...and not babies in general, just the film, Babies. Before I rant on my opinion on the film, at least the trailer, I would like you to watch it for yourself.
Now for some reason (and it turns out I'm not alone on this when discussing this issue with friends) I find this trailer creepy. While most of you normal people would watch this and say it looks "adorable"or "interesting", I just can't agree. I think the main reason I have an issue with the trailer and presumably the film itself is that it seems almost voyeuristic the way we, as the audience, are asked to look at these children. It's a hard issue for me to explain, and one I get a lot of weird looks when I attempt to, but it seems like the way they are presented, we are asked to observe their lives in a way that is too close and too personal for comfort, in my opinion.
It also seems like, and I feel this way about the show Full House, we are supposed to associate these babies as objects of "cuteness" rather than actual people. It's hard for me to explain why that seems strange to me, it just does.
There are other factors to the creepiness, such as the shot of the baby right next to the rooster (how can that be safe?), the baby on the motorcycle (again, how?), and the baby sticking his hand in the mouth of a pretty good-sized dog, along with many other shots of the babies crawling around places that seem dangerous without supervision. It also doesn't help that the trailer ends by saying, "The babies are coming", which gives me this image that I'm running through a tunnel with a horde of 500 babies chasing after me.
What do you think? Am I just crazy?
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12 comments:
I agree that this trailer is creepy. Babies in real life are cute because they are either your own and therefore you can delve into his or her life or they are a stranger and you don't have to deal with them. This film seems to force strangers into my life. It is different with documentaries because those people are consenting. These infants may not want to be on the screen. I agree with you, Trevin.
Some great points, Carter. It also seems like some parents, and this is true with reality TV these days, want to make a quick buck so they force their children, no matter how old or young they are, to be showcased in these movies. It adds a lot of pressure on these people at such a young age, and I think that's why you hear about so many child stars leading terrible lives when they get older.
i actually enjoyed the trailer. im not gonna jump on fandango and pre order 10 tickets or anything but i saw the trailer to be an very interesting take on how parents raise their children around the world. i hate how people can judge other parents and make them sound like irresponsible people when they are not parents of their own. we as americans tend to believe that since we are a strong nation, our way is the best and any other is taboo. and unless u really know how much each family got in payment, u cant say they are doing it for the money. really cool trailer!!!!
The idea that we can learn from other cultures how they raise their children is interesting, yes. And if the film was centered around the parents and their struggles with the children, I'd be ok with that, because they have agreed to be subjects of the documentary. The point Carter is making that I am agreeing with is that it seems like the subject of the movie is not the parents, it is the infant, and the infant does not have the ability to agree or disagree to be a part of this documentary.
They also don't have the choice to choose who they're parents are. I'm going to have to agree with mojeda on this one. And to answer your last question, I do think your crazy. (not to sound to harsh, love you Trevin)
so when i take home videos of my child and plan to show them to family and friends i got to get written consent from a 1 year old? u dont know the intentions of the families. u werent there when the contracts were signed and u dont know the stipulations. plus the movie hasnt even came out yet! i feel like the movie is intended to be a light hearted documentary about raising a child in different cultures. nothing more, nothing less.
No harm done, Leah. I'm actually glad you disagree with me, discussions like this are why I created this blog in the first place and more of these are what is going to keep it going in the future.
And mojeda, I know the movie has not come out yet, my opinions are only based on the information the trailer has provided me. To me, it is different when you show videos of your son to family and friends because they are people that are close to you and care about you and your son. Carter's point was that this movie forces these strangers into our lives, and I just feel uncomfortable in the way they are portrayed.
I do value both of your opinions, though. Especially since you guys are parents yourself, it adds a fresh perspective on the discussion.
I was not entirely suggesting that the motivation of the parents in this film or any other was strictly financial. I agree that studying other people's lives and cultures is very interesting but I feel it could be portrayed in many other ways. If I had home movies of my own child, I would cherish them. However, I would not want to have home movies of a stranger's child, that is all I am saying.
Very interesting points, everyone. It seems as if we have a few different opinions on this topic.
So, I was talking to my mother today, and she informed me that when I was little, I had an irrational fear of babies. I'm starting to believe this has transferred to a subconscious fear, which may have caused me to find this trailer very creepy.
lol.
Apparently when I was three my mother wanted me to play with someone's baby, and I was scared of it and ended up locking it in the bathroom or something.
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