Touching tweets on the loss of Maurice Sendak a couple days ago:
“We’ll be roaring our terrible roars today.”
-Timothy McSweeney“‘Please don’t go…. We love you so.’ RIP Maurice Sendak”
-St. Martin’s Press“Maurice Sendak.. Your mom has dinner waiting .. RIP.”
-leearenberg
Also got this great quote from the Wild Thing himself in my perusing of articles on the late author. From a Newsweek Article (Oct 2009):
What do you say to parents who think the Wild Things film may be too scary?
Maurice Sendak (author): I would tell them to go to hell. That’s a question I will not tolerate.
Because kids can handle it?
Maurice Sendak: If they can’t handle it, go home. Or wet your pants. Do whatever you like. But it’s not a question that can be answered.
Spike Jonze (director): Dave, you want to field that one?
Dave Eggers (producer): The part about kids wetting their pants? Should kids wear diapers when they go to the movies? I think adults should wear diapers going to it, too. I think everyone should be prepared for any eventuality.
Maurice Sendak: I think you’re right. This concentration on kids being scared, as though we as adults can’t be scared. Of course we’re scared. I’m scared of watching a TV show about vampires. I can’t fall asleep. It never stops. We’re grown-ups; we know better, but we’re afraid.
Why is that important in art?
Maurice Sendak: Because it’s truth. You don’t want to do something that’s all terrifying. I saw the most horrendous movies that were unfit for child’s eyes. So what? I managed to survive.