Country living, indeed! After all, it’s one obligation of film to at least attempt to represent the times in which we live, but in a more “palatable” form. Of course, when chainsaws are “more palatable”, we’re pretty much forced to take a really hard look at what they represent. (I suppose this awareness became most obvious to the general public when Romero’s first zombie film was released (Night of the Living Dead, 1968), but I may be wrong, and that increasing connection between film and life actually happened sooner. (Still, it can’t likely be argued that the closing scene of “Night of the Living Dead” is anything but one of the most shocking statements on racism that Americans had ever yet seen on film, as well as an early Black hero, with no “white savior” swooping in to save the day.) The “chainsaw films” were released only a few years after, and the connection between film and what we called “reality” continued unabated.)

My nearest (geographically) rural neighbor has five flags in his front yard (and a sign in the middle indicating death by AK for trespassers, so his true motive of "white male victimization" is pretty clear.) One flag is American, and depending on the day, several are confederate (including one that features a huge green, leaping fish, presumably a green trout. (Confedafish? Trout-4-Trump? Leaping for the Liar-In -Chief? Robert E. Leap? Something “fishy” in the Orange/White House?)

Since none of the flags are ever taken in at night or in the rain, or replaced when damaged, and the American flag is almost never at the highest position, I keep worrying that the American flag will be attacked by the confederate flags if ever caught off-guard, and as we know, the results could be severe! (But a great film!)

He recently attempted a similar "art installation" in his backyard made up of a ring of about a dozen hate-based, Frump-worshipping flags. (It reminded me so of numerous shots I've seen of KKK or nazi rallies. Another film possibility, though “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” is what immediately comes to mind, a film containing much horror amongst its laughs.) But apparently the effort of keeping all of those many flags standing despite the wind exceeded the level of his passion for Frump the Plump Grump by a level of several magnitudes. (The “Ring of Hate” lasted about a week.)

Thanks! Very cool and timely article. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.