By
Zack Armstrong
Arizona Daily Wildcat
I saw "Almost Famous" this weekend and was hit with a great interest in the life and work of Cameron Crowe, the writer/director of the film. I heard that the movie was loosely based on his life. I was intrigued and had to find out more.
Along with the fact that he is the youngest correspondent that Rolling Stone has ever had, interviewing everyone from The Who to Led Zeppelin, I also found out that he wrote "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and "Say Anything."
So I started thinking to myself, this is a pretty accomplished guy. He has done some pretty amazing things. He is my new hero. Then I started thinking about my old hero, and the hero before that, and the hero before that. Then I finally got to my point.
What exactly is a hero?
The dictionary defines it as a man of distinguished courage and ability admired for brave deeds and noble qualities. Aside from being sexist, this is certainly the definition I am familiar with. The dictionary also says that a hero is a model or an ideal. I guess my view of Crowe more closely resembles that second definition, but I am just not satisfied with that. I mean... what good is that? What good is this model?
I guess it is good because the "hero" in question shows us that it can be done, whatever that "it" may be for someone. Heroes prove that whatever one desires is possible. But, at the same time heroes might make you feel inferior if they reached their goals and accomplishments earlier in their lives than you have in yours.
Cameron Crowe wrote for Rolling Stone when he was 15. It officially became impossible for me to do that six years ago. That is kind of depressing. I might as well give up.
But then giving up is depressing too. What is a boy to do?
Having a hero is the same as having a wish. A part of you wishes that your life was the life of your hero while another part of you wants to exceed your hero's accomplishments and become a hero for someone else. Yet that is greedy and selfish and not a very good byproduct of a hero.
The only real thing to do is be your own hero. That way, you will spend your entire life trying to outdo your own accomplishments. Admire other people sure, but this whole hero-worship stuff is no good. There cannot be a true model for your life other than your life itself.
I admire Cameron Crowe. I admire William Shakespeare. I admire Tina Turner. I admire lots of people, but no matter how hard I try, my life will never be exactly like any of theirs.
Maybe it could be a combination though. I could go down in history as the most prolific writer who still had great legs at 50. That would be cool.
