Posts tagged as Culture (And TV)
Sneak Peek: NBC's "Smash" Self-Leaks Its First Episode on Airplanes
You know what America is craving right now, post-recession and during a harrowing election? That's right: a very self-important drama about New York City gays, Fosse impersonators and their ladies who all love Broadway musicals and like to be mildly catty! That's why NBC is going big guns on its mid-season spectacular, "Smash," which premieres a week from today. It's supposed to redeem their fall season. Ahem. Not even kidding, about the plot: "Former 'American Idol' contestant Katharine McPhee stars as struggling actress Karen Carpenter, competing for the leading role in a new musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe." READ MORE
Did White Guys Stop Singing?
Andrew Sullivan points to this important query: Why are white men singing so much less in popular music these days? I don't know! Also, while I have you here, let me just mention that I, while late to the party, have been listening to Julia Holter's Tragedy pretty much nonstop over the last couple of weeks. It is an amazing record, although it is probably not for everyone. There are a ton of elements that could seem gimmicky or annoying in the wrong hands, but these hands seem to do everything right. Give it a listen.
Movie Star Sees Movie As Metaphor For Modern Life
"I didn’t know it a year ago that it was going to speak to so many of the issues we’re having here in the United States and throughout the world, the same kind of theme." READ MORE
Percival Everett, "Assumption"
There were two very nice reviews over the weekend for Percival Everett's Assumption. Here is what I would suggest that you do: not read these reviews (yet) and just get the book. Once you've finished it you'll want to read a bunch more about it to help yourself figure it out. My only caveat is that if you are the kind of person who needs neatly-tied bows at the end of your fictions, you will find yourself displeased with this one. I, not being that kind of person, thought it was terrific. I read it a couple of months ago and it still sticks with me. Anyway, it is definitely what you want to take with you over the holidays; it's engrossing enough that it will provide good defensive cover to keep you from whatever terminally boring conversation you might otherwise be forced to suffer through with your family.
Records Enjoyed
Awl pal Alex Ross gets listy, picking his ten favorite classical recordings of the year. There is some supplementary material here.
The Sound of 2011
"If you look for a trace of our economic woes in the music, you’ll be frustrated. People weren’t supposed to sell records, apparently, but if your name was Adele, your second album, “21,” didn’t leave the upper reaches of the Billboard Top 200 chart in the forty weeks since its American release (usually hanging about in the top ten). What about the music-biz truism that people only come out in big numbers for rappers from the gangsta disapora? Well, apparently you can be Drake and wear sweaters and sing and be as hardcore as Pikachu and go to No. 1. (You risk being called “the human croissant” on the Internet by somebody imitating the voice of Ghostface Killah, but you can handle that.) You can also be a hip-hop diaspora unto yourself, made up of largely foul-mouthed young men, and give away almost all of your music on Tumblr—and watch your leader get signed to the same label as Adele." READ MORE
The Stacey Q Gap
We are going to draw the generational line right down the middle here between those of you who are all, "Who?" and those of you who will be cursing my name for the rest of the day as you try to get this song out of your heads. So: Stacey Lynn Swain, you turn 53 today! Remember that time you were on "The Facts Of Life?" I do! You played an aspiring musician! I think you wore spandex leggings at some point! I spent four years learning the Spanish language and can barely remember one word today, let alone any kind of conjunction or idiomatic expression, but I remember that episode! The human brain is truly and mysterious and ultimately comical thing. Anyway, happy birthday! I hope you put on this dress and go celebrate.
Some Thoughts On 'Jack and Jill'
1. Let's dispense with the obvious: Jack and Jill is a vehicle for Adam Sandler, who plays both titular roles. The concept that Sandler is playing his own twin sister is, of course, the hook here to draw audiences, as well it should be: Sandler is one of our most under-appreciated performers, comedic or otherwise, and it's been obvious since his debut as the lead in Billy Madison, where he actually made you feel his transformation from lazy, spoiled hotel-empire heir into energetic scholar who finally realizes the importance of actually believing in something. But Jack and Jill is about much more than a talented thespian at the height of his powers. It's a meditation on identity. READ MORE
The Author's Big Mistake
"Confronting your reviewers never seems to go well. But I did it anyway. Kevin Morris, loather of my novel, responded, and we thought it might be interesting to talk about why he hated my book with such intensity. The following email correspondence occurred over several days following that initial contact."
