Results tagged “satire” from book/daddy

There is a new destabilizing trend in YouTubeLand called 'literal video" or "Literal [name of rock video or movie here]." It's a form of satire that seems to work best with the more inflated, '80s or '90s pop-rock videos, the ones that were developed as little storytelling movies, even though the "movies" had little to do with the song itself or seemed patently pretentious, with or without the song. In short, there's a profound disjuncture among the posturing twit-lead singer, what he's supposedly singing about and what's going on all around him. As they used to say about political photo-ops: It doesn't matter what the candidate is saying, it's the background he's in front of and how he looks, an approach that reached its nadir with the infamous 2002 President-Bush-on-Mt.-Rushmore photo op (typically -- and now with painful irony -- no one remembers the actual occasion, which was his speech on "homeland and economic security.")

The "literal videomakers," notably DustoMcNeato and KeithFK, narrow the yawning chasm of images-vs.-song lyrics-vs.-celebrity persona by simply inserting their own lyrics, which flatly reiterate or question whatever is happening onscreen. Thus, in McNeato's version of Tears for Fears' "Head Over Heels," lead singer Curt Smith poses the questions that would go through any viewer's head when watching the wildly wacky events happening in this oh-so-typically surreal library: "What's happening with that monkey? What is with this gas mask?" (Personal favorite: When Smith points to his head and sings, "Like my mullet?")

Or in this version of "Under the Bridge" performed by the eminently mockable Red Hot Chili Peppers: Anthony Keidis, like some brain-dead video editor (a plausible role), repeatedly tells the video what to do: "Now superimpose on me/Someone's ugly house/There's no front lawn/Just a pile of dirt/Will you ever cut away/From this boring shot?"

A friend sent a variation of this to book/daddy. It's already making the rounds, it seems:

Most Honorable Sir:

You and I have never met, but I had been told you are man of much integrity and Christian feelings. I need to ask you to support an urgent secret business relationship with a transfer of funds of great magnitude.

I am Ministry of the Treasury of the Republic of America. My country has had crisis. It has caused the need for large transfer of funds of 800 billion dollars US. If you would assist me in this transfer, it would be most profitable to you.

I am working with Mr. Phillip Gram, lobbyist for UBS, who will be my replacement as Ministry of the Treasury in January. You may know him as Senator Gram, leader of the American banking deregulation in the 1990s. This transaction is 100% percent safe. I assure.

This is matter of great urgency. We need a blank check. We need the funds quickly. We cannot directly transfer these funds in the names of our close friends because we are constantly under surveillance by police. My family lawyer advised me that I should look for a reliable and trustworthy person who will act as a next of kin so the funds can be transferred.

Please reply with all of your bank account, IRA and college fund account numbers and those of your children and grandchildren. Plus Social Security. And anything you find lying around that might have winning numbers. Lottery tickets or horse race stubs. Email nformation to wallstreetbailout@treasury.gov so that we may transfer your commission for said transaction. After I receive nformation, I respond with details about safeguards that will be used to protect the funds.

 

Yours Faithfully,

 

Minister of Treasury Paulson

Money image from statebankofarthur.com