- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
However, Janet's performances are quite often worshipped for qualities that are, as gkelly points out, anachronistic constructs on the viewers' part. In this respect. they are like the mummified remains of a community ancestor that, through a sustained process of creative mythologizing, now represent a semi-divine being who was once 8 feet tall and could breathe fire.
There were giants in the earth in those days.
Your post is so cool I hate to stick my nose in it, but anyway…
No, I think that changing times really has brought about a change in what is most valued in skating.
There is no modern skater who has the posture and carriage of Dorothy Hamill -- nor cares that she does not. Or even knows what you are talking about when you tell her, for God's sake stand up straight, girl! (I am standing straight!) This is an example of something that used to inspire ohs and ahs and has subsequently passed from the scene.
When Lori Nichol was working with Michelle Kwan Lori held up Janet Lynn as an example and told Michelle to "skate like Janet Lynn." Michelle didn't. I am quite sure that Michelle never figured out what Lori was talking about. What Janet Lynn brought to the table had by that time been superseded. Michelle went to work on her triple toe/triple toe, developing her own style presentation-wise. Something lost, something gained.
By the way, did you notice that Janet Lynn did a one-foot Axel in her U.S. Nationals program posted above? Nowadays a skater could not waste a jumping pass on such an adornment.