LL-L "Media" 2009.04.17 (03) [E]

[Lowlands-L List]

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L O W L A N D S - L - 17 April 2009 - Volume 03
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From: Hellinckx Luc <luc.hellinckx at gmail.com>
Subject: LL-L "Traditions"

Beste Ron,
You wrote:

As for Susan Boyle, I am sure you and I are not the only ones that relish
her success and the splash she has made with her first performance in the
contest. What it's really about is that the world loves an underdog turned
hero. A supposedly plain Jane, an unemployed no-spring-chicken,
never-been-kissed spinster who lives in semi-rural West Lothian, Scotland,
with her cat Pebbles, wowed all those that had made faces and had giggled
sarcastically when she said she was dreaming of becoming a professional
singer.

Even though there may be a bit too much to-do about her right now, I feel
that the message ("Don't judge a book by its cover") is coming across
clearly.


Err...what's wrong with the cover? :=)

Nothing of course...certainly not if you don't get on stage. Getting on
stage and becoming a performer is one job. Becoming a studio musician is
entirely another profession. Don't let me be misunderstood: I'm not saying
there's no place for Susan on stage, I'm just trying to point out that on
stage, the visual aspect does play a role. If she feels comfortable with
that, she definitely deserves our support. At the same time, she should
realize that what may once have been her own genuine behavior may very soon
(have to) evolve in a gimmick.

 Also, I welcome the slap in the faces of those media folks that routinely
discriminate against people on the basis of their looks and ages, that make
their living by dictating what sorts of persons we should find attractive
and worthy of respect.


True of course. El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de la
Porciúncula has been built on this type of illusion. The media know very
well that the days of one-dimensional stereotyping are gone. Therefore
they're now trying to create a new profile, promoting more ambiguous
artists. Nonetheless, they're still very much in charge, and much (if not
more than ever) still revolves around image building. This is show-business
after all, which involves exhibition...public exhibition.

Today in the entertainment industry, there's only a handful of powerful
CEO's left, and these guys are battling for the hearts and minds of 6
billion people on this earth. This leads me to a previous message on this
list:

British TV shows, mostly English ones, are broadcast in Canada and the US as
well, in the US mostly through public TV channels. This includes most of the
classic sitcoms, many of them rerun for decades because of their popularity
(e.g. "Blackadder", "Red Dwarf", "Fawlty Towers", "To the Manor Born", "The
Good Life", "Till Death Us Do Part", "Are You Being Served?", "Last of the
Summer Wine" and "Keeping up Appearances"). It also includes many of the
really good TV plays and TV versions of classic English novels.


Just out of curiosity: has American or Canadian public TV ever broadcast
shows that were not produced by native English speakers? Mexico? Brazil? I
rarely watch TV, but I remember that in the eighties a Brazilian series
"Isaura" was quite a hit on Belgian TV.
What about Britain: has a continental series ever been aired? Thinking of
German stuff like Derrick or Tatort for example.

Or is this question even less valid then asking why China will not import a
Kung Fu movie made in Luxemburg any time soon?

Some probably think they have a patent on drama.

Kind greetings,

Luc Hellinckx

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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Media

Luc, you asked:

Err...what's wrong with the cover? :=)

Nothing as far as I personally am concerned.

As far as non-English-language shows are concerned, you need to bear in mind
that the vast majority of English speakers are not used to subtitles and
hate them when they encounter them.

Also, the above-mentioned shows are all comedy series and rely to a very
high degree on language play and culture-specific humor, especially those of
Britain.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron
Seattle, USA

•

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