Archive: June, 2010

NOW SEE THIS: Oh shit! It's the Jersey Shore season 2 trailer!

POSTED: Thursday, July 1, 2010, 12:09 AM

Filed Under: Now See This | TV

No comments necessary. Just. Just no words.

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 12:09 AM Permalink | Post a comment

Attack of the B-Movie!: Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus at the Academy of Natural Sciences

POSTED: Wednesday, June 30, 2010, 7:02 PM

Filed Under: Movies | Museum screening

Says Megashark, "Nom, nom, nom."

Mega Shark Vs. Giant Octopus is a strikingly ingenuous answer to the question of what would happen if a shark the size of a naval destroyer and an octopus that could cover a city block suddenly awoke from a centuries-long slumber. And then did battle. I know what you're thinking: you didn't ask. But someone did, and this steaming pile of celluloid, starring Debbie Gibson (sorry, Deborah!) and a swarthy-as-ever Lorenzo Lamas is the result. As you'd expect, the made-for-TV flick is good for a whole bunch of belly laughs, and on July 22, the Academy of Natural Sciences will screen it along with their current exhibit Creatures of the Abyss. A ticket will get you admission to both. First explore the veritable horrorshow of real sea monsters in Creatures: bizarre illuminated creatures, fish that eat prey larger than themselves and the ominously-titled Colossal Squid. Then, at 7 p.m., settle in for monsters you'll only see in Hollywood with Mega Shark. Plus, the Academy's Paul Calloman and Jason Poole will provide a running commentary on the film's "scientific veracity." It'll be like Mystery Science Theater, only with smarter hecklers. You can get tickets here. But, try before you buy; the trailer is below:

h/t Geekadelphia

Thu., July 22, 5-9 p.m., $40, The Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Ben Franklin Parkway, 215-299-1000.

Posted by Eric Henney @ 7:02 PM Permalink | Post a comment

CONCERT REVIEW: Interpol @ Crocodile Rock CafÃ©, 6/25

POSTED: Wednesday, June 30, 2010, 5:28 PM

Filed Under: Music Concert Review

Interpol (except for Carlos — right, middle — who was recently replaced with David Pajo).

I don't think I was inebriated enough for the Interpol concert in Allentown. But if I were, I'm sure I would have loved it. Allentown, on the other hand, was just tipsy enough to go bananas for the post-rockers (never call them punk), who played a surprisingly short set at a jam-packed Crocodile Rock. Even shorter and less thrilling was 4-piece opener Twin Tigers, who didn't sound like anything someone with horn-rimmed glasses hadn't heard before. I'll give credit where it's due: Interpol has toured relentlessly since releasing their sophomore effort Antics in 2004, and the quartet has built up a fan base everywhere stretching from their New York roots to little old Allentown, apparently. Using all of my square foot of personal space, I watched from afar as frontman Paul Banks kept the Allentowners wanting more of his matter-of-factly melo-tone. "Dude, this is my ringtone!" I heard one denizen shout amidst the thump of "PDA." Really? What an unnatural sound you've chosen to hear every time you receive a call. As the show plodded away, the head bobbing factor always hovered around 0, save my guilty pleasure track, "Slow Hands." Most underwhelming was "Lights" from their upcoming fourth album, eloquently described by the band as having "some classical stuff going on." Woo-hoo! Then suddenly, after about 35 minutes of "Oh my god, Interpol came to Allentown," Interpol briefly departed Allentown. They returned after an unwarrantedly long "of-course-they-want-an-encore" pause for the closer, "C'mere," to the chagrin of one nearby Inter-po-po devotee: Apparently, they played the same exact setlist and encore at their last show in Pittsburgh. My beef with Interpol has been that they were a band whose live sound would exactly mimic their album (in a bad way), a belief completely reinforced by this barely-hour-long outing. Indeed, Interpol reaches out even further in the same I-Wish-I-Was-Joy-Division-But-I-Have-Just-One-Setting direction they have always aimed for, despite their alleged versatility. I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt that they would exude a powerful, raw sound that would give them some serious groove potential, but I was left wondering: Where is it? Where's the hook? Where's the X factor that turns studio greats into live legends? They left it back in the van, right next to the other half of Daniel Kessler's ego. Regardless of my pedantic criticism, the crowd ate it all up in one gulp. They wanted the same sound they heard on their iTunes (or ringtone), and they got it. With the quirky little stagelight show (debatedly my favorite part), they even got the Visualizer, too. Admittedly, I have never taken to the Interpol sound, though I tried, lord knows how hard I tried. This show was for the real Interpol folk, and it was good enough for them. I mean, dude, it's Interpol!

Kevin C

Posted 2010-06-30 21:09:33

What the band plays is nowhere near "post rock" at all.  Aside from the chip on your shoulder, you should at least get that detail correct.

jackie_a

Posted 2010-07-01 12:45:41

this is the worst review ive ever read. man, you are a douche. you tried too hard here.
can we all just get along?

PATRICKV

Posted 2010-07-01 16:28:48

So very much criticism going on in this article buddy!Since you started with this b-shit review, why isnt there a recent photo of the guys?Is this really your job?-SO FAR YOU FAILED. Unbelievable.

Harrison S.

Posted 2010-07-01 17:16:11

If they aren't post-rock, please enlighten me as to what they are. Post-rock is at the very least too vague a description.

I don't like Interpol. So sue me. Sorry if I'm not allowed to criticize things I don't like.

The picture was not my doing, so don't give me any 'b-shit.' 

Also, keep in mind I'm a 19 year-old intern. I hope you feel big, 'douche.'

Harrison S.

Posted 2010-07-01 17:32:32

PS. <3

PATRICKV

Posted 2010-07-01 17:41:13

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA, 19!?!?!?! No shit this review is a piece of crap! Why bother write about them? Wait until you graduate from college and THEN intern. sound good?Also get some decent perspective when writting about bands, a-hole.

PATRICKV

Posted 2010-07-01 17:45:07

PS. </3

Harrison S.

Posted 2010-07-01 17:52:00

I'll keep that in mind when I'm 'writting.' Thanks for the constructive criticism!
(I still love ya by the way, *mwah*)

PATRICKV

Posted 2010-07-01 18:14:46

You are very welcome, and by the way - i do take sarcasm from teenagers.

Harrison S.

Posted 2010-07-01 18:25:05

Glad to hear it. Now cease giving me 'new comment' notifications please, non-teenager.

Harrison S.

Posted 2010-07-01 18:30:17

And *I* take advice from people who spend this much time criticizing an Interpol review. Glad were on the same page!

Todd Sanders

Posted 2010-07-01 21:00:48

jackie_a, 

Calling Harrison a "douche" does not seem like the best approach to "just getting along" with him, though I do agree that cultivating positive vibes would be beneficial.

Harrison,

I enjoyed your review; it has a subtle humor and relates many of the same sentiments I have about Interpol (including the same guilty-pleasure track). I've always been back-and-forth on them.

Lynn

Posted 2010-07-01 21:31:01

were these comments suppose to criticize ? i agree with PATRICKV, though. i am glad this review isnt going anywhere and nobody has been taught any productive elements from this, specially you who is still being immature. 19 years old huh?a no-go.

Tom

Posted 2010-07-03 08:24:41

Wow, Mr Simms, what a garbage review, it reeks of both journalistic and musical laziness, next time stay in bed instead of bothering to write a review.  You tried too hard to be cool and made yourself look stupid. Let's hope your career writing reviews for pop idol fairs better.

jackie_a

Posted 2010-07-03 10:47:37

Giving <3's and ''i still love you ''dont seem to be fair in his side TO BEGIN WITH. it doesnt seem to approach also with his criticism. I bet he came up with this review right after taking a shit. Thats exactly how he would wipe his ASS.

Colby.

Posted 2010-07-07 00:45:39

What kind of music do you like then, Harrison? Perhaps you aren't qualified to write reviews about this genre of music. I'm about your age, and am ashamed of the representation you've given teenagers in the world of concert reviews.

Craig

Posted 2010-09-22 10:56:56

Guys. It's cool. Harrison has a really excessively large penis. The kind that damages chicks inadvertently.

Harrison

Posted 2010-09-22 11:04:32

It's true!

Corey

Posted 2010-12-01 16:45:34

Harrison, I actually think this was a good music review.  Though you were thoroughly being an ass, I feel that it's better when writing is engaged and alive rather than dull, monotone, and vaguely praising.  I enjoyed reading it, but then again, I don't know much about journalism at all.

Posted by Harrison Simms @ 5:28 PM Permalink | Post a comment

ART REVIEW: Late Renoir @ Philadelphia Museum of Art

POSTED: Tuesday, June 29, 2010, 11:09 PM

Filed Under: Arts Visual Art

Girl in a Red Ruff, 1896

As I walked into Late Renoir, the newest exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, it became clear that this was no ordinary presentation of Pierre-Auguste Renoir's talents — "Lise" was a no-show, "Le Moulin de la Galette" must have called in sick and "Luncheon of the Boating Party" was, well, out to lunch. The show begins with Renoir's most commercial work. The first few paintings are tolerantly campy celebrations of domestic life. Full of focused portraits, paintings such as "Two Girls Reading" are personal, but not in a way that goes over our collective heads. But these pieces are undeniably pretty, incorporating beautiful people and lavish fabrics alike. My favorite of these was "The Artist's Son Jean Drawing." The painting itself is pleasant enough to sell without being ornate, and its certainly focused. Renoir approaches his son in a particularly delicate and intimate way — its personal, but I would still put it on my wall. Jean also appears later in the exhibit, making him a constant by which we can gauge the changes in Renoir's style. The exhibit slowly moves toward larger, full-body portraits and landscapes. These works were completed after Renoir made enough money to pack up his easel and move to the Les Colletes estate in Cagnes sur Mer. The paintings certainly become less and less candied as Renoir moves away from Paris and into old age. The opulence remains intact, but the marketability is waning. The exhibit juxtaposes Renoir's landscapes with Pierre Bonnard's, making each artist's work more palpable. Renoir's landscapes have a contemporary feel with an impressionist spirit — they are divine, mystical, and gardenesque. As a post-impressionist, Bonnard seems to build directly from Renoir's works, while bringing impressionism back into the mix with further gusto, assuming the role of a younger, more experimental and unrestrained, Renoir. Renoir then branches out in a different direction — not in style, but in subject matter. He begins to apply his late style to neo-Arcadian, Mediterranean topics. Here, the exhibit focuses on one body of work, "The Judgment of Paris," giving us the initial sketch, a red chalk drawing and the painting, as well as a few sculptures based on the final work that were created with the aid of Richard Guino (the two artist's relationship is described in great detail in the audio-tour). As we move towards Renoir's nudes, it becomes increasingly apparent that he is no longer dealing with the turmoil of developing as a young man, but with the euphoria so common to the elderly. Renoir's nudes are neo-classical in the most decorative of ways — they are pink fleshy, and alive. The comparisons made between Renoir and younger artists, such as Glackens, Matisse, and Maillol, are particularly effective in this portion. These artists seem to sprout directly from the seed that is Renoir, observing the female body in a similar way, while approaching it differently. Simply, they all see women the same, but paint or draw uniquely. At the end of the exhibit, we are given a chance to retrospect. We see a few portraits even more personal than those in the first room. No longer commissioned by Renoir's acquaintances, these paintings uniformly portray Renoir's dearest family and friends. Naturally, they are cosmetic. Yet they are revealing as well. Because he is so close to these subjects, Renoir is able to simultaneously ornament and humanize them — this is the reason I was so drawn to "The Artist's Son Jean Drawing." By bringing those who meant so much to him into the studio, he brings them into our hearts as well. The grand finale of the exhibit is the self-proclaimed masterpiece, entitled "The Bathers." The painting springs from Renoir's earlier bathers, nudes and landscapes. However, it's not really much more than cumulative. But hey, Matisse loved it, and its definitely a common subject (although its mere wallpaper when compared to CÃ©zanne's). The exhibit's epilogue brings it all together — full of useful information, quotes, photographs and a video too (check Renoir's comments on Matisse). What's truly special about this exhibit, is that its as easy on the eyes as can be. Like a kitten stuffed in a box or Steve Buscemi, everyone and their mothers (mine happens to be a devoted Renoir fan) can appreciate and understand this show. Although its certainly not an exposition of Renoir's most innovative and original work, strict early-Renoir fans can appreciate it as well, for impressionism lurks below the surface in every painting put on display. However, this perk does have a dark side. Because Renoir's late work is just so damn pretty, without being avant-garde, the exhibit lacks emotion. Its much less stirring then an exhibit which, for example, includes works from Picasso's blue period or Goya's black period, and much less captivating than an exhibit detailing the creation of an artistic movement. Simply, it's a walk through the park, not a roller-coaster ride.

Through Sun., Sept. 5, $14-$24, Philadelphia Museum of Art,2600 Ben Franklin Parkway, 215-763-8100, philamuseum.org

Gary Arseneau

Posted 2010-06-29 22:29:33

June 29, 2010

Re: "a few sculptures based on the final work that were created with the aid of Richard Guino (the two artist's relationship is described in great detail in the audio-tour)."

Sculptures are created by sculptors. After 1913, a stroke ridden Renoir could barely paint. Therefore, anything attributed as a sculpture to Renoir after 1913  would be impossible.

As bad as this is, The Late Renoir exhibition contains work attributed to Renoir that was so late, he was actually dead when it was forged.

The dead don't sculpt.

Gary Arseneau
artist, creator of original lithographs & scholar
Fernandina Beach, Florida

Sheila

Posted 2010-07-17 21:32:24

One time I drew a sweet picture of Yu-Gi-Oh and Renoir somehow got credit for it.

Sheila Fines
artist, creator of original (original = awesome) aquatints & genius
Fernandina Beach, Florida

Posted by Matthew Cahn @ 11:09 PM Permalink | Post a comment

THE CURATOR: Hoagies, Claes Oldenburg and haters be hatin'

POSTED: Tuesday, June 29, 2010, 10:07 PM

Every Tuesday, Critical Mass pokes around the blog world so you don't have to.

Phawker + Passion Pit = Sad Face.

— Wow, if you thought your late night Wawa munchie run resulted in unrivaled hoagie consumption, you better rev up that digestive track. Hoagie Day is nearly upon us. Tomorrow, you can work up an appetite by jogging up and down the 1 Â¼ mile stretch of hoagie. The idea of the day is to rekindle Philly's spirit with Rocky lookalike contests and maybe an inspired hoagie pride speech by Mayor Nutter.

— Clothespins and Split Buttons — Philebrity is all about these city sculpture landmarks designed by Claes Oldenburg. What does Oldernberg have in store for his next piece that will adorn, or tower over, Lenfest Plaza? It's unclear. But to be sure, it will be oversized enough to bear the title of public art, and, given his track record, I'm guessing a thimble (or really any Monopoly playing piece).

— Man, oh Mann — of Phawker, that is — has got no love for Passion Pit, who performed several nights back here in Philly. The source of his acrimony? Mostly, it seems, Phawker has some serious pent-up aggression when it comes to the characteristically awkward, plaided-out skinny-jeansters who frequent such concerts. Why? Who knows ... maybe, he never got that fixie like the rest of the cool kids in Clark Park? Not feeling lead man Michael Angelakos' falsetto pipes or the band's '80s electro bop? Okay, each to his own. But a diatribe against white people dancing (which is what this concert review dribbles in to)? If anything, a group that brings together the frat boy — who he so disparages for his dance performance of the ol' two fist escalator — and the bobble headed hipster under one roof has got some reason to exist. Read our review for a difference in opinion.

Patrick

Posted 2010-06-30 01:07:10

who the fuck cares about phawker? kids likes blink 182, the worst live band to ever exist. case closed!

Posted by Will Stone @ 10:07 PM Permalink | Post a comment

The ladies love Billy from Twilight

POSTED: Tuesday, June 29, 2010, 6:20 PM

Filed Under: Movies

lamiastellina.altervista.org

Gil Birmingham

Last night, Meal Ticket maven Drew Lazor and I hit up a King of Prussia sneak peak/reviewer screening of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse because, well, they're totally hilarious. As per usual, we were greeted with the same undying adulation for sparkly vampires and six-packed werewolves. Tweenagers and middle-aged women scream at equal decibels in anticipation of barely legals going shirtless and brooding as hard as they can on screen. (Although, no one broke down and cried this time, like they did at the end of the New Moon, so that was disappointing.) But the most gut-busting part of the evening (other than a sighting of Philebrity's Joey Sweeney, who is probably, like, totally on Team Edward)? When werewolf Jacob's pop, Billy Black, played by Gil Birmingham, appeared onscreen and a small section of the crowd let out a whoop usually reserved for the more spritely characters. So, I'm putting out a call to the Twilight devotees: What gives? Why not Charlie (Billy Burke), who play Bella's father? He's older and studly, in that Miller High Life kind of way. Is it because of his role as ne'er-do-well casino owner Leonard Lobo on much beloved TV show Veronica Mars? That's my guess. But tell me: Why are the ladies getting all hot and bothered about Billy? RELATED >> OMGZ!: Twilight's Jackson Rathbone hits Philly

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 6:20 PM Permalink | Post a comment

CONCERT REVIEW: Against Me! @ Great Plaza at Penn's Landing, 6/28

POSTED: Tuesday, June 29, 2010, 4:37 PM

Filed Under: Music | Concert Review concert photos

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

The members of Against Me! took the stage last night in all black, except for the silver rhinestones that embellished the lead singer Tom Gabel's cut-off denim vest. The color-cooridinated Florida foursome was the third band in line, after performances by The Henry Clay People (whose guitarist looks like that guy from the FreeCreditReport.com commercials) and Metric, and preceding Omaha-based headliners, The Silversun Pickups. While the crowd was already sweaty from the 80 degree weather and gross humidity, the fans there for Against Me! took careful note of the band's important exclamation mark and raised the temperature. With their hormones. From what I gathered, Against Me!'s fans can be categorized, for the most part, into two groups: The first is comprised of high school girls in pretty dresses, the second of young men who trick themselves out with mini-Mohawks, faded blue tattoo sleeves and black muscle tees. The merging of these two groups gave the band a receptive audience that kept energy high through the beginning parts of the performance. Their set was heavy on songs from their latest album, White Crosses but around the fifth song, the crowd started to get tired from thrashing about to the fast-paced punk jams, looking delirious and tired. When Gabel went into the latest album's most popular track, "I Was an Teenage Anarchist," the crowd regained their lost energy and started moshing in small circles, as if trying to emulate the song's nostalgia for teenage chaos. But Against Me!'s "anarchy" is a bit different (read: tamer) than the kind spoken of in classic punk-rock songs. Instead of wanting to destroy, Gabel is just kinda ponders it, singing, "Do you remember when you were young? / And you wanted to set the world on fire?" placing all that energy into a separate, dissociated time. Nonetheless, the band's youthful audience enjoyed the set, and probably left feeling they had seen something real.

Alyssa

Posted 2010-06-30 11:59:03

they were so good!! radio1045 put clips of the night on the website. i love these bands

http://www.radio1045.com/pages/promo/summer-show-2010.html

Posted by Marielle Mondon @ 4:37 PM Permalink | Post a comment

OMGZ!: Twilight's Jackson Rathbone hits Philly

POSTED: Monday, June 28, 2010, 10:24 PM

Filed Under: Movies

Twilight's Jackson Rathbone recreates how he threw out the first pitch at Saturday's Phillies game.

While TwiHards line up for The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (in area theaters on Wednesday) let's look back on the weekend that was and the moments we shared with Jackson Rathbone, the smiling, accommodating young gent who just happens to be on the verge of something or other. Normal person translation: Rathbone is Jasper to the Twi-nitiated and will play Sokka in M. Night Shyamalan's upcoming The Last Airbender (out on Thursday). After he hit the smoke and heat of The Last Airbender PR appearance with costar Nicola Peltz as part of Saturday's Taste of Philadelphia fest and threw out the first ball during Saturday's Phillies game, the young Mr. Rathbone got dragged to the Piazza at Schmidts for a screening of The Twilight Saga: New Moon. Rathbone hit up the back room at PYT — Tommy Up was quite amused. I caught up to Rathbone and his mob. He told the crowd what it was like not being Robert Pattinson and not kissing lipless Kristen Stewart.Rathbone then reminded fans that he had spent time in Philly filming with Night Shyamalan (now I feel bad for him). Quicker than you can say "I can't believe HBO let Snoop Dogg do that stupid Sookie Stackhouse rap," Rathbone was gone. Like a vampire. Or a kid who surely had another PR appearance to hit up.

Posted by A.D. Amorosi @ 10:24 PM Permalink | Post a comment

THE SHOWDOWN: the kind of whimsical tunes that make you want to dress in '60s garb and dance through high school hallways

POSTED: Monday, June 28, 2010, 9:12 PM

Filed Under: Music The Showdown

A concert a day keeps the doctor away.

Monday: Kick off the week with the guitar rush of L.A.-based shoegazers, Silversun Pickups. It'll be worth it just to hear the steady build-up of Brian Aubert's careening whine on 2006's breakout single "Lazy Eye." With Against Me!, Metric & The Henry Clay People, $35, 6 p.m., Great Plaza at Penn's Landing, 301 S. Columbus Blvd., 215-928-8801. Tuesday: Take a break from stocking up on hot dogs and PBRs to catch some early Independence Day action with U.S. Royalty, a rockin' band hailing from our nation's capital. Still not sold? You can check out two of the bands tracks — available for free download at the band's website — before forking over your 8 bucks. With Dinosaur Bones, Sweet Live Rhythm and Curious Buddies. $8, 8 p.m., M Room, 15 W. Girard Ave., 215-739-5577. Wednesday: It's no secret that Philly has a long line of amazing black musicians in its history: Teddy Pendergrass, Boyz II Men, The Roots, Jill Scott. I could go on. To honor this legendary past, the folks at NewArtistSpotlight are throwing a big celebration called The Comeback: Philly Style, as part of Black Music Month. The music showcase will feature up-and-coming artists (Ron Draper, Verso and Lydia RenÃ©, to name a few) performing original songs as well as covers. $15-20, 7-11 p.m., Community College of Philadelphia, Bonnell Auditorium, 1700 Spring Garden St., 215-751-8010. Thursday: Check out the visceral post-punk explorations of the critically acclaimed Shackeltons. Having earned comparisons to the likes of Pixies, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and the White Stripes, this PA quintet is bound to a deliver a raucous good time. With Shutters, Scot Sax & Queen Electric and Winston's Dog, $8, 9 p.m., The Khyber, 56 S. 2nd St., 215-238-5888. Friday: It's sticky-hot summertime, which means we're due for a real musical sugar rush. You know, the kind of whimsical tunes that make you want to dress in '60s garb and dance through high school hallways. Good thing retro charmers She & Him (M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel) are stopping through Philly, so you can hear their old-timey pop country lilting along the Delaware. $26, 8 p.m., Great Plaza at Penn's Landing, , 301 S. Columbus Blvd., 215-928-8801. Saturday: Fan of 1997's impeccable Buena Vista Social Club? Then make sure you catch The Afro-Cuban All Stars led by Juan De Marcos GonzalÃ©z, who was instrumental in recording Buena Vista Social Club's landmark album. Give your ears a rest from Lady Gaga, and ditch the nightclub this Saturday for an evening of dancing to the tune of some of Cuba's finest performers. $40-65, 8 p.m., World CafÃ© Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400. Sunday: If you're heading down the shore for the Fourth (hooray, traffic!), celebrate the U.S. of A. with some dudes from smack-dab in the middle of it: Oklahoma's own Flaming Lips. Coyne and Co., hot off their Bonnaroo performance of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, are hitting up the House of Blues with their off-kilter brand of American indie. Here's hoping they break out the bubble. $35-40, 9 p.m. House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ, 609-343-4077.

Posted by Julia Askenase @ 9:12 PM Permalink | Post a comment

What pop culture loves are you embarrassed by?

POSTED: Monday, June 28, 2010, 6:39 PM

Filed Under: Arts | Movies | Music | TV Books

I went down the shore this weekend, which I really see as an excuse to read for an inordinate amount of time while I bake in the sun. It was, of course, glorious (as the Jersey shore always is) but I finished my book (Jennifer Egan's A Visit from the Goon Squad — I thought it was OK, not great. Rodney Anonymous agreed with me in last week's Book Quarterly) earlier than expected and was in need of new reading material so I hopped into the Atlantic Books to pick up something else. My purchase? Club Dead, the third in Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse novels, aka the inspiration behind HBO's True Blood. I've talked about my unabashed love of the Harris' series before — strong female lead, the mixture of dimestore genres sans the purple prose — but I've also discussed how I'm embarrassed by my choice of literature. As enjoyable as her books are, Harris is a pretty terrible writer, her characters (other than Sookie) are thin, her mysteries are basic and certain scenes are straight-up softcore. Even after I bought Club Dead and the next book in the series, Dead to the World, I spent the next 20 or so minutes justifying my love of this comparatively trashy fiction to my beach companions who didn't get why I needed to spend so much time reassuring them that I also read smart people books. After that last sentence, you may be thinking that I'm some pretentious twat who only deals in the height of pop culture elitism, but I'm really not. I live for television of the ridiculous — I'll defend Cougartown to the death and I'm currently engrossed in ABC Family's Pretty Little Liars and Lifetime's Drop Dead Diva. I abhor close-minded music snobbery and, while I have the education to back myself up in a hardcore discussion of film, I can honestly say I'd rather watch a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie than some highbrow piece of cinema (clearly). So why do I fold the cover over every time I read one of Sookie's stories in public, even though I insist on dropping my hard-earned cash on them? My gut says that I just think of books as high culture, while a medium like TV basks in low culturalism. Television was created as low culture, so it's alright that I have a standing date to watch Gossip Girl every Monday. Same goes for movies: Blockbusters have just as much currency as arthouse fare because of their sheer popularity, and if you haven't have gotten down to whatever is the song-of-the-moment on Q102, then you need to quit lying to yourself and admit that you too love Drake. (For the record, I'm halfway through Club Dead and it's my fave of the series so far.) But I pose the question to you, dear Crit Mass readers: What piece of pop culture are you embarrassed that you love? What movies do you mumble are "for a friend" when you hit the video store counter? What pieces of music do you wish weren't on your iPod? Let's talk about 'em in the comments. (Also, if you wanna talk Sookie, I'm down for that too!)

poncho

Posted 2010-06-28 14:49:03

Billy Zane movies and Isaac Mizrahi Live on QVC!!!

addie

Posted 2010-06-28 14:50:18

coldplay. there, i said it.

Lindsey

Posted 2010-06-28 15:09:18

I guess by these standards I should be embarrassed about everything I watch, but I'm really not. I was the biggest 98 Degrees fan there was for about 4 years of my life, and once I owned up to that later in life I pretty much stopped being embarrassed about things I like (I have since moved past boybands and have excellent taste in music, if I may say so myself). 

I will pretty much love anything the CW (yes, I like the Vampire Diaries) or ABC Family airs (except you, secret life of the american teenager). I know most of what I watch is trash and I'm totally okay with that. If you enjoy it, then why be embarrassed? Pretty Little Liars is a sweet fucking show.

CristinaP

Posted 2010-06-28 16:54:08

vampires generally: trueblood, twilight

also chick rock like the runaways. three power chords and a bad attitude is all it takes to get me on board. 

and boyband nostalgia from 5th grade i cant shake like hanson (they play their own god damn instruments and write their own songs get off my back!)

JamJam

Posted 2010-06-28 17:23:33

smallville and shia le beauf

Molly Eichel

Posted 2010-06-28 17:32:15

See! This is totally my point: I would never think to be embarrassed by a love of the Runaways, but Cristina is. Cristina, if I promise to show everyone on the bus that I'm reading Club Dead, you have to shout all the lyrics out to "Cherry Bomb" next time you hear it.

Morgan

Posted 2010-06-29 19:50:17

I love the Sookie series and I read the most ridiculous things. I read Harry Potter (which is NOT ridiculous) and I even read the Percy Jackson series... I refuse to be embarrassed by what I like to read. Its about the writing for me. I get made fun of, sure, but who cares. At least I have a healthy hobby. Same goes for movies & music. You can't help what you like... why be ashamed?

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 6:39 PM Permalink | Post a comment

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Behind the scenes of local film A Man Full of Trouble
What we're trying to do this weekend
CONCERT REVIEW: The Postal Service @ The Mann 6/17
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: Sunny, Tony and the return of Do No Harm
NOW SEE THIS: Salinger film trailer
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: Indian fare rules, Dunder Mifflin lives on, Tom Jones is a god
CONCERT PHOTOS: The National/Dirty Projectors @ The Mann Center 6/7
REVIEW: Archer Live! @ the TLA 1/11
CITY PAPER WRITING CONTEST 2013: Send stories! Send poetry!
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: Pink. Diner en Blanc 2. Breaking Glass and Milkboy at the movies. And so on.

About this blog

Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

Follow Critical Mass editors Patrick Rapa and Emily Guendelsberger on Twitter:

@mission2denmark | @emilygee

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