The Viewer's Broken Mirror

I found it rather interesting that during our in-class discussion regarding Up the Yangtze we took some time to assess the ways in which the film effected the viewer emotionally.  The assessment, however, was not simply directed at the way in which the emotionally charged film drew tears, but the ways in which it could actually make us feel bad based on the ground that we shared even the slightest thing in common with some of the more villainous characters.

It is not an easy thing to do to admit ones faults in a manner such as this.  The number of critics who have praised this film is practically without number, but very few of their reviews actually touch on their own feelings of self-insufficiency in watching the film.  I suppose that it is possible that some viewers simply see themselves as too far removed from the terrible passengers of the cruise to take note of this, but it is also possible that it is a result of the human being's nature to avoid things that are unpleasant and through praising the film remove any pent-up feelings that they may have accrued throughout their viewing. 

This idea of self-awareness skewed is something I find particularly interesting in regards to not only this film, but a great deal of media in the United States.

In a way, the idea detailed here can be seen through the eyes of Burke's idea of terministic screen.  His ideas regarding the importance of past events on the formation of our opinions and expression can be seen as relating to the viewers, while his exploration of the ways in which the different terministic screens of different people can result in a great deal of controversy and sadness.  A controversy and sadness that is very difficult to remedy due to the fact it is so deeply ingrained into our being.