On the drive home from church today, my 11-year began singing the theme of a classic western. In a low rumble, from the backseat, she sang, “Chisum! Chisum!”
I continue to introduce my 11-year-old to classic TV and movies. Our latest series has been Mission Impossible (a la Martin Landau, Peter Graves). The latest classic film star introduction was, at last, John Wayne. I show her these classics because, I say, they are so much in our lexicon. That week on NPR, a news reporter referred to Mission Impossible. At church this morning, the pastor mentioned John Wayne in a story. (He also mentioned Barney Fife, so I have to add The Andy Griffith Show to our list.) That is my excuse for indulging in old shows, or so I say. But I think there is more to it than that.
I am no longer anyone’s demographic. Not for music; not for film. But I never actually was in a demographic, when it comes down to it. I find myself having a newfound relationship with the writer of Ecclesiastes. “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun,” he says in Ecc. 1:9. Regardless of the hype, press, and glossy movie stars, I am mostly bored by films in the last 10 years (especially). It’s all been done — and usually better.
Sure, the occasional good movie or good TV show grace our eyeballs, but mostly “Meaningless, all is meaningless.” At least decades ago, they had fun while doing it. Next up, Elvis Presley.
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