I must admit that I have been remiss in reading one of my favorite blogs, Speaking from the Diaphragm by Vaginal Davis. I read a few entries this morning for the first time in several months. To my delight I discovered that she has been featured on a monthly German radio show devoted to the arts and culture. She offers hilarious and insightful commentary on the history of film as it pertains to her Berlin-based monthly cinema soiree, Rising Stars/Falling Stars.
Elizabeth Taylor is the first big movie star I can remember being cognizant of as a small child. She, in a sense, became the personification of THEE Hollywood icon. She won the Academy Award and gained great critical acclaim for taking on several roles tainted with social taboo. She also had a somewhat radical sense of style and fashion especially in the 1960s and early 70s which I adored as a small child. She stoled Debbie Reynolds' husband, Eddie Fisher, from her and handled the ensuing bitter scandal with amazing grace. I covet the late Ms. Taylor's jewelry collection.
Still a closeted, paranoid teenager in the 80s, at the pinnacle of the AIDS crisis, seeing Ms. Taylor openly, honestly and effortlessly speak out on equality, her close friendships with homosexual Hollywood actors like Rock Hudson and Montgomery Clift and become an AIDS activist was a great comfort. She ensured me that there was a world of libertine sophistication, great style and opulence that would someday welcome me with open arms for who I was without question or pretense.
As I listened to Ms. Davis' reminiscences on Elizabeth Taylor, my own memories once again became fresh and visceral. For the first time since Ms. Taylor's death several weeks ago did I feel the void. Please listen to this extremely heartfelt piece.
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| "Take Over in Style" - Robert Mars |
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