I've just been watching the afternoon News and the language describing the World economy is distinctly apocalyptic. The IMF have now down-graded their global estimates. I find it personally hard to know how to react to suggestions of looming economic meltdown. I find myself simultaneously enthralled by the increasingly doom-laden coverage, bemused by our inability to re-boot the system, a system 'we' created and control but also aware of my own fears as the faint whiff of dystopia begins to biuld. I can't decide if I should simply avoid News of any kind, live in blissful ignorance and carry on regardless or should I begin stockpiling canned food, bottled water and blankets!
With my cinematic hat on, it's inevitable that this proto-Depression, however it ends, will influence the content and themes of some future movies. Like layers in the rocks, cinema is of it's time: The 1940's had the War, the 50's Nuclear Tests, the 60's/70's/80's the Cold War, the 90's Global Warming and the Noughties, having begun with Terrorism as it's bete noire has become mired in financial stagnation. Each had their own iconic films capturing the Zeitgeist of the times. As we've already talked about before, Dystopian societies feature in many of them and I have compiled my own top ten. I have included some with 'alien' plots. See what you think. I found myself straying into Disaster movies! Comments/amendments/ obvious omissions/whole new lists welcomed! [naturally if Project SWORD had been made into a movie it would also appear in the list!]
- Invasion of the Body Snatchers [original/re-make]
- Doomwatch
- The Day the Earth Caught Fire
- The Time Machine [original]
- When Worlds Collide
- War of the Worlds [original/re-make]
- Blade Runner
- THX-1138
- Escape from New York
- Star Wars: A New Hope [original] - is this dystopian?
Hm- can't help feeling that the "dreadful future" you fear will probably be underwhelming -reality usually is. We tend to muddle on.
ReplyDeleteReality is also usually a lot safer than some of the visions of the future you list!
Try "Lucifer's Hammer" by Niven & Pournelle, about a meteor striking the Earth.
ReplyDelete(and/or try anything else by either or both together).
Best
--
Paul
Absolutely love "When Worlds Collide", one of my favourite films of all time.
ReplyDeleteI rather liked the 1965 film "Crack In The World", one of the later films from the "Nuclear Tests threaten the earth" genre.
"Day Of The Triffids" was pretty doom-laden too as was the iconic "The Day The Earth Stood Still"...great title that!
And then the little gem (at least I thought it was!) "Earth Vs The Flying Saucers".
So many when one starts to think about it!
I think it's ironic that Greece, mother of democracies might precipitate the end of western democracies!!! Run for the hills....
ReplyDeleteI agree with Andy - the reality will be mundane.
ReplyDeleteWoodsy, you need to take a step back with news broadcasting and remember it is essentially a business. They need to sell you stories, and unfortunately it's the apocalyptic kind that sells best (preferably with some sex thrown in).
It wouldn't be so bad if it had no effect, but sadly it does. I wonder how much of the downturn in the world economy is "real" and how much is the result of greed and panic brought about by irresponsible journalism?
But, for sure, you don't need to buy a ticket on the last rocket out yet.
I wish I could share your "optimism" in this Toad and Andy.
ReplyDeleteHowever, operating on the principle that has held true throughout my adult life - that political elites exaggerate the successes of capitalism and imperialism, and downplay the failings and suffering caused by these activities - I believe the economic position will be much much worse than mainstream media predictions are claiming. There surely has to be, on top of the problems intrinsic to the current collapse, a working through of the consequence of releasing trillions of dollars into the pockets of the rich, sorry, I meant "world markets", quite immense inflationary consequences I would have imagined.
Hope I am wrong!
Heavens, eviled! Trust me, I am a pessimist. Those who know me well would be surprised, nay, shocked! to hear me described as an optimist. LOL. I can't help thinking of a scene where Captain Kirk says (in a kind way) something like, "You're the most human of us all, Mr Spock". And the Vulcan replies, "I see no reason for insults."
ReplyDeleteThe economic situation is bad. No doubt of that. But just HOW bad is it? And how much of what results from it will be "real" and what will be greed?
The point I was (badly) trying to make is that reality tends to be mundane, and not the hyperbole journalists sell. Let me give you some examples.
Do you remember (was it back in the eighties?) every news programme and newspaper was filled with stories about aids? There was fear of touching door handles, sitting on public toilet seats, blood transfusions, etc. If the reportage was to be believed, we should all have aids by now. Yet, be honest, when was the last time you even thought of aids? I am willing to bet it hasn't crossed your mind once this year. And yet it is still with us ... hasn't been cured ... and we DON'T all have it.
Take a more recent example. Kids carrying knives. Journalists were doing their best to make us think it wasn't safe to go out to the car, let alone walk to the shops ... even in daylight. Three paces and you'd be dead from multiple knife wounds before you'd even got your key in the door.
Yes, again I ask, when was the last time you thought about knife crime? There was a time when it was almost impossible to get away from mention of it, thanks to journalists. What happened? Did it disappear? Were all the knife owners imprisoned? Or is it just possible there was a teensy bit of exaggeration on the part of the media?
We live in a time when the media (and governments and advertisers) want us to be in a constant state of anxiety. Frightened of terrorists? Great, let the government take away your freedoms, and introduce draconian police powers. Afraid you might be attacked when you go to the shops, or that your child might be kidnapped and raped? Stay indoors; restrict use of personal cameras, introduce more controlling laws, take away more hard-won freedoms, make as many people as possible undergo criminal record checks.
Yes, terrible things happen. Some of my women friends have suffered things which would sicken you. But for the most part, people don't get attacked while out shopping. They tend not to contract fatal diseases from public toilets. And as Andy said, we do muddle through.
I was trying to say that the business of journalism is to sell you "Towering Inferno" rather than "When Harry Met Sally". But real life is far more mundane than they would have us believe.
But yes, the current situation will have to be worked through. And you can bet the rich will make a huge profit out of it. But stock piling baked beans is NOT the answer.
I've still put it badly, haven't I? But do you get what I'm trying to say?
Being far too serious this time of the morning; I tend to agree with you Eviled, we seem to be where we were in 1910/12 or 1936/38, rampant unemployment, low engineering production, the pendulemn swung too far in favour of the ruling/titled/banking classes and away from the workers and our currencys in free-fall.
ReplyDeleteExcept that unlike Nazi Germany or Fashist Italy with their forced building (housing, road and railway) prgrames, we have decided to spend less, while liquidity goes - as you suggest - strait into the pockets of those who got us in this mess (which they transfer straight to their Nassau accounts!).
But Toad is also right, we will come out the other side wondering if it was that bad after all, it is our capacity to take hidious punishment and forget all about it in a few months or years that makes us who we are...if not everyone in Africa would have gone loopy or killed themselves years ago!!! It's the laugh-or-cry factor!
Hold-on! all that wasn't there a minute ago!!! Stockpiling baked beans sound like a brilliant idea to me!!!...and Bully Beef!!
ReplyDelete'Stful'...packed with beans to the point where people have to help you on to the bus!
Oh. My. Goddess! You'll be digging out a gun emplacement next, Mav (grins)
ReplyDeleteHi Toad...I did put inverted commas around "optimism" when I used the word in relation to you and Andy...I know from your past posts I had to qualify its use!
ReplyDeleteI don't disagree with you for one moment about the state of journalism and the mainstream media in general and the examples you give are all good ones of how they exaggerate and fail those (the public) whom they are meant to inform.
I think where we might differ is that I do not see the media as an independent entity, deciding what they publish and what they do not publish. I see them inextricably linked into the establishment and political "system" and as gatekeepers to what can and can't be discussed. As someone once remarked (the name escapes me at the moment), a man will do or say things he might not necessarily agree with when his salary depends on it.
In the case of the economic crisis however, I think that they are not telling the whole story and are sugaring the pill. The true extent of the crisis, the reasons behind it and the ongoing hiest by those who have access to power and financial control is being served up to us from a particular angle and the debate is being framed within very limited confines.
All the mainstream media do is echo Downing Street or Washington press releases and parade a never ending stream of "experts" all singing from the same hymn sheet ie we are in deep poo and the only way we can get out of it is by huge cuts to public spending and any other number of savage measures that are sure to make the poorest and weakest in our society suffer. That is the "we" in all this, it does not include the rich or the very well paid economic correspondents and their guests endlessly discussing where "the axe has to fall".
The alternatives are never discussed or mentioned, or if they are, then the Paxmans and Pestons are always there to ridicule the alternatives as if the proponents of them come from Jupiter or somewhere.
We have been here many times before, remember Iraq and the WMD charade?
One recent study by the Glasgow University media department (highly regarded in these things)has revealed that during the run up to the Iraq Invasion the BBC had 90% pro WMD experts on as opposed to a mere 10% who said it was all a load of bs. That from the BBC who's public charter charges them with being balanced and objective.
Of course, they are no such thing.
Journalism should be holding power to account, not repeating press releases from government sources and those who are raiding the public purse!
Have you ever come across a book called "Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media" by Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman?
It certainly made the scales fall from my eyes as far as the media is concerned and I can't recommend it enough for anyone interested in the subject.
Bit of a ramble there Toad...as I say, I hope I am wrong but this crisis is effecting millions of the poorest in the world more and more severely as we speak and yet the banks are up to their old tricks again and the government are actively encouraging them!
At least Dick Turpin had the courtesy to wear a mask when he robbed you!
Toad - Not a gun emplacement, but I have weeded the Anderson Shelter!
ReplyDelete'Pilnere'...One who has the nerve to pillage in a time of crisis when they are rich enough to not need to!
Thank you for an eye-opening post, eviled! No, I had no idea about the finding of that study at Glasgow University. And the book is not one I know, so thank you for mentioning it.
ReplyDeleteActually, I agree with you about the collusion of the press with government and big business, although I suspect the relationship is a complex one.
You say, "As someone once remarked (the name escapes me at the moment), a man will do or say things he might not necessarily agree with when his salary depends on it." ... and you are quite right. I think the same abandonment of values (in women too) occurs when a large back-hander or bonus is the prize at stake. It is so sickening.
However there is one thing which gives me comfort in all this. Prior to recent times, much of the "fallout" hit ONLY the poorer people (like myself). In the past few years there has been a change in that, and the middle classes are now finding they too can be victims. In that I see hope for changes ... a small hope, maybe, but a real one.
Thanks again, eviled. you've given me much to think about.
Hi Toad,
ReplyDeleteYes indeed, the relationship between the press/mainstream media and the political establishment is a complex one...it is not just a case of journalists running around licking the hind quarters of those in power (although plenty of that does go on...just listen to the awful sycophantic "Blair vindicated" reports by the BBC's Andrew Marr after the invasion of Iraq too off fr example), there is rather complex set of filters and unconscious self censorship that goes on and of course, the idea of "Flak" for those journalists who do step outside the accepted limits of debate and then there are more filters involved in the actual selection and employment of journalists...you will note that there are very few who ever deviate very far from the standard line.
I am not saying that all journalists (especially influential ones) set out to deceive or misinform, there is definitely more to it than that.
As Chomsky said to Marr in a now very famous quote:
"I don’t say you’re self-censoring - I’m sure you believe everything you’re saying; but what I’m saying is, if you believed something different, you wouldn’t be sitting where you’re sitting."
That is a pretty devastating and revealing contention as to what is going on with the mainstream media I think...explored in much more interesting detail in "Manufacturing Consent".
Thanks for an interesting discussion Toad :)