What cracked me up is how different today's work environment is from the 80s.
Here's how I figure work life went:
Neanderthals to pre-WW1: it was all dudes, and they ran the show
WW1 and WW2: women were stuck working out of necessity, not 'cause they had to prove anything
1950s: men took their pants back and women (in their infinite wisdom, which I wish stayed this way) were like "eff the workforce, if I gotta cook for you mofos then I'm going to do it on my terms...wearing a polka-dot dress and using my new Maytag oven"
1960s and 1970s: birth control pills REALLY take off, women are so high on drugs they think entering the work force is a GOOD idea (and so is the birth of the 2-income society. Just effing fabulous).
1980s: with the exception of coke, women are pretty much sober but realizing that if they're gonna be in the workforce, they want to be at the TOP of the workforce...if that means dressing like a dude, so be it.
1990s: dropped the coke, less shoulder pads, bright colors a la In Living Color Fly Girls, while the birth of the Sensitive New Age Guy emerges
2000: we all just blend into the same working drones
So back to Die Hard, which obviously took place in the 80s. The scene is some 1980-something holiday party. The Hot Chicks of the office were blond. The Smart Chicks of the office were brunettes with big massive glasses and bad perms. Both Hot Chicks and Smart Chicks wore scrunchies even if they wore suits. Men snorted coke on the job. This was pre-sexual harassment era, so people were free to express themselves through groping and desktop "activities". Everyone looked 'roided out thanks to massive shoulder pads. You could actually SMOKE in the office.
Did no one back then think ANY of this was just a LITTLE BIT EFFED UP?!
Even though I've seen the movie a trillion times, I completely missed this wonderful gem of a scene:
Hans: The following people are to be released from their captors : In Northern Ireland, the seven members of the New Provo Front. In Canada, the five imprisoned leaders of Liberte de Quebec... In Sri Lanka, the nine members of the Asian Dawn movement...
Karl: [mouthing silently] Asian Dawn?
Hans: [covers the radio] I read about them in Time magazine.
Alright, enough man...err, woman-love for John McClane...
3 comments:
Hey get this, I had to fill out a 3 question survey today about employment equity so that my employer could remain qualified to do business with the government. Interestingly they didn't ask me whether I was caucasian male; I suppose if answering 'No' to all of the questions one could assume that I am but If find it odd that the government even has this requirement at all. :P
Recently there's been talk of pay equity between the sexes which I also find disturbing, I assume that if a woman is doing the same job as me she's getting the same salary. What's sad is the lack of women in executive positions where I am, maybe women are too smart and know better but it would be nice to have a woman in the Old Boys Club to provide some refreshing insight on things.
I'm thinking back to the Die Hard movies Sabina and you're so right! The first two take place around Christmas, the last two in NYC.
Isn't it funny how corporate life in some ways has changed drastically for us compared to our parents and in others not at all?
1990s: dropped the coke, less shoulder pads, bright colors a la In Living Color Fly Girls, while the birth of the Sensitive New Age Guy emerges
OK, Sabina...you've done it again. I don't need to blow effin smoke your way, but wtf, are you a sociological genius, or what? Your analysis...decade by decade, of our cultural drift and the place of gender in it, is, quite frankly, brilliant.
I googled some of your phrases to prove plagiarism because, frankly my dear, I didn't think you had that much damn intelligence. I have always liked your writing..spicy, caustic, opinionated, o r i g i n a l, unexpected, real, authentic...whatever.
The birth of the new sensitive New Age man made me laugh. I am tired of trying to be my wifes best friend. I mean, hell...I am a man, not an effin conversationalist. I am a guy. I pick my toe nails, drink milk out of the jug and twist the bread and wrap it under to keep it fresh.
I do one thing at a time. I do not multi task.
Anyway, all these other comments are free...what I put money on is this...you are smart, girlfriend. You have a unique view of things...I think you could write a book.
Hark do my eyes deceive me?!! Did someone suggest that Sabina write a book? Yup. Remember back in tha day when we toyed around with how we should write a book about dating? Man, I miss those long emails and talks. :P
Moderator, Sabina is probably one of the most intelligent women I know hands down.
If she would just write more often on here I'm sure some portal would pick up her stuff for broad consumption because a lot of what she says is not only entertaining but true.
I love her take on society, it's beyond brilliant.
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