Puppetized
Watching old movies:
black-white flickers to
train pupils; see pale-
skinned indignities as
unquestioned status quo,
eyes fix postured macho,
not swerved to objects;
props serving patriarchy,
downcast eyes, smiles
or not, dependent ploys
to be toyed with, stringed
automatons, machines
serving sociopaths’ greed.
Tao-Talk
You have reached a quiet bamboo grove, where you will find an eclectic mix of nature, music, writing, and other creative arts. Tao-Talk is curated by a philosophical daoist who has thrown the net away.
Tao-Talk 
A skewering rebuke of the culture that was onscreen and whose vestiges may yet survive, though more subtly. It does strike you unpleasantly, those
“pale-
skinned indignities as
unquestioned status quo”
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Thanks much, Dora. I agree, vestiges survive, though are more subtle. I do think we are headed in the right direction, unless doofus interferes. Oops he already has, by taking over The Kennedy Center, stripping grants and other support for the arts, etc.
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Well, our First Lady sits on its board which some would think is a good thing to have a woman in a pivotal role, but it’s not. Some things go beyond gender to what’s good and true. Maybe one day that ship will be righted.(Or Trump be removed, from the Kennedy Center’s name at least.)
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Oh, those old movies are so different… everthing doesn’t age well
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Oh, those old movies! Some of them make you cringe. I love the imagery in “black-white flickers to
train pupils”.
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Punam, thank you.
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You are welcome, Li.
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I used to watch old movies on my grandparents’ television and, back then, as a child, I thought they were magical. But now I can’t even watch Laurel and Hardy or Buster Keaton, let alone Fatty Arbuckle. ‘Pale-skinned indignities’ and ‘props serving patriarchy’ indeed.
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Thanks so much. For a kid who watched a LOT of tv, my brainwashing was thorough. White men spoke and everybody else listened or agreed, and if you didn’t…
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You’re most welcome, Lisa.
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Bonnie and I are into watching film noire. There can be some pretty strong characters, but more than a few times there’s some not-so-subtle (and also outright) misogyny.
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Dark and twisted! I feel like I didn’t try hard enough with my use of the q word.🤣
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Thanks, Melissa. Don’t start doubting yourself <3
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indignities indeed…I don’t know when I last saw an old black and white movie. Maybe, It’s a Wonderful Life during the holidays at some point.
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Me neither, Truedessa.
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A well thought out poem. Nicely done.
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Maria, thanks much.
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It’s not as blatant now, perhaps, being unquestioned back in the day. But there are still too many assumptions made in popular culture that are just wrong. (K)
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Totally agree with you, K.
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Great incorporation of the prompt – wonderful! Jae
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Thanks, Jae :)
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Get up puppet boy
You’ve got a job to do
Even so — you’re free to go…
Where your master tells you to
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Devo Rocks!
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‘Pale-skinned’ seems a very pertinent word here.
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an era, all of its own, Lisa
Happy you dropped by my blog
much love
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<3
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Sharply fierce and focused write Lisa. 👏
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Thank you, Shaun.
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Fantastic poem, Lisa! A capsule of the times, for sure!
Yvette M Calleiro :-)
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
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Yvette, thanks much <3
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Excellent take Li
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Sadje, thank you very much.
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You’re most welcome
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A strong critique of upside-down values, Li.
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Thank you, Jennifer.
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so enjoy watching the old b&w movies.. and you’re right it amazes me the freedom of the actions that were taken… i don’t think it’s much different today…. though everyone and everything is naked in both body, action and words… no longer hiding behind innuendos or the cover of propriety …. i liked the way you spoke so clearly
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ms pie, thanks much.
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Nicely done, Li.. a sign of our times… 😑
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Indeed! Thanks, Cindy.
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Old movies I missed are the comedies, Chaplin and the 3 stooges. They bring back great memories. Wonderful write Lisa!
Hank
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Hank, I do think the old comedies had less of blatant racism, but it was still there. Thanks so much.
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