[u-89]

Your posts show a maturity and understanding that is in short supply these days. Too many are ruled by emotion rather than logic thus people can not distinguish between enjoying art for arts sake and politics. At this stage of the game it does not matter why Reifenstahl's films were made. They are works that transcend ideologies of the past and their obvious historic documentary value because they are high art (and the historic documentary value should not be underestimated).

Praising talent is not the endorsing anything other than the talent. I disagree with the politics of Kirk Douglas or Paul Newman but they are both credits to their craft. Only a few small minded hard core conservatives would condemn me for praising them. So should it be for Reifenstahl. She made valuable contributions and it's too bad she did not have a larger body of work to show for her life.

[weegee]

Michael Moore has already stated that he (and his studio backer, Disney) will be releasing Fahrenheit 911 just prior to the 2004 election to slam President Bush.

If that film employs the most innovative techniques in film editing and cinematography will you be ready to embrace that work regardless of whatever tinfoil theories about Israel and prior-knowledge Mr. Moore is spinning?

If Elmer Berstein had scored the movie version of Jackass, would it suddenly have become a film for the ages? Or would people just be asking "Why, Elmer, why?"

[ffusco]

Art for arts sake is a dilettant's attitude. Few doubt L.R.'s film-making skills, but she must be condemmned for using her skills in the persuit of Hell on Earth. She was talented, but also completely immoral.She adored Hitler and Nazi Germany and used her talents to further their goals. She is no better than Speer (Architect and weapons procurement for the Reich) or other mid level party members who designed ingenious ways to destroy unwanted people.

[CatoRenasci]

Thanks for the kind words. FR can get a out of hand at times. Part of the problem is that the sort of maturity and understanding you refer to is in short supply generally, as you point out. And, having heard so much of a bastardized leftist version of sophistication in the modern university, even many college-educated conservatives are loath to disucss things in nuanced terms. Cheers!