Nouveau/Niche
I write about new pieces of art or culture that I encounter, or about old favorites. I discuss the brand new (to me anyway), and the ridiculously niche, or sometimes both.
Suffs: A Generational Clash and the Struggle For Timelessness
Suffs, a new musical following the exploits of famed 20th Century American suffragists, feels ready to take on the mantle established by another politically-minded musical. But, does it have life past its initial charms?
Stephen Sondheim
Rest in peace.
Over the Garden Wall, Intextricably Autumnal Artistry at its Finest
Over the Garden Wall is not just the perfect series to curl up with this Halloween, it’s perhaps the most quintessential piece of autumnal art.
The Shining, and the Horrors of Masculinity
The Shining is a film preoccupied with the horrors of masculinity, and the toxicity inherent in clining to said masculinity with an ironclad grip. And, this preoccupation is why I find myself obsessed with the film to this day.
A Definitive Ranking of Black Swan’s Most Heavy-Handed, Yet Genius Metaphors
Black Swan is a rare film that is somehow both decidedly genius and so unbelievably campy that it can actually be appreciated for both of these qualities simultaneously, particularly when it comes to the film’s metaphors and symbolism. And ranking those metaphors was a labor of pure love.
Sweeney Todd, Walking a Razor’s Edge Between the Dreary and the Droll
Sweeney Todd, a grisly tale of revenge and pie-making may be “out there” in its sensibilities, but to criticize Sweeney for its unsettling themes or its inherently bizarre premise is to miss out on its joys entirely.
Luca, Replacing Representation with Authenticity
Representation is an elusive target, particularly for LGBT characters. But, is it a relevant target, or one even worth hitting, when a film like Luca offers authenticity and artistry in its place?
Young Adult, the Case for the Unsympathetic Protagonist
Mavis Gary is unlikable and unsympathetic. Yet, in Young Adult, she is presented as our point of view character, our leading lady, our protagonist, without so much as a second glance. Why? Why write unsympathetic protagonists?
Hedwig and the Angry Inch: the Paradox of Queer Art and Celebrity
Some would argue that making art, particularly queer art, is an act of survival. And no film understands this better than Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
High School Musical, and the Art of the Emotional Denouement
It’s pretty challenging these days to find a movie that doesn’t rely on a violent, or action driven sequence defining its denouement. Not High School Musical, which dedicates itself to the art of the nonviolent climax; one that’s driven solely by emotion, character, and catharsis.