Link
But were afraid to ask?
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51 min 6 sec Sep 11, 2007
As Punk disappeared and the Mod and Ska revival faded, in the mid 80s, football hooligans in Britain morphed from Doc Marten wearing Skinheads to proto-mulletted, Pringle sweatered ‘Casuals’. Worse than the horrible violence they stirred up were their terrible sartorial inclinations and, unintentionally camp, bouffant hairdos.
This celebrated documentary followed the most famous contemporary gang, West Ham’s ICF or Inter City Firm, so called because their members were aspiring, middle class, season ticket holders who traveled to away matches on the Inter City rail network.
It was the epitome of the worst of Thatcher’s Britain and as such is an historical piece that transcends its narrow subject matter.
Channel 4
48 min 37 sec Aug 28, 2007
This is the first of a 3 part documentary series, by Jon Ronson (the rest are also on Google Video), which was 3 years in the making. Ronson uses his superficially nerdy demeanor and Gonzo style journalism to elicit candid responses from interviewees who have their guard down.
The topic here is the acceptance of crank ideas such as new age mysticism, by the military, due the openness to new methods after failing to win in Vietnam. At times the documentary seems like parody, but despite being about a lunatic fringe who believe that soldiers can be trained to do such things at communicate psychically with animals, it shows a serious point.
Each one of the, actually quite likable but mad, people that are interviewed represents a uniquely American cultural stereotype, Texan cowboy, West Coast hippie, Pro Wrestler style martial arts fan. As such they are able to take crazy ideas and make them palatable to a supposedly conservative organization such as the military, by making them feel American.
If this is a real, albeit extreme reflection of the reality of the military’s ability to be influenced by irrational ideas that seem culturally acceptable, then ideas that are more widespread in the US but not in the rest of the world, such as extremist Christianity could also damage its efficacy. When the majority of the worlds military expenditure cannot create armies that can win a relatively small war in Iraq, then perhaps the services should be looking at what ideas they are open to.
www.channel4.com
48 min 2 sec – Aug 14, 2007
Richard Dawkins’ follow up series to the Root of Evil, tackles superstition in general, instead of organized religion. The series is currently being aired on TV in the UK, here is the first part.
Unfortunately one of the more dramatic scenes from the film, where a psychic is shown to be an out and out fraud, had to be cut for legal reasons. This film is more cheery than ‘the Root of Evil, and you almost feel sorry for some of those interviewed. But Dawkins does well to avoid the temptation of trying to justify science in terms of fashionable new age crap, to win friends. The result is ultimately less patronizing to those who are clearly deluded.
Thanks James.
Comments Off on Richard Dawkins, The Enemies Of Reason, Part 1 – Slaves To Superstition religion, science, society
49 min 16 sec – Aug 15, 2007
I had mixed feelings about posting this link, on the one hand I found the documentary compulsive viewing, but I wasn’t sure whether it was exploitative. Ultimately, the piece survives on its own merit as it does inform and treats the half ton man as a human being.
1 hr 0 min 7 sec – Jun 6, 2007
A profile of one organization dedicated to rebuilding New Orleans during the first year after Katrina.
24 min 46 sec – Jul 23, 2007
www.myspace.com
An examination of why people laugh at sick jokes.
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Examines capital punishment in Texas through the case of Scott Pannetti a paranoid schizophrenic.
Running time: 27 mins.