Monday, January 28
Once again, speaking out of my Ass.
I totally stole this from Bulletproof Bracelets. Montel Williams fought the good fight. Has Daniel Day Lewis struck anyone else as a little odd? Because I think Heath Ledger's death is a damned shame, and a tradgedy beyond measure for his family, but is this just my cold hearted cynical nature getting the best of me? DDL dedicated his SAG award to Ledger? I get expressing shock, horror, and sadness upon learning of his death--it was obviously news to him when he appeared on Oprah. Days later, to still be bringing it up seems wrong to me. I think I would feel differently if they had known each other--then dedicating a win would seem a little more natural.
Perhaps I just don't have the patience required for the artistic temperment. I identify a lot more with what Montel had to say than with any bizarre tributes to Heath Ledger from a man who admits they never even met.
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5 comments:
I get what Montel is saying, and totally agree, but there is one difference between Heath Ledger and the troops; we know Heath's face. If one soldier in Iraq had been in a starring role in a movie or on TV, we'd be all over it.
Actually, there is one soldier's story that is comparable in a way. Pat Tillman's death got a lot of headlines, both because he was somewhat famous before he died and because his death was controversial-- though mostly because he was a little famous.
Anyone famous who dies get ridiculous press coverage (Anna Nicole anyone?) but Ledger's death was surprising-- no one saw this coming. He was a super talented guy and seemed fairly normal, and didn't seem to be in harms way (the way our soldiers are) so it was a bit jarring-- though the media doesn't need it to be shocking to run with the story. (Anna Nicole again...)
I still think Montel has a point. People are crying and wailing in the streets over an actor. Aadorable and talented, but an actor nonetheless. sqt is also right that his was a familiar face to most people, so it feels a little more like someone we know, but it is still being overblown. I feel awful for his poor little daughter, but I don't need updates every newscast telling me that they don't know any more than they knew the previous newscast about Heath. Sheez.
I agree that the impact is greater because we know Heath's face, and he has been in our living rooms (in a manner of speaking). I'm definitely not claiming any moral high ground when it comes to the magpie nature of the media--I emailed my Best Jen as soon as I heard.
But Bunny fleshed out my other thought, which is that the media ought to cover the story once they have a story, not every five minute updates "nothing new."
Fox News' coverage OF the coverage was ridiculous. I liked that Montel didn't downplay the tradgedy of Ledger's death, just reminded them that there are other tradgedies they should be covering, too.
(and I don't see DDL as a media whore, or the calibre of actor who needs anyone's coat tails, but it's just odd to me.)
DDl's tribute to Heath was bizarre.
There's no doubt the media is a whore. I worked in the industry years ago and nothing but ratings matter and stuff like a celebrity death generates ratings. But like anything else, they go too far with it. Even the public appetite only goes so far.
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