Right. Trying to put myself in the place of an artist who has died, I can't imagine thinking that people who spent a lot of time discussing and analyzing my work were being disrespectful to me. One of the great things about being an artist, I think, is knowing that your work will live on after you're gone.
This is absolutely how I feel. Continuing to honor Brokeback with serious consideration is true tribute to Heath.
I think artists often hope that their art will endure and create a little bit of immortality. Our vision/image of Ennis will really never change. And Heath has given us this embodiment of Proulx's character. The fact that Ennis remains with us - in that film and etched in our minds by Heath- is really an extraordinary thing. It's part of the magic of art. I think.
Great artists pass away all the time. In art history and film history this does not stop people from discussing their work. The list of examples is of course enormous. Just think of any famous artist or actor who has passed away. Often an artist's death actually throws a spotlight on just how important their work really was (a sad irony of how art sometimes works).
I'm writing this post from my office in an art museum. And, I have to stay here late for the opening reception for my most recent exhibition. All of the artists in this exhibition (51 different people) are dead... and the continuing scholarship on and appreciation of their art most definitely endures.
I just don't believe that Heath would want his most devoted Brokies to move on from a continued consideration of BBM.
Essentially, I don't think we should feel at all guilty about talking about Ennis and Jack, the way we love so much. I really can't think of any way that that continuation would be disrespectful to Heath's memory.
