Instead, I propose that we should think of “X-wave” names as, essentially meaning “operating as if X is true or hegemonic.” So “synthwave” is “operating as if synthwave is hegemonic”, or — to put it in less theory nerd terms — music from an imagined alternate history where Grunge and Rap never displaced New Wave. Ergo “Satanwave” is “operating as if the satanic panic were true.”
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When two aesthetic objects are placed in the same context, they are in conversation with one another, regardless of the designs of the original author(s). This is the fundamental principle of curation. By moving artwork around in in space or time, new readings become possible. This is something that is obvious to someone with my education, though I am sure that many other people have come to the same realization by other means.
Read MoreSomehow, though, famously bad – or just forgettable – movies like Super Mario Brothers, Waterworld, the Star Wars prequel trilogy, the Joel Schumacher Batman movies, Event Horizon, Starship Troppers, and Demolition Man are getting treated as hidden gems. Some of these I see the point with, others I don’t. Hell, I’ve done similar things in my own life with such films as Mystery Men. Is this simple nostalgia, or is it something else?
Read Morethere are many films out there about the power of cinema, the magic of the movies. It’s a cliché, and one that people in the film industry repeat often enough to make it sound as if they are trying to convince us. Nope is not that kind of film, despite what it might seem
Read MoreLook, I didn’t think I had been gearing up to write about the Tim Burton movie Beetlejuice, but I’m really seeing that a lot of what I’ve been talking about fit into this movie, and I really must admit that it’s a fun movie. I recommend rewatching it if you get the chance. It’s only an hour and a half long. However, I stand by what I said about the movie previously: it is part of that genre I mentioned and labeled American Cringe. (cover image from “Dead Ink Apparel” https://deadinkapparel.storenvy.com/products/24311235-dont-tread-on-me-chuck)
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