Mediaboss Marketing

My entertainment options this week were a movie in which liberal elites hunt down and murder deplorables for sport deaths that are ultra gory and played for laughs and a Hulu documentary in which Hillary Clinton explains with a chuckle and a smile why the policies supported by her 2016 opponent, Bernie Sanders policies like universal healthcare and prison reform, which would help countless Americans are just not doable. In other words, essentially the same thing.

The Hunt was supposed to be released last fall, but it was put on hold after some people wondered if a movie about political polarity and divisiveness in contemporary society, in which a bunch of poor people die violently was really going to be a good idea. Released now, the controversy is its main selling point. And since we are in the beginning stages of a pandemic for which the United States is not remotely prepared and in which the uninsured, elderly, and poor are much more likely to die well, lets just say the timing creates a certain tone.

The co-writer and producer Damon Lindelof who recently read the legendary anti-fascist comic Watchmen and thought, huh, okay, but what if instead we made the cops the heroes? has created a world where a group of rich, NPR-listening liberals, who bicker about gendered language and whether black or African-American is the more acceptable term, drug, abduct, and murder Trump voters for sport. One of the Trump voters actually isnt a Trump voter but is brought there by mistake, and not being a redneck hillbilly idiot, she manages to fight back. I think thats a metaphor. For something.

Ultimately the film wants to pretend to be a commentary on cancel culture and our new culture wars. It turns out the whole plan for liberal elites to hunt deplorables becomes a reality because deplorables cant take a joke about liberal elites hunting deplorables. The slapstick deaths are supposed to indicate that hey, were just playing around here, rather than show a callous disregard for human life on the part of the film-makers. And if you dont find it funny to watch a woman impaled on spikes or a man blown up on a landmine or a woman choking to death after shes poisoned, you must be one of those humorless cancel culture freaks who need to learn to take a joke.

But of course if youre from and of the coasts its easy to believe these new culture wars are just about a difference of opinion about gun control or abortion and not about the hopelessness and loss of meaning and instability causing the deaths of despair killing white middle Americans without college degrees through suicide and addiction. Its similar to how one segment of the population will remember the culture wars of the 1990s as a discussion about whether a crucifix of Jesus Christ submerged in urine should be considered art, and not about whether the thousands of gay people, IV drug users, hemophiliacs, and others deemed ultimately disposable by the government and society should have been allowed to die from Aids. Or as a debate about whether children should be exposed to vulgarity in music, and not about whether black people or people in poor neighborhoods should be murdered, brutalized, and harassed by the police forces that claim to protect them.

Its not clear that anyone involved with this film has ever even been to the south. The star, Betty Gilpin, plays a working-class woman named Crystal who spends the entirety of the film holding her jaw as if she is trying not to let any spit from the chewing tobacco dribble out, and yet at no time does she partake in chewing tobacco. Its like she saw a picture of someone once and thought, Oh, that must be how they do it down there, but no one explained to her its not just that all southerners have a severe underbite. But then no one involved in the production thought it might be weird for the action of the film to play out in Croatia, a country still dealing with the aftermath of its own uh, lets call it political polarity and divisiveness, I guess.

Im sure the millionaires who endorsed billionaire Mike Bloomberg in the Democratic primaries will watch this movie on their private jets and have a good chuckle at the depiction of clueless and out-of-touch elites heading to Croatia on their private plane with a cargo full of white trash. Oh my God, thats so us! I also enjoy a little caviar snack while on my way to my private manor in the Balkans. And then theyll go back to deciding which underprivileged group should receive their charity this month instead of just paying their taxes, which could fund an adequate public healthcare system that would keep people from having to beg online to afford chemotherapy.

Cinemas across the US are currently closing because of coronavirus; perhaps only the elites who can afford private screenings of The Hunt in their palatial estates will be able to see it. In the meantime, the rest of us are about to go on quarantine lockdown, forced to sustain ourselves on whatever mediocre bilge Netflix has put out this week. I think thats a metaphor. For something.

Link:
The Hunt depicts elites hunting the poor for sport. The 'satire' feels a little too real - The Guardian

March 11, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) Right now, LifeSite is in the midst of its Spring fundraising campaign. These campaigns always remind me of the hard work that goes onbehind the scenes to bring you the truth aboutfamily, faith, culture, and life.The dedication of our staff to the pro-life cause is truly inspiring.

It is an absolute pleasure and a joy to work with thegifted people here. Thats why Iencourage you to watch the video below. It is a powerfulcall to arms for readers like you toput on your armor and step out with the entire LifeSite family onto the battlefield for Christ.

If you join our Sustain Life program and become a regular monthly donor, your gift will be doubled for the next year thanks to a generous donation from a LifeSite support. Will you consider becoming a Sustainer? It is crucial to our success in the culture wars to have as much ammunitionas possible. Can you step up and play a leading role in the fight for truth?Click here to become a monthly sustainer:https://give.lifesitenews.com/sustainlife

I want take a few moments today to highlight just some of the phenomenal people you just saw in that videowho help make LifeSite such an effectiveforce for truth.

LifeSites Washington D.C. correspondent Doug Mainwaring has been with us for several years. His conversion storyis truly amazing. Decades ago, Dougdivorced his wife and left his children so he could live the homosexual lifestyle. Not until he realized how empty and unsatisfying that lifestyle was did Doug come back to Christ and rebuild his family. He and I discussed his awesome journey during an episode of my podcast last September. Be sure to watch it! Dougs transformation from a selfish gay man to a selfless father who provided his two young boys with a sturdy homein is nothing short of remarkable.

LifeSite editor Claire Chretien is likewise an inspiring figure. Still in her 20s, Claire is a strong voice for the unborn, having written hundreds of articles for LifeSite over the past several years.But it wasnt until sheattended college at the University of Alabama that sheembracedthe pro-life cause.In recent months, Claire has interviewed some of the most well-known defenders of faith and family in the world, including Chinese Cardinal Zen and Alexander Tschugguel, the young man who tossed the Pachamama idol into the Tiber during the Amazonian Synod.

Lastly, you should know that I too spent many years away from God when I was a young man. Having lived a hedonistic lifestyle, I know first hand the despair that results from livingapart from our Creator and His laws. But, by his grace, I was brought to my knees and shown the truth. I knowthe temptations our gravely diseased culture puts in the face of everyday people. We need to take a stand and fight the lies and deceit the devil is using todrag countless souls to hell. Join me during this Spring campaign by making a donationand we willmake a differencefor family, for faith, and for life. MayGod bless you.

See more here:
WATCH: Join LifeSite on the battlefield in 2020 - Lifesite

Last week my cousin started a group text with three other cousins, two childhood friends and myself, as a virtual support group during social distancing and a way to stay connected. At first it was basically for memes and relevant articles we found interesting or informative but it wasnt long before the group devolved into sharing screenshots and anecdotes of the frustrating conversations they were having with their boomer/silent generation parents and relatives.

Id been having similar, exasperating conversations with stubborn loved ones for weeks. I understand that facing your mortality is terrifying and often we react with one of the most powerful mechanisms the human psyche has in the face of fear and death denial. Realizing you are the next generation in line to crash on the shores of humanity cannot be easy. But what became evident both in my interactions and those in the text group was how much politics has infected every aspect of our lives in America, even the way we view something as bipartisan as a virus.

The left-wing garden variety boomers, guys like my dad, old school Yankees, seemed to take it seriously but behaved like they werent in danger. They paid lip service to the seriousness of it, but the story hadnt been localized and therefore, couldnt happen to them. My friend said, Every time Id talk to my mother-in-law shed just be getting home.

My cousin told the story of her dad getting a computer to work from home and then visiting five thrift stores to find a desk. Frustrated she had to explain, Dad youre not supposed to be OUT.

Another cousin offered to shop for her parents and told them to stay home and my aunt, a strong Irishwoman responded, Yeah thats not happening. Shes since come around, but it took a day of bombarding her with well-reported science articles.

My mom literally said to me you have nothing to worry about if your immune system is strong, a friend told me. I told her mom, dads immune system is compromised and she said, yeah but he doesnt go anywhere I do all the shopping.

Americans arent alone in their frustrations with their parents and grandparents. In China the young were more concerned about the coronavirus than their older kin in the beginning of the outbreak. The following meme was circulating:

As attitudes about the severity of the situation evolved, so did the meme.

The denial from our relatives who leaned right was different. My opinions about The Culture have landed me in the thick of right-wing media in the past three years and my cousin explained to the group that I spoke fluent boomer but even I felt hopeless when trying to get through to the MAGA boomers I cared about the most. I always thought my friends on the left were exaggerating when they said Fox News was poisoning their parents brains until my expressions of love and concern were being met with hostility and contempt. Perhaps this is a normal reaction to fear but this went beyond denial. This was politics.

The opinions ranged from a more center-right wait and see attitude to a host of different rebuttals, from the left-wing media are trying to tank the economy to the coronavirus is a Deep State plan to undermine Trump (one that apparently involves killing people all over the world). Most everyone I knew who identified as #MAGA told some version of a story that Chinese scientists made the virus in a lab with bats that they then took home to make bat soup.

These are some of the most educated people I know. Pillars in their community. And theyre spouting conspiracy theories that are batshit crazy (pun intended). Despite the fact that we were expressing concern for their life, they would ridicule us for staying home and say we were overreacting to media alarmism.

It struck me that I was having similarly frustrating conversations with my left-wing relatives during the entire Russia hacked our elections phase of the news cycle that now feels like decades ago. To boomers who rely on mainstream media as their only way to process an uncertain world, more and more they accept whatever conspiracy theories the media peddles in order to avoid facing their own cognitive dissonance.

Believing the coronavirus is no big deal could cost these people their lives. Honestly, thank God for Tucker Carlson, who seemed to be the only Fox News pundit who broke rank early on and told his audience they needed to take the Chinese virus very seriously.

I sent his video to the group text to share with their loved ones. Unlike us snowflakes who believed lyin CNN, Tucker was one of them. He spoke to them. Until President Trump addressed the nation from the Oval Office, he was effectively the only one who could warn them of the danger without forcing them to admit that Trump might be wrong or lying.

Pandemics dont care about our silly culture wars. They are the great leveler. They reveal our weaknesses and our strengths as nations, communities and individuals.

A moving video by Giovanni Locatelli of the obituary pages in the Bergamo daily newspaper showed the difference in pages between February 9 and March 13. On February 9, the obituaries took up one-and-a-half pages. By March 10, they were spread across 10. More than anything, this drove the point home visually that this isnt just the flu.

Im writing through tears because the people at the most risk are our grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, our blood. Whats the proper response? In unprecedented times, no one really knows. But I do know we stand a better chance if we face this crisis head on, rather than deny that its happening.

Boomers if youre reading this: your kids and grandkids arent expressing concern because were overreacting or brainwashed by liberal media were saying it because we love you.

More:
OK boomer, but you're in danger - The Spectator USA

Pasteconomic catastrophes like the ones that began with stock crashes in 1929 and 2008 offer guidance on how to weather and lessen such storms. In each case, after stocks plummeted, many experts argued economic fundamentals were sound and the larger economy wasnt at risk. They were wrong. In each case, market drops, combined with other negative influences, tanked spending, profits, growth and employment.

We need to remember those lessons now.

The United States responded slowly to the health crisis of coronavirus. It cannot make the same blunder with the economic threat. But officials began too small, with a laughable $8.5 billion package, and a $100 billion bipartisan bill that passed the House last week is, while crucial, still too little.

That bill, now before the Senate, will expand federal Medicaid spending, and provide federal reimbursement for paid sick, family and medical leave. It will make coronavirus testing free when the test kits get out and extend unemployment insurance and food stamp eligibility, which are crucial.

President Donald Trumps declaration of a national emergency Friday was a productive move that could get disaster aid to individuals and families especially hurt by the illness. The 90-day extension of the April 15 tax deadline will also relieve financial pressure.

But more will need to be done, more rescue efforts undertaken as the effect of the virus works it way through our economy. Trumps suggested suspension of payroll taxes deserves consideration, but the corporate side of that cut must incentivize companies to resist furloughs and layoffs. And a quick cash grant to all Americans, part of an $850 billion plan promoted by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, could provide needed sustenance and optimism to the nation.

The federal government could also freeze all college loan repayments. The state could cancel monthly sales tax payments due Friday for companies forced to close or curtail operations due to the current restrictions. And significant funding must be allocated to help states and municipalities cope with the expenses of coronavirus and the loss of revenue.

Go inside New York politics.

By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy.

Taking these steps, even though it could mean spending trillions of dollars, could stave off disaster.

The United States may yet have time to prevent a coronavirus-caused economic catastrophe. Republicans and Democrats in Congress and Trump must resist pinching pennies and promoting culture wars and do the next right thing.

The editorial board

More here:
Opportunity to head off trouble - Newsday

It is perhaps unsurprising that Shakespeare, the most canonical of dead white males, should feature in Americas culture wars. But why so prominently, both now and in earlier phases of the USs struggles with race, class and identity during the 19th and 20th centuries? Why should Americans care so much about an Englishman who never visited its shores? In this sprightly and enthralling book, James Shapiro argues persuasively that 19th-century American textbooks, such as McGuffeys Reader (1836), which had sold more than 120m copies by the first world war, and Scotts Lessons in Elocution, played a major role in the process of domestication, for they excerpted many of the most celebrated speeches from Shakespeares plays. Reassuringly, it also helped that the language of Shakespeare resembled the familiar cadences of the King James Version of the Bible, published in 1611.

Regardless of the most obviously transgressive elements in Shakespeare interracial marriage in Othello; themes of incest and suicide in Hamlet; crossdressing and gender instability in the comedies the playwright was firmly incorporated as a defining element within Americas own heritage. Abraham Lincoln devoured the plays, at first largely on the page, and could recite them by the ream, as could the presidents assassin, the Shakespearean actor John Wilkes Booth, whose staple roles were Richard III, Hamlet and Macbeth. An earlier president, John Quincy Adams, had become fixated on Desdemona a white woman with an unseemly lust for a black man as the real cause of Othellos misfortunes. Taking an alternative tack, Mary Preston, a critic with Confederate sympathies, solved the problem by insisting that Othello was, after all, a white man.

In the late 19th and early 20th century, when nativists white Protestant Americans with British, Nordic or Germanic ancestors obsessed over what they saw as a destructive wave of immigration of inferior racial stock, namely Latins from southern Europe and Jews and Slavs from eastern Europe, Shakespeare came to be treasured as an embodiment of Anglo-Saxon values. Charles Mills Gayley published Shakespeare and the Founders of Liberty in America, and Henry Cabot Lodge Sr claimed that it was Americans, not the modern-day English nation, who spoke the authentic language of Shakespeare, which had been transplanted to the New World in the early 17th century. In response, a valiant attempt in New York in 1916 to use The Tempest as the basis of a supposedly more welcoming pro-immigrant pageant foundered on its condescending depiction of Caliban: an emblem of the aliens to be goaded into assimilation.

The identification with Shakespeare continues, albeit without its former racial inflections. Indeed, as Shapiro notes, there are today almost 150 summer Shakespeare festivals held across the US. Until now his work has been common ground for liberals and conservatives. Under George W Bush, one of the flagship projects of the National Endowment for the Arts was Shakespeare in American Communities. Republicans can find plenty of red meat in Shakespeare as his political outlook was, broadly speaking, conservative and hierarchical; but radicals are equally able to perceive in Shakespeare The Merchant of Venice notwithstanding a non-judgmental openness to the human predicament and warm empathy for a variety of types and conditions. But this common ground is at risk of erosion.

Oskar Eustiss 2017 modern-dress production of Julius Caesar in Central Park featured a mob wearing Make Rome Great Again baseball caps, and a Caesar dressed in a business suit and overlong tie, who is married to a tall, Slavic-accented Calpurnia. The problem, of course, comes with the pivotal scene of the assassination of this Trump-like Caesar. Although the play explores the dark, unexpected consequences of tyrannicide, such ambiguities were lost on populist Fox News pundits and on Steve Bannon the author, it transpires, of a leaden adaptation of Coriolanus set in a Los Angeles convulsed by race riots, who emerges here as a green-eyed Shakespeare-wannabe.

Nevertheless, as Shapiro amply demonstrates, for Americans the politics of Shakespeare are not confined to the public realm, but have enormous relevance in the sphere of private life. The Taming of the Shrew, a troubling comedy of patriarchal mastery, provides the starting point for an intriguing chapter focused on the hit Broadway musical Kiss Me, Kate. This show was produced in 1948, in the immediate aftermath of the war, when the disruption of traditional gender roles brought about by total war had not yet been stilled. Shapiro shows how a team of marginal figures the songwriter Cole Porter (a married closeted homosexual), Bella Spewack (a female dramatist, then a rarity) and the producer Arnold Saint Subber (also gay) collaborated, not without niggling tensions, to subvert the tale of Katherina and Petruchio, with a mixed race cast as well as daringly suggestive lyrics. Yet only five years later, in a more conformist America where traditional gender roles had been reintroduced, the Hollywood film of Kiss Me Kate eliminated several of the destabilising motifs found in the Broadway version.

The gender politics associated with Shakespeare remain an abiding feature of the USs culture wars. It was Monica Lewinskys coded Valentines Day personal ad of 1997 in the Washington Post invoking Romeo and Juliet that reignited her intimacies with the president and led ultimately to Bill Clintons impeachment and Senate trial. The contortions undergone in contriving an acceptable ending for Shakespeare in Love bring into focus the skewed ethical compass of the films producer, Harvey Weinstein: a bullying predator on the casting couch, but hyper-sensitive to the ways of a middle America leery about adultery. The tinkering worked, and its success yields insight into the scale of American Shakespearophilia. Shapiro estimates from the box office receipts that roughly 10% of the adult population of the US saw the film during its 33-week run. Nevertheless, after the recent furore surrounding Eustiss Julius Caesar, Shakespeares status within Republican parts of America has now become strangely precarious and uncertain.

Shakespeare in a Divided America is published by Faber (RRP 20). To order a copy go to guardianbookshop.com. Free UK p&p over 15.

Read the original post:
Shakespeare in a Divided America by James Shapiro review the Bard and the culture wars - The Guardian