The most valuable thing about this story, hidden under the rock trend of the 1960s and 1970s in the United States, is how it defines and expresses the presence and authenticity of rock stars, fans and ordinary people. Of course all of this is mixed, because the real is never a side story, the life of a rock star is never as pretentious as their music describes it, and the real life is full of uncertainty and emptiness. The so-called fame and instant pleasure are always fleeting. In the end, no one can really afford it and let it go.
Everything that happened in that era is still happening today, no matter how the times of the scenarios change. The attraction is not that it promotes a certain value or demeans a certain way of life, but that it is real. Reality is never simple, and it is a natural thing to be able to capture such complex and realistic works to impress the audience. That's why, when I saw the following conversation about "how great art is made", I felt like I wanted to clench my fists and clench something LOL
Lester Bangs: Aw, man. You made friends with them. See, friendship is the booze they feed you. They want you to get drunk on feeling like you belong
. See, friendship is like the poison they give you. They want you to get drunk and make you feel like you are no different from them.
William Miller: Well, it was fun.
Young man: Well, but it seemed like fun.
Lester Bangs: They make you feel cool. And hey. I met you. You are not cool
. But, I've seen you, you're not cool.
William Miller: I know. Even when I thought I was, I knew I wasn't.
Young man: I know... Even when I thought I was cool, I knew I was frustrated.
Lester Bangs: That's because we're uncool. And while women will always be a problem for us, most of the great art in the world is about that very same problem. Good-looking people don't have any spine. Their art never lasts. They get the girls, but we're smarter
. Women are always a problem for those of us who frustrate, and most of the great art in this world is about this "timeless" problem. Good-looking people have no seeds (the original English sentence is: got no spine, no spine... The paraphrase should be, there is no courage, here is "no seeds"). Their art will never survive. Yes, they got women, but we frustrated people are smarter.
William Miller: I can really see that now.
Young man: I can really see that now...
Lester Bangs : Yeah, great art is about conflict and pain and guilt and longing and love disguised as sex, and sex disguised as love... and let's face it, you got a big head start. It's all about conflict, pain, sin, disappointment, sex disguised as love, and love disguised as sex. Let's face it, your setbacks are actually your strengths.
William Miller: I'm glad you were home.
Young man: Glad to see you're home now too.
Lester Bangs: I'm always home. I'm uncool
. I belong to the frustrating type.
William Miller: Me too!
Young man: Me too! (It took me so long to reflect, uncle certified you from the beginning...)
Lester Bangs: The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what we share with someone else when we're uncool
. The only currency in this bankrupt world is when we find another frustrating like us.
William Miller: I feel better.
Young man: I feel better now.
Lester Bangs: My advice to you. I know you think those guys are your friends. You wanna be a true friend to them? Be honest, and unmerciful. Your friend. Do you really want to be their friend? Be sure to tell the truth, don't pretend, don't show mercy.
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