Comments for Material for thought http://bruchansky.name Things that make you think. The blog of Christophe Bruchansky on philosophy, culture, foresight and governance. Sat, 05 Nov 2011 09:17:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Play Time by Jacques Tati, Masterpiece of Post-modernism by Christophe Bruchansky http://bruchansky.name/2011/07/17/play-time-by-jacques-tati-masterpiece-of-post-modernism/comment-page-1/#comment-4183 Christophe Bruchansky Sat, 05 Nov 2011 09:17:16 +0000 http://bruchansky.name/?p=1045#comment-4183 You're absolutely right, thanks for the correction! The absence of dialogues can't justify on its own the lack of interest from the public, Mr. Hulot was less prominent than in Tati's previous films and I have also read that the film came out quite late after the genre was fashionable... The conflict between modernism and modernization is a nice idea for a future post! I believe one can truly appreciate an aesthetic if he can also see its contradictions, and Tati did that better than anyone else in Playtime. You’re absolutely right, thanks for the correction! The absence of dialogues can’t justify on its own the lack of interest from the public, Mr. Hulot was less prominent than in Tati’s previous films and I have also read that the film came out quite late after the genre was fashionable… The conflict between modernism and modernization is a nice idea for a future post! I believe one can truly appreciate an aesthetic if he can also see its contradictions, and Tati did that better than anyone else in Playtime.

]]> Comment on Play Time by Jacques Tati, Masterpiece of Post-modernism by Andrew http://bruchansky.name/2011/07/17/play-time-by-jacques-tati-masterpiece-of-post-modernism/comment-page-1/#comment-4177 Andrew Fri, 04 Nov 2011 01:49:06 +0000 http://bruchansky.name/?p=1045#comment-4177 "with nearly no dialogues, which probably explains why it wasn’t a big success in the box office." - Well actually this is not entirely true. Tati's other films such as Mr. Hulot's Holiday and Mon Oncle follow along the same of vein of being non-dialogue driven and they were both prominent successes upon their release. The problematic issue of Playtime's release, which mind you is almost ten years after Mon Oncle, displaces Mr. Hulot, the beloved character the French have come to associate with, from being a centralized character within the film. Audiences at the time became alienated from this choice and it didn't take off in the same way as his other films did even though Playtime is the crowning achievement of Tati's career. But I do like your thoughts on his film being a post-modern critique, which ironically is simultaneously categorized by a modernist aesthetic. I think a post on the conflict between modernism and modernization in Tati’s films should be in order! “with nearly no dialogues, which probably explains why it wasn’t a big success in the box office.”

- Well actually this is not entirely true. Tati’s other films such as Mr. Hulot’s Holiday and Mon Oncle follow along the same of vein of being non-dialogue driven and they were both prominent successes upon their release. The problematic issue of Playtime’s release, which mind you is almost ten years after Mon Oncle, displaces Mr. Hulot, the beloved character the French have come to associate with, from being a centralized character within the film. Audiences at the time became alienated from this choice and it didn’t take off in the same way as his other films did even though Playtime is the crowning achievement of Tati’s career. But I do like your thoughts on his film being a post-modern critique, which ironically is simultaneously categorized by a modernist aesthetic. I think a post on the conflict between modernism and modernization in Tati’s films should be in order!

]]> Comment on Anthropology on Disney World: consumerism, postmodernism and decontextualisation by Christophe Bruchansky http://bruchansky.name/2009/05/06/anthropology-on-disney-world-consumerism-postmodernism-and-decontextualisation/comment-page-1/#comment-3842 Christophe Bruchansky Sat, 21 May 2011 12:41:23 +0000 http://bruchansky.name/?p=284#comment-3842 Great link, thanks for sharing it! I have also always wondered how the magic of Disney is produced, and how consciously Disney builds and perpetuates its own ideology. I'm not sure that Imagineers clash that often with businessmen, it all depends on their understanding of what they do. They are always presented in Disney press releases as kind of peter pans who would like to have fun, but reality must be very different... Great link, thanks for sharing it! I have also always wondered how the magic of Disney is produced, and how consciously Disney builds and perpetuates its own ideology. I’m not sure that Imagineers clash that often with businessmen, it all depends on their understanding of what they do. They are always presented in Disney press releases as kind of peter pans who would like to have fun, but reality must be very different…

]]> Comment on Anthropology on Disney World: consumerism, postmodernism and decontextualisation by Kristine http://bruchansky.name/2009/05/06/anthropology-on-disney-world-consumerism-postmodernism-and-decontextualisation/comment-page-1/#comment-3841 Kristine Wed, 18 May 2011 08:07:58 +0000 http://bruchansky.name/?p=284#comment-3841 Interesting summary of some ways that Disney parks work. Personally, I've been interested in how Disney blends storytelling with consumerism; I've always wondered what kind of clashes this causes between the Imagineers and the businessmen of the company. It's an interesting relationship. Bottom line: I enjoy the movies and the films, but as you say, I have to remember that it's "only one version of a utopian society of happiness." By the way, I hope you don't mind my sharing my own research on a similar topic here. I recently presented a paper on Disneyland as a secular pilgrimage site: http://kristinekeller.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-big-presentation.html I'd love your feedback, if at all possible. Interesting summary of some ways that Disney parks work. Personally, I’ve been interested in how Disney blends storytelling with consumerism; I’ve always wondered what kind of clashes this causes between the Imagineers and the businessmen of the company. It’s an interesting relationship. Bottom line: I enjoy the movies and the films, but as you say, I have to remember that it’s “only one version of a utopian society of happiness.”

By the way, I hope you don’t mind my sharing my own research on a similar topic here. I recently presented a paper on Disneyland as a secular pilgrimage site:
http://kristinekeller.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-big-presentation.html

I’d love your feedback, if at all possible.

]]> Comment on The Ryoan-ji garden in Kyoto by Alex Wade http://bruchansky.name/2010/09/20/the-ryoan-ji-garden-in-kyoto/comment-page-1/#comment-1395 Alex Wade Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:20:38 +0000 http://bruchansky.name/?p=590#comment-1395 Looks like you went at the right time of year! I've also been to this garden and until this point, I thought that the concept of zen was somewhat overplayed, however have being here, I can concur that there is nowhere quite like it on Earth. Looks like you went at the right time of year! I’ve also been to this garden and until this point, I thought that the concept of zen was somewhat overplayed, however have being here, I can concur that there is nowhere quite like it on Earth.

]]> Comment on Predict Public’s Opinion: from Politics to Science by Walter http://bruchansky.name/2011/01/10/predict-public%e2%80%99s-opinion-from-politics-to-science/comment-page-1/#comment-1221 Walter Tue, 11 Jan 2011 09:23:58 +0000 http://bruchansky.name/?p=857#comment-1221 It is really really astonishing. It is really really astonishing.

]]> Comment on Visit to the Futuroscope: innovation and culture by Emilie LeBlanc http://bruchansky.name/2008/12/07/visit-to-the-futuroscope-innovation-and-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-1036 Emilie LeBlanc Sun, 26 Sep 2010 22:42:05 +0000 http://bruchansky.wordpress.com/?p=155#comment-1036 Je suis allé là au cours du week-end avec mes amis. Je l'ai aimé ! C'était tellement amusement. Particulièrement le cinéma mon ami a vomi tout en observant la vidéo ! Xp Je suis allé là au cours du week-end avec mes amis. Je l’ai aimé ! C’était tellement amusement. Particulièrement le cinéma mon ami a vomi tout en observant la vidéo ! Xp

]]> Comment on Shanghai World Expo: Chinese people and queues by Christophe Bruchansky http://bruchansky.name/2010/06/03/shanghai-world-expo-chinese-people-and-queues/comment-page-1/#comment-941 Christophe Bruchansky Wed, 18 Aug 2010 22:28:47 +0000 http://bruchansky.name/?p=499#comment-941 Many thanks for sharing your experience Tiffany! I'm sorry to hear that it was not so good. Chinese people living in big cities such as Hong Kong are acting in a more polite way I think. So it is maybe another idea for your next travel to China, which has still a very uneven exposure to the world, you're right. All the best! Many thanks for sharing your experience Tiffany! I’m sorry to hear that it was not so good. Chinese people living in big cities such as Hong Kong are acting in a more polite way I think. So it is maybe another idea for your next travel to China, which has still a very uneven exposure to the world, you’re right. All the best!

]]> Comment on Shanghai World Expo: Chinese people and queues by Tiffany http://bruchansky.name/2010/06/03/shanghai-world-expo-chinese-people-and-queues/comment-page-1/#comment-934 Tiffany Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:48:48 +0000 http://bruchansky.name/?p=499#comment-934 It's interesting how you view your experience at the Shanghai World Expo in a positive light, because I definitely didn't see it the same way as you did! I never felt the mood was "playful" when queuing in line. It was downright horrible for me! What does the slogan, "Better City, Better Life," mean when there's trash everywhere in the queue lines, people are shoving your back to the point where your feet are off the ground (you're right, it's typically the middle-aged to old little women), un-flushed toilets, and people letting their kids defecate on the walkways? Why are they attending this if they're not even getting the message? I am an American-born Chinese with a closer connection with Taiwan. This was my first trip to China, and was very disappointed with the mannerisms of the people there. I got into a little spat with a tiny old lady who stood up to my shoulder, even though that's socially unacceptable in the Chinese culture... But my reason was that she was shoving my dad's back. Maybe I set myself up for this disappointment though. I had expectations already in place for China, and they were not met when I went to the Expo. The people in China, as a whole, really need to be educated about the world. I'm hoping the best for China next time I visit, which will probably be in another 10 years! Glad that you had a great time though! It’s interesting how you view your experience at the Shanghai World Expo in a positive light, because I definitely didn’t see it the same way as you did! I never felt the mood was “playful” when queuing in line. It was downright horrible for me! What does the slogan, “Better City, Better Life,” mean when there’s trash everywhere in the queue lines, people are shoving your back to the point where your feet are off the ground (you’re right, it’s typically the middle-aged to old little women), un-flushed toilets, and people letting their kids defecate on the walkways? Why are they attending this if they’re not even getting the message?

I am an American-born Chinese with a closer connection with Taiwan. This was my first trip to China, and was very disappointed with the mannerisms of the people there. I got into a little spat with a tiny old lady who stood up to my shoulder, even though that’s socially unacceptable in the Chinese culture… But my reason was that she was shoving my dad’s back.

Maybe I set myself up for this disappointment though. I had expectations already in place for China, and they were not met when I went to the Expo. The people in China, as a whole, really need to be educated about the world. I’m hoping the best for China next time I visit, which will probably be in another 10 years!

Glad that you had a great time though!

]]> Comment on Shanghai World Expo: Chinese people and queues by Christophe Bruchansky http://bruchansky.name/2010/06/03/shanghai-world-expo-chinese-people-and-queues/comment-page-1/#comment-931 Christophe Bruchansky Thu, 12 Aug 2010 08:16:51 +0000 http://bruchansky.name/?p=499#comment-931 Thanks for your feedback! :-) The queues are probably shorter now than when the Expo started, don't worry. The national pavilions with the longer queues were the Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, UK, Russia, and the China one of course. I didn't visit them all but I believe that they have the biggest, expensive 'wow' stuff to see. My favourites from the ones I visited at the Expo where the Netherlands (no queues), UK, France and Canada. And the less crowded Urban best practices area is probably the most educative scientifically, even though it is less dramatic. But I probably missed many great pavilions and everyone has its own favourites, so don't rely too much on this list! ;-) Thanks for your feedback! :-) The queues are probably shorter now than when the Expo started, don’t worry. The national pavilions with the longer queues were the Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, UK, Russia, and the China one of course. I didn’t visit them all but I believe that they have the biggest, expensive ‘wow’ stuff to see. My favourites from the ones I visited at the Expo where the Netherlands (no queues), UK, France and Canada. And the less crowded Urban best practices area is probably the most educative scientifically, even though it is less dramatic. But I probably missed many great pavilions and everyone has its own favourites, so don’t rely too much on this list! ;-)

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