Johnny Appleseed

Question

I'm starting work on a story about Johnny Appleseed.

Johnny came to notice after a Harper's article about him was published in
1871. This article, detailing John Chapman's eccentric, mystical life, madehim a hugely popular figure, and elevated him from local to national hero.

I'm thinking of writing a grown-up film, tackling themes of American identity and the frontier spirit, in all its aspects, including conflict with the Native Americans, attitudes towards the wilderness, and drinking cider.
Any thoughts? Does Johnny Appleseed make you do a Disney cringe?

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]I'm starting work on a story about Johnny Appleseed. Johnny came to notice after a Harper's article about him was ... Native Americans, attitudes towards the wilderness, and drinking cider. Any thoughts? Does Johnny Appleseed make you do a Disney cringe?[/nq]
Pretty much, yeah. I've no doubt there's a fascinating story behind the legend, but I don't see myself paying $12 to see it.

Life Continues, Despite
Evidence to the Contrary
Steven

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I'm starting work on a story about Johnny Appleseed. Johnny came to notice after a Harper's article about him was ... Native Americans, attitudes towards the wilderness, and drinking cider. Any thoughts? Does Johnny Appleseed make you do a Disney cringe?[/nq]
Well, my initial thought is that stories, generally, are about Somebody against Somebody (sometimes something) in order to get Something.
My sense of Johnny Appleseed is that he was just some guy who wandered around and planted apple trees in the wilderness.
It's not as if anybody in particular objected to it or tried to stop him from doing it or that he was planting trees on the tops of mountains.
So where is the conflict? It's not as if there were evil corporations or ranchers or cattle barons out to stop him from planting apple trees. And if there were, I imagine he would simply have gone off and planted them somewhere else. It's not as if he was committed to planting them in any one particular place or planting them where they weren't wanted.
I mean, he had a whole freaking continent in which he could plant them so where's the story?
NMS

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I'm starting work on a story about Johnny Appleseed. Johnny came to notice after a Harper's article about him was ... Native Americans, attitudes towards the wilderness, and drinking cider. Any thoughts? Does Johnny Appleseed make you do a Disney cringe?[/nq]
Work on something else - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0440970/

The ProIMDb has even more details which tells me they'll make it.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I'm starting work on a story about Johnny Appleseed. Johnny came to notice after a Harper's article about him was published in 1871. This article, detailing John Chapman's eccentric, mystical life,[/nq]
I think if you can link him to Graham Chapman and Mark David Chapman you'll have a story to tell. Kinda like The Hours, in that it'd have a weird timeline, plus the bonuses of fruit, bullets, and comedy.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I'm starting work on a story about Johnny Appleseed. Johnny ... thoughts? Does Johnny Appleseed make you do a Disney cringe?[/nq]
[nq:1]Well, my initial thought is that stories, generally, are about Somebody against Somebody (sometimes something) in order to get Something. My sense of Johnny Appleseed is that he was just some guy who wandered around and planted apple trees in the wilderness.[/nq]
That's just the setting.
[nq:1]It's not as if anybody in particular objected to it or tried to stop him from doing it or that ... wanted. I mean, he had a whole freaking continent in which he could plant them so where's the story?[/nq]
Some possible angles:
1. The War of 1812. Johnny is forced to choose sides. Not to fight, butthere's a story about him warning the settlers of an Indian attack. What were the consequences of his meddling? Failed peacemaker? Unwilling patriot?
2. Losing the wilderness. Johnny kept one step ahead of the settlers,planting his nurseries in places they were likely to settle. What's he do when the wilderness runs out, and you can get a batch of trees delivered by train?

3. Johnny, according to one story, provided money for an orphan girl to besent to school and cared for. He intended raise her up as a perfect bride, (creepy, I know-I'd have to be careful not to make him out to be a perv). She naturally started flirting with boys her own age, and wanted a normal life. So he went out to the wilderness, living with his visions of two spirit brides, which he would marry in the hereafter.

I know these are all pretty thin, so far. But there's something I always liked about Johnny Appleseed, so I'm going to see if I can work something up about him. You could well be right. Maybe there's no story, and he's just a curious chapter in a schoolbook. I'm exploring.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I'm starting work on a story about Johnny Appleseed. Johnny ... thoughts? Does Johnny Appleseed make you do a Disney cringe?[/nq]
[nq:1]Work on something else - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0440970/[/nq]
Bummer.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I'm starting work on a story about Johnny Appleseed. Johnny ... in 1871. This article, detailing John Chapman's eccentric, mystical life,[/nq]
[nq:1]I think if you can link him to Graham Chapman and Mark David Chapman you'll have a story to tell. Kinda like The Hours, in that it'd have a weird timeline, plus the bonuses of fruit, bullets, and comedy.[/nq]
Wasn't there a Chapman who translated Homer? Could be swords, sandals and cider.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I think if you can link him to Graham Chapman ... weird timeline, plus the bonuses of fruit, bullets, and comedy.[/nq]
[nq:1]Wasn't there a Chapman who translated Homer? Could be swords, sandals and cider.[/nq]
Swords, Sandals, and Cider
Major Broadway musical just waiting to happen.
The chorus sings the mighty "Yo Woe! Yo Woe!"
One galley slave cries out. "Excuse me, Overseer, sir!"

"What is it, galley slave!?" (I love those interrobang lines.)

"The ship is lisping on the left."
Overseer cracks his whip loudly over one side of the crew. "You men! Better diction, or you'll suffer!" Cracks the whip again.

The chorus sings "Yo Ho! Yo Ho!"
"Much better!" The Overseer wipes grease off his hair, prompting...

Dancing girls to prance on stage for the "Rowers and Hos" number.

This thing writes itself...

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I'm starting work on a story about Johnny Appleseed. Johnny ... thoughts? Does Johnny Appleseed make you do a Disney cringe?[/nq]
[nq:1]Well, my initial thought is that stories, generally, are about Somebody against Somebody (sometimes something) in order to get Something. ... wanted. I mean, he had a whole freaking continent in which he could plant them so where's the story?[/nq]
Aha! The story, you see, is that the good Mr. Chapman was a careful reader of the laws of this country. Turns out you could only claim limited amounts of land as a homesteader generally 160 acres up to a couple thousand acres depending on the territory. Unless you could demonstrate that you had "improved" the land.
So, while legend has it that Mr. Chapman just merrily marched around the Ohio valley planting trees for the benefit of his fellow man, in fact, his original aim was to claim the entire Ohio valley, and everything else he could "improve", as his own private property. In other words, he was a complete nutter.
It's a great* story. There are a thousand wild conflicts he either was involved in or could plausibly have been involved in. He had a secret agenda, and was basically in conflict with *everyone he met. If I was writing about it I wouldn't have spread it around the newsgroup!!!

Alan Brooks

A with an Underwood
Johnny "Trump" Appleseed
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Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Well, my initial thought is that stories, generally, are about ... which he could plant them so where's the story?[/nq]
[nq:1]Aha! The story, you see, is that the good Mr. Chapman was a careful reader of the laws of this ... in conflict with everyone he met. If I was writing about it I wouldn't have spread it around the newsgroup!!![/nq]
Maybe it's his secret way of claiming all of Usenet...

Johnny Appleseed

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