I’ve talked to young people these days who feel folks like Shakespeare and Beethoven are over-rated and that there are modern day equivalents who are easily the artistic equals of them

Well, apparently Stephen Spielberg has made a new sort of monster version of the classic 1950’s musical, West Side Story. And, apparently, it did not do as well as expected at the box office during its opening at theatres. And who really gives a shit? I’ve seen West Side Story on stage a number of times and I’ve seen the 1961 movie more than once. They’re both pretty perfect pieces of work. They are great works of art that have the capacity to move the soul and really make you think. So, why in the world would you “re-make” something like this – especially if you’re gonna mess around and take liberties with the original.

Now, I haven’t seen the new one and don’t know if I will being sort of snobby about this sort of thing. But I have seen a few trailers on the TV thingy and I’ve read quite a number of comments on the new production….and here’s what I think. I think it looks overdone and, in keeping with the way we do nearly everything these days, it looks so incredibly lavish and spectacular that it sort of just blows you out of your seat. But does it have the enormous intimacy of the original – because that’s what made you love it when you first saw it – it’s not loud and garish – it’s warm and intimate. Also, the new production is well over two hours in length – considerably longer than the original which leads me to believe they’ve added quite a bit. I saw an interview with Rita Moreno, who was, of course, in the original, and she’s in the new one, but she explained that they’ve built up her part – which seems a little weird to me.

And they have, as is usual in this day and age, heralded this new West Side Story as perhaps the best and the greatest musical ever made. Because a huge number of things which are called art and are released into the market in today’s world are called the greatest of all time. But the vast majority of these “art” works arc through the heavens like the proverbial comment and then, as quickly as they appeared, they are gone without much of a trace. It’s just the way of the world these days. Everything on the planet is mostly flash and pizazz and there’s a massive lack of substance. Or if there is substance, it is overwhelmed by the sheer flash and pizazz that comes with it. But I gotta tell ya, there’s a huge amount of stuff that’s called “art” and a lot of folks who call themselves “artists”, when I think that in actuality both of these constructs are very few and far between.

I have been a “writer” for most of my life. But I’ve never referred to myself as an artist or to what I’m creating as art. I have always felt that is for others to decide. I create what I create and the unwashed masses will determine if it is worthy to be called “art”. I am even pretty cautious about calling myself an “author”……I’m sort of just a writer….it’s what I do…I write. Anyway, not to get caught up in titles and stuff, and who’s calling who what, but I really do think that a lot of younger folks need to give their collective heads a shake. There has been at least some great stuff created in the past – in fact, there’s been a considerable amount of great stuff, even though mine may be the last generation to recognize it as such and to really understand what great stuff is…..I’ve talked to young people these days who feel folks like Shakespeare and Beethoven are over-rated and that there are modern day equivalents who are easily the artistic equals of them.

It’s interesting, you know – the 1950’s, and particularly the 60’s, were incredible watersheds of amazing original creativity in music, visual art, theatre, literature….pretty well everything artistic.  But, for some unknown reason, we seemed to understand that the artists of our generation were “standing on the shoulders of giants”…..so that while we appreciated our own artists and the art they were creating, we were also capable of understanding and appreciating the genius and brilliance of those who came before. I don’t see that as much today. I see young people with little or no understanding of what came before and why we are where we are in today’s world. At least that’s the impression I get when I have a discussion where Kanye West is compared to Ludwig Van……..so there!!!!!