5 COOL THINGS
1) FILM/TELEVISION
IT FOLLOWS
Since we are in the Halloween season, why not share a film that has reinvigorated my attention toward the horror genre. It Follows is a 2015 film written and directed by David Robert Mitchell.
I will let the trailer do the explaining as for the plot of this film. What I will say is that this movie left me excited again about the possibilities for this genre of filmmaking. After years of over the top, super campy horror films, It Follows takes a route rarely seen anymore. A dramatic, mysterious, tone of slow-paced horror. The director allows the film to breathe, and it only adds to the tension. The striking, synth based score bears resemblance to what many of us grew up with, watching the horror genre in the 70’s, and 80’s, with films like Halloween, and Friday the 13th. An homage was definitely played here.
I feel like David Robert Mitchell, reset the tone for these types of films back in 2015, leading to the more recent hits like Jordan Peele’s Get Out and Us. In my humble opinion, the best horror films actually have something to say. That is why Peele’s films were such a hit. It is not just all blood and guts. There is a dialogue on social dilemmas. So grab some popcorn, turn the lights out, and buckle up for a fun, intense ride.
2) MUSIC
LEON BRIDGES (American Soul)
How dare I compare anyone to the likes of Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. Well, I am doing it right here, right now. Leon Bridges is an American soul singer/songwriter that has a long, bright future ahead of him. I am instantly reminded of the styles of Cooke and Redding when I hear Bridges soulful, vocal-forward music.
I get the sense of a 50’s/60’s era soul mixed with modern day guitar structure that the Texas born artist carries into his work. The finished product is influenced for sure, but definitely makes it his own. Bridges latest album Gold-Diggers Sound features a more R&B vibe, and shows that he is not afraid to stretch, and evolve his music. The sign of an artist who is just getting started.
I am a huge fan of NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert Series, and the Bridges episode showcases this talent in full form.
3) ART
YAYOI KUSAMA (Japanese Sculptor/Installation, Painter)
http://yayoi-kusama.jp/e/information/index.html
A living artist that is definitely worth checking out is Yayoi Kusama. Like so many great artists, Kusama has dealt with a life full of trauma, and overcoming internal obstacles. She has lived the last four decades of her life, by choice, in a psychiatric hospital. Her childhood was especially troublesome, and obviously at the root of her mental health issues. Issues that Kusama has said leads her to expressing them through her art.
Currently, at 92 years old, Kusama’s art has spanned across several mediums, including sculpture, installation, painting, film, poetry, performance, and fashion. And she has finally gained the recognition for her work that is deserved.
One of her most popular styles of work is her Infinity Mirrors, with crowds of people dying to get a view. And her polka dot installations are the mark she is most well-known for.
A lot more information on Kusama’s life story can be found at the link listed above, and also a Guardian article that touches on several aspects of her career, as well as the documentary (trailer below) made by Heather Lenz: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/sep/23/yayoi-kusama-infinity-film-victoria-miro-exhibition
4) BOOKS/WRITING
THE QUIET AMERICAN, GRAHAM GREENE
Over his lifetime, Graham Greene wrote over twenty five novels, many of them positioning his characters within the political issues of the world. And The Quiet American was one of those novels that has garnered Greene’s place in literary history. This book made a profound impact on several generations of readers, mainly due to its ties to the Vietnam War, but also the fluid, and specific writing of Greene.
Purchase link: Buy The Quiet American on Amazon (my affiliate link, if you would like to support this newsletter)
“No serious writer of [the twentieth century] has more thoroughly invaded and shaped the public imagination as did Graham Greene.” - Time
Greene was actually recruited by Britain’s MI6, where he worked as an agent for several years. His travels, and work in journalism, surely influenced how, and what he wrote about in his novels.
PLOT: “Pyle is the brash young idealist sent out by Washington on a mysterious mission to Saigon, where the French Army struggles against the Vietminh guerillas. As young Pyle’s well-intentioned policies blunder into bloodshed, Fowler, a seasoned and cynical British reporter, finds it impossible to stand safely aside as an observer. But Fowler’s motives for intervening are suspect, both to the police and himself, for Pyle has stolen Fowler’s beautiful Vietnamese mistress.” @ Penguin Classics
5) PHOTOGRAPHY
WILLIAM EGGLESTON (American photographer)
William Eggleston is widely known for his work in color photography from the 1960’s, 70’s, and into the 80’s. It is said that he was a major player in bringing color photography to the forefront of the art culture, and representing it as a respectable medium.
What jumps out in his work to me is the color in his photos that represents the era. A lot of that had to do with the film stock of the time, understood, however there is something more there. A sense of time travel when looking closely at his work.
Although much of Eggleston’s work showcases what many describe as the “mundane”, or ordinary subject-matter, he ends up finding the beauty in that, and in those moments in time.
More information on William Eggleston can be found at: http://egglestonartfoundation.org/
Hey friends, don’t forget I started a podcast here on ArtWalk. You can listen on the page/app or watch the Youtube version as well. Thanks for checking it out, and don’t forget to spread the word to those who may find it interesting!