A great post, Victoria, which has really got me thinking (as the best essays do). How do I reconcile likeing both Wichita Lineman and Wagner's Ring cycle? Do I need to? Is the difference partly about the amount of work they ask me to do to enjoy them? Or something about the number of layers and textures? Or perhaps I need to focus on the similarities? for example, both are arguably full of inchoate longing for an impossible world.
Like all important matters, finding the right question is the fun part and the most difficult. Thank you for helping me to dwell on this, Victoria.
Yeah, I don’t think you, or anyone, “needs to” but these are interesting questions anyway. I like your speculations too. The “inchoate longing for an impossible world”!! That.
One point to bring up is that an artist/work can move from one category to another.
Think of Dickens the popular novelist becoming part of the literary canon, or Hitchcock the director of popular thrillers becoming one of the great filmmakers because French critics really saw value in what he was doing.
I love this piece - all the layers. Feels like maybe I say that about every one of your posts. I love high and low and also mash ups. I just started a google deck with a picture served to me on IG of a library in the metro in Warsaw. I called the deck Mash Ups thinking it is spot for collecting examples, likely of high and low, and also inside/outside, up/down, above/below, fancy/cheap, acceptable/not. The mural of the "host/heroes" in my book was a stab at a high/low - research scholars and pop stars. I think juxtapositions are such fruitful thinking tools.
Thanks! and yes -- I agree about juxtapositions! They are great teaching tools too. We used them very intentionally when teaching the essay to art students. (I miss that.)
I love your Mash Ups too. That's such a rich idea. I'll look for more to share. :)
Love the title Daddy-O, Vanessa! And I'm now fascinated by your fascination with vampires. They're so complex and multilatred. The real life ones scare me most though! 😁
I sometimes say that my favorite way to connect with others is through “pop” culture, though my favorite examples of this phenomenon involve art that is decidedly niche. The interests that energize me the most as an adult are invariably those that have some link to joy I experienced as a kid. Re: Vampires – I did a ghost tour in NOLA a couple years ago, and was fascinated to hear about the casquette girls. It looks like there’s a movie in production exploring this corner of girl/vampire history, and I’m really hoping it’s good!
I heard about the casquette girls for the first time at Bouchercon-- and the author of the book about them was there, though I didn't meet her. I wonder if that's the book that's being made into a movie? There's no end to vampire movies! I am behind, frankly, and still have Nosferatu to read. Another post!
Interesting what you say about your current interests relating back to some childhood joy. I love that idea and will think more about it--
It doesn’t look like the movie has a book at its core (the writers listed are all men). Will have to look for that book, too! Very compelling slice of history.
I have similarly (but not similar) diverse interests. I'd love to know what you think of the two High and Low movies. I loved the first half of the Spike Leigh but thought it got soft in the end whereas Kurosawa keeps the moral theme going.
"I read ... even poetry every once in awhile" ... Well thank you, says this poet-friend ....
who also admires your bravery in signing up for what sounds like a daunting memoir workshop. Rest assured that the misgivings & uncertainties will be shared by all of your fellow-writers there ... looking forward to hearing about it.
A great post, Victoria, which has really got me thinking (as the best essays do). How do I reconcile likeing both Wichita Lineman and Wagner's Ring cycle? Do I need to? Is the difference partly about the amount of work they ask me to do to enjoy them? Or something about the number of layers and textures? Or perhaps I need to focus on the similarities? for example, both are arguably full of inchoate longing for an impossible world.
Like all important matters, finding the right question is the fun part and the most difficult. Thank you for helping me to dwell on this, Victoria.
Yeah, I don’t think you, or anyone, “needs to” but these are interesting questions anyway. I like your speculations too. The “inchoate longing for an impossible world”!! That.
I agree this is an interesting topic you have raised. It's also quite stimulating to explore what “high” and “low” culture have in common.
One point to bring up is that an artist/work can move from one category to another.
Think of Dickens the popular novelist becoming part of the literary canon, or Hitchcock the director of popular thrillers becoming one of the great filmmakers because French critics really saw value in what he was doing.
Yes, excellent point. That’s partly how we know these categories depend on context— they change all the time and so do their practitioners.
Good point!
I love this piece - all the layers. Feels like maybe I say that about every one of your posts. I love high and low and also mash ups. I just started a google deck with a picture served to me on IG of a library in the metro in Warsaw. I called the deck Mash Ups thinking it is spot for collecting examples, likely of high and low, and also inside/outside, up/down, above/below, fancy/cheap, acceptable/not. The mural of the "host/heroes" in my book was a stab at a high/low - research scholars and pop stars. I think juxtapositions are such fruitful thinking tools.
Thanks! and yes -- I agree about juxtapositions! They are great teaching tools too. We used them very intentionally when teaching the essay to art students. (I miss that.)
I love your Mash Ups too. That's such a rich idea. I'll look for more to share. :)
Love the title Daddy-O, Vanessa! And I'm now fascinated by your fascination with vampires. They're so complex and multilatred. The real life ones scare me most though! 😁
I sometimes say that my favorite way to connect with others is through “pop” culture, though my favorite examples of this phenomenon involve art that is decidedly niche. The interests that energize me the most as an adult are invariably those that have some link to joy I experienced as a kid. Re: Vampires – I did a ghost tour in NOLA a couple years ago, and was fascinated to hear about the casquette girls. It looks like there’s a movie in production exploring this corner of girl/vampire history, and I’m really hoping it’s good!
I heard about the casquette girls for the first time at Bouchercon-- and the author of the book about them was there, though I didn't meet her. I wonder if that's the book that's being made into a movie? There's no end to vampire movies! I am behind, frankly, and still have Nosferatu to read. Another post!
Interesting what you say about your current interests relating back to some childhood joy. I love that idea and will think more about it--
It doesn’t look like the movie has a book at its core (the writers listed are all men). Will have to look for that book, too! Very compelling slice of history.
I just looked it up. It’s YA. By Alys Arden. 😁🧛
I have similarly (but not similar) diverse interests. I'd love to know what you think of the two High and Low movies. I loved the first half of the Spike Leigh but thought it got soft in the end whereas Kurosawa keeps the moral theme going.
That’s a great reminder! I haven’t seen the Lee yet. I could see them back to back — and report.
I too would welcome more reads on the new Spike Lee. It has been a lively convo at my house.
"I read ... even poetry every once in awhile" ... Well thank you, says this poet-friend ....
who also admires your bravery in signing up for what sounds like a daunting memoir workshop. Rest assured that the misgivings & uncertainties will be shared by all of your fellow-writers there ... looking forward to hearing about it.
Apologies to my poet friends, especially you! 😁🙏 I will certainly be reporting back on the workshop experience too.