Wednesday, 20 August 2003
Adaptation - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER – Recently, I saw the film Adaptation. It's supporting performance by Chris Cooper won an Oscar this year, and both Meryl Streep and Nicolas Cage's work in the film won Academy Award nominations as well as plaudits from the critics. It's a most complicated and convoluted picture just as the story from which it emanates, thus I will spare you a synopsis or review, as to attempt to do so would sincerely not do the remarkable film any justice. However, thinking about the film now, as I write this piece, I'm struck at how adaptation spoke on many different levels to the characters of the film. We have the work that one of Nicolas Cage's character's has to do, adapting for the screen a book about orchids that Meryl Streep wrote. Which book, talks about the adapting she does as a person, as she meets Chris Cooper, an orchid harvester, who is fascinated by the adapting that certain species of orchids do.
This column is to undergo a process of adaptation. For the past four years, I have considered it both a chore as well as a hobby to think about issues large and small, and comment on them in the neighbourhood of 500 to 1,000 words, first five-times-a-week, then three, then to the current regularity of once or twice-a-week, if lucky. When I began composing pieces of my mind as it were, I didn't think I would do so for as long as I have, nor did I think it would garner as much attention as it has. I've long realised that whilst it was work, it has also been a sincere privilege to appear in other people's e-mail inbox, with whatever the hell I had on my mind at that given moment. Now, it is with some reflection, but also with some cautious optimism that I render this, what will be the final column in this format, which has served me well during the past four years and in over 600 columns.
For now, I will be benching the column and won't start writing again for another couple of weeks. After that, The Commentary will return in an expanded form on the new website « http://www.thecommentary.ca ». I will be editing the site regularly, and there you will find my column, and for posterity sake on the world wide web, its archives. I will miss writing the column and distributing it via e-mail, however, it is time to move on I suppose, and building a website is the natural step to take.
The Commentary, in its new format, will still feature a regular column from me, which after four years I can say I probably couldn't live without doing. But it will also feature the writing of other people, something that I've tried to foster over the past four years in this space, with little success. I am pleased that some notable, diverse and unique individuals have agreed to join the new publication as regular contributors, and I will be pleased to make those announcements in the coming days.
This e-mail list at Topica will continue, and I hope you will use it as your guide to the new website. In the coming days, this list will be your source for news and updates as my colleagues and I build The Commentary and its new home at « http://www.thecommentary.ca ».
As The Commentary adapts to its new home and its new look, allow me to thank all of you who have had to bear my columns in your e-mail over these past four years. For me, it's been great fun. As I adapt, I'll look fondly on these past four years, and consider it the auspicious beginnings of what's to follow. Doubtless, in ways large and small, you each, played a part. For that, I am grateful, and promise that there will be much more to come.
Cheers.
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Questions and comments may be sent to: editor@thecommentary.ca