The Grammys have made a habit of grouping similar memoriams on the same page during their montage. Four recording engineers, three classical guitarists, four publicists/managers, etc. It has the effect of both marginalizing those selected, perhaps, but also increasing the number of those so honored. They also get grouped relatively into genres, which isn't a bad thing, as it recognizes thematically similar worlds and gives fans of one notable artist a chance to explore peers or contemporaries they may not have heard. The Grammys also, being a music program, use their memoriam to play music of the departed artists as notable acts come up in the montage. I would have hoped the other shows used more clips, but then again I always think the Oscars and Emmys come up short on celebrating the actual work as opposed to the people (a philosophical difference more than a critique.)
Words don't deserve that kind of malarkey. They're innocent, neutral, precise, standing for this, describing that, meaning the other, so if you look after them you can build bridges across incomprehension and chaos. But when they get their corners knocked off, they're no good anymore…I don't think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.
