by And late answers to f.riday5.com last Friday questions!
1. Has the death of a famous person (not connected to you personally) ever made you cry?
Nope. Never. Celeb deaths don’t have much of an impact on me. I’m usually just a little sad in an abstract way on the passing of a great talent.
Leonard Nimoy’s death had the most impact on me but because to me that meant that Star Trek TOS was now really over, with his death. (Somehow only then. I didn’t expect or want new canon TOS, but until his death the possibility remained open in my head.)
2. Have you ever sent money as relief aid after a disaster?
Once or twice. Usually I can’t afford it.
3. How will the recent declaration affirming alcoholic beverages as cancer-causing affect your consumption?
None at all. I don’t drink alcohol at all.
4. What is the most bizarre (or difficult to understand) movie you’ve seen?
I’ve always thought The 5th Element is bizarre. I think it’s a good movie, with good performances and I get the story and I enjoy it and I’ve no idea what about it is weird. But I’ve watched and re-watched it many times and always come away with the feeling that it’s one weird film.
5. How willing and able are you to separate art from artist when a musican, actor, writer, or other creator is discovered to have behaved very badly?
If it’s someone I don’t care about, that is just a name to me, then I have no problems. If it’s someone whose works or performances I’ve loved, it does diminish or kill my respect and admiration for the person (and if I’ve been following them, I unsub) but usually I can still keep enjoying the old work. I may or may not see the new work though, it very much depends on what they did and whether I’d also want to see it for other reasons: Is it scifi? Yes absolutely. UK cop show? Maybe. Family comedy? Nope. Is another of my faves in it who is a good person? Yes.
Feeling sad over death of a celebrity may seem weird to some people because we didn’t really know them personally and they work will last forever anyway. However, I did feel sad in some instances but it was not related to their general popularity but to the impact their work had on my life. I was actually very sad when Jussi Hakulinen died a few years ago. I first heard about him just two years prior to his death, when I was moving to Finland. So obviously I didn’t have any childhood memories related to him. However, I got familiar with his music at the time of the pandemic and my move to Finland, which was quite an important event in my life. So his music was somehow connected to the start of my life in a new country. Maybe that’s why I was so sad. I also remember that I found your blog because of that.
I think that’s a completely understandable to feel sad about a celeb’s death when you have a connection to them/their work through a life changing event. Music in particular can have a huge impact on one during difficult or exciting times!