Readers on our coverage of appropriation accusations against Steven Spielberg's 'West Side Story,' plus COVID-time concert-going, Ronnie Spector's death and debating race and 'Grand Canyon'
It’s a shame that Ashley Lee needed to smack down the new “West Side Story” so pointlessly [“,” Jan. 4]. Movies aren’t good at defining any given group. The idea that this work is a “classic case of cultural appropriation” is depressingly anti-art.
What can four middle-aged, gay, Jewish white guys possibly have to say about bringing two warring communities together? Quite a lot, actually.Bigger is not always better. I saw “West Side Story” originally in New York in 1957. In fact, I saw it three times, I was so enthralled with it. Being a young actor studying in New York, I would get standing room. I’ve seen many other productions of the show here in Los Angeles and elsewhere.
Now we have Doc’s store run, apparently, by his widow who is Puerto Rican. It strains credulity to think the Jet’s would frequent a store run by Puerto Ricans. ” [Jan. 14]: I’m old enough to remember when the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby” first aired on the radio. At the time, I liked the song but didn’t think much more of it. Recently, the death of Ronnie Spector brought it to mind and I realized that the power of Ronnie’s voice had created a pleasant earworm so powerful that I can easily hear her soaring voice over and over in my mind.