Melancholia
Just see this movie, make up your own mind and then see it again and come to a different conclusion and repeat. Give up on getting it right or choosing sides – it’s great or it’s horrible – take your side.
A Tribute to Miles – Cool Like That
This Saturday, Nov. 26 at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix, Black Poet Ventures present “Cool Like That” : A Tribute To the Genius of Miles Davis”
An Escape From Reality – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
This last week seemed, to me, to be full of a “series of unfortunate events”. By Friday, the last thing I needed was another news show or tabloid paper. I wanted to be taken away, out of the realm of current happenings. (I know, “reality shows” aren’t really, but even they weren’t fantastical enough.)
I found an old copy of one of the most fascinating fantasies ever – “100 Years of Solitude” by Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Written in 1967, the book recounts the history of a family that presides over a South American town called Macondo. It is the perfect “did it happen or didn’t it?” story.
Critics refer to García Márquez as a pioneer of “magical realism”. His work is often time shifting, mystical and surreal, it takes the reader to a different space, a different time. (Which can be such a relief when the “real” world starts to crowd in.)
“100 Years of Solitude” is a magical story – a definite adventure, a great book.
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Tree of Life – Terrence Malick
Carina Nebula
It is the first words spoken that makes this movie understandable and perfect for me. Malick treats the rest of the dialog like the utterance of the universe, important but not understandable. The idea that nature and grace exist for us to choose from is not a religious idea and that following one over another is neither right nor wrong, that in the larger scheme of things it may not matter. There are no understandable answers.
I kept thinking of the first verse of Joni Mitchell’s “The Sire of Sorrow”, and that we seek pain, not satisfaction. Life’s awareness will bring to your knees in pure awe, but that would be too easy.
“Let me speak, let me spit out my bitterness–
Born of grief and nights without sleep and festering flesh
Do you have eyes?
Can you see like mankind sees?
Why have you soured and curdled me?
Oh you tireless watcher! What have I done to you?
That you make everything I dread and everything I fear come true?...joni mitchell
I didn’t find this movie religious or trying to clarify the origins of stuff and can understand why some people would. For me the compelling message is that there is wonder all around us and we spend most of our time focused on ourselves and that what we pay attention is what we get.
If you decide to see this movie go with a group committed to viewing the full movie. Later have a conversation about what you saw or felt about the movie, it all in the experience of seeing “Tree of Life” vs. trying to understand it. All interpretations have value.
Also it will help to see it in a theater that has both exceptional visual and sound equipment. I’ve got to see it again at a different theater. Sorry Hawkins Scottsdale.
Walter Mosley on Big Think
Great observation and wisdom by Walter Mosley for the creative mind, especially for us as we get older. We recall our personal and generational history in glowing terms and on occasions dismiss the talents of a younger generation. We remember SNL with Dan, John and Chevy as always hilarious, which was far from the truth. The old SNL had as many weaknesses if not more then the current version.
I feel that Mosley’s point of view can also be applied towards education, social relationship and personal aspirations. What there was to learn that we saw as being relevant 50 years ago may not serve the same purpose today.
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Scores: HBO’s “Brave New Voices”
Team Denver "Brave New Voices" 2010
I don’t recall every feeling vindicated when listening to a poem before. “Scores” by Eli Lynch, Elizabeth Cheever and Libby Howard, begins to address issues that I have with having to rank everything. I personally think that creating scores for art work does a dis-services to the artist and the audience.
There is a ton of good happening with HBO/Russell Simmons “Brave New Voices”. Some of the reality portrayed in the poetry is heart braking, angry and raw. The bad for me is that the poetry is written and performed to get a score, putting the reality of the poem in jeopardy. And the score somehow is a reflection on who you (the writer) are, who you will be or even who you will never become.
That was sad, angry, emotional but not enough suffering you get a five. Crazy.
Think about it, this is crueler then the obviously fake “American Idol” or “Dancing with the (Fading) Stars” and says your life, your experiences is only valuable as the score we give you. Three, four or even ten people sitting behind a desk can’t and should not even be allowed to judge you. It’s a shame everything has to be a contest. When the questioned is asked the answer is always the same, “it not really about the score, but we don’t have another way of picking a winner”, as if winner and score are not related. Thanks Team Denver for calling them out or was it for the score?
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