COMMUNICATION:
Media, Arts, & Society | January 13, 1998
POSITIVE
VS.
NEGATIVE
VISIONS
OF
THE
FUTURE
(& PEOPLE)
IN
THE
MOVIES
An
Unpublished Letter to
Calendar
Letters, in Los Angeles Times
Regarding "It Wasn't Rain, Sleet, Snow..."
(January 13), the failure of The Postman is yet another
example of Hollywood's miscalculating the public's attitude
toward the future, as explored in "The Future Isn't What It
Used to Be" (Jan. 4) and as I commented on in my letter (Jan.
11).
Movies presenting an apocalyptic vision of the
future are usually viewed as "bummers" and generally go
straight to video or cable. Even Mad Max and Blade
Runner have been more cult classics than mainstream hits. In
contrast, even in its 20th anniversary re-release, Star Wars
-- as idealistic as it was futuristic (in a "long time ago"
sort of way) -- was a box-office success.
To put the blame upon the central character of The
Postman being a letter-carrier is nothing short of bigotry.
As most people know from first-hand experience, the vast
majority of postal workers are decent people doing essential
work and being ever more overworked (the reason most often cited
for why a few have "snapped"). They deserve more respect.
Hollywood is at its best -- and usually its
most profitable -- when it respects the ideals and travails of
the everyday people.
Personal Note: We have a dear family friend who
is a letter-carrier.
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