Joss' fascination with torture ?
POSTED BY: TheSomnambulist
UPDATED: Monday, December 27, 2004 17:15
VIEWED: 35028
PAGE 6 of 13
Some fascinating points of view.
However I do think the torture scenes have been taken out of context though and applied to real life, and removed from the confines of TV.
I enjoy all those shows depicting 'a kind of torture' because quite frankly they're nothing like realistic.
I'm only imagining here but in my minds eye I can visualise far more horrific images of horror and torture merely from the point of view of my own personal fears.
It's this that I was trying to provoke. Wether or not Joss has some sort of personal fear of torture. To have produced three shows over , what a ten year span, and to have included in all three a significant torture scene, interested me.
Kinda like when you watch enough Hitchcock you become aware of his obsessions, namely the suspense, the leading blonde who is beautiful, tragic and made to suffer physically, and mentally, all these punctuated with his keen eye for the perfect murder.
A pattern immerges in an artists' work and I was wondering in this case wether for Joss it was torture. But it could be a league of things, as was said: Birthdays !
As to wether watching a show with torture in it makes you unbalanced - personally I think not. It's just not real enough to evoke those sorts of emotions... I mean it's a glass-fronted box sat in the corner of the room.
Of course that depends on how well you can remove yourself from a topic in a TV show to a topic it relates to in the real world. Personally I avoid watching the news because it's portrayal of violence is far more disturbing, not for it's realism per se, but more for the manner to which it is glossed up for us. (3d animated graphics simulate what may have happened in the event of an accident) - to me that's creepy. But I digress.
I'm impressed by the manner in which this has been debated. It's good to see we can all express differeing opinions without loosing our composure, and remaining civil.
I'd have loved to carry on here but I am a work, and I must get back to it. Apologies for undefined ideas and notions.
TheSomnambulist
www.cirqus.com
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"I'm impressed by the manner in which this has been debated. It's good to see we can all express differeing opinions without loosing our composure, and remaining civil."
Yeah but reading this thread has left me feeling like I dont want to post here for a while. It was taking a strange turn yesterday and I was curious to see what posts were added since. I dunno...but I am only comming back to this site for news and such. I feel like if I said "I like War Stories" than I would have to defend myself. That isnt why I come to this place.
"..it is my very favorite gun."
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Hey Gorramreavers
Sorry you feel this way. Personally I don't see you have to defend yourself for liking 'War Stories'
I aint judging you, or anyone else for that matter - so if it means anything you can always shoot the breeze with me.
On a side not The Train Job also had images of torture; when Niska opens the door to reveal his nephew hanging upside down! That's surely just as violent isn't it? Yet none seem to be concerned with this? It doesn't bother me I must admit - but I'm wondering how the boundaries of acceptability are drawn?
Anyone wish to clarify?
Meantime Gorramreavers, I hope you continue to post.
TheSomnambulist
www.cirqus.com
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Thanks THESOMNAMBULIST,
I was lurking for a min to see if anyone responded to my post. :) My post had nothing to do with what you posted before. I have always enjoyed reading what you have to say for that matter.
Im not going to get into specifics or point fingers..I just didnt like how I felt about reading some of the thread. No biggie...carry on.
"..it is my very favorite gun."
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I kind of agree with Gorramreavers, I felt a little defensive after I posted above, but apparently I did not explain myself indepth enough. I thank Rabit and Maugwai for clarifying my point, I agree with basically all they said. I am not taking it personally, but I was surprised at how my love for an episode was taken so badly! I do not revel in torture but I did like seeing how the characters each handled their situations and how the crew knew what was going on and were willing to risk it to save their own. And Purplebelly, in your reply to me you mentioned a reversed scene and your fears were correct, I have no idea what you were referring to.
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Quote:
Originally posted by PurpleBelly:Quote:
Originally posted by ReeQueen:
... why else would you mention "European sensibility" as if there was such a thing?), which I think is bloody ridiculous, to tell you the truth.Quote:Used in this thread to emphasise that the opinion is not based on a moral stance alone. The choice of adjective is explained elsewhere; it is an acknowledgement that sensibility may vary with education and experience.
sensibility: peculiar susceptibility to a pleasurable or painful impression (as from praise or a slight) -- often used in plural
Okay, let me try this:
Sensibility (dictionary definition): 1. The ability to feel or perceive. 2. a) Keen intellectual perception: the sensibility of a painter to color. b) Mental or emotional responsiveness toward something, such as the feelings of another. 3. Receptiveness to impression, whether pleasant or unpleasant; acuteness of feeling. Often used in the plural: “The sufferings of the Cuban people shocked our sensibilities” (George F. Kennan). 4. Refined awareness and appreciation in matters of feeling. 5. The quality of being affected by changes in the environment.
Which of these definitions do you mean? I have my own perspective, which means I think you're referring to def. #3 - what you have implied by saying "those of us with European sensibilities" (to paraphrase) is that you, and others from your geographical cohort, have sensibilities that those who don't share your geographical location do not share. I find this to be a form of geographical snobbery which, given the vast amount of information any individual can pick up from many different sources, is a little insular. You may not be judging, per se, but there is a sneaking suspicion that you find yourself, and your sensibility, just that much better than those of us who enjoy War Stories. Which, again, a bit silly to base such an opinion of us on a single episode of television.
I am perfectly aware of my inability to be concise, please bear with me....
Naturally, everyone has perspectives and opinions based on education and experience, however, I would not propose that everyone who lives, say, in Salt Lake City, Utah, has the same "sensibility" as I do, because I tend to be unusual in that I'm a liberal that's so far to the left of most liberals, I should be standing on the right hand of Attila the Hun. There is no such thing as a "Utah" sensibility, although (I admit) there may be such a thing as a "Mormon" sensibility. Breakdown by religion is much more accurate than mere physical location, and even then, pshaw.
Despite my argument, though, I do understand what you're trying to say. I just don't agree, or, really, like it that much.
So. I watch the History Channel a lot. And I always watch the history of torture shows, not to mention Wild West Tech and it's episode on hangings. I admit it, I like history and all that entails. Sign me up for the S&M Thursday night meetings! ;-D
"Today we get to meet the real you." Niska - War Stories
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Quote:
[\B]I find this to be a form of geographical snobbery which, given the vast amount of information any individual can pick up from many different sources, is a little insular. You may not be judging, per se, but there is a sneaking suspicion that you find yourself, and your sensibility, just that much better than those of us who enjoy War Stories. Which, again, a bit silly to base such an opinion of us on a single episode of television.
Thanks for saying this ReeQueen, part of what I was getting at before.
"..it is my very favorite gun."
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What Joss is obsessed with is power.
To me, the point of torture scenes is to show how the "victim" can avoid complete powerlessness by making jokes in the face of someone who seeks to eradicate his/her humanity.
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Quote:
Originally posted by ReeQueen:Quote:
Originally posted by PurpleBelly:Quote:
sensibility: peculiar susceptibility to a pleasurable or painful impression (as from praise or a slight) -- often used in plural
Which of these definitions do you mean?
The definition in my original which is Merriam-Webster. You quote my original, but appear not to have read it. If you are asking me to choose another, I decline.
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Quote:Please follow the direction to elsewhere in this thread contained in my original. In addtion to an explanation of the choice of adjective, you will find a reply from a UK resident who fully approves of the depiction of torture as entertainment.
Originally posted by ReeQueen:
I find this to be a form of geographical snobbery which, given the vast amount of information any individual can pick up from many different sources, is a little insular.
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