“It seems absurd to me that the clip is censored.”
May 5, 2013 7:49 AM Subscribe
Quebec director Xavier Dolan's music video for "College Boy" (NSFW) by French band Indochine has stirred up some controversy for its gruesome portrayal of bullying.
Thanks FfA for the U.S. friendly link (I'm so used to not being able to see American links here in Canada, I never really thought about it going the other way!)
posted by jeffen at 7:56 AM on May 5, 2013
posted by jeffen at 7:56 AM on May 5, 2013
From the second controversy link:
The black and white video shows a student being taunted by his peers who are throwing crumpled balls of paper at him. His locker is vandalized and he is then pushed down the steps of the school by his classmates and beaten bloody by an angry mob . In the closing scenes, blind-folded classmates busy with their cellphones stand by while he is crucified and shot to death.
Did the journalist even watch the video? I thought it was pretty clear that it was the same group of bullies who pushed him down the steps and then beat him, not an angry mob. Further, the blindfolds were symbolism of all the people who see bullying but don't "see" it, even to the point of filming crucifixion with their phones.
Dolan ... told CBC news the video contains an anti-bullying message designed to show how bystanders are complicit in bullying.
Made quite clear not 1 paragraph later.
(Also, thanks Foci for Analysis for finding the alternate link.)
posted by Axle at 8:41 AM on May 5, 2013
The black and white video shows a student being taunted by his peers who are throwing crumpled balls of paper at him. His locker is vandalized and he is then pushed down the steps of the school by his classmates and beaten bloody by an angry mob . In the closing scenes, blind-folded classmates busy with their cellphones stand by while he is crucified and shot to death.
Did the journalist even watch the video? I thought it was pretty clear that it was the same group of bullies who pushed him down the steps and then beat him, not an angry mob. Further, the blindfolds were symbolism of all the people who see bullying but don't "see" it, even to the point of filming crucifixion with their phones.
Dolan ... told CBC news the video contains an anti-bullying message designed to show how bystanders are complicit in bullying.
Made quite clear not 1 paragraph later.
(Also, thanks Foci for Analysis for finding the alternate link.)
posted by Axle at 8:41 AM on May 5, 2013
That was pretty well done. From an 'objectionable content' angle, I don't see anything worthy of censorship or banning. The power is all in the situational context - especially the blindfolded classmates who film the scene on their cellphones and tacitly allow the brutality to go on with their silence (which is right out of real life, obviously and heartbreakingly.)
posted by naju at 8:54 AM on May 5, 2013
posted by naju at 8:54 AM on May 5, 2013
Indochine is still around?
posted by azarbayejani at 9:31 AM on May 5, 2013
posted by azarbayejani at 9:31 AM on May 5, 2013
Wikipedia says they grew really successful over the years.
posted by jeffen at 9:47 AM on May 5, 2013
posted by jeffen at 9:47 AM on May 5, 2013
I suspect it wouldn't have been censored without the urination scene. Not that anyone will be willing to admit that, of course.
posted by localroger at 10:18 AM on May 5, 2013
posted by localroger at 10:18 AM on May 5, 2013
What's up with the nuns running? They do look awesome, the nuns running in black and white. But isn't the video overwrought enough without it? Maybe melodrama really is the best weapon against bullying, but I'm having trouble taking this video seriously.
I did love it, though.
posted by layceepee at 11:10 AM on May 5, 2013
I did love it, though.
posted by layceepee at 11:10 AM on May 5, 2013
To follow on with Seymour Zamboni and something similar...
I have a nemesis. I won't say "had" because that would imply there is no residual effect 20 years later, and that would be a lie.
This person, let's call him, oh... Joel. This "Joel" person had it in for me since about 1986. But, let's fast forward to 1992. About, oh, let's say... October 30.
Statistics class.
Mr Carson (toooooooooooootally made up name, not his real name at all, nuh uh, no sir, and he was certainly not a CUBS fan) got up at the end of class, stood by the door and gave the kids a "break" for a few minutes before the bell rang.
During that break, one of Joel's cohorts/apprentices (let's call him... Dave) flung a notebook off my desk as I was looking the other way and so I turned around and Joel had stomped on it. I got up, went down to pick it up and he wouldn't move his foot. I struggled to let it go, and it wouldn't come loose, so I hit his legs with a couple light taps. No budge. I got up, said fuck it, turned back to my desk and decided they would eventually give it back.
To fully set the scene, I should also add that Joel had a cast on his arm.
Seconds after I sit down, I feel a blow to the back of my neck (you know, with a cast, that felt like a rock) and his voice echoed out "Don't turn your back on me when we're fighting" (???!!!!???) Shocked, I'm like WTF? I turn rightwards to look at him, and he gives me a blow with the casted arm again, to the temple. I threw in one punch backhandedly (which was pretty damn weak as it is, add in that I'm a geek/skater/punk, not a jock and of course, he was a jock) and he didn't really feel it. So I got up, backed up and was going to do my cheapshot shin kicking (I was wearing combat boots that day), but I felt the blood starting to drain and I could tell if I engaged in a fight I would pass out, so I left the room.
To do so, I ran out the door.
The door by which, if you recall, a certain "Mr. Carson" was standing.
"Oblivious"
As I was told by a kid who caught up with me and gave me my books later, he said I ran right by, and Carson did nothing, and when the other kid tried to chase after me, Carson said "Where do you think you're going?"
As if he hadn't seen the fight, as if he hadn't seen me and only was made aware, conveniently AFTER the fact.
That's either complicity via neglect, or complicity via explicity. Either way, he was complicit.
Fuck enabling teachers. Fuck those who support the jocks and the favorites at the expense of those who are disadvantaged, who aren't "cool". If "The System" wonders why we despise it, why we hold eternal enmity between it and us, it would be this very sort of situation. I will never bow down to a system that perpetuates the abuse of the weak sponsored by the willful blindness of those who are supposed to "serve and protect", whether that be a police, a priest or a teacher.
posted by symbioid at 11:56 AM on May 5, 2013 [5 favorites]
I have a nemesis. I won't say "had" because that would imply there is no residual effect 20 years later, and that would be a lie.
This person, let's call him, oh... Joel. This "Joel" person had it in for me since about 1986. But, let's fast forward to 1992. About, oh, let's say... October 30.
Statistics class.
Mr Carson (toooooooooooootally made up name, not his real name at all, nuh uh, no sir, and he was certainly not a CUBS fan) got up at the end of class, stood by the door and gave the kids a "break" for a few minutes before the bell rang.
During that break, one of Joel's cohorts/apprentices (let's call him... Dave) flung a notebook off my desk as I was looking the other way and so I turned around and Joel had stomped on it. I got up, went down to pick it up and he wouldn't move his foot. I struggled to let it go, and it wouldn't come loose, so I hit his legs with a couple light taps. No budge. I got up, said fuck it, turned back to my desk and decided they would eventually give it back.
To fully set the scene, I should also add that Joel had a cast on his arm.
Seconds after I sit down, I feel a blow to the back of my neck (you know, with a cast, that felt like a rock) and his voice echoed out "Don't turn your back on me when we're fighting" (???!!!!???) Shocked, I'm like WTF? I turn rightwards to look at him, and he gives me a blow with the casted arm again, to the temple. I threw in one punch backhandedly (which was pretty damn weak as it is, add in that I'm a geek/skater/punk, not a jock and of course, he was a jock) and he didn't really feel it. So I got up, backed up and was going to do my cheapshot shin kicking (I was wearing combat boots that day), but I felt the blood starting to drain and I could tell if I engaged in a fight I would pass out, so I left the room.
To do so, I ran out the door.
The door by which, if you recall, a certain "Mr. Carson" was standing.
"Oblivious"
As I was told by a kid who caught up with me and gave me my books later, he said I ran right by, and Carson did nothing, and when the other kid tried to chase after me, Carson said "Where do you think you're going?"
As if he hadn't seen the fight, as if he hadn't seen me and only was made aware, conveniently AFTER the fact.
That's either complicity via neglect, or complicity via explicity. Either way, he was complicit.
Fuck enabling teachers. Fuck those who support the jocks and the favorites at the expense of those who are disadvantaged, who aren't "cool". If "The System" wonders why we despise it, why we hold eternal enmity between it and us, it would be this very sort of situation. I will never bow down to a system that perpetuates the abuse of the weak sponsored by the willful blindness of those who are supposed to "serve and protect", whether that be a police, a priest or a teacher.
posted by symbioid at 11:56 AM on May 5, 2013 [5 favorites]
Indochine's always been more appreciated for their lyrics than for their music, FWIW.
I'm not sure the Globe and Mail has the high school setting right, since "collège" is "middle school". Indochine is indeed making a play on words, but talk to any French person and they won't really know that college = university. (In Quebec it's probably different though.) That and bullying adolescent behavior of all ages is often described as being back on the "cour du collège", the "middle-school playground".
Haven't heard any hubbub about it personally. Indochine's always been dark and made pointed critiques of society.
I like how they show the cops just as complicit as others. Pretty true to reality, even into adulthood. "But if I shot him it's because HE did something bad that deserved it! Whaddya mean he's nailed to a cross, obviously he is, he deserved it!" Psh.
I'm not able to view the FPP clip link here in France either, but Foci's alternative works fine, other than the ad at the beginning.
posted by fraula at 12:12 PM on May 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm not sure the Globe and Mail has the high school setting right, since "collège" is "middle school". Indochine is indeed making a play on words, but talk to any French person and they won't really know that college = university. (In Quebec it's probably different though.) That and bullying adolescent behavior of all ages is often described as being back on the "cour du collège", the "middle-school playground".
Haven't heard any hubbub about it personally. Indochine's always been dark and made pointed critiques of society.
I like how they show the cops just as complicit as others. Pretty true to reality, even into adulthood. "But if I shot him it's because HE did something bad that deserved it! Whaddya mean he's nailed to a cross, obviously he is, he deserved it!" Psh.
I'm not able to view the FPP clip link here in France either, but Foci's alternative works fine, other than the ad at the beginning.
posted by fraula at 12:12 PM on May 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
And just to clarify: I understood the cops as representative of powers-that-be in bullying situations. Not necessarily meaning actual-real-life cops.
posted by fraula at 12:15 PM on May 5, 2013
posted by fraula at 12:15 PM on May 5, 2013
What's up with the nuns running? They do look awesome, the nuns running in black and white.
I like the detail that the nuns are awash in paper, which I took as a reference to authorities not actually doing anything about bullying, but being too busy filling out forms and going through the motions.
posted by anothermug at 3:42 PM on May 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
I like the detail that the nuns are awash in paper, which I took as a reference to authorities not actually doing anything about bullying, but being too busy filling out forms and going through the motions.
posted by anothermug at 3:42 PM on May 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
Tangentially-related: A child abuse PSA that only kids can see.
posted by schmod at 7:47 AM on May 6, 2013
posted by schmod at 7:47 AM on May 6, 2013
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posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:51 AM on May 5, 2013