‘Dances With Wolves’ verses ‘Run of the Arrow’

‘Wolves’ owes debt to ‘Arrow’

William Royce in his letter of last week (“Feedback,” Feb. 7) correctly points out that “Avatar” owes a lot, narratively speaking, to “Dances With Wolves.”

But “Dances With Wolves” is itself a complete rip-off of Samuel Fuller’s vivid, raw, altogether masterful 1957 western “Run of the Arrow.” I don’t inherently mind similar stories being retold, but I do wish that filmmakers would at least acknowledge the originals.

Jeremy Arnold

Los Angeles

Wrong man on a pedestal

That was quite a tribute to Martin Scorsese (“Mean Straits,” Feb. 7). His legacy of violence, profanity, murder and degradation of human spirit will surely be a beacon for future generations.

Robert E. Simon

Sherman Oaks

Writer’s life is never easy

I read with interest Dani Shapiro’s article about how difficult it is to earn a living as a writer (“Harder to Scale,” Feb. 7).

Try writing when your partner is not earning any kind of a wage. The first thing any artist must have is a secure home: food on the table and a roof over one’s head. I am well aware that it is beyond difficult for any writer to earn a living.

It would be interesting to know if Ms. Shapiro ever had someone in her household who actually helped with these very basic needs before she sat down to write.

Pamela Wells

Los Angeles

Prickly artists hard to embrace

I enjoyed Reed Johnson’s piece on Wagner’s music (“No Denying Wagner’s Complexity, Divisiveness,” Feb. 7). I wrote a paper long ago in graduate school that addressed the issue. It concluded that many “artists” had somewhat less than angelic personalities. Toulouse-Lautrec, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Hemingway, Faulkner, Jack Kerouac and Philip K. Dick come to mind. I quoted Wagner who said, “Don’t try to understand it . . . just listen.”

Hitler may have embraced Wagner, but Wagner did not embrace Hitler.

Rock Johnson

Palm Springs

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I agree that it is each Jew’s choice how to wrap himself around the quandary of Wagner. Personally, it came after having spent a college semester studying German in Bayreuth. My statement: a single, deft spit on his grave. Since that time, I have fully enjoyed the music of a man for whom I have great antipathy.

Kenneth Jaffe

Los Angeles