There's no denying that Tim Curry was a master of his craft. The ultimate character actor, he brought to life some of the most unforgettable roles ever to grace the stage or screen, be they eccentric, campy, larger-than-life, or terrifyingly sinister.
The big reason why Curry was able to slip into these varied selves effortlessly may have been that he didn't feel the need to carve out a rigid sense of personal selfhood.
In a recent interview with CBS Sunday Morning, recorded only two weeks before his passing at the age of 80 on August 26, Curry told Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz that throughout the course of his 50-year career "one of the keys" to his success has been "to not encourage an identity."
It's a counterintuitive idea, particularly today when identity has become such an important part of how people understand themselves and one another. We are regularly encouraged to define and stay aligned with some kind of "personal brand" via personality types, aesthetics, ****** ual orientation, zodiac signs, neurospiciness levels, political affiliations…you name it. Social media has this self-presentation as a near-constant part of daily life, inviting people to curate their interests, values, appearance, and opinions into an instantly recognizable public persona.
While there are certainly benefits, it often comes with the expectation that each person has a clearly defined, authentic identity waiting to be uncovered, articulated, and presented to the world.
#life #identity #part
The big reason why Curry was able to slip into these varied selves effortlessly may have been that he didn't feel the need to carve out a rigid sense of personal selfhood.
In a recent interview with CBS Sunday Morning, recorded only two weeks before his passing at the age of 80 on August 26, Curry told Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz that throughout the course of his 50-year career "one of the keys" to his success has been "to not encourage an identity."
It's a counterintuitive idea, particularly today when identity has become such an important part of how people understand themselves and one another. We are regularly encouraged to define and stay aligned with some kind of "personal brand" via personality types, aesthetics, ****** ual orientation, zodiac signs, neurospiciness levels, political affiliations…you name it. Social media has this self-presentation as a near-constant part of daily life, inviting people to curate their interests, values, appearance, and opinions into an instantly recognizable public persona.
While there are certainly benefits, it often comes with the expectation that each person has a clearly defined, authentic identity waiting to be uncovered, articulated, and presented to the world.
#life #identity #part
2 months ago
