Dear Judy,
I’m taking an adult course on modern film — for some reason the professor asked each of us in the class to bring something personal and important, and discuss the item in front of the camera: a piece of jewelry, a candy dish, whatever. Each of us was supposed to talk for 10 minutes, tops.
Well one woman in class brought a bunch of photos of a lot of dead people who were her relatives (the photos were of them still alive, but you get the idea). Anyway, as the camera rolled, she started weeping and sobbing, and the entire performance took at least 40 long minutes!
Then she wraps it up, saying, “I never thought I”d have the courage to talk about these people. This is all so therapeutic!”
I thought, “Well hello! Get a therapist!!” But everyone else in class was so sympathetic to her. Am I harsh?
Colleen
Dear Colleen,
Well let’s say you’re not warm and fuzzy. But then neither am I. I completely agree with you. A film class is no place to engender a lot of sympathy, tears and condolences (that sort of stuff is only good during an acting class!)
But there really are people who go around with their hearts not simply on their sleeves but in your face. The worst of it is you can’t say, “I don’t know you and I don’t care.”
So my advice: drop out and switch to another film class.
Thanks for writing
Judy
