Heeee.

[lls_mutant]

I'm sure everyone's seen it, but Brokeback Hogwarts is too funny not to check out. Funny because it works, although the shirt bit did have me cracking up. I actually don't really like Brokeback Mountain parodies- I agree with Steven King when he says that parodying and joking about BBM is America's way of trying to pass it from culture. But this one works for me, because even if you say the subtext wasn't there in the book (fair enough), it was put there in the movie. (When the director refers to Lupin as "everyone's favorite gay uncle on crack", yes. The subtext was there. No, it means nothing about the book and everything about Cuaron and it's not canon and all that. ) Anyway, entertaining. Go watch.

Just have a few more finishing touches to make on my remix, and then I can send it in. Whoohoo! I could technically send it in now, but since I do have a little time left and my reader gave me a good idea for the one part I was unhappy with, I'll see if I can't get that in there. Then after I have this presentation done, I can go back to AIL. YES! (As well as doing everything else.)

Better go remix before the baby gets too demanding :)

Comments

[gunderpants.livejournal.com]

Lupin in the PoA movie reminded me less of my favourite gay uncle (of which there are none, BTW, despite the fact I have a perfectly good gay auntie who would be very like the Lupin from book canon) and more of my grandfather, who lives like a hobo in the university library and teaches himself German out of boredom.

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

The cardigans were one of the worst thing that Alfonso Cuaron did to fandom. ::sigh::

[gunderpants.livejournal.com]

I'm the only person in fandom who sees Remus in dodgy M&S black trousers, white undershirts and filthy dressing gowns. See, the cardigans could have worked on the proviso that they kept the irony and blackness in his character: as it was, I think that while Thewlis did a great job with what was given to him, admittedly the author put him in as the sweet old fuddy-duddy.

[krisomniac.livejournal.com]

heheheee *I* hadn't seen it. Then again, I haven't been in the world of the living for a fair while.

Do you really think parodying something is a way to dissociate it from culture and not a way to integrate it?

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

I do, and I don't. It depends on what you're parodying and why. But a parody is, in essence, a mockery. Sometimes it's just done because it's funny- see Wierd Al. But a lot of times it's done because people aren't comfortable with what they're mocking.

I'll have to dig up the Stephen King article (it's probably somewhere on EW.com (http://www.ew.com).), but he explains it really well. There's also this great quote from one of the longest paragraphs on power I've ever read:

Kill by laughter. Laughter is an instrument of human joy. Learn to use it as a weapon of destruction. Turn it into a sneer. It's simple. Tell them to laugh at everything. Tell them that a sense of humor is an unlimited virtue. Don't let anything remain sacred in a man's soul- and his soul won't be sacred to him. Kill revernece and you've killed the hero in man. One doesn't reverence with a giggle. --Ellsworth Toohey in The Fountainhead. It's not directly related to what I'm talking about, except that last sentence. When society IS uncomfortable with something, it has two choices: denounce it outright, or remove it with a more subtle way. Denouncing BBM makes you look like a homophobe, so a lot of people who would like to be progressively minded aren't willing to do that. However, the number of parodies and jokes about it is a little alarming. I mean, there aren't so many jokes about the other best picture nominees combined. Or even Lord of the Rings, or hell, even Titanic- which did suck. (At least the dialogue did.)

BBM should be acknowledged as a great movie. Not because it deals with an important topic- Moulin Rouge! deals with a rather trite love affair and is a great movie. But it's well written, well-acted, and just a beautifully told movie. And it's fucking depressing. Why make jokes about it, unless society is uncomfortable with it? People didn't parody Schindler's List or even Philadelphia or Life is Beautiful.

So yeah, I do think that parody is a way to dissociate something from culture- although that's not its only use.

[topaz-eyes.livejournal.com]

Ranks right up there with "Brokeback To The Future" and "Brokeback Hospital" (House) in my book.

I think what ends up being parodied and joked about in culture, is the stuff that society is most uncomfortable about. Brokeback Mountain challenges mainstream society's viewpoint on homosexuality by showing the personal element of the story. Its highs, its lows and its ultimate tragedy are because society itself still won't allow full acceptance of homosexual relationships. (I think society still pays only lip service to it--just look at the controversy surrounding same-sex marriage to show that the mainstream doesn't want to extend full equality.) Ennis clearly represents mainstream society's views and values, while Jack represents--well, the truth of the situation. Meh. What do I know?

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

Yeah, what you said. :) I think the reason society is uncomfortable with Brokeback Mountain is because Jack and Ennis are characters beyond their orientation. Society is fine with gay people as long as they're funny and sassy and well dressed and in show business. Will and Grace? Society can handle that. But put some real humanity behind it and strip away the stereotypes, and suddenly it's not as easy for people to digest. They're forced to admit that homosexuals are (gasp!) people, and that same-sex love can be as deep and meaningful as heterosexual love.

[topaz7.livejournal.com]

I hadn't seen it, so thanks for posting. It was excellent!

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!

[lazy-neutrino.livejournal.com]

Hi. Don't suppose you have room for a new friend? *combs hair, washes under fingernails and tries to look acceptable*

I meant to do this ages ago.

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

I do if you do :) I've been meaning to do the same!

[lazy-neutrino.livejournal.com]

Yay!

friends lupinslittlesis liek woah!

[lady-nimua.livejournal.com]

is it weird it made me really sad?
god, i forgot how good that movie is. wonderful actors. love them.

[lady-nimua.livejournal.com]

wait, what? when did he say that about Remus? link please?