Jingo Lingo

It’s been a while, sorry. I’ve been sick, and not recording the podcast, and I usually post right after uploading.

So I had this idea a little while ago. When I was hella out of commission for a few days because of dentist, I went to the library and got a few movies, one of which was Fearless, starring Jet Li. It’s not on any reputable legal streaming service I know of, but the library had a copy. It’s Jet Li’s last wushu film, and is loosely based on a true story of a man who defeated multiple foreigners in exhibition fights using traditional Chinese wushu.

What this means is, this is a movie about a hero of the country, who overcomes incredible odds, earns the respect of his peers despite also earning the ire of those who would destroy him, and dies a martyr for the cause of his nation. This is something we here in America have seen a lot. The term “jingoism” comes to mind a lot for the glut of American war movies, showcasing single heroes who go above and beyond, enduring lifetimes of hardship in the span of moments, in the name of America.

I don’t wish to disparage the reality of what soldiers have to go through. What bothers me is how the stories we get told in film seem a bit…same-y. I’ve heard the stories before, and most of them don’t do something new enough to be interesting to me. Some of them do, like Hurt Locker, but there’s so many that are like Saving Private Ryan’s Blackhawk Down Behind Enemy Lines.

What’s interesting is, when the setting is a different country, it’s a much more interesting story to me. Part of it is probably the fact that I don’t necessarily know how it ends. For example, if I see a WWII movie, I’m fairly confident I know the outcome. But even the Korean War isn’t as hammered into my memory. When I don’t know what’s going to happen, all of a sudden, the stakes feel real.

But there’s also different choices being made. Different things being highlighted. Different focuses of the entire film. All of a sudden, I’m excited about a movie that is ostensibly a “rah rah China” movie. And I think that’s a good thing.

Song of the Week: Also sprach Zarathrustra by the Portsmouth Sinfonia. I bet you’re wondering what’s going on here. Apparently, this album was recorded by the musicians trading instruments, and then recording. It’s a train wreck, and even better because of how iconic the song is.