Jim Henson
Jim Henson once said, “Follow your enthusiasm. It’s something I’ve always believed in. Find those parts of your life you enjoy the most. Do what you enjoy doing” (qtd. in Fionaurora). Jim did just that. He loved puppetry and made many others love it too. The creator and a performer of the Muppets, Henson is known worldwide for his creations, which include shows like Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, and characters such as Grover, Elmo, Big Bird, the Swedish Chef, Bert and Ernie, and Miss Piggy to name a few. Jim’s most famous character was Kermit the Frog. Kermit remains the Muppet with which Henson is most closely associated. Through television and feature films, Henson developed the art of puppetry to new heights of popularity and storytelling capabilities, especially the ability to create sympathetic and emotional characters that are humorous at the same time. Jim Henson’s countless movies and television shows were loved by audiences young and old, and they continue to have an impact on people nearly ten years after his sudden death.
James Maury Henson was born September 24, 1936, at King’s Daughters Hospital in Greenville, Mississippi. Jim was the second son of Paul Ransom and Elizabeth Marcella Henson. He grew up in nearby Leland, where his father, an agricultural research biologist, worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. His father was busy working and his mother was more concerned with Jim’s brother Paul. As a result of this he was somewhat neglected. Jim turned to his grandmother, who he called Dear. She helped him develop his love of art and performing (“Biography”). He also enjoyed exploring the countryside near his house. He spent much of his time with friends by a little stream called Deer Creek. “Kermit always said he came from a small swamp in Mississi(WRITTEN BY ERIC G.*)ppi. Actually it wasn’t a swamp, it was a creek—Deer Creek” (St. Pierre 15). One of his childhood friends, nicknamed “Kermit,” would later become the name of Henson's most celebrated creation. When he was in fifth grade, his family moved to Maryland.
At the age of fourteen, Jim’s life was changed forever after the Henson’s got their first television. He was fascinated. He once said, “I loved the idea that what you saw was taking place somewhere else at the same time" (qtd. in Collins). Jim loved puppet shows like Kukula...
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...for his work that taught and entertained at the same tim(ERIC G.)e. His shows Sesame Street and The Muppet Show are two of the most watched shows ever. Jim Henson has touched three generations with his artistry and will continue to for many years to come.
Bibliography:
Andres, Natalie. “A Man of Great Imagination.” Jim Henson. 1997. Online. Internet. 3 Jan. 2000. Available http://www.avana.net/~bandres/Nat/jim_henson.html
“Biography of Jim Henson.” Henson.com. 2000. Online. Internet. 3 Jan. 2000. Available http://www.henson.com/creators/biography/index.html
Collins, James. “Time 100: Artists & Entertainers: Jim Henson.” Time.com. 1999. Online. Internet. 2 Jan. 2000. Available http://pathfinder.com/time/time100/artists/profile/henson.html
Fionaurora. “Jim Henson Biography.” Fionaurora’s Jim Henson Page. 1998. Online. Internet. 29 Dec. 1999. Available http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Academy/3108/henson.html
Mc Farlin, Jim. “Jim Henson.” Detroit News. 17 May 1990, 1A.
Roush, Matt. “Like Deaths in the Family.” USA Today. 17 May 1990: 1A.
St. Pierre, Stephanie. Jim Henson, Creator of the Muppets. NY: Dell Publishing, 1991.
JIM HENSON Jim Henson was born on September 24, 1936, in Greenville, Mississippi. He moved to Maryland in fifth grade and throughout his childhood had a strong interest in both art and television. His grandmother was very supportive of his interests and constantly encouraged him to use his imagination. In 1954 Jim started in television performing puppets on a local channel’s Saturday morning program. The next year, while studying at the University of Maryland, he was given a five-minute show called Sam and Friends which aired twice a day. This show introduced the first Muppets, marionette puppets. The success of this show led him to many appearances on shows such as The Today Show and The Steve Allen Show. During this time Jim began making many humorous commercials for sponsors. With weekly appearances on these shows, Jim asked for the help of a puppet maker name Don Sahlin and a puppeteer name Frank Oz. "From 1964 to 1969 Henson produced several experimental films." In the mid-60’s Jim was asked to create characters to populate a new children’s show, Sesame Street. It was here where he made some of his most famous characters such as Ernie and Bert, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster, and Big Bird. On this show Jim produced over two dozen shorts to teach counting and other basics. Soon after his fame on Sesame Street Jim, after promoting the idea for The Muppet Show for years, finally received backing to produce. On this show the most famous Muppet of all, Kermit the Frog, was introduced along with Miss Piggy, Rizzo the Rat, Rowlf the Dog, Fozzie Bear, and of course Gonzo the Whatever. The Muppet Show became the most widely viewed television program in the world. From this show many movies and spin-off television shows have been produced. Jim Henson died in 1990 from pneumonia right after his last project for Muppet Vision 3-D, an attraction for Disney World, and right before he was going to sell his company to Disney Studios. Today his son runs and owns the Henson Company. Jim Henson possessed many lovable qualities about him but his most important characteristic was his creativity. Jim Henson created characters that were out of this world and quite unexpected. Jim Henson also had an extraordinary sense of humor, which attracted young and old to his television shows. Jim Henson once said, "Nobody creates a fad.
In the late 1940s, Davis met Gil Evans. Evans to many is seen as one of the most important jazz arrangers of all times. Alongside Miles Davis, he played a significant role in the development o f cool jazz, modal jazz, free jazz, and jazz fusion. Gil Evans was known for his ability to bring attention to impulsive improvisation within the structure of his arrangements. Evan’s took advantage of the rich textures between the various instruments and the use of harmonies.
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The widely popular film Shrek, produced and distributed by DreamWorks in 2001, grossed a total of $484,409,218 in worldwide sales (Box Office Mojo). The success of the film has led DreamWorks to create several shorts, companion films, and sequels. From its memorable characters to its whimsical, edgy humor, Shrek was an amazing, highly successful animation that would pave the way for DreamWorks to make billions off the franchise. Shrek’s success can be attributed to three main factors: the range of ages it appeals to, its creative use of intertextuality, and its ability to cover a wide range of the fairy tale functions proposed by Vladimir Propp.
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He paved a new path for entertainment with animation. "His "uniquely American" vision as a creator and an entrepreneur lives on, through his animated and live-action films, music and also in his Disneyland and Walt Disney World theme parks" (Wasko, Philips, Meehan). Disney 's work used fantasy and imagination to speak of the nation 's most promising dreams and its deepest concerns. He shaped America with his films, that had ideas about multiculturalism, racial diversity, sexuality, political preference, or religious background. "While his accomplishments are remarkable and varied, what made Walt Disney an icon was his ability not only to reflect but to create a truly American culture and influence Americans ' views of their nation" (Disney 's Vision for
Davis was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Music from the New England Conservatory in 1986, an award which recognized his lifetime of success (“Miles Davis” PBS). Miles Davis’s approach to jazz wasn’t very popular when he died, but he did a lot in the jazz genre to make it more popular. He was also very good with solos and was able to appeal to audiences using this solo technique. He serves as a remembrance of being inventive and a reminder that jazz can move forward through these inventions (Ruhlmann).
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” –Walt Disney. Walt Disney’s name may be acknowledged only as it occurs to the TV show. On the contrary, Walt Disney had not been just an artist in animation; He was a man who epitomized the American dream like few others. He was not perfect, but he affected many lives during the 1930’s in low times, and for this he may not be classified just as a hero, but also a legend.
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Ross, D. (2004). Proquest. “Escape from wonderland: Disney and the female imagination”. Marvels & Tales, 18(1), 53-66,141.
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Connellan, Thomas K. Inside the Magic Kingdom: Seven Keys to Disney's Success. Austin, TX: Bard, 1997. Print.