Thank you for reminding me that there are other things to think about this morning. Though more than ever we need to ask ourselves what it means to be human, and what sacrifices we are prepared to make to live up to our principles.
Super interesting. You wonder why this embarrassment of ambition is so pervasive across western society. In the workplace, people will happily say: 'I'm the busiest lawyer at my firm'. But they would be fearful to say: 'I want to be the highest-billed lawyer at my firm'.
It perhaps reflects David Graeber's (and perhaps Tom Holland's) argument that our Christian-based values encourage sacrifice - i.e. working as many hours as possible to bring value to society - but something in recent decades - I don't know what? - has led us to be fearful of showing real ambition.
Ian you, yet again, offered an insightful and creative view of an odd topic. I can only hope that Mr. Chalamet reads it and let's it be an antidote to any animosity he receives on TikTok. Desiring to be great is a far cry from the ubiquitous political "I'm already great" rhetoric that so many of are "leaders" are vomiting out regularly. Let us be be better humans. Thanks again.
Do you think he's being insincere and/or tokenistic in citing Viola Davis as an inspiration? If we assume he meant it, then he can hardly be accused of aspiring to restore the category of 'great men'.
I do think he's sincere, and a generational talent. Probably only prime Day-Lewis could so believably carry off fierce warrior and hapless nerd and everything else in between. And he has great comedic ability - his confused asides in the scene in Little Women when Jo's professor turns up! I wonder if his relationship with a Kardashian contributes to some of the doubt/cynicism around him.
Just a small point, but if that Vogue journalist really said "Mark Zuckerberg ordering the removal of tampons from Meta bathrooms", then we can at least relax in the knowledge that fake news is alive and well. The word she left out was "men's".
Thank you for reminding me that there are other things to think about this morning. Though more than ever we need to ask ourselves what it means to be human, and what sacrifices we are prepared to make to live up to our principles.
Super interesting. You wonder why this embarrassment of ambition is so pervasive across western society. In the workplace, people will happily say: 'I'm the busiest lawyer at my firm'. But they would be fearful to say: 'I want to be the highest-billed lawyer at my firm'.
It perhaps reflects David Graeber's (and perhaps Tom Holland's) argument that our Christian-based values encourage sacrifice - i.e. working as many hours as possible to bring value to society - but something in recent decades - I don't know what? - has led us to be fearful of showing real ambition.
Ian you, yet again, offered an insightful and creative view of an odd topic. I can only hope that Mr. Chalamet reads it and let's it be an antidote to any animosity he receives on TikTok. Desiring to be great is a far cry from the ubiquitous political "I'm already great" rhetoric that so many of are "leaders" are vomiting out regularly. Let us be be better humans. Thanks again.
Thanks Steve
Do you think he's being insincere and/or tokenistic in citing Viola Davis as an inspiration? If we assume he meant it, then he can hardly be accused of aspiring to restore the category of 'great men'.
I do think he's sincere, and a generational talent. Probably only prime Day-Lewis could so believably carry off fierce warrior and hapless nerd and everything else in between. And he has great comedic ability - his confused asides in the scene in Little Women when Jo's professor turns up! I wonder if his relationship with a Kardashian contributes to some of the doubt/cynicism around him.
Great points! (I used ‘great men loosely, I don’t know anything about Viola Davis tbh)
I assumed it was tokenistic, as I've never heard of her either. The message I got is that he wants to be Marlon Brando or Daniel Day-Lewis.
Just a small point, but if that Vogue journalist really said "Mark Zuckerberg ordering the removal of tampons from Meta bathrooms", then we can at least relax in the knowledge that fake news is alive and well. The word she left out was "men's".