You have to suspend belief.

I read this in a review of a movie by a non-professional critic (read: some ya-who) talkin about how "it's a good movie if you suspend belief" in reality. I’ve heard people talk about movies not being real enough. Let’s not talk about the war cry of the 90s of “keeping it real” in the rap world. I can’t stand this ish. Movies are FANTASY. Music is ENTERTAINMENT. Why must it be real? Unless it’s an historical drama or a documentary, I want my movies and music to be an escape from the oppression of reality. I want the fat girl to get the sexiest, most sought after man. I want the nerd to get the cheerleader. I want the disadvantaged youth to get the full paid scholarship to Harvard. I want the protagonist to break out in song over the love in his life. It’s entertaining. It’s hopeful. It’s fun. The corollary to this whole outburst of mine is lots of kids don’t realize that the things they see on TV, movies and hear in songs are fake--perpetrating being real. Did anyone see 50 Cent on the front of GQ? Does he look like a gangster? I mean for goodness sakes his eyebrows are arched. Make your own inferences from that. I’ll keep quiet while you think it over. (theme from Jeopardy) A lot of these rappers are college dropouts, college graduates, men with wives and tons of kids….It’s a shame they keep prompting these poverty, low-class values. (I’ll explain poverty values later this month.) Suspend belief, revel in fantasy, escape in dreams…but all ways remember the reality of the real world lurking outside your door.