© James Pyles
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This afternoon, I was at my local branch of the public library and I found the first season of Lovecraft Country on DVD. As some of you may know, I was critical of the timing of the premiere of this series during certain (ahem) events.
However, when I mentioned this in social media, I was told the series was being developed well before all of that happened, so I stand corrected. I also can’t miss the fact that since writer H.P. Lovecraft has been identified as a white supremacist, the title for the series has a double meaning.
However, I don’t subscribe to any streaming service, basically because I might be interested in one or two programs but nothing else, and it just seems like a waste of money. Plus, I need my discretionary time to write. That means that under other circumstances, I’d never see this show.
But since it magically appeared at the library, I have the entire first season to view for free as long as I give it back to the library by the 16th.
Those of you who know me through this blog should know I’m a fair reviewer, but I don’t automatically like or not like something based on the content or the source. To quote Police Lt. Dundy (Barton MacLane) from the 1941 film “The Maltese Falcon:”
Well, you know me, Spade, if you did it or if you didn’t, you’ll get a square deal from me and most of the breaks. Don’t know as I’d blame you much – man that killed your partner. But that won’t stop me from nailing ya.
That’s how I feel about reviewing anything.
I’ll start viewing this tonight and let you know what I think.
I love public libraries.
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I’ve never paid any attention to the writer Lovecraft, and I’m barely aware of his stories except to recognize that a sense of horror predominates in them. But I appreciate that you’ve called attention to his background as a racist and white supremacist, as well-described in the link you provided. His worldview thus explains the character of his writing. He, and thus his characters, live in a most uncongenial and misanthropic world. It’s not a world I would willingly enter, and I don’t envy your doing so to review the video series based on his work.
I wonder, though, if there could be any redeeming value in this series’ demonstration of what real racism and bigotry produces, as distinct from the false accusations of it that currently are being thrown against all aspects of western civilization that developed from the European Enlightenment period. Thus, any valuation of merit over mediocrity is deemed “supremacist”, and condemned because some really are better or more qualified than others. This is not, of course, conditioned by superficial appearance, though it can be culturally influenced.
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