Post by darkstar on Jan 14, 2005 23:37:21 GMT
Tony Thomas: Jim, the very first line of your new book of poems
reads "Look where we worship." What do young people worship today?
What do they believe? What do they hang onto; what do they hope for?
Jim Morrison: Well, I can't speak for young people, but probably a
guess would be the same things they've always celebrated, a joy of
existence, self-discovery, freedom, that kind of thing.
TT: But politically and philosophically, the young people now seem to
feel very definite ideas about the establishment, old systems of
governing people and moral attitudes.
Jim: When I was in high school and college, the kind of protest
that's going on now was totally unheard of. At that time, to be a
teenager, to be young, was really nothing, it was kind of a limbo
state, and I think it's amazing, just in the last five years. What's
happened is young people have become increasingly aware of the power
and the influence that they have as a group. It's really amazing.
TT: The standards of patriotism have changed. This was once a very
fervently patriotic nation, flag followers. Now that has undergone a
tremendous, dramatic change.
Jim: The young people in this country still do feel an identity as
Americans, but it's a different kind of patriotism. It's...they're
thinking of a different kind of America than what was thought of in
the past, but I think that they still think of themselves as
Americans. I know I identify with that word. I don't know whether
it's just been indoctrinated in me for so long or what, but I feel
like an American.
TT: A different concept of patriotism, isn't there?
Jim: This country is very young, and it has gone through a lot of
changes and will go through a lot of changes, but probably the main
difference would be that the idea of America somehow dominating the
rest of the world is beginning to lose favor, and the people I know
are just content to be one country in a whole sea of nations, rather
than trying to force one way of life on a lot of other people.
TT: When you look at young people today do you feel very optimistic
about the future?
Jim: Well, I try not to be... I always try and keep a kind of
enlightened pessimism about things, because then you don't get too
disappointed when things don't turn out the way you wanted. But, as
for revolution, I think it would be a mistake because, as far as I
can see, all a revolution does is change the power from one faction
to another. It doesn't really change anything, it's just a switch of
power. I think a revolution in this country would be a disaster. The
democratic ideals are fairly worthwhile and all we need is to change
a few leaders and change a few laws. But I think the basic ideals of
democracy are fairly worthwhile.
TT: Life does seem to become more and more involved and complex. You
know we're becoming computerized and dehumanized in that process.
Jim: There does seem to be a trend toward, a return to, a kind of
primitive, more tribal attitude, and I think it's a natural reaction
to industrialization. But unfortunately, I think it's kind of
naïve
because I think the future is going to become increasingly
mechanized, computerized as you called it, and I don't think there's
any turning back. It's just figuring out a way to survive and thrive
in that kind of society. But I don't think there's any chance of
going back.
TT: So you interpret the Hippie/Yippie movement as a reaction to the
modernization?
Jim: Oh, definitely. Kind of a Dionysiac reaction, but very naïve
and
fruitless, I think. Look at it this way. The hippie lifestyle is
really a middle class phenomenon. And it could not exist in any other
society except ours where there's such an incredible surfeit of
goods, products and leisure time. The generations immediately
preceding ours had world wars and depressions to contend with, and
for the last 10 or 15 years in this country there's time enough and
money enough to live a kind of a flagrant, outrageous lifestyle,
which was impossible before.
TT: Jim, there's a line in your book of poems which reads, "The
cleavage of men into actor and spectators is the central fact of our
time." I think that's undeniable, but I wonder, hasn't it always been
that way with society?
Jim: I suppose it has, but...with mass media and all today, it
becomes more immediately apparent. I think what I was concerned with
in that book was the fact that most people feel completely void and
helpless in controlling their own destinies, controlling the destiny
of human life. And I think it's sad. More people should be involved,
rather than designating all these powers to a few individuals. I
think the average person, whatever that is...should be a part of it
somehow. I think everyone feels that events are just going on without
their knowledge or control. I think it's one of the tragedies of our
time. I suppose it has always been that way, but now it's just become
so obvious, you know. Decisions are made for you in which you have no
part of at all. That's what I was trying to discuss.
TT: Well, it does take courage to live your own style.
Jim: Style's part of it. Style is very important, but I just lament
the fact that so many people are content with living a very quiet,
well-mannered, orderly life, when so many obvious--I'm not sure of
the right word--injustices, I guess, are going on. And they just seem
to ignore it somehow, or not care at all, just let it happen, without
ever becoming involved. I think that's sad.
TT: Jim, how do you enjoy life? What do you do?
Jim: Ah, well I'm hung up in the art game. My great joy is to try and
give form to reality, and I think I've always been into that. Music
is a great release and a great enjoyment for me, and eventually I'd
like to write something of some importance. That's my ambition, to
write something worthwhile.
TT: What would you say in this writing that would be worthwhile?
Would it be philosophical?
Jim: You know, philosophy doesn't interest me as much as it used to.
I think the day I finally was forced to realize that no one in the
world really knows any more about what's going on than any other
person, I kind of lost interest in philosophy as a study of ideas,
but philosophy appreciated from the standpoint of how men in the past
have used words, have used language. That's why for me poetry is the
ultimate art form, because what defines us as human beings is
language. The way we talk is the way we think, and the way we think
is the way we act, and the way we act is what we are. And so I
appreciate philosophy these days from the standpoint of poetry, the
use of one word next to another word next to another word. So,
philosophy is semantics, I guess.
TT: Well society has always needed, apparently, to worship heroes.
Now where are young people today looking for heroes? What type of
heroes?
Jim: Well, no heroes have come out of the Viet Nam conflict. I think
the new heroes will probably be political activists. In the 20s it
was sports figures, 30s and 40s it was movie stars and World War II
aces and all that kind of thing, then the music figures became new
heros. I think the next heroes will probably be a more intellectual
sort: political activists and perhaps scientists and computer
experts, people like that. People that have an understanding, an
intellectual awareness and a knowledge of how things run, how modern
society runs, will probably be the new heroes.
TT: Jim, relevant to your theory that people should get more involved
in life and thus enjoy it more, you have written a line of poetry
which reads, "The spectator is a dying animal." Isn't that a little
bit contradictory to what you said previously?
Jim: No, it's concerned with that same split between the actor and
the audience. To me there's something incredibly sad about a bunch of
human beings sitting down watching something take place. Of course,
in that context I was thinking a lot about film. I love movies as
much as anyone else, but the spectacle of millions and millions of
people sitting in movie theaters and in front of television sets
every night, watching a second, or third-hand reproduction of reality
going on, when the real world is right there in their living room, or
right outside on the street or down the block somewhere... I think
it's a tool to sonombulize or hypnotize people into kind of a waking
sleep.
I think the major influence in the next decade or so is going to be
the people--I don't know what you'd call them except maybe the
connectors--the people who are able to assemble masses, huge masses
of people into one spot, as we witnessed in pop festivals in the last
two or three years. The kind of people that can assemble huge crowds
in one spot, I think, will be the major influences on mass culture in
the next decade.
TT: The Woodstock gathering suggested what to you?
Jim: Yeah, I think the Woodstock phenomenon was a metaphor, in a way,
a crystallization. You could see it all right there. It was these
spoon-fed, young people, you know, wallowing in their own limbo.
Being fed by the townspeople outside, being catered to and pampered,
and the only beautiful thing I found about it was the performers, I
thought they were incredible. I think the rock music enthusiasts have
created probably some of the most exciting music and theatrical
events on the planet. I think they're fantastic.
reads "Look where we worship." What do young people worship today?
What do they believe? What do they hang onto; what do they hope for?
Jim Morrison: Well, I can't speak for young people, but probably a
guess would be the same things they've always celebrated, a joy of
existence, self-discovery, freedom, that kind of thing.
TT: But politically and philosophically, the young people now seem to
feel very definite ideas about the establishment, old systems of
governing people and moral attitudes.
Jim: When I was in high school and college, the kind of protest
that's going on now was totally unheard of. At that time, to be a
teenager, to be young, was really nothing, it was kind of a limbo
state, and I think it's amazing, just in the last five years. What's
happened is young people have become increasingly aware of the power
and the influence that they have as a group. It's really amazing.
TT: The standards of patriotism have changed. This was once a very
fervently patriotic nation, flag followers. Now that has undergone a
tremendous, dramatic change.
Jim: The young people in this country still do feel an identity as
Americans, but it's a different kind of patriotism. It's...they're
thinking of a different kind of America than what was thought of in
the past, but I think that they still think of themselves as
Americans. I know I identify with that word. I don't know whether
it's just been indoctrinated in me for so long or what, but I feel
like an American.
TT: A different concept of patriotism, isn't there?
Jim: This country is very young, and it has gone through a lot of
changes and will go through a lot of changes, but probably the main
difference would be that the idea of America somehow dominating the
rest of the world is beginning to lose favor, and the people I know
are just content to be one country in a whole sea of nations, rather
than trying to force one way of life on a lot of other people.
TT: When you look at young people today do you feel very optimistic
about the future?
Jim: Well, I try not to be... I always try and keep a kind of
enlightened pessimism about things, because then you don't get too
disappointed when things don't turn out the way you wanted. But, as
for revolution, I think it would be a mistake because, as far as I
can see, all a revolution does is change the power from one faction
to another. It doesn't really change anything, it's just a switch of
power. I think a revolution in this country would be a disaster. The
democratic ideals are fairly worthwhile and all we need is to change
a few leaders and change a few laws. But I think the basic ideals of
democracy are fairly worthwhile.
TT: Life does seem to become more and more involved and complex. You
know we're becoming computerized and dehumanized in that process.
Jim: There does seem to be a trend toward, a return to, a kind of
primitive, more tribal attitude, and I think it's a natural reaction
to industrialization. But unfortunately, I think it's kind of
naïve
because I think the future is going to become increasingly
mechanized, computerized as you called it, and I don't think there's
any turning back. It's just figuring out a way to survive and thrive
in that kind of society. But I don't think there's any chance of
going back.
TT: So you interpret the Hippie/Yippie movement as a reaction to the
modernization?
Jim: Oh, definitely. Kind of a Dionysiac reaction, but very naïve
and
fruitless, I think. Look at it this way. The hippie lifestyle is
really a middle class phenomenon. And it could not exist in any other
society except ours where there's such an incredible surfeit of
goods, products and leisure time. The generations immediately
preceding ours had world wars and depressions to contend with, and
for the last 10 or 15 years in this country there's time enough and
money enough to live a kind of a flagrant, outrageous lifestyle,
which was impossible before.
TT: Jim, there's a line in your book of poems which reads, "The
cleavage of men into actor and spectators is the central fact of our
time." I think that's undeniable, but I wonder, hasn't it always been
that way with society?
Jim: I suppose it has, but...with mass media and all today, it
becomes more immediately apparent. I think what I was concerned with
in that book was the fact that most people feel completely void and
helpless in controlling their own destinies, controlling the destiny
of human life. And I think it's sad. More people should be involved,
rather than designating all these powers to a few individuals. I
think the average person, whatever that is...should be a part of it
somehow. I think everyone feels that events are just going on without
their knowledge or control. I think it's one of the tragedies of our
time. I suppose it has always been that way, but now it's just become
so obvious, you know. Decisions are made for you in which you have no
part of at all. That's what I was trying to discuss.
TT: Well, it does take courage to live your own style.
Jim: Style's part of it. Style is very important, but I just lament
the fact that so many people are content with living a very quiet,
well-mannered, orderly life, when so many obvious--I'm not sure of
the right word--injustices, I guess, are going on. And they just seem
to ignore it somehow, or not care at all, just let it happen, without
ever becoming involved. I think that's sad.
TT: Jim, how do you enjoy life? What do you do?
Jim: Ah, well I'm hung up in the art game. My great joy is to try and
give form to reality, and I think I've always been into that. Music
is a great release and a great enjoyment for me, and eventually I'd
like to write something of some importance. That's my ambition, to
write something worthwhile.
TT: What would you say in this writing that would be worthwhile?
Would it be philosophical?
Jim: You know, philosophy doesn't interest me as much as it used to.
I think the day I finally was forced to realize that no one in the
world really knows any more about what's going on than any other
person, I kind of lost interest in philosophy as a study of ideas,
but philosophy appreciated from the standpoint of how men in the past
have used words, have used language. That's why for me poetry is the
ultimate art form, because what defines us as human beings is
language. The way we talk is the way we think, and the way we think
is the way we act, and the way we act is what we are. And so I
appreciate philosophy these days from the standpoint of poetry, the
use of one word next to another word next to another word. So,
philosophy is semantics, I guess.
TT: Well society has always needed, apparently, to worship heroes.
Now where are young people today looking for heroes? What type of
heroes?
Jim: Well, no heroes have come out of the Viet Nam conflict. I think
the new heroes will probably be political activists. In the 20s it
was sports figures, 30s and 40s it was movie stars and World War II
aces and all that kind of thing, then the music figures became new
heros. I think the next heroes will probably be a more intellectual
sort: political activists and perhaps scientists and computer
experts, people like that. People that have an understanding, an
intellectual awareness and a knowledge of how things run, how modern
society runs, will probably be the new heroes.
TT: Jim, relevant to your theory that people should get more involved
in life and thus enjoy it more, you have written a line of poetry
which reads, "The spectator is a dying animal." Isn't that a little
bit contradictory to what you said previously?
Jim: No, it's concerned with that same split between the actor and
the audience. To me there's something incredibly sad about a bunch of
human beings sitting down watching something take place. Of course,
in that context I was thinking a lot about film. I love movies as
much as anyone else, but the spectacle of millions and millions of
people sitting in movie theaters and in front of television sets
every night, watching a second, or third-hand reproduction of reality
going on, when the real world is right there in their living room, or
right outside on the street or down the block somewhere... I think
it's a tool to sonombulize or hypnotize people into kind of a waking
sleep.
I think the major influence in the next decade or so is going to be
the people--I don't know what you'd call them except maybe the
connectors--the people who are able to assemble masses, huge masses
of people into one spot, as we witnessed in pop festivals in the last
two or three years. The kind of people that can assemble huge crowds
in one spot, I think, will be the major influences on mass culture in
the next decade.
TT: The Woodstock gathering suggested what to you?
Jim: Yeah, I think the Woodstock phenomenon was a metaphor, in a way,
a crystallization. You could see it all right there. It was these
spoon-fed, young people, you know, wallowing in their own limbo.
Being fed by the townspeople outside, being catered to and pampered,
and the only beautiful thing I found about it was the performers, I
thought they were incredible. I think the rock music enthusiasts have
created probably some of the most exciting music and theatrical
events on the planet. I think they're fantastic.