AMBER MATTICE
Staff Writer
It is never easy to experience loss in any form, and recently there have been many losses within the world of celebrities. Some of the most prominent deaths that received a lot of reaction from various fanbases were that of David Bowie and Alan Rickman. Both died at the age of 69 after brave and extensive battles with cancer.
Bowie and Rickman were extremely well-known and highly regarded around the world and across generations. Perhaps one of the most inspiring things about them both was their modesty and ability to be entirely relatable while being widely known in the acting and music communities.
One of Bowie’s more famous quotes depicts exactly this: “I’m not a prophet or a stone aged man, just a mortal with potential of a superman. I’m living on.”
He and Rickman contributed so much to today’s culture and the art forms that they excelled in.
Bowie crossed many thresholds in his acting and his music. People frequently commented on his ability to draw attention and charisma from everyone around him.
“David Bowie wasn’t incredibly popular when I really began listening to music, but his influence on the rock genre, on showmanship and on the pop culture world of movies was a big part of my childhood. I grew up watching ‘Labyrinth’ and made a lot of friendships through that,” said freshman English adolescence education major Makenzie Smith.
Fans and colleagues remember him most fondly for his talent and energy, but also for his humbleness which was carried in the forefront of his personality.
In an article for Entertainment Weekly, Christopher Nolan, the director of Bowie’s most recent movie, stated, “I’ve never seen a crew respond to any movie star that way, no matter how big. But he was very gracious and understood the effect he had on people.”
Similar to Bowie, Rickman knew of his powerful presence. He knew he was talented and carried a lot of fame with his name, however he never saw himself as anything more than human.
No matter the role he was playing, villain or not, Rickman was able to bring a little of himself into it. He added multiple dimensions and caught the eyes and hearts of all who watched.
When discussing Rickman and his acting skills Smith stated, “He brought an air of sophistication to some things that could otherwise be considered very childish.”
Although he is widely known and loved for his role as Professor Snape in the “Harry Potter” films, Rickman has turned heads on stage and on screen for large and small audiences alike.
“He always brought this energy and this really great performance no matter what role he was playing, which you don’t often get. You have your good actors but not ones that are always at that level,” said Colton Butler, a freshman computer science major.
According to BBC News, Emma Thompson, a frequent co-star of Rickman’s, stated soon after his death, “What I remember most was his capacity to fell you with a look or lift you with a word. The intransigence which made him the great artist he was — his ineffable and cynical wit, the clarity with which he saw most things, including me, and the fact that he never spared me the view.”
Both Bowie and Rickman give emphasis to the importance of the arts in today’s culture and prove that prominent voices in those fields resonate deeply within the minds of the people whose attention they attract.
Rickman and Bowie inspired many while alive and will continue to inspire generation after generation with their legacies.