I saw the film "Dear White People." I thought it a bit too arch, and the opening episode of the Netflix series was similar. But the rest of the series realized a good deal of the potential of the film and initial episode. Interesting takes on conflicts and variety in politics. Of course, it is entertainment, so significant portions are not more than that. Most of the characters have wardrobes that are quite impressive, and dormitory rooms bigger than some of the apartments I've lived in. But that is just part of the television world. But to the point: Dear White People discusses some difficult and puzzling issues in black/white relations in a college. And, more interestingly, diversity within and among African-American groups. Not many clear hard lines and almost nothing in the way of lectures about moral or political lines. the episodes don't end with a wrap-up resolution, but do resolve enough to think that it is an episode. Characters break apart in ways that suggest there are still connections. All of the characters have serious flaws, and are a good deal less stalwart than usual in film and tv. All to the better. One continuing theme is the complexity of choices in mixing personal and political ambitions, both the complexities in efforts to achieve political goals and the interaction of personal ambitions with political goals.
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