I am shocked, SHOCKED, that three such important American artists have been so cavilierly slandered on LBO.
1. Ralph Waldo Emerson
The inward journey that Emerson advocated not only ends in a mandate to become part of collective humanity, but Emerson also advocates the working toward the common good. From this start American philosophy is born reaching heights with James, Locke, Dubois, Dewey, West, and Shusterman and posing a useful alternative to the toxic fumes of Continental and analytic thought.
2. Chester Himes
Chester Himes, along with James Baldwin and Ralph Ellison, is the premier Black novelist of the 20th century. reviled in his own time, regarded now as a prophet.
He is one of the few crime novelists to carry forward the tradition of Hammett and Chandler without debasing, it, adding depth and an analysis of race and class that has yet to be equalled. Ossie Davis turned one of his novels into the sublime COTTON COMES TO HARLEM.
Himes non-hard-boiled fiction and his two volumes of autobiography are also wonderful. For me he is essential reading for all progressives.
3. Jerry Lewis
What can I say? As usual, Marta's posts on cinema display a complete absence of visual acuity. A critique from Ray Charles would contain greater insight. As for losing one's ability to enjoy Lewis's work as one grows older, one of Lews's perennial targets was the pomposity of adulthood. Many people seem to lose the ability to appreciate Lewis as they acquire the exaggerated sense of self that can often be a side effect of aging.
Lewis's character started out in the films of Frank Tashlin. Tashlin himself was a cartoonist at Warner Bros. during the heyday of Termite Terrace. He went on to feature filmmaking and helped shape one Lewis' personas: the animated character made flesh and blood.
If list members are interested in educating themselves about Lewis' genius, besides watching his films (being released on re-mastered dvds the better to appreciate his genius at mise en scene), this appreciation of his films by Chris Fujiwara is a good place to start:
http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/directors/03/lewis.html
Brian Dauth Queer Buddhist Resister