I feel like there is always a human tragedy hidden away somewhere when a person ceases to be a person and becomes a symbol in their own lifetime.

Thanks Austin, thoughtful comment, as usual. Maybe that was why he became friends with Larry Flint, some real person in his life that he could be himself with... Not have to be the symbol with.

This clip reminds me of the rather dated, but insightful description of an expert.

"An expert is someone who is at least ten miles away from his/her home."