Audience Didn’t Understand Message

Wed., Feb. 1, 1995

Josh Belzman North Central

Recently I went to see John Singleton’s “Higher Learning” at a plush ACT III theater here in town, and I came away with quite a few “deep thoughts.” This is one great film (I say film because it allows me to sound more cultured). If “Pulp Fiction” put satire back in fashion, then “Higher Learning” puts shock value on par with platform shoes, both being oh-so-sassy!

Now I know I am not the designated “Our Generation Movie Critic,” so I will act as the “Our Generation Audience Critic” for the remainder of this column because it is the actions of the audience with whom I saw “Higher Learning” that prompts me to write this column.

“Higher Learning” boasts one of the most ethnically diverse casts you will ever encounter, and it was all to fitting that the audience viewing the film was equally diverse.

Representatives of every race and creed filled the dark room as images of reality and denigration fluttered past. For quite a while this throng of spectators behaved as responsible and considerate members of mature society, that is until the homophobia set in.

It should be said that “Higher Learning” deals not only with racial issues, but also with the presence of different sexual orientations in this complex world. It was quite amazing to witness a seemingly “tolerant” audience turn so quickly into a bunch of second-graders (no offense, little buddies) at the embrace and kiss of two WOMEN.

I shuddered at the realization that the audience watching this “understanding and tolerance” film was able to grasp only certain segments of the message. When this crowd, which at one point began to giggle and hiss as if they were a group of children watching an educational human reproduction video, the words “You people are hypocrites” came to mind quite instantaneously.

I encourage absolutely everyone to go see “Higher Learning,” but it would be quite nice of you to leave your blinders at the front door. John Singleton has created a magnificent film, and I am pretty sure he didn’t intend for audience members to leave the theater with only parts of the message dangling between their ears.

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