Have you seen that new movie about the guy who was discriminated against because he was Deaf? Or the new ad on TV about the dangers of head lice? Or the glamorous charity event against texting and driving? No? Oh! Well, have you seen the new movie, TV episode, advertisement, clothing and charity event supporting cancer? Of course you have! Because these days it’s become cool to be affected by cancer. Woah, woah, woah! Put the coffee cup down, keyboard warriors! No need to get nasty in the comment section! Although, I do have the cancer card in my deck that I could play, I’d honestly prefer not to play it. So, continue to read and hear me out. It seems everywhere you turn these days, there is someone else diagnosed with cancer. A celebrity cheerfully running for those too sick to stand, a badass teacher making drugs after a diagnosis or another “Home and Away” character’s boyfriend vowing to stay with her throughout. A cynical and sour bastard turning a new leaf at the end of his days or someone’s not-so-optimal (yet predictable) cancer relapse being a more imminent threat than Jackie Chan’s karate kick. And could we take a moment and read the blurb for “The Big C”, which is immediately available after a simple Google search. Like seriously - doesn’t this sound like the best spring cleaning epiphany! Not only are we continuing to lose people to cancer, but we are losing people’s hearts! I think we can thank Popular Culture for this. Popular culture has cheapened the C.A.N.C.E.R word to a concerned look on someone’s face, cupcakes, shirts with boobs on them and a triage of tragic drama movies starring Miley Cyrus. There are movie stars who, thanks to six hours in make up, look amazing just for you ladies and gentlemen! Nothing to see here! “Look to the stars” even provides us with a lovely, long, alphabetised list of celebrities that ‘stand up’ to cancer. No way is this post lambasting those with cancer or the horrible unfortunate circumstances of children with cancer. You deserve all the colourful acknowledgment and love that you require. (Though, this continues to prove my point - you would never see a “comedy/drama” about a child’s charismatic final days.) But, I speak as someone who sees fault in the way cancer is portrayed to the wider population, as something that can be turned off via a TV remote. I would go as far to say that I truly believe people are drawn to the drama that is cancer. We always feel the need to share that we, too, were once touched by the ‘Big C’. Even if it was through my cousin’s friends brother’s dog’s pet groomer. Now, now... I know it is harsh and I’d like to assume for the majority of people this is not the case. But I dare you to stand in a room and listen to the stories that you will receive. Or for the lucky few with no stories, their ideas are skewed and controlled by the popular cultural portrayal and believe their cat’s foot ulcer is somewhat equivalent. I am not trying to say that we need to bombard popular culture with realistic portrayals because it IS a mode of enjoyment and release with multiple ideas and perspectives. But, then again, who would willingly go and see a film where the pain of cancer was to be expected? Ah! Yes! “The Fault in our Stars”, you say. As proud as I am to admit that I cried my eyes out in the darkness of my bedroom, it was never a competition of how many tissues I needed, which is what it seemed to become. People continued to go to the cinemas to watch it again and again - why? Because they enjoyed the seeing people suffer and die? Cancer has become a part of popular culture regardless of its representation or realism. Now, it is not all feigning clutter and impoverished drama! There are some amazing texts, literature and films out there! Charities and organisations are doing so much good! I just disagree with the human race slipping so far that we need a smorgasbord of celebrity endorsement for us to care about the wellbeing our fellow man/woman. Furthermore, there is no real awareness, support message or warning of slight fabrication at the conclusion of mediums. Recently, I had the utmost pleasure of watching a performance about a student’s struggle with returning to school after a diagnosis and suffering at the hands of treatment’s side effects AND it was performed by children! An amazing teacher guided and supported primary school students through the recognition and creation of a non-verbal performance for a Wakkakiri performance. Unfortunately, I began at this school at its final stages, but it would have been an amazing opportunity to watch this production begin to take shape and observe the understanding gained through the experience. Upon watching it, I struggled to cry as it was more appropriate to celebrate its pure beauty. So much praise! Finally, my mum is a cancer survivor and, unfortunately, I cannot say the same for my grandfather, who met his end with something similar to my uncle is currently fighting. But I wish to dedicate this post to my dad. No amount of picnics, movie star smiles, TV episodes or assortment of specific ribbons will ever fill the hole that you have left. Your cancer was real and everything about it was too. Nothing could have prepared me for that last hour and I doubt anyone will ever be able to capture something similar. Now, if you still wish to make comment below, please do so. If you wish to share your own stories, that is fine too. But this post was really about being realistic and not resigning as a lose change warrior, who’s absorbed by an exploiting and unscrupulous cinematic caricature.
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