tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16517589.post301650761740840916..comments2023-10-09T04:23:42.233-05:00Comments on The Shelf: hidden treasures?J.C. Loopholehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11976993877171613834noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16517589.post-17602015365123494232010-11-02T14:35:02.418-05:002010-11-02T14:35:02.418-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16517589.post-65307771147008331462010-10-25T14:44:43.643-05:002010-10-25T14:44:43.643-05:00Jacqueline-
Thanks for your kind words and thoug...Jacqueline- <br /><br />Thanks for your kind words and thoughtful comments. Yes- the barrage of media hitting us from all sides can make the choice of what to enjoy during down time harder- almost reminds me of a kid at a huge toy store - just overwhelmed by so much, that you almost just want to toss your hands up. I agree with you that it's our job to try and document, preserve and even try to highlight classic media so the richness of it all is highlighted and stands out from the mundane.J.C. Loopholehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11976993877171613834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16517589.post-46159725837680115432010-09-18T06:24:33.933-05:002010-09-18T06:24:33.933-05:00A thoughtful essay, J.C., and what you've so b...A thoughtful essay, J.C., and what you've so beautifully expressed reasonates with a lot of us old movie fans. I suppose it's one of those dynamics of nature that challenges and solutions constantly offset each other. As you note, exposure to classic films (and the wealth of popular music, perhaps less of art and literature) of the 20th century is much, much more easily accessible today than it was when we were children. But offsetting that is a multi-media hurricane of other distractions for younger generations. <br /><br />I just hope enough of that wealth of creativity can be preserved and documented. That's our job. Whether future generations accept that treasure from our hands is up to them. I suppose for most of us, our blogs are merely "preaching to the choir."Jacqueline T. Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047941886908178350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16517589.post-12196996597065854442010-09-14T09:46:18.462-05:002010-09-14T09:46:18.462-05:00Thanks for your comments Colin! I agree, encouragi...Thanks for your comments Colin! I agree, encouraging without pushing, and continuing to write and share information and enthusiasm for classic media seems to be the best route we can take. Not only are we sharing that with the rising generation, hopefully we are actively documenting more and more information and history. I know I am not alone in saying that as a kid growing up, "movie books" and info was as scarce to come by as were the films themselves. When VHS, then DVD, came along it was a godsend. I just think we should take advantage of the opportunity we have to spread the wealth, as it were, and try and encourage love and advocacy of classic film.<br /><br />I'm glad to know there are other teachers out there including the products of our culture in their lessons. In addition to teaching History I now teach a new Humanities component that specifically covers Media and American Culture and goes into both the technological and cultural history of different mediums. My students know I can get too excited sometimes because I want to share so much in the limited time we have. The best I can do is plant a seed of curiosity and interest and encourage them to actually go out, learn on their own and develop that interest further. <br /><br />PS- Nice review of Yellow Sky, by the by- it's in my "to watch" stack, and now has been bumped up to "on deck" status. Westerns are an interesting genre to try and introduce to students. The are so resistant to watching them, yet when I show clips they don't want to stop watching.J.C. Loopholehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11976993877171613834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16517589.post-55755791531361216162010-09-13T15:10:37.053-05:002010-09-13T15:10:37.053-05:00Lots of very pertinent points in that piece, not t...Lots of very pertinent points in that piece, not the least of which is your acknowledgment that those of us who scribble away on classic movies (or really any media for that matter) tend to form ourselves into exclusivist groups. That kind of herd mentality is understandable enough - it acts as a kind of protective reflex. However, the fact remains that no medium can survive unless there is a constant renewal of interest in it.<br /><br />The positive view is, as you say, to look to "the independents" - people like ourselves who plug away at blogs and such, spreading the word when and where we can. As a teacher myself, I always try to encourage an awareness of and then hopefully an interest in our past cultural trends and achievements. But you can't push it or force it; that's always counterproductive. In the end we can only keep doing what we do - it can reach more people than we might imagine.Colinhttp://filmjournal.net/livius/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16517589.post-40254635276921257232010-09-13T09:04:25.634-05:002010-09-13T09:04:25.634-05:00I agree Mel- I teach a Media and American Culture ...I agree Mel- I teach a Media and American Culture class, and it seems as if anything past 1970 (used to be the 1960s) is ancient history. <br />The really disheartening thing is when you hear about lists like VH1's "100 greatest artist" of "all-time" and of course the list doesn't even include anyone further back than Elvis. Of course they probably mean Rock and Roll artist- but they don't say that or even infer it. All Time is a pretty long time- no Sinatra, Gerswhin, Bernstein, Bach -etc are even on the list. That's not what bugs me. What bugs me is that kids will watch that, and take away that no one past Madonna really matters. The present without the past is just life without context. Sad.J.C. Loopholehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11976993877171613834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16517589.post-53654883212958420042010-09-13T00:52:45.295-05:002010-09-13T00:52:45.295-05:00Amen, J.C.
And it's not only films but music ...Amen, J.C.<br /><br />And it's not only films but music too. I get rather disheartened when I talk about George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Richard Rodgers et al to the younger generation and very few of them seem to have even heard of them...<br /><br />Doesn't augur very well for the future.melhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07479446504791569355noreply@blogger.com