Reality TV

Is anyone else sickened by the turn that "reality TV" has taken?   I used to watch reality TV in the early stages, when it felt more informative, intimate and like a documentary.  Now for the most part it has turned into a horrible boil on the butt of humanity.    For example cooking shows like Iron Chef would showcase cooking talent.  Now shows like Rocco's Dinner Pary showcase a rude, egomaniacal restaurantuer who just wants to flaunt famous friends and belittle people.  In addition, the shows either encourage participants to behave rudely, or just edit to showcase bad behavior.  Yuck.

What worse is now people strive to become these "stars".   The super wealthy like the Kardashians exploit the viewing public for their monetary gain.   I don't know what skills or talents this family might have, but they seem to fall into the realm of being famous for being famous, ala a Paris Hilton.  On top of it you have everyday people doing rude, mean, societally invaluable things to become a "star" on TV.   And why not?  When the people on the Jersey Shore show make more money in one year than some college-educated people, then kids see that as a "profession" particularly because it involves little to no intelligence, education or heaven forbid "work". 

 Personally I would be bored senseless to be doing any of it, but I am an introspective person who enjoys learning and good intellectual discussion.   I wouldn't mind having the money these people have, but I certainly don't want to be famous.    It makes me wonder are they in for the money or the fame?  I would like to live comfortably and  know my retirement is secure,  but I would hate having papparazzi following me or the world judging my decisions.   Do they need the validation, or do they really think they are deserving or entitled to the attention/money?

I guess with the information superhighway and ease and speed of access to information, that is why we have the reality TV.  It is not replacing the useful information or intelligent discussion, but it is providing a common thread of information into the genre of pop culture that most people can easily read and digest.  It is sort of like everyone is in high school again, and rather than discussing the SATs or AP exams or athletics or history or math, people talk about who is dating who, who bought a new pair of jeans or has a new car or got caught cheating.

With all this information and ease of access, there is something for everyone.  Good thing I can choose to tune into what I want or tune out what I don't.

A Good Read

In previous posts I have discussed music and movies, but today I am moved to write about books.   What a person likes to read can be so subjective.   I like to read the occasional novel (John Grisham is an author I consistently enjoy) and I have found the occasional Janet Evanovich is a be a nice distraction.  But for the most part I like reading what can best be described as "informative, yet entertaining, nonfiction".   Currently I am reading The Disappearing Spoon which is about the history and drama behind the periodic table of elements.  I loved chemistry in college and have always been fascinated by it, so this book is proving to be a captivating and interesting read.  The author also makes liberal use of interesting footnotes, though inconveniently placed in the back of the book.

My absolute favorite author (who uses footnotes both judiciously and hilariously) is Mary Roach.  In fact, I am surprised I haven't talked more about her writing in this blog.   I started with her first book Stiff, which is about the scientific use of cadavers.    After eating that up, I quickly went through her other books, Spook (about the science of the afterlife) and Bonk (about the science of sex).   At this point I was hooked and was then excited to hear that she was coming out with Packing for Mars, about the exploration of outer space.   I bought it the day it came out and read through it with relish. When she stopped by Austin on a book tour, I was out of town, so my husband graciously went to hear her speak and got her to autograph one of my books.   He has since become a fan as well.  He was also able to learn the title of her next upcoming book, which sounds interesting, though I don't want to make any assumptions about the content based on the title.

What makes me enjoy Ms. Roach's writing so much is her thoughtful insight and hilarious commentary on the topics about which she writes.   She is a science writer, so the topics are informative, but in the most interesting way.   Her commentary and writing is thus supported by extensive research.   I mean, this woman contacts the most relevant researchers and gets unprecedented access to the places that can best explain/illustrate the topic she is covering.  For example, while researching space exploration, she got access to Russian cosmonauts and their space program, as well as got to ride in the US's "vomit comet"  the plane which does a parabolic flight to mimic weightlessness.  Awesome!    Through it all, she describes the experience and discusses the topic with grace and humor.

I realized I hadn't written in this blog for awhile, and at the same time I am mulling inviting Ms. Roach to speak at the place I work.   (It is not a stretch at all for her to be a speaker, here, though I personally might do it if I thought it was necessary).  In fact, it was one of my colleagues who suggested inviting her to speak, which I wish I had thought of myself.   This is the same colleauge who shares my love of film and applies it to our work.   So naturally, we get along aces.   Well, I am off to extend the invitation to Ms. Roach.  I hope it works out.

Science Fiction as Entertainment

I enjoy Science Fiction.   Growing up, I was exposed to a great deal of sci-fi, thanks to my father.  Dad loved to both read and watch science fiction, so I was introduced to Star Wars, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Dr. Who, V, the Twilight Zone and the Outer Limits.   I still have vivid memories of being scared, intrigued and thrilled by most of it.  I have my dad to thank for my lifelong devotion to all things Star Wars (and James Bond, which could arguably be considered science fiction in some circles).

It is probably no accident that I married a science fiction enthusiast.  Though his passion for Star Trek exceedingly outweighs the passing interest I hold for it, his ardor does not reach the level of "Trekkie".  Our differences in affection for Star Trek and ensuing discussions did help me to learn to articulate what it is about scifi that I like.   Yes I love the effects and mythology of Star Wars, but those factors never really helped me to get into Firefly or Stargate.   I find that I am drawn more to those movies/shows/stories that are closer to the basic premise of scifi, which is a slight twist on reality.    The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits are good examples of this.  Most stories include everyday people or situations that are somehow altered by time travel, alternate universes, superpowers, magical objects or monsters. 

Perhaps because the slight twist on reality is so close to what reality is, it makes it more relatable.  As mentioned in previous posts, I personal prefer entertainment that is not too far removed from reality.   Also with an appreciation for darker endings, "slight twist" science fiction lends itself better to darker endings.  I mean, if you are going all out and having an outlandish, totally different world in your story, then you can more easily provide a happy ending to suit your desires.  I typically find those endings to be more deus ex machina, which I am definitely do not like.   If you ever want to see a simple, but incredibly terrifying scifi conceit, watch Dr. Who's episode "Blink".  Easily one of the scariest examples of science fiction.  And it stars Oscar-nominee Carey Mulligan.    The British are good proprietors of scifi, which is why their well-known actors and actresses don't shy away from it.   They also make good comedy (Black Adder, Monty Python), but that is for another discussion.

What Do You Expect from a Movie?

I have always been a big fan of unconventional movie endings.    The films that don't end as you would expect, or don't end with the traditional happy ending have always stuck with me.  In fact, most of these endings are pretty bleak.  It seems to me that one's preference for unconventional movie endings says something about why one enjoys going to movies.    I like going to movies to be entertained and to escape, but my enjoyment is typically predicated on being surprised or seeing something original, be it storytelling or direction or some other novel aspect of a movie.   For others, escaping into entertainment might means living an alternate experience, but still with the happy ending.   For those folks, reality might be so demoralizing or boring, they want to experience the love, the adventure, the mystery, etc. but know that a happy ending is in store.   Personally, I want to see originality.

The movies with unconventional endings that I enjoy are movies like Seven, Arlington Road, and Memento.   Seven has a particularly bleak ending, but the way it unfolds and then ends is just so surprising and feels like it would end that way in real life.   It is so easy to relate to Detective Mills (Brad Pitt's character) and also feel the despair and horror (and apathy) felt by Morgan Freeman's character.   That movie sticks with you because of the ending, because so many movies have lunatic killers with strange methods of killing.   Arlington Road is a great film because the ending, like Seven, sticks with you.  I hesitate to give away the endings of any of these movies, because if you have not seen them, it really does spoil it to say how it ends.   My college roommate spoiled the ending of the Sixth Sense for me, and I think that took away my enjoyment and fondness for the film that  others might possess.   Memento is has the trifecta of greatness (IMHO) due to the fact that it was directed by Christopher Nolan, is told in reverse time (an incredibly original concept), and has an ending (beginning?) that feels so real, so HUMAN, that is also sticks with you.  Man that is a good movie.

One of the worst offenders for dealing the standard, happy, movie-ending is the romantic comedy.   The protaganist always gets the object of their affection, typically after they hate each other or are laden with numerous obstacles.    I am happy to report that there are some innovators out there that buck that trend.  One example is My Best Friends' Wedding.   The heroine, Juliet, played by Julia Roberts no less, is conniving and self-absorbed and acts how a person might act in her situation (with the standard Hollywood hyperbolic embellishments).    It is still a love story, but with a different ending and different types of love that you might expect.   In that same regard Love Actually is unconventional, with parallel stories both happy and sad, real and unrealistic, all mixed together.    That movie can appeal to both people like myself and those who want the standard movie escape.   A third rom-com that bucks the trend is 500 Days of Summer.   Not only is the movie told in non-sequential order (in a non-linear fashion), but it achieves both the unexpected ending and a happy ending, which is particularly difficulty for a rom-com.

The percentage of movies out there with unconventional endings or completely original deliveries are low.  In a good sense, having them be so rare makes me appreciate them all the more.  The possibilities are out there.  I say this going into the summer movie season, which is pretty much the rubber stamp season of movies.   But as long as my expectations are for that, I can still enjoy the standard blockbuster fare.    So I guess that is what the enjoyment of movie-watching all comes down to.  What do you expect?

The Nostalgic Power of Entertainment

I have recently been thinking about the nostalgic power of entertainment.   The music, movies, TV shows, etc. that I grew up listening to have a powerful influence on me.   For example, among my copies of The Departed and Inception, I have Seasons 1 and 2 of The Muppet Show (and I don't have kids).   For the rehearsal dinner at our wedding, my husband and I rented out the Alamo Drafthouse theatre in Austin, TX and showed a viewing of The Empire Strikes Back.  It should be noted that a prerequisite for marrying me is loving the Star Wars franchise.  As it turns out, my husband is a sci-fi fan in the "classical" sense.  That is, he loves sci-fi as a morality metaphor and a twist on reality.   But Science Fiction as a genre is a topic for another column.

At that rehearsal dinner, I met my cousin Allison and her husband Sam for the first time ever.  Turns out that they are HUGE Star Wars fans and we bonded over that commonality.   This is just a small example of how an entertainment medium (the Star Wars phenomenon in particular) brought a sense of nostalgia and facilitated bonding.  I am sure I could wear a Star Wars T-shirt on the T in Boston and get a few comments from complete strangers.  And the entertainment industry takes advantage of this, too.  I mean, look at the SuperBowl commercial for Volkswagen in which the little boy tries using the force.  (Catch it here: http://youtu.be/R55e-uHQna0).  That was one of the most popular ads.   Even the smallest reference to Star Wars brings me back to playing with the action figures, dressing up like Leia, or watching the movie.

It happens with music too.  Back when I was a kid and my family was driving cross-country and I had little to no control over the music played in the car, I was subject to Neil Diamond, Lee Greenwood, the Beach Boys, the Righteous Brothers and the Kingston Trio.   I may not actively seek out listening to any of those at this point, but I still remember the words to all the songs and hearing one of them instantly takes me back to being in that station wagon with my parents and brother.   Just last weekend, after finally getting a table in Giacomo's in the North End of Boston on the Saturday night before the Boston marathon (no easy feat), I heard the Righteous Brothers "You're My Soul & Inspiration."  It was like I was transported back 25 years sitting in the living room while my dad played the album.

Now TV and movie soundtracks are replete with music that invokes a sense of nostalgia.   The only trouble is, if you use a well-known song, it is competing with other possible memories attached.    It is almost as if there needs to be a waiting period to prominently feature a song in a movie.   It also presents a challenge for writers as to how to incorporate (and if they should) a particular song into a scene.   I really admire those who can incorporate music in an unconventional manner, in a way it has never been used before.  An instance comes to mind in which a beloved character from my past was linked to a musician that came to enjoy later in life.   As I have mentioned before, I am a huge NIN fan, and consider Trent Reznor to be a musical innovator, particularly with lyrics.   His song "Hurt" is a powerful example, one that was covered by the late great Johnny Cash.   However, some bold individual made a video using the song "Hurt" and showcasing Kermit the Frog as a heroin addict.   This icon from my childhood was now shown in a distinctly more modern, adult light.  I may have been offended, had I not considered a humorous, satirical perspective.  I wonder what Trent Reznor thinks of it.

I think a lot of people use this entertainment nostalgia as a tool for dealing with life.  Why else would we buy movies or songs but to view them repeatedly, or at least have them to experience when we like?  With a modern culture of instant access, it has become a way to comfort ourselves, excite ourselves, or gain new perspective.   It is entertainment not just to entertain, but as therapy.

Movie Soundtracks: A soundtrack for life.

I think almost anyone might agree that the sound and music in a movie is key to it's value/impact to the viewer.   Sound mixers, foley artists, composers, songwriters, and so on can really shape your emotion and how you feel about a scene or movie as a whole.  And isn't that what the movie-going experience is as a whole?  An escape? An evaluation? A mirror?

I am a huge fan of movie scores/soundtracks, not just because they remind me of a movie, but usually because I will typically like the music from the movie I like.  (Insert chicken or the egg argument here about which is the reason I like one or the other.)    At this year's Oscars, I was torn as to whether to root for Hans Zimmer, whose mind-blowing score was integral to my love for the movie Inception, or for Trent Reznor, who scored for David Fincher's The Social Network.   I thoroughly enjoyed The Social Network as a movie, but I am also partial to Mr. Reznor as I grew up a rabid Nine Inch Nails fan.  In fact when I saw TSN, I almost dropped my popcorn when I heard the music in one scene and realized that it had to be Trent who scored it.  I really wish they could have given out 2 Oscars for Score.

Growing up I not only listened to every conceivable type of music with lyrics, but I danced ballet from age 5 up through college.   That experience gave me an appreciation for classical music, the movement of music, and particularly how music makes one FEEL.   These days, as I take the subway or bus around town, or drive in my car, I listen to music whenever I can.   I can't help but notice how my mood is so affected by what I have listened to.    The music doesn't necessarily correlate with what you might think either.  If I am listening to NIN or Metallica, it certainly puts me in a good mood, sometimes even relaxed.  On the other hand,  Marc Cohn's "Walking in Memphis" or Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" might make me angry.  This is for reasons of personal experience which I will not divulge.   But it goes to show that music and our own experience shape how we feel about the music.

How we feel about music, in turn, shapes how we feel about a movie.   Even the absence of sound makes a powerful impact.  Take the Coen brothers' No Country for Old Men.  If you haven't, do it now and take notes.  I guess the best way for us to create our own life score or soundtrack is via iPod, or by listening to the radio.   It would be awesome to be able to do that whenever we wanted (especially at a job you don't necessarily like).   Just as important would be taking time for NO music or sound, the time to contemplate, think, be.

So here's to the folks that shape how we listen to movies..........or should I say, HEARS to you?

Documentary on Graduate Student Life

I have always loved documentaries.  It fascinates me how someone can go so in depth into a particular subject.  IMHO, the best documentaries are either peeking behind the curtain of something that may already be popular, or shedding light on a particularly benign subject.

I have long wanted to develop and create a documentary.   The topic had changed as I grew up, but during and since graduate school, is has remained the same.   I think that the life and culture of graduate programs is a topic BEGGING to be covered.  After getting my graduate degree, I spend over eight years working in and managing graduate programs in various departments.   As such, I have developed quite the network of friends and acquaintances who have experienced life as a graduate student, and many that went on to make graduate program culture a permanent part of their life.  (I am looking at you, graduate school faculty and staff!)

  There is stress, tension, high drama, and no shortage of subjects.   It is fascinating to me to see the dynamics between advisors and their advisees, and how they can range from distant to inappropriately intimate.   Not only that, but the range of research and education is staggering.  Particularly when a doctoral student can spend anywhere from 4 to 10 years focusing on the minutiae of a particular subject.   It is a descent into obsession, and for some is the most trying time of their life.   Particularly for students writing their dissertation.   It is a journey really, a mental marathon for which no one is every prepared.  I think it would put any reality show fodder to shame.  I see it as a hybrid of a PBS show like "Nature" and an episode of "The Real Housewives of  Such and Such".   Except more information and infinitely more tears and rage.

Someday I would like to do such a documentary, but alas, as is the case of many aspiring documentary filmmakers, I lack the resources.   I am working on developing contacts in this area, but resources are scarce.   At least I have the seed of an idea and the passion..........