Pharaoh’s Tombs
Entry:
Watched “The Menu” a few nights ago with Allison. I am surprised that it has received the positive reviews it has. I found it to be a mean spirited and clumsily executed attempt at satire and class criticism. It felt like a walking embodiment of the silly phrase “eat the rich.” That phrase itself is a misunderstood misquote. If I remember correctly, the phrase comes from Rousseau and refers to the fact that if the poor and working masses are left with nothing to eat, they will “eat” the rich. This means that revolution and social turmoil will follow a basic need of survival. But that type of revolution, one born of desparation, is really dangerous. Without an idea of a better world, a more just world, the revolution in question just becomes another feeding at the troth.
In The Menu, that sophisticated argument could be possible, but I did not see it present. Instead, it felt like a literal manifestation of the misquote above. None of the diners were actually hated for the reasons that made them horrible. They were hated by the restaurant because they were foodies who used social media, washed up actors, patrons who couldn’t name a dish, etc. That is hardly anything to feed a revolution, and it barely even warrants widespread outrage. The cruelties of some of the patrons are only found out about later, and for a good number of them actually are found to not be all that cruel. The washed up actor, his assistant, the scorned wife, even the tech bros. They are just… well people.
The chef, although presented as an artist who has had it with the rich and the priviledged, instead of leading any kind of meaningful revolution or criticism has just decided to commit mass murder. He plans on locking the patrons in the restaurant and cooking them alive with all of his loyal staff and crew. Even when it is discovered that he serially harrassed one of his sous-chefs he “evens the score” by having her… stab him in the leg. Once. And then he asks for forgiveness.
At this moment the film fully felt like a FOX News host who, waking up one day to realize the pain and suffering they had caused, decides to go on a crusade for justice. But that zeal outpaces understanding anything about the labor movement, #MeToo, environmentalism, etc. Instead, the film is just a story of a modern-day pharaoh who faced with the shortness of his life and work decides to bury everyone alive with him in a final act of megalomaniac.
Even the skilled acting could not save this “Saw” meets Noma from its conservative and cruel undertones. Why is it so hard for people to understand— the oppressed do not want cannibalism, they want dignity. Why do we struggle to even imagine in our fantasies that simple state?
In other developments, had a student stop by my office today to discuss the public history initiative on campus. This is one of the great things about being an academic, you really do see how your work has a positive influence on the world regularly.
Am continuing to read Harper Lee's "Go Set a Watchman." Am enjoying the ability to recognize landmarks and trends she discusses.
Seeing the settling in of several local politicians in the country. Several anti-trans bills are being introduced that range in their specific targets, but all with the idea of targeting transmen and transwomen and violate their civil rights.
Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor really needs to update their book "From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation" to include NY's Eric Adams. He is a walking embodiment of her argument. Specifically, how simply electing Black politicians to office will in no way guarantee liberation for anyone. Taylor's book really focused in on Obama as well as a host of other liberal to neoliberal figures, but Adams entire persona proves the thesis of the book perfectly.
Today will be lecturing on Reconstruction and periodization, explaining how the period was one of violent and rapid wars by the rich and powerful on the poor and people of color across the country. In particular, we focus not just on Jim Crow but also the Tompkins Square Police Riot of 1874 in NY, and the Anti-Chinese Massacre of 1871 in LA. Also, in Alabama History will be going over the concept of the Long Durée and natural history. We are going to be looking at kudzu, cotton, longleaf pines, and boll weevils and how they relate to the state’s history.
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