Ever since I've watch a documentary of Louis Theroux about a Nazi family living in America last year, I couldn't help but admire Theroux's talent for bringing out the humanity in people who dwell on the fringe side of society. Louis, with his charming and disarming schoolboy looks ("Shaggy" as one of the children describes him, alluding to Scooby-Doo) asks questions in a so calm and so low-keyed manner that people by impression trust him. For unlike some of the interviewers I've seen, Louis is really interested in the people he interviews.
His filmmaking style is so laid-back that I sometimes forget that his subjects are some of the most weirdest people who ever walk on this planet. Often Louis gives his subjects as much leeway as they want, and most of the time people fumbles and trips themselves. Give them enough rope to hang themselves indeed.
After watching his latest documentary about the Westboro Baptist Church Family, I come away with a thought: humans have urges, but society as a whole mandated a set of law so as to make this urges more palatable. Some are more strict, others more liberal. Most of the time general laws are followed, others subverted, rebelled at. It is in this anti-mainstream consciousness that we humans experience diversity. It is also in in this diversity that we find weird people.
Like it or not, artifices such as politeness, unwritten social codes, and common courtesy is here to stay. Strip it away and all you have is weirdness.
The Most Hated Family in America (59 mins.):
See Also:
- Video: Christian Fundamentalists Children
- Video: Former Heroin Addict Proclaimed himself Jesus, followers Beleive him
- Pope Benedict: Rock Music is the Work of Satan
Just felt you might want to add your thoughts to this post. :)
Thanks micketymoc. I've already read it.
That PBB episode was done in really bad taste. The high disregard for those who deviate from the Catholic practices in our country is simply astounding.
That photo of those kids... is a very disturbg image. O_O
fruityoaty,
That's one of my gripes against religion: indoctrination of children.