In Defense of Actors and Politicians
What is it about entertainers and politicians that makes us, the general public, both hate them and celebrate them, simultaneously crucify them and vote for them? What is the common thread? What is the link that allows us to do both?
We all know entertainment and politics have things common – they are dirty business. It is too much about sex and money, too much determined by bad decisions and irresponsible unaccountable leadership, and way too many people are hurt and abased for the sake of power. Entertainment and politics, these two worlds share this description.
But the two realms are likewise similar in their celebration and occasional great reverence for ideas. Ideas are the coinage of the realm and in no other fields are ideas so fought over and fiercely and ludicrously defended. An idea, a story, an injustice, a wrong that needs righted – these are the truest passions of the entertainment world and the most deeply felt convictions of public servants.
Many would argue that academia is the quintessential arena for the battle of ideas. Academics like to think that they are the above the fray, independent observers. Or, if not independent, at least the best informed. And, now that the news media makes no pretense of objectivity, and now that the general public is fully aware that no one is simply "reporting the news", academics have something to crow about. Most respected academics do at least study a topic in depth before commenting on it. Some study with passion, some with intelligence, and some with neither, but most at least study and know what they can know before preaching about it. Their authority is based on something beyond the fact that they are on television.
But academics are not doing what they like to think they are doing. In the battle of ideas the entertainers and politicians are the true soldiers – not even commanders most of them. They are the grunts, the marines hitting the beach under fire. They are the archers defending the castle and the knights laying siege to it.
Academics are the heralds of Agincourt, standing to the side and reporting on the outcome. Predicting, analyzing, perhaps actually helping, but they are not charging the arrowcloud on horseback. Today's academy probably does contribute greater long-term benefit than the media, but rarely risk their professional lives for their ideas. In the elysian fields of the university, academics can be wrong for decades without suffering consequences.
No matter what you think of any individual celebrity, this much is true: Actors and politicians risk their professional life every day they work. Not every knight was chivalrous. Not every soldier a hero. British redcoats, feared and respected around the world for centuries for their discipline and courage under fire, were by all accounts the very dregs of society.
Not every actor or politician is noble. But these are the players engaged in close-quarters intellectual melee with their reputation on the line. What others imagine, these play out on a stage in front of the people. What others hope or envision, these must implement. What others fear, these must defend against. In dangerous actions and dangerous words, these people place themselves at the front of the boat, wait for the door to fall, and charge the beach.
Reviled by all in defeat and celebrated only by some in victory, these are our most famous citizens because they have risked it all, and continue to do so with each new film or each new bill. An actor gets up on stage and attempt to tell a story of loss and love. A young congresswoman stands in the House chamber and attempts to convince men to create harsher penalties for rape.
Such people are lavishly compensated in money and prestige for this risk, but the risk does not go away. They are targets of our wrath and lust, our hate and our love. A beautiful actress can have a financially stress free life making a single film, but she is now and forever a target of ridicule, obsession and the jealousy of thousands of people. The congresswoman might get her bill passed and then find herself giving millions to subsidize Viagra.
Entertainment people – the good ones – can’t even understand someone who doesn’t appreciate the work of an artist – doesn’t hold it to be an end in itself. Politicians – the good ones – can’t understand someone who doesn’t appreciate the political process – holding it to be a pinnacle of the human civilization, the most noble of callings, and an almost sacred duty.
The passion for ideas in each of these is actively irrational but no less irrevocable, one that by its very absence defines a person as not a true member of the club. Either you care about this vitally, intensely, or you are in the wrong place.
Parents will still tell their kids entertainment and politics are dirty business. It is, in fact, too much about sex and money, too much determined by irresponsible decisions and unaccountable leadership, and far too many people are hurt and abased for the sake of power. Entertainment and politics, these two worlds share this description.
War is hell, yet often required for the greater good.
We all know entertainment and politics have things common – they are dirty business. It is too much about sex and money, too much determined by bad decisions and irresponsible unaccountable leadership, and way too many people are hurt and abased for the sake of power. Entertainment and politics, these two worlds share this description.
But the two realms are likewise similar in their celebration and occasional great reverence for ideas. Ideas are the coinage of the realm and in no other fields are ideas so fought over and fiercely and ludicrously defended. An idea, a story, an injustice, a wrong that needs righted – these are the truest passions of the entertainment world and the most deeply felt convictions of public servants.
Many would argue that academia is the quintessential arena for the battle of ideas. Academics like to think that they are the above the fray, independent observers. Or, if not independent, at least the best informed. And, now that the news media makes no pretense of objectivity, and now that the general public is fully aware that no one is simply "reporting the news", academics have something to crow about. Most respected academics do at least study a topic in depth before commenting on it. Some study with passion, some with intelligence, and some with neither, but most at least study and know what they can know before preaching about it. Their authority is based on something beyond the fact that they are on television.
But academics are not doing what they like to think they are doing. In the battle of ideas the entertainers and politicians are the true soldiers – not even commanders most of them. They are the grunts, the marines hitting the beach under fire. They are the archers defending the castle and the knights laying siege to it.
Academics are the heralds of Agincourt, standing to the side and reporting on the outcome. Predicting, analyzing, perhaps actually helping, but they are not charging the arrowcloud on horseback. Today's academy probably does contribute greater long-term benefit than the media, but rarely risk their professional lives for their ideas. In the elysian fields of the university, academics can be wrong for decades without suffering consequences.
No matter what you think of any individual celebrity, this much is true: Actors and politicians risk their professional life every day they work. Not every knight was chivalrous. Not every soldier a hero. British redcoats, feared and respected around the world for centuries for their discipline and courage under fire, were by all accounts the very dregs of society.
Not every actor or politician is noble. But these are the players engaged in close-quarters intellectual melee with their reputation on the line. What others imagine, these play out on a stage in front of the people. What others hope or envision, these must implement. What others fear, these must defend against. In dangerous actions and dangerous words, these people place themselves at the front of the boat, wait for the door to fall, and charge the beach.
Reviled by all in defeat and celebrated only by some in victory, these are our most famous citizens because they have risked it all, and continue to do so with each new film or each new bill. An actor gets up on stage and attempt to tell a story of loss and love. A young congresswoman stands in the House chamber and attempts to convince men to create harsher penalties for rape.
Such people are lavishly compensated in money and prestige for this risk, but the risk does not go away. They are targets of our wrath and lust, our hate and our love. A beautiful actress can have a financially stress free life making a single film, but she is now and forever a target of ridicule, obsession and the jealousy of thousands of people. The congresswoman might get her bill passed and then find herself giving millions to subsidize Viagra.
Entertainment people – the good ones – can’t even understand someone who doesn’t appreciate the work of an artist – doesn’t hold it to be an end in itself. Politicians – the good ones – can’t understand someone who doesn’t appreciate the political process – holding it to be a pinnacle of the human civilization, the most noble of callings, and an almost sacred duty.
The passion for ideas in each of these is actively irrational but no less irrevocable, one that by its very absence defines a person as not a true member of the club. Either you care about this vitally, intensely, or you are in the wrong place.
Parents will still tell their kids entertainment and politics are dirty business. It is, in fact, too much about sex and money, too much determined by irresponsible decisions and unaccountable leadership, and far too many people are hurt and abased for the sake of power. Entertainment and politics, these two worlds share this description.
War is hell, yet often required for the greater good.
posted by JCH | 8:28 AM
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