Wednesday 24 February 2010

Q:How many Tim Burton's does it take to change a light bulb..?


A: Two! One, to change it, and one to kiss my arse.

For anyone who hadn't noticed, Tim Burton's latest garish Edward Gorey rip-off, is a garish Edward Gorey rip-off version of Alice in Wonderland.

And let's face it, most people think Lewis Carroll was either a stinking nonce or drug-addled puff, so it was never gonna be too long before Burton waded in with an "all just so ka-ray-zee" take on Carroll's classic.

But why is it "ka-ray-zee"? What is it that people think is either dark, or tormented, sinister, or narcotic about Lewis Caroll's imagination? Are we so small-minded as to find the slightest whiff of creativity abnormal somehow?

I've a feeling the answer is probably "Yes. I am that ignortant. Now give me some fucking popcorn."

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Dave

It's me, Babara again. Sorry I've not bin keepin up with ur blog. The social have on my back.

You make an interesting point here. It's one that I am gong to have to refer to one (or other) of my Marxist friends with reference to the language of the ruling class. The historical context of Lewis Carroll (with particular reference to 'Alice in Wonderland') has obviously entered into a paradigm shift and there are no marketing pundits at hand to explain (as to) why.

Me, personally, can't wait to see it. I just went to see Avatar, in 3D. It was gggrrrrreat!

Of course we'll be taking a pack of Aldi Cornflakes (can't afford Frosties, or popcorn).

Babs.

John said...

You're quite right Barbara. None of it was weird, or troublesome in it's day. It was entertaining, playful,and cryptic - it was written as a children's puzzle book for fucksake. Everything from the Mock Turtle, to the Lobster Quadrille, are all things a Victorian child would've recognised. Don't watch the Tim Burton one, Babs. Read the annotated Alice that explains all the references and solves all the puzzles (inlcuding the chess game).

As a "creative" it's kind of worrying that society can only comprehend (arguably) one of the most creative and ingenious pieces of literature ever written, as something totally freakish and warped.

As for Avatar, I'll get round to it. Then again, I said that about Titanic... which I've still never seen all the way through. I liked the noise the man made when he hit the propeller as the boat capsized though. Kind of a "Klung!!!" sound - like Wile E Coyote hitting a lampost.

andywhite said...

And here's an interesting thing. Edward Gorey's mother was named Helen Dunham Garvey. Tim Burton's wife is Helena Bonham Carter. The man's obsessed...