In class we have been discussing Peter Pan and other books. Every book that we have read has had some impact in our childhood. Last Tuesday we went behind the book and looked at the author. When I heard the story about the real J.M. Barrie I was disturbed. Any person who loved children that much must have been weird. No one knows what he did with those children or with any children, but it is eerie hearing how much he loved the kids. How could someone so weird write a story that impacted our childhood? Then I thought for a second and realized all great authors are somewhat twisted.
I went in thinking Barrie was the same charming man that was depicted in Finding Neverland, only to be let down. Barrie is by far the weirdest but all great authors have some quirk. Pullman was raised by religious parents, Rowling worked in a coffee shop before striking it rich, and we all have heard weird stories bout the person who wrote Alice in Wonderland. Everyone of them needed their history for them to write down their feelings. If Pullman didn't have his history he would have never wrote the Golden Compass. In the beginning it hurt me that Barrie was a strange man but now I realize it doesn't matter what they did. What matters is what they wrote. Some of the best things have been created by crazy people. Through chaos comes clarity. Artists are twisted but they are amazing. Van Gough cut his ear off and was depressed for most of his life. Most people forget about that. I would like to forget about what Barrie did and just concentrate on his work. He wrote Peter Pan, it's about a child who doesn't want to grow up. Written by a man who probably didn't want to either.
I agree with your view on artists and their work because it certainly does not require just any ordinary person to create a work that would have such an impact on people's lives. I have always thought that only interesting people will make the news or be famous. This partly has to do with our human nature that we tend to fear what we do not understand, and fear being such a strong emotion, it calls us to action.
ReplyDeleteIn class we talked about Barrie's style of writing and how he would sometimes include himself in the mix of the children by saying "we." This is significant as maybe his point of view on life could have been childlike and one who, as you said, maybe did not want to grow up. It is his perspective on his own life and outlook on themes that allowed him to write in the style that he did; it is what makes his artwork unique and interesting.
Is it rude to say my response to this post was literally, "lol"? I am glad that you decided to write about authors. You're right, we often forget (usually purposely) what kind of lives the authors have had that influence their work. Barrie had a weird life, but without that experience, again you're right, he probably wouldn't have written Peter Pan.
ReplyDeleteI loved this post! It is so true that many great authors or artists were NUTS! Many poets killed themselves before they went big time! Let's hope that if anyone in our class writes a famous tale that they are sane enough to see the end result!
ReplyDeleteI think it is important to know about the authors of great works, but, yes, sometimes that can taint the work sometimes. It's interesting to see how their life experiences influenced their great masterpieces. However, imagining Barrie as anyone other than Johnny Depp's depiction makes me cringe...
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that Barrie had some sort of arrested development, yet I agree that it was precisely this perspective that allowed him to have the insight to write Peter Pan. I also feel slightly betrayed at hearing what sort of person Barrie was because it makes me wonder what sorts of values or other motives may be embedded in his literature. But that is the risk we all take when we open a book. "The death of the author is the birth of the reader" strikes a note of comfort in my heart. I will not allow Barrie's personal torment to detract from my love of Peter Pan any more than the knowledge of Van Gogh's cutting off of his ear (and attempted murder of Paul Gauguin and repeated stays at mental institutions) sway me from being moved by his paintings. Do not be discouraged!
ReplyDeleteI too was a little thrown off my Barrie's biography at first but reading the book as an adult, not a child it makes sense. The effect he had on readers and viewers alike was incredible. Just like childhood I think often times innocence is bliss when reading a novel. You don't want to find out something negative about your favorite author. Or how about a really good song that every time you hear it, it really means something to you. Then one day you stumble upon an interview of the artist explaining its true meaning which may be morbid, anticlimactic, disturbing or a number of other outcomes. Does this forever taint your view of the song? I think life is all about interpretations and expectations. Had you know about the meaning before hearing the song for the first time would it have ever been as meaningful to you? Same goes for you view of Barrie, had you know his past before knowing the story would it ever have been magical?
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your blog I also realized that authors can be very crazy. Barrie's biography is weird but then I see what he accomplished with Peter Pan, and all that about his life went away. Peter Pan was such a great novel and I can see young children believing in Peter Pan and Neverland.
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