AvonVilla reviewed First Man by James R. Hansen
He was the right person for the job
5 stars
Sometimes I look at the Apollo program as a collaborative conceptual art project. The props and the set and stage design were better than anything that came before. The accompanying audiovisual elements were superb. The casting was brilliant. The scriptwriters set out to tell a story of American superiority, but as the project progressed, the themes evolved into a wider story encompassing all humanity.
Making Armstrong leading man was a key part in that evolution. His first instinct was to recognise that he was a small part in a massive engineering project, and he always acknowledged the countless thousands of people who made his famous journey possible. He was also smart enough, wise enough, to recognise that he would inevitably be seen as some sort of emissary for humanity, a chosen one, a messiah figure.
For a lesser man, especially a military man, how easy to slip into that role …
Sometimes I look at the Apollo program as a collaborative conceptual art project. The props and the set and stage design were better than anything that came before. The accompanying audiovisual elements were superb. The casting was brilliant. The scriptwriters set out to tell a story of American superiority, but as the project progressed, the themes evolved into a wider story encompassing all humanity.
Making Armstrong leading man was a key part in that evolution. His first instinct was to recognise that he was a small part in a massive engineering project, and he always acknowledged the countless thousands of people who made his famous journey possible. He was also smart enough, wise enough, to recognise that he would inevitably be seen as some sort of emissary for humanity, a chosen one, a messiah figure.
For a lesser man, especially a military man, how easy to slip into that role and be an all-American cliche. Armstrong was never going to be anything other than himself. I enjoyed reading about his unorthodox religious beliefs (or lack thereof). He was guarded about it, but before he was a megastar he once openly described himself as a Deist, someone who doesn't believe in an interventionist god. His mother was a devout Christian, she could always be counted on to turn to the camera and declare that god would protect her son and bring him home safely. Even she expressed doubts later in her life, she was like a foxhole Christian. When confronted by death she didn't have the strength to maintain her delusions, she finally adopted some of her son's rational approach. (Actually I'm exaggerating this part of the book somewhat, but that was my personal reaction).
What I've written above is my take on this excellent biography. I emphasise certain elements of Armstrong's life which I relate to. A lesser book would leave those bits out for fear of provoking controversy. The religious right doesn't care about facts, truth, or ethics. They'd prefer to have some dishonest American mythology. Armstrong wouldn't let them, and Hansen is not playing their ridiculous game either.