The iPad

Unless you've been living under a rock during the past couple of months, you've undoubtedly heard and read much about the iPad. One thing is certain about Steve Jobs and that is, he understands PR very, very well. Think back on the decade we just left behind and how the iPod faired. Not that badly, indeed. However, when the iPod first came out many techies were skeptical and not everyone jumped at the idea. Now, 5-6 iPods later, many of the same people are most likely among the first to try out the first-generation iPad.

The iPad is, simply put, the way of the future when it comes to information access and organization. I do believe that it will change much of how we read, watch TV, surf and so forth. It is rather hard to schlep a library of any kind and what easier way, at least at this point in our collective development, to do so than by placing the thin gadget in the purse/messenger bag?

If you're a fellow neophile then, much like me, you will be tempted to such a degree than you'll finally give in and get your own iPad. Think back on the days when you resisted to get the elusive iPod because you thought you already had a CD player (really, a CD player?!) and you couldn't justify such a splurge. But then a family member got you the first awesome 20GB iPod which then changed your life and how you viewed music and your music library. Subsequently, you simply had to upgrade and get a 60GB and after that the ipod Touch and right now you're most likely thumbing through your iPhone thinking how you'll justify getting the iPad.

Sure there are issues with with the iPad. It is, after all, not an infallible thing. However, this is not that kind of post. Let's face it, if you love technology, if you need to have access to a lot of information on a daily basis, and if you are used to being new info-oriented, then you will most likely convert to the ways of the iPad. And it delivers on aesthetics, too not that that's ever been Apple's problem.

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New Videocast: "Bored to Death" - A Review

In this new episode of Gendering the Media, I analyze HBO's new show Bored to Death. Bored to Death is a real treat especially to those who are in the business of literature and literature translated on the screen. In this analysis I mostly focus on the professional and personal relationship between the characters of George (Ted Danson) and Jonathan (Jason Schwartzman).


Note to self: Next time make sure to place the mic on the other side of the shirt. The episode will also be available on iTunes.

You may view the episode here.

Feedback welcome.

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Lared Leto and Hayley Williams Cover Lady Gaga?

I was reading up on Rolling Stone, BlackBook, and Spin earlier today and, lo and behold, it was Lady Gaga galore, again. Like Jersey Shore references, Lady Gaga tracks and costumes are another exercise in ubiquity. I like to think I can ignore vexations pretty well for the most part. However, it's pretty difficult to ignore ubiquity by virtue of it being, well, everywhere.

Two musicians I generally like and whose music I find worthy of attention i.e., Jared Leto's 30 Seconds to Mars and Paramore's Hayley Williams have both done covers of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance". I don't understand why they're doing such covers but I would think it has something to do with sales boost since Gaga's been selling very well. Be it as it may, next time I'm at the gym, the grocery store, or any store for that matter and Gaga's music is played, at least I hope they play Williams' or Leto's version. There are after all levels of vexation and that would be tolerable.

You can see Hayley's version of "Bad Romance" below. (Read about it first on Spin)



And here's 30 Seconds to Mars' version. (Read about it first on BlackBook Magazine).

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Well-being and Committed Relationships

David Brooks of the New York Times has a new Op-Ed piece called the The Sandra Bullock Trade where he asks the following philosophic question: "Would you exchange a tremendous professional triumph for a severe personal blow?"

As I was reading Brooks' piece I kept thinking that life scenarios aren't always so black and white, or better, what's entirely tragic to one might be a bit of a stumbling block to others. The thing is, people tend to have different views and expectations of commitment and monogamous relationships. However, certain life choices and lifestyles are more conducive to certain levels of commitment in a congealed union.

For example, if one of the partners has to be on the road a lot for work reasons, it would be quite difficult to keep the union strong and organically healthy. Spending quality time with the other party is, after all, what makes a relationship a relationship. However, if one needs to travel a lot and/or needs a lot of alone time to cogitate and do one's work, the best scenario for a person in such a situation would be to be paired up with an equally independent person who doesn't define the intimacy in the relationship by how much time is spent together but rather by how qualitative common time is.

This, I would say, is the mark of a strong union. In our day and age where careers are demanding and much time, focus, and dedication goes to good work ethics one thing will undoubtedly suffer, at least to some degree, and that is the committed relationship, marriage and/or domestic unions as there is only a certain amount of attention to go around, after all.

David Brooks notes:

"Marital happiness is far more important than anything else in determining personal well-being. If you have a successful marriage, it doesn’t matter how many professional setbacks you endure, you will be reasonably happy. If you have an unsuccessful marriage, it doesn’t matter how many career triumphs you record, you will remain significantly unfulfilled."

Again, I would agree with the general sentiment here but not with the extreme degree to which Brooks takes the argument. Marital and/or committed happiness is more important than most things. It, after all, can inform for the better (and, alas, at times for the worse) a person's quotidianity i.e., how the world perceives one's presence when out there. A functioning union is one that facilitates the other things of substance in which the couple is engaged. And is it not all about creating the better version of one's self after all?

Commitments don't always get a lot of praise and they should as in many cases, if not all of them, they do play a pivotal role and are mostly responsible for professional success. I absolutely agree with Brooks when he notes that "worldly success has shallow roots while interpersonal bonds permeate through and through." I would also add that one way to secure some measure of good success in both areas is by daily negotiating the allocation of personal attention and what aliquot of attention goes where.

Bottom line, to make anything work in life one would first need to want to do it. Success comes with a lot of sacrifice and a lot of pain. In order to finance all of the pain and suffering, one needs to have genuine commitment and love for the subject at hand.

But, most importantly, success, be is professional or personal, depends on a lot of factors, two of the most important ones being endurance and work, a heck of a lot of work.

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She and Him

She and Him is a new indie-folk band comprised of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward. When on my last conference, one of the attendees in the session in which I presented asked me a question regarding Deschanel's musical style and how I thought it went with her overall acting and screen presence. I answered saying that there seems to be a good measure of congruity between the majority of the roles she has taken this past decade and some of her musical projects I have had a chance to check out. Also, unlike other performers, Deschanel seems happy occupying and owning an indie place in entertainment. She does not seem to starve for that one role that will propel her away from the indie margin and into mega stardon and big mass appeal. And, perhaps that is the secret to her success with art lovers. She seems to effortlessly perform and enjoy the art form she is in for what and how it is. And much of art has to do with authenticity of expression and sheer enjoyment.

I will be reviewing the new album by She and Him soon. In the meantime, check out a new track from them called "In the Sun."
Also, the Rolling Stone reviewed the new album briefly and also included a sampler of all of their tracks. You may read their review and listen to their tracks here.

She and Him - New Music - More Music Videos

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Equality Shoes?

These shoes are courtesy of Berlin-based artist Hans Hemmert who threw a party where guests wore shoe-extenders to make them all the same height of 2 meters. Height equality is going a bit lost on me as I tend to enjoy height hierarchy but here is more about the reasoning behind this art choice.

Personally, I don't think all closets are made equal. Some people just can't match a blue heel.





Via MR.

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Chloe: A Review

I had an opportunity to see the new film Chloe after returning from my travels in the Southwest. Visually, this is a stunning film.

Stunning.

The way director Atom Egoyan captured the color red particularly is simply breath-taking. Egoyan managed to translate eroticism and the text of misunderstood sociality well largely due to his expert use of the color palate. Economizing on language makes sense especially if other paralinguistic things do the talking such as color or the act of gazing through windows, or the text of clothing. The first thing I noticed while watching this film was the almost perfect way the color of the house matched Julianne Moore's red dress in the beginning of the film as well as Amanda Seyfried's character's red fingernails. Homework well done, indeed!

As we were in the theater I kept thinking of how much I had missed seeing Liam Neeson in a truly substantial role. Neeson doesn't just play the professor role well; he exudes it most effortlessly. There is much to say about talent shining through as a result of smart pairing and true professionalism. Few male characters play the 'good guy' characters as convincingly as Neeson.

Enter Julianne Moore.

Moore is the kind of actor who facilitates. One of the films in which I truly enjoyed her performance is a little indie title called Trust the Man. In it, she plays a well-known actress who struggles with the daily burden of quotidianity, family responsibilities, and female insecurity. It's in this little film that I remember feeling justified in my usual enjoyment of her work. Moore is a pro and it shoes in the kind of work that her co-stars manage to produce. More recently, refer to Colin Firth's own Oscar-nominated performance in A Single Man which I reviewed here.
Chloe takes place in Toronto. The vibrant downtown is beautifully captured by Egoyan's lens. The area of Yorkville comes to life beautifully and the pace of daily life seems to match the pace of the narration quite well.

Another thing that struck me while watching the film is how much range Amanda Seyfried is showing. As a friend of mine noted to me about Seyfried's work in this film, "it breaks her out of a mold she might otherwise be stuck in." Her work in Big Love is worthy of attention and I have long thought that she has the potential to be very, very good. And that she is in this film.

This is a beautiful, sad, visually rich, and narration-mature film. The performances by Moore and Neeson stand out. But what perhaps is the making of the film is Amanda Seyfried's convincing portrayal of delusion and disassociation from reality. Ah, and the way the director captured the color red. It made me think of Pedro Almodovar for a bit. Maybe I'll revisit an Almodovar title or two in the near future.

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San Antonio

This week I was in San Antonio presenting at the College English Association annual conference. This time around I presented on my recently developed analysis of the 2009 film (500) Days of Summer. The title of the recent version of the presentation/article is (500) Days of Summer: A Story of Minimalism and Curbed Punk. You may see the full program of the conference here.

In addition to meeting some very interesting presenters, going to sessions full of new research, and participating in my own session, I got to do what I try to do every time I travel: check out the places the locals recommend best. This is where I praise the iPhone again. While I now seem to be more of a reticent fan of this life-facilitating gadget, it's only apropos that I tip the hat to it every now and again. Traveling is much more enjoyable and much less stressful when one relies on it. Without a doubt. The many apps allow one to make the most of the experience and it is nigh impossible to get lost when relying on it.

Naturally, I made it a point to check out the Alamo and the River Walk. If you're ever visiting in Texas, do check out San Antonio. The people are friendly, the weather is spectacular, the food lives up to the reputation, and the River Walk begs for attention.


The following pictures were taken on the Alamo grounds and the River Walk. All photos @ BR

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Nature Exploring and New Spring

Happy Spring Season!
We did some nature-exploring this weekend. First, since the weather was most docile, I decided to spend a part of the weekend biking, about 15 miles or so, on the Olentangy trail. A note about the trail. There is some construction on some of the trail and it is perhaps best to go North rather than South. Detours aside, the trail looked especially nice and, for the most part, quiet. The next day went to some farm- and nature-exploring and the weather was most congruent with the nature of the activity.

Personally, I cannot think of anything better to use to recharge the batteries and get new visual input than nature. Being in the company of fresh air, high trees, the right company, and a good trail is something that language cannot really justly capture. There's something to be said about being around the elements of nature and taking a cue from them. And since the temperature in this neck of the woods was in the mid- to upper 60's, it made perferct sense to spend the whole time outside.

Here are a few pictures taken from the Slate Park Historical Farm and Chestnut Ridge Metro Park. The highlight of the day had to be being around the big horses, the newly born twin lambs, and the breathtaking trees of Chestnut Ridge. The tip of the hat this time around goes to nature and, of course, the most indulging Spring weather.

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New Videocast: (500) Days of Summer

I am about to present my newly finished article on (500) Days of Summer at a conference and in this videocast I talk briefly about its premise. The main question I ask is: what is it about 'punk' that makes it so accepting by the mainstream?

This episode is available on my iTunes series Gendering the Media with Brikena Ribaj as well as here on HetPer.

You may view me discuss this film here.

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