Canadian Politics Today

  I don't think a story's value or impact depends on its genre.  Some of our oldest and most enduring and most culturally important stories use fantastical story elements and plot devices to make their point. We see this in the Bible and in the ancient myths of just about every culture.

I'm not convinced.  People didn't think the bible was fiction, they thought it was the document of human inception and evolution and a moral blueprint.

Maybe 'value' and 'impact' aren't the right terms, but I can't accept that the bible and Grimm's tales could be on the same level of impact.  Granted that they are different, but I think genre matters.  Even within the realm of 'folks narratives' some are more important than others.

If you showed people "Sleepless in Seattle" and "Gattaca", I think a lot of them would say that "Sleepless in Seattle" is realistic and "Gattaca" is just sci-fi.   But personally I think that "Sleepless in Seattle" is one of the most unrealistic, fake things I've ever seen, while the possibilities and perils depicted in "Gattaca" become more and more relevant with each advance in the field of genetics.

Ok, but Gattaca exceeds the grasp of its genre while Sleepless in Seattle seeks to comfort the viewer and not change dialogue so much.

That's exactly the kind of movie I avoid. Judging from the synopsis it sounds terribly depressing.  I have seen "real" movies that I found very powerful and deeply affecting, and I'm sure Amour is very good. But I don't want to be reminded of human frailty and mortality ... when I watch a movie I want to forget about that stuff for a couple of hours.

Ok, so you seek escapism.  Thankfully, Will and Grace and All in the Family snuck their medicine into some humour, subversively, so that people would challenge themselves somewhat and not escape.

I've never been *to* Toronto.  I've been *through* Toronto many times.  My first instinct when I get into Toronto is to get out of Toronto as quickly as possible.

Yes, I agree that Toronto is fantastic.  Next time you come let me know and Joan and I will take you around...