Skip to main content

INS-AI-NITY

 


The past few days have revealed that Donald Trump is possibly even more insane and out of control than previously imagined - or - worse - insane and perfectly in control. His potentially-blasphemous, and certainly poor-taste mockery of the recently deceased Pope Francis, in which he let his likeness be AI-modified (as above) and released by the official White House X account, with him dressed as the Pope, was simply weird, especially since Catholics make up a large voting block within MAGA-world (or did). Trump is also not a theological expert, or even a Catholic, and hardly the ideal candidate to wear the shoes of the fisherman.

Now for 4th May, he appeared as a Sith Lord (see the red light), incorrectly we assume.

More seriously, if that word applies, in a recent interview for a major TV channel, he claimed he would consider military force against Greenland (a NATO ally) to annex the land; ruled out invading Canada (thank you O mighty one!) - and yesterday also - decided to reinstate Alcatraz, that small island former prison (closed since 1963) famed in movies, as a major prison for the worst offenders in the nation. Perhaps based on the fact it was, even 62 years ago, deemed inhumanely cramped and awful.

Plus, he has attacked Hollywood, and slapped a 100% tariff/ tax on movies made outside of the USA and/or by non-Americans, showing he has no clue how movies are financed, or where they are filmed. This could be potentially disastrous for Pinewood Studios and other UK film studios, such as in Wales (for Havoc) but was likely aimed at ruining the Canadian film industry, where Montreal, Toronto and BC often stand in for US locations.

On top of which, Trump has continued his trade wars, his extreme immigration policies, and his baiting of judges and others who try to remind him of the US Constitution, which he recently stated he did not know if he had to uphold.

Meanwhile, he is planning a massive military parade in his honour for his birthday in June, and stated that America did more than everyone else to win the second world war, which seems to ignore the British empire, and the Russians.

This is actually almost funny, this bizarre madness coupled with ignorance, but in the tragic awful sense that despotism can appear ludicrous because so kitsch and petty sometimes. But it is actually just tragic.

The silver lining is that good Trump-opposing leaders were elected in the past week in Canada and Australia, proving Trump's effect is sometimes to cause a reaction in the equal and opposite direction.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

IQ AND THE POETS - ARE YOU SMART?

When you open your mouth to speak, are you smart?  A funny question from a great song, but also, a good one, when it comes to poets, and poetry. We tend to have a very ambiguous view of intelligence in poetry, one that I'd say is dysfunctional.  Basically, it goes like this: once you are safely dead, it no longer matters how smart you were.  For instance, Auden was smarter than Yeats , but most would still say Yeats is the finer poet; Eliot is clearly highly intelligent, but how much of Larkin 's work required a high IQ?  Meanwhile, poets while alive tend to be celebrated if they are deemed intelligent: Anne Carson, Geoffrey Hill , and Jorie Graham , are all, clearly, very intelligent people, aside from their work as poets.  But who reads Marianne Moore now, or Robert Lowell , smart poets? Or, Pound ?  How smart could Pound be with his madcap views? Less intelligent poets are often more popular.  John Betjeman was not a very smart poet, per se....
3 comments
Read more

Poetry vs. Literature

Poetry is, of course, a part of literature. But, increasingly, over the 20th century, it has become marginalised - and, famously, has less of an audience than "before". I think that, when one considers the sort of criticism levelled against Seamus Heaney and "mainstream poetry", by poet-critics like Jeffrey Side , one ought to see the wider context for poetry in the "Anglo-Saxon" world. This phrase was used by one of the UK's leading literary cultural figures, in a private conversation recently, when they spoke eloquently about the supremacy of "Anglo-Saxon novels" and their impressive command of narrative. My heart sank as I listened, for what became clear to me, in a flash, is that nothing has changed since Victorian England (for some in the literary establishment). Britain (now allied to America) and the English language with its marvellous fiction machine, still rule the waves. I personally find this an uncomfortable position - but when ...
15 comments
Read more

THIS YEAR'S BAFTAS

Last year, Eva Green won the Rising Star award at the Orange BAFTAs - and this year the ceremonies promise to be even more glamorous.  The striking film writers in America silenced the Golden Globes, and look set to do the same for the Oscars, which means London may get a world-class awards night. Eyewear , like all UK citizens, has yet to see some of the films nominated (members get sent copies to watch at home in some instances before general release), but can make some predictions - want to bet? Atonement will likely win Best Film. The Bourne Ultimatum should win Best British Film, though Control may do. The Bourne trilogy was astonishingly good genre work, and has rejuvenated The Bond series in the process, so deserves the kudos. Film Not In The English Language should go to The Lives of Others . Lead Actor will be Daniel Day-Lewis . Lead Actress will be the brilliant Julie Christie , whose work in the superb Canadian film Away From Her was so brave, and moving. Ja...
Post a Comment
Read more