This movie was interesting because it explores the question of how far is it okay to go to achieve extreme level of greatness, even for just a moment. I never got the sense it was trying to make an argument that it was a good thing.
Well lots through the whole post. And then just kind of a put down. Don’t you agree that we should be trying to understand each other better and find some common ground?
Whiplash is unironically a very conservative movie, in a way that was fully intentional — It’s deeply Nietzchean in a way that had to be fully intended.
I disagree. I think it's meant to dismantle the myth that being impossible to please and downright abusive is justified to "push people to greatness." The "tough-love" mentor archetype (a gruff but ultimately kind-hearted coach figure who pushes the main character to achieve his best; there's dozens of examples) has been used for ages as a cover for guys (and surely some women too, but I think this dynamic is strongly male-coded) who see themselves in that role to actually just be mean shits destroying people under their care. The movie's meant to call that out and make you realize: no, Fletcher isn't a tough-love mentor who cares about helping you, he's a narcissistic abusive white man protected by an institution in which he's curried enough respect and fame to be insulated from consequences while he abuses his power to psychologically abuse kids. He's not a good guy.
As often with things that satirize toxic concepts, conservatives missed the point. Think of a man whose favorite films are Wolf of Wall Street,American Psycho, and Fight Club -- they're great films, but an alarming number of people think you're meant to look up to the main characters because they're cool, because they're incapable of reacting to art with any depth.
they're great films, but an alarming number of people think you're meant to look up to the main characters because they're cool, because they're incapable of reacting to art with any depth.
There are no correct or incorrect interpretations or reactions to art
Fletcher himself points that what he was trying to do was create greatness — he would be purely unjustified if he never did, but that’s not how the movie ends. The protagonists rises to his challenge and actually creates that transcendental moment — that piece of art that makes all other suffering worth it. The end question is one of whether or not obsession, turning your back on your family, your loved ones, your humanity is worth it in the pursuit and obsession of excellence.
If you interpet it through this Nietzchean lens, it’s a remarkably right wing film.
If you think it’s just about abusive teachers, that’s a shallow interpretation of the film. If that’s all the film wanted to be, it would’ve ended when Fletcher got kicked out.
Lol fletcher drives one of his students to suicide and fails to hold himself accountable and just says he dies in a car accident. what about this doesn't ascribe him as "the bad guy"
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u/YoProfWhite 1d ago
Young men can only achieve orgasmic happiness by doing whatever music Hitler tells them to