Cultural Competence? Moi?

[featherynscale]

We watched The Wicker Man last night, the original one. As unlikely as it seems, I'd not seen it before. I'm guessing that this is a film that plays very differently depending on the cultural context the viewer has. About halfway through, I'm looking at triadruid, and saying "What kind of movie is this supposed to be?". He reads the box blurb to me; "The Citizen Kane of Horror Films," is what it says. I take a moment to consider what Citizen Kane would be like as a horror film. Then I realize he's saying that the movie we're watching is a horror film. I would not otherwise have realized this, mostly because it's full of folk-singing, and happy children skipping and dancing. Somebody did not study at the Edgar Allen Poe School of Single Effect, I'm thinking.

Anyway, who are we supposed to be sympathetic to in this film? Sgt. Howe does get killed at the end of the film, but he's also sort of an ass throughout. The Summerisle people get most of the film's attention, with all their little cultural oddities, and they seem like a pretty likeable bunch. But then, you know, human sacrifice (and particularly the sacrifice of someone who doesn't buy into their system), which is not fun times with the family. And, as triadruid points out, it's difficult to imagine Christopher Lee in a role where he's not the bad guy.

All in all, it was a little like watching the Rocky Horror Picture Show, except that RHPS is morally ambiguous and promotes the 'bad guy' over the 'good guys' on purpose, where this seems to stumble into it accidentally. Ah well, maybe it's just the 70s.

Comments

[greektoomey.livejournal.com]

I loved the song about the inn-keeper's daughter.

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

Heh. The songs were brilliant. And mostly rude. I kept thinking, hey, I should learn that song. Also, somebody (possibly The Sneaker Pimps) re-did the "How Do" song, which I had always liked, and now have context for (and I like it better now -- that was a fun scene).

[greektoomey.livejournal.com]

I was exposed to The Wicker Man on my first European holiday, by my lovely hostess uberbitsch. I must meet her brother, who has proclaimed that the film is his favorite musical ever.

[lilia-blackbear.livejournal.com]

Yep, Sneaker Pimps. In fact, I remember druidevo saying a few years ago, "There is this song called 'How Do' that the Sneaker Pimps sing," and several Pagans staring at him blankly and saying, "Dood, The Wicker Man."

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

Also, who is that in your icon, and what does it refer to?

[greektoomey.livejournal.com]

It refers to a story told by Henry Rollins on his DVD, Shock and Awe - The Tour. He was hired by Ben Folds to collaborate with William Shatner on Shatner's album "Has Been," which Folds produced. After recording the song "I Can't Get Behind That," Shatner suggested adding a guitarist, and Rollins was gobsmacked when Folds just casually called up legendary guitarist Adrian Belew and got him to come down to the studio and lay down a guitar track.

The faces are Ben Folds and Adrian Belew. (I'm assuming you recognized Rollins and Shatner.) The words are Rollins' recollection of Folds' description of the phone call.

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

I recognized Rollins and Shatner because their names appear above their heads. I'm pretty much faceblind - I recognize people 'in the wild' mostly by their general shape, the way they move, and their usual coloration. When people change their hairstyle radically, I generally don't have any idea who they are until they speak or move. Even then, sometimes, not.

So thank you for the story -- I might not have ever sorted it out otherwise. :)

[greektoomey.livejournal.com]

You're welcome.

By the way, if you've any potential interest in Henry Rollins' spoken word stand-up, I highly recommend renting and watching any DVD you happen to chance upon. He's a funny, funny guy.

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

He is a funny, funny guy. I randomly stumbled into one of his spoken-word shows in 1995 or so, and was exceedingly impressed.

[wildnsquirrelly.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure it was Oct 31st of '95. I particularly enjoyed his Peace in the Middle East via. Circle Jerk proposal.