An Inconvenient Truth about the Gap Between Hollywood and the Right
Surprise, surprise, surprise. Algore got his Oscar. While other got applause Algore got a standing ovation. Again, not a surprise. Congratulations to to the ent for his award. While there was some pontificating there was no Bush bashing during the acceptance.
Later on Forest Whitaker won the Best Actor award for portraying Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. His acceptance remarks were insightful on why Hollywood has gone so far to the Left. Whitaker told the audience he went into acting to “make a connection” with people that would “change the world.” Whether Whitaker wants to admit it or not those are revolutionary words. Through movies actors like Whitaker see themselves as molding and reshaping Man. Hollywood thinks it has the power to change Man’s nature. For them government doesn’t have to be limited. Instead the population has to be reformed in the name of Equality, Fairness, and Social Justice.
Conservatism is about treating Man as he is. We don’t believe we can reforge his nature and create a Utopia. We better understand the limits of Man’s knowledge, kindness, generosity, and mercy. Building institutions that direct his selfish, sometimes animal behaviors into an improving (but imperfectable) society is the goal of conservative politics. Hollywood’s vision of a Utopia within reach creates a breach with conservatism.
Can you imagine James Cagney, Jimmy Stewart, or Humphrey Bogart telling you they went into acting to “change the world?” I can’t. They acted because they got paid to do something they enjoyed. They were entertainers, and they knew their place.
When did Hollywood go from the entertainment business to the “change the world” business? I don’t know, but there’s a fascinating story there.
“Forest Whitaker Takes Best Actor Oscar”
Bull fucking shit.
Film–real film, not just mindless entertainment–has always been about connecting with people. Just like all art.
Why do i get the impression that you had this post written in your head before the Oscars even were broadcast. “Gee, an awards show is tonight; time to spout off about liberal Hollywood.” Why didn’t you go the extra mile, and claim that the large number of Latino winners tonight was an endorsement of illegal immigration? That woulda cracked me up.
Reaching out and touching people and trying to make the world a better place isn’t always about politics and right vs. left. You’re reading something into Forest Whitaker’s speech that you wanted to see, because you’re so upset with “liberal bias” or whatever the hell. You should go help edit the Hollywood entry over at Conservapedia–i’m sure they’d love to have you.
I’m a performer and musician, and sometimes, in my more self-important moments, i like to think of myself as an artist. And if you’d experience the feeling of something you worked on really touching someone, like i have, you’d know that shit’s genuine. And it’s not always about changing the world politically. In fact, for me, it never is.
Building institutions that direct his selfish, sometimes animal behaviors into an improving (but imperfectable) society is the goal of conservative politics.
No, justifying selfish behavior is the goal of conservative politics. Which is funny for a bunch of avowed Christians.
You know why so many artists and performers are liberals? Because great art questions and challenges the status quo, and dares to ask “why?” Conservatives support the status quo, and thus would prefer people not ask questions.
That’s overly black and white, but that’s how it works. You want to turn your brain off and just be entertained? Go parouse the Razzie awards; i’m sure they’ll have something your speed.