Subject: Re: over 50s need not apply
From: Tim O'Connor (tim@roughdraft.org)
Date: Sun May 28 2000 - 21:26:53 GMT
At 7:47 AM +0100 on 5/25/2000, Scottie wrote:
> There IS a fairly inflexible law about the writers of fiction:
> that they produce much their best stuff before 50 & not a great
> deal worth reading after that age.
That's a fascinating premise you offer. The facts are compelling, as
facts so often are. One happy exception, I believe, is Philip Roth.
Unlike his contemporaries, he has gained in stature as the years
pass. Perhaps something shook loose after his unfortunately
publicized breakdown, when he was (I believe) in his late 50s, but
his work in the years since has been relentlessly brilliant.
> Salinger was 46 when he last waved to the rest of us sitting
> here on the beach. Statistically at least, the prospects are
> not all that hot.
What bothers me more is the isolation. It does things to a fellow,
and they aren't necessarily good things. American presidents show it
-- there was the amazing scene of George Bush being astounded by a
bar-code reader at a cash register, when he was out to show what a
regular guy he was, back when he ran against Clinton in 1992.
> Maybe those of us of an artistic bent would be better advised
> getting out our canvases & brushes. Those bastards seem to go
> on forever. It must be that endless running back & forth
> to the easel & all that arm waving.
My hat's off to you for the best image of the day!
--tim
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