What I’m about to say isn’t
really news, and I’m sure I’m not the first to realize it or mention it...but
seeing as how it’s 2012, the Mayan calendar has predicted the impending end of
the world as we know it and Obama has won his re-election bid...it might be
relevant and high time for a reminder. So, on to the $64,000 question. In
movies, why is there always a black president in the White House during some
cataclysm or apocalyptic event? What’s with the black presidents in disaster
movies? Given the times, is this a perfect storm of fuckery on an epic scale,
or what?
Since life holds innumerable
possibilities and experiences, this type of nonsense, when viewed from a purely
statistical, probabilistic standpoint, should lead the logical thinkers among
us to question the proliferation of these “coincidences.” In other words, the
shit that happens in life is, more often than not, so random—in spite of your,
or anyone’s, best laid plans and intentions—that when something like this
continually pops up over and over again, those with more than a few functioning
brain cells should surely, at the very least, raise an eyebrow at this
tomfoolery. Of course, it’s also possible that we’ve become so inure to these mass
media shenanigans that things like this don’t even register.
Now, coincidences will
happen. But it doesn’t take an Einstein to know some real bullshit when you see
it. It can be argued that the majority of mass media exists primarily for
entertainment purposes. Even so-called “news” outlets (which are owned by major
corporations, beholden to government for their existence and profit
margins)—for all their size and reach, comprise but a small percentage of media
as a whole. And, although their “duty” and primary focus is to “inform,” news
programs are still produced in a way so as to make them marginally
entertaining. So what are “they” trying to
TV, especially, literally has
the power to physically change your brain wave patterns, lulling you into a drool-inducing,
zombie-like state—perfect for you to passively, unquestioningly absorb the
rapid-fire stimuli of images and text—sensory overload further facilitated by the
accompaniment of mood-altering music. Of course, this subject matter is far
beyond the scope of this post—but true, nonetheless and easily verifiable. Why
do you think they call it “programming?” Hmm... I will revisit this at a later
date.
Passive entertainment strips
you of your ability for critical thought—it’s certainly dimmed a fair degree,
for sure. Therefore, a tough economy
(getting tougher all the time) and a mindset firmly routed in escapism will
lead you to cheap entertainment. And so I give you: the movies—“we are here
now, entrain us.” (No, that’s not a
typo. Deep.) Now, I love the movies, and who doesn’t? But to watch a movie and
be aware of all the allegory and symbolism, not miss the plethora of hidden
meanings and numerous overt references, you must resist your willingness to
suspend your disbelief.
On the surface, we can all
watch a movie and be quite easily entertained by things blowing up every 5
minutes and bad guys eventually getting their due. I just wish they didn’t
wreck so many eighty-thousand dollar cars. Hook me up, yo! CGI that shit next
time. Sure, many movies are exactly what they appear to be, “bread and
circuses.” But, more likely, the screenwriter/producer/director has something
to say. And to say it, they often use a device know as “predictive
programming.” Yeah, look that one up
and get back to me. Now, once again, consider the question: “Why is there
always a black president in the White House in disaster movies?”
~Brought to you by my good friend... Daryl Hope
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