Do you enjoy watching these movies as much as you enjoy writing about them? There seems to be a masochistic element at work here. I mean, I like your writing more than I like what you write about. And what about Cronenberg himself? You never actually write about the people who make these movies?Why not?
Ha, fair question. No, I hated watching this movie, but I loved thinking about it. I also think of these critiques as something I'm very well positioned to do, because of all of my prior training and scholarship, as well as the advocacy work that I do. So, it doesn't feel masochistic to me, more like how you have to go to the dentist for a cleaning because you want to have strong teeth. It sucks, and you don't like it while you're there, but your mouth feels awesome afterward. As for the directors, I *do* write abou them, just not usually on this substack. My post about The Tenant from a couple years ago talks about Polanski, though. And Scream with Me has an entire chapter about directors of horror films and their often repulsive personal conduct.
Yeah, I came across an essay of yours on Public Books awhile back. I suppose I'm gobsmacked by the hypocrisy of those in the US who condenm Sally Mann's photography as 'pornographic' but are speechless about Cronenberg's movies. Is he really commenting or just getting his rocks off, which is why I asked you why no comment on the director? So it's purely cathartic on your part?
I don't actually find it especially cathartic. It's more like I find it an important occasion for making a feminist commentary. In the case of this particular movie, this deep-dive is part of a looooooong project I'm working on about the history of zombies. So the project, by its nature, is more about narrative elements than anything else. More to come on that, but you've probably noticed I've done a TON of zombie posts lately, and there are more to come.
Do you enjoy watching these movies as much as you enjoy writing about them? There seems to be a masochistic element at work here. I mean, I like your writing more than I like what you write about. And what about Cronenberg himself? You never actually write about the people who make these movies?Why not?
Ha, fair question. No, I hated watching this movie, but I loved thinking about it. I also think of these critiques as something I'm very well positioned to do, because of all of my prior training and scholarship, as well as the advocacy work that I do. So, it doesn't feel masochistic to me, more like how you have to go to the dentist for a cleaning because you want to have strong teeth. It sucks, and you don't like it while you're there, but your mouth feels awesome afterward. As for the directors, I *do* write abou them, just not usually on this substack. My post about The Tenant from a couple years ago talks about Polanski, though. And Scream with Me has an entire chapter about directors of horror films and their often repulsive personal conduct.
Yeah, I came across an essay of yours on Public Books awhile back. I suppose I'm gobsmacked by the hypocrisy of those in the US who condenm Sally Mann's photography as 'pornographic' but are speechless about Cronenberg's movies. Is he really commenting or just getting his rocks off, which is why I asked you why no comment on the director? So it's purely cathartic on your part?
https://news.artnet.com/art-world-archives/sally-mann-fort-worth-texas-natalie-frank-2604814
I don't actually find it especially cathartic. It's more like I find it an important occasion for making a feminist commentary. In the case of this particular movie, this deep-dive is part of a looooooong project I'm working on about the history of zombies. So the project, by its nature, is more about narrative elements than anything else. More to come on that, but you've probably noticed I've done a TON of zombie posts lately, and there are more to come.