The unimportant news thread

[Irons]

Agree, and the media attention towards the incident has also been seen as illustrating how the Oscars have outlived themselves, the actual content being an empty, repetitive ritual.

The crocodile tears each year are toe-curling insincere. This time they were for real. 

[Irons]

Dunno. Ukrainian's response to Russia's provocation invasion special military operation is violent resistance.

Just saying.

That is why it is so bad. Violence breeds violence. Not sticking up for the Rock fella but he didn't give one back.

[MusicTurner]

The crocodile tears each year are toe-curling insincere. This time they were for real.

Well, to add a more positive tone, the Oscars could probably be revitalized, maybe by reorganizing the whole set-up  (and not by introducing public slamming, for example). We have some similar, annual events here in DK (music, theatre, movies), and admittedly, it is likely hard to avoid repetitiveness.

[Irons]

Well, to add a more positive tone, the Oscars could probably be revitalized, maybe by reorganizing the whole set-up  (and not by introducing public slamming, for example). We have some similar, annual events here in DK (music, theatre, movies), and admittedly, it is likely hard to avoid repetitiveness.

Far from being knowledgeable on the subject but is not Cannes a more serious film festival?

[MusicTurner]

Far from being knowledgeable on the subject but is not Cannes a more serious film festival?

My impression too. They don't show it live here in my country, but there's a more 'serious' attitude to it generally.

[Spotted Horses]

Far from being knowledgeable on the subject but is not Cannes a more serious film festival?

The academy awards is not a film festival, where new films are screened

Well, to add a more positive tone, the Oscars could probably be revitalized, maybe by reorganizing the whole set-up  (and not by introducing public slamming, for example). We have some similar, annual events here in DK (music, theatre, movies), and admittedly, it is likely hard to avoid repetitiveness.

.

Repetitiveness is the point of a ritual. The problem comes when the ritual no longer serves a purpose.

[Spotted Horses]

To be honest, it wasn't so much that slap that lowered my opinion of Will Smith, but the "apology" which mostly consisted of self-aggrandizing excuses, as Karim-Abdul Jabbar put it. (He reacted emotionally because he had to defend his family, etc.) The Joke was offensive and inappropriate, but my perception is that Smith was not so much reacting to his wife's discomfort, but to his own wounded pride that someone would humiliate him by making fun of his wife in front of him. 

[greg]

but my perception is that Smith was not so much reacting to his wife's discomfort, but to his own wounded pride that someone would humiliate him by making fun of his wife in front of him.

Did you not see that he laughed along at first and then reacted after he saw his wife looked angry? Literally the opposite.

The worst part is that, apparently, she has been openly cheating for a while now? If that is so, then I take back saying it's understandable. Cheating means he has no obligation any more to stand up for her pride. Seems like faithfulness beyond reason, which is also a bad thing.

[Spotted Horses]

Did you not see that he laughed along at first and then reacted after he saw his wife looked angry? Literally the opposite.

He didn't look over to see his wife weeping and in need of protection. He looked over to see his wife rolling her eyes as if to say, "that's a cheap shot, don't you think?" That was the appropriate response. She was probably just as annoyed that Will Smith was laughing at her. By physically attacking Rock and and shouting 'keep my wife's name out of your f----- mouth' he signals that she is incapable of defending herself against words, and that he is the offended party since his property has been disparaged.

[greg]

he signals that she is incapable of defending herself against words, and that he is the offended party since his property has been disparaged.

Not saying there is no chance this is correct, but I doubt someone that lets his wife sleep with other men has this sort of 1950's mentality of "property," "incapable," etc. (more like unwilling in reality to do anything in the moment)

[Spotted Horses]

The worst part is that, apparently, she has been openly cheating for a while now? If that is so, then I take back saying it's understandable. Cheating means he has no obligation any more to stand up for her pride. Seems like faithfulness beyond reason, which is also a bad thing.

Not saying there is no chance this is correct, but I doubt someone that lets his wife sleep with other men has this sort of 1950's mentality of "property," "incapable," etc. (more like unwilling in reality to do anything in the moment)

From what I vaguely recall reading in the popular press, they have an "open marriage," which I take as meaning they are both free to have sexual contacts, although they have a core relationship. That doesn't mean she is cheating, and I don't know what that has to do with him physically attacking someone on live television.

When he sat down and shouted at Rock "keep my wife's name out of your f------ mouth" I saw a need to be dominant, not protectiveness. Toxic masculinity did not disappear after the 1950's. It is very much a part of our culture, unfortunately. And his subsequent "apology" consisted of self-aggrandizing excuses, as Abdul-Jabbar aptly phrased it.

[greg]

That is a very looking through a very narrow ideological lens.

It's also possible to look at it like maybe being permissive about letting his wife sleep with other men (doubling down on being a nice guy and supportive husband) has created a shadow side- and as that often goes, shadow sides will erupt uncontrollably if provoked.

It's part of nature itself to not want your wife to sleep with other men. We can't fight with what is natural and true, we have to admit what is real and true. You can call it "toxic masculinity" if you want, but that will only lead to further repression, denying reality through repression not being a road leading to good mental health.

[MusicTurner]

... Serbian President waving at nobody, pretending there's a crowd gathered there to celebrate the new railway line, is one of the best metaphors for politician-voter interactions I've seen in a long while ...

https://twitter.com/yugopnik/status/1508423001980686337


Also somewhat interesting comments section.

[Todd]

US could have done more to limit civilian toll in Raqqa battle: study

[Spotted Horses]

That is a very looking through a very narrow ideological lens.

It's also possible to look at it like maybe being permissive about letting his wife sleep with other men (doubling down on being a nice guy and supportive husband) has created a shadow side- and as that often goes, shadow sides will erupt uncontrollably if provoked.

It's part of nature itself to not want your wife to sleep with other men. We can't fight with what is natural and true, we have to admit what is real and true. You can call it "toxic masculinity" if you want, but that will only lead to further repression, denying reality through repression not being a road leading to good mental health.

I have no idea where you are going with these pseudo-anthropological arguments. It was clear that after Smith physically assaulted Rock and sat back down, shouting obscenities, his demeanor was aggressive (not protective) and he was seeking dominance.

I saw an article by a psychologist who suggested that Smith was reliving a traumatic experience he described in his autobiography, where as an 8 year old he witness his father physically assault his mother and felt shame that he did not try to protect her. As the psychologist pointed out, this is an explanation, not an excuse. In essence it is a form of PTSD and this diagnosis could be a guide to what sort of therapy Smith needs to extinguish this behavior.

[Karl Henning]

I have no idea where you are going with these pseudo-anthropological arguments. It was clear that after Smith physically assaulted Rock and sat back down, shouting obscenities, his demeanor was aggressive (not protective) and he was seeking dominance.

I saw an article by a psychologist who suggested that Smith was reliving a traumatic experience he described in his autobiography, where as an 8 year old he witness his father physically assault his mother and felt shame that he did not try to protect her. As the psychologist pointed out, this is an explanation, not an excuse. In essence it is a form of PTSD and this diagnosis could be a guide to what sort of therapy Smith needs to extinguish this behavior.

Thanks for this.

[Spotted Horses]

Thanks for this.

It seems to have taken a few days for Will Smith to come to terms with his responsibility for his actions, That is to his credit, at least.

[Karl Henning]

It seems to have taken a few days for Will Smith to come to terms with his responsibility for his actions, That is to his credit, at least.

Indeed.

[greg]

I saw an article by a psychologist who suggested that Smith was reliving a traumatic experience he described in his autobiography, where as an 8 year old he witness his father physically assault his mother and felt shame that he did not try to protect her. As the psychologist pointed out, this is an explanation, not an excuse. In essence it is a form of PTSD and this diagnosis could be a guide to what sort of therapy Smith needs to extinguish this behavior.

Seems to be a lifelong pattern then. Now I vaguely remember reading something about that as well a while back.
Staying out of trouble, being good, having a good image, keeping things positive, etc. will not necessarily get you involved in violent situations, even if to defend others, more likely the opposite.

He probably felt like he finally grew the balls to defend someone (his shadow side came out/ "no more mr. nice guy" etc.) and it happened at the most awkward time, for someone that isn't even his wife any more (legally yes, but if she's sleeping with other men then she is not his wife). That's probably where the pride/arrogance is coming from, the feeling that he finally did it, he finally stood up for someone.

What he should have done is divorced her already and let her new boyfriend(s) defend her. Problem with that could be financial, true, but most likely is just that normally he's such a huge pushover and too attached to her to think clearly and reasonable, and stand up for himself.



So I looked found this:

2020: August Alsina claims he had an affair with Jada
August Alsina and Jada were introduced in 2015, but it wasn't until 2020 that he claimed that he and Jada had dated while she was married and that her and Will's marriage was open during that time.

Alsina said Will gave him and Jada his "blessing", adding: "I actually sat down with Will and had a conversation due to the transformation from their marriage to life partnership that they've spoken on several times and it not involving romanticism."

Alsina added he "totally gave myself to that relationship for years of my life and I truly and really, really deeply loved and have a ton of love for her."

The same day Alsina's claims surfaced Jada's reps said they were "absolutely not true".

Less than two weeks later, Jada and Will appeared on an episode of Jada's Red Table Talk where Jada confirmed that she did have a relationship with Alsina, saying that she and Will were separated at the time.

"We decided that we were going to separate for a period of time and you go figure out how to make yourself happy and I'll figure out how to make myself happy," Jada said at the time.

"From there, as time went on, I got into a different kind of entanglement with August...Yes, it was a relationship absolutely."

Jada also said that Will didn't give permission as the only person who could give her permission was herself.

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/love-sex/will-smith-jada-pinkett-relationship-b2045347.html

Man... grew up with Will Smith as one of my favorite actors. No backbone. Just sad.

[Karl Henning]

Somehow I cannot give much of a damn about the Grammys, either.