Before turning the tables and looking at how rock can steal from the language of advertising and mess with its head and language, let’s look at just one more example of luxury goods slumming in rock’s bad neighborhoods. The woman in Pearl Jam’s “Better Man” is seemingly a victim of domestic violence, though one whom [...]
[Gentle Reader: I'll be without Internet access for the next few days; blog posts are cued up and ready to publish until I'm back, but I'll likely not be able to respond to Comments as quickly as usual. I'll look forward to reading all when I'm back on line Thursday, March 18.--Kevin] I wrote [...]
While often criticized in the alternative music press for their radio-friendly melodies, Seattle-based Pearl Jam are nothing if not gifted storytellers. Indeed their first hit, “Alive,” opens on a scene of storytelling: “‘Son,’ she said, ‘have I got a little story for you. . . .’” The story, it turns out, is about the emotional damage that damaged [...]
Monday brought the news that the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas at Austin has acquired the papers, and a selection of the library, belonging to the late David Foster Wallace. David was on the faculty of Pomona College, where I teach, from 2002 until his death in the fall of [...]
So I closed yesterday’s post alluding to a cringe-worthy moment in Sunday night’s Oscar ceremony. I’m referring, of course, to Kathryn Bigelow’s award for Best Director. No, no, wait: That came out wrong. I’m thrilled Bigelow won. What was cringe-worthy was the way the award was announced, and the way she was serenaded off the [...]
I like to think I’m fairly sensitive to tone. Fascinated by irony, especially in its most unstable forms, I’m thrilled by cultural texts that walk the razor’s edge between sincerity and parody. Weirdly enough, I guess I’m most comfortable when slightly uncomfortable about what my reaction is supposed to be. But I just can’t seem [...]
Celebrity entertainers to play poker with? Where do I sign up? Or rather, how might one even start to think about this? I’m not a gambler, and so don’t fully understand the discrete charms of the table; but it’s hard for me to see why I’d want to play against a guy who looks vaguely like [...]
New blog: first post. Hope y’all will like it. In brief: Some joyous occasional observations on contemporary culture. Literature, music, the media. Guiltless pleasures. Pure pop for now people. More soon– Kevin Tweet This Post