“Many writers who choose to be active in the world lose not virtue but time, and that stillness without which literature cannot be made.”-Gore Vidal (1925-2012)
One day, I hope that the deaths of famous authors is considered new worthy in this country. Oh, who am I kidding? Suri Cruise visiting Disney World is, and will remain, way more important. Carry on.
A Small Press Life: Books. Art. Writing. Life. Tea. 
True words.
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Excellent point. I can only wonder when the dumbing down of this country will reach bottom.
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Whenever I think that we have finally hit bottom, it only gets worse. A Suri Cruise vs. Gore Vidal recognition/familiarity match-up seems so absurd, until you realize that more Americans would likely instantly recognize her name (and be able to tell you exactly who she is) while coming up blank about his.
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And we’re all the worse off for it
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Indeed!
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He will never be a footnote to this fan. I am drawn mostly to his broader satires. I could never make it through his histories, but I have them on the shelf for a rainy day. He was the Voltaire of his time.
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That’s wonderful! The most passionate fans are not just fans, but guardians of writers’ words and ideas and viewpoints.
I have read and enjoyed his histories, but admit that I had to be in the ‘correct’ mood. I think they are worth the read, though.
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He did get some press, but you’re right…Suri rules these days.
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Oh, certainly. But the coverage in comparison to his contributions and achievements has so far been miniscule; while completely inane non-news is accorded pride of place on most sites. It is absurd, but they are only catering to the taste of those who are loudest.
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RIP Gore Vidal.
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Sadness!
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An excellent lament. When we were in western Ukraine a couple of years ago, we noted how many monuments were built in honour of influential writers (mostly those who hated the Soviets) and how revered these writers are. It may be an unfair comparison, but the people we met in Ukraine know the value of writing even if they personally can’t afford books. While I am not an American, I admire the great artistic, scientific and intellectual gifts that country has and the wonderful, courageous acts it has performed (e.g. The Berlin Airlift). But all that seems to have become irrelevant now in this age of celebrity-ism.
Although I’m not a regular consumer of American news media, I love the feel-good stories they broadcast about people who try to make their communities a better place. There were a lot of stories about these unsung heroes after Hurricane Katrina – those who took in people fleeing their homes, etc. – and I marvelled how the media actively sought out these stories.
And now today’s focus is on some celebrity’s child, a kid who probably doesn’t have a hope of an adult life with stable, healthy relarionships, so let’s stalk her and make her life even more difficult.
Whew! Don’t know where all that came from. I’m done.
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I like the idea of writers being publicly valued by the masses. We no longer have that kind of culture here because it has been subsumed to the cult of disposable celebrity. America is a huge country, and we certainly have many monuments to writers. However, when they are spread out over many thousands of miles the impact just isn’t that great. We’re also pretty good about preserving writers’ homes and turning them into museums. This isn’t limited to spectacularly famous authors, either. Even little towns often preserve homes of writers who have long since been forgotten by the wider public. I think that is fantastic, but those things exist only for those who seek them out and as a matter of civic pride.
Unfortunately, now our focus is solidly on the aforementioned disposable celebrity. I refuse to call it Pop Culture, because true Pop Culture is fascinating and illuminating and based, at least to an extent, on actual skill or achievement. So, even Pop Culture has been diluted and denigrated to the point that what passes for it these days is horrifyingly simplistic: getting drunk in public, showing your boobs or crotch, having sloppy sex with strangers or otherwise acting like a fool. All on camera. The flip side to that is the Suri phenomenon, of becoming wildly famous if you are in any way connected to a celebrity. Being famous for being famous is just nonsense. Who knew that the It Should Happen to You path would become the norm in the 21st century?
I could keep on but I, too, am done!
Also, thank you for your kind words about the aspects of American culture that are good. There are many fine people here and we still achieve wonderful things. Those things are not filmed for reality television, so they can easily be overlooked.
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