BRADBURY on BOOKS and Writing
BOOK SPAN TV is my link to the portals of authors, books and peepholes of writing process as shared by luminaries. An LA Book Festival 2005 featured a panel with prolific Ray Bradbury who was more than illuminating; he was inspirational.
Telling the story of the 1939 World Exposition in Chicago, the wonderfully futuristic pavilion and it’s impact on a curious and creative young twelve - year old boy, touched a nerve or node in me. Some of the vestiges of that event were part of my growing up in Chicago amidst the “Roosevelt” Museum and Museum of Science and Industry.
That event and the tear- down of what Bradbury saw as the FUTURE, inspired him to recreate it as a model in his backyard and in his musings—the writing we have come to know and love. WHY? According to icon Bradbury, declaring his LOVE of things has brought him incredible opportunities. By telling John Houston that he LOVED his movies led to an offer to write the screenplay for MOBY DICK. That came at a time that he and his wife had no money and the opportunity took him to Ireland and eventually Italy. Because he declared his love for Jules Verne and HG Wells in an article, he was invited to help create the US Pavilion for the 1962 World’s Fair in Flushing NY… twenty three years after he saw the FUTURE torn down in Chicago after the World’s Fair.
When we are not self- absorbed, self important, nor self-centered, we can verbalize our appreciation for the works of others. In doing so, we may be creating opportunities for ourselves in the FUTURE that we never could have plotted on a life map, mindmap or bitchart.
I know I have been a fan of other authors, musicians, artists, playwrights, speakers and entertainers and even a couple of architects. Gushingly so. Now I will follow Ray Bradbury’s lead and continue to use those words more freely and will express my LOVE for all things I adore even more. Watch out, world. I have only just begun.
Let’ s start with BOOK SPAN TV... in spite of your recent decision that made headlines because of the “fair and balanced” concept, I LOVE the contribution you make to my life, my thinking and my exposure to the world of smart people who illuminate! Thank you, Book Span.
These are a few of my favorite things:
Actors Studio and the wonderful guests who let me peek into their world.
Fox TV’s animated series (King of the Hill, Arrested Development, Family Guy)
Jon Stewart (to whom I already expressed my adoration… caught by Book Span TV).
Chocolate Egg creams in New York. (chocolate phosphates in Chicago).
Books by John LesCroat, Nelson DeMille, Janet Evanovich, Walter Mosely and Malcolm Gladwell.
Buildings by IM Pei and Frank Gehry and Mies Van Der Rohe
Music of Michael McDonald, Maroon 5, India Arie, Phoebe Snow and my Hip Hop guys and gals.
Columns of Tim Goodman of SF Chronicle as he cracks me up and tells me what TV show to watch.
Thomas Friedman ---who opens my eyes and makes me think.
Rhymes With Orange.. . my favorite comic strip and Six Chix…my also favorite
A good Vienna Hot Dog, Chicago Style
Great sweet potato pie with a firm but light crust.
Movies that have a great story, well acted and well told without the computer generated addons. (Motorcycle Diaries, Hotel Rwanda, Control Room) and those that just crack me up (Monster in Law).
New York City
The Art Institute of Chicago
Impressionists (Mary Cassat, Caillbot, Modigliana, Chagall, Monet and the gang from Montparnasse)
Broadway plays --- both dramas and musicals.
And I love my friends… and tell them. Why? Because you never know what can happen and I don’t want to regret that I didn’t let those people I care about know it.
As for opportunities… telling an audience member at a speech that I heard her venue had a fabulous show … earned me an evening for two. The result: I recommended Teatro Zinzani to a client… who booked it for a 24-member party. And I was invited to attend again. You never know what will happen, according to Ray Bradbury if you let people know what you love. We know what happens if we say nothing… NOTHING happens.
Who will you let know that you adore their work, their talents, their products and just them? When? How about now?
Any comments? Stories? susan@susanroane.com
Hello:How about this suggestion? Write about how dbetleraie decisions for a better humanity, involving money, government, technology, and racial equality can produce positive results in a tangible period of time. It's kind of the original Star Trek theme, but you needn't use any Star Trek in your idea. It has enormous implications, but with a friendly, positive outcome.And I agree with another poster maybe find out how other authors have dealt with the successes and failures of an attempt like this. Some stories paint technology, for example , as inherently evil. But what if it could be managed in a broad plan of growth and development of humanity, to our overall good?Cheers!
Posted by: marko | April 17, 2012 at 04:49 AM
The United States of America has ( by far ) more criminals than any other czviliied country . Why is that ? Is it because Americans commit more crimes or is it because the police in America is just bent on putting citizens in jail ?Crime and criminals is a huge money maker here , so there's your answer . Corrupt cops , DA's and judges will put your ass in jail fast if there's a private prison in need of good paying customers
Posted by: Teodora | April 18, 2012 at 03:17 AM