tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post1010479743681359772..comments2024-03-22T12:11:58.453-06:00Comments on Michael Offutt: Mulholland Drive and Elliot Rodger and the ambiguous manifesto of hateMichael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-43384344023534082892014-05-31T20:55:18.467-06:002014-05-31T20:55:18.467-06:00A lot to think about here. Very well written.
I ...A lot to think about here. Very well written.<br /><br />I think we have to try to find out why people snap like this. They keep doing it, and we can't assume it will stop without us doing something about it.<br /><br />What's troubling about this latest one is that the family knew something was up and he had police contact, apparently, shortly before going on the killing spree. So you have to wonder not just what causes it but what else we could do to catch it -- and whether the family raising concerns in fact hastened the actions or serves as a spur to do them.<br /><br />I'm not saying the family is to blame, or the cops. I'm saying that so much goes into making a person a killer that we can't often nail down just one thing. There are lots of people, I bet, who are virgins until 22 and feel they should not be. But they don't all go on rampages like this. <br /><br />We may never nail down that peculiar combination of factors that turns some people into killers, but thoughtful discussions of it like this will help.Brianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01616494058636881575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-79193170422139713852014-05-30T02:02:25.092-06:002014-05-30T02:02:25.092-06:00As usual Mike, you have a gift for reporting the f...As usual Mike, you have a gift for reporting the facts and putting them into perspective.dolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-43704566333602422232014-05-29T00:33:05.550-06:002014-05-29T00:33:05.550-06:00In a way, your coworkers who betray their wives an...In a way, your coworkers who betray their wives and the intimacy of marriage by revealing what sexual favors their wives will perform are wuss, weak versions of Elliot Roger. They are displaying cold contempt, delusions of superiority, and a confused image of what constitutes masculinity. They have placed the locus of their identity outside of themselves; hence their desperate need for approval and admiration, for status, for the grandiosity of their image of themselves. In short, they don't know how to be real men.<br /><br />Maybe you read in the NY Times, Mike (we're both addicted to that newspaper, aren't we?) a couple of recent pieces about a new biography of John Wayne. Okay, so citing Wayne as a manly role model sounds hokey, and since I grew up during the Vietnam War his conservative politics regularly offended me. But then I noticed a funny fact: one of his best pals (and yes, it was strictly platonic) was Maureen O'Hara--a strong, feisty, assertive woman much like some of the characters she played. Can you imagine Elliot Roger or your co-workers being good pals with such a woman? Of course not. They're not man enough for a woman like that, and they would instinctively blame their deficiencies on her.<br /><br />Anyway, I looked up in those articles the reasons why John Wayne became such a towering image in the American consciousness. Apparently in real life he was "extremely likable, guileless, exuberant, even strangely innocent." He lacked any pretension or self-importance. He also consciously created for the screen, and lived in real life, <br />the figure of the "strong, forthright hero: authentic, stubborn, sometimes pigheaded but dedicated to justice and capable of tenderness and sacrifice."<br /><br />“I’ve found the character the average man wants himself, his brother or his kid to be,” Wayne said. “It’s the same type of guy the average wife wants for her husband."<br /><br />Okay, so there are other, better American heroes in our American mythology, such as Atticus Finch. What I'm saying is, how did we move away from masculine role models like John Wayne or Atticus Finch to narcissistic, violent losers with an overweening sense of self-entitlement?<br /><br />I wish I knew the answer.<br />Helenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14967821142796562697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-1043209191076053102014-05-28T15:14:20.284-06:002014-05-28T15:14:20.284-06:00I've seen a lot of Lynch - Eraserhead [saw it ...I've seen a lot of Lynch - Eraserhead [saw it in the Bleeker St. Theater in NY), was a huge Twin Peaks fan, and saw several other things he made, but not this one. I'll have to see if it's on Netflix.M Paxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14096697282530998519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-67668532384035830532014-05-28T13:28:14.698-06:002014-05-28T13:28:14.698-06:00Lots to chew on with this one. Hmmm...
I can'...Lots to chew on with this one. Hmmm...<br /><br />I can't stand movies where I can't find a firm place to stand. Where it's all kind of dream-like, and I don't know what's happening. A personal failing.<br /><br />When someone doesn't know what something is, the first thing he does is to name it. Naming things tames them to a certain extent. It's become a private joke with me about names of things and how if it now has a name, no one still knows anything about it.<br /><br />Men and women. Men versus women. I don't even know where to begin.Liz A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16531953467834426316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-84273211185799206092014-05-28T13:27:50.795-06:002014-05-28T13:27:50.795-06:00I expect there's an explanation on Wikipedia. ...I expect there's an explanation on Wikipedia. Long time since I saw it, my recollection is that it was about a car crash and the dream of the woman just before she died. Or something.<br /><br />mood<br /><br />mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-20129459978048640842014-05-28T12:46:50.175-06:002014-05-28T12:46:50.175-06:00I'll never understand the selfish need of some...I'll never understand the selfish need of some to spread their misery around. But I think you're totally right that one can never understand the thought processes of someone who is mentally ill. I won't give my opinions on how the early church and other religions have treated women. Susan Gourley/Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669793865290876168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-75195126760055208812014-05-28T12:18:23.096-06:002014-05-28T12:18:23.096-06:00I liked Mulholland Drive, but I liked Twin Peaks b...I liked Mulholland Drive, but I liked Twin Peaks better. As for Eraser Head, if ever there was a WTF? movie, that one is it.<br /><br /><br />As for Elliot Rodger, I suspect a lot went into making him who he became and we'll probably never know half of it. <br /><br /><br />mshatchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06308916014310536449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-5469385270158346902014-05-28T11:32:55.234-06:002014-05-28T11:32:55.234-06:00I tried to watch MULLHOLAND DRIVE and almost died....I tried to watch MULLHOLAND DRIVE and almost died... I generally cannot stand such empty 'artsy' movies which aren't artsy at all... and plus the cast was expressionless too DEZMONDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14127166104359407763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-69427715390543087082014-05-28T07:46:36.139-06:002014-05-28T07:46:36.139-06:00And then there are some of us with the OCD to poin...And then there are some of us with the OCD to point out the typo in our previous comment. YOUR not you're! :)River Fairchildhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15374958276717316437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-4660107070742990762014-05-28T07:44:50.957-06:002014-05-28T07:44:50.957-06:00I think you're post is very insightful, Michae...I think you're post is very insightful, Michael. There is so much trauma, hate, and oppression in this world. It boggles the mind.<br /><br />I do think that at least some of the attitude is inherited - some missing piece in the genetic structure. Having said that, however, I think society feeds the initial learning patterns of what we are born with - shaping, molding, occasionally turning a person in a different heading for good or ill. Most of us can steer our own rudder. Some of us can't. Medication helps some, others are poisoned by it.River Fairchildhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15374958276717316437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-7569077418022735852014-05-28T07:23:08.809-06:002014-05-28T07:23:08.809-06:00This is such a thoughtful and well written piece. ...This is such a thoughtful and well written piece. I haven't seen that movie yet but now it's on my list.stephen Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17659054447637207734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-89181004423698718472014-05-28T06:56:32.861-06:002014-05-28T06:56:32.861-06:00I should buy that movie just for that scene.
Inst...I should buy that movie just for that scene.<br /><br />Instead of shooting a bunch of people, that guy should have just moved to Saudi Arabia or Nigeria where his attitude is the norm. Just because you can't get laid doesn't mean you should go out murdering people, but that's what happens when any dumbass can go buy an AR-15 with thousands of rounds.PT Dillowayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09394481476862013009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-21069561467311335582014-05-28T06:33:56.526-06:002014-05-28T06:33:56.526-06:00I can see that this movie isn't going on my &#...I can see that this movie isn't going on my 'must-watch" list. I remember Dune and thought it was pretty good. I'm also sure I've seen Twin Peaks (although I can't remember it--yes, I'm that old, too). The real world is definitely full of weirdness that matches whatever Lynch was trying to portray in the movie. I think I'll skip it. :) Thanks for the heads up where I don't accidentally watch it someday. Brindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09809660700359597836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-52746014390074722872014-05-28T04:28:09.986-06:002014-05-28T04:28:09.986-06:00I'm not sure where to begin. Too many things t...I'm not sure where to begin. Too many things to tackle at once, so will just hit upon a couple.<br />Mulholland Drive was typical Lynch, weird and surreal. Little dull. Except for that one scene.<br />Rodger was a kid with everything in the world, but he was still so angry. We'll never figure it out. Why are kids so damn angry these days?<br />I don't Eve caused all that. There were some really strong women in the Bible, stronger than their men. Moses' wife could've kicked anyone's butt.<br />And my duty as a husband is to take care of my wife, in all things. (And I think it's really odd when men brag about their sex life. Dude, that's private stuff...)Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.com