We went to a lecture on Walt Whitman's 'Democratic Vistas' the other day which speedily degenerated into a mud slinging do, pitched against the current political state of the US as a grimy betrayal of its early idealistic ambitions.
In this spirit of resuscitating 'old' America I slunk home and watched '12 Angry Men'. A courtroom battle for softly-spoken democratic, just principles in the face of prejudice, ignorance and scheming personal vendettas.
To we weary denizens of the 2000s the triumphant victory of upright democratic principles does seem a wishful, perhaps dangerous fairytale. But I find myself drawn to the grand men (yes, I know) of old Hollywood pronouncing on guiding social values, your Welles, your Pecks, your Fondas, as an antidote to the adamant skepticism of most modern commentaries.
The lush sprawl of 'Leaves of Grass' too.
In this spirit of resuscitating 'old' America I slunk home and watched '12 Angry Men'. A courtroom battle for softly-spoken democratic, just principles in the face of prejudice, ignorance and scheming personal vendettas.
To we weary denizens of the 2000s the triumphant victory of upright democratic principles does seem a wishful, perhaps dangerous fairytale. But I find myself drawn to the grand men (yes, I know) of old Hollywood pronouncing on guiding social values, your Welles, your Pecks, your Fondas, as an antidote to the adamant skepticism of most modern commentaries.
The lush sprawl of 'Leaves of Grass' too.
posted by Harriet at 2:18 am
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