Red Green and Blue: From Da Vinci to DiCaprio… Sorting Science and Art
Image from Blood Diamond
Jimmy: I really love Leonardo DiCaprio. In addition to being a great performing artist, he is sincere in his effort to champion the world environmental cause. And not only is he an excellent spokesman, he also walks the walk even to the point of flying commercial rather than by private jets. He ranks with Ed Begley Jr. and others who live by example, and that says something to me.
Other people don't get me as excited. Now I understand that artists, entertainers and world environmental leaders have different security needs and are often bound by this, but where does the line cross between a machiavellian end justifies the means soot-belching locomotive to environmental Shangri La compared to life by example? What is sincerity and what is sophistry? And does all of this help or undermine the cause? That's the topic of our discussion.
Image source: LeonardoDicaprio.com
Tags: Activism, Climate Change, Film, Fine Arts, leonardo+dicaprio, Media, politics, Red, Green and Blue
May 3rd, 2007 at 8:51 pm
LOL! on the Prius photo … as Borat would say, "very niiiice."
And, yes, I read your post on overt consumption … though I believe that frugality and a bit less consumption are virtues most Americans are sorely in need of.
"Bush is more or less an ordinary guy (a bit smarter than average)" ???!!! Yup, the average guys I see at our minor league hockey games all attended Andover and Yale, were inducted into Skull and Bones, and are former oilmen/baseball team owners whose dads were U.S. presidents and hobnob with Saudi sheiks. Sounds pretty ordinary to me all right!
http://www.allhatnocattle.net/headon.jpg
By the way, Jimmy, did you notice the striking resemblance between your photo and DiCaprio's at the top of this post? Separated at birth?
May 3rd, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Undergrad from Yale… MBA from Harvard… I’d say he’s a lot closer to Clinton academically than either of his last presidential opponents.
Most people just don’t ‘get’ where he’s coming from. His inspiration for governance would seem to be a cross between the influences of Adam Smith and Jesus Christ. Knowing that you can pretty much figure out where he’s going to stand on most issues. If you don’t know this you’ll find his policy to be uninformed and almost random.
It’s like immigration. I knew he would go for guest worker before any news of it came out and I understand his reasoning why. He’s simply serving in the way he honestly believes is in the country’s best interest.
May 3rd, 2007 at 9:25 pm
As for the photo I think you are quite mistaken about any resemblance.
This lady, however, reminds me of our latest politic-debating progressive blogger at GO.
;)
May 3rd, 2007 at 9:33 pm
I’ll take that as a compliment … loved Gwyneth in “The Royal Tenenbaums”!
May 3rd, 2007 at 9:53 pm
That was a great movie… loved it.
So Shirley…
What are we going to do about these high profile envio-hypocrites who are undermining the cause? Polar opposites in either camp, progressive or conservative, are probably not going to be influenced by this hypocrisy but people in the middle (the people we are trying to reach to make large gains) can be.
Does the star-power trump any losses making the question moot? I don’t know.
Btw: Did Alec Baldwin ever leave the country like he promised last election cycle?
May 3rd, 2007 at 10:34 pm
I hate to say it, but I think celebrity trumps hypocrisy here when it comes to reaching the great middle. If America’s star-struck are inspired to buy Manolo Blahniks or Dolce & Gabbana just because their favorite celeb does, maybe reading in People about the stars’ tastes for shade-grown coffees, organic cotton and LED lighting will inspire others to buy the same. It’s no excuse for hypocrisy, but if it works just a little, we’re just a little further along environmentally than we were before. Besides, few people who worship at the altar of Brangelina are likely to want to emulate plain ol’ Joe or Jill Tree-hugger, however much more worthy JT’s efforts are.
No, Alec’s still here, though I don’t think he’s using the phone much these days. : )
May 4th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Unfortunately I’m going to have to agree with you there Shirley. That says a lot about the people we let vote in this country. In fact I’ve heard that they even let the actors themselves vote.
I guess I’d be OK with them portraying someone who votes… kind of like when Afleck plays someone smart in a movie.