Where do we draw the line for realism?

"Chris Hughes" schreef in bericht news:bvtkmq$soo$ snipped-for-privacy@sparta.btinternet.com...

"Hollywood".

Well said Chris. But one point should be noted I think. It seems to me quite a difference if one takes kids to a carefully assembled exhibition or whether a kid puts a lot of time and effort in creating one himself. I personally would certainly not object to take kids to exhibitions because the kids will be able to put such a trip into a clearly distinctive framework with war as a theme. With a little psychologic distance from everyday life. While on the other hand one could see the school environment as a representation of a normal everyday environment. War doesn't belong in that environment in my opinion. The kid's personal project may keep his mind occupied too long by the massacre in relation to other important aspects of normal life. Especially when the kid gets a lot of praise for his work afterwards as well. It all doesn't seem very sound to me.

It depends on the answers to the rest of the questions...

Ask him what he wants to do, and how. Honestly, without knowing this, this group is the wrong one to ask. It *can* be done without bloodshed - have (obvious) POW's lined up, on their knees, with troops levelling rifles at them - it's not violent, but it gets the point across.

Going a bit closer in history, suppose it was a Vietnam diorama - specifically, the one with the (police?) officer levelling a pistol at a suspected VC's head. If he chooses one moment, it's something you *know* is going to happen - but isn't gory, violent, or graphic (as most people define it.) Choose a point just a moment later, after the trigger has been pulled.... and I'm sure more people would be "offended."

People will be offended by someone walking a dog. (Enslaving animals or some such BS.) This is a moment that I'm sure *fewer* people know of than Pearl Harbor, etc. Give the kid a chance to teach.

More reason to let him do it.

Seriously, someone'll find a reason to get their panties in a bundle over just about anything "violent" - moreso in a school. Discuss the diorama with the kid, before anything gets started (past, say, design stage.) Have him draw out a layout - doesn't have to be artistic, just enough to get the idea across. Then you and he can discuss what can/can't be done, why, and how to make the same point in a more acceptable way without losing impact.

-Eric

Every night there are cop shows and the like on network tv depicting graphic violence including bodies in a pool of blood.

Rarely, if ever, is a warning given to parents when this is the case.

BTW, did the scene depict a vignette from the Malmady massacre? How good was the written report and did it come within the criteria?

Tom

"from the reactionary buffoons WHO PASS THEMSELVES OFF as Republicans."--You can't help if they insist on associating with your party any more than I can help that Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton associate with mine.

Mark Schynert

Wouldn't a scale diorama of the 617 Squadron Dambuster raid be awesome!

I w>

Speaking of realism in diorama, is anyone else a "Mr. Monk" fan out there?

Well in "Mr. Monk and the Teacher," there was this high school kid who built this lame diorama of Sherman's march. And because it was Sherman's march, he put a Sherman Tank in the diorama!

Hee Hee....

When will you ever learn to behave yourself? (fortunately I'm one of the idiot residents of your killfile so I won't have to fear your anger)

The problem's the 1% who not only feel the need to be "politically correct" and "sensitive," but beat you over the head with it, scream, shout, and wail loudly to anyone who'll give them the time of day... thus forcing politicians and such to give in just to shut them up.

That's like the joke John Ford wrote into "The Wings of Eagles" when Ward Bond tells John Wayne he was in a high school production of "The Odyssey", playing Ulysses S. Grant.

Yes, but it would be rather large. I was thinking how it could be done in a smaller venue. Build a shadow box with a small representation of the dam as seen from upstream. Modify one of those 1/144 Lancs into the Mk.III Special and mount it close to the viewing window tail-first. Simulate the spotlights converging on the water's surface and add some flourescent streaks from the dam's towers (optic fibre painted mostly black) to suggest flak.

Rats, all I need is another good project idea. ;)

Bill Banaszak, MFE

i want pictures!

Most politicians are just plain gutless. Whenever they think they're in the slightest danger of losing any of their voters, they crap themselves and cave-in. If you make enough noise, you'll hear politicians changing their trousers.

RobG

Hey Rob:

Sounds like you live in Maryland! :-)

Bill Shuey

and i thought the noise was people at john waters retropectives. (fave fim maker.)