The meaningless-X factor

With the new series of the X factor starting today, its stands a good chance of nominating viewers, newspapers and conversations over the next few months until christmas, where the winner will probably once again grab the christmas number one spot.

As the judges make their comments, the contestants cry and pray to get through each round and the great British public watch in laughter and excitement, an important week in Afghanistan regarding it's future, still remains unannounced regarding it's winner in the election.

Whilst shows such as X-factor, Britain's got talent and American Idol were basically created by the mind of Simon Cowell, they only have one meaning in the place of the world and that is that without them, Afghan Star wouldn't exist.

Afghan Star, is essentially X-factor in Afghanistan. The only difference being and it's a massive one, is that whilst all Simon Cowell shows are about one person's dream to become rich and famous, (quinessentially, it's means nothing) Afghan Star is about the native people singing to escape from their reality, watching the show in an escape from the harsh realities of war, how even though it is a popular show, it is also a dangerous one, where singing is putting your life at risk, within a dictated and dominated country.

I would rather watch Afghan Star.

If you want to know more, follow this link to read more about the fascinating documentary http://www.afghanstardocumentary.com/watch_sm.html

Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

John Hughes defined a decade in the 80's, where no filmmaker since has been able to capture the role that is of a 'teenager.'

I think I saw 'the breakfast club' first, I had heard alot about it growing up and one night when it was on late on BBC1 in the early nineties, at around 11.25pm, I finally witnessed and understood a part of film culture I had never experienced before. The film had humour, reality, a philosophical and thought provoking style, a direct and honest approach, which I hugely enjoyed. 'Do I stutter???'

The film had a profound effect on me, these five characters each spoke to me in ways that any individual could understand, regardless of your nationality or where you were from. At one point in the film, Andy asks Alison 'is it bad? parents?' which I think out of context seems a little confusing if you haven't seen the film but that one line, shows how much John Hughes understood about the pressures of growing up and being a forever mirror to your parents. 'His name is Blane? Oh! That's a major appliance, that's not a name!'

Today, the teen-angst genre that Hughes defined in the eighties is today no more, dead. Filmmakers since have tried to capture it but have all failed due to a real lack of understanding it. One filmmaker that may come close is Richard Linklater, with films such as Dazed and Confused. 'It's better to swallow pride than blood.'

For anyone who has never seen a John Hughes film, take your pick, how about a teenger's frustration at her parents forgetting her birthday, whilst fancying the school prince and getting constantly hit on by the school geek. How about two guys wearing bras on their heads whilst creating the woman of their dreams. How about a day when life is deemed more important than the four walls of a school classroom. The frustrations of travelling, a Romeo and Juliet story with the rich and poor, a three way love triangle, the fun of having a house all to yourself or how individuals connect, despite their vast differences. 'You had to be big shots didn't you. You had to show off. When are you gonna learn that people will like you for who you are, not for what you can give them. Well, in your race for power and glory, you forgot one small detail.'

Today we have...'she's all that' and Freddie Prince Jr...I don't think so! What the teenage world of today don't understand, unless they've seen John Hughes films, is that he created, shaped and defined the teen angst genre, it dies with him. The end.

Maybe I haven't been clear enough...in fact, I made a mistake, John Hughes didn't define a decade, he defined a generation.

"Many filmmakers portray teenagers as immoral and ignorant, with pursuits that are pretty base," Hughes told the Chicago Tribune newspaper in 1985. "They seem to think that teenagers aren't very bright. But I haven't found that to be the case. I listen to kids. I respect them. I don't discount anything they have to say just because they're only 16 years old."

R.I.P. John Hughes