Hi Friends! Last night I tuned into CNN’s weekly Coronavirus Q&A. They are doing a very good job of keeping us informed on this virus, given all of the conflicting information that is out there. But, mostly, I was excited to see the Spike Lee short film for New York City. I’ve always been a huge fan of Spike Lee and his brilliant films that truly delve into the spirit of our beautiful chaos of a city. Crooklyn is one of my favorites! I was hoping to be uplifted, inspired and revitalized by whatever he had compiled for us to view!
As his clips of an empty, ghost town NYC were viewed in slow motion, set Frank’s iconic anthem “New York, New York”, I had quite the opposite response. Where was my city? Where was that bustle - where were the crowds? I felt lost. Empty. Sad. At the end of the piece, he brought in some footage of our essential workers, which helped boost the spirit a little, but then it was over and there I sat in devastation and tears.
The cameras then re-focused on our hosts - Anderson, Sanjay and Spike Lee himself. There was a pause and a usually bright-faced Sanjay asked the question, “What did you intend the audience to feel or experience with that movie?” (I’m sure I’m paraphrasing…) Spike responded something to the effect of, “It’s up to the audience to interpret and feel.”
I suppose sometimes art needs to smack you in the face with the truth - cut you straight to the core.
I applaud Spike for presenting things how they are - for documenting our collective loss. I think in seeing and experiencing it, it has allowed me to mourn and also helped me come to terms with the fact that our brilliant, beautiful and vibrant city is changing. It has changed before and will continue to change and grow, as we all do. It’s going to be hard, but maybe we can rebuild in a better more community affirming way? Maybe this is just a tearing down to get to a better place? Even Spike Lee mentioned that he believed after we recover from the impact of the virus we need to, as a city and a country, “Change things from top to bottom” -
Here’s the full, direct quote:
“I think that after we get into AC – after corona – we have to change things top to bottom. We cannot go back to doing this stuff that happened before — healthcare, education, the environment. We got to just, hopefully with the new president, that we got to go back to the chalkboard and just really rethink everything in America from top to bottom.”
Recently, this article about an ever changing NYC spoke to me:
https://gen.medium.com/the-new-york-you-once-knew-is-gone-the-one-you-loved-remains-2dbd68ca0eae
Today, I’m doing a little meditating on what my part in the NEW New York could look like - how will I contribute to this city in a new way? I’m not sure yet, but it’s going to be exciting to be a part of the change.
Oh, New York…you beautiful, gorgeous mess - we will not disappoint you!
xo Holly
From “Here Is New York” by E.B. White (written in the summer of 1948 about a decidedly different, but same New York):
“A block or two west of the new City of Man in Turtle Bay there is an old willow tree that presides over an interior garden. It is a battered tree, long suffering and not much climbed, held together by strands of wire but beloved of those who know it. In a way it symbolizes the city: life under difficulties, growth against odds, surprise in the midst of concrete, and the steady reaching for the sun. Whenever I look at it nowadays, and feel the cold shadow of the planes, I think: “This must be saved, this particular thing, this very tree.” If it were to go, all would go - this city, this mischievous and marvelous monument which not to look upon would be like death.”