Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Open Forum

Hearing a truth spoken, that brings you back to Brokeback

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southendmd:
Here's the important bit, at the end.

SCOTT SIMON: How has playing all these roles affected you as a human being, as an actor?

Mr. KINGSLEY: I think I'm getting closer to a madman at the bonfire telling stories. I think it's just very important to embrace tragedy as a real part of our lives. David Mamet, in his book, "Writings in Restaurants," defined - let me slightly paraphrase and say Western civilization. Western civilization is a civilization determined to outlaw tragedy. If removed, the interpretation of tragedy and the presentation of tragedy from the shaman, who's sitting by the bonfire, you're telling the tribe nothing of real life. And it doesn't prepare us as adults. It's infantilizes us and it dodges an enormous responsibility.

And all great mythology that we love and respect has included loss and tragedy, as well as great moments of salvation. It's braided in. After a performance I gave of Hamlet, I was walking across a field near Stratford-upon-Avon and I saw a young woman on the other side of the field walking towards me, so I decided to go that way and she moved that way. So, I moved that way and she moved that way. She was determined.

And she faced me in the middle of this field and she said - 'cause I played Hamlet on stage the night before - she said, "I saw 'Hamlet' last night. How did you know about me?" That's my job. I know you. I'm trying to know you. And through knowing each other and holding onto that tribal bonfire, we'll be OK.

Front-Ranger:

--- Quote from: southendmd on March 20, 2011, 09:57:48 am --- "I saw 'Hamlet' last night. How did you know about me?" That's my job. I know you. I'm trying to know you. And through knowing each other and holding onto that tribal bonfire, we'll be OK.


--- End quote ---

I was priveleged to hear that interview too and was heartstruck. When he talked about the people gathered round about the tribal campfire, you know what campfire I saw in my mind! Interesting too, that his performance of Hamlet reached out to a woman and spoke to her like an arrow drawn straight and true. Thanks for posting this, friends.

southendmd:
Cheers, Friend Lee.  Makes me think, what would we do without NPR?  I just renewed my membership.  They need it now, more than ever.  You won't hear this stuff anywhere else. 

Shuggy:

--- Quote from: shakesthecoffeecan on March 19, 2011, 03:14:31 pm ---The following day he was crossing a field at Stratford-Upon-Avon when he saw a woman coming his way. He moved to avoid her and she moved too, he repeated the action and she did as well. Finally he gave into the dance and allowed her to approach him.
--- End quote ---
My mother told of an older woman doing that in a doorway or corridor, and finally saying "Just once more young man, and then I really must be going."

Shakesthecoffecan:
Yes, I think with us all, this thing was something we recognized, longed for, needed in a way because our civilization had infantilized us, had not told us the story.

But now it has been told, cannot be untold, and we are changed.

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