Sobchack

Sobchack's piece, "The Postmorbid Condition," focuses on the use of violence in films. She describes the violence in movies in the 1960s and 1970s as "meaningful". She says, "this new interest in violence and its new formal treatment not only literally satisfied and intensified cultural desire for 'close-up' knowledge about the material fragility of bodies but also -  and more important - made increasingly senseless violence 'civil' sphere sensible and meaningful by stylizing and aestheticizing it, thus bringing intelligibility and order to both the individual and social bodies increasingly random and chaotic distraction." She describes this violence as having meaning and purpose in the films. It added character to these films and made sense. She then describes today's films' violence as meaningless and senseless. She points out how these films add in violence just for the heck of it. Film makers have to add violence in every film. Sobchack says, "those films that describe violent bodily destruction evoke no tears in the face of mortality." This violence lacks the emotional portion of movies due to its overuse. I agree with Sobchack to a certain extent. I agree that most violent films tend to provide more violence that what is needed. This detaches the audience from experiencing and identifying with the film. I do, however, think some films use violence correctly and can move their viewers with the emotional aspect. Films today have the ability to take away the real meaning behind movies with excess violence. Violence used correctly provides the audience with a much more enjoyable experience.

DWA #11

         In "Monster Culture (Seven Theses)," Jeffrey Jerome Cohen vividly describes the monster in various cultures. He used seven theses to describe the multiple roles of monsters in culture. His first thesis described the monster as a cultural body. A monster is created out of the fears and anxieties of a particular time period. What these people view as horrendous is seen through their monster. His second thesis says that the monster always escapes. A monster is everlasting and cannot be destroyed. Monsters live in multiple time periods through various cultures. In his third thesis, Cohen describes how monsters cannot be categorized. Monsters are too complex and unique to be placed in any particular category. Each monster has multiple characteristics that cannot be grouped into one. Cohen describes the monster's differences in his fourth thesis. He explains how monsters are the outsiders in culture when it comes to the cultural, political, racial, economic, and sexual aspects of society. Monsters exceed the norms in these categories. In his fifth thesis, Cohen draws out the strict role of the monster. Monsters tighten the boundaries of those who are cultured and prevent the freedom of these people. Monsters take advantage of their powerful roles to limit the freedom of the cultured society. In thesis six, Cohen identifies the people's fear of the monster as a desire as well. The people fear the monster itself, but they also envy the monster's power and freedom. This desire gives the people a sense of admiration toward the monster. Finally, in thesis seven, Cohen states how monsters are created. We, the people, create the monsters in our society. By ostracizing the outsiders, we form these monsters of our culture.
       This analysis of monster culture is backed up by sufficient evidence. The fears of a society build up the monster of the time. For example, in our society, we fear the threats of terrorist attacks because of the events of 9/11. We tend to identify terrorist attacks with the ethnicity of the terrorists of 9/11. So whenever one sees a Muslim at the airport, there is a fear built up that links to terrorist attacks. Our society built up this monster. Cohen uses an AIDS example to help explain the idea that monsters never escape. In the 1980's, vampires were linked to AIDS awareness and linked a fear of AIDS to a fear of vampires. This built on the anxiety towards vampires. However, vampires today are seen in Twilight and True Blood. These vampires are still feared but in a different way then the 1980's vampires. This monster has not escaped, just created fear in a different way in a different time period. Monsters cannot be categorized. For example, Voldemort in Harry Potter is not easily identified. He is a soul, a snake, a professor, a ghost, and a villain throughout the series. These multiple characteristics prevent Voldemort from being classified. Monsters are the outsiders of culture. Cohen uses the example of racism towards blacks as an example. In America's history, there was a bias against African Americans of the time. They were seen as inferior to whites. The people feared the dark colored skin due to its outsider status. This created a monster in culture. Cohen uses the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park to describe how curiosity of the monster is usually punished. Monsters have this extraordinary freedom over the people in society. People often envy the freedom of these monsters and long for their power over the culture. However, through all of the fear, it is ultimately we, the people, that create these monsters.