Subject: Re: the undisputed & the contenders
AntiUtopia@aol.com
Date: Sat Mar 11 2000 - 08:15:56 EST
In a message dated 3/11/00 12:07:05 AM Eastern Standard Time,
oconnort@nyu.edu writes:
<< Funny synchronicity; I just described, yesterday or the day before, in a
private message, that I had this reaction when I saw Stardust Memories,
which I think is one of Woody Allen's finest movies. I went into a
four-month spiral of despair, consumed by the thought that I could never
make anything on a page sing the way that movie sang. And it did --
visually, sonically, and (in its fascinating use of narrative threads)
intellectually. My feeling was, Why try? You'll never match it.
--tim >>
You know, I think I know that feeling too -- what you and Scottie are
describing. But then I think about my own reading experiences, and if you
think about it, that "you'll never match it" feeling is rare. I read plenty
of very good literature and see plenty of very good film, but of all the good
literature and good film I've seen, only a very few in both categories live
up to that feeling.
But that doesn't mean I don't get something meaningful out of all the rest of
it. My regular diet, what keeps me alive, is something somewhat less rich
than the finest delicacies, but I still enjoy it and it still keeps me alive.
And that's what we can give to other people reading our work. We can say
things to them that move them emotionally, intellectually...any number of
different ways. We may not be giving them a tremendous experience in
literature (but we need to try to do so, every single time), but we can still
give them something very good that they enjoy and benefit from.
I think that's worth trying for :)
Jim
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