The WordPress/JetPack writing prompt for today is:
What’s a book, movie, or TV show that you wish you could experience again for the first time?
I didn’t care for the writing prompts on offer that I hadn’t already answered, so I picked one I wasn’t going to answer and substituted an old one (dailyprompt #2798). Hope that’s ok.
Anyway, I like this prompt, and will answer all three: book, movie and TV show.
Books
For books, I’d say T. E. Lawrence (“of Arabia”)’s autobiography “The Seven Pillars of Wisdom.” I’ve been a huge fan of Frank Herbert’s Dune. It’s easy to see how this autobiography inspired much of the story. Lawrence is himself a good descriptive write. His descriptions of traversing the deserts of the Arabian peninsula, Jordan, etc., are evocative and cinematic (oh, hey, maybe they should make a movie…). Note that there are two versions of this autobiography, one which addresses his homosexuality, and one where that is edited out. I’ve only read the one where it’s edited out.
Runner up: The Hobbit. I read this at a magical time. We were taking a road trip from Southern Ontario to Vancouver. As I got to the part where Tolkien was describing the travelling troupe approached the smoky mountains, we, in our car, were approaching the Rockies. Watching them rise over the prairies, seeing the snow capped peaks long before Calgary rose above the prairie, and yet in front of the mountains, was magical. I’d love to recreate that moment.
Second runner up: The Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson. Again, an evocative desert world, but this time created from a lot of scientific research, but no first-person knowledge.
Movies
This one is a no-brainer for anyone who knows me, or who has read this blog for any length of time. It would be Star Wars (1977, ‘enhanced’ and re-released later as “Episode IV: A New Hope”).
I was 13 when Star Wars opened in May, 1977. First, there is that breath-taking first scene as the star destroyer flies over our heads. There had never been anything on screen like that before. And then the film did things I didn’t know film could do.
It completely changed how I looked at story-telling. George Lucas’ claim that he made the film because he wanted to see it and knew that no one else would make it for him was also a life-altering idea to me. Now, I write stories I want to read, and honestly, it doesn’t matter if anyone else wants to read them. I write them for me. Just like George Lucas. That was liberating and validating.
Runners up: James Cameron’s Avatar and The Blair Witch Project. Both were stunning first-time viewings (for different reasons), and both fall apart if seen too often or thought too deeply about.
TV Series
I’m going to pick The Wire (2002-2008) with The West Wing (1999-2006) as a strong runner-up. The Wire’s weakest episode is its first. From there on, the series flies. The characters are amazing, and the authenticity jumps off the screen (not only filmed in interesting neighbourhoods in Baltimore, but the fact that major characters were played by former gang members, not actors). You care about everyone, even the “bad” guys. If you need another reason, Idris Elba plays a major role.
The West Wing was amazing the first time around, watching it unfold in real time, talking about issues that were both relevant then and relevant now. I still remember seeing Sam Seaborne (Rob Lowe) explaining that the key future issue for the Supreme Court would be the right to privacy, an unenumerated right. As I write this, I’m listening to a podcast about the possible illegality of Flock cameras and their attack on privacy. On point, twenty years later is a hell of an achievement for a TV show. But, and it’s a bit ‘but’, I find it hard to watch now, as it’s treatment of politicians as generally honourable falls extremely, laughably flat in the age of Trump.
So what’s a hobby I’ve picked up recently? Writing posts like this. I hope you enjoyed it.