Ghost of a flea: Winston Review, No. 1

July 10, 2004

Winston Review, No. 1

The Winston Review is a new Flea-feature intended to offer spirited, uplifting alternatives to the defeatists and apologists of the mainstream media. This first installment begins with a review of the work of American filmmaker Whit Stillman (via InstaPundit). Stillman is best known for Metropolitan, a comedy of manners set in Manhattan on the cusp of the "sexual revolution".

In fact, the spirit of Jane Austen, Audrey’s favorite novelist, animates Metropolitan. Austen understands profoundly that manners are a kind of morals. She extols conventions that make civilized society possible. Stillman adopts not just her estimation of society but also her novelistic conventions, even down to the plot device of handwritten letters. His characters speak with a wit and articulateness that echo Austen’s seamless irony. Obviously, this is not photo-realism: even the best-educated private-school girl can’t get through a conversation without the occasional “like.” But Stillman’s slightly archaic, novelistic dialogue is a moral assertion—that you create meaning through polite and thoughtful discourse, which draws from the traditions of literature.

I am often not as polite and thoughtful at the Flea as I might be. Recent remarks about super-crazies come to mind... But slightly archaic, novelistic dialogue are an aspiration if not always an achievement. I also want to thank various Flea-readers for convincing me of the virtue of Jane Austen. I just finished Northanger Abbey (more to follow!).

There is plenty more to be found on the work of Whit Stillman here, here and here thanks to the miracle of "the internet." Samizdata offers some libertarian applause.

There are more inspirational files in the Red Box:

"Fix Bayonets", Being American in T.O. posts on bravery in Iraq.

"Winston Review of Blogs", The Campblog has kind words for this project and points to Churchill's speech On the Causes of War, a warning to a people who had "never seen the camp fires of an invader." Much obliged, Mike (and happy birthday!).

"Are rules made to be broken?", Chaos Central argues that Americans "respect the rules we make for ourselves."

"You'll Know We Are Christians By How We Treat John Kerry", Heart of Canada offers timely thoughts on faith, sacraments and a presidential candidate whose views may mean he is denied Communion. I am as low church as they come so the particulars are beyond my experience but the message of setting an example by our own behaviour is at the core of my own faith.

"Civilization vs. Trivia", Victor Davis Hanson takes on our spoiled idiocracies. "Let freedom reign!"

"The Americans", The Last Amazon reprints a famous editorial by Canadian journalist, Gordon Sinclair saying it "reads as true as ever, and is just as relevant today, as it did in 1973." Hear, hear.

"The Best Anti-Terror Force: Us", J.B. Schramm (Washington Post) discusses the networked heroes of Flight 93.

"The Werewolf Extinction", Small Dead Animals considers conspiracy and supernatural thinking. I am assured it was written in Churchillian, ahem, spirits.

And that is a good place to start. We have got plenty of work to do but plenty of inspiration to lift the spirit that steadies the hand. Enjoy your weekend.

Your courage. Your cheerfulness. Your resolution.
Will bring us Victory.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at July 10, 2004 09:03 AM

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