Film noir and politics

This advertising sign on the London Underground mimics the design of the tube map, pictured at left.

For two-and-a-half weeks I've been housebound with bronchitis and too miserable to do much but watch old movies. I've enjoyed a plethora of film noir and comedies from the 1940s and '50s, including Preston Sturges's Christmas in July and The Palm Beach Story; A Place in the Sun with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift; They Drive by Night with Humphrey Bogart, George Raft and Ann Sheridan. I also watched Joan Crawford in Mildred Pierce; the Marx Brothers in A Night in Casablanca and last night, the beautifully-restored version of Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece Vertigo, filmed in my beloved San Francisco.

Hitchcock considered San Francisco "the Paris of America" and his film depicts the city in all its glory. I love black-and-white movies; the snappy patter; the fast pace; the Edith Head-designed clothes and hats; the lush interiors. Those filmmakers knew how to tell a story without the aid of special effects. Watching these films is pure pleasure and escapism.

Stark reality of the news

In contrast, late last night I watched an Arabic television documentary about the late Saddam Hussein's use of chemical warfare on the Kurds. The footage of all the dead bodies, including children, was gritty and shocking. Following the Madrid train bombings, Spanish television showed very graphic footage. Yet most Western media reported a sanitized version of these horrific events. Maybe if we looked at the horror full in the face, we would start to make critical changes in our world. This week, hundreds of Kenyans were burned alive in a church. How much more tragic can a story be? Yet with the war in Iraq and suicide bombings and explosions on a daily basis, it seems many people have become desensitised to violence. Special effects in movies and violent video games have contributed to this disconnection between fantasy and reality.

Meanwhile, the number of reporters killed on the job has risen 244 percent over the past five years, Reporters Without Borders said Wednesday. In 2007, more than half of the 86 journalists killed worldwide died in Iraq, the Paris-based media watchdog said. In 2002, 25 journalists were killed worldwide.

Friday is my young nephew Jon David's birthday; sadly, he won't have much of a celebration. Instead, Jon will be on a plane bound for Iraq, along with other members of the National Guard. Does anyone know why we are still in Iraq, other than to salvage George Bush & Co.'s foolish pride and make his friends and cronies richer with no-bid contracts to rebuild the country? All the reasons Bush, Cheney, Blair et al gave for going into Iraq nearly five years ago have been proven false. So why are we still there? And why has oil hit $100 a barrel? Remember when Bush said the oil in Iraq would pay for the war?

Iowa Caucus

Today is a big day in American politics, with the Iowa Caucus. I hope it marks the beginning of some desperately-needed change, culminating with a better man - or woman - in the White House. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a leader with courage and vision, who believes in the Constitution? My absentee ballot arrived today for the California Democratic primary on February 5. I'm looking forward to voting for a new president!

Hooray for California!

I applaud the State of California for suing the federal government, in an effort to force car makers to conform to tough cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. Attorney General Jerry Brown filed the lawsuit Wednesday in the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) denied the state a waiver from US law needed to enact its own efficiency targets. Fifteen other states are supporting California's action, including Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

The EPA - which under the Bush administration has dismantled hundreds of environmental protection laws enacted over several decades - says it wants to avoid "a confusing patchwork of different regulations across states." But California claims the EPA has "done nothing" to curb greenhouse gases. California wants to implement its own emissions law, requiring a 30 percent reduction in motor vehicle greenhouse gas emissions by 2016.

Previously, California has been allowed to set its own environmental targets in recognition of the "compelling and extraordinary conditions" the state faces. These "dangerous consequences from global warming" include damage to California's mountain snowpack, which supplies one-third of the states of drinking water. Further, miles of coastline and levees are threatened by rising sea levels.

Comments

[tinker]

How sad that so many journalists have lost their lives as well as the soldiers, in this long, tragic war. I hope this year's elections will help bring peace to all involved...
Happy Birthday to your young nephew - I pray he will have a swift and safe return to more neutral territory soon!
Also, praying that you're feeling much better now, dear Tara - watching old b&w movies is fun - but much more enjoyable when you're feeling 'in the pink.' Get well soon!~XOXO

[Amber]

"it seems many people have become desensitised to violence. Special effects in movies and violent video games have contributed to this disconnection between fantasy and reality."---
EXACTLY RIGHT. And I am afraid there is no turning back at this point. Raising kids in this atmosphere makes me sick and sad. :(

But now I have some thoughts I must post on my own blog. ;)
Because, as is SO OFTEN the case with you Tara, you make me think. I appreciate that. I hope you feel better soon!

;)ox

[My Melange]

Watched the Caucus last night. It is time for a change. I was particularly moved by both Obama and Huckabee's victory speaches. I agree, I am looking forward to a new MAN in the White House ;)

[Bibbi Forsman]

Hope you are recovered from the bronchitis! I appreciate so much your ability to look at the world with both loving and critical eye, at the beauty and joy and at the misery and pain. Wish I could put a vote for change, too!

[Gillian @ Indigo Blue]

I hope whomever takes over office makes right the issue of war, and puts an end to the destruction and madness. Over drinks in a bar tonight, we talked with the owner about George Bush. He was mentioning some poll he had heard about, and that Bush was named the world's number one terrorist. No one disagreed.
On a sidenote, San Fran, is on our list of places to visit in the next two months. And we have not yet been there. We are very much looking forward to it.
Kick that bronchitis to the curb you, we need Tara back in fine form.
xo
Gillian

[Rosa]

Oh, and PS Get well!!!

[Rosa]

I will have to agree with everything you said (including the list of great movies). America is in a bad place right now and we definitely need a stronger person leading us. It looks like, from the news out of Iowa, people are taking notice. Thank you! Finally. Are we finally waking up? Let's hope so. It's going to take such a long time to get out of what "we" have dug ourselves into the past eight years. But, at least, let's hope, we can get back on the right track with the next election. (I said that last time and was absolutely AMAZED with the outcome. We must be a nation of idiots just like people think.)

[Valerie]

Huckabee was just declared the winner in Iowa a short time ago. It is stated as a matter of fact in the news, that his sharp rise in the Republican party is due to the large number of evangelicals coming out in his support. Is this not partly how Bush got elected not only once, but twice?

I remember when I first realized that the actions of our current administration were beginning to turn the respect of the world against us. When discussing this with others, I was told repeatedly that those in other countries would understand that the American people and the actions of our government were NOT one and the same. But it is a significant number of the American population placing idiots in power is it not? It is other Americans turning a blind eye with their apathy.

Ok, now I'm all fired up. Time out. I'm going to chill out and watch Ugly Betty.

[Jacqueline]

At least 2008 will be the last year of President "Curious George"! Hope you feel better soon (and I just love the whole look of Vertigo too).

[Becca]

Tara, I'm sorry you're still not well. As one well acquainted with chronic bronchitis, I can certainly sympathize. I hope it clears up soon.

You are so right about the way we have become desensitized to violence. There is a definite disconnect as a product of media images and violent computer games.

I do hope your nephew comes home safely. The war is a tragedy all round. I too am looking forward to new leadership for this country.

[stephanie]

We are in such a mess with this awful war....I am not very hopeful that whomever we elect will be able to do anything much, we are so deeply entrenched.

I too applaud CA...often times the choices and decisions this state makes ends up being policy for the rest of us....

love to your nephew and may he return home safe, soon.

x...x

[artzyjudie]

I LOVE that Escape painting below!

[tut-tut]

The Bush administration: what can one say? It is all just a terrible debacle for the middle class, the poor; and our nation's reputation is in tatters around the world. We are hoping, but not hopeful, that the next election puts us on the road to mend so much that has been pillaged.

[Di Overton]

I had bronchitis for 6 weeks once and my doctor told me to smoke More cigarettes, you know those long brown things I still smoke. I tell you it cured my bronchitis. How many people do you know who have been prescribed cigarettes by their doctor? He said they were preferable to white cigarettes as they have saltpeter in them to keep them alight and that's what makes you cough.
Seriously though Tara - get well soon, it's horrible I know. Coughing up is the best thing to do, not very lady like I know but it works if you aren't a smoker :)

[Tammy]

I'm sending a batch of my virtual chicken soup and a hug. I must say those were great movie choices.

The war and its casualties makes me ill!

I'm very excited to vote!

I'm proud to be a Californian.

XXOO
Get well soon

[Philip]

I share all your distress over the US place in the World under the Bush administration. The leading choices for President in both parties is not a very progressive lot. The environment and global warming are not even among the top issues. No one is willing to say there first order of business would be to not only end the war in Iraq but to pass legislation to undue the attacks on the Constitution, reasserting the rule of law.

Denis Kucinicn is the only serious progressive among the bunch.
I hope they elect the best of a bad lot. Anyone would be better than Bush.

[jzr]

Sorry you're still ailing. Try fresh ginger tea simmered for about 2o minutes, then add lemon and honey! If you drink this several times a day it should knock that sucker out.

As far as the new goes ... it's all bad. I do think we are all desensitized to the violence. Television is one violent program after another. What are we evolving into??

[studio wellspring]

vertigo is one of my fave movies filmed in/about san francisco. i havne't seen it for several years, so you've reminded me it's about time.
you've also reminded me that we have the hope of change & the power to make change in the u.s. that many other citizens of the world don't have. even though some of our elected officials are very unfortunate, at least we're not forced against our wills to surrender everything to them & we're able to get them out of office with enough power-of-the-people. i hope this year's presidential election has the highest voter turn out ever.
and i hope you're feeling 100% better very soon!

[Cherie]

I'm always hopeful that each year's news will be better and brighter than the year before. Naive? Totally, but I still hope!!

I love old movies...the ones from the 50s are incomparable...Hitchcock was a master and I loved Mildred Pierce...an incredible movie...the first one I think I ever saw that had "badness" in it!!!

Hope you are feeling better soon!!!!!

[Di Overton]

Oh I think I started something with my Banksy post. We are as you say disconnected between fantasy and reality. In the UK we see appalling sights on the news and even on TV shows and we see so many that we are no longer shocked. Look at the Madeline McCann story. A white child seems to get a whole lot more sympathy than a black child. This is not to say that it isn't tragic but white middle class British kids do not suffer in the vast numbers that poor 3rd world children do, so we don't see as many images.
It is a sad state of affairs that we human beings have come to this. I am ashamed to say that I myself have become hardened to these images. This is the reason I posted the Bansky image and said The Jury Is Still Out on This One. I really don't know what can be done to make people sit up and take notice, I just wish I did.

[Marjorie]

Bonjour! I'm so delighted to find your blog!

I really enjoyed this thoughtful and well-written post. I especially appreciate your mention of the Reporters Without Borders statistics. The murder of journalists seldom gets much coverage; the general public often doesn't make the vital connection between a free press and a true democracy. Killing a reporter doesn't just kill a person -- it threatens the very foundations of American society, as it's an explicit blow to the pursuit of truth and justice.

On a different note...I once read that Edith Head actually didn't design many of the costumes in many of her later films (including Breakfast at Tiffany's and Sabrina). Apparently, she had become powerful enough to force the studio to slap her name on a project, even if a lowly assistant or unknown designer (say, Hubert de Givenchy) actually did all the work and served as the creative force behind a particularly spectacular wardrobe collection.

Salut,
Marjorie

[Jeanie]

Happy New Year! What a delight to vist your blog! It's absolutely lovely and I know I will enjoy it all the more as I dig deeper!

I hope your bronchitis/cold run their course quickly. I have been through that over the holiday and it's no fun! However, since you are watching all my favorite movies, I know you are having as easy a time of it as one can have, given the whole coughing-and-feeling miserable thing!

[Lenka]

Seems like New Year bring more bad news to us... how sad! I just hope that our next president will have more brain.

[fleur]

Take very good care of yourself and hope you're better soon.

Most American news shows are controlled by corporations with
political agendas, not because they are so political, but because they want their way of life preserved: Rake in all the money, ignore public safety or good and pay no taxes. They don't want to contend with an audience that has any real conscience or real facts, so they don't provide any real information.

Best wishes for a safe tour of duty for your nephew.