"Only the shallow know themselves"

We had a question today about what people considered to be trivial and what people considered serious back in the Victorian era? And how, if any, have those opinions changed or stayed the same, in today's society?

Heidi's surgery is trivial. I mean, she can die under the knife and that's rather serious, but if she doesn't wake up, that's okay because having a new nose and breasts are worth dying for.

Heidi Montag (from The Hills) is talking about her plastic surgery in new issue of US--it's a cover story! It's pretty amazing stuff. Spencer sounds like a supportive boyfriend. He tells her how proud he is. Proud of what exactly, I don't quite understand. It sounds good. Sounds supportive. But deep down he's like, oh good, she's going to look hot. That's really what he wants. If he were supportive, he'd be like, no Heidi, don't do that. I love you for who you are. For your mind, not for your body.

She made the right decision. She could have gone to school and bettered her mind, but she took the easy (and let's face it, realistic) way out and bettered her body. I'm proud of her, too.

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Us and Them

Wilde Wit

Wilde is known for his wit. I'm hoping that Alexander will post a Youtube clip of a Monty Python skit on his blog. In the skit, Wilde, Shaw, and James McNeill Whistler have themselves a bit of a wit-off.

I'd like for all of you to bring in a quote (or witticism) from Wilde on Monday. I'd like for us to celebrate Wilde's genius.

Here's my favorite quote: Whenever people agree with me I always feel I must be wrong.

Shaw Vs Wilde

Shaw didn't like The Importance of Being Earnest. He had this to say:

"It amuses me, of course; but unless comedy touches me as well as amuses me, it leaves me with a sense of having wasted my evening. I go to the theatre to be moved to laughter, not to be tickled or bustled into it; and that is why, though I laugh as much as anybody at a farcical comedy, I am out of spirits before the end of the second act, and out of temper before the end of the third, my miserable mechanical laughter intensifying these symptoms at every outburst. If the public ever becomes intelligent enough to know when it is really enjoying itself and when it is not, there will be an end to farcical comedy."

Shaw's problem with Wilde is that his plays are funny, but they lack humanity. His plays are about his words; not about his characters. What do you all think?

As if

I love Clueless. I remember seeing it in 95, my senior year of high school. I had no idea what to expect. I was like, Alicia Silverstone, blah. I hated those Aerosmith videos. I had low expectations going in, so yeah, I was very surprised by how good it all was (including Silverstone). It reminded me of Heathers--the dialogue was sharp and original. Yeah, "As if" and "She's a Betty" became annoying catch-phrases in 95, especially for those in high school.

I have to say I love the subtle performance of Alicia Silverstone. I think it's really an underrated performance. Her delivery of that Hait-ians speech is great. Not only does the class room believe what she's saying, but you can't help but fall for it too. She's that girl you didn't like in high school--and here she is winning you over. I like how the satire exposes the disgusting habits of the children of the rich in Beverly Hills. It shows teenagers aware of their status--they're class-conscious and they're only sixteen. The film, much like Heathers, also satirizes high school and the set of rules to live by for each of the cliques.

The film is comedy. The film is satire. The performances are parody. So why do I have a weird feeling that people have watched this film as a sort of how-to? Paris Hilton. The Hills. It's funny how spoiled rich girls are mainstream right now. I watched the Hills and I was like, this could be really funny, if it were edited right. MTV has it all wrong. These people are horrible. Exploit them. Put in a laugh track when they say something vapid. Okay, maybe that wouldn't work, because everything that comes out of their mouth is vapid. Here are spoiled brats shopping, eating, "working", lying by the pool. Dullsville. I do like how The Soup makes fun of them. Maybe the Hills should exist as such: A Mystery Science Theater style show where comedians watch the show and make fun of Lauren and crew. I'd watch that.

George "Beardie" Shaw

Socialist. Vegetarian. Nude Model.

And Feminist?

Theater critic Eric Bentley had this to say of Shaw's sex role reversals: 'Shaw once committed himself to the view that all superior women are masculine and all superior men are feminine.'

Could you see it happening in Pygmalion? Eliza, Mrs. Pearce, Mrs. Higgins? How does Higgins, or even Pickering, behave/act in front of women? Who has the power in those scenes?

Eliza Doolittle is a heroine. She goes to Higgins to "fix" her way of speaking, so that she can land a better gig--cuz selling flowers ain't paying the bills. Higgins may have been joking when he said he could make her into a duchess, but she saw an opportunity. Maybe not a duchess, but something better than a flower girl.

After she wins the bet (for she is the one who did all the work), she says, now what? She can talk like a queen, but she has no money or power to call her own.

LIZA: Oh! if I only c o u l d go back to my flower basket! I should be independent of both you and father and all the world! Why did you take my independence from me? Why did I give it up? I'm a slave now, for all my fine clothes.

HIGGINS: Not a bit. I'll adopt you as my daughter and settle money on you if you like. Or would you rather marry Pickering?

Shaw's comment here is that women don't have many choices in the matter. They can marry well (Pickering) or the father (Doolittle/or the adopted father, Higgins) can take care of them.

Liza says screw this. She doesn't want her father or her adopted father, both who treat her like dirt, to have anything to do with her. She wants to be treated well, so she chooses Freddy. This is very revolutionary. She chooses her husband, and a poor husband at that. But this husband loves her and treats her well. Imagine the reaction of a late Victorian audience. A society that is all about marrying for status and money. This would be appalling.

Not only does Shaw satirize the class system; he also satirizes gender and the expected roles of women and men.

Wilde at Heart

Read for Monday, Oct. 1st: The Importance of Being Earnest (Acts 1-2)

For Wednesday, Oct. 3rd: The Importance of Being Earnest (Finish)