joy of art is how highly subjective it is, there is no definitve measure of greatness, there is no perfection, there is just wonderful and sometimes not so wonderful failure.<BR/><BR/>FJ:<BR/><BR/>Hate to break it to you but racism is not imaginary and neither is social repression at all faux.<BR/><BR/>As for issue that this mysterious 'left' has to deal with, there are plenty and you would sneer at the boiling down of an imaginary 'right' being obsessed with just abortion and school prayer.<BR/><BR/>Rightly so becuase such generalised politics is as useless as it is inaccurate.<BR/><BR/>Cheers.Daniel Hoffmann-Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02531802987223516482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-58645146208376845342009-03-05T09:38:00.000-06:002009-03-05T09:38:00.000-06:00I suspect that imaginary cases of racism and faux...I suspect that imaginary cases of racism and faux-social repression represent the only issues the Left thinks it has left. What do you think, PT?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-28311296043707768452009-03-04T22:41:00.000-06:002009-03-04T22:41:00.000-06:00Has nothing to do with the quality of his films.Has nothing to do with the quality of his films.SecondComingOfBasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03336586430250490679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-51162361789565313612009-03-04T18:31:00.000-06:002009-03-04T18:31:00.000-06:00please not arch anti-semite mel gibson...please not arch anti-semite mel gibson...Daniel Hoffmann-Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02531802987223516482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-15170611480878032842009-03-04T14:18:00.000-06:002009-03-04T14:18:00.000-06:00Right on. I won't comment on Milk, as I haven't se...Right on. I won't comment on Milk, as I haven't seen it, but Gibson's Passion Of The Christ was a great flick, and as for his last movie, it was slammed by people such as university sociologists who demanded Gibson apologize to the Maya, for doing no more, evidently, than portraying the facts as to how bloodthirsty that ancient culture was. What the hell should he have apologized for?SecondComingOfBasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03336586430250490679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-54445280796386558052009-03-04T11:10:00.000-06:002009-03-04T11:10:00.000-06:00All I did was point to Stalin's repression of Shot...All I did was point to Stalin's repression of Shotsky as an example of what happens when you overly politicize the arts.<BR/><BR/>Does anyone deny this?<BR/><BR/>That's why I'm not into the "Internationalist" project of giving major film awards to "politcally correct" films like "Milk" and trying to "punish" producers like Mel Gibson for being out of step with the political elites.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-75739429598891250962009-03-04T03:05:00.000-06:002009-03-04T03:05:00.000-06:00You did, about 8 years ago in some thread or anoth...You did, about 8 years ago in some thread or another, no doubt back at comment 74 or summat...Daniel Hoffmann-Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02531802987223516482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-51060491843921689182009-03-03T18:41:00.000-06:002009-03-03T18:41:00.000-06:00Who dissed Shotsky?Who dissed Shotsky?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-4373458689819849872009-03-03T15:26:00.000-06:002009-03-03T15:26:00.000-06:00FJ: Wait until Ducky comes online, and finds your ...FJ: Wait until Ducky comes online, and finds your dissing Shostakovitch. <BR/>-----------------------<BR/><BR/> I PITY THE FOOL.Ducky's herehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14608115001116619877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-78551738954448882832009-03-03T15:23:00.000-06:002009-03-03T15:23:00.000-06:00I thought this was a film thread.Oh well, Slumdog ...I thought this was a film thread.<BR/><BR/>Oh well, Slumdog Millionaire sucks the gas pipe.<BR/><BR/>What really sucks is the University of California Santa Cruz doing a complete restoration of the works of Satyajit Ray and douchebag Sony pictures holds on to the distribution rights.<BR/><BR/>If you want a description of poverty and life in India the gold standard is still "Pather Panchali" but Sony pictures (freaking capitalist stooges) holds the marketing rights and we are denied a decent print of the masterpiece.<BR/><BR/>Meanwhile, we get Danny "My camera work sucks" Boyle.<BR/><BR/>Freakin' bites.Ducky's herehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14608115001116619877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-17777906910493857942009-03-03T14:00:00.000-06:002009-03-03T14:00:00.000-06:00Have no interest at the mo in this chap.Have no interest at the mo in this chap.Daniel Hoffmann-Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02531802987223516482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-46093942881370740312009-03-03T12:59:00.000-06:002009-03-03T12:59:00.000-06:00You don't approve of Mr. Burris?You don't approve of Mr. Burris?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-56526229549351773892009-03-03T11:17:00.000-06:002009-03-03T11:17:00.000-06:00I hear that Roland Burris is being attacked again,...I hear that Roland Burris is being attacked again, poofty. How come you're not out defending him from all the racists?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11704331.post-82262756415012537652009-03-03T07:18:00.000-06:002009-03-03T07:18:00.000-06:00Gay activists approaching the "Holy Grail" of the ...Gay activists approaching the "Holy Grail" of the gay marriage movement... a <A HREF="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/us/03marriage.html?_r=2&ref=us" REL="nofollow">federal tax break</A>.<BR/><BR/>Why do married heterosexuals need a tax break? To defer the extra expenses of raising children. Why do homosexuals need a federal tax break? To buy KY-Jelly and leather dungeon gear.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com