briand@tekig1.UUCP (Brian Diehm) (07/20/84)
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My thanks to Mr. Whitney, for restating his position. As modified I find
not only that I agree with it, but that it reveals something about which I have
not yet been able to formulate an opinion. I think it could bear some discus-
sion here, but I'm pretty gunshy right now, so if you think my postings are
pretentious or snobby, be prepared. If offended, please hit the 'n' key RIGHT
NOW, just like was recommended to me by so many :-)
David Whitney objects to manipulation in movies, and he cites " The China
Syndrome" as a movie example and a "Quincy" episode as a TV example. In the
past I have found examples of manipulation, if that's what it is, to be very
objectionable.
For example, I found "Terms of Endearment" to be very manipulative, in
that despite the fact that I could not establish any care for the characters
I found they were trying desparately to move me to tears. Well, when one is
aware of the tricks of the trade, it seems pretty reasonable to find them
rather offensive.
But then came "The Natural." They pulled every trick in the book, and
then made up some more. Was I offended? No! I was with them all the way,
even though I knew exactly what they were doing and how.
Now, both these examples are rather different forms of manipulation than
that pointed out by Mr. Whitney, in that these are emotional manipulation and
his examples are socio/political. However, if I can be manipulated in the one
area and also offended there, cannot the same sort of thing happen to us all
in the socio/political area as well? Cannot some be offended by the same thing
that others will willingly co-opt with?
What does this say about our ability to be objective? If manipulation
does require cooperation on the part of the subject, then is manipulation by
definition impossible? And finally, what does all this say about, for example,
the rise of Mr. Hitler?
Are there no dupes, only those pre-disposed to be duped?
I'd be interested in other's views on this, as I have not yet sorted all
this out in my own mind. Besides, it'll get us off the "revelations" of the
Dan Ackroyd cameo appearance in "IJ&TOD". :-) It will also get us off my old
ET doll in heat flame, no bad thing either.
-Brian Diehm
Tektronix, Inc.