Today I had a most terrible epiphany. Truly awful. I realised that Back To The Future is, in large part, a conformist, right-wing wet dream. And just to add another scoop of self loathing, I STILL LOVE IT.
Let me give you a little background. I have, for a large part of my life been on the left of the political spectrum, mellowing slightly with age. Still, if you ask me who in this world needs looking after, it will always be the poor and not multinationals. Fine, the system gets abused, but better that than child poverty is my way of thinking.
The thing is, before I became interested in politics in any way, I loved Back to the Future. And it's only upon recent re-assessment of it that I have really begun to realise just how skewed my own critical facilties are when brought into direct contact with something I really enjoy. Let's just take a moment to examine why anyone could suddenly consider this example of cinematic breathless wonder an icon of conservative exclusion.
First, it's extraordinary anti-intellectualism. Biff might be the "baddie", but all of the films scorn is aimed squarely at it's two boffins. And even here there is a form of favouritism. Doc is a dilettente but is at least allowed a death and redemption (Pertwee, anyone?) but poor old George McFly? He's not just a science geek, he's a writer too! Could he be any gayer (yes I know he's Marty's father, but we are in strict Malboro smoking, blue collar territory here).There seems to be a genuine pleasure in his humiliation. Even Marty, his own son, doesn't actually want to help him. He just wants to save himself. If anyone wants an insight into how geekdom was viewed before the current incursion of interlopers, look no further. George McFly tells you all you need to know.
Second, how characters win. Basically by punching. George McFly is a humiliated doormat throughout until he learns to stop using that pesky brain of his and start swinging. And then? He gets the girl. He gets to be class president. And, this being the 80's and all, he gets a Beamer. Stop Thinking, Start Winning. I think I've just defined the 80's. Even when Marty get's back, his brother, defined as a loser because he delivers pizza, is now a winner because he works in an office. Thats winning? And his sister is no longer a loser because men like her. Hooray for them.
I should really, really hate this film. Just about everything that I loathe in life is championed as a virtue here. Intellect has to be beaten or ridiculed, being poor is BAD, and happiness comes in German, car-shaped boxes.
So why is it so bloody wonderful. I love it like I love my limbs. In fact I love it so much, it's taken the best part of thirty years to actually think about it in any subjective manner.
Even my wife only got 5 years.
The thing is, before I became interested in politics in any way, I loved Back to the Future. And it's only upon recent re-assessment of it that I have really begun to realise just how skewed my own critical facilties are when brought into direct contact with something I really enjoy. Let's just take a moment to examine why anyone could suddenly consider this example of cinematic breathless wonder an icon of conservative exclusion.
First, it's extraordinary anti-intellectualism. Biff might be the "baddie", but all of the films scorn is aimed squarely at it's two boffins. And even here there is a form of favouritism. Doc is a dilettente but is at least allowed a death and redemption (Pertwee, anyone?) but poor old George McFly? He's not just a science geek, he's a writer too! Could he be any gayer (yes I know he's Marty's father, but we are in strict Malboro smoking, blue collar territory here).There seems to be a genuine pleasure in his humiliation. Even Marty, his own son, doesn't actually want to help him. He just wants to save himself. If anyone wants an insight into how geekdom was viewed before the current incursion of interlopers, look no further. George McFly tells you all you need to know.
Second, how characters win. Basically by punching. George McFly is a humiliated doormat throughout until he learns to stop using that pesky brain of his and start swinging. And then? He gets the girl. He gets to be class president. And, this being the 80's and all, he gets a Beamer. Stop Thinking, Start Winning. I think I've just defined the 80's. Even when Marty get's back, his brother, defined as a loser because he delivers pizza, is now a winner because he works in an office. Thats winning? And his sister is no longer a loser because men like her. Hooray for them.
I should really, really hate this film. Just about everything that I loathe in life is championed as a virtue here. Intellect has to be beaten or ridiculed, being poor is BAD, and happiness comes in German, car-shaped boxes.
So why is it so bloody wonderful. I love it like I love my limbs. In fact I love it so much, it's taken the best part of thirty years to actually think about it in any subjective manner.
Even my wife only got 5 years.
No comments:
Post a Comment