story
Retelling stories: the new STAR TREK
05/12/09 08:45
So . . .
I think story, both the concept of and stories
themselves, is the bomb. Where would the human race
be without the idea of story, and the stories thus
told? Still in caves, maybe.
I’m thinking about story because It’s That Time Of Year (end of the semester), and literature students are reacting to/evaluating stories they’ve heard this semester in books & films. I always enjoy knowing story has touched someone’s heart or head. BUT . . . I also went to see Star Trek this weekend. Damn fine film, actually---I thought it was much shorter than it actually was, because I was so into it. J. J. Abrams has, in my opinion, done something nice for the franchise (and what is a franchise but a story told over and over again?) and added to the mythology in great new ways. And prequels can be really fun, on the whole. I know there are hardcore fans who don’t like it, but I’m not hardcore. And I’m going to have to go again, just so I can spot the Tribble!
No spoilers here: I’ll let you discover it all for yourself. But I kept thinking about the line that’s now drawn from this particular James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), daredevil and raconteur extraordinaire, to William Shatner, even though he’s no longer known much as James T. Kirk (“Denny Crane!”), and I am laughing. I love it.
AND---I also love how Leonard Nimoy’s character is “Spock Prime.” Sorry, small spoiler there. But isn’t that an interesting notion---being the “first” of yourself?
My story, Kirk’s story---all blended together now, and differently than it was blended before. Gotta love it.
I’m thinking about story because It’s That Time Of Year (end of the semester), and literature students are reacting to/evaluating stories they’ve heard this semester in books & films. I always enjoy knowing story has touched someone’s heart or head. BUT . . . I also went to see Star Trek this weekend. Damn fine film, actually---I thought it was much shorter than it actually was, because I was so into it. J. J. Abrams has, in my opinion, done something nice for the franchise (and what is a franchise but a story told over and over again?) and added to the mythology in great new ways. And prequels can be really fun, on the whole. I know there are hardcore fans who don’t like it, but I’m not hardcore. And I’m going to have to go again, just so I can spot the Tribble!
No spoilers here: I’ll let you discover it all for yourself. But I kept thinking about the line that’s now drawn from this particular James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), daredevil and raconteur extraordinaire, to William Shatner, even though he’s no longer known much as James T. Kirk (“Denny Crane!”), and I am laughing. I love it.
AND---I also love how Leonard Nimoy’s character is “Spock Prime.” Sorry, small spoiler there. But isn’t that an interesting notion---being the “first” of yourself?
My story, Kirk’s story---all blended together now, and differently than it was blended before. Gotta love it.
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The longevity of story
04/27/08 21:58
My
9-year-old charmer comes home with a beat-up book in
his hand and promptly sits down to devour it. He's
been doing that lately, and it cheers me to no end.
"Whatcha readin', Child O Mine?"
"HENRY HUGGINS. Do you know him?"
"Yup."
When he's done, I check out the pub date. First copyright? 1950.
My next goal is to read HENRY HUGGINS and see why the story's so delicious after 58 years. If it can get through to my YouTube-loving, RUN'S HOUSE-watching child, I need to take lessons on storytelling from Beverly Cleary.
"Whatcha readin', Child O Mine?"
"HENRY HUGGINS. Do you know him?"
"Yup."
When he's done, I check out the pub date. First copyright? 1950.
My next goal is to read HENRY HUGGINS and see why the story's so delicious after 58 years. If it can get through to my YouTube-loving, RUN'S HOUSE-watching child, I need to take lessons on storytelling from Beverly Cleary.