Re: helen hill - response

From: Cari Machet (email suppressed)
Date: Mon Jan 15 2007 - 10:24:55 PST


jack please go to a therapist

c

On 1/14/07, Jack Sargeant <email suppressed> wrote:
>
> I've thought long and hard about posting this, I understand Helen has
> friends here, that is as it should be, and i am not trying to upset
> or offend anybody, but i really feel the following needs to be said
>
> I don't really know helen hill's work, and never met her. it's
> obviously a tragedy for her loved ones and has effected those
> communities in which she moved, experimental film being one of these
> communities.
>
> however i am feeling that the outpouring of grief here is (becoming)
> misguided, i can't help but feel that there's something a little bit
> self indulgent when freya writes
>
> "I've been really, really shocked and upset by the news
> about Helen Hill. I've sadly never met Helen but from
> all your descriptions she sounds like exactly the kind
> of filmmaker I would have loved to have met. She wrote
> fanzines, tried to help people, made beautiful films
> and even had a pet pig!
> I feel
> somewhat heartbroken already so maybe it is just as
> well that I have never met her .
> ....
>
> I'm sure you are all thinking the same thing that I
> am, that this tradgedy wouldn't have happened if there
> had been a real effort on the part of the united
> states government to genuinely address the disaster in
> New Orleans. I really believe this to be true.
>
> I hate the government of the united stats of america."
>
>
> so let me get this right, based on descriptions of her you are upset?
> this is the same kind of mawkishness that happened when princess
> diana died and frankly makes no sense. are you sad when somebody you
> don't know who doesn't make films, doesn't make fanzines, and doesn't
> have a pet pig dies? after all many many people who are like that
> died in, or as a result of, New Orleans flooding and the socio-
> cultural aftermath of these events.
>
> moreover while i would agree that poverty and hopelessness have an
> effect on crime i hardly think that the usa government (who i am
> obviously not a fan of) are the only people guilty here, let's be
> honest the crime rate in new orleans was hardly low when the
> democrats were on office.
>
> please note that i do not doubt that you feel genuinely upset, but i
> think that this reads like you are colonizing her death, seeing in
> her something that is like you, but rather than taking that as an
> inspiration or way forward you are "heartbroken" and then full of
> "hate" for the government.
>
> perhaps, rather than dwell on her death as a source for sadness and
> hate, use the example of her life...
>
> jack
>
>
> __________________________________________________________________
> For info on FrameWorks, contact Pip Chodorov at <email suppressed>.
>

__________________________________________________________________
For info on FrameWorks, contact Pip Chodorov at <email suppressed>.