From: nichols@math.umn.edu (Preston Nichols)
Subject: Re: "Oversensitivity" (was: Film Comment and Film Threat)
Organization: University of Minnesota
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 21:58:11 GMT

Here are my opinions on the Stainless (:-)) post below; I have put it at the  
end for the convenience of those who don't want to read it all the way through  
again.

Mr. S. S. Moviegoer's "personal approach" to watching movies is mine as well,  
and is (the?) one which deserves to be called "sensitive".  If I understand him  
correctly, the difficulties he has experienced from being too sensitive to  
"certain films" consist mainly of ruining his friends' enjoyment.  This seems  
to me to be a social problem between him and his friends (the choice of which I  
give the benefit of the doubt :-)), rather than a flaw in the way he watches  
movies; other things being equal, one *should* feel discomfort or irritation at  
some films.  The goals of watching a movie and having fun with others are often  
pursued simultaneously, but they are sometimes in (usually reconcilable)  
conflict.

BTW, I have no quibble with any part of his last paragraph.

In article <1992Nov7.041636.15852@ucselx.sdsu.edu> maxc1104@ucselx.sdsu.edu  
(Avoid normal situations.) writes:
> In article <QeybjSu00WBNM1Eq0q@andrew.cmu.edu> dr3u+@andrew.cmu.edu (Daniel  
Read) writes:
> 
>   [ stuff on relative merits of _Film Comment_ & _Film Threat_ excised ]
> 
> >
> >What does it mean to be "overly" sensitive anyway?  I would think that
> >if you are inspecting a work of art the more sensitive the better. 
> >Would anyone argue with that?
> >
> >daniel  
> 
>   Well, Mr. Read, I don't wanna _argue_ that point -- we stainless steel
> folk don't do flamewars -- but I'm perfectly willing to _debate_ it.
>   I would suggest that it IS possible to be _too_ sensitive during certain
> films, and I can attest to this due to the lessons imparted unto me by
> that twisted, warped, cold-hearted bitch of a schoolmistress, Experience.
>   My own personal approach to films is that I attempt to accept a given
> film on its own terms as much as I can, and I sort of "open up" to a film
> in this regard -- I try to forget all word of mouth, all preconceptions,
> and relax. I want to be seduced. It's like being a leaf and unfolding for
> the spring and summer months. The problem is that a leaf absorbs everything
> that it comes in contact with -- including things that might kill it.
>   On one hand, after a reall COOL film I'm as high as a kite. On the 
> other hand, I will sometimes drive my friends crazy when they go see a 
> film with me, because during something really execrable (_Housesitter_
> and _Little Nemo_, a couple recent examples, come to mind) I will 
> literally squirm in my seat. I will flinch. I will cover my face with my
> hands at a particularly ill-handled scene or an especially cliched plot
> point. I will sigh disgustedly. Worst of all, this is often so automatic
> during a really _painful_ film that I won't even be aware that I'm doing it.  
> One fellow I know has
> sometimes refused to talk to me for the rest of the evening because I
> spoiled the film for him, even though I uttered nary a sound. (Yes, I 
> used to _moan_, too!) 
>   In addition, I would further suggest that that to which Monsieur Judex is 
> referring by "overly sensitive" is the unfortunate habit of some movie
> critics of having to prove what geniuses they are by reading DEEP and 
> MEANINGFUL themes about life, the universe, and everything into certain
> films. Even though I myself am a _Film Comment_ subscriber and advocate,
> it _is_ sometimes rather irritating to see these sorts of creatures
> project a suit of the emperor's new clothes onto films that are foreign-made
> but merely incoherent (_The Seventh Seal_, _The Virgin Spring_, _Weekend_,
> etc.). Isn't it shameful how so many Humanities Department professors treat
> you like an idiot if you haven't mastered this technique? *Sigh*...
> 
> 							Love & kisses,
> 
> 						The Stainless Steel Moviegoer
> 
> 						"No matter which way you 
> 						turn, you have your rump
> 						behind you."
> 						-- _The Seventh Seal_
> 
> 						Ooooooooooooooooh!
> 						Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
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