About a week ago, the Christmas decorations appeared in the lobby of my office building. Someone, somewhere really went overboard. Every flat surface hosts little scenes of golden deer frolicking in fake golden snow, there is a giant christmas tree that blocks the path to the turnstiles and all surfaces that can't quite accomodate a golden deer have swags of greenery on them. There are also about 6 different decorating themes going on there... but I really don't care. It's Christmas. The theme is Christmas. Fine.
Monday I noticed a new set of decorations in the corner of the cafeteria. Here we have a Christmas tree, a menorah and, apparently, a Kwanzaa table. I didn't see the Kwanzaa table up close until I inspected today, but could only assume thats what it was-- when you see a folding table draped in kente cloth, it can only mean Kwanzaa. When I looked more closely this morning, the Kwanzaa table also holds a Kwanzaa candle holder, wooden bowel of fruits and vegetables and dried corn. (You can read more about this at the official Kwanzaa website, http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/symbols.html)
Ok, so this is the point: In theory I totally support and value a pluralistic society. I mean, there is no caveat to this. I just don't find this all necessary. Menorahs and Christmas Trees are not the same things, one is an instrument of a religious holiday, the other is a decorative symbol associated with a religious holiday. Christmas and Hannukah aren't the same thing- and the there's Kwanzaa, which isn't the same thing at all since it's not a religious holiday... but it is an important development from the black power movement. It's just this kind of lame newish need to give everyone something roughly equivalent to Christmas. Instead of giving jews and african-americans some throw away symbol, why not chill on the Hannukah bit and teach gentiles about Rosh Hashanah? Or don't make it seem like Kwanzaa is the black people's Christmas... teach everyone what its about and why its important that it exists.
On a seperate note, I read in the paper today that tomorrow buses in New York and various other cities across the country will be honoring Rosa Parks by reserving a seat at the front of the bus in her memory. Now THATS a cool tradition.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Saturday, November 26, 2005
RENT
Ok, it got mediocre reviews from the professional critics. But check out the reviews of fans of RENT. A+ all the way around. I've seen it twice already and have some observations:
First, the Minneapolis Star Tribune movie critic needs to quit watching movies and take a look around: he seems to think that poverty, AIDS, and materialism were only problems of the 1990s. While the East Village has perked up and new drugs for HIV have curbed the tragedies of the late 1980s, to say that the movie is "too little, too late" is like saying "Hair" shouldn't have been made a movie because the Hippies were done by 1979 (when the movie came out) or that "Sound of Music" shouldn't have been made a movie because the Nazis weren't in Austria anymore. Newsflash, buddy: people still have AIDs, people still die, people are still poor, and people still sell out.
Second, the emotional climax(es) at the end are just as, or even more, powerful than on stage because they feel more real. It looks like a real hospital, real ice chips, real lesions. I have to say, I cried harder in the movie than in the play. Maybe because at the end of the movie, Angel doesn't come out to bow and dance around.
Third, Jesse Martin deserves an Oscar for his portrayal of Tom Collins. The acting was simply superb, especially since he didn't have dialogue to rely on to portray his pain at the end. It's a lot harder to convey a broken heart while you are singing but his voice together with the emotiveness of his face and body were brilliant. I wish I were a member of the Acadamy.
Finally, yes, there were a few scenes that struggled to translate from the little Broadway stage to the silver screen. The one that comes to mind is Roger up on a mountain in New Mexico/L.A. It looked sort of like a Monster Ballads video combined with a Biblical epic. Also, Maureen and Joanne's engagement party was sort of random. I mean, "Take me or leave me" is a great song, but I think it would have played out better on the streets of New York than in a hotel reception. However, these are minor stylistic points that do not detract from the film as a whole.
I love RENT, I have always loved RENT, and I will always love RENT and I can't wait to see it again.
What did others think?
First, the Minneapolis Star Tribune movie critic needs to quit watching movies and take a look around: he seems to think that poverty, AIDS, and materialism were only problems of the 1990s. While the East Village has perked up and new drugs for HIV have curbed the tragedies of the late 1980s, to say that the movie is "too little, too late" is like saying "Hair" shouldn't have been made a movie because the Hippies were done by 1979 (when the movie came out) or that "Sound of Music" shouldn't have been made a movie because the Nazis weren't in Austria anymore. Newsflash, buddy: people still have AIDs, people still die, people are still poor, and people still sell out.
Second, the emotional climax(es) at the end are just as, or even more, powerful than on stage because they feel more real. It looks like a real hospital, real ice chips, real lesions. I have to say, I cried harder in the movie than in the play. Maybe because at the end of the movie, Angel doesn't come out to bow and dance around.
Third, Jesse Martin deserves an Oscar for his portrayal of Tom Collins. The acting was simply superb, especially since he didn't have dialogue to rely on to portray his pain at the end. It's a lot harder to convey a broken heart while you are singing but his voice together with the emotiveness of his face and body were brilliant. I wish I were a member of the Acadamy.
Finally, yes, there were a few scenes that struggled to translate from the little Broadway stage to the silver screen. The one that comes to mind is Roger up on a mountain in New Mexico/L.A. It looked sort of like a Monster Ballads video combined with a Biblical epic. Also, Maureen and Joanne's engagement party was sort of random. I mean, "Take me or leave me" is a great song, but I think it would have played out better on the streets of New York than in a hotel reception. However, these are minor stylistic points that do not detract from the film as a whole.
I love RENT, I have always loved RENT, and I will always love RENT and I can't wait to see it again.
What did others think?
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
I'm a sitter...
There are two kinds of women when it come to peeing, the sitters and the hoverers. I am one of the former. I've never been much for being afraid of germs and while I wash my hands and even occasionally Purell, I've always subscribed much more to the "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" theory of dealing with the world. Yeah, I try not to, but I know that many times my hands go from a grimey subway pole to applying lip balm. I mean, really. Whatever. Anyway, I'm not trying to legislate peoples' bathroom behaviors BUT... what is it about movie theaters that makes hoverers piss all over the toilet seats? This occurs far more frequently in movie theaters than anywhere, and I've peed in some dramatic locales. Or, at least, "rustic." What I don't like is these hoverers imposing their peeing preferences on me. The only reason the toilet seat would be contaminated-- is because they peed on it. So in order to maintain my own indentity as a sitter, I am forced to wipe away a stranger's pee and sit. Which is so much grosser than that jerk just sitting in the first place.
When we first started learning about AIDS in 3rd grade or so, they had this cartoon poster that said, "Hey! Guess What? You Can't Get AIDS From..." and then there were 9 or so drawings of activities. Like, "giving someone a hug."
But more relevantly, "Using a Public Toilet." So really this all comes back to the need for HIV/AIDS education in this country-- so that every bozo at Loews knows that not only can you not get AIDS by using a public toilet, but you can't get cooties either. So sit down. Or, at least, don't pee all over the seat.
When we first started learning about AIDS in 3rd grade or so, they had this cartoon poster that said, "Hey! Guess What? You Can't Get AIDS From..." and then there were 9 or so drawings of activities. Like, "giving someone a hug." But more relevantly, "Using a Public Toilet." So really this all comes back to the need for HIV/AIDS education in this country-- so that every bozo at Loews knows that not only can you not get AIDS by using a public toilet, but you can't get cooties either. So sit down. Or, at least, don't pee all over the seat.
Sunday, November 06, 2005
West Wing
I'm watching the first episode of West Wing that I've ever seen. It's the live, limited-commercial-interruption debate between the contenders. I'm not sure why I've never watched West Wing. I love politics and elections and I love to hate some presidents. The debate is great! It's exciting and on-point and I find myself wondering how many Americans are getting a read education right now. Finally learning what CAFTA is? For the first time understanding what universal health care really means? Thinking about policy issues they've never had time for before? I wonder how many more people are watching this debate than watched the presidential debates in 2004. I'd be interested in finding some stats on that after the show. In any case, I vote for Jimmy Smits. Viva la democracia.
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