The archetypal Hollywood myth. The rumor that, on opening night, the ending of ROBOCOP. The audience hears the OCP executive. The man asks, "What's your name?"
The machine, the one that once unthinkingly pledged allegiance to fascism, who considered himself a key asset to OCP, turns to the camera. The movie has referred to him as ROBOCOP constantly. But before he can say it, the audience roars. They say MURPHY. And then Robocop ALSO says MURPHY. Because OCP, as well as the movie studio, only saw him as a heroic bucket of bolts. He was just meant to sell toys.
It's the people who recognized his humanity. The person who remembered the man behind the metal. The movie, made by a Dutch madman, ends with this scene to remind viewers of the humanity of Murphy.
But it's America that sees the human wrapped in the machine. They applaud. Man has defeated automation. Man has defeated capitalism. Man endures. It was the last moment of American optimism in film. This was America.
okay so confession: I’ve actually never watched this doc before but I’m going to in preparation for this zine. might be cool if you and I had a conversation about it to feature? (I used to go on family vacations to florida growing up and so yes to me this is SO AMERICAN.)
Gary if you would like to grace this zine with an essay, I will EAGERLY accept one from you. Got a few people working on different aspects of it for the overall thread/ message and I cannot wait to see how you add to the conversation...
This email has been sitting in my inbox and I've been collecting images in my head...love this! How do we submit/deadline...and maybe I can pull it together!
NETWORK: News anchor Howard Beale, made famous by a legendary rant on live television during which he coins the phrase, "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!" faces corporate overlord Arthur Jensen. Beale has preached about the manipulative power of his industry, a power he leverages to turn public opinion against a merger that would see his network's parent company, Communications Corporation of America (CCA), purchased by a Saudi investment company. But in this scene, "the mad prophet of the airwaves" meets CCA chairman Arthur Jensen, played brilliantly by Ned Beatty, who explains to him that the real power in the world is not media, but capital. Jensen intones, "It is the international system of currency which determines the totality of life on this planet. That is the natural order of things today. And you have meddled with the primal forces of nature, and you will atone!"
Shot from Beale's perspective, we see the rows of lamps on either side of the table create an arrow of light toward Jensen, who gesticulates like a magician as he preaches his gospel. He is illuminated like a divine figure out of scripture, but also surrounded by the shadows from whence he wields his God-like power. Beale experiences Jensen's fiery sermon as a spiritual awakening, and is converted to the religion of corporate cosmology, saying "I have seen the face of God."
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fscreenrant.com%2Frobocop-2-movie-cancelled-neill-blomkamp-details%2F&psig=AOvVaw2aK7HWzhpXcTVpbVrZPzkf&ust=1748135951024000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBYQjRxqFwoTCJDg_Zb4uo0DFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE
(did it post?)
The archetypal Hollywood myth. The rumor that, on opening night, the ending of ROBOCOP. The audience hears the OCP executive. The man asks, "What's your name?"
The machine, the one that once unthinkingly pledged allegiance to fascism, who considered himself a key asset to OCP, turns to the camera. The movie has referred to him as ROBOCOP constantly. But before he can say it, the audience roars. They say MURPHY. And then Robocop ALSO says MURPHY. Because OCP, as well as the movie studio, only saw him as a heroic bucket of bolts. He was just meant to sell toys.
It's the people who recognized his humanity. The person who remembered the man behind the metal. The movie, made by a Dutch madman, ends with this scene to remind viewers of the humanity of Murphy.
But it's America that sees the human wrapped in the machine. They applaud. Man has defeated automation. Man has defeated capitalism. Man endures. It was the last moment of American optimism in film. This was America.
Fromtheyardtothearthouse.substack.com
This is great! (what a quick response!!) Do you have a particular shot in this film that encapsulates this feeling/ message the most?
Ah, damn, the picture didn't post? It's meant to be the last shot of Robocop. It's not posting from my phone!
Fromtheyardtothearthouse.substack.com
Great idea. I'd pay for zine in advance if I could!
Oh so you’re saying I should do a pre-order situation? (This could be filmstack’s first “merch drop”) 😉🥳
This is AWESOME. Also, as soon as I saw Utopia! as a category, my mind immediately jumped to SOME KIND OF HEAVEN. So perfect. So American.
okay so confession: I’ve actually never watched this doc before but I’m going to in preparation for this zine. might be cool if you and I had a conversation about it to feature? (I used to go on family vacations to florida growing up and so yes to me this is SO AMERICAN.)
You are going to love it. And count me in! This sounds like fun.
I know I am… so excited. Okay cool cause honestly I haven’t done anything like this before but I feel like it’s gonna be fruitful - and fun.
FOR SURE. Let’s get this going!
will reach out as soon as I got a firmer grasp on what June’s gonna look like but thinking second week of June?!
How long of an entry are you thinking? Are you thinking paragraphs over essays ? 🤙🏽
Gary if you would like to grace this zine with an essay, I will EAGERLY accept one from you. Got a few people working on different aspects of it for the overall thread/ message and I cannot wait to see how you add to the conversation...
This email has been sitting in my inbox and I've been collecting images in my head...love this! How do we submit/deadline...and maybe I can pull it together!
I am thrilled to hear that it got your brain going Lela. the deadline is end of June and I would LOVE your submissions!!
how do we 'submit'?
you can message me or if it’s more than one submission/ lengthy comment and you’d like to email I’d be happy to provide!
Note: Substack doesn't let you upload images in comments, so here's a link: https://assets.pickleglitch.com/uploads/network-1976.jpg
I guess you could file this one under Paranoia.
NETWORK: News anchor Howard Beale, made famous by a legendary rant on live television during which he coins the phrase, "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!" faces corporate overlord Arthur Jensen. Beale has preached about the manipulative power of his industry, a power he leverages to turn public opinion against a merger that would see his network's parent company, Communications Corporation of America (CCA), purchased by a Saudi investment company. But in this scene, "the mad prophet of the airwaves" meets CCA chairman Arthur Jensen, played brilliantly by Ned Beatty, who explains to him that the real power in the world is not media, but capital. Jensen intones, "It is the international system of currency which determines the totality of life on this planet. That is the natural order of things today. And you have meddled with the primal forces of nature, and you will atone!"
Shot from Beale's perspective, we see the rows of lamps on either side of the table create an arrow of light toward Jensen, who gesticulates like a magician as he preaches his gospel. He is illuminated like a divine figure out of scripture, but also surrounded by the shadows from whence he wields his God-like power. Beale experiences Jensen's fiery sermon as a spiritual awakening, and is converted to the religion of corporate cosmology, saying "I have seen the face of God."
THIS IS A FIRE SUBMISSION. I let out an audible gasp when I clicked on the photo you chose. THANK YOU.
Thank you for the kind words.
Thank YOU!
This is an awesome idea. Would love to be a part of this. Got my brain spinning already for some of these categories.
Thank you Jonathan and I cannot wait for you submission!
This is so incredibly cool, gonna noodle on this and submit something delicious!
Looking forward to your submission and THANK YOU! I’ve been blown away by the submissions thus far.
Very cool. We submit in the chatroom, yeah?
yes please! either direct message if you want to “keep it a secret” or please kick off the groupchat conversation if you’d like!
cool ill see what I can put together!
looking forward to what you choose!!
Holy shit, I so want to submit something, but I have an extremely busy weekend coming up, so do you have a deadline?
no deadline! just when I've gathered enough for an actual zine I'll get to work!
Thought you might dig this: https://www.wired.com/story/zines-social-media-power/