http://cultureby.com/2008/01/dick-clark-ritu.html This Blog Sits At the Intersection of Anthropology and Economics Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:43:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://cultureby.com/2008/01/dick-clark-ritu.html/comment-page-1#comment-2250 pnautilus Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:23:38 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=363#comment-2250 I love Dick Clarke. I really do. For me it was, rather unexpectedly a poignant New Year's. We gathered at a friend's house, sang karaoke [sic?] and played guitar hero. The event was much more about coming together than coming together into a New Year. We didn't even turn on the New Year's Show until 11:45, because we were, as you said, mostly ambivalent about the passage of time. But something stopped us in our tracks. It was Dick Clark. Feeble, semi-paralyzed, I-just-survived-a-stroke, Dick Clark. It was arresting. All of a sudden everyone in the room became acutely aware of the passage of time. Dick Clark had long been the face of all things slick, contrived, commercial. As he broke the ranks of cultural expectation, and allowed his humanity to show through, he was the true face of the passage of time, one that degenerates as the mortal finish line approaches. It was a face we had not expected. We all sat silently, watching him struggle through each word as if it were his last. It was like watching the Country's grandfather die slowly. And each of us was reminded that time marches on, and that maybe in 2008 we need to get a little closer to those who won't march much longer. Bravo, Dick Clark, for reminding us of the true spirit of New Year's. (But next year he's got to go, 'cause we tend to like things slick, canned and commercial. Right, wrong or indifferent that's our culture and we're sticking to it.) I love Dick Clarke. I really do. For me it was, rather unexpectedly a poignant New Year’s. We gathered at a friend’s house, sang karaoke [sic?] and played guitar hero. The event was much more about coming together than coming together into a New Year. We didn’t even turn on the New Year’s Show until 11:45, because we were, as you said, mostly ambivalent about the passage of time. But something stopped us in our tracks. It was Dick Clark. Feeble, semi-paralyzed, I-just-survived-a-stroke, Dick Clark. It was arresting. All of a sudden everyone in the room became acutely aware of the passage of time. Dick Clark had long been the face of all things slick, contrived, commercial. As he broke the ranks of cultural expectation, and allowed his humanity to show through, he was the true face of the passage of time, one that degenerates as the mortal finish line approaches. It was a face we had not expected. We all sat silently, watching him struggle through each word as if it were his last. It was like watching the Country’s grandfather die slowly. And each of us was reminded that time marches on, and that maybe in 2008 we need to get a little closer to those who won’t march much longer. Bravo, Dick Clark, for reminding us of the true spirit of New Year’s. (But next year he’s got to go, ’cause we tend to like things slick, canned and commercial. Right, wrong or indifferent that’s our culture and we’re sticking to it.)

]]> http://cultureby.com/2008/01/dick-clark-ritu.html/comment-page-1#comment-2249 Rhea Fri, 04 Jan 2008 13:43:55 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=363#comment-2249 I had some of my readers discuss whether Dick Clark is still suited for the task. Check it out! I had some of my readers discuss whether Dick Clark is still suited for the task. Check it out!

]]> http://cultureby.com/2008/01/dick-clark-ritu.html/comment-page-1#comment-2248 Rhea Fri, 04 Jan 2008 13:43:29 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=363#comment-2248 I had some of my readers discuss whether Dick Clark is still suited for the task. Check it out! I had some of my readers discuss whether Dick Clark is still suited for the task. Check it out!

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