Dancing Outlaw (video)

Subject: RE: Dancing Outlaw (video)
From: open mike
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 04:44 PM

cancellated? where'd it go?
i do not see a link here either..
i did not know this thread was
here when i posted the other..
aren't these things usually
listed as related threads
above the message?

Subject: RE: Dancing Outlaw
From: Janie
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 10:34 AM

Thank you Guest Russ!

If he had lived in Florida, it is unlikely he would have been referred to as the "Florida Beachcomber schizophrenic." As some have noted, there are wacked out people everywhere--they only become an interesting story if they murder some one or seem to fit a common, condescending, amusing and/or bizarre stereotype of some group of people, such as West Virginians or Ozarkians, African-Americans, schizoprhenics,etc.

And he probably is not schizophrenic either. He probably has brain damage from all that huffing!

Janie

Subject: RE: Dancing Outlaw
From: Sam L
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 09:51 AM

I think I listed it on the weird movies thread. True, it may provide morons with a negative image they already have anyway, but, screw them. Not producing it won't fix anything. It's a very popular movie among 20something guys, for some reason.

Subject: RE: Dancing Outlaw
From: Bobert
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 09:34 AM

Well, since the other thread got cancelated, I'd just like to go onrecord of sayin' that I got alibis... You got the wrong hillbilly...

Bobert

Subject: RE: Dancing Outlaw
From: Mr Happy
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 07:00 AM

Oh!- I thought it was about un[PEL]licenced Morris Dancers!

Subject: RE: Dancing Outlaw
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 06:56 AM

"I understand that Appalshop would not produce the video because they considered it a negative view of mountain folk"

That says it all.

Subject: RE: Dancing Outlaw
From: nickp
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 04:11 AM

Its a very strange and very sad video particularly when you consider what a good dancer his dad was. NOT stereotypical - of whatever area.

Subject: RE: Dancing Outlaw
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 25 Sep 03 - 10:44 PM

I have spent the last 30 years countering the stereotype image of Ozarkers which many visitors to the region bring with them and do not consider Dancing Outlaw in any fashion representative of the average West Virginia native. Anyone who draws that conclusion from the video is certainly blind to reality. Folk like Jesco and his family can be found in many places, and most other folk would most likely prefer to stay clear of them. While one could develop some sympathy for the White clan through watching the video, I was really surprised that people would pilgrimage to West Virginia to find Jesco and that he would have fans writing him letters. I understand that Appalshop would not produce the video because they considered it a negative view of mountain folk, but I have seen few videos or films that evoked so many mixed and varied feelings from the viewer.

Subject: RE: Dancing Outlaw
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 25 Sep 03 - 09:23 PM

I saw both "Dancing Outlaw" and "Jesco Goes to Hollywood" on tape several years ago. I don't think the tapes are guilty of "caricaturing hillbillies" at all. Jesco is a crazy whacked out drug addict who'll do anything to get high (including sniffing gasoline) and who also happens to have a totally disfunctional family whose members like to spin donuts in their front yards until they blow up the engines in their cars. Hell, I have neighbors just like that and I live in Florida! They're everywhere! The producer/director just happened to find the particular one he wanted to make a documentary about in West Virginia.

By the way, just so we can call this a music thread, in "Jesco Goes to Hollywood", Jesco dances while Dweezil Zappa plays guitar.

Bruce

Subject: RE: Dancing Outlaw
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 25 Sep 03 - 08:11 PM

"West Virginia mountaineer schizophrenic"

Wonderful.

A movie caricaturing hillbillies. If you've been in the dark about them, consider yourself still in the dark.

One of the few minorities than can be dissed with impunity these days.

Subject: RE: Dancing Outlaw
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Sep 03 - 01:52 PM

sweet.

Subject: Dancing Outlaw
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 24 Sep 03 - 01:08 PM

My daughter has been mentioning a video called "The Dancing Outlaw" in emails and phone conversations for some weeks. She brought it with her on her last trip home. Now, I am wondering why I had never heard of it before. It has been around for about ten years and there seems to be an avid cult of devotees. On the surface it appears to be a documentary filmed by Jacob Young featuring a West Virginia mountaineer schizophrenic named Jesco White who stimulates his brain by sniffing gasoline and amuses himself by impersonating Elvis, tap dancing, and threatening the life of his wife. There are also interviews with Jesco's other personifications Jesse and Elvis, his one eyed brother Bosco, his sister Flaming Mamie, and his mother, Bertie Mae who describes the violent deaths of husband, daughters, and sons. The reaction of those watching was this can't be for real and at the same time thinking no one could make this up. Apart from the video there seems to be controversy as well. Young and associates have different stories about how he discovered Jesco and there are also claims that Jesco does not profit from sales of the video, mugs, caps, panties, and t-shirts, etc. bearing his likeness.

One can find Jesco's address posted on the internet so you can send fan mail and Sharpies, which is supposedly a real treat. You can also catch up on the latest news of the White clan and their neighbor, guitar picker, Hasil Adkins and his band the Pistol Whippers. You can also order the "Jesco Goes to Hollywood" video and learn all about his meeting Rosanne Barr and Tom Arnold.

Why did I post this? I don't really know. Maybe in part for the edification of those, like me, who have been in the dark for so long, and in part searching for the real scoop.