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Damn good article. Why don't the media label government messages propaganda? Why only critical polemic? I'm not arguing for Michael Moore, I'm just arguing the case of the article. Which, to me, makes complete sense. The media always fall into this lazy trap and it bugs the hell out of me.
Sunday, July 04, 2004
Death Blamed on Mushroom
I'm a massive fan of Brass Eye - I've mentioned it at least once on this blog - and I always delight in seeing instances in the media that are pure Brass Eye. The headline above is an example. This is a real headline in the local paper from a few days ago.
I confess, it's mainly local news - TV and Papers - that fall into the B.E. trap but it's always hilarious.
I've just watched the Channel 4 show about the lives and history of camp entertainers and it really brings home to you how fortunes have constantly ebbed and flowed for gay performers and, indeed, gay people. As is usually the case, lesbians were utterly ignored. The fact that they have had to fight much harder to secure any kind of sensible response from the press and public was totally unaddressed. There is still only one lesbian performer high in the public mind, you know who I mean. A rather desultory number when you look at Paul O'Grady, Graham Norton, Dale Winton, Julian Clary, Boy George, Brian Dowling, Matt Lucas, (allegedly) Sean Hughes, etc. who can be reeled off almost subconsciously.
I just discovered Peter Ackroyd (he who authored London, a Biography) is gay. Just one of those things I didn't quite expect. Not that it matters.
But I do really admire Paul o'Grady. Partly because he embodies what TV people should be - themselves - but partly the very clever and disciplined way in which he carved his career. Writing reams of material and catering it at exactly the right level for the audience in hand. This Morning he brought the house down but never got the ITC rapping on their door. On the Big Breakfast he was great but never slipped up and got the tone right their, too, whilst still staying true to the Lilly character.
Now he is just Paul but this generally equates to Lilly sans fishnets. His travelogues are completely honest, not glossy or rye, just "what Paul did when he visited Bangkok/New York/Japan". They are riotously funny but you still don't hate him when he gets into a rant. You just admire that he doesn't give a shit about the cameras and is not ashamed to admit he can be as grumpy as any human mind can conceive at times. But who isn't, at times?
I'm not writing at all at the moment. It's horrible but I'm so full of "get a job, get a job" and "sort this out and that out and get that money" that nothing funny or particularly original can poke through. Some of my unfinished pieces have real potential but I just don't have it at the moment due to all these other pressures. Three interviews next week, so hopefully by the week after you have a new Schoolboy typing at you. Fully employed once more....
I confess, it's mainly local news - TV and Papers - that fall into the B.E. trap but it's always hilarious.
I've just watched the Channel 4 show about the lives and history of camp entertainers and it really brings home to you how fortunes have constantly ebbed and flowed for gay performers and, indeed, gay people. As is usually the case, lesbians were utterly ignored. The fact that they have had to fight much harder to secure any kind of sensible response from the press and public was totally unaddressed. There is still only one lesbian performer high in the public mind, you know who I mean. A rather desultory number when you look at Paul O'Grady, Graham Norton, Dale Winton, Julian Clary, Boy George, Brian Dowling, Matt Lucas, (allegedly) Sean Hughes, etc. who can be reeled off almost subconsciously.
I just discovered Peter Ackroyd (he who authored London, a Biography) is gay. Just one of those things I didn't quite expect. Not that it matters.
But I do really admire Paul o'Grady. Partly because he embodies what TV people should be - themselves - but partly the very clever and disciplined way in which he carved his career. Writing reams of material and catering it at exactly the right level for the audience in hand. This Morning he brought the house down but never got the ITC rapping on their door. On the Big Breakfast he was great but never slipped up and got the tone right their, too, whilst still staying true to the Lilly character.
Now he is just Paul but this generally equates to Lilly sans fishnets. His travelogues are completely honest, not glossy or rye, just "what Paul did when he visited Bangkok/New York/Japan". They are riotously funny but you still don't hate him when he gets into a rant. You just admire that he doesn't give a shit about the cameras and is not ashamed to admit he can be as grumpy as any human mind can conceive at times. But who isn't, at times?
I'm not writing at all at the moment. It's horrible but I'm so full of "get a job, get a job" and "sort this out and that out and get that money" that nothing funny or particularly original can poke through. Some of my unfinished pieces have real potential but I just don't have it at the moment due to all these other pressures. Three interviews next week, so hopefully by the week after you have a new Schoolboy typing at you. Fully employed once more....
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