I admire the manner in which Gene Stavis has been arguing his view of of the development of film history, and as it happens, I find myself in general agreement with his points. I have also found the majority of the posts from those who disagree with Gene, or who challenge certain statements, equally useful and thought-provoking. However, I am not sure that the level of this discussion -- or any other -- is enhanced by the kind of sarcasm exhibited in Denise Bryson's post (attached). This is not to attack Denise per se . . . I'm rather fond of sarcasm myself . . . but it seems to me that this is the kind of stuff that can lead to flame wars -- which, most folks agree, get boring fast. Potentially, I might be inclined to agree with some of the ideas which Denise's remarks imply, but as they stand now, they seem both dismissive and disrespectful -- and the debate so far, regardless of what side one takes, has been neither. Alison McKee Department of Film and Television UCLA [log in to unmask] ------------------------------TEXT-OF-YOUR-MAIL-------------------------------- > >What we have been talking about in this thread is the development of film > >syntax, grammar, form and content, not simply "random views". I would look > >forward to some real information which could challenge my understanding of > >film development as I have expressed it here. I don't believe I have any > >cultural motivation in citing the facts I have. But I am always open to > > relevant new information. > >Gene Stavis, School of Visual Arts - NYC > > *HEAVY SARCASM ALERT* > Those easily offended by parodies of politically correct stances, do > not read any further| > > > <insert appropriatele superior eye-roll> > > Oh, GENE| Don't you know that ALL US citizens are inherently culturally > motivated? That we're ALL ethnocentric, patriarchal, racist pigs? Don't > you know that the East is INHERENTLY better than the West? That our own > culture (miserable crumb that it is) isn't really worth studying? > Even if you THINK you're not culturally motivated, you ARE| And your > continued belief that film as a narrative art was developed mainly in > the West PROVES how racist/sexist/patriarchal/ethnocentric you ARE| > > <insert superior sniff> > > I find it disturbing that a professional like you doesn't agree with > me. I'm afraid it doesn't bode well for your stage of enlightenment. > > <turns away and refuses to discuss anything more with an ethnocentric > pig> > > *We now return you to our regularly scheduled academic discussion* > > > > > ___________________________________________________________________ > : Denise M. Bryson, Northeast Missouri State University : > : Division of Language and Literature : > : Kirksville, Missouri 63501 : > : : > : [log in to unmask] : > : : > : "Truly, you have a dizzying intellect." Westley, aka The Man : > : in Black :