Your Views on Contemporary Culture

[_Daniel Peterson]

I've started this thread so that people here can comment on any Mars Volta album (e.g., vs. the new Bat for Lashes), on the ending of John Wray's latest novel, and/or on the craftsmanship of In Bruges.

I'll be pretty much out of action here until at least Tuesday, but I hope that all will feel free to express themselves on these topics. I look forward to seeing the vigorous discussion that will result.



.

[_Paul Osborne]

Sorry, I lack the intelligence to participate.



Paul O

[_Eric]

<snip>

Never-mind... it's just too easy.

Have a good weekend folks.

[_Doctor Scratch]

Hey, look, Dr. Peterson: I apologize if I hurt your feelings. I realize that this might just be mock indignation on your part, but, hey---I am willing to look like a dupe here. If you are just acting, fine: I've been suckered. If your feelings were genuinely hurt, well, then: I'm sorry.

If I may just add one thing, though: it does not really help your case when you just cut and paste things that I listed off to you in a separate post. If you want to demonstrate your "hipness" and "cultural literacy", you might want to come up with a few things on your own, rather than stealing them from my post.

[_Daniel Peterson]

I don't care at all about "hipness" -- a concept that should have gone out of fashion, if it didn't, back in the fifties with the beat poets.

No, I'm just curious to see how the others measure up to your rather odd canon of contemporary cultural literacy.

I mean, really.

Bat for Lashes? Why not Arvo Pärt or John Tavener or Pat Metheny?

And In Bruges? Why not Der Untergang? Or Iskandariyya Leh? Or Das Leben der Anderen? Or The Syrian Bride?

You strike me, frankly, as a fairly young provincial who's rather pathetically, desperately, trying to pass himself off as . . . well, hip.

That's the first time, in all these years of your malevolence, that I've actually found your behavior somewhat poignant. Maybe you're human after all.

[_EAllusion]

I have a softspot in my heart for '70's progrock even though a fair amount of it is simultaneously self-serious and silly enough to be blushworthy. (Yo La Tengo making fun of Rush in this video is epic.) It goes with the nerd territory.

Modern progrock doesn't do it for me unless you count the more poppish stuff like Fiery Furnaces or Radioheadish soundscapes. Mars Volta does little for me, so while I'm aware, I can't comment.

Haven't read John Wray.

I am a film buff and have seen In Bruges, so I suppose I'll be back later to comment in detail. Just 'cause. Great film, but if I was put on a spot to the name the best of last year, that wouldn't come to mind. I'd probably go with Let the Right One In. I still need to see more of 2008. I’ll be back later.

Edit: For DCP's sake let's name Let the Right One IN in the original Swedish: Låt Den Rätte Komma In

[_EAllusion]

Hey DCP: Are you a fan of the resubtitling/editing of Downfall for modern events clips on youtube?

This is my favorite. Still cracks me up.

[_Daniel Peterson]

Hey DCP: Are you a fan of the resubtitling of Downfall for modern events clips on youtube?

Yes. It's wonderful.

It would probably work better for me, though, if I didn't know German. (Please, everybody: Notice that I know German.)

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Well, if one must throw some foreign language around, why not a bit of Swedish? I strongly recommend reading Lat den ratte komma in if one is inclined to read such fare.

I can almost imagine a young Mr. Nehor with carving knife in hand stabbing the pine tree whilst silently cursing all the bad Ex-Mormons who have ever wronged him.

Very Respectfully,

Doctor CamNC4Me

[_Blixa]

Well, if one must throw some foreign language around, why not a bit of Swedish? I strongly recommend reading Lat den ratte komma in if one is inclined to read such fare.

I can almost imagine a young Mr. Nehor with carving knife in hand stabbing the pine tree whilst silently cursing all the bad Ex-Mormons who have ever wronged him.

Very Respectfully,

Doctor CamNC4Me

Hahahahhahah!

For me Let the Right One In and In Bruges were the best films of 2008, but then Silentkid and others here already know my high opinion of those films (and my use of them in my film class).

Thanks for the lovely chuckles, EAllusion, Scratch and Dr. CamnNC4Me. I've not read the English translation yet, Dr., but likely will. Right now I'm finishing a very interesting book on the invention of Mount Timpanogos: a fascinating discussion of pre- and post-pioneer Utah history, landscape semiotics and cultural memory-making.