I come from a family of lawyers. I was expected to be a professional of some sort, not an artist. I was never uplifted for my art.
Tom ShadyacMy dad's half-Lebanese, my mom is full Lebanese. I'm three-quarters Lebanese. Irish-Lebanese.
Tom ShadyacLook at native cultures - they've lasted for tens of thousands of years, not doing everything right. We wouldn't want to emulate them in many ways, but their basic philosophies - being a part of nature, a part of a tribe or group without elevating, not what you call dominator philosophies - they lasted for tens of thousands of years. It took us to come and put them asunder.
Tom ShadyacNature is an incredible cooperative. When things operate outside of that cooperative, they die off. It's a very simple rule that nature operates under.
Tom Shadyac