“…I’ll never go hungry again” January 6, 2008
Posted by Chuck Musciano in Random Musings.Tags: Culture, Movies
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The other day, in a planning meeting, I was suddenly moved to channel Scarlett O’Hara and shared her core sentiment: “I can’t think about that right now. If I do, I’ll go crazy. I’ll think about that tomorrow.” followed by “Tomorrow is another day.” I was met by blank stares. (This happens a lot to me in meetings but can be disconcerting nonetheless).
I probed for some cultural connection, someone in the room who knew what I was talking about. No takers. Is Gone With The Wind that far removed from current culture? Is there anyone under 47 who knows this movie? Is it important any more?
I like to think that there are certain cultural elements that are consistent across wide swaths of our society, but I am beginning to think that fewer and fewer of them exist. Conversely, it may be that there are just as many of these touchpoints, but I am not getting the memos to keep me in the loop.
I worry that a culture that lacks these binding elements is actually no culture at all. We are shifting from a world where 50,000,000 people see one movie and remember it collectively, to one where 50,000,000 see 50,000 blogs and videos and break into 1,000 subcultures.
I’m thinking that this internet thing may have some unforeseen side effects.
The Effective CIO 
[…] gets hit on a daily basis by searches on “Scarlett O’Hara” because I once wrote one post about her. I am pretty sure that those seeking Scarlett are not looking for IT management advice, yet […]
IT and “Gone With the Wind” go together like PB&J (at least in my world.) I am a thirty-year-old woman used to work in IT (for Gartner, specifically) and I think that lessons and realizations from GWTW can be applied almost daily if one channels her inner Scarlett. Living in Atlanta and daring to not be married by my age, I often reflect on Scarlett’s insightful inquiry to Mamie as she is getting dressed for the barbeque at Twelve Oaks. “Why does a girl have to be so silly to catch a husband?” And after going to college in Charleston and I don’t think that truer words have ever been spoken than at the end of the movie when Rhett announces that he is returning to Charleston to see if there isn’t something left in life of charm and grace. Hands down the best movie ever made. Just wish that I could find my Rhett Butler.
I’m a 27 year old woman and I have to thank my grandmother who was raised in Georgia for introducing me to this movie. It is my favorite, and I have most of the collectibles. Now my eldest daughter loves Gone with the Wind. I will be depressed if someone tries to remake this classic movie. You can’t redo a classic. My husband goes crazy when I tell him, “I’ll think about it tomorrow.” Then he tells me, “Then that’s your misfortune.”