British Suburbia

after the movie...The Full Monty "Steel Strippers Exposed"

2005-11-23T15:19:00.000-08:00

Tonight I had the opportunity to watch The Full Monty in class. The other day I wrote questions concerning the possible critical aspects of this movie. Here are some of my answers...

1. Does this movie appear to move beyond the simple struggle of all round unemployment?
Answer: yes

2. What does a Chippendales-type show accomplish for these six men, what does it really do for the community as a whole?
Answer: restores their sense of dignity, they become hero's

3. Can the essential facts of this movie be equated to women? If there were six unemployed women trying to come together and 'lift each others' spirits by doing a group strip show would they then be received as well as the six men?
Answer: sure, why not

4. How does all of this relate back to several topics brought up in critical theory pertaining to British Suburbia?
Answer: suburban men attempting to make it in a doubting society

beyond the minimal answers...

'Hot Stuff'...Stereotypically speaking, you wouldn't equate the term 'hot stuff' with a group of imperfect, real men who are on a mission to make a bit of money, for various reasons, by putting together and performing a Chippendales-style strip show. In my previous entry I had thought that they were doing this as a means of coming together, inadvertantly they did. Motivated by insecurities, rooted in job loss, child support,their wives obsession with strip shows (as a means of entertainment) and some bizaar fear that men in their world are so irrelevant that "within a few years, they won't exist." Anyway, aside from their motivations and their fears, this movie essentially portrays a transformation in a group of individuals, they go from Jobclub to Strip Club gaining a little character, especially Gerald (I think that's his name)--Gerald's life fell apart, his life based on status, and falseness and then he got a new start--it seemed as though a lot of their lives restarted in some way...

"Of Other Spaces" Michel Foucault

2005-11-21T15:17:00.000-08:00

Even though this famous article is at times confusing, Michel Foucault has established several relevant points worth considering. The first idea regarding the competition between space and time and the idea that space is of more importance than time. That perhaps our surrounding space dictates how we use our time? Faucault begins by noting two terms that define perfection, Heterotopia and Utopia, one that is possible on earth, Heterotopia, and one that is impossible on earth, Utopia. Within the realm of heterotopia, Foucault introduces five essential principles illustrating heterotopias each of them covering areas such as "deviations from the norm."-for those who identify outside of what society defines as the norm., a place that defines or maintains a history, such as a gallery or museum, something that isn't a single real place, a place of apparent perfection, such as a garden, a place linked to a "slice of time" such as cemetery, and finally a space that is of isolation, that is not necessarily accessible by people. Beyond simplistic definitions, the idea that the type of space has a huge impact on the individual, specifically on their experience within that space, or whether they can even access to that space, or even if that space is physical-if it's just a representation in time-and so Foucault, through his principles illustrates that it's not all about time, that space, as an issue, is of great importance, especially in the sense that it is a critical element for analytical consideration--what does space do to the scenario, how does it affect the individual, what stigmas are attached, cultural expectations???

before the movie...The Full Monty

2005-11-21T14:53:00.000-08:00

At what point does someone begin to believe that they really have something to loose? The 1997 comedy, The Full Monty, directed by Peter Cattaneo, is about six unemployed men who decide to do a Chippendales-like show in order to amuse the local women. As a means to promote the event and create more excitement they promise to do "the full monty" aka. take off all of their clothes.

Although this movie has yet to be viewed in class and it's been awhile since I've seen it, I thought that based on this short summary, I'd come up with several random questions of what I remember this movie to be about and then report back thus allowing this to be a sort of personal question answer period.
And so...here's my questions:

1. Does this movie appear to move beyond the simple struggle of all round unemployment?

2. What does a Chippendales-type show accomplish for these six men, what does it really do for the community as a whole?

3. Can the essential facts of this movie be equated to women? If there were six unemployed women trying to come together and 'lift each others' spirits by doing a group strip show would they then be received as well as the six men?

4. How does all of this relate back to several topics brought up in critical theory pertaining to British Suburbia?

There you have it... those are my questions... I'll report back late Wednesday night after I've seen the movie and will try to answer...

The Redundancy of Daily Life

2005-11-10T23:34:00.000-08:00

I am of the impression that a large percentage of society feels completely dependent on the security of their daily routine--so dependent that if it were to fall apart, then they would essentially, fall apart. In most cases we are conditioned to believe that in order to be successful and happy in life, we have to some how mold ourselves into a common scenario, preferably one that is common to societies standard. Rita Felski's article, 'The Invention of Everyday Life,' expands upon the constructed notions of routine for women, the obligations connected to child, husband, and the home.

Although Felski's article provides sufficient context onto these areas, as well as related avenues, it is important to consider the fall of routine. If an individual is unable to accept the possibilities of change and of loss, then they will not be able to handle subjected disruptions, or even collapse, of their present routine--routine, in some cases, equates to one's life. So then it boils down to the collapse of one's life and in turn, it is essentially a new routine that will make up for any loss. At the risk of oversimplifying Felski's article, routine is where individuals tend to take comfort, maybe even ignore, their lives--they don't even live. Maybe it is the disruptions that force them to live, the failures the losses. Perhaps routine even provides enough constraints that allows us to recognize when we are living, when we are hurt and when we are sick of our own routine--choice, does routine trap us or does it free us?

Bowie Analysis

2005-10-24T22:54:00.000-07:00

The Buddha of Suburbia, David Bowie

Living in lies by the railway line
Pushing the hair from my eyes
Elvis is English and climbs the hills
Can't tell the bullshit from the lies
Screaming along in South London
Vicious but ready to learn
Sometimes I fear that the whole world is queer
Sometimes but always in vain

CHORUS
So I'll wait until we're sane
Wait until we're blessed and all the same
Full of blood, loving life and all it's got to give
Englishman going insane
Down on my knees in suburbia
Down on myself in every way

With great expectations I change all my clothes
Mustn't grumble at silver and gold
Screaming above Central London
Never bored, so I'll never get old

CHORUS

Day after
Day after
Day
Day after
Zane, Zane, Zane
Ouvre le chien
Day after
Day
Day after
Zane, Zane, Zane
Ouvre le chien
Day after

For purposes of coincidence, I thought I'd take this opportunity to look at David Bowie's song, Buddha of Suburbia, which was written for the BBC mini series based on Hanif Kureishi's novel, The Buddha of Suburbia.
Lines such as "Can't tell the bullshit from the lies," or "Sometimes I fear that the whole world is queer" not only relates to Kuresishi's text but also makes several relevant points onto society as well. Although this piece was probably constructed, by Bowie, after carefully reading and interpreting this novel, several points allude to the fact that there are a lot of individuals who feel constrained by society, they struggle, they're lied to, and they're constantly trying to 'fit in.' Much like Kuresishi, Bowie makes generalizations that not only reflect upon what many of us feel but also make note of what we're afraid to feel--perhaps Bowie is just borrowing Kuresishi's generalizations or is paraphrasing ones that have already been made--'more bullshit, more lies.'

Keeping Up Appearances

2005-10-23T22:08:00.000-07:00

Keeping up appearances... After watching a few episodes last class, I began to wonder... "who keeps up their appearance" and what does that specifically mean? Does it have something to do with vanity and social status? Is there perhaps a connection between these two? Why do we really care about what others think? Are we afraid that the central character, Hyacinth, represents what many of us criticize but won't admit to doing? I cringed at Hyacinth's behavior, I was like, "I never do that, she makes women look bad," but how can I allow myself to be disillusioned to the fact that I may actually do that, act as though I really care about what people think, do idiotic things to get attention--all as a bid for people to be impressed, to actually care. I'm not trying to suggest that my self worth, like Hyacinth's, is based on what other's may think yet I cannot help but wonder if it is. This character does so many absurd things that other characters, specifically the important people in her life, resent her for, they stop caring yet she continues. A part of Hyacinth's persona is to control how other people act around her as well as have them believe that she is far above them, that they are to respect her and that she has ever right to look down upon them. I'm not sure if I'm like that--not to draw in too many personal conclusions but she definitely has a motive for this sort of behavior. A motive that perhaps suggests that she must "keep up her appearance" so that she does not have to deal with her real lack of appearance, her shortcomings--things that all of us won't ever admit to.

Kitsch & Abigail's Party (Movie)

2005-10-04T11:08:00.000-07:00

Kitsch, the German term which cannot be directly translated into English, acts as the definition for anything and everything in art that is considered to be tacky, or overdone, or even too colorful. Examples such as mass produced, otherwise classical, art, Louis Vuitton handbags, and my personal favorite, the plastic, sometimes charity supported, bracelets, all amount to kitsch. Each of these items are overdone, too common and are essentially cliche.
Aside from any material item that's cliche, the notion of Kitsch is explicated in Beverly and Laurence's living room, in the play turned movie, Abigail's Party. The items that fill Beverly's living room, which happens to be the place for the 'neighbor meet neighbor' cocktail party, that is also beside the intimus Abigail's teenage party, act not only as examples of Kitsch but also reflect upon various attitudes and projections that are also Kitsch. Kitsch can be extended beyond a physical item to being attributed simply to an individual who is tacky or perhaps catty. Within the setting where this scenario takes place, the individuals compliment the overall absurdity of what makes up this party as well as the actual decor. In all actuality, the notion of Kitsch is a generalized term that covers anything that is thought of as being tacky or overdone and at the same time, it is quite often an individualized decision as to whether or not a particular item or attitude is Kitsch... it honestly boils down to one's taste.