I just saw Lewis Lapham's movie -- called something like
"The American Ruling Class."
It had an odd complexion and gait to it.
As it progressed through tier after tier
of ruling-class celebs, I felt his pair of proteges,
the two synthetic "Yale youths"
on Lew's excellent adventure, were
too oddly targeted,
even predated upon.
The result? I felt like I was sitting too close to old
Lewis
in a crowded booth at the monkey bars.
Maybe I project here – no, certainly I do -- but yikes, that Clark Clifford-like Grecian Formula coif -- the look of a tanned Long Island sailor -- his overly carved phrasing -- and of course, those eyes, X-raying the fictive sprites he's Virgilling from Wall Street to Hollywood and back, by way of the East Side caverns. Malcolm Forbes came to the back door of my mind.
Let's not pursue that thought. Let's only tee this one drive up for a whack down the fairway: a life in the plush seats makes not a John Knox. The boiling heart of social prophets comes from other, harsher pots -- roaring, raging caste-iron pots. Whereas with dandy guys like Louie here -- can they bite deeply enough into the imperial peach to make its bloody juices run?
Comments (5)
Grecian Formula? Hardly.
But: http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/oliphant/vc007215.jpg
Posted by Jonathan Lundell | July 17, 2007 12:40 AM
Posted on July 17, 2007 00:40
I read bits of the book, and, man, it just didnt get anywhere. Like many of Lewis's editorials over the years. I would call his writings self-castigations and longings for meaning of the propertied class. Always limited by good-manners and the sense not to actually out any member of that class.
Posted by bobw | July 17, 2007 1:34 PM
Posted on July 17, 2007 13:34
To Owen Paine, et al: You were indeed "projecting", but there are valid criticisms here none-the-less. Wait for the next one, "To the Health of the State!" to feel the cauldron boil...
John Kirby, director, The American Rulling Class
PS the film works best, perhaps, with those who have not yet arrived at a healthy "republicrat-demublican" understanding... look again, and despite an addmittedly odd gait, one can find that the oligarchs do die the death of a thousand cuts... more of a morality tale anyway, as it turned out, and if I may say so a valiant attempt to do something new with the documentary format, despite its flaws...
Posted by john kirby | July 18, 2007 3:38 AM
Posted on July 18, 2007 03:38
To Owen Paine, et al: You were indeed "projecting", but there are valid criticisms here none-the-less. Wait for the next one, "To the Health of the State!" to feel the cauldron boil...
John Kirby, director, The American Rulling Class
PS the film works best, perhaps, with those who have not yet arrived at a healthy "republicrat-demublican" understanding... look again, and despite an addmittedly odd gait, one can find that the oligarchs do die the death of a thousand cuts... more of a morality tale anyway, as it turned out, and if I may say so a valiant attempt to do something new with the documentary format, despite its flaws...
Posted by john kirby | July 18, 2007 3:38 AM
Posted on July 18, 2007 03:38
senior kirby
if that comment twice made
is actually u
i solute your
omega three connection
for us gene based
mood swingers
t'is tonic indeed
btw
i'm ashamed to be harsh
to any venture in meme filming
i'm a great and indulgent fan
of welles
f for fake
and to be completely candid
even meister lou
----much touted house rascal
though he be ----
deserves
all due ...
errrr i guess
Posted by op | July 18, 2007 2:56 PM
Posted on July 18, 2007 14:56