Woody Allen's Tainted Legacy | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Comedian discusses his conflicting feelings about Woody Allen, acknowledging his problematic actions while appreciating his artistic contributions.

Key Insights

• 🥰 The speaker's conflicting feelings about Woody Allen demonstrate the ethical dilemmas that arise when appreciating the art of problematic individuals.
• ✋ The movie "Manhattan" is criticized for its romanticization of a relationship between an adult and a high school student, which can be unsettling in retrospect.
• 😓 Woody Allen's personal life choices, such as marrying his stepdaughter, cast a shadow over his artistic achievements.
• 🧑‍🎨 Artists with problematic behavior, like Woody Allen and Roman Polanski, have created some of the most celebrated works in history, leading to uncomfortable discussions about separating art from the artist.
• 🔇 The speaker's disappointment in Woody Allen's actions does not negate the impact his work had on the speaker's perception of New York and their own identity as a New Yorker.
• 🥹 The speaker recalls instances of encountering Woody Allen on the street, illustrating the celebrity status he held in New York City.
• 👏 Diane Keaton's performance in "Annie Hall" is praised by the speaker as well-done despite the controversies surrounding Woody Allen.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How does the speaker feel about Woody Allen's controversial actions?

The speaker acknowledges that Woody Allen's actions, such as marrying his stepdaughter and facing allegations from others, are disturbing and enough to condemn him.

Q: Is it possible to separate an artist's work from their personal life?

While some people may choose to separate art from the artist, the speaker finds it difficult to support someone who has engaged in such problematic behavior.

Q: What is the speaker's opinion on Woody Allen's stand-up comedy?

The speaker praises Woody Allen's old stand-up comedy as brilliant and acknowledges his talents as a short story writer and filmmaker as well.

Q: Why does the speaker mention Hunter S. Thompson and the Carlysle?

The speaker shares that they would be interested in watching Hunter S. Thompson play drums or Woody Allen at the Carlysle just to see someone they admire in a different artistic context.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker grew up loving Woody Allen but acknowledges the difficulty of supporting him as a Jewish New Yorker due to his controversial actions.

• The movie "Manhattan" is described as a romantic comedy for pedophiles, highlighting the disturbing nature of the story's ending.

• Despite the complications, the speaker acknowledges the beauty of the movie's opening and Woody Allen's talent as a writer, stand-up comedian, and filmmaker.