    
Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 2859
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 - 02:02 pm: | 
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Curious following Troy's recent comments about old T'sC posts that still get a lot of views, I browsed the archives for a few moments. One thread I came across, from 2006 and initiated by Troy, was a discussion about Spike Lee's documentary "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts" and Kam Williams' review of the film.
(I think this is the link to the thread: http://www.thumperscorner.com/discus/messages/11221/15054.html?1157551865)
Man, that discussion had it all: "regulars" chiming in with two cents, guest appearances by Kam himself, Kola/Snakegirl, a drop-in from Zane, a few insults here and there and some good natured (I think!) ribbing...diverging views, very good analysis from multiple perspectives... additional reading on the topic...
Very, very fun to read!
Anyway, I notice that I also chimed in, despite having not seen the documentary at the time. Well, since then I have watched it. And watched it again. And purchased it as gift for folks. Then pestered them to watch it.
It was definitely an emotional investment to sit down and watch that. I am glad that--even though I was watching it after its airing on DVD--I did not try to view the whole thing straight through. But I am glad that I experienced it.
I agree even more with one of the comments I made two years ago when we were discussing this:
I would add that Katrina may be too close in time for many people to want to move to the analysis phase. Right now many of us are still in mourning, and we need outlets for that. In that respect, I think the naming of the HBO piece was dead-on in terms of what Spike Lee apparently achieved. (I say "apparently" because I have not yet seen it.)
An additional point I would make is that Spike Lee has never been one to "analyze" in his work. That is not his strength--definitely not for feature films, and perhaps not for his documentaries either. I have no problems with that, because deep analysis is not what I have come to expect from a work by Spike Lee. I think he provides excellent balance to efforts that would seek to disqualify Black emotions like sadness and rage, giving these feeling much needed space.
But I also have some other thoughts on that discussion now that I have actually seen the work.
But enough yapping from me.
Anyone else from the original thread have any new insights? Any lurkers care to chime in? Any newer board members have any thoughts--about the original thread, review, and/or documentary?
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