Hmm. I guess in my mind there is a bit of a difference. If your whole shtick is "I'm a jerk, I'm going to say things to potentially offend you, deal with it," then you're walking a finer line between love and hate than just any artist--to me, at least.
There is this really interesting thing that David Denby says in Snark that just rang in my ears when I heard that bit, which I'll try (probably pretty poorly) to paraphrase: basically, that your position of power in the world dictates what kind of things are in good taste to ridicule--if you're the little guy making fun of a more powerful guy, then you have more creative license. But when you're the big fish attacking all the little fish, it comes off as assholish. A rich, successful guy making fun of women trying to lose weight just reads as snarky and mean for no reason.
That being said, however, I wouldn't say that I have given up on his work forever--if he was to make something good again, we could probably make up.
I would tend to agree with you there, if the things he was making lately were things I liked. I have to agree with Gabe that his standup was THE WURST. I can't listen to someone make fat jokes for 8,000 years and then defend their right to be an asshole. If you're going to be a jerk, at least be funny about it, if that is your job.
I'm kind of excited for the end of the world to happen because I have the best end of the world playlist planned for my RIP, World party. I've been honing it over the previous 8,000 end-of-the-worlds.
So I am going through a massive breakup right now, and feel pretty much miserable at least once on any given day. Ergo, I'm pretty grateful for any bit of levity I can get.
I have to say that this blog helps me out a lot in that department. I'm not able to comment here much because of work, but I read most of the posts, and it really helps me, especially after work, in the stark aloneness of my new situation. I'm not saying it's the only thing that's getting me through it, but man, it really helps sometimes. So, yeah, I guess just more of that?
I agree with most of you who have said that the movement needs a clear voice and message other than outrage to really achieve great things.
However, this is why I believe this will not happen: so much of our hope and belief has been co-opted by the media, advertisers and politicians that we simply do not trust anyone who takes on a position of leadership. They seem to corrupt almost instantaneously. The same for really believing in that you may achieve some clear policy goals. It feels almost naive to issue a list of demands in a system that is maligned so deeply.
BUT that being said, the movement does hold some power. I do not believe that the tea party really had a clear agenda either. But their protests realigned the republican party and changed the way that reps presented policy and what they believed their constituents wanted. If the OWS people can continue to make their voices heard without giving up, then they may well do the same.
Okay, end of my rant.
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