Media and the Message
Monday, August 8, 2011 at 10:23AM I saw the end of a silly movie last night with Reese Witherspoon. In the end, the triumphant scene is her being told off by Candace Bergman, and in a demonstration of true class, style, and quick wit, she punches Bergman out.
What is happening to media?
Growing up and saw all those TV shows that represented how you were supposed to act towards each other. They were most definitely morality plays. But the deal was that you reap what you sow. That was the message in a nutshell.
The media today is giving us one film after another wherein the response to resistance, unacceptance, rejection is to simply blow your opponent away.
No lesson learned here; no figuring out someplace in the middle where everyone can agree a little. Just stupid violence and greed being it’s own reward and whoever has the most money is the most valuable person.
And this mindless, shortsighted stupidity has now permeated our culture and our government. Do you think a generous, educated, informed populace would actually JOIN the tea party?
I did a boot camp recently and the monetarily successful producer who gave one of the key note speeches drove home the idea that if a song doesn’t make money, it’s not worthwhile. It’s like a book on a shelf that no one reads:
That the only reason to write a song is to make money. The only reason to collaborate is to make money and you only collaborate with people that can help you.
That you cannot show an audience something and teach them to like it. You must give them what they want.
I wonder. To me he was espousing pandering to the lowest common denominator bullshit.
He gave no encouragement to grow as an artist, to become a master of your instrument; just make certain that you make money from what you do. And from the things I heard of his, it’s pretty obvious this isn’t an artist creating, this is today’s flavor.
And because he’s made lots of money, his work is valid? No one will listen to what he “created” in five years. Yes, someone is listening now, and he’s making money, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
My problem is that that seems to be his creative incentive. And it’s the same with the films. No attempt to actually accommodate the marketplace while trying to create something valid and beautiful and permanent. Just make those bucks now.
Currently in the media we celebrate ignorance, thuggery, mysogny and violence. And as long as you give them money to do that, they’ll keep doing it.
Ignore the crap and it will go away. Attention is like sunlight and water for a plant. Without that attention the crap will whither and die.
Raise the bar, shoot for the stars, do the very best you can and listen to the timeless great music that exists. That’s the level to shoot for.
Reader Comments (2)
"That you cannot show an audience something and teach them to like it. You must give them what they want."
This is exactly why I miss the old "Top 40" radio format. Recently someone I know had one of the old 'Top 40" lists the radio stations used to put out. And what a mix. On ONE playlist there were The Beatles, Sam and Dave, The Doors, Frank Sinatra, Rolling Stones, Temptations, Dean Martin,a selection of one hit wonders of varying style and quality, some folks I can't remember, and virtually every musical genre you can name except for Gregorian Chant. If you listened to these stations you got to hear stuff you probably would never choose on your own. Sometimes you liked it, sometimes you didn't. But at least you knew it was there and what it was. If you never see it, hear it, taste it,try it, how do you know whether you like it or not? Now it's pretty much "When I want your opinion I'll give it to you." Sad.
I know you are talking about, I have seen lots of silly movies, in fact I think I should have a master degree in watching silly movies, for instance once I saw a film in which the main character took several cheap viagra pills and died, how silly end is that!??