Comments on: The relative value of actors *UPDATED* http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/06/28/the-relative-value-of-actors/ Conservatives deal with facts and reach conclusions; liberals have conclusions and sell them as facts. Sun, 19 May 2013 10:28:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: David Foster http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/06/28/the-relative-value-of-actors/comment-page-1/#comment-101831 David Foster Tue, 29 Jun 2010 02:23:20 +0000 http://www.bookwormroom.com/?p=12608#comment-101831 Speaking of actors/actresses, I recently “discovered” a very interesting British actress of the 19th century named Fanny Kemble…I’d heard about her before, but didn’t really know anything about her, and an interesting person she was indeed. I have a post about her reactions to riding on one of the world’s first railroads, in 1830, here:
http://chicagoboyz.net/archives/13733.html#more-13733
 

]]> By: David Foster http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/06/28/the-relative-value-of-actors/comment-page-1/#comment-101830 David Foster Tue, 29 Jun 2010 02:21:02 +0000 http://www.bookwormroom.com/?p=12608#comment-101830 Hey Book, there is something very weird about the comment system on this blog…last attempt to make a comment just disappeared while I was typing it.

]]> By: patriot13 http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/06/28/the-relative-value-of-actors/comment-page-1/#comment-101820 patriot13 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 23:50:22 +0000 http://www.bookwormroom.com/?p=12608#comment-101820 I agree with what you are saying here.  However, I would have to add Angie Harmon, Bruce Willis, and Kelsey Grammer to the list of at least semi-intelligent actors.  Click on the link to see an example of something very worthwhile that Mr. Grammer is doing.  Kudos to him!

http://www.looc.org/index.php/kglf.html

]]> By: SADIE http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/06/28/the-relative-value-of-actors/comment-page-1/#comment-101804 SADIE Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:35:35 +0000 http://www.bookwormroom.com/?p=12608#comment-101804 My kids, who are bright enough, have a 3 second attention span.  If you haven’t caught their interest in that time, give up. But that’s not actually the point I want to make.
 
It may not have been the point you wanted to make, but the observation makes a good case for the 3-second attention span and the reason Washington and Hollywood have morphed into Hollyton – a village of self serving, get my named spelled right and on the cover.
 
They have joined hands and careers to reinforce one another making ‘guest’ appearances to advance their need to be popular and the center of adoration and right down to plugs, botox and $1,300 haircuts.  The difference, of course, is that you pay $10 see the movie and leave -with politicians, you go in pull the lever and they never leave.

]]> By: 11B40 http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/06/28/the-relative-value-of-actors/comment-page-1/#comment-101802 11B40 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:20:09 +0000 http://www.bookwormroom.com/?p=12608#comment-101802 Greetings:
 
Ever since actors and actresses (I just had to keep that latter word alive) started showing up as witnesses at Congressional hearings, I have wondered why one who is practiced at speaking the words and portraying the emotions of others would be considered worthy to testify.
 
My other epiphany in this regard is when “Jeopardy”, the game show where they provide the answer and the contestants must supply the question, began have its “celebrity” contestants on the program.  I was amazed how little the celebrities, including newspeople, seemed to know about our life and times.  But then again, I always thought that movie stars were bigger than I was.

]]> By: garyp http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/06/28/the-relative-value-of-actors/comment-page-1/#comment-101801 garyp Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:03:35 +0000 http://www.bookwormroom.com/?p=12608#comment-101801 What I find surprising is how the cult of celebrity has changed whom we think is a “qualified” spokesperson on “issues.”

Just because someone has a good voice or is a decent actress/actor (or is attactive), doesn’t make their opinions on world events, science, or even “world peace” interesting to me.  I assume they have opinions and while I certainly don’t mind them expressing them, why would anyone outside their personal circle of friends and family really care what they think?  Being able to carry a tune doesn’t prevent you from studying important subjects (as Reagan did) and becoming serious, thoughtful person whose opinions deserve a hearing, but it doesn’t automatically endow you with those qualities either.

If an entertainer wants to be listened to on political, scientific, or moral issues, they need to put forth the effort to learn about the issues and to demonstrate that knowledge, earning the right to be taken seriously (again, as Reagan did) by developing a reputation in politics, science, or whatever subject over years of study and communication.

I automatically tune out the “activist actress” (or actor) who thinks their boxoffice successes make their opinion matter.  Anyone, regardless of their occupation, can contribute to the discussion on any subject (including me) but we should be listened to and judged on the clarity and correctness of our arguments, not on our notoriety.

]]> By: David Foster http://www.bookwormroom.com/2010/06/28/the-relative-value-of-actors/comment-page-1/#comment-101800 David Foster Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:19:04 +0000 http://www.bookwormroom.com/?p=12608#comment-101800 One of the many odd things about today’s world is the ideological alignment between entertainers and academics.

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