I never quite understood until recently why this particular incident loomed so large in Dean's legacy. Unlike, say, Marilyn Monroe's death there was no real mystery or political/sexual intrigue behind what was after all a simple traffic accident. It was only when my Nascar obsessed car fanatic brother-in-law dragged me to car shows, subjected me to 24/7 news coverage of races when at his home, and taught his kids to have encyclopedic knowledge of every vehicle ever produced (including concept cars that never rolled off the assembly line) that I realized automobiles were living things to some people. Perhaps it is only a matter of time, but it is curious Paul Walker's death, which was a virtual replay of Dean's, has not become such a fetish. Perhaps it is a question of being first. There is still great interest in Bruce Lee's death, yet the even more spectacular on-set death of his son is mentioned almost as an afterthought.
I never quite understood until recently why this particular incident loomed so large in Dean's legacy. Unlike, say, Marilyn Monroe's death there was no real mystery or political/sexual intrigue behind what was after all a simple traffic accident. It was only when my Nascar obsessed car fanatic brother-in-law dragged me to car shows, subjected me to 24/7 news coverage of races when at his home, and taught his kids to have encyclopedic knowledge of every vehicle ever produced (including concept cars that never rolled off the assembly line) that I realized automobiles were living things to some people. Perhaps it is only a matter of time, but it is curious Paul Walker's death, which was a virtual replay of Dean's, has not become such a fetish. Perhaps it is a question of being first. There is still great interest in Bruce Lee's death, yet the even more spectacular on-set death of his son is mentioned almost as an afterthought.