Hedonism Iii Personal Pictures

The Other Mutant Teenagers

The pervading expectation in Hollywood that broad audiences take the X-Men films seriously is a rather recent evolution ( mutation if you will). Comic books, especially ones featuring mutant teenagers, were at a time rightly considered the domain of kids, teens, and some very enthusiastic adults – decidedly not the stuff of big summer movies. With the exception of the broadly branded Superman franchise, comic books were not a creative source eagerly pursued by movie producers and studio executives. However, in 1989 that began to change with Tim Burton ’s dark and exciting interpretation of Batman . The financial and critical success of Batman contributed to a growing momentum for serious films based on comic book heroes, though the full implications of this trend would take years to fully manifest. The film was also groundbreaking in its unprecedented use of corporate tie-ins and ultra-aggressive marketing that are now common-place in today’s summer blockbusters. Flash forward to the early 21st Century: the X-Men franchise is currently 5 films in length, and at press time worth over a billion and half in international box office. Not bad box office for a film series that is basically an imaginative retelling of the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

But 1990 belonged to a different comic-book born squad of teenaged mutant crime-fighters. That year was all about Ninja Turtles. New Line Cinema adapted a very popular Saturday morning cartoon, which had itself been adapted from a tonally dissimilar comic book, and made a completely absurd premise a very successful film franchise. Like many of the B-films of the 1950s and 60s that derived plot points from nuclear-age paranoia, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ’ social context was an environmentalist one. And like those films, the social message was basically restricted to its premise. These Turtles were, and continue to be, a product of modernism, and helpless to crusade against that nefarious force which made their existence possible. So instead, the turtles fought crime - specifically, an underground gang of highly organized street ninjas terrorizing New York City.

While TMNT shares many elements in common with X-Men , its social allegory is much less obvious.

Hedonism, Vinyl & Thread: For K and S

This isn't mine, I just "stumbled" across it online and thought it was adorable and funny and kind of relates, M gave me his dog tags and I often get told how I'm more patirotic than most other Aussies when people come in my room and see the giant flag, and realize that all of my little things like lighters, hats, even a beer holder have Aussie flags and Navy details. It also reminds me of my fav big cousin and military wife KP, who has been so amazing and gone through everything with her amazing hubby S. She's always been such a support to me, and is the most understanding and least judgmental person ever. Can't waittttt for visits!!! Hedonist, Narcissist, Nihilist, Optimist. Paradox. Well if you swear like a sailor and drink like a sailor you may as well look like one. I blog about style, feminism, art, photography, and my broke ass student life. Self-indulgent creator of any and all things beautiful or macabre. Admittedly a hedonist, with fabulous dreams and high expectations. I'm a big believer in over-indulgence, too much is way better than too little. Live hard, laugh loud, drink lots. I love to paint, read, listen to records, burn incense, write and travel. I am working on my B.A. at Carleton U, then hoping to blow all my life savings on more travelling.

Social psychology, a general reader

The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States, Feature Films, 1931-1940

The Cambridge review

Culture's consequences, comparing values, behaviors, institutions, and organizations across nations

Electronic Media Criticism, Applied Perspectives