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A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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Columbus’ do-it mentality redeems him for
the arts
DAILY BRUIN SENIOR STAFF hho@media.ucla.edu If Columbus "discovered" America today, he might have been awarded an "Ig Nobel Prize." The 12th annual Ig Nobels were awarded earlier this month for scientific achievements that "cannot or should not be reproduced," a spoof of the real Nobel prizes, which were awarded the following week. Today is "Columbus Day (Observed)" (calendars tell us), and if anything, this allows Americans to ponder whether Columbus deserves a day at all. For one thing, he didn't invent the idea the world was round (Eratosthenes even measured its circumference in the B.C. era). Mounting evidence suggests that others from Europe and Asia visited the Americas before him and left their own minor influences behind. Beyond the day itself, Columbus lends his name to various other unfavorable entities. Columbia is a country known for its illegal drug production whereas the District of Columbia is known for its illegal drug usage. To top it off (this is Arts & Entertainment after all), director Chris Columbus made a bland "Harry Potter" movie and those annoying "Home Alone" movies. Columbus also became the subject of movies 10 years ago, the 500th anniversary of his landing in San Salvador. "1492: Conquest of Paradise" starred Gérard Depardieu as Columbus and featured director Ridley Scott's chronic hero-making. "Christopher Columbus: The Discovery" had Tom Selleck as King Ferdinand and "Godfather" author Mario Puzo as the film's writer. Both films failed miserably at the box office despite the pedigree. There seems to be little point in celebrating the federal holiday, which people in Berkeley lovingly have renamed "Indigenous Peoples' Day." The day only caters to elementary schools, where students diligently recite, "Columbus sailed the ocean blue in fourteen-hundred and ninety-two." While Columbus' achievements are dubious and hostile in retrospect, the guy did impact the collective consciousness. After his trip, the world expanded and people's ideas expanded along with it. Science may claim Columbus as its crony, but I find he fits nicely into the arts, where mind expansion is no less important. After "The Matrix" came out (cheesy action movie though it was), it seemed to be the simile of choice for its year. People were able to think of reality as an illusion, an abstract idea known to give students reading Plato headaches. Besides awakening new perspectives, art is often created with Columbus' go-do-it mentality. He proved the world's roundness by sailing on this round world, putting his sea legs where his mouth was. Likewise, artists are great for taking risks. "American Beauty" was a scathing look at the contemporary United States, yet Alan Ball, who lives in the United States, decided to write the movie in spite of its lack of "marketability" or political correctness. Michael Moore's new documentary, "Bowling for Columbine," about American gun usage, has the intrepid filmmaker diving his liberal self into conservative strongholds, because finding the truth (the Indies) means sticking his neck out (setting sail). In fact, art is difficult to respond to unless there is danger present. The "American Idol" TV show finale was enthralling, and coming from an anti-TV person, that's saying something. You'd watch the show wondering, "Can they really create an American idol? If not, will the whole affair crash and burn into a spectacular ego-crushing bomb?" Columbus' attitude extends to art lovers as well. If you're not sure you'd like some movie, CD or book, you can listen to all the buzz and read all the reviews you want, but there's really only one way to find out. If Columbus could put his life on the line to prove his hunch, the least you could do is watch a movie, read a book, or listen to a CD before you bash it or praise it. I find sometimes people who love their hard rock can also find a quiet place for opera or big band jazz. Fear not, because those backwaters of the arts are waiting for you explorers to set sail into the horizon and revel in them. Like Columbus, you won't be the first one, but unlike Columbus, history will treat you kindly. |
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