April 28th, 2015
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always thought that what professional wrestling needs is a foundation of story-telling based on progressive identity politics. Fortunately, Bill Corgan is here to help:
Corgan, leader of the innovative rock group Smashing Pumpkins, has joined TNA Impact Wrestling as senior producer of creative and talent development . . . Rather than trotting out the same old “heels” and “babyfaces” — pro-wrestling argot for “bad guys” and good guys” — Corgan thinks fans are ready for new stories.
“There is a tremendous opportunity to go into really fresh, new directions,” Corgan explained in an interview. Having characters who explore race or transgender issues is certainly a possibility, he suggested. “There are ways to explore those themes in ways that are productive, create new stars and show that value-based ‘babyfaces,’ no matter what their background, no matter where they come from, can draw new audiences and inspire people in new ways.” . . .
Corgan believes his ideas will “ break new ground.” In 2015, he said, “Those social and cultural issues that are sort of a ‘don’t go there’ subject” will result in themes that will feel more meaningful to current audiences. “I think there’s an endless supply of things in our culture where people are dealing with race or with gender, etc., and you can get into these things in a way that is both revelatory and enlightening. Treated the right way, ultimately, the good guy wins. The right ideas win.”
That sounds about right. By the way, if you’re curious about what it looks like when the good guys win, this is a pretty standard-issue example:
Alice Eve is feeling the heat after claiming that Bruce Jenner is “playing at being a woman.” . . .
After receiving backlash on social media, the 33-year-old actress attempted to clarify her comments. . . .
Eve also thanked social media users for discussing the topic with and broadening her perspective.
“Maybe this needs a little thought. I felt confused and now I feel enlightened and like I know what education I need to move forward.”
Jonah Goldberg doesn’t get nearly enough credit for anticipating the terminus of modern liberalism.
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Futurama got there first. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1TPLctyPV7s
Nedward April 28, 2015 at 8:25 pm
Though I find Mark Steyn’s analysis of Jenner as the ’16 GOP frontrunner persuasive (“he’s begun his transitioning earlier than any other candidate”)– sorry, Alice Eve wins the ideal-visage-of-a-woman primary 100 times out of 100.
Though that’s her fundamental error here, of course: the xformers aren’t trying to join the vulgar, passe category of women in general–they’re asserting the existence of a new exalted “more female than female” social status a la the Inca shaman and Ziggy Stardust of old, and arrogating the prize of this conjured category to themselves. It’s basically playing an MMORPG in real life