Arts

CBC Arts quotes of the week: Remembering David Bowie and Alan Rickman

Just a few days ago, the world said goodbye to David Bowie, a man who changed how we think of music, gender — and even what it means to be an artist. Some of the most interesting entertainment stories of the week were tributes to his influence and his legacy —so we’ve included several excerpts here, in our regular round-up of the week’s best cultural quotables. CBC Arts scanned the week's headlines — from the Golden Globes, to the Oscar nominations, to another story of loss, the death of actor Alan Rickman — for the best lines of the last seven days.

It was a week of loss, and a week of incredible tributes

Tributes to David Bowie, who died Sunday of liver cancer, were among the most moving quotes of the week. (Getty Images)

Just a few days ago, the world said goodbye to David Bowie, a man who changed how we think of music, gender — and even what it means to be an artist. Some of the most interesting entertainment stories of the week were tributes to his influence and his legacy — so we've included several excerpts here, in our regular round-up of the week's best cultural quotables. CBC Arts scanned the week's headlines — from the Golden Globes, to the Oscar nominations, to another story of loss, the death of actor Alan Rickman — for the best lines of the last seven days. 

British pop singer David Bowie in concert at Earl's Court, London during his 1978 world tour. (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

"His death was no different from his life — a work of Art."

Producer Tony Visconti remembers his long-time friend and collaborator, David Bowie, in a Facebook message to fans.

British rock singer David Bowie performs with an acoustic guitar on stage, in costume as 'Ziggy Stardust,' circa 1973. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

"You can't make a big enough deal about him. He changed the world."

Emm Gryner talks to CBC Radio's q about David Bowie. The Canadian singer-songwriter toured with the rock legend in 1999-2000. 

March 1977: Rock singers David Bowie, right, and Iggy Pop in Germany. (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images) (Getty)

"The friendship was basically that this guy salvaged me from certain professional and maybe personal annihilation — simple as that. [...] He resurrected me."

Punk legend Iggy Pop tells the New York Times how David Bowie saved his life.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: A woman leaves flowers beneath a mural of David Bowie in Brixton on January 11, 2016 in London, England. British music and fashion icon David Bowie died earlier today at the age of 69 after a battle with cancer. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

"All these different personas that he had, they really weren't about him. They were about us."

CBC's Laurie Brown interviewed David Bowie six times over the years, including this extensive conversation about his 1995 album Outside — a sequel to which he was reportedly developing before his death. She shared her memories of their time together on q this week.

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10: Actor Leonardo DiCaprio, winner of Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama for "The Revenant," poses in the press room during the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

"I want to share this award with all the First Nations people represented in this film and all the indigenous communities around the world. It is time we recognize your history and protect your indigenous lands from corporate interests and people who are out there to exploit them."

Leonardo DiCaprio, star of The Revenant, prompts controversy following his acceptance speech at the Golden Globes.

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10: In this handout photo provided by NBCUniversal, Presenter Matt Damon speaks onstage during the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal via Getty Images) (Getty Images)

"I've made a lot of movies that people just didn't go see."

Matt Damon, star of The Brothers Grimm, Titan A.E. — and, you know, sci-fi blockbuster The Martian — keeps things real-ish at the Golden Globes, in an evening CBC News called "a night of edgy, honest quotes."

(Getty Images)

"It can't get more surreal than this. Thank you for the recognition @TheAcademy. Truly a proud moment."

Toronto R&B star The Weeknd responds to his Academy Award nomination on Twitter.

15th October 1960: Film director Alfred Hitchcock (1899 - 1980) climbing the steps to a plane as he leaves Rome from Ciampino airport accompanied by his screenwriter wife, Alma Reville (1899 - 1982). (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

"We don't want to believe, for whatever reason, that a woman is contributing to the process. [...] When we talk Alfred Hitchcock, we need to talk about Alma [Hitchcock]."

Actress and author Illeana Douglas talks to CBC Radio's q about why Hollywood owes women more credit.

James Corden's signature Carpool Karaoke segment with Adele has been watched 90 million times online since January while his Late Late Show usually reaches about 1.2 million viewers per night. (CBS)

"That was the first time I was truly heartbroken, when she left."

Never mind, they'll find someone like Geri Halliwell? Adele, queen of broken-hearted pop ballads, tells James Corden how she felt when Ginger Spice quit the Spice Girls.

(q)

"Music is dance that you can't see."

Dancer Peggy Baker shares her q playlist.

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 09: Donations of Lego bricks are left in a BMW 5 series sedan as part of Chinese artist Ai Weiweis' appeal for lego bricks at The Royal Academy of Arts ahead of his latest art installation on November 9, 2015 in London, England. Collection points have been made around the world by the artist after the Danish toy company Lego refused to sell Ai Weiwei a bulk order of bricks for his upcoming art installation at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne Australia. (Photo by Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

"Lego is a language which everybody can appreciate and should be able to use it according to their will, and that's what all freedom of expression is about."

From CBC News, artist Ai Weiwei reacts to the news Lego is changing its policy on blocking the use of its bricks in projects with a "political agenda."

(Warner Bros.)

"Alan Rickman is undoubtedly one of the greatest actors I will ever work with. [...] I will carry the lessons he taught me for the rest of my life and career."

To an entire generation, he was Snape. Harry Potter's Daniel Radcliffe pays tribute to Alan Rickman in a Google+ post about the acclaimed actor who passed away this week.

British actor Alan Rickman (L) embraces actress Emma Thompson during a photo call at the 54th Venice Film Festival, August 28. Rickman makes his debut as a director in the human drama " The Winter Guest", starring Oscar-winner Emma Thompson, one of 18 films showing at the Venice Film Festival. ITALY FILM FESTIVAL - RTR657T (Getty Images)

"He was the ultimate ally. In life, art, and politics. I trusted him absolutely. He was, above all things, a rare and unique human and we shall not see his like again."

Emma Thompson remembers Alan Rickman, her co-star in several films including Sense and Sensibility, Love, Actually and the Harry Potter series.

What were your favourite culture quotes of the week? Find CBC Arts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and share them with us!