What Will Survive 200 Years?

[apathy maybe]

Which books and films from the last 75 years do you think will still be read and watched in 200 years time? And if so why?
Do you think that any of Sartre's work will still be around? Tolkien's?
I personally think that the Lord of the Rings (the book) will still be read in 200 years time, but I don't think that the films made in the last few years based on it will be. Some of the Science Fiction will still be read (just like H.G. Wells is still being read today). I can't think of any other books that really stand out for me. And I don't think that any film (fiction) that is around today will still be seen in 200 years time except maybe by "antiquers" lovers of the old. But these people will still where glasses, so their opinion doesn't count.


(Actually why limit it to just the last 75 years, what do you think in generally will still be around?)
(The reason I limited it to 75 years was because I heard on the radio a bloke saying that he thought that stuff from now (last 50 years) wasn't going to last.)

[Poop]

Grapes of Wrath- John Steinbeck
Brave New World- Aldous Huxley
1984- George Orwell
Native Son - Richard Wright

[apathy maybe]

I can understand 1984, and Brave New World, I haven't read Grapes of Wrath nor heard of Native Son. Can you offer some reasons as to why you think that these might still be around.

[che's long lost daughter]

Shakespeare's works are still read until now even if it's almost half a millenium old so maybe 200 years from now, he will still be widely read.

[apathy maybe]

Which is one reason I tried to limit it to more recent works. Are there any movies that will last the test of time?

[Pawn Power]

Schindler's List - 1993
Not only a moving film also well constructed, and an oscar for the best picture

[Poop]

Originally posted by Apathy [email protected] 19 2004, 03:36 AM
I can understand 1984, and Brave New World, I haven't read Grapes of Wrath nor heard of Native Son. Can you offer some reasons as to why you think that these might still be around.
"Grapes of Wrath" I don't personally like too much, but because it is 65 years old and still wildly popular, and because of its timeless subject matter, I wouldn't be surprised if it stands the test of time.

"Native Son" is a 1940 novel written by Richard Wright. It's about a black boy who works for rich, white, well-meaning liberals (actually the daughter may be a communist, and her Jewish male friend definitely is). The black boy (Bigger Thomas) accidentally kills the white girl and disposes of the evidence. Mostly, though, the book is a psychological one a la "Crime and Punisment," trying to explain the effects of racism on black people. It was one of my favorites, and is required reading at some schools, but I don't think it's somewhat underrated as a novel.

[che's long lost daughter]

I'd have to say 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

[truthaddict11]

if the underground archives hold up then we will still be seeing many of the films we hold dear today being held by people in 2204. and of course Lord of the Rings will be read in 200 years, it was read 200 years ago. It follows the Joseph Campbell model. LOTR will just be in a new format.

[truthaddict11]

Originally posted by Apathy [email protected] 19 2004, 06:42 AM
Which is one reason I tried to limit it to more recent works. Are there any movies that will last the test of time?
of course, Wells Citizen Kane is still highly revered and I still love Freaks and that movie is over 60 years old. and many films of the past 30 years have had an enormous impact on filmakers both present and future
who knows maybe future classes will be studying Tarantino next to Shakespeare.

[Red2K4]

Citizen Kane
Star wars (4-6 at least)

do you think "the da vinci code" will reach that mark?

[apathy maybe]

Lord of the Rings was being read 200 years ago? When did they discover time travel (in the future?)?
I don't actually think that Star Wars will survive. While it is a goodish trilogy (I assume you mean the first three written) it will be laughable by the time proper space travel is around. (In space, no one can hear your ship explode!)

[truthaddict11]

Originally posted by Apathy [email protected] 21 2004, 08:02 PM
Lord of the Rings was being read 200 years ago? When did they discover time travel (in the future?)?
I don't actually think that Star Wars will survive. While it is a goodish trilogy (I assume you mean the first three written) it will be laughable by the time proper space travel is around. (In space, no one can hear your ship explode!)
i wasnt talking about the books themselves but the basic story and characters have been around in different formats, frodo and luke skywalker, darth vader, mordor are all found in other cultures mythologies and stories. check out Joseph Cambell he can explain it much better than i can.

[apathy maybe]

'Ah. OK, I understand what you mean. But while one of the beauties of liturature is that these basic characters can be placed in so many different situations.

[cathatonix]

Originally posted by [email protected] 21 2004, 07:54 PM
do you think "the da vinci code" will reach that mark?
don't think so, but maybe the work of Umberto Eco. An excellent writer!
Hemingway.
Steinbeck.
Dostojevski (ok he's maybe too old here)
John Le Carre

Film:
Seven Samurais, Kurozawa. A true masterpiece.
Maybe film by the Coen brothers?
Bergman?
Plan 9 from outer space :P
The Godfather
Maybe some early film from Disney

[Inti]

I think that all the movies from the Lord of the rings triology will still be there as well as all the books written by J.R.R Tolkien and I hope the Monthy Python classics such as The Quest for the holy grail and the Life of Brian will make it too.:D Of course the Godfather triology will also have to make it. There is probably more, but I cant think very well now, its too early in the day now.

[Hate Is Art]

Films - LOTR Trilogy and Star Wars defo
- Trainspotting

Books - LOTR, On The Road, To Kill a Mockingbird.

[timbaly]

Books-
Catcher in the Rye
Animal Farm
1984
The Grapes of Wrath
To Kill A Mockingbird


Movies -
Casablanca
The Godfather
Star Wars
The Empire Strikes Back
Return of the Jedi
2001: A Space Odyseey
Gone with the Wind
Schindler's List

[timbaly]

Children's books are an intersting case nobody has mentioned yet, do you think any of them willstand the test of time? I can't think of one that stands out from the rest. But much like Shakespeare I think Nursery Rhyme books will still be read to the children of the future.

As for children's movies I think many of the Disney classics will still be watched, like Pinocchio, Bambi, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and the Lion King. I don't think this next generation of3-D graphics will be able to wipe out hand drawn aniumation off the map completely, or at least I hope not.

[Motorcycle_diAries]

Movies
- The God father
- Gone with the wind
- Schindler's List
- It's a wonderful Life.


Books
- The Lord of the rings
- Animal Farm
- 1984
- The old man and the sea

Ofcourse Children's books and movies like Cinderella, Peterpan, Snow white and the 7 dwarves, and all others in Disney club like Tom and Jerry and Buggs bunny will make it too. :)

[redstar2000]

I can't offer any nominations...but I remember once running across a list of "best-selling" 19th century authors.

Most of them I'd never even heard of!

One of the problems with "older" literary works is that the modern reader is not equipped to grasp the motivations of the characters...people don't think like that anymore.

The works that will still be around in 200 years will be the ones that people then will think are "still fresh" and "could have been written yesterday".

For example, several people have mentioned that Shakespeare is still read and performed...but is that because people find his plays genuinely interesting or because he's a "cultural icon" that is heavily subsidized and considered a "badge" of "civilization"?

One of the questions that Shakespeare was very preoccupied with was "the legitimacy of kingship" -- does anyone care about that now?

I suspect that the literary and cinematic productions of the 20th century will probably be regarded as "curiosities" in 200 years -- highly valued by a few and largely ignored by most people.

http://www.websmileys.com/sm/cool/123.gif

[I've Defected]

Books:
alot of stories by Kafka, metamorphosis, the trial, etc...
Jungian philosophy
Joseph conrad's Heart of Darkness
Ken Kesey's One flew over the cukoo's nest

Movies:
a clockwork orange
resevoir dogs/ pulp fiction
apocalypse now

[Latifa]

One of the problems with "older" literary works is that the modern reader is not equipped to grasp the motivations of the characters...people don't think like that anymore.

Of course not. You as a reader must put yourself in the correct mindframe.



The works that will still be around in 200 years will be the ones that people then will think are "still fresh" and "could have been written yesterday".

These will invariably be crap. For me a novel has to have a tangible time period attached to it.


For example, several people have mentioned that Shakespeare is still read and performed...but is that because people find his plays genuinely interesting or because he's a "cultural icon" that is heavily subsidized and considered a "badge" of "civilization"?

Why would he be a 'badge of civilisation'? He's not much more than a particularly good writer.


One of the questions that Shakespeare was very preoccupied with was "the legitimacy of kingship" -- does anyone care about that now?

I dearly hope you are being sarcastic.


I suspect that the literary and cinematic productions of the 20th century will probably be regarded as "curiosities" in 200 years -- highly valued by a few and largely ignored by most people.

Agreed.

[Rockfan]

Uncle Toms Cabin and what about some stephen king books, has anyone metioned any political literature apart from orwell?

[Wiesty]

i dont know maybe........titanic?

[bolshevik butcher]

Marx's writings? 1984, animal farm, war and peace (probably) among others.

[Latifa]

Originally posted by Clenched [email protected] 30 2005, 05:38 PM
Marx's writings? 1984, animal farm, war and peace (probably) among others.
I don't think War and Peace will survive. It's far too dense to bother with.