Movies
October 2nd, 2006 @ 20:51 by NormMonkey
From the social-studies department:
Have you ever noticed what happens after you go see a movie at the theatre with a group of friends? I’m talking about the post-movie discussion. For it oft seems, at least with the people I accompany, that the conversation’s usually critical.
“Everyone’s a critic” goes the old expression. I wonder why, though? I can think of one or two movies which have given me the desire to find the theatre manager, poke them in the eyes and demand my money back. Yet the vast majority of movies I’ve seen have been a net positive overall experience. I wonder if I’m the only one who really enjoyed it? Somehow I doubt it; if people’s critical conversations about movies were a true reflection of their feelings, the theatres would be a lot emptier.
So I have to wonder why it is that the post-movie discussions almost never involve the positive? It’s always, “I thought [thingy] could’ve been done better” or “[blah] always gets typecast in that role, (s)he’d be much better doing something else” or “[bazquux] was so much worse than in the book.” Never mind the whole realm of “that was technically impossible” or Hollywood/OS arguments.
All valid points, mind you. Rarely have I found one of these critical topics worth serious argument; they hold truth. It’s not that I disagree with any of these points per se, it’s the general air of criticism that I question.
Why does the discussion rarely lean towards the movie’s merits? There’s never talk of “I particularly liked how [wakka] acted in the [norkie] scene” or “the idea of tying [wibble] and [fnord] together to lead to the climax was clever”. Why are we as a group so readily enthusiastic to express our opinions on that which disappoints us, and so rarely willing to comment on that which makes us happy?
To me this seems backwards! The very nature of the word “enthusiasm” screams of positivism. Again I point out that I believe most people find movies generally entertaining. Is it that the good stuff of a movie is not worthy of discussion? Is it too boring to give praise and make known our feelings on that which made us happy? Or is it that it’s so much more fun and interesting to find fault? Maybe it’s just easier.
I wonder what this says about our attitude towards other things? Is it just movies that draw contemptuous discussion, or does this attitude pervade in all our conversations? When we talk about our friends and what’s going on in their lives, do those topics lean towards the negative? Makes me wonder what people say of me when I’m not there? If somebody’s as critical about other things as they are about movies, what impressions do their friends and colleagues get about their overall attitude?
If you think this describes you, then I challenge you to keep a mental journal of conversations with your friends. How many involve praise or expressions of joy, and how many are critical? Maybe we can all learn something about our attitudes and our outlook on life.
[ FLOODLIGHT DIMS, HOUSELIGHTS COME UP ] [ AZROLB COMES OUT AND HAULS AWAY THE SOAPBOX ]
