The World Beyond BetterMost > The Culture Tent
In the New Yorker...
Jeff Wrangler:
At lunch today I read Nathan Heller's Nov. 28 article "Not Our Kind: What Moral Claims Do Animals--and Robots--Make On Us?" I had a really good laugh when I read Heller's description of "the Star Wars universe" as "a multigenerational purgatory of interesting robots and tedious people." :laugh:
I also enjoyed the briefer article about Stevie Nicks. That was almost like a history lesson for me (where Nicks comes from [Phoenix], how she met Lindsey Buckingham, how Fleetwood Mac formed and fell apart), though it was a bit disconcerting to have some of my favorite musicians of my youth (James Taylor, the Eagles) described as "too white." I'm not sure what that means, but it was meant as a criticism. Well, I guess I'm "too white," too.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on December 12, 2016, 02:29:38 pm --- it was a bit disconcerting to have some of my favorite musicians of my youth (James Taylor, the Eagles) described as "too white." I'm not sure what that means, but it was meant as a criticism. Well, I guess I'm "too white," too.
--- End quote ---
I'll have to look that up, but "too white" for what? Surely there was some further explanation. If they're just plain too white, then all white people are too white. If they're "too white to be successful rap stars" that might be more understandable.
I assume it was some reference to their music -- that the description came in a context that wouldn't equally implicate, say, Bob Dylan or Lou Reed or David Bowie. But still, it seems odd and offensive. There are plenty of non-racial reasons to dislike the Eagles.
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: serious crayons on December 12, 2016, 10:07:21 pm ---There are plenty of non-racial reasons to dislike the Eagles.
--- End quote ---
And plenty of reasons to like them. Let's just agree to disagree, shall we? I'm still grieving Glenn Frey.
Meanwhile, behind as usual, but not too far behind right now, at lunch I finished Malcolm Gladwell's article (Dec. 19 & 26) comparing Daniel Ellsberg and Edward Snowden. Perhaps I should be appalled, along with Ellsberg and John Cusack, that Snowden, apparently, has never heard of Dr. Strangelove, but instead I'm finding their reaction funny. Not so funny to consider that Daniel Ellsberg is now 85 years old. ...
I also read Elif Batuman's single-page article about the Stoic philosopher Epictetus. Makes me think that perhaps I should read him, too.
And then I happily stumbled on the annual "Greetings, Friends!" by Ian Frazier. And I am absolutely tickled by his concluding line: "Faith's more a verb than it's a noun." I might even send that one on to our rector!
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on January 03, 2017, 02:17:17 pm ---And plenty of reasons to like them. Let's just agree to disagree, shall we?
--- End quote ---
Of course! I would never dream of arguing about musical taste. Seriously. Taste is taste.
Front-Ranger:
Speaking of musical taste, I've been reading and enjoying the article about Bach in the latest issue.
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