Raymond Chandler, 1952
One wonders whether Raymond Chandler would voice the same opinion - sixty years on - were he to revisit the Los Angeles of 2012. Sadly, he died much too young, as did many of the 20 writers surveyed in this blog.
The delight in creating this blog lies in the fact that my intended audience at the AFTRS loves cinema.
The AFTRS students are aspiring film makers and I imagine that some if not all of them have a desire to work in Los Angeles, the great film capital of the world. No doubt they have seen films about Los Angeles and Hollywood and I refer to recent works such as BARTON FINK, THE PLAYER and MULHOLLAND DRIVE – which were all conceived or adapted for the screen.
But it might be of interest to students that the history of Hollywood and Los Angeles is a long one; for over a century a diverse collection of writers has been both bedazzled and appalled by the city and its mythic industry. In novels and plays and essays they have interpreted the situation as they found it: from Nathanael West’s anguished THE DAY OF THE LOCUST (1939) to Jackie Collins's exploration of decadence...HOLLYWOOD WIVES (1983).
It is often stated that Hollywood is a state of mind. This blog aims to examine and signpost the works of the brightest minds of literature; also perhaps it will provide a useful and cautionary roadmap for students who might one day “go Hollywood.”
I hope that this blog will contribute to students' appreciation of Hollywood and in the literature reflecting greater Los Angeles.
No comments:
Post a Comment