Is it Lame To Get Teary Watching “How The Grinch Stole Christmas?”

Posted by admin on December 9th, 2009 | No Comments »

Because I just did.

The old cartoon version that is.

I read a book a while ago by renowned playwright David Mamet called “The Three Uses of the Knife.”  He said something about how the purpose of art is to “inspire cleansing awe.”  That’s not a direct quote, but I remember that phrase, “cleansing awe.”

And I have just been cleansingly awed so to speak by the Grinch and how his tiny heart…three sizes too small, grew three sizes larger with the spirit of christmast.

So what is it about this timeless piece of art that resonates so deeply with people?  I watched it with a five year old and a seven year old and we equally awed by the end…and when I was 7 years old myself I loved it just as much as I do now.

I think it stricks a chord in so many people because I believe we all yearn for deep connection with the infinite well that lies within our heart…and we all, especially new yorkers who are caught so deeply in the hustle and bussle of going and going and going, have a tendancy to be slightly grinchy, slightly closed down in that area of our lives.  And great art…amazing art can blast through our layers of resistance and remind us of something that lies deeper within.  Thats what the Grinch just did to me.  So thank you Dr. Suess and Chuck Jones.

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