Sour grapes
What's funny about Annie Proulx's rant against the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is how out of touch she manages to seem even while she whines that the Academy is out of touch. Proulx says, "Next year we can look to the awards for controversial themes on the punishment of adulterers with a branding iron in the shape of the letter A, runaway slaves, and the debate over free silver." In other words, the subject of race in America is so yesterday, dude, but Hollywood is afraid to deal with the really controversial issue of our age -- radical jihadism, . . . I mean, um, the terrible outcomes for single-parent households, . . . I mean, um, gay cowboys."
Just for the record -- I'm making fun of Annie Proulx, not of Brokeback Mountain. I haven't seen either movie yet, though I have a feeling, because I know my own tastes, that I would prefer Brokeback Mountain to Crash.
And what's up with the "punishing adulterers with a branding iron in the shape of the letter A" example? Was that some sort of real historical controversy that I'm clueless about, or is she just getting the plot of The Scarlet Letter wrong?
UPDATE: Jeff at Quid Nomen Illius has provided a link to the article that offers some context for Proulx's remarks. I wasn't paying attention this morning when I linked to the excerpt. Actually, I think Proulx comes off slightly better in the full column, but there's still a lot of whining going on. I mean, what, exactly, did she expect the Academy Awards to be like? And what the heck are "conservative heffalumps"?
Just for the record -- I'm making fun of Annie Proulx, not of Brokeback Mountain. I haven't seen either movie yet, though I have a feeling, because I know my own tastes, that I would prefer Brokeback Mountain to Crash.
And what's up with the "punishing adulterers with a branding iron in the shape of the letter A" example? Was that some sort of real historical controversy that I'm clueless about, or is she just getting the plot of The Scarlet Letter wrong?
UPDATE: Jeff at Quid Nomen Illius has provided a link to the article that offers some context for Proulx's remarks. I wasn't paying attention this morning when I linked to the excerpt. Actually, I think Proulx comes off slightly better in the full column, but there's still a lot of whining going on. I mean, what, exactly, did she expect the Academy Awards to be like? And what the heck are "conservative heffalumps"?
posted by Kate Marie | 8:26 AM | Permalink
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4 comments
4 Comments:
Maybe she is referring to adulterous cattle.
You can see Proulx's entire rant in context here--although that context sure doesn't make it any more explicable.
Simply sour grapes. I don't want to see Gay Cowboys, so I'll pass on Brokeback. I thought Crash was a fantastic movie. . best acting in a film I had seen in a while.
And Crash was brilliant for sending out free DVD's of the movie. . It is called marketing and if you can't keep up, don't cry about it.
Thanks for the link, Jeff. I included it, with thanks to you, in the update. I liked her disdain for the pimp song, but what the heck are conservative heffalumps? And I wonder how many protesters comprised the "hordes"?
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