The year of magical thinking
May 31st 2010 11:41
:
This could be the last
I woke up yesterday morning at around 10 am, turned on my computer and after checking my e-mails decided to browse the news website. I will never forget seeing the image of Dennis Hopper as that crazy photographer in 'Apocalypse now', with the headline reading 'Dennis Hopper dead at age 74'.
Yet another great icon of pop culture has been taken by cancer and it just isn't fair. Dennis Hopper was a brilliant and at times frighteningly genuine actor, a visionary director and inspirational artist. I was lucky enough to see an exhibition of his art works last year and i was blown away by the ingenuity and intensity of some pieces. I will never forget the first time i watched 'Blue Velvet'; i was captivated by Hopper's portrayal of Frank Booth and still get shivers when i think of the 'in dreams' sequence.
I am not writing this blog solely to voice my dismay at Dennis Hopper's passing, but to describe the fear i have for the future. With each legend that passes, that is one less genius we have to look towards. For every Dennis Hopper that dies, there are 2 Robert Pattinsons looking to replace him; for every Dio there will be a Fred Durst; and for every Walter Cronkite we lose well i guess we gain a Perez Hilton.
What i'm trying to say is people today are lacklustre and poor, poor imitations of the greats. There are very few people, if any, from my generation who i can say i admire. There are no great writers, thinkers, directors or musicians coming out; there is no innovation. It is a scary thought that in 30 years time the last of the talented ones will be dying off, leaving only these fake hacks for people to admire.
There is a quote by one of my all time favourite writers, Joan Didion, which i think some people should know:
To have that sense of one's intrinsic worth... is potentially to have everything...
If more people thought about this, the more they might try and be different. Instead of copying what's cool in a bid for attention, be unique and create something you really believe in. If more people were to do this, then perhaps future generations won't be doomed to accept mediocrity.
Yet another great icon of pop culture has been taken by cancer and it just isn't fair. Dennis Hopper was a brilliant and at times frighteningly genuine actor, a visionary director and inspirational artist. I was lucky enough to see an exhibition of his art works last year and i was blown away by the ingenuity and intensity of some pieces. I will never forget the first time i watched 'Blue Velvet'; i was captivated by Hopper's portrayal of Frank Booth and still get shivers when i think of the 'in dreams' sequence.
I am not writing this blog solely to voice my dismay at Dennis Hopper's passing, but to describe the fear i have for the future. With each legend that passes, that is one less genius we have to look towards. For every Dennis Hopper that dies, there are 2 Robert Pattinsons looking to replace him; for every Dio there will be a Fred Durst; and for every Walter Cronkite we lose well i guess we gain a Perez Hilton.
What i'm trying to say is people today are lacklustre and poor, poor imitations of the greats. There are very few people, if any, from my generation who i can say i admire. There are no great writers, thinkers, directors or musicians coming out; there is no innovation. It is a scary thought that in 30 years time the last of the talented ones will be dying off, leaving only these fake hacks for people to admire.
There is a quote by one of my all time favourite writers, Joan Didion, which i think some people should know:
To have that sense of one's intrinsic worth... is potentially to have everything...
If more people thought about this, the more they might try and be different. Instead of copying what's cool in a bid for attention, be unique and create something you really believe in. If more people were to do this, then perhaps future generations won't be doomed to accept mediocrity.
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Nice salute and I agree there are far to few "free spirits" left in entertainment.
Still we do have Tom Waites, Viggo Mortensen, Robert Downey Jr, Crispin Glover, Billy Bob Thornton, Gary Oldman, Nick Cave and a couple more to keep the flame alive.
If your interested you can read my salute to Hopper HERE