There are certainly a lot of arts-and-entertainment-related stories in the news right now, and I'm not going to pretend that I understand any of them. Instead, I've decided to abuse this forum (as if that's unique) to write some open letters . . . not that I expect them to be answered anytime soon:
NEWS ITEM: The powers that be at Brigham Young University apparently feel that four very famous nude works by Rodin compromise the "integrity" or "dignity" of the traveling exhibit "The Hands of Rodin," which is currently on display. As a result, the four pieces have been censored and are stored in crates somewhere in the bowels of BYU.OPEN LETTER TO BYU: I've only seen one of the four pieces up-close-and-in-person - "The Kiss," which was on display in Atlanta during the Summer Games last year. The others - "The Prodigal Son," "Saint John the Baptist Preaching" and "Monument to Balzac" - I've seen only in books.
And a book about the Rodin exhibit is available at the BYU bookstore, by the way. Apparently it's OK to see pictures of the real thing . . . but it's not OK to see the real thing. Of course, someone had to see the real thing to take the pictures of the real thing . . . .
But I digress.
Personally, I found "The Kiss" to be quite beautiful. To me it was emotionally captivating and remarkable in its artistry.
On the other hand, I really have no problem with the university's powers-that-be deciding to censor four of the most famous sculptures in history. It's your right. You can censor anything you want.
If you decide that Donald Duck isn't dignified because he wears a sailor suit . . . well, half a sailor suit . . . you have every right to censor a display of Disney cartoon cel art.
By not bringing it to town.
And that's the point. It would make more sense to simply not bring in the Rodin exhibit than to put it on display minus four of the pieces that art aficionados would most like to see.
One could argue that because the tour was booked so far in advance - years, perhaps - canceling it would be impossible.
OK. But if that's true, why wait this long to determine that four of the most important elements are not in keeping with the show's "dignity"?
Have they somehow become less dignified since the exhibit was booked?
NEWS ITEM: Reagan Outdoor Advertising has proposed an initiative that would relax billboard restrictions around Salt Lake County, suggesting it would visually improve unincorporated areas.
OPEN LETTER TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION: Ah, yes. That very tasteful billboard for the "Uncle Nasty" show on KBER radio, for example - the one that shows a seductive, bare-shouldered blond woman holding a towel and saying "All I've got on is . . ." - would enhance any neighborhood.
NEWS ITEM: Sam Fuller, the quintessential independent filmmaker, died last week at age 86. His dark, low-budget, semi-autobiographical action films featured hard-bitten newspapermen, itinerant wanderers and war-weary soldiers. Fuller was one of the great examples of tough moviemakers - John Ford, Howard Hawks and John Huston were others - whose life experiences gave richness to his cinematic canvas.
OPEN LETTER TO ASPIRING FILMMAKERS: It's a bit shocking these days to see how many movies look like other movies. This is just as true of those in the independent community as of those in the big-studio commercial world.
It's not just film school - it's the Steven Spielberg Wannabe School of Filmmaking. It seems to be more about becoming a hot-shot filmmaker in your 20s than making good movies.
Here's some advice from one of your own, independent filmmaker John Sayles, whose audacious work for nearly two decades (from, roughly, "The Return of the Secaucus Seven" through "Lone Star") has been wide-ranging, innovative and superior:
- "My problem with film schools, and I didn't go to one, is that most of the people there are watching movies instead of living, getting out and walking around the world a little bit, and all their references are movie references." (As told to Premiere magazine for its 10th anniversary issue.)
NEWS ITEM: Disgraced sportscaster Marv Albert is going to be interviewed by Barbara Walters, Larry King and David Letterman, beginning Friday, as part of what one TV critic calls his "career rehabilitation tour."
OPEN LETTER TO MARV ALBERT: Shut up and go away.
Chris Hicks may be reached by e-mail at hicks@desnews.com