While we’re on the subject of young people, Jennifer Senior’s “Why You Never Truly Leave High School” in New York Magazine is an absolute goldmine on the topic of identity. High school has long been understood as an incubator for identity formation, but it’s still fascinating to read about the research behind it, particularly why it makes for such a lousy incubator. Everyone knows that we bear the scars we receive during those years for a lifetime; to see them tracked and quantified is pretty scary. As if we needed another reminder of how identity can be a prison! (One…
America / Film / Grace in Practice / Humor / Identity / Law / Music / Science / Theology / TV / Week In Review
Another Week Ends: Louis CK, Sam Spade, Prevailing Grace, Heavy Metal, Axl Rose, Viennese Creativity, Cabin in the Woods, and yes, more Damsels in Distress
1. “The Filthy Moralist: How Louis C.K. Became America’s Unlikely Conscience” in The Atlantic is remarkable, especially in its conclusion. As always when it comes to Louis, there’s a high depravity quotient, so don’t say we didn’t warn you. But also as always when it comes to Louis, the darkness is not neutral or meaningless (or merely shocking). In fact, it might even be worth the discomfort in this case to get to the final couple of paragraphs, which truly capture what Louis is about, whether he wants to be or not. It strikes me as especially pertinent as we…
Beers and Weirs and Disco and Dragons and Freaks and Geeks
“We’re all unhappy. That’s the thing about life.” — Lindsay Weir
It’s hard to believe that it’s been more than ten years since Freaks and Geeks was on the air. Time has been kind to the show, the freaks in particular – James Franco, Seth Rogen and Jason Segal having become superstars and co-creators Judd Apatow and Paul Feig now dominating the Hollywood comedy scene. Feig directed Bridesmaids after all (not to mention numerous episodes of Arrested Development and The Office), and Apatow’s name has become ubiquitous with potty-mouthed man-child dramedies (40 Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and the…
John Zahl: Fantastic review of a great film! Thanks, Dave. Undefeated is one mo...
Ken: What a rich interview. I especially love the part where he wonders if ...
DBab: Ethan...this was great! I will use "holy bananas" the rest of the wee...
Alison: Thank you Ethan. That was encouraging....
Darren Sombke: One of our former students and chapel band members at Rockford Luthera...