Foreign and Brit press all seem to have glowing reports of the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. Was I wearing the wrong glasses? I found it boring and not that good – a messy jumble of images and sounds. The culture of Britain will not be killed by immigrants. It has been dispatched by the director of this spectacle, Boyle.
Many in my range of friends on FaceBook were of the same persuasion – several tuning out and watching their favorite television programs or enjoying an outdoor event while the weather holds.
It did not appear that the Queen herself thought much of it if pictures are, in fact, worth a thousand words:
Then again, it did not look as if the Queen was her old fit self last night:
When this writer went to review the video of Bond and Queen parachuting into the stadium, the message “removed by uploader” popped up. It was also not easily found on YouTube. Perhaps second thoughts will prevail.
Boyle represents a continuum from the darkness of Dickens to the darkened state of British health care – another aspect of the evening that got a gloss over.
And when did pop music dominate the last 40 years of the British music scene? OK, if you were a member of the masses and clearly that was the target audience of the evening. But wherefore art thou Andrew Lloyd Webber or the talent that brought us the remarkable staging and play “War Horse”? Too upper class? Too tuneful? Too literate?
If I want to see rabble, I will go see a re-staging of “Oliver.” Give me a little more true entertainment sans lecture. This whole thing takes me back to other areas of decline in standards such as dragging down the language of the Elizabethans in the Anglican prayer book to the level of the common man today. Why aren’t we looking up and setting higher goals rather than trying to befriend the lowest common denominator?
The show more than demystified the monarchy – it was a misstep in Queen Elizabeth’s drive to bring the crown into the present time. It was the kind of thing that changed perceptions entirely and in a way that would be wildly misinterpreted by her people. They will now think of her as one of them. Only Bond came out of it in tact. He’s still an icon and face it: he delivered up the Queen to pop culture.
blackwatertown
July 30, 2012
I watched the whole opening ceremony and loved it – it was bonkers and brilliant – wonderful not quite (- cancel that -) not at all knowing what was coming next – so dynamic, rich, erudite, lively – just far far better than I expected. The best I’ve ever seen. different.
I can appreciate that people (not including yourself) who are less well informed about British history and culture might have felt lost at times – but I was so impressed.
Such a triumph in so many ways, with such attention to detail and what’s important. Also very funny at times. That the Abide With Me tribute was given such time to breath, such imagination and solemnity was just one of the striking aspects.
Sometimes UK papers can present a picture at variance with events – well, with my impression of them anyway – often worth having a look for yourself rather than looking through the Daily Mail filter or some other second hand source. (Though I admit that for some people it was simply not their cup of tea – Mitt Romney perhaps, the Conservative MP who tweeted against the National health Service tribute – then swiftly backtracked…)
samhenry
July 30, 2012
It was elitist and leftist period. I know English/British history all too well. And I knew Brits in my family. This was demeaning. Britain gave the world the industrial revolution and also the first dumping of a trade and moving it west like shipbuilding. I’m sorry but the National Health Service is not loved by all Brits and frankly many living here feel that Britain just is not what it once was. The finer things are not decadent. Geeze give me a break. I know MY England and have for 55 of my 70 years. I love it to death even though some of my English relatives who left did not. My Scottish relatives continued to visit and loved going home to tout their new riches. Quite a few Yanks on FaceBook did not like it. But you never hear about this. I did like the music – I did not mind the percussiveness of it at times. I liked the bit about the Queen and it would have been successful had she landed in the middle of the thing and not had to endure the buffoonery of a mock descent with a parachute. That’s dragging the crown down too far. The guy that did this whole thing was a great leveler. I am sorry we disagree on this. I had a look myself – it was not filtered through the Daily Mail although I did use their pictures. So don’t assume anything, please, just because you disagree with me. I am in pain every day and need hip replacement so I am a bear. Do not disturb! Are you on FaceBook? Wish you were.
blackwatertown
July 31, 2012
Hey – I specifically did not group you with the less well informed about British history and culture crowd. So fear not.
For sure there were many positives (and negatives) that did not get a mention – but it was definitely packed. And sure, no one’s saying that the finer things are necessarily decadent. I don’t think the ceremony was suggesting that either.
Glad you had a look yourself – I wasn’t assuming either way – but was hoping you had done. (And that anyone else wanting to form an opinion would too, regardless of whether they’d like or loathe it.)
So vigilant bear – as always I’m interested in your opinions and subjects and follow them avidly. I don’t mind that we occasionally disagree. Could be a bit boring otherwise.
samhenry
July 31, 2012
You are a treasure and in my late night reading I had indeed misread your remarks. I am glad you are a genuine enough friend to see my error and move on. Would miss your conversation were it not available – especially through some dumb act on my part.
DarcsFalcon
July 31, 2012
I don’t have cable and thus couldn’t see it, but I did hear that it seemed sort of confusing, in a general way, but that it was certainly over the top.
blackwatertown
July 31, 2012
It was indeed sometimes confusing and defintely over the top.
But gloriously over the top.
samhenry
July 31, 2012
A few well-placed smoke stacks might have done….
roblorinov
August 2, 2012
I think the Queen might now regret the parachute scene after having to sit through this extended opening ceremony which was nothing short of gloomy, confusing, and horrid. I could not help but notice it was overflowing with new world order symbolism such as the all seeing eye and the “mysterious UFO” which was either the Goodyear blimp or a projected hologram. I saw nothing in the farce of honor or dignity. What I did see was a reflection that liberalism IS a mental disorder! Everything was geared to the lowest common denominator as you say. Now Lizzy is just one of the common people? Just one of the guys? Where is the DIGNITY in this world? What kind of rot have we become? I have no real love for the royal family but I do respect their positions as monarachs. Western society has now hit the bottom of the pit I’m afraid.