Teenagers, suicide, artistic integrity

Posted by rhizomatic (A) on October 2, 2003 at 11:38:32

In Reply to: Re: Yes, exactly. posted by Victor Khomenko on October 2, 2003 at 11:24:16:

It isn't just a matter of acceptance that makes it hard to be a fledgling artist of whatever sort today, and it isn't just a matter of having to work to get inside the system...it's much more a matter of there being little new to be done, little that anyone can do that can't be smacked down as being '______ian', as being too overdetermined by influences one might not even know one has. The only option alot of people see is to go straight for shock value, but even that's run its course. This is something I've posted about before, with regards to Dylan. Before there was a Bob Dylan, or a Beatles, it was alot easier for there to be a Dylan or a Beatles. Afterwards, it's hard to either avoid their influence or build on it without being derivative.

I don't think I can disagree with your assessment of the movie, so long as it's considered as having some kind of realist bent. I thought it was much more impressionistic, again, more about evoking a mood than getting across a message. As for the specific issue of why they committed suicide, well, on the one hand I'd say they had an overbearing mother and were dramatic teenagers incapable of understanding the terminal consequences, and on the other I think that's kind of the point of the film, to build it around this mysterious, apparently quite arbitrary act. The boys who were the girls' fans were puzzled as well. Bottom line, they were young, and they died young, before all of the momentousness and romance and dreaminess of adolescence could sour. So, again, I think the overall thrust of the film is to evoke that strange sadness that accompanies adolescence and its end.

Of course, you're right about sugar coating being the de rigeur mode of Americana, and in real life there is nothing endearing about the dollhouse aesthetic of modern girls' bedrooms. But, hey, it looks great on film.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Virgin Suicides - Victor Khomenko 07:01:54 10/02/03 (14)

Victor, what did you mean by sugar coated, thanks (I prob agree with you, just curious)..nt.. - late 08:27:19 10/03/03 (1)

Re: Victor, what did you mean by sugar coated, thanks (I prob agree with you, just curious)..nt.. - Victor Khomenko 09:52:06 10/03/03 (0)

Haven't seen the flick yet, but AIR does the soundtrack and I've got a few of their pieces..... - Chris Garrett 21:28:40 10/02/03 (0)

Could you be more specific? - rhizomatic 08:43:55 10/02/03 (5)

I also disagree with the film being sugar coated - gware 23:46:48 10/02/03 (0)

Learning to walk at 28? - Victor Khomenko 08:52:06 10/02/03 (3)

Yes, exactly. - rhizomatic 09:02:56 10/02/03 (2)

Re: Yes, exactly. - Victor Khomenko 11:24:16 10/02/03 (1)

Teenagers, suicide, artistic integrity - rhizomatic 11:38:32 10/02/03 (0)

Re: Virgin Suicides - patrickU 07:52:13 10/02/03 (4)

How do you feel about Monica Bellucci? - Victor Khomenko 08:23:44 10/02/03 (3)

Re: How do you feel about Monica Bellucci? - patrickU 08:43:35 10/02/03 (2)

Welcome home, Monica! - Victor Khomenko 11:28:36 10/02/03 (1)

Re: Welcome home, Monica! - patrickU 13:49:01 10/02/03 (0)

Follow Ups

Teenagers, suicide, artistic integrity - rhizomatic 11:38:32 10/02/03 (0)

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