Building Conformist Film and TV Tastes

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More of an idea than much else...

I've always realized that I am most out of place in any conversation related to film, TV, and music. My film tastes are more intellectual (Being John Malkovich, the Science of Sleep, the Royal Tenenbaums), my TV tastes are nonexistant, and who in high school's going to have heard of Godspeed You! Black Emperor?

I repeatedly have wondered ever sonce eighth grade, if I want to associate better with people, what films and TV shows should I have at least seen, if not liked?

What would be your canonical list of the top 10 NT person's favorite films? Top 10 TV series?

I know, you could argue, "Aaron, WHY are you appealing to the lowest common denominator? Why can't you just be yourself and look for people with interests like you?"

But that's not the point. Maybe I'd prefer to be myself and search for people like me, but this question is purely hypothetical. This is an attempt at a concrete, yes/no question, with none of those philosophical shades of grey.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor?

DUDE! Wow, finally someone who knows of them!

(edit) err... I guess that doesn't really help, does it?

I don't know, all the average people I know have heard of most if not all of the films you mentioned, and there was one girl at the school I went to last year who was a big God Speed you! Black Emperor fan.

That completely eliminates my entire point. I'm impressed, though, you've good taste! Or at least, I gather from what you've said.



Again, completely eliminates my point. I wish I knew people who had that taste in film. I've found that most of the people in the two high schools I've gone to seem to subscribe to the Cheech and Chong school or the Saturday Night Live school of film/TV taste. Pretty much, either stupid comedies or stoner comedies.

Anyone else have any ideas for the quintesential NT person films?

Among the people I've met in high school so far, the top two films are Napoleon Dynamite (a cute, clean high school comedy) and Donnie Darko (a mindbender that's incorporated itself into mainstream culture), although LotR, Harry Potter and other popular, big-budget movies based on popular fantasy titles are also very popular. And, yeah, a lot of people do like South Park and Bill & Ted type stuff, but those aren't at the top of anyones' favourites list.

"Lift your skinny fists like antannae to the heavens."

Here's what I would do if I were you.

Get yahoo.com as your starting page and very quickly peruse whatever celebrity bullsh*t is being headlined before you surf on to more important things.

You don't have to like it. Hell, you can dog on it even more if you have information about it.

Crunch through People when you're at the dentist's office. That copy of the Atlantic Monthly is six months old, anyway.

And here's what I would do if I were you.

Search long and hard, far and wide, for people that dig the same kind of stuff you do.

I'm really into Korean and eastern film, as well as political thrillers. Oldboy is particularly brilliant Korean film. The Motorcycle Diaries (although admittedly that was rather popular)... Apocalypse Now is my favorite film of all time, although only the directors cut because otherwise it doesn't make as much sense to me having seen the redux version first. Children of Men is the best film I've seen recently, although it disappeared as soon as it came out. It's a shame that British cinema is so swamped by American stuff really, especially since it's nearly always far superior in plot, production and to top it off are better acted.

As for TV.. What is that? I rarely watch television unless there's a film on, or a documentary I'm particularly interested in (which is rare). I do watch the news, I like to keep on top of current affairs, but to be honest, I spend too much time on my computer to watch television much.

I tried to do the same thing in high school with pop music. It worked for awhile but then I lost interest in pop music. So, as everyone said stay with what you like, but its good to have some clue of what is popular.

However, to answer your question about TV shows: watch some CSI (anyone of the them). Its an interesting show and popular. Numbers is another TV show. However, I seem to watch alot of TV compared to most people my age (in college and 20s), so I watch shows that others my age have not heard of like Stargate SG-1. If possible watch "the daily show", its a good way to learn about film and TV shows.

Hope this helps you.

I would say your condescending attitude towards others is far more a problem for people than your taste in movies.

I walk the line personally. I can watch Cheech and Chong then go off and watch high brow. As for TV I honestly cannot help. I just watch BSG, South Park, Mind Of Mencia and whatever the History channel is playing when one of those isn't one.

My interest in culture is eccentric. I used to watch television but don't really watch it at all anymore (even when I watched it before my interests tended to be different then the norm). In movies I rarely venture into the theatres because I hate most of modern cinema with some exceptions (my favorite film this year was "The Queen," the only other films I saw were "Casino Royale" and "Thank You For Smoking"). I don't like the current music styles.

On the other hand with internet, books, and DVDs it is easy enough to get my own fair, albeit not necessary the friends to enjoy it with me. I take my books and magazines out to review while at appointments and lunch. To be honest, I'm not that frustrated except maybe a little at lack of companionship. People have their interests, and I have fine. 'Tis life.

I wouldn't call Napoleon Dynamite cute so much as I would call it plotless. And mind-numbing.

Most of the people at my school have seen Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which I at least found funny.

I don't have tastes that would in any reasonable sense be considered 'mainstream' so I tend to stay on the periphery of conversations related to film or music.

TV: Entourage, Colbert Report, and Lost. If this aren't already cool where you are, you can start a trend.

Movies: Supertroopers and Borat for comedy, City of God and Layer Cake for more edge/action.

Music: Gorillaz, Ratatat, Andre Nickatina, and Justin Timberlake. I don't care what anyone says about JT, his new album is sick.

I would suggest doing internet reasearch on what shows/movies are popular and then experimenting with those that look most interesting to you. There is actually quite a bit of popular culture that isn't completely asinine. I REALLY enjoy Lost, as do many others. Its imporant to know the story line from the beginning. Aside from the surface absurdidy of polar bears in the jungle, it is a really thought provoking show. just an example; you will need to find something that interests you as well as your peers.

Really? I saw that movie as a perfect reflection of the humor to be found in real-life situations. I mean, I've known people exactly like Napoleon- I've even *been* kind of like him at one point in my life (and Kip at another point in my life). Basically, the people in that movie are losers who aren't *aware* that they're losers. Which pretty much describes everyone, and that's where most of the cuteness and humour of that movie comes in.
I'm not sure about you, but I actually found that movie thought-provoking. But, then, I'm one of those (pseudo)intellectual literary types who reads too deeply into everything. Hence my plan to major in English.
And Monty Python and the Holy Grail is awesome.