I have been reading a large number of an even larger number of posts and I have been interested in the varying opinions of the writers. Due to the fact that I have at times found myself floundering in a sea of terms, expressions and quotes to which I am largely unfamiliar(not being an idiot but perhaps not as well read in the field of philosophy and politics as others on this list may be)I have sometimes had to sign out as a headache often approaches after a while :-) I nonetheless do understand the bulk of the arguments and would finally like to add my own thoughts to these. If you are interested - please read on. I would like to clarify now, that I understand that these are my own opinions and hope this will be okay, so I don't have to keep inserting (IMO).
Re: Character Vs Interesting stuff - let me start off by admitting that I am a character junkie - I love the characters - they are essential to the enjoyment and/or interest of a show. Plot is important I will not deny that, however; it is only important if the accompanying dialogue is well expressed - it is the characters themselves who stress the importance of the plot and it is in viewing their actions and reactions that we the viewer become enmeshed in the whole experience.
Re: Deliverance, I have already posted on this once but I would like to add a few things: 'Isms' are a part of our society - we see an 'ism' in everything - I can't believe the stress we place on every single action that man takes and when I say man, I refer to mankind collectively as in male and female persons. I am female of man - I see no need to change the term man to person. I am very comfortable with being a woman and I might add a particularly strong woman at that and I am not intimidated by the role that men play in society - I can be very angry by obvious sexist actions and statements but I'll be damned if I'm going to spend my precious years on this planet looking for them. Deliverance is simply a pleasant little story whereupon a technologically advanced male and his male comrades are saved from probable death by a lone female of a dying static society and in gratitude, help her to launch a rocket containing the genetic stock of her people, hopefully to somewhere where their race can continue its survival. Anything else, such as Meegat's need to prostrate herself at Avon's feet etc can be taken anyway you want - I choose to see the reverence in her actions - if others choose to see sexism, fine...but life really is too short.
Re: Liking 'Characters' I would like to make a point on the issue of 'what is more important, the words or their delivery' comment and the subsequent responses. Words are basically a means of communication - for those on this planet who do not use words then sounds/signals are the means of communication and to make a point these sounds/signals are stressed in many different ways to send a message. I don't understand any other animal speak except human so I will forgo the other examples - however; if morse code consisted of simply one tone we wouldn't get very far in communication - the same applies for words - they are a handy tool but just that - a tool - to get a message across we use this tool in our delivery and it is to the delivery that we understand and respond. A classic example is the internet - I have found when I have typed something in response to something and I am being(or at least attempting) to be humorous or feeling lighthearted/happy, I feel the need to put a smiling face down as sometimes statements can be terribly ambiguous - however; were I to respond in person, then the recipient of my humour etc, would be able to tell by my tone and facial expressions that I was responding in a light hearted manner, and therefore, hopefully not take offence.
Re: Avon apologists - I guess, I slot into that category and for what it's worth - I truly find reasons behind alot of his actions and statements that seem plausible to me. To be honest, if I couldn't, I wouldn't like him - on the surface he is not a likeable character - I guess what we Avon fans see is somewhere just below the surface - something we found and admired in those few brief moments when we saw the mask removed.
I guess that's it for now - hopefully no offence was taken as none was intended.
Cheryl.
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