Dean Clough

June 7, 2021

Portico Darwin: Leader of Antifa

TODAY'S RAMBLINGS
Mercifully short! 

Due to the seemingly nefarious behavior of a famous Silicon Valley microchip executive who shall go completely nameless, the SF residential real estate shaman Hunter Deuce (shown here sadly missing a sunset on a recent vacation) and I had an unexpected Gentlemen's Day (and night) in Sonoma on Sunday.

So, yes, there's a bonus Sonoma Travel Guide forthcoming!  Preview:  while no damage was done, and no children or animals were hurt, our Gentlemen's Day (and night) kicked ass.  However, golf would have been nice, too . . .

But for now.  Please.  Read.  This.  Emphasis.  Intended.

I Like Ike, A Real Antifa Kind of Guy

FROM THE UNWASHED MASSES
Luckily, I am brief today, because before my return, the aforementioned Hunter Deuce wrote some replies to my recent Cancel/Consequence blog.  

Here they are, and as always, unedited.

"I'd say about 70% of the hard rock/heavy metal bands from the 70's and 80's willfully indulge in misogyny and there are some pretty egregious examples. However, I'm not a fan of viewing pop culture of the past through some kind of "woke" performative lens - I think it's healthy to have conversations about why some films/shows/music were/are problematic but I'm not in favor of restricting anyone's access to them. At most, I'd be fine with some kind of content warning stating that what is depicted is seen as problematic by today's standards. Also, I don't think Klinger's character struggled with mental health or gender identity - the whole point of his character was the outrageous lengths he would go to in order to get kicked out of the army.

And yes, Wilco absolutely belongs in the discussion of great American bands. Their first five albums straddle the 90's and 00's, (A.M., Being There, Summerteeth, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, A Ghost is Born) and any of them are in the discussion for top ten of their respective decade."

I reminded the occasionally brilliant Hunter that was my whole point about Klinger.  This drew more from Mr. Deuce:

"You're right - Klinger wasn't trans or gay or suffering from mental health issues. The writers weren't "punching down" and mocking those communities. The butt of the joke was the U.S. Army and the Korean War, two institutions that would drive a "normal" man like Klinger to wear women's clothing in order to affect a discharge. Sure, there might be a handful of people today who would try and make a big deal out of it, but I think most of the LGBT+ community would probably shrug their shoulders and think "He's not gay/trans, why is this an issue?"

Contrast that with Silence of the Lambs making headlines recently as it hit its 30-year anniversary. The character of Buffalo Bill is trans, and is portrayed a deviant killer - something that director Ted Demme even regretted, as it promotes the stereotype that trans people are sexual deviants and murdering predators (It's still an incredible film).

I like to push back when I hear "Boy, you couldn't make a film like Blazing Saddles today!" - Yeah, actually you could. Obviously, gratuitous use of the N-word would ruffle some feathers, but the butt of jokes aren't POC - they're the shit-kicking white rednecks. The two main characters, a black sheriff and his Jewish deputy, constantly best them and come out on top. It's a great example of Brooks "punching up" with his jokes. The only thing problematic with the film are the gay slurs and Dom Deluise's character, as well the gay chorus line in the final "French Mystique" scene (but I still laugh). But it was the 70's, and that kind of humor was pretty rampant."

10 seconds of seriousness: thank you to my dear friend Hunter for his thoughtful response.  And Mr. Deuce, I appreciate your kind feedback about my writing.

Indeed: thank you to any one that is reading this blog.

KLUF
Via TIDAL, here is something that is literally of another and altogether different time.  A time of national leadership and personal sacrifice for the greater good.  And everyone was anti-fascist. 

I give you "The Complete Recordings" of Peggy Lee and Benny Goodman, recorded from 1941-1947.

About Dean Clough