2005-01-25 - 11:21 a.m.
Probably the best way to rekindle my affection for the art of films was not to take a class from some english teacher that lives as the embodiment of the cliche of college film professors.
That he so clearly worships the filmmaker that is the subject of the course makes it harder. I'd rather take the class from someone that says "Hitchcock sucks," than someone that insists Hitchcock was the greatest filmmaker ever, and expects me to read a bunch of english and art department crap masquerading as criticism to get through the class (oh my, what does that dollying say about Hitchcock's sexuality?!.).
He would have been better off in my book if he hadn't taken the opportunity in the first class to bash M. Night Shyamalan. No, I don't much care for Shyamalan. But don't you think it is ironic that someone would criticize a guy like Shyamalan for being a highly skilled but artless filmmaker when he's teaching a course on a guy that was often thought of the same way for a long period of time?
I left the class thinking that as much as Hitchcock was underrated during his career, I'm close to concluding that he is just as overrated after his death. Yes, Hitchcock was a wonderful filmmaker so far as we've set the standards in the first century + of film. But I'm not going to enjoy reading about how Hitchcock is up there with Shakespeare. Of course I'd love to puncture the Shakespeare worship, but that (and perhaps the bit about Hitchcock) is just my anti-art-establishment heart talking. I'm sure I'd get some supporters, but then I'd just turn around and tell them that whatever they like is crap, too. That's because everything is crap. Cynical? Yes. Bitter? Yes. Bored out of my fucking mind by the shit masquerading as art? Absolutely yes. That's one big ARGHHHHH-out to the world.
By the way, am I wrong in thinking that talking about movies and feeling the need to list the director (as author) for every title you mention even in casual discussion is just a bit sophomoric?
The Magic Touch - 2006-04-24
You're Singles-ularly Destroying the Earth - 2006-04-14
Smack My Bitch Down - 2006-04-06
Baby, Did You Ever Wonder? - 2006-04-06
Ga Ga Goo Ga - 2006-04-03
