Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Wednesday Mind Hump - Genius Day

Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900), The Critic as Artist, 1891


Rfduck, BDInsanity mememeister extraordinaire, took a moment from his busy day chasing the hot hens in his pond, to expound thusly: “Hi everyone! Ready for another Mind Hump? Today is Genius Day.”

“Tell me who you think is a genius . . .”

Movie director – While it might be popular to say Martin Scorsese or George Lucas, Alfred Hitchcock is who I think of as a “genius” movie director.
Author – Love him, hate him, feign indifference or look down your nose at him, Stephen King is the nearest thing to authorial genius we have today. Enjoy him – he won't be around all that long. And if you think he's just not even close, I offer as an alternative: Kurt Vonnegut.
Musician – This is a tough, tough choice. During my lifetime, the musician closest to a genius in my mind is Andre Segovia. Seconded by George Goebel. Truly inspired masters with that little extra j'ne sais qua...
Historical figure – Hmmm ... anyone I might choose is bound to get me attacked, flamed, contradicted or laughed at. And so it goes:

Alfred E. Newman isn't real [Oh No! Say it ain't so, Mr. Bill!].

Winston Churchill and Franklin Delano Roosevelt are hated as much as they're loved (amongst many).

George W. Bush's genius is so hidden we must send in forensic teams to examine every square millimeter of every “nukeular” missile silo in the United States to find any trace.

Ben Franklin was more insane than genius on his good days, as was Nicolai Tesla...

So I'm taking the easy route: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. At fourteen, for crying out loud!

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