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Post by snacky on Oct 23, 2014 17:53:00 GMT
Perhaps it's a little harsh to say that Bat Masterson represents "The Ugly American" in Glory Days, but his character is certainly intended to point up the differences between Americans and Canadians. And while Bat does the honorable thing in the end, the viewer should certainly notice that the picture Americans paint abroad is not necessarily positive. As a director, Yannick is posing a question: "Do Canadians want to emulate this, or should they be proud of what they are and encourage Americans to shift a bit and follow their lead for a change?" Since I haven't watched Glory Days from this angle yet, this list will probably expand upon re-watching. (And I will rewatch: this episode is clever in "meta" ways that fans haven't even started to explore yet). 1) Bat is big and blustery. He exaggerates and promotes himself to the media. He is made of hype and spin. It is hard for people who just want to deal with the real facts at hand to cope with him, because at the end of the day he is "all hat and no cattle". 2) Bat is more prurient than the Canadians - he thinks all the women in the room are "available", and he barely keeps the door shut on the "private interviews". 3) Bat is sleazy cheating salesman, who will sell the people who helped him knock off fakes of "The Gun that Tamed the West". 4) Bat insists on bringing a gun to a spitball fight. And he's killed people. And he disses people who haven't. Military approach first much? 5) Bat is all about sports. Whatever other political or natural disaster may befall Americans, they always refocus on sports. Did anyone catch anything else off the bat? (heh.)  Certain knee-jerk reacting Americans (sadly another stereotypical American trait) will watch this episode and defriend MM and all of Canada on FB for daring to critique America. I'm not one of those Americans. I appreciate that outside perspective. We Americans need someone to kick us off the couch once in a while and let us know how we could shape up. Thanks, Yannick! |
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Post by randomkiwibirds on Oct 27, 2014 15:38:47 GMT
I noticed these things as well, and I thought it was really really well done.
Also, his remarks about the Canadian cops not carrying guns. I thought were very American as well. As everyone knows that Americans love their guns and the 2nd Admendment.
And tips of to both Murdoch and Yannick for that spot on delivery of "Here North of the Border we rely on our wits."
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Post by snacky on Oct 27, 2014 17:09:51 GMT
I noticed these things as well, and I thought it was really really well done. Also, his remarks about the Canadian cops not carrying guns. I thought were very American as well. As everyone knows that Americans love their guns and the 2nd Admendment. And tips of to both Murdoch and Yannick for that spot on delivery of "Here North of the Border we rely on our wits." Where are Ziggy and Shangas, now that I've given them a non-shippy topic, hahaha. |
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Post by Hodge on Nov 6, 2014 19:58:06 GMT
Perhaps it's a little harsh to say that Bat Masterson represents "The Ugly American" in Glory Days, but his character is certainly intended to point up the differences between Americans and Canadians. And while Bat does the honorable thing in the end, the viewer should certainly notice that the picture Americans paint abroad is not necessarily positive. As a director, Yannick is posing a question: "Do Canadians want to emulate this, or should they be proud of what they are and encourage Americans to shift a bit and follow their lead for a change?" Since I haven't watched Glory Days from this angle yet, this list will probably expand upon re-watching. (And I will rewatch: this episode is clever in "meta" ways that fans haven't even started to explore yet). 1) Bat is big and blustery. He exaggerates and promotes himself to the media. He is made of hype and spin. It is hard for people who just want to deal with the real facts at hand to cope with him, because at the end of the day he is "all hat and no cattle". 2) Bat is more prurient than the Canadians - he thinks all the women in the room are "available", and he barely keeps the door shut on the "private interviews". 3) Bat is sleazy cheating salesman, who will sell the people who helped him knock off fakes of "The Gun that Tamed the West". 4) Bat insists on bringing a gun to a spitball fight. And he's killed people. And he disses people who haven't. Military approach first much? 5) Bat is all about sports. Whatever other political or natural disaster may befall Americans, they always refocus on sports. Did anyone catch anything else off the bat? (heh.) Certain knee-jerk reacting Americans (sadly another stereotypical American trait) will watch this episode and defriend MM and all of Canada on FB for daring to critique America. I'm not one of those Americans. I appreciate that outside perspective. We Americans need someone to kick us off the couch once in a while and let us know how we could shape up. Thanks, Yannick! I've only just come upon this thread. The ironic thing about Bat and all of his 'ugly American' traits is that they're being exhibited by a Canadian, even if he doesn't like to admit it. |
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Post by snacky on Nov 6, 2014 20:20:58 GMT
I've only just come upon this thread. The ironic thing about Bat and all of his 'ugly American' traits is that they're being exhibited by a Canadian, even if he doesn't like to admit it. That's why I'm taking it as a little bit of political commentary on America, and I was hoping the "non-shippers" would add a bit to this thread - I'm sure that there was a lot I missed! (Since I'm inside the "Ugly American" bubble myself). |
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Post by Fallenbelle on Nov 6, 2014 20:24:35 GMT
Meh, living and traveling overseas as long as I have means that I've met douchebags of all nationalities and I've stopped apologizing, as other nationalities don't seem to be apologizing for their poor showing overseas-except for maybe Brits. Case in point the Australian family that ruined my experience at one of the killing fields in Cambodia...grr!  But I wouldn't make the sweeping generalization that all Aussies are like that, and it angers me when others assume all Americans are like that. But, I'll also admit that many Americans tend to be far more antagonistic/uber-American to foreigners than they would normally be, and I don't understand why some of us do that. |
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Post by snacky on Nov 6, 2014 20:34:52 GMT
Meh, living and traveling overseas as long as I have means that I've met douchebags of all nationalities and I've stopped apologizing, as other nationalities don't seem to be apologizing for their poor showing overseas-except for maybe Brits. Case in point the Australian family that ruined my experience at one of the killing fields in Cambodia...grr! But I wouldn't make the sweeping generalization that all Aussies are like that, and it angers me when others assume all Americans are like that. But, I'll also admit that many Americans tend to be far more antagonistic/uber-American to foreigners than they would normally be, and I don't understand why some of us do that. When I was traveling in Europe, the trains were filled with A) drunk frat boys and B) drunk white businessmen who were probably looking to get laid. I was extremely embarrassed for my country. When someone spit on me in a plaza in Spain, I shrugged and figured I deserved it. Don't get me started about the behavior I saw when I went to check out the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona! And that's just stupid over-privileged tourist behavior. The mirror we're seeing in Bat Masterson is the behavior of everyday Americans writ large, and how that affects the world - our self-promotion and pushy business style, our fake smiles and over-inflated statistics - our entire culture is what backs the International plays of our diplomacy. And, of course, there's the fact our culture tends to go viral through movies and the Internet. We don't really make room to learn a thing or too ourselves. |
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Post by Hodge on Nov 6, 2014 21:00:34 GMT
I've only just come upon this thread. The ironic thing about Bat and all of his 'ugly American' traits is that they're being exhibited by a Canadian, even if he doesn't like to admit it. That's why I'm taking it as a little bit of political commentary on America, and I was hoping the "non-shippers" would add a bit to this thread - I'm sure that there was a lot I missed! (Since I'm inside the "Ugly American" bubble myself). I'm not sure what you mean by this unless you misunderstood my comment. |
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Post by snacky on Nov 6, 2014 21:05:29 GMT
That's why I'm taking it as a little bit of political commentary on America, and I was hoping the "non-shippers" would add a bit to this thread - I'm sure that there was a lot I missed! (Since I'm inside the "Ugly American" bubble myself). I'm not sure what you mean by this unless you misunderstood my comment. Since the actor is Canadian, I regard his portrayal as outside commentary on Americans. |
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Post by Hodge on Nov 6, 2014 22:03:55 GMT
I'm not sure what you mean by this unless you misunderstood my comment. Since the actor is Canadian, I regard his portrayal as outside commentary on Americans. What I meant was that Bat Masterson was Canadian. |
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Post by snacky on Nov 6, 2014 23:36:02 GMT
Since the actor is Canadian, I regard his portrayal as outside commentary on Americans. What I meant was that Bat Masterson was Canadian. Oooooh! Sorry, I get it now. But didn't he spend most of his time in America? |
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Post by Hodge on Nov 7, 2014 0:43:06 GMT
What I meant was that Bat Masterson was Canadian. Oooooh! Sorry, I get it now. But didn't he spend most of his time in America? Yes he did but he was still a Canadian exhibiting the 'ugly American' traits.... |
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Post by lovemondays on Nov 7, 2014 0:48:58 GMT
I've come across a lot of Americans in my travels. Now before I make my point let me say that you generally only notice the obnoxious travellers and they come from everywhere (don't get me started about Russians). Unless you spend time chatting with people in cafes and on trains you would otherwise have no idea their origins.
The thing I notice most about Americans, in particular, (the difficult ones), is that they seem to want the places they are visiting to be Americanized...same size rooms, all signs in English and especially American style food. We spent some time in Paris a few years ago and even my kids were asking "why are they here if they don't want to learn about French culture?" Real travelling is not just a journey through places, but an opportunity to immerse oneself in the culture. When in Rome... so to speak. It's like those people are just crossing destinations off their to-do list without bothering to step outside their comfort zone. That, to me, is what defines the "ugly American".
Just for the record...one of my favourite people on the planet is my cousin from Chicago. I'm not anti-American at all.
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Post by snacky on Nov 7, 2014 1:03:25 GMT
Oooooh! Sorry, I get it now. But didn't he spend most of his time in America? Yes he did but he was still a Canadian exhibiting the 'ugly American' traits.... Proving that those traits are far too catching!  |
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Post by snacky on Nov 7, 2014 1:07:01 GMT
even my kids were asking "why are they here if they don't want to learn about French culture?" Real travelling is not just a journey through places, but an opportunity to immerse oneself in the culture.
Exactly! Stomping in and owning the place is not traveling, it's just partying in a different location. This seems to be what Americans wealthy enough to travel do. The Americans who would appreciate traveling often aren't wealthy enough to do it.  |
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But I wouldn't make the sweeping generalization that all Aussies are like that, and it angers me when others assume all Americans are like that.
