A resolution is either an ending or a beginning. The generally accepted idea of a situation being resolved would mean that it is brought to some sort of conclusion – at least in the eye of the resolver. As with anything, of course, this depends on what side of the argument you’re on.
For example:
The political liberal in me refuses to believe the US presidential election of George W. Bush in 2000 was ever resolved despite the highest court in the US, the Supreme Court, having declared that the issue has, indeed, ended. Uh, uh. I don’t think so. He wasn’t president for eight years. Sorry.
As for the movies, for me there has never been a resolve (and never will be) to the Oscar race for best picture in 1994. Oh sure, the Academy resolved that race years ago for itself and proclaimed that “Forrest Gump” was the winner. But that’s simply impossible because that film annoyed me to no resolution; plus, it was also the year of “The Shawshank Redemption” (a perfect film), “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” “Bullets Over Broadway” and even “Pulp Fiction” – all movies that will endure waaay more favorably in my mind long after the aforementioned “best” picture. Yes, even though that, uh, “best” picture was this week chosen as one of three films by the Library of Congress in 2011 to be preserved in PERPETUITY in our National Film Registry (along with “Silence of the Lambs” and Bambi” – last time you hear those three mentioned in one sentence) because of its outstanding artistic achievement. B. F. D. Something or someone willing itself or themselves into worldwide acclaim despite its obvious inferiority and unlikelihood (like in the plot of some Hollywood movie) is still faaaaar from resolved for me. I mean, nothing like that could ever happen in real life. Not really.
Life is not a box of chocolates.
The one resolution I can agree to in my current state of mind is the fact that 2011 is fading into distant memory and 2012 is now forging its way into the spotlight. This transformation to center stage – sort of like Madonna slowly getting the torch pried out of her hand and passed to Lady Gaga or, well, cable TV consistently besting the networks for awards/prestige for dramatic television for shows like “Mad Men,” “Homeland” and Breaking Bad” despite the top four trying desperately to compete with them with new shows like “The Playboy Club,” “Pan Am” and “Charlie’s Angels” (Okay, I know I’m being unfair, but besides “The Good Wife,” which I’m a bit tired of everyone holding up as the reason why all network dramas are as good as those on cable, what are their big award-contenders?) means the start of something new. Like a new year.
Hurry up 2012! The wait is agony...
The start of a new year also ushers in a long-standing tradition of making resolutions for the upcoming 12- month period that we will name 2012. How did this tradition start? You got me. I scoured the internet for at least half an hour and asked numerous people I know (okay, four) about this and the best I can come up with is that this has been going on since ancient Roman times and that Kings and kingdoms have forever been thinking up stuff they will resolve to do. Stuff that they want to achieve (like reversing the 1994 best picture winner or simply letting it go); or would like to not put off (like putting all my files in order and throwing out that second or third draft of a screenplay so old that its not on a computer disk, but one that I still, you know, might need); or even stuff they hope to achieve (aside from world peace, which is too lofty for one person to work on but certainly an admirable idea) or at least shoot for in the new year.
I actually like this last one – the one about jotting down some ideas of things you want to do. Most writers I know, including myself, hate schedules and deadlines yet I will publicly admit here that having an idea of what you want to accomplish and giving yourself a time frame in which to achieve it, can do wonders for your output. The trick to it is – and it’s tricky – to come up with a list that will take some work on your part, and yet, is remotely achievable – if you push yourself.
I’m not going to bore you with my short list. I’m tempted but, well…okay…you twisted my arm.
The Chair’s Resolutions
- Continue writing this blog and expanding it. Yes, it’s in the works even as we speak. I hope you like that idea. But even if you don’t it doesn’t matter because resolutions are really only for the resolver. And besides, I might win you over. You never know.
- Write and direct (oy, on the latter) my first film (a short film) because that is achievable but also a stretch – something that a good resolution certainly requires. Also, it will allow the writer me to blame no one else but myself for the final result – which will be a welcome change for some of my friends and from some of my past behaviors.
- Read all of the backlog of scripts I’ve promised everyone (other writers) I would read. See, I always plan to read these scripts quickly and then things get in the way. Like, uh, making that list of resolutions. But I do not agree to read things I don’t plan on reading. I just get backlogged. With resolutions.
- Continue to try to inject humor into most everything but resist the temptation to be overly snide and bitchy because, well, sometimes that’s just plain mean (save for “Forrest Gump.” That “achievement in film artistry” can certainly take it. And if that’s too bitchy, well, too bad, it’s still 2011).
- Try to be more tolerant of things I dislike but not so tolerant that it dries up all subject matter, sentence structure and P.O.V moments I have on the page because as I’ve said before – if it’s “all good,” is everything fine? Even Rick Santorum and Sarah Palin? Uh, I don’t think so. I’m not that nice, not that humorous, and certainly not so devoid of resolve that I will ignore my inner (mini?) me. Plus, I have a significant number of politically conservative students I adore and want to be open to – AND vice-versa. (Note: This does fall short of liberal academia brainwashing but far exceeds what would one get in home schooling or in any one episode of The Duggars TV show, “19 Kids and Counting.” Which, by the way, is still on the air – though not on any of the big 4 networks.
Okay, I’ve listed my resolutions. What are yours? List them in the comments.
Yes, we all make (or have made) fun of the idiots who do make these lists and convince themselves that they will actually follow through with what they plan. Of course, we are all idiots from time to time and even more often than that. And — as they say on the wall of idiot clichés – or perhaps in one of the new movies on the National Film Registry – even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Happy 2012 everyone.
Peace and Love (cause I’m a sixties guy at heart).
And as such — I love you hate you accept you “Forrest Gump.” Though we are far from resolved.
notes from a chair 