tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post7479633905928077791..comments2024-03-07T20:15:45.996-08:00Comments on The Bitter Script Reader: Tuesday Talkback: Roman Polanski - art vs. artistThe Bitter Script Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575166527272639709noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-22405989446259792292010-09-19T13:28:43.404-07:002010-09-19T13:28:43.404-07:00I doubt people will be looking at this thread much...I doubt people will be looking at this thread much (so hopefully, I won't ruin it for "attatt"), but couldn't help but note that Polanski does make it on screen a few times in his own films.<br /><br />In Chinatown, a short, but notable appearance (with lines), a minor one in Repulsion and of course, the lead in The Tenant. That last one, I'm quite fond of as well, even if it's not his best. This all, despite the awful act Polanski committed.<br /><br />When the story first resurfaced, I was inclined to defend him, perhaps also because he happens to be my countryman, and a renowned artist internationally. But the more I learned about what happened, the more I realized my sympathy will remain for his films only.freshbreadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00992414646633414223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-7692985369570766672009-10-08T09:42:47.654-07:002009-10-08T09:42:47.654-07:00Art and the artist are separate entities.
Polans...Art and the artist are separate entities. <br /><br />Polanski knows how to make a film. But, his skill at filmmaking does not excuse his behavior, and as E.C. points out, he is a fugitive from justice.<br /><br />The stance that some in Hollywood have taken only shows them to be elitists who assume their interpretation of events is the correct one, no matter what was found in a court of law – in fact, especially since it was found in a court of law (law automatically equals conservatives, and they are to be hated).<br /><br />The woman now claims she forgives Polanski and she thinks he’s done his time. She also still wants to work in Hollywood and knows on which side the bread is buttered.<br /><br />But look at the responses here. The majority believe Polanski is a great artist who should be punished for a crime he admitted to and was found guilty of. The minority simply didn’t give an opinion on that aspect of the question.<br /><br />Not one of us would even begin to assume we would not be punished for committing the same crime. Why should he?Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17178564454182287584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-82427196615039087892009-10-07T12:08:31.926-07:002009-10-07T12:08:31.926-07:00When Kobe Bryant was going through his rape trial ...When Kobe Bryant was going through his rape trial and a number of nasty facts came out about the person he is, my mind was changed about him forever. I will watch a Lakers game if I have interest in the other team, but I always root against Kobe now. I root for him to be fouled hard, miss all his shots, and generally look like a fool (which never happens, dammit!) He is a scumbag in my mind and I cannot get over that even though he is an awesome player.<br />Polanski has made some great movies, and it is much, much easier to sit through them because he is not actually on the screen. As important as his role is, he is out of site out of mind for the entirety of the viewing experience.<br />I would love to say I would not watch one of his movies, or I would root against him at the box office, but the fact is I dont feel that way.attatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01487637936929635130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-86512080529161321242009-10-06T16:03:13.328-07:002009-10-06T16:03:13.328-07:00For me the negative reaction to the artist can be ...For me the negative reaction to the artist can be projected onto work I view in the future, but not retroactively towards work I've already seen. I saw Chinatown long before I first heard of this rape scandal a few years ago. Having loved it long before I knew about Polanski's disturbing behavior, I can't go back and make myself not like it. The initial reaction to the art holds. <br /><br />However, with any of his movies I have yet to view, my enjoyment will be tainted by my emotional reaction to Polanski and what I now know about him. It's not even that I refuse to like any of it on principal, it's that I won't be able to separate my emotions towards him from my feelings about the work as I view it. Rational or not, that's what happens for me. But at least I can admit that's my hang-up, and I won't impose it on anyone else. <br /><br />On a totally ridiculous and embarrassing note, the same reasoning holds true regarding Chris Brown and the song "Forever." I have some very fond memories involving some very drunk dancing from when that song first came out, long before Chris Brown became the public face of domestic violence. I don't think I'll ever be able to like anything he will do in the future, but I cannot listen to that damn song without feeling happy due to the association with my best friend and the memory of our antics. It's just how it is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-36624495286665352662009-10-06T11:36:20.323-07:002009-10-06T11:36:20.323-07:00Rape in prison doesn't happen as often as peop...Rape in prison doesn't happen as often as people think it does. Most of the sex in prison is consensual. One would hope the prisoners would make an exception in his case.<br /><br />What gets me is how he still has absolutely no remorse for what he did to her, and how he's still screwing up her life by refusing to accept his punishment.<br /><br />But yes, I'll still enjoy Chinatown and I still use it in the classroom to teach Noir.Emily Blakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02163221455899041141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-78684110234410411962009-10-06T10:02:56.761-07:002009-10-06T10:02:56.761-07:00I still enjoyed Apocolypto after Gibson revealed h...I still enjoyed Apocolypto after Gibson revealed himself a raging anti-semite.<br /><br />Chinatown, Rosemary's Baby, the Pianist. They're still good movies. So many artists have had major issues. Doesn't change the art.<br /><br />Though I do think Polanski needs to pay for his crimes. And living in Paris for 30 years doesn't count.Steve the Creephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10265147408563991491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-65380911154255291752009-10-06T09:46:31.984-07:002009-10-06T09:46:31.984-07:00I have no problem enjoying a Roman Polanski film. ...I have no problem enjoying a Roman Polanski film. In this case the sin doesn't taint my perception of his art. But the whole OJ thing, for some reason is different. All of his art seams tainted by the widely held belief by many that he killed his wife and Goldman. OJ's become a punchline, a public joke; Polanski hasn't fallen to that depth, and he never will.<br /><br />Still, Roman Polanski BELONGS in jail; he fled the U.S. when faced with doing the time for a crime he confessed to. Sure with time what happened is easier for all to forgive. BUT I think what's missing here is the realization that with Roman Polanski you're dealing with a FUGATIVE FROM THE LAW.<br /><br />- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WAE.C. Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10748007729066148300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-70526145923685199052009-10-06T09:30:32.772-07:002009-10-06T09:30:32.772-07:00Acts and the actor are always separate. We judge t...Acts and the actor are always separate. We judge the actions one by one. If a man saves a child from a fire one day, then murders his neighbor the next, it doesn't erase that good deed before, and the good deed doesn't outweigh the bad one. Each thing in its place.<br /><br />The person is not their actions nor the sum of them but more than all that. Doing lots of good and one bad or lots of bad and one good, you have to look at the implication and insinuation, about what everything says about their possibilities and your own.<br /><br />The girl has claimed to have forgiven Polanski. The public is pretty much not just questioning her forgiveness, but assuming her a liar.<br /><br />The girl has stated she wants it behind her and she wants nothing more to do with this. The public is entirely oblivious to her wishes and frothing at the mouth for Polanski's blood.<br /><br />The case was tainted all the way around and this will require her involvement in further proceedings. The public doesn't care about the pain they are going to put her through.<br /><br />I'm worried about what this says about the public. The public pays lip service to respecting and honoring victims, but in reality it is entirely about the public's sensibilities and their emotions. Not the victim's.<br /><br /><b>In that light, I apply your questions to society and the civilization that it has built. Does their hypocrisy negate the good they've done elsewhere? Does their casual callousness in pursuit of what they want over what they say is right make what they've built less worthwhile?</b>Wojciehowiczhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06962614928769270439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-80081155329480811082009-10-06T05:58:53.514-07:002009-10-06T05:58:53.514-07:00Art stands separate from the artist themselves. Ju...Art stands separate from the artist themselves. Just because they are an abominable individual does not mean they're incapable of creating something beautiful, profound, and altogether worthwhile.<br /><br />I have no intention of ceasing to watch KNIFE IN THE WATER, REPULSION, ROSEMARY'S BABY, or CHINATOWN just because of Polanski's actions. It doesn't mean I respect Polanski as an individual--by no means, actually--but I respect his art.Ryan H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12772868175172789393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-30404272014679882792009-10-06T03:48:12.050-07:002009-10-06T03:48:12.050-07:00It's a bit creepy that this occurred about the...It's a bit creepy that this occurred about the same time when he'd either be working on Chinatown or possibly at least have read the script. The crime occurred in 1973 and Chinatown was in 1974.itstartedwithawindmillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01033370072650216855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-64460880242817796572009-10-06T03:12:54.650-07:002009-10-06T03:12:54.650-07:00Even the question is perverse, maybe we should han...Even the question is perverse, maybe we should hang you after we hang Polanski, no offense..JabberWockyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05346662241448196719noreply@blogger.com