Comments on: American History X http://www.masculinity-movies.com/movie-database/american-history-x Just another WordPress weblog Sat, 04 Feb 2012 04:29:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: The victim cramp of cultural relativists (and how dropping it could save us all) » Masculinity Movies http://www.masculinity-movies.com/movie-database/american-history-x/comment-page-1#comment-1633 The victim cramp of cultural relativists (and how dropping it could save us all) » Masculinity Movies Sat, 09 Jul 2011 11:35:41 +0000 http://www.masculinity-movies.com/?p=324#comment-1633 [...] going to do something patently crazy here and say this is exactly the theme I picked up on in my American History X review, where the neonazi Derek Vinyard does this [...] [...] going to do something patently crazy here and say this is exactly the theme I picked up on in my American History X review, where the neonazi Derek Vinyard does this [...]

]]> By: Eivind F S http://www.masculinity-movies.com/movie-database/american-history-x/comment-page-1#comment-547 Eivind F S Sun, 08 Aug 2010 22:18:27 +0000 http://www.masculinity-movies.com/?p=324#comment-547 I'm happy to hear you liked this review, Rick. I was quite proud of it when I wrote it - realized that I had made some important distinctions that are often overlooked in our hurry to shame and blame. I also felt that I managed to convey that reality is such a nuanced place, one that can be seen from many perspectives, and that those of lesser insight are way too eager to reach simplistic solutions. We must be willing to see the complexity and deal with that to have any sort of development. I think this movie does an exemplary job of that and that is why I love it. And as your example points out, not everyone gets it. I’m happy to hear you liked this review, Rick. I was quite proud of it when I wrote it – realized that I had made some important distinctions that are often overlooked in our hurry to shame and blame. I also felt that I managed to convey that reality is such a nuanced place, one that can be seen from many perspectives, and that those of lesser insight are way too eager to reach simplistic solutions.

We must be willing to see the complexity and deal with that to have any sort of development. I think this movie does an exemplary job of that and that is why I love it. And as your example points out, not everyone gets it.

]]> By: Rick Belden http://www.masculinity-movies.com/movie-database/american-history-x/comment-page-1#comment-544 Rick Belden Sun, 08 Aug 2010 00:18:18 +0000 http://www.masculinity-movies.com/?p=324#comment-544 Excellent! You've done an exemplary job of building some very critical context around some very challenging content. I just saw the movie again this morning on one of the American cable stations (heavily edited, of course). Even with all the editing it's a tough movie to watch at times, but so very compelling, and ultimately, I think, positive. But the positive comes at some serious cost. I saw a comment on another site that characterized this movie as "trying to elicit your sympathy when both characters (Derek and Danny) didn't really deserve any." Sympathy couldn't be farther from the point, or the intention, of this movie, and I think you've made that crystal clear. Excellent! You’ve done an exemplary job of building some very critical context around some very challenging content. I just saw the movie again this morning on one of the American cable stations (heavily edited, of course). Even with all the editing it’s a tough movie to watch at times, but so very compelling, and ultimately, I think, positive. But the positive comes at some serious cost.

I saw a comment on another site that characterized this movie as “trying to elicit your sympathy when both characters (Derek and Danny) didn’t really deserve any.” Sympathy couldn’t be farther from the point, or the intention, of this movie, and I think you’ve made that crystal clear.

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