I should clarify my post--The sadness of Spalding Gray's death for me resides in the terrible circumstances of his depressive illness, complicated by a severe head injury he sustained in an accident in 2001, and his struggle with these, as reported by the press. He was a walking landmark around downtown new york, as he walked a lot around the town. So, for me, not seeing him anymore walking down the street, is just another sign that time is passing, has past.
I always thought that Gray's work was overrated. But sometimes there was something surprising about his continuing ability to draw material from his self-absorption, to perform it, and to keep people interested. I wouldn't think about reading the stuff, because I think it's so tied to his performance of it. My interest in his work was tepid at best, and I lost interest entirely after "monster in a box." (My sense was that he'd said it "all" by then).
He has said some interesting things in interviews. I was unaware of his ongoing "psychedelic" pre-occupations, but that's not interesting to me particularly.
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I always thought that Gray's work was overrated. But sometimes there was something surprising about his continuing ability to draw material from his self-absorption, to perform it, and to keep people interested. I wouldn't think about reading the stuff, because I think it's so tied to his performance of it. My interest in his work was tepid at best, and I lost interest entirely after "monster in a box." (My sense was that he'd said it "all" by then).
He has said some interesting things in interviews. I was unaware of his ongoing "psychedelic" pre-occupations, but that's not interesting to me particularly.
- bunny 3-10-2004 9:57 pm