“Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann, who created Moulin Rouge, a film about the bohemians in early 20th-century Paris that has become a cult hit among the 18 to 25 demographic, says this is the generation that has seen it all. ‘They want something more meaningful, something from the heart,” Mr. Luhrmann says. ‘They’re tired of irony.’” Also: “This new generation also is not entirely without the knowing nudge or wink. It just won’t have the sharp elbow’s edge, say pundits. This is the era of the sophisticated innocent, again well-captured by Elle [of Legally Blonde 2] as she begs lawmakers to heed her call.” (Gloria Goodale, “Sunny Side Up: Cynicism is so 1990. sincerity is back in vogue,” Christian Science Monitor, July 3, 2003) There may be something here. Comments, anyone?
I'm always suspicious of people declaring a grand new era in art. Goodale makes it sound like the decades before 9/11 were a snarky, ironic void. She never accounts for the bizarrely popular schmaltz of the '90s such as Touched by an Angel or Titanic. The fact that she uses box office reject From Justin to Kelly and the floundering Legally Blonde 2 as proof of an imminent shift in artistic tone makes me a wee bit skeptical of her argument.
anyway arent baz's films FULL of irony?
god forbid he means moulin rouge fully serious.
What i want to know is when the ageless, timeless, learned/ignorant, old/young, joyful/sorrowful full-of-wonder-and-understanding post-human will be the fasion. Then maybe we can get over what's in vogue and start getting down to some serious progression/regression.
If Elle is the best we do for a pop-projected summation of our collectivity, then god help us.
That said, Goodale might not be wrong, either.