Although I didn’t take part in the discussion, I just wanted to say a “blog bye” to Scott Walters. I quit reading most theater blogs for a long while there, and only occasionally have breezed through a handful of them.
I still hung out at Scott’s, though I wouldn’t take part in any discussions.
Best of luck in the future, Scott.
LOL. Someone in the political blogosphere thinks I'm related to David Axelrod... and of course, that's why I'm doing Project 1968.
(sarcasm) Because every single person with the last name of Smith is also related. (/sarcasm)
For the record, as far as I know I am not related to David Axelrod. We happen to have the same last name, but that's as far as it goes. I've never even met the man.
Believe me, I was related to him, I'd hit him up for money. He's probably making more than I am.
I love conspiracies as much as the next person...
But please people. Aim your tin-foil hats toward Roswell. You'll have better luck there.
(On a side note: It's been seven months since I was accused of being a "red-state blogger," so I guess it's about time for me to be labeled a "liberal blogger." Sheesh.)
UPDATE - 5 minutes later: Jethro has just informed me that there's a Jim Axelrod on CBS news. I'm not related to him either.
UPDATE - 15 minutes later: I've changed right-wing blogosphere to political blogosphere. Evidently the radio show host is a liberal and the person who yelled conspiracy is a wack-job... But we knew that already.
Roger Armbrust has asked me to post this announcement.
Call for Submissions for the Our National Conversation Series
"Our National Conversation book series covers vital American concerns including—but not limited to—water supply, health care, energy, homelessness, public education, taxation, our Constitution, as well as presidential, Congressional, judicial, and corporate accountability."
He notes that they are "primarily concerned with vital issues directly impacting the American continent, or a region thereof, but will also consider topics international in scope. Any matter affecting the common good. Accepted projects most likely will involve informational manuscripts bearing on a critical national issue, but may also range from personal and professional experiences to photojournalism."
An additional item: "For Discussion series, we'll look for tight writing, probably 150-200 typewritten pages."
The website: www.pbros.net
On a personal note, if you don't know Roger Armbrust, you should. He was national news editor for Backstage, taught writing at New York University and has a whole host of other credits to his name. I've also posted a series of interviews with him on Project 1968. He's a friend and a good guy.
To email him: jra@pbros.net
Since Joshua has 'fessed up, I will as well.
I do apologize for those who've been checking in on a regular basis. I'm not ignoring you. I have plenty to say about many things, and I even have a few announcements. But the thing is, the project has developed a following. And since I make at least two entries a day - sometimes as many as five a day - that is where my energy is going right now.
This isn't to say that I'm closing up shop here. Not at all. But I've had to scale back a bit here to give the project its due.
So... in the next few hours and days, I've scheduled some posts to pop up while I'm doing other things. Hopefully this will catch us all up, and then I'll resume my regular posting. And I do mean regular.
Thanks for your understanding.
A new way? A fabulous article on the economy and the cultural shift at Salon.
"America's not on top anymore, because we've been exporting nothing but lukewarm fajita platters and spray-tanned celebrity jackasses for decades now. The days of closet-reorganizing professionals and Botox parties and hiring a personal trainer for your nanny's personal chef are over ... and thank God for that."
Amen. This kind of mediocrity has seeped all the way through our cultural landscape. It's the reason I gravitate towards 20th century literature, music and art. After 1979, something happened which radically changed the fiber of our country. This "change for the worse" shows up in the culture from 1980 onward. It's a shift away from humanity, community and common good towards selfishness, materialism and conformity.
I've watched the transition from the 80s hard-core greed to the 90s meaninglessness to 00s fear. I've witnessed writers cater to readers and audiences who superficially protest against these values.
A cultural shift is coming. Our political system guarantees it. The recession supports it. As the article writer notes, we can't rely on catastrophes to create this shift. The job of those in the arts these days - myself included - is to witness, validate and build momentum for change.
If you don't know much about the Great Depression and would like to learn more, there's no shame in reading "Hard Times: The 30s" from Time-Life Books. It will give you an overview of what life was like during the decade, and the pictures are fabulous.
The best part of the book are the factoids. Radio schedules, annual salaries and snippets of radio show scripts are interspersed throughout the text. For those writing about the 30s, these features are priceless.
Example: A union man listens to Eddie Cantor's Camel Caravan on a Friday night at 7:30 tries to do the jitterbug. His girlfriend comes in and pronounces him an ickie.
Theoretically Speaking
Books like "Hard Times" aim to collect the political, social and cultural realms into one coherent picture. It's a provocative vision.
Technology has created a cultural shift, from creative to literal. Radio shows required listeners to imagine events. Now, we can create worlds where violence happens and the consequences are within our control. Are we a less creative and more dependent society as a result of this change?
Yes. Between pictures of the Great Depression and Jean Harlow are more aggressive visions: Richard Frankensteen getting beaten for handing out union pamphlets at a Ford plant, for instance. Another picture shows a family migrating so they can find work. Some made unfortunate political decisions and chose to act upon them, as woman at the communist rally reveals.
Today it's hard to get worked up about much of anything. Economic downturns are taken for granted; prolonged wars are fought. It's still - as always - business as usual.
Compared to the days of the Great Depression, we're a society who brazenly feels immortal... Demoralized and immortal - a depressing combination.
Why I think the world is going to hell in a handbasket, but that's just my opinion.
Plot Hinted in King Assassination
Investigators are confused by the amount of conflicts between witnesses. This confusion leads them to believe that there was more than one person involved in the King assassination. The FBI is still looking for the killer and is “conducting the most massive manhunt in its history.” (Associated Press)
It's Easter for Becca, Janine and Amy. Janine tries pot for the first time. Amy is still angry about Dr. King's death.
And an interview with Dean Blobaum. Dean has been interested in the events of 1968--and especially the Democratic National Convention of 1968--for many years. He maintains a website about Chicago '68. His dayjob is at the University of Chicago Press.
