Comments on: Learn to swim… http://sodsbrood.com/dreams/2005/01/26/learn_to_swim/ Searching for the question to the answer of 42. Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:33:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Mel B http://sodsbrood.com/dreams/2005/01/26/learn_to_swim/#comment-289 Mel B Mon, 31 Jan 2005 10:18:57 +0000 #comment-289 I agree with Heather. Not everyone wants to be a star. But many of us connect on some level with our stars. We idolize them. We look at their extravagant lifestyles. It gives us all something to look up to, if not look forward to. It keeps the masses happy. Why do you think there's such a booming trade in entertainment tabloids and TV? It gives the masses something to think about, to forget about their own dull lives. The actors on Star Trek took us on science fiction fantasy with every episode, every movie, dealing with ethical situations in an attempt to make a point. But at the same time, while absorbing these lessons, we also escape. By watching TV or movies, we leave our reality for a time. That's why there's such a booming tourist trade down in LA. Because there's the chance that perhaps you will bump into your favorite star down the street, in a cafe or in a club. That's why the names in the stars can be so alluring. Why people want to have their pictures taken with Shatner's star as a cheese tribute to a cheesy actor. (Again, saying I respect him more these days) Why people are fascinated by imprints of actors that may be past their prime, even dead. Why people like to read about actors down on their luck. Look, they're just normal people. One of Shatner's songs is about how the person he played on Star Trek, presumably, just isn't him. That he's flattered sometimes by the attention, but that there's a part of him in the characters he plays, but it's not him. Actors eat, sleep, breathe, shit just like everyone else. But by being absorbed by the magic of stardom, we can forget that, and dream of a better world for ourselves. And again, as Heather said, many of those people are long forgotten. I find it more interesting to see all the people I'd never heard of, and think, how sad. But they still live on, and the physical impression of people long gone still remains. There's no fading in cement. I agree with Heather. Not everyone wants to be a star. But many of us connect on some level with our stars. We idolize them. We look at their extravagant lifestyles. It gives us all something to look up to, if not look forward to. It keeps the masses happy.
Why do you think there’s such a booming trade in entertainment tabloids and TV? It gives the masses something to think about, to forget about their own dull lives.
The actors on Star Trek took us on science fiction fantasy with every episode, every movie, dealing with ethical situations in an attempt to make a point. But at the same time, while absorbing these lessons, we also escape. By watching TV or movies, we leave our reality for a time.
That’s why there’s such a booming tourist trade down in LA. Because there’s the chance that perhaps you will bump into your favorite star down the street, in a cafe or in a club.
That’s why the names in the stars can be so alluring. Why people want to have their pictures taken with Shatner’s star as a cheese tribute to a cheesy actor. (Again, saying I respect him more these days)
Why people are fascinated by imprints of actors that may be past their prime, even dead. Why people like to read about actors down on their luck. Look, they’re just normal people.
One of Shatner’s songs is about how the person he played on Star Trek, presumably, just isn’t him. That he’s flattered sometimes by the attention, but that there’s a part of him in the characters he plays, but it’s not him.
Actors eat, sleep, breathe, shit just like everyone else. But by being absorbed by the magic of stardom, we can forget that, and dream of a better world for ourselves.
And again, as Heather said, many of those people are long forgotten. I find it more interesting to see all the people I’d never heard of, and think, how sad. But they still live on, and the physical impression of people long gone still remains.
There’s no fading in cement.

]]> By: Heather http://sodsbrood.com/dreams/2005/01/26/learn_to_swim/#comment-288 Heather Sun, 30 Jan 2005 22:49:12 +0000 #comment-288 Todd, such a smartass... But the whole fading over time thing--literally and figuratively, was interesting, esp. next to the incessant worshipping of fame. For instance, all along the pavement in the Kodak theater were these squares in the pavement, drawn out like a path or a long piece of film or something, who knows, and inscribed in some of them were vignettes of how people made it big. Typical: "I was washing dishes, and this director noticed me. Things got better after that. Famous star." I don't know if there was some sort of key that showed who all of these quotes were from, but I found it interesting that a) we were expected to care of such things and b) that this was presented as something everybody wants, the happy end to a hard story, this fame business. Esp. after seeing the hand- and footprints in front of the chinese theater, and many, for me anyway, and esp. those dating back to the 20s, were indeed people long forgotten. Todd, such a smartass… But the whole fading over time thing–literally and figuratively, was interesting, esp. next to the incessant worshipping of fame. For instance, all along the pavement in the Kodak theater were these squares in the pavement, drawn out like a path or a long piece of film or something, who knows, and inscribed in some of them were vignettes of how people made it big. Typical: “I was washing dishes, and this director noticed me. Things got better after that. Famous star.” I don’t know if there was some sort of key that showed who all of these quotes were from, but I found it interesting that a) we were expected to care of such things and b) that this was presented as something everybody wants, the happy end to a hard story, this fame business. Esp. after seeing the hand- and footprints in front of the chinese theater, and many, for me anyway, and esp. those dating back to the 20s, were indeed people long forgotten.

]]> By: Todd http://sodsbrood.com/dreams/2005/01/26/learn_to_swim/#comment-287 Todd Sun, 30 Jan 2005 11:48:19 +0000 #comment-287 So even a star can fade over time? That's interesting in light of how most of us think of stars--you probably are forced to recognize this fact even as you gaze at Shatner and Nimoy's stars. Complicates things. You should talk to Matt a bit about Shatner's cd. He's a fan. I just don't have much of sense of humor for such thing I must admit. I, too, prefer Nimoy :) So even a star can fade over time? That’s interesting in light of how most of us think of stars–you probably are forced to recognize this fact even as you gaze at Shatner and Nimoy’s stars. Complicates things.

You should talk to Matt a bit about Shatner’s cd. He’s a fan. I just don’t have much of sense of humor for such thing I must admit. I, too, prefer Nimoy :)

]]> By: Mel B http://sodsbrood.com/dreams/2005/01/26/learn_to_swim/#comment-286 Mel B Sun, 30 Jan 2005 00:41:02 +0000 #comment-286 I was all pictured out. That's why. Shatner is not my idol (and Nimoy I like a lot more) but I do have a fondness for Shatner's new album, Has Been. I'll have to write about it soon. It made me change my outlook on him entirely. It was lovely, and eclectic, funny and often emotional. So don't knock the Shatner. There were just a lot of different stars there on the walk. Many of which I didn't recognize. Heather, for instance, had her picture taken with Wayne Newton's star as an injoke with her mother. There were a lot more interesting things to look at when we looked at all the imprints in the cement. Interesting to see the marks of people long gone, and often forgotten by everyone, except for a few diehards and the cement. I was all pictured out. That’s why. Shatner is not my idol (and Nimoy I like a lot more) but I do have a fondness for Shatner’s new album, Has Been. I’ll have to write about it soon. It made me change my outlook on him entirely. It was lovely, and eclectic, funny and often emotional. So don’t knock the Shatner.

There were just a lot of different stars there on the walk. Many of which I didn’t recognize. Heather, for instance, had her picture taken with Wayne Newton’s star as an injoke with her mother.
There were a lot more interesting things to look at when we looked at all the imprints in the cement. Interesting to see the marks of people long gone, and often forgotten by everyone, except for a few diehards and the cement.

]]> By: Todd http://sodsbrood.com/dreams/2005/01/26/learn_to_swim/#comment-285 Todd Sat, 29 Jan 2005 15:17:09 +0000 #comment-285 You are such a TREKKIE. I'm surprised that you didn't get a picture taken posed near Nimoy's Vulcan salute. Seriously, Shatner really isn't a great star. What other stars did you see, or did you spend all your time salivating over Nimory and Shat-ner? You are such a TREKKIE. I’m surprised that you didn’t get a picture taken posed near Nimoy’s Vulcan salute.

Seriously, Shatner really isn’t a great star. What other stars did you see, or did you spend all your time salivating over Nimory and Shat-ner?

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