Although I enjoyed the Talking Heads at the height of their popularity, I wouldn't call myself a fan of their music. Consequently, even though many people recommended David Byrne's American Utopia to me upon its release, I didn't rush to watch it.
It's now been several months and I still haven't shaken the effect that the sobering conclusion of that show had on me. On several occasions since hearing that long list of names intoned one after the other, some questions have returned to me unbidden.
* How did it escape me that every victim of police brutality across the U.S. had a life story?
* What can help the grieving families of those victims ever feel whole again?
* When did I first become so de-sensitized to this sad but undeniable modern-day reality that a reading of names was needed to return my humanity to me?
Much as it pains me to say it, I cannot envision what it will take for this carnage to end.
Good afternoon, Pat. I agree that the ending of 'American Utopia' was sobering. And I can probably write my comments about that show in its entirety (I feel the same about the Talking Heads music, by the way) but I'd rather offer my comments on the other points you raise. I am a newspaper reader. Not televised news as much. And I have been doing this longer than I can recall. Although I've changed (advanced?) from a physical paper to reading on my iPad, mostly due to cost and convenience, I still read a paper every morning while having my coffee. To your points - I have noticed that as each days news covers tragedy after tragedy I tend to read each specific story less and less. I look at the headlines and will scan for details, but have starting to spend less time on these stories. I don't believe I've become desensitized to these issues but have almost become numb to the grim realities being reported on a daily basis. The different stories start to blend together. And although I care very much about what is happening and can get very emotional while reading of all of the lives affected, the senseless loss and waste and will never understand the callousness of those committing these atrocities, I have to take that 'step back' to preserve my own emotional well being. And although these things will, sadly, continue to occur, I will stay up to date on what is happening in the world, and try to live my life in the best way I can. Maybe it's in defiance of those events. My way of fighting back. But ... and stealing your ending ... 'Much as it pains me to say it, I cannot envision what it will take for this carnage to end'. But I will also continue to have hope that someday it will.
ReplyDeleteBe well,
Bob
Hey Bob; Thanks for your honest comment. I get your point about "...stepping back..." and therein lies the dilemma. The more and more we are forced to step back to preserve our own "...emotional well being..." the easier it becomes to lose our humanity. I owe a debt of thanks to David Byrne for reminding me - through his work - to step back IN, if even for just a moment. Those victims deserve nothing less.
DeleteTotally agree, Pat. Thank you
DeleteHi Pat, I hope all's well with everything and being out of town! I haven't heard or seen American Utopia yet but David Byrne being featured and the three questions drew me in; one question I can't answer because I just don't know how to make the victims' grieving families whole again. But I am able to answer the other two:
ReplyDeleteThis isn't police brutality in the sense of the word, but rather human brutality. Last month was the 25th anniversary of 9/11. I wasn't born yet, I was -4 years old. All these years, I would see the footage and see the pictures of these people and it was as if they were background noise. But as I watched the ceremony at Ground Zero last month, it hit me. Those 2,977 were people too, with their own stories, interests, loved ones, all ended by the impact of an airplane or by pancaking in the ground. That's no way to die. It was the first time I cried over anything related to that day; I've learned to cry and I'm better for that. Monmouth County, especially Middletown, has the most fatalities. Plus, my parents grew up in Brooklyn, and my mom worked at the Sephora in the WTC Mall and switched jobs two weeks before the attack happened. From the turnpike or even at some points in Staten Island or Sandy Hook, I can see 1 WTC, and I'm glad that the towers have been rebuilt, but we can't forget these 2,977 individuals, NOT numbers. As Sting said, "I don't ever wanna play the part of a statistic in a government chart." These people are more than 1 of 2,977 lives lost, more than empty cars left near Giants Stadium.
And my other answer to the other question I hope won't be as lengthy, but no promises haha. Like I said, it's absurd that in times of crises and disaster, people's livelihoods are glazed over and presented as data. As little insignificant ants made of nothing. These politicians and wanker anchors don't care. I'll keep making musical references but Don Henley in Dirty Laundry brought up this phenomenon: "...She can tell you about the plane crash with a gleam in her eye [...] Can we film the operation? Is the head dead yet?" No one should OD on the media marijuana, it's not worth it. But it seems that people became this way because we're, sadly, desensitized to suffering. One way or another, you realize the headlines are often the different people saying/doing the same few things. The news/noose media is depressing and that's no way to live. Same as it ever was.
Most importantly, I came here to look for a Talking Heads-themed post because SiriusXM came out with a Talking Heads channel a couple weeks ago and I like them. I'm delving into their material more, but the other day, I heard a Talking Heads song that reminded me of something going on today, and maybe this'll be fodder for a future post, I dunno! Last month, you and I, in passing mentioned Louis Theroux's manosphere documentary, which I do want to check out. Looksmaxxing goes hand-in-hand with that community, and the Talking Heads song Seen and Not Seen uncannily reminded me of it. I will say that David Byrne certainly does a great job of breaking the typical radio song mold, and I appreciate artists like him for doing that. And arguably, I can do a pretty good David Byrne impersonation, he sounds like a manatee who just entered puberty and got his first hemorrhoid.
Bone-smashing is a bad idea; being someone you aren't is a good idea. Forgetting the humanity and prioritizing numbers and sensationalism isn't a good idea. It's one thing to know what happens around you, but becoming obsessed and unhappy about it isn't a good idea. Turn on, tune in, and please drop out. Switch the channel, or turn the TV off, put your phone on Do Not Disturb.
Daniel; Thanks for the comprehensive comment and for considering all three questions posed in my post. And rest assured, I'm paying close attention to your punny observations and sly references to song lyrics throughout (e.g., the Sara Bareilles lyric from "Many the Mile" in the middle of your second paragraph, and the hook from "Once in a Lifetime" that closes the third, etc.)
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