'This film is Anti-American!' So what?

[deleted]

Clionauta, I both read and appreciate your post, but do you think you could possibly refrain from using the word "yank" so often?
I honestly find it more than a little irritating to be identified with a term I've never, ever associated myself with... And I have never actually met anyone in American that associated themselves with it.

The 18th and 19th century are over. I'm pretty sure you can just call us "Americans" now.

Most yanks I talk to don't find themselves superior, at least no more superior than any italian I've talked to while in in Napoli (arrogant *beep* I love my family) or any German while in Frankfurt. I would assume that Von Trier placed Dogville in the US because no matter how angry the people get, the outcry would not be nearly as bad as if it was placed in Turkey (as you mentioned and need I mention the dead Armenians if you want to bring up the N.A. parallel), Russia (how many people did Stalin wipe out in recent history?), China (how many of his own people did Mao Tse Tung get rid of?), and yet the general opinion of the populace stays nationalistic. Mind you I'm not saying the U.S. doesn't have it's share of issues (not going into the current situation), but even with the forgotten horrors of the Phillipines during the Spanish-American War (does anyone remember We-the-USA fired the first shot), you still have a culture that generally can accept the criticism. They'll cry, piss, and moan, but they will always look. Once in awhile they also change. Generally speaking, hopefully for the better.

So whatever, ignore the following post on calling us yanks. It doesnt bother me. What is annoying is taking the ideas of any filmaker (von Trier) or social commentator (Ebert) and assuming that they speak for everyone. You are an individual, as am I, and assuming that we have our own outlook on the world, these guys are just one of many opinions. Everyone has an opinion.

God that was a ramble. Sorry.

Any time somebody uses the term "yank" these days there's a good 97% chance that that person is not American.

"What I don't understand is how we're going to stay alive this winter."

Clionauta: It might help you illustrate your points better if you'd refrain from using one of the few pejoratives (Yank) that the IMDb censorship jockeys won't delete. That being said, this Yank agrees with every point you've made. XD

[deleted]

"dogville is anti-american because it directly attacks the country itself. it's not just a story taking place in america."

I disagree. Ultimately it's about the ugly side of human nature in general. It's just that the US, due to its power to express that dark side more than most other countries, functions as a very clear example.

Not being deliberately difficult but apart from the use of the Bowie song at the end and the setting, could you explain the distinction?
Besides the song, which was over the credits anyway and not in the main body of the film, I saw little to criticize America directly and lots talking about human nature in general.
If anything it seemed more anti-Christian to me, the hypocrisy of the small town

there's a difference between a message of legitimate criticism of behaviors and character traits embodied by a significant portion of a nation's population and a message of being "anti" that nation

Dogville isn't anti-American, because it makes no attempt to establish the township of Dogville as being typical or representative of America as a whole. in fact, the movie acknowledges the existence of America outside of Dogville, and singles out Dogville as being the one town that the world would be better off without.

it would be different if the township of Dogville was presented as a metaphor for America as a whole (which would preclude mentioning other towns in America, such as St. George), or it had not been so clearly singled out for "exceptional treatment" due to being an undesirable part of a larger nation (note there was no push to level St. George next)


2014 Screenings: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls054830628/

"2. Have been living in the u.s. for almost 7 years now and people here tend to be a bit sensitive when they feel someone is criticizing the u.s. "

I'd say you probably live in an area saturated with conservatives. I am a US citizen and I criticize my country (the ignorant, the apathetic, the government and the ruling class of corporatists and the inherited wealthy) all the time. In fact, I LOATHE them and all that they stand for.

They are exactly the small-townspeople depicted in Dogville. That's why Steubenville and Trayvon still happen.