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God, Complex -- Writer's Poke #287

A recent Cracked article (http://www.cracked.com/blog/4-great-artists-who-make-it-really-hard-not-to-hate-them/) listed Kevin Smith and Quentin Taratino as great artists that have horrible real-life personalities. Personally, I'm not sure why this should matter to the average film goer. It's unlikely that I will ever meet either one of these guys, and I doubt that we'll ever go out to dinner together. If we did, then maybe it would matter. Maybe I would learn first hand what arrogant, full-of-themselves pricks they really are.

Until then, however, my only real interaction with them is through their work, and their work is more than solid; it's exceptional. I'm sure part of the reason I like their films so much is because they care about dialogue. Modern films don't generally pay much attention to dialogue. These days, people go to films for CGI and 3D effects. I, on the other hand, like films that pay attention to language. Smith and Taratino both brand their films with their distinction language styles.

For me, these men are the equivalent of film gods, and since when do we judge our gods based on their prickish personal behavior? One perk about being a god is this: no one has the right to judge you. That's the sole right of the god himself. That's why if Kevin Smith wants to go on a crusade against movie critics, he has the god-given (self-given?) right to do so. And who can blame Quentin Taratino for noting how pleased he is with his latest film? Is he doing anything different that the god of Genesis that created heaven and earth and proclaimed his creation "good"?

Pick a religious figure of your choice (Jesus, Dalai Lama, Buddha, Mohammad, etc.). Should their personalities matter? If the one you selected turned out to be an arrogant dillhole, for example, would that be enough reason not to praise and follow him?

"I don't care what you think unless it is about me." -- Kurt Cobain

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