Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure (2011)

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the3rdman
An apparently simple documentary that is actually quite complex and challenging. Raises a ton of issues regarding privacy and voyeurism. Do these two guys have the right to copyright their surreptitious recordings of their neighbours' arguments? Is it "art"? Fascinating how it spun out of control into an underground phenomenon. Although I can see the appeal of having a window into these two old guys' lives, the commodification and commercialization of the recordings and, essentially, the personal experiences of others is deeply problematic. Also problematic are the egos that grow out of control and the greed of the individuals involved in the proliferation of the Shut Up Lil Man phenomenon. None of them come out looking particularly sympathetic, least of all Mitch and Eddie. Lastly, the patronizing attitudes shown toward Raymond, Peter and Tony seem to underscore a hipster tendency to frame and narrate the experiences of marginal "others" without taking into account their value, dignity, or rights as individuals. Defnitely worth a watch. 11 years 8 months ago