Where does Pop Culture Get Off!
It occurrs to me that Harry Burns, from the famed movie When Harry Met Sally, did not read the books He's Just not that into You or Be Honest: You're not That into Him Either. If he had he never would have made such an ass of himself over a woman who showed all signs of "not being into him." Let's recap Sally Albright's clear cut signals of non-interest. She slapped him in the face, wouldn't return his phone calls, and when she did speak to him she was cold, closed off, and downright mean. And yet, he still persisted like a god damn idiot. That's men for you, they just can't separate sex and love.
He was so in denial that he ran through the frigid New York City streets with a light leather jacket to tell a woman, who obviously hated him, that he loved her. First off, what kind of masochist loves a woman who refuses to speak to you? You should have run to therapy, Harry--and at least put ear muffs on. Instead, he goes to a formal New Years Eve party dressed in jeans and sweatshirt. Hello. Faux Pas. Plus, that attire basically says to Sally you don't care enough about her to dress in the socially prescribed garb. In her mind obviously Harry doesn't really care, if he did he'd get a suit. So of course when Harry confesses his love Sally denies his feelings. I think that's a bit presumptious of her. She tells him he just feels lonley. You'd think Harry would finally get it into his head, "She's just not that into you." Rather, he disputes her thesis. He starts to shout at her about her wrongness. Sally then, tells Harry that she hates him. HATES HIM! How much more clear does she have to be? But Harry he smiles (grins really.) Next thing you know they're hugging, kissing, and dancing.
Cut to them sitting on a couch talking about their married life. What!?
Humans can't change their minds. They can't say one thing and mean another. They can't have their feelings hurt and then act all guarded and scared. God knows you can never ever forgive someone for a trespass. God damn no!
Humans are very simple. Their actions can be easily labeled and catergorized. It's either black or white. You can't want to hit some in the face with a shovel one minute and the next want to take them hiking in the beautiful snow filled forest (and not to bury the body.) That is ludicrious. Harry and Sally are retarded. And self help books are always correct.
He was so in denial that he ran through the frigid New York City streets with a light leather jacket to tell a woman, who obviously hated him, that he loved her. First off, what kind of masochist loves a woman who refuses to speak to you? You should have run to therapy, Harry--and at least put ear muffs on. Instead, he goes to a formal New Years Eve party dressed in jeans and sweatshirt. Hello. Faux Pas. Plus, that attire basically says to Sally you don't care enough about her to dress in the socially prescribed garb. In her mind obviously Harry doesn't really care, if he did he'd get a suit. So of course when Harry confesses his love Sally denies his feelings. I think that's a bit presumptious of her. She tells him he just feels lonley. You'd think Harry would finally get it into his head, "She's just not that into you." Rather, he disputes her thesis. He starts to shout at her about her wrongness. Sally then, tells Harry that she hates him. HATES HIM! How much more clear does she have to be? But Harry he smiles (grins really.) Next thing you know they're hugging, kissing, and dancing.
Cut to them sitting on a couch talking about their married life. What!?
Humans can't change their minds. They can't say one thing and mean another. They can't have their feelings hurt and then act all guarded and scared. God knows you can never ever forgive someone for a trespass. God damn no!
Humans are very simple. Their actions can be easily labeled and catergorized. It's either black or white. You can't want to hit some in the face with a shovel one minute and the next want to take them hiking in the beautiful snow filled forest (and not to bury the body.) That is ludicrious. Harry and Sally are retarded. And self help books are always correct.
Comments
http://www.dramatica.com/story/analyses/analyses/when_harry_met_sally.html
To see how the film also works dramatically. And believe me, people can change their minds, they're amazing, beautiful and complex and if they were as simple as you suggst the world would be a very boring place indeed.
I thought the brits were all into sarcasm. Gotcha, I guess.
Sincerely, though thanks for the thoughtful comment. I do earnestly (no sarcasm) believe in emotionally engaging the world. Sometimes it's a very very scary thing to do and but I do believe in it.
But, thanks for explaing When Harry Met Sally to me. I was so confused before.