Magellan's Log: Mediocrity

wpeC.jpg (13737 bytes)

Yeah, yeah, we know. It's better to light one candle than to curse the darkness. Still, there's darkness and there's darkness.

Let's set up an informal little culture rating scale, from 0 to 10. 0 is abysmal (really, really dark), as bad as it gets. For example, the period in Germany from 1933 to 1945 would be a 0.

A 10 would be as good as it's ever been, say, Italy around 1500 at the height of the Renaissance.

A 5 would still be pretty good because although there's a lot of garbage you can still see flashes of brilliance, say, France in the second half of the 19th century.

A 3 would be a time of unrelieved but highly praised, much valued complete mediocrity, a time of unoriginality when everybody's busy appropriating the past and trying to recreate past successes (you can see where we're going with this, right?). A time of total predictability.

Now, consider, please,the information in the charts below, concerning our books, movies, TV, and music. We at Magellan's Log can find not the slightest hint here for anything but a judgment of a solid 3.0 for our advanced, hyperkinetic technological age.

If you went farther down these charts, way toward the bottom you might find smidgens of creativity, but those only from older artists finishing up brilliant careers.

Otherwise, nada. That after all is what mediocrity is: A flashy filched surface concealing emptiness.

Take a look and see if you agree.

BOOKS
From the New York Times Best Seller List, February 18, 2001

    1. A Day Late and a Dollar Short. Terry McMillan.
        Beaver et al. go to Vegas.
    2. The Cat Who Smelled a Rat. Lillian Jackson Braun.
        Cozy murder mystery with cat as McGuffin.
    3. A Darkness More Than Night. Michael Connelly.
        2001-noir where splashes of blood hide the lack of talent.
    4. The First Counsel. Brad Meltzer.
        Murder and stuff swirls Grisham-like around the White House.
    5. Hidden Passions. "Tabitha Lenox."
        A soap character makes it onto the Times list as author.

MOVIES
From Associated Press.

    1. Hannibal.
    2. Down to Earth.
    3. Recess: School's Out.
    4. Sweet November.
    5. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

ALBUMS
From Soundscan: Billboard.

    1. Hotshot. Shaggy.
    2. 1. Beatles.
    3. Save the Last Dance. (Soundtrack).
    4. J. Lo. J. Lopez.
    5. Rule 3:36. Ja Rule.

MAGAZINES
From Publisher's Information Bureau.
Ranked by ad revenue for January, 2001.

    1. Sports Illustrated.
    2. Golf Magazine.
    3. Golf Digest.
    4. ESPN Magazine.
    5. Ski.

MOVIE RENTALS
From Video Business.

    1. What Lies Beneath.
    2. Disney's The Kids.
    3. Me, Myself & Irene.
    4. Coyote Ugly.
    5. Dr. T. and the Women.

ALBUMS
Grammy nominees for the year 2000.
Ranked by number of copies sold.
From Soundscan: Billboard.

    1. The Marshall Mathers LP. Eminem.
    2. Two Against Nature. Steely Dan.
    3. Kid A. Radiohead.
    4. Midnite Vultures. Beck.
    5. You're the One. Paul Simon.

CABLE TV
From Nielsen Media Research.

    1. Philadelphia.
    2. World Wrestling Federation.
    3. World Wrestling Federation.
    4. NBA All-star Game.
    5. Father of the Bride II.

END

Back to Magellan's Log 31

Magellan's Log front page

Send this page to a friend.