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These Are Those Things

Two Greats Together: Bob Dylan & The Rolling Stones

Was it the semi-narrative, the accusatory question (How does it feel?!), the multiple meanings of the chorus, the propulsive rave up, or just the great tune over all, but how many songs manage not to just stick for decades but rise to the pinnacle of great rock songs? And then to get the namesake and the creator together in their fifties still rockin’ it before multiple cameras and a giant swarm of fans loving every minute.

It’s definitely entertainment:

(hat tip to Amos Poe for this one!)
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These Are Those Things

Latest Banksy: Live Fast, Drive Slow

http://www.flickr.com/photos/romanywg/sets/72157614670394607/show/with/3854713753/

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These Are Those Things

Want To See A Whole Lot Of Great Stuff?

Okay, so now we have someone to add to our list of great web curators: Marc Schiller:

http://marcschiller.posterous.com/
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These Are Those Things

Leaving Some Things Unexplained

When did American movies start trying to clarify absolutely everything? What is our national obsession with trying to provide a psychological explanation for all characters’ behavior? If you ask me, I think we have gone overboard. Way overboard. Time to leave that practice behind.

It’s refreshing to see a few films recently start to abandon this practice. Miyazaki’s PONYO did not try to explain the magic (at least in the version released Stateside). Neil Blomkamp’s DISTRICT 9 did not try to explain why the aliens landed here or how people learned their language.
It is fun for the viewer to come up with their own explanations, to discuss these possibilities with their friends. We certainly don’t know everything about our world and leaving some gaps in the narrative feels truer as a result.
David Bordwell touched upon the need for spaces in his great essay “Now Leaving From Platform 1” where he explores the hopes of expanding the narrative (and yes, okay, I am referenced therein). Our storytellers really need to take it to heart. It’s curious that both of these examples come from abroad.
You can even see Bronkamp employing this strategy in the short film that launched his feature: “ALIVE IN JOBERG”.
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Chris Jordan: Art that tells the real story

Chris Jordan’s art tells the true story of our wasteful habits. You think you see it, but definitely need to take a closer look.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/08/05/science/earth/200908-chrisjordan/index.html
This:
http://thesearethosethings.blogspot.com/2008/06/art-from-waste.html
is an early post I did on Chris’ work.
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These Are Those Things

We interrupt this programming to remind you…

To visit the concession stand!

(Thanks to Jan McLaughlin)
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These Are Those Things

R.I.P. Mink

Before I ever came to NYC I spent quite a bit of time dreaming of doing so. I wanted it to be a world where everyone was as cool as Mink DeVille. He definitely gets some of the credit for moving me off the basic R&R focus and onto the wild and diverse turf that is American music. Now, having realized our loss this week, I realize I have missed all the great stuff he did after those first few albums. I may have to start to buy music again!

I think “Stand By Me” is one of the greatest pop songs ever written. It should be mandatory cover material. Willy does it proud.