in yesterday's daily howler bob somerby examined the 'liberal' statements of michelle cotts, senior editor of the new republic - aka the new republican.
ms. cotts is distressed to find that people who believe ancient man and woman rode dinasours - with saddles no less - just aren't taking seriously by the mainstream media.
i'm distressed that ms. cotts thinks that such people deserve to be taken seriously.
but honestly not surprised when i realize how there's no rational basis to the new republican. it just flutters in the wind trying to latch onto any thing that will sell a few more issues. for much of the 90s, they positioned themselves as the mag that even republicans read. now days, they trot out stephanie on the air america commercials to claim that the rag is proudly liberal. it's all about whatever will sell 1 more issue. (sales are flat for the new republican.)
in its wet dreams, the new republican likes to pretend that it has the power of the editorial board of the new york times (a power the paper rarely uses). but the reality is no 1 really listens to the rag anymore. it's a joke among liberals and as for the right, they have their in house publications that are loudly and proudly conservative. they don't need to get behind a rag that is conservative but boasts of being liberal in radio advertisements.
there was a lot of feedback on yesterday's post and even those who said they weren't into hip-hop music were able to explore what adisa banjoko was saying and apply it to some area of their own life. wally e-mailed that the whole post was part of a lively discussion in his class that included two themes "what does it take to be newsworthy" and "what should it take to be newsworthy."
obviously, adisa banjoko and keshawn provided starting points. building blocks if we want to build a better society. but as sherry wrote 'a lot of people won't want to question themselves.'
she's right about that but fortunately, she was willing to question herself.
and that's how we get started. i'm keeping it short today due to problems yesterday. i'm nervous as to whether or not this will post, honestly. i want to thank c.i. for the help yesterday.
and i want to highlight the third estate sunday review each day so let me close this out by steering you to "It's March, which means May graduations are just around the corner, so we speak with Cinamon:"
What do you think the biggest problem with arts programs are?
Well the fact, it's a very old tradition, of having the professor's think they are creating a legacy. We'll use David as an example. He was typical of his time. You trained under him and you learned his style. So he could claim credit. He didn't do all the work but he gets the credit. The professors are often tyrannical and they act as though this system still exists and it doesn't.
They don't seem to be very well infomred in current art and as a result the students don't get information on that. The BFA people do a lot of studio time but not enough art history but you have to have the background in both past and present art forms. That's the only way you can stand up to criticism once you're out of school and someone's saying "It's crap."
What sorts of current art form weren't covered in your program?
You never hear what's on the outskirts. They want you to push the boundaries, they say they want you to, but only so much as they can handle.
I'm sick of lower forms of art versus high form. Animated cells, tatooing, those can be areas in art but they're not being treated as such. Even some of the murals, but murals are traditionally better accepted, aren't getting the credit and attention they deserve.
And regardless of what accepted area they do inform you of, you never hear about female artists unless it's "Now we're going to hear about female artists." It's never integrated into the program. You don't learn much about women past or present except in a "Look, there's a woman!" kind of way and you don't learn about current artists. For instance, all those people have no idea, unless they studied themselves, who Damien Hirst is.
Here these people are famous in their local areas and in the art world but you don't hear about them. Kids need to hear about them and be prepared for the real art world.
And I won't even go into how graphics is seen as a tech class, not an arts class and I think that's crazy.
if you're thinking, 'well i'm not an art student' i'd point out that you can apply this to more than art. there's a lot of humor in the article as well. but read it and think.
and while you're thinking, remember that common ills community member betty goes 'live' to the blog world this friday, april 1st. (barring any blog problems.) i'll be giving you more information as we get closer and on friday i will provide the address for her site.
if you like humor, i think you'll enjoy it. i've just read her post for friday if she doesn't change it. she's worked with several sample start pages. and she's taken part in the third estate sunday review all night sessions along with the 3rd gang, ci and me. i think she'll provide a new voice and i'm thrilled to know that another common ills community member is blogging. that's folding star over at a winding road, the gang at 3rd estate sunday review, me and now betty. as c.i. always says, the answer is more voices, not less. and i think you'll enjoy the way betty uses her voice.
for those who've e-mailed asking if i've backed off sex talk (i haven't) because jeff left monday, the answer is no. jeff was a lot of fun. i'm not searching for 'the 1' so don't mistake me for some carrie ann moss in the matrix!
i love my sex talk. but i don't tease about it. i'm not making a joke that leaves you hanging. if you read me talking about sex or men's bodies, you know that i've gone all the way - and then some!
from democracy now i'll steer you to this note on johnnie cochran's passing:
One of the best known lawyers in the United States has passed away. Johnnie Cochran died of a brain tumor at his home in Los Angeles.
He was 67. He is perhaps best-known for his work on the defense of O.J. Simpson during a murder trial in which Cochran uttered the famous quote "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit." His family released a statement that said "Certainly, Johnnie's career will be noted as one marked by "celebrity" cases and clientele. But he and his family were most proud of the work he did on behalf of those in the community. As Johnnie always said, "an injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." It was his rallying cry as he worked to right many wrongs, and as he provided a voice to those who needed to be heard. He was deeply committed to helping and inspiring others- especially young people. His extraordinary law career will undoubtedly stand the test of time. But it was his devotion to his fellow human beings that will remain as his true legacy."
for more on him, go to democracy now and as c.i. sometimes notes it's listen, read or watch.
speaking of c.i. i wonder if he heard the start of the majority report tonight when sam seder spoke of a blog as a community. i really think the common ills holds the lock on that term. c.i. won't even refer to the people who visit regularly as 'readers' but instead always calls them 'members.' it sure is something to see an old school blog try to rip of the common ills.
and for those who don't know, tomorrow is unfiltered last's day. if you want to check out the cool chuck d or big brain rachel maddow 1 last time, this is it. in my heart of hearts, i like to think they'd throw something to the listeners and bring lizz winstead back for the final episode but i don't see that happening. they lied to their listeners about why lizz suddenly disappeared. they waited until last week to tell the loyal listeners that unfiltered was being cancelled. so i'm not seeing that they're suddenly going to do anything for the listeners at this late date.
friday is supposed to bring the start of jerry springer's show in the place of unfiltered and i believe the hounds of hell are released on the same day.
