Friday, June 17, 2011

Books and Movies: My worlds collide


Tonight, I went to see the Woody Allen movie, "Midnight in Paris". I can safely say that I did not know the story. To my fascination the story dealt in part with the famous artists, writers, and musicians (many Americans) who went to Paris to live for a time for inspiration, intense living and relationships with other creative people. The movie deals with the early 1900's.

The book that I am currently reading is "The Greater Journey" by David McCullough (John Adams). It is the journey to quote the overview, " It is the enthralling, inspiring and untold story of the adventurous American artists, writers, doctors, etc. who set off for Paris in the years from 1830 and 1900. It is about people like P.T. Barnum, Samuel Morse, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Emerson, Hawthorne, Twain and others who come to Paris to hone their craft, to study, to escape, and in some cases- to discover who they are.

Between the Movie and the book, my attitude toward "The City of Lights" changed greatly.

For example Samuel Morse went to Paris to become a serious artist. While in Paris, he comes up with an idea that stays dormant until he returns to the States and does not excel as a painter as planned. He quits his art and plays with his "Code" and the idea of "telegraph". His failure at one dream, gave space to revolutionize the world's communication.

I recommend both works as a way to expand your brain.

FYI: The title refers to the idea that traveling across the ocean was considered a great journey, taking up to six weeks in ships not built for passengers. The Greater Journey is the experience waiting for the travelers of this "less traveled road."

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