When a cult decides to gather – irrational and devotional as they are – not even a wet, miserable Melbourne evening can dent their enthusiasm. So it was on Monday night, that thousands of people flocked to Jeff’s Shed to listen to their leader, Louis Theroux, sermonise on all things weird and wacky. People were walking around in t-shirts and carrying tote bags with his face plastered on them. I was shocked, I must admit, to see just how many people this lanky Brit had seemingly seduced. He is, after all, about the most uncharismatic person on television.
For those unfamiliar with his work, Theroux is a kind of middlebrow Slavoj Zizek sans the Ideology – all shtick before substance. He made a name for himself with his BBC series Weird Weekends, in which he travels across America – and, in later series, other parts of the world – interviewing society’s fringe-dwellers: UFO truthers; survivalists; off-off Broadway actors; western men looking for Thai brides and the like. Most of his subsequent work has been a variation on this theme: When Louis Met… has him follow around a different British celebrity each episode, the best-known – and now most notorious – being Jimmy Savile. He’s also tackled some less gimmicky topics – like the neo-nazi movement, the Westbro Baptist Church and several episodes on law and order – in a number of special programs. These are far superior to anything else in his oeuvre.
But, generally speaking, his subjects are people consumed by the irrational world that, more often than not, consumes every minute of their life. They are pathetic, sad people who’ve built a world for themselves that’s inexplicable in its dislocation from reality. They are society’s detritus and there are serious questions to be asked about how a culture spits out so many alienated people that feel the need to seek, say, self-fulfillment through life coaches and hypnosis or enlightenment via eastern mysticism. But Theroux appears to be largely uninterested in exploring these complexities in any real way. He prefers, instead, to double-down on their eccentricities; his greatest skill as an interviewer is to ask the most basic, sensible of questions and sit back as his subject makes a fool of himself. He then stands there with a crestfallen look as the uncomfortable silence has the viewer shifting in his seat. This technique works well on wackos and loonies, but roll it out against an ordinary person of average intelligence and the results are predictably underwhelming.
Take it from me, I saw it in action: half-way through the show on Monday night, Louis trotted off stage, where he was being interviewed by Julia Zemiro, to do what he does best – talk to people. After his first foray with a look-a-like, which was clearly staged, he approached a lady who worked in management at a university (wisely unspecified). He asked her something to the effect of: ‘If I made a show about your workplace what would be the weird thing that I’d focus on?’ Predictably, the unsuspecting subject didn’t reveal that members of the arts faculty are party to a foot fetish social club that meets ever Thursday over martinis that enjoy perusing sites like tubev.sex for their next foot to find sexy. It was an inversion of the standard Theroux technique: it was awkward and cringe-worthy, but this time it seemed that he – not his subject – was oblivious to just how hard to watch this whole charade was. But people still laughed because, I guess, that’s the kind of hold cult leaders have over their transfixed followers.
In fact, people laughed and clapped at all the parts of the show that they were meant to, despite most of it being unwarranted. I’m not sure whether he was meant to be smart-funny or funny-smart, but everyone seemed to think he was one of the two, except for me that is, who found him dull and humourless. Not to mention that the whole show was so scripted that the interplay between him and Zemiro could have been better performed by a pair of off-off Broadway actors whose biggest roles to date have been as extras in a commercial that airs while the country sleeps. But still, the crowd soaked it up – they appeared to love every minute of it.
But he could have said almost anything (not quite Trumpesque, but near enough to) and got the same response because people don’t love Louis for Louis, they love him for what he allows them to think about themselves. It doesn’t matter how insecure one is about one’s own life, at least one’s not stupid enough to believe one can channel aliens, or desperate enough to fuck overweight truck drivers at a Nevada brothel, or racist enough to get a swastika tattoo, or deluded enough to think one can make it as a professional wrestler despite having no discernible talent or athleticism. Louis Theroux’s documentaries are popular because they provide the validation people are looking for in their own lives.
What’s remarkable about them – for such a large body of work – is just how un-insightful they are: as social commentary (and that is, in part, what they masquerade as) they tell us almost nothing about our contemporary culture: how we wound up mostly accepting – even embracing – our miserable, wretched existences. That his viewers are looking for and find an escape from this world in his shows is evidence of just how far he is from capturing its essence.
Sweet blog! I found it while browsing on Yahoo News. Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there!
Cheers
You New Seoo
azithromycin 250mg
высокооплачиваемая работа для девушек
I’m extremely inspired along with your writing abilities and also with the layout to your weblog.
Is this a paid subject or did you customize it your self?
Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it’s uncommon to see
a nice blog like this one nowadays..
Stop by my web blog … sex
I’ve learn some just right stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for
revisiting. I surprise how much attempt you set to create any
such wonderful informative web site.
Wonderful blog! Do you have any recommendations for aspiring writers?
I’m planning to start my own website soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
Would you recommend starting with a free platform like WordPress
or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m completely confused ..
Any suggestions? Thanks a lot!
элитные проститутки сочи
This web site truly has all the information and facts I
needed concerning thjs subject and didn’t know who to
ask.
My homepage … Homescapes hack apk
How can I insert a tag cloud into my blog @ blogspot? I try using the gadget options but I can’t find a 3rd party one listed. Can someone please show we where to get one and how to install it?.
This web site really has all the info I wanted concerning
this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
Howdy! This article could not be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He constantly kept talking about this. I am going to send this post to him. Fairly certain he’ll have a great read. Many thanks for sharing!
Appreciate the recommendation. Let me try it out.
Заработок, благодаря рекламе в Pinterest https://youtu.be/TT31RsoY5x0 от 7000 до 100 000 usd в месяц в Etsy
DoubleBTC.WIN – Double your bitcoin in 24 hours –
Double your bitcoin in 24 hours equals to 100% profit a day that equals to 36,500% annual interest.
Click : https://bitdouble.net
第一借錢網擁有全台最多的借錢資訊
https://168cash.com.tw/
If you are going for finest contents like myself, simply pay a visit this website daily as it gives feature contents, thanks
Why people still make use of to read news papers when in this technological world the whole thing is existing on web?
работа в эскорт
What’s up, I want to subscribe for this webpage to obtain hottest updates,
thus where can i do it please help.
“I was more than happy to discover this great site. I wanted to thank you for your time for this particularly fantastic read!! I definitely savored every bit of it and i also have you book marked to see new information on your blog.”
https://loveroom.co.il/room/דירות-דיסקרטיות-בחיפה/
552342346
“Everything is very open with a precise description of the challenges. It was truly informative. Your site is very helpful. Thanks for sharing!”
https://loveroom.co.il/room/דירות-דיסקרטיות-בחיפה/
552342346
第一借錢網擁有全台最多的借錢資訊
https://168cash.com.tw/
Hi! I’ve been following your blog for some time now and finally
got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from
Lubbock Tx! Just wanted to say keep up the good work!
Magnificent goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff
previous to and you are just too fantastic.
I actually like what you’ve acquired here, really like what you’re stating and the way in which you say it.
You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it sensible.
I can not wait to read far more from you.
This is really a great website.
работа в сфере досуга сочи
Great delivery. Solid arguments. Keep up the great spirit.
You New Seooooo
If some one desires to be updated with latest technologies then he must be visit
this web page and be up to date all the time.
trade barriers essay 123 help me essay help uk
Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thank you so much, However I am
encountering problems with your RSS. I don’t understand
the reason why I cannot join it. Is there anybody getting similar RSS problems?
Anyone that knows the solution can you kindly
respond? Thanks!!
Excellent blog here! Also your site loads up fast! What web host are
you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host?
I wish my site loaded up as fast as yours lol
Sbobet – Sportbook http://rp777s10.vip/en/sportsbook – More info!..
Most adroitly online casino in india
вакансии эскорт
Excellent blog post. I certainly appreciate this site. Thanks!
נערות ליווי במרכז
I got this web page from my friend who shared with me
concerning this website and at the moment this time I am browsing this web site and reading very informative
content at this place.
It’s amazing in favor of me to have a website, which is good for my
knowledge. thanks admin
My blog post: milf
“I want to to thank you for this good read!! I absolutely loved every little bit of it. I have got you book marked to check out new things you postÖ”
https://loveroom.co.il/room/דירות-דיסקרטיות-בצפון/
552342346
Greate pieces. Keep writing such kind of information on your page.
Im really impressed by it.
Hi there, You have performed a great job. I will definitely digg it and personally recommend
to my friends. I am sure they’ll be benefited from this web site.
I all the time used to study article in news papers but now as I am a
user of web therefore from now I am using net for articles,
thanks to web.
“I would like to thank you for the efforts you have put in penning this website. I’m hoping to view the same high-grade content from you in the future as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own website now ;)”
https://loveroom.co.il/room/דירות-דיסקרטיות-בחיפה/
552342346
Wonderful postings, With thanks. https://www.withoutbro.com/# good dosage viagra Afdf87w
работа в сфере досуга
вакансии для девушек москва
Quality posts is the main to interest the viewers to go to see the web page, that’s what this site
is providing.
I was recommended thos blog by my cousin. I am not sure whether
this post is wwritten by him as nobody else know suh detailled about my problem.
You’re amazing! Thanks!
Also visit my web-site – Famous Fashion Photographers Websites
https://phonemobiles.ru/
These are in fact fantastic ideas in regarding blogging.
You have touched some fastidious points here.
Any way keep up wrinting.
проститутки сочи
It’s actually very complex in this full of activity life to listen news on TV, so I just
use the web for that purpose, and obtain the newest information.
Ηey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremwly well writften articlе.
I’ll make sure to bоokmark it and come bacҝ tto read morte of
your useful information. Thanks for the post.
I will certainly comeƅack.
Aⅼso visit my blog post: agen poker
“Good post. I learn something totally new and challenging on sites I stumbleupon everyday. It’s always helpful to read through articles from other authors and practice a little something from their web sites.”
דירות דיסקרטיות בירושלים
552342346
When you see these kinds of evaluations, you must look exclusively
trying to find information associated with malware and malicious software concerning the web site.Don’t down load coming from a web site this way.
“Everything is very open with a precise description of the challenges. It was truly informative. Your site is useful. Thank you for sharing!”
דירות דיסקרטיות בצפון
552342346
Pretty! This has been a really wonderful article.
Thanks for providing this information.
Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thank you, However I am going through difficulties with your RSS. I don’t understand the reason why I can’t join it. Is there anyone else having identical RSS issues? Anybody who knows the answer will you kindly respond? Thanx!!
работа в эскорт москва
http://pyleadmin.com/link.aspx?buy=1&name=http%3a%2f%2fxtumblr.org
Good – I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your website. I had no trouble navigating through all the tabs as well as related information ended up being truly simple to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Reasonably unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or anything, site theme . a tones way for your customer to communicate. Excellent task..
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Samsung. Regards
Hi there, You have done an incredible job. I’ll certainly digg it and personally recommend to my friends.
I am sure they’ll be benefited from this site.
I must thank you for the efforts you have put in penning this blog.
I am hoping to see the same high-grade blog posts
by you in the future as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my
own, personal blog now 😉
magnificent post, very informative. I wonder why the other specialists
of this sector do not understand this. You should proceed your writing.
I’m sure, you have a great readers’ base already!