Post by klep on Sept 14, 2020 15:21:09 GMT -6
MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 9/20: Monty Python and the Holy Grail
MEDIEVAL TIMES WEEK!
Note: This week's essay is graciously provided by a guest contributor.
Of Swords and Swallows: The Sociopolitical Impact of Monty Python and the Holy Grail
(Øf Måce ik Møøse: Mønti Pythøn ik den Holïe Graïlen Gø Håwåiiån)
The 1970s saw a seismic shift in the tone of mainstream comedy, as the underground and counter-culture sensibilities that had begun to coalesce throughout the 1960s in subversive publications and unconventional exhibition spaces found themselves on the national stage. The increasing disillusionment with the morally bankrupt conservative ruling class and paramilitary governments sparked international protests and demonstrations, and despite contemporary attempts to mask the whole decade in signifiers of peace and love, it was a turbulent time full of a simmering rage that could not be ignored. Humorists who were no longer satisfied with gentle subtext began to apply a more aggressively antagonistic attitude to their work, eschewing the traditional foibles of flawed comic archetypes in favor of direct attacks on those representing a corrupt, hateful system.
(In der 1970s der høhøhø bekäme der grr-grr-grr)
While the group known as Monty Python might appear to be more frivolous than some of its contemporaries, with its emphasis on absurdist scenarios and outrageous physical shenanigans, it is worth remembering that the team was launching an assault on the fundamentals of comic structure. Sketches were resolved without a traditional punchline, and indeed often were not resolved at all. Monty Python's Flying Circus was designed to evoke a structure bordering on the stream-of-consciousness, with sketches flowing into and butting up against one another, a structure quite unheard of in an arena that favored (and still favors) cleanly delineated vignettes.
(Mønti Pythøn wür gøøfballs, büt rilly smørt abüt et)
This is all well and good, but as the troupe was preparing for their second theatrical feature (the first, And Now For Something Completely Different, was a re-staging of favorite routines from the series) they clearly wanted to expand their scope. They needed to make a statement. And so they decided to tackle the towering myth of King Arthur, deconstructing England's favorite story about itself.
(Dïd yüo see der Målkøvich ting frøm låst wïk? Våt å hümdïnker, yå? Ît's lïke... mebbe dis vüssnt sütch de gøød thøt, jå? Twø gymmyck pïses en ün røw? Øøf! Ånd wüt før, jüst tø dø de møøse jøke ågåeyn? Wüt es evin der pøïnte øf døink å jøkee Mønti Pythøn pïse? Wüt åre yüø rilly gønna ådd? There apprøåch tø hümør îs sø ståndård, süch en ümbedded pårt øf der kültüre, de ünekspekted es der nørm.)
Under the Pythons' acerbic pen, the world of Arthur is every bit as turbulent, chaotic, and treacherous as the one they were living in at the time, and in which we are living now. Look past the humor, and you will see the filmmakers holding a mirror up to society and finding it lacking.
(Våt døes it meen vhen der rebels bekcøme der nü ståtüs qvø? Ve've ceen møst øf der remåïnink Pythøns embåråss demselfs. Døes kømedee åge pøørlee bekåüse nø måttyr høw prøgressive et seems, ve're ünvillink tø trüly chållenge de vrøngs øf de vørld, ün øür pårte en et?)
To read the full essay, please consider donating to my Patreon. Patrons at the $5 level will receive a new critical essay every month. Patrons at the $10 level will have access to an exclusive podcast, where I speak with some of the most insightful thinkers alive today, including Joe Rogan, Will Menaker of Chapo Trap House, and Shaun King.
(My sïster bït Shåun Kïng, ønce)
MOD ANNOUNCEMENT: The persons responsible for this essay have been banned. We've also banned Stefan from polls. Anyway, how about a Mod Appreciation Thread?
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 9/21: The Exorcist
ADAPTATION WEEK!
For Adaptation Week we'll be visiting one of the hallmarks of horror with William Friedkin's The Exorcist, about a mother's desperate attempts to save her child from the demon possessing her. Join us next week for our discussion of this cinematic classic, available on HBO Max and for rent in the usual places.
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 9/15: I'm Thinking of Ending Things
The podcast concludes its pairing on Charlie Kaufman with his latest film I'm Thinking of Ending Things, starring Jessie Buckley and Jesse Plemmons. Join us Wednesday for our discussion of this film, available on Netflix.
MEDIEVAL TIMES WEEK!
Note: This week's essay is graciously provided by a guest contributor.
Of Swords and Swallows: The Sociopolitical Impact of Monty Python and the Holy Grail
(Øf Måce ik Møøse: Mønti Pythøn ik den Holïe Graïlen Gø Håwåiiån)
The 1970s saw a seismic shift in the tone of mainstream comedy, as the underground and counter-culture sensibilities that had begun to coalesce throughout the 1960s in subversive publications and unconventional exhibition spaces found themselves on the national stage. The increasing disillusionment with the morally bankrupt conservative ruling class and paramilitary governments sparked international protests and demonstrations, and despite contemporary attempts to mask the whole decade in signifiers of peace and love, it was a turbulent time full of a simmering rage that could not be ignored. Humorists who were no longer satisfied with gentle subtext began to apply a more aggressively antagonistic attitude to their work, eschewing the traditional foibles of flawed comic archetypes in favor of direct attacks on those representing a corrupt, hateful system.
(In der 1970s der høhøhø bekäme der grr-grr-grr)
While the group known as Monty Python might appear to be more frivolous than some of its contemporaries, with its emphasis on absurdist scenarios and outrageous physical shenanigans, it is worth remembering that the team was launching an assault on the fundamentals of comic structure. Sketches were resolved without a traditional punchline, and indeed often were not resolved at all. Monty Python's Flying Circus was designed to evoke a structure bordering on the stream-of-consciousness, with sketches flowing into and butting up against one another, a structure quite unheard of in an arena that favored (and still favors) cleanly delineated vignettes.
(Mønti Pythøn wür gøøfballs, büt rilly smørt abüt et)
This is all well and good, but as the troupe was preparing for their second theatrical feature (the first, And Now For Something Completely Different, was a re-staging of favorite routines from the series) they clearly wanted to expand their scope. They needed to make a statement. And so they decided to tackle the towering myth of King Arthur, deconstructing England's favorite story about itself.
(Dïd yüo see der Målkøvich ting frøm låst wïk? Våt å hümdïnker, yå? Ît's lïke... mebbe dis vüssnt sütch de gøød thøt, jå? Twø gymmyck pïses en ün røw? Øøf! Ånd wüt før, jüst tø dø de møøse jøke ågåeyn? Wüt es evin der pøïnte øf døink å jøkee Mønti Pythøn pïse? Wüt åre yüø rilly gønna ådd? There apprøåch tø hümør îs sø ståndård, süch en ümbedded pårt øf der kültüre, de ünekspekted es der nørm.)
Under the Pythons' acerbic pen, the world of Arthur is every bit as turbulent, chaotic, and treacherous as the one they were living in at the time, and in which we are living now. Look past the humor, and you will see the filmmakers holding a mirror up to society and finding it lacking.
(Våt døes it meen vhen der rebels bekcøme der nü ståtüs qvø? Ve've ceen møst øf der remåïnink Pythøns embåråss demselfs. Døes kømedee åge pøørlee bekåüse nø måttyr høw prøgressive et seems, ve're ünvillink tø trüly chållenge de vrøngs øf de vørld, ün øür pårte en et?)
To read the full essay, please consider donating to my Patreon. Patrons at the $5 level will receive a new critical essay every month. Patrons at the $10 level will have access to an exclusive podcast, where I speak with some of the most insightful thinkers alive today, including Joe Rogan, Will Menaker of Chapo Trap House, and Shaun King.
(My sïster bït Shåun Kïng, ønce)
MOD ANNOUNCEMENT: The persons responsible for this essay have been banned. We've also banned Stefan from polls. Anyway, how about a Mod Appreciation Thread?
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 9/21: The Exorcist
ADAPTATION WEEK!
For Adaptation Week we'll be visiting one of the hallmarks of horror with William Friedkin's The Exorcist, about a mother's desperate attempts to save her child from the demon possessing her. Join us next week for our discussion of this cinematic classic, available on HBO Max and for rent in the usual places.
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 9/15: I'm Thinking of Ending Things
The podcast concludes its pairing on Charlie Kaufman with his latest film I'm Thinking of Ending Things, starring Jessie Buckley and Jesse Plemmons. Join us Wednesday for our discussion of this film, available on Netflix.