Mimesis is normal, particularly in youth, and my only demur is that today's models are, by and large, debasing. In the Forties, American boys created a world empire because they chose to be James Stewart, Clark Gable and William Eythe. By imitating godlike autonomous men, our boys were able to defeat Hitler, Mussolini and Tojo. Could we do it again? Are the private eyes and denatured cowboys enough to serve as exemplars? No. At best, there is James Bond...and he invariably ends up tied to a slab of marble with a blowtorch aimed at his crotch. Glory has fled and only the television commercials exist to remind us of the Republic's early greatness and virile youth.
Gore Vidal,
Myra Breckinridge
Myra Breckinridge
On a night long ago, somewhere on the left coast, my father and Jimmy Stewart got into a terrible row, which I believe came to blows. Totally ruined poker night for all players, including Wayne and Carmichael. Ah youth, greatness and folly. True story, and my only frame of reference for Vidal's passage.
Your dad punched Jimmy Stewart? Hahaaa! Where's that money? Do you realize what this means? It means bankruptcy and scandal and prison. That's what it means. One of us is going to jail - well, it's not gonna be me!
In spite of the warning, I do believe one of us has been sucking ducks into our turbines.
I have no idea what that means, but my frame of reference suggests "Sullenberger."