Saturday, October 16, 2004
As you may have noticed, I have been somewhat entrenched in the analysis of suburbia. Living in Chilliwack provides plenty of fodder for discussion - online and otherwise. I also feel I have rights to it considering the fact that I grew up in suburbia. The only time that you're allowed to say what you really think is when you speak about home, right?
Life in Abbotsford was the ultimate example of the definition of suburbia. Now, it's become the new Surrey, much to the disdain of the long-time Abby residents. Therefore, the outskirts of Abbotsford are now developing up,up,up the mountain, safely above the old Abbotsford.
The last Abby house I lived in (over 12 years ago now) was sold to an Indo-Canadian family. The neighbourhood is totally Indo-Canadian now (which I love and infrequently drive through to feel a little part of India) and demonstrates a little of the big changes that have occured in my old suburban stomping grounds.
I simply adore these new shows and recent movies that capture and expose some of the suburbanite dynamics. From the latest development of Desperate Housewives to critically acclaimed movies throughout the past five years such as The Ice Storm, The Secret Lives of Dentists, more famously American Beauty, and a long while back Edward Scissorhands.
Last night, we sat down and watched the Thanksgiving-themed movie, The Ice Storm. From the director of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Ang Lee beautifully weaves a story of a fragmented family, the Hoods, in suburbia where communication and self-discovery of every character in the immediate family (or the neighbourhood, for that matter) never seem to come together. Building the tension of the family unit(s), a looming ice storm moves from the background (on television - a wonderful connection to the culture of home) to the forefront of several 'key' plot points.
Without divulging everything about the movie, I came away (this time, that is) with the fact that the perception of freedom in these characters could only be attained if something was risked. For instance, when Elena, a frigid housewive, gets on her bike (which she hasn't done for years) to go to the store, she shoplifts. Instead of just getting on the bicycle to enjoy the wind in her hair, she pushes further to feel reckless or like she is out-of-bounds. The store she is lifting from is probably a store that she frequents. Why there? Why do it at all? It's as though she was craving freedom so badly that her idea of it was so opposite of what was appropriate, even lawful.
The imagery and screaming-silence of this film is phenomenal. Between the sounds/music, scenes of ice (in a variety of interior and exterior forms), the suburban setting with disco 1970's clothing and decor, the stellar cast, writing, and photography, The Ice Storm is fabulous. It is great material for my personal pursuit of dissecting suburbia - what is it, what works, what doesn't, and ultimately, what role does it play in the greater society?
Life in Abbotsford was the ultimate example of the definition of suburbia. Now, it's become the new Surrey, much to the disdain of the long-time Abby residents. Therefore, the outskirts of Abbotsford are now developing up,up,up the mountain, safely above the old Abbotsford.
The last Abby house I lived in (over 12 years ago now) was sold to an Indo-Canadian family. The neighbourhood is totally Indo-Canadian now (which I love and infrequently drive through to feel a little part of India) and demonstrates a little of the big changes that have occured in my old suburban stomping grounds.
I simply adore these new shows and recent movies that capture and expose some of the suburbanite dynamics. From the latest development of Desperate Housewives to critically acclaimed movies throughout the past five years such as The Ice Storm, The Secret Lives of Dentists, more famously American Beauty, and a long while back Edward Scissorhands.
Last night, we sat down and watched the Thanksgiving-themed movie, The Ice Storm. From the director of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Ang Lee beautifully weaves a story of a fragmented family, the Hoods, in suburbia where communication and self-discovery of every character in the immediate family (or the neighbourhood, for that matter) never seem to come together. Building the tension of the family unit(s), a looming ice storm moves from the background (on television - a wonderful connection to the culture of home) to the forefront of several 'key' plot points.
Without divulging everything about the movie, I came away (this time, that is) with the fact that the perception of freedom in these characters could only be attained if something was risked. For instance, when Elena, a frigid housewive, gets on her bike (which she hasn't done for years) to go to the store, she shoplifts. Instead of just getting on the bicycle to enjoy the wind in her hair, she pushes further to feel reckless or like she is out-of-bounds. The store she is lifting from is probably a store that she frequents. Why there? Why do it at all? It's as though she was craving freedom so badly that her idea of it was so opposite of what was appropriate, even lawful.
The imagery and screaming-silence of this film is phenomenal. Between the sounds/music, scenes of ice (in a variety of interior and exterior forms), the suburban setting with disco 1970's clothing and decor, the stellar cast, writing, and photography, The Ice Storm is fabulous. It is great material for my personal pursuit of dissecting suburbia - what is it, what works, what doesn't, and ultimately, what role does it play in the greater society?
