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Robert Altman, 5 Oscar, 1 Academy Award winning director, died yesterday at the age of 81.  You can read a basic summary of him here http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20803650-2902,00.html .

 

Altman's hits were small in quantity (MASH and Gosford Park are the only two that come to mind), but he worked constantly on projects he wanted to do, which, in my opinion, is the epitome of success for any kind of artist.  and honestly, one great hit is an amazing accomplishment. 

 

When I read that Altman died, I was transported straight back to my junior year of college.  There was one and only one professorial crush for me during college and that was my Arts and Human Values teacher.  and I for the life of me cannot remember his name, but he was a young professor and so passionate.  He would get angry talking about how the public school system negleted the neediest of kids.  He worked as a counselor at a public middle school until he couldn't emotionally take it anymore. I loved to hear him talk about...anything really, it's like he pulled colors out of things noone else seemed to see.  He didn't even know he was so intelligent, he just saw things they way he saw them...like an artist.  He loved MASH.  We studied the film and he explained and all the subtleties of the film and the messages Altman was trying to convey.  Then we had to write a paper.  I spent so much time on the GE class homework.  I was a junior making up for lost time taking that class with a bunch of freshmen and I spent more time on that paper then on my senior level Nonprofit Management class.  I wanted to see what he saw.  We also studied, in depth, the film Amadeaus and Waking Life. I wonder where he is now and if he's happy (although he's probably mourning Altmans passing).  He was an impassioned, burned by the limits of the school system, burned by his fiancee leaving him, newly 30 year old.  I stayed after class once and he told me about his life and I think about him every now and then. I really hope he found something better, some outlet he could pour himself into.  I always wonder why we are allowed little windows into peoples lives, people that will never be part of yours.  Maybe to see the "humanness" of others? or in this case perhaps that passion existed for causes other than romance or money or success? Mr. whatever couldn't help talking about the kids he had worked with.  How the couseling room was set up, how each child responded to a different medium.  His interest in thier well being was palpable. 

 

yeah, Altman.