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I frequently use the word perspective as a subject for my posts, and talk about it even more often in my writings. A key component of perspective is scale.
For example, according to the CDC, more than 6,700 people die every day in the United States (PDF). This fact may or may not elicit an emotional response from any given person. And while expressing it in terms of people instead of citing it as a mere fact, such as "the daily death rate in the US is approximately 6,700", the emotional response is still going to be muted due in part to the scale. Even if someone does express a certain amount of sadness, it's not likely to become as strong as grief. However, if the scale is reduced down to that of an individual, sadness is almost inevitable; and if there's a personal connection to the one who has died, grief is also likely to ensue.
Today, Heath Ledger died from an apparent drug overdose. There's a lot of coverage in the news on this. I found the Washington Post's story to be one of the better accounts. This is a sad loss, and for reasons beyond the loss of future works now never to be performed by an up-and-coming actor. He has a two year old daughter who now has to grow-up without a father. As a father of five, including a very adorable six year old girl, this, for me, is beyond sad.
He does, in addition to his child, leave a notable legacy in the form of his movie career. I think my favorite film of his, of those I've seen, is The Brothers Grimm. It's one of the few movies that I like a lot that I don't have on DVD. Now, I suppose, I have reason to. In the meantime, I can watch A Knight's Tale again.
For example, according to the CDC, more than 6,700 people die every day in the United States (PDF). This fact may or may not elicit an emotional response from any given person. And while expressing it in terms of people instead of citing it as a mere fact, such as "the daily death rate in the US is approximately 6,700", the emotional response is still going to be muted due in part to the scale. Even if someone does express a certain amount of sadness, it's not likely to become as strong as grief. However, if the scale is reduced down to that of an individual, sadness is almost inevitable; and if there's a personal connection to the one who has died, grief is also likely to ensue.
Today, Heath Ledger died from an apparent drug overdose. There's a lot of coverage in the news on this. I found the Washington Post's story to be one of the better accounts. This is a sad loss, and for reasons beyond the loss of future works now never to be performed by an up-and-coming actor. He has a two year old daughter who now has to grow-up without a father. As a father of five, including a very adorable six year old girl, this, for me, is beyond sad.
He does, in addition to his child, leave a notable legacy in the form of his movie career. I think my favorite film of his, of those I've seen, is The Brothers Grimm. It's one of the few movies that I like a lot that I don't have on DVD. Now, I suppose, I have reason to. In the meantime, I can watch A Knight's Tale again.
