The Delights of Pop Culture

June 17, 2024July 10, 2024 / Lauren / Leave a comment

It’s an awesome time to be a fan of pop culture. You can listen to podcasters going episode-by-episode through the shows you binge-watched on DVD in college. You can read delightfully bizarre theories about the characters in your preschooler’s favorite TV show. You can gather with other fans at venues like ConnectiCon. And as the main orderer of nonfiction books, I know this is an excellent time to read about pop culture, too. Here are some new and recent books to both entertain you and deepen your appreciation for your show / movie / franchise du jour.

You Are What You Watch: How Movies and TV Affect Everything by Walt Hickley (2024)

Did Arya, Maximus, or Chandler have the biggest surge in popularity as a baby name? How many parents start off dead in Disney movies? Is Ash Ketchum a better GM or coach? Find the answers in this book, which is a fun mix of visualized data and writing which explores how mere “entertainment” affects politics, the economy, and even shark populations. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Hickley used to be the Chief Culture Writer at FiveThirtyEight, and it shows in his love of statistics.

The Blues Brothers: An Epic Friendship, the Rise of Improv, and the Making of an American Film Classic by Daniel DeVisé (2024)

The saga behind The Blues Brothers is epic, encompassing the colorful childhoods of Belushi and Aykroyd, the comedic revolution sparked by Harvard’s Lampoon and Chicago’s Second City, the early years of Saturday Night Live where the Blues Brothers were born, and the indelible behind-the-scenes narrative of how the film was made. Based on original research and interviews of principals from director John Landis and producer Bob Weiss to SNL creator Lorne Michaels and Aykroyd himself, The Blues Brothers vividly portrays the creative geniuses behind modern comedy.

On Locations: Lessons Learned from My Life On Set with The Sopranos and in the Film Industry by Mark Kamine (2024)

Married and with a child, the author takes unpaid gigs to get a foot in the door, and eventually ends up working on all seasons of The Sopranos. The show’s setting and its creator’s insistence on accuracy placed the native New Jersey author in the right place at the right time to become part of television history, and to witness the effects of sudden fame and acclaim on the show’s principal players. Includes many stories about guest stars, as well as the cast, including new tales of James Gandolfini.

Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever by Matt Singer (2023)

Award-winning editor and film critic Matt Singer eavesdrops on the iconic balcony set of Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, detailing their rise from making a few hundred dollars a week on local Chicago PBS to securing multimillion-dollar contracts for a syndicated series. Their partnership was cut short when Gene Siskel passed away in February of 1999, but their influence on in the way we talk about (and think about) movies continues to this day.

I Like to Watch: Arguing My Way Through the TV Revolution by Emily Nussbaum (2019)

In this collection, New Yorker columnist and Pulitzer Prize winner Emily Nussbaum writes about her passion for television beginning with Buffy–as she writes, a show that was so much more than its critical assessment–the evolution of female protagonists over the last decade, the complex role of sexual violence on TV, and what to do about art when the artist is revealed to be a monster. And, she also explores the links between the television antihero and the rise of Trump. The book is an argument, not a collection of reviews. Through it all, Nussbaum recounts her fervent search, over fifteen years, for a new kind of criticism that resists the false hierarchy that places one kind of culture over another. It traces her own development as she has struggled to punch through stifling notions of ‘prestige television,’ searching for a wilder and freer and more varied idea of artistic ambition.

Best. Movie. Year. Ever.: How 1999 Blew Up the Big Screen by Brian Raftery (2019)

In 1999, Hollywood as we know it exploded: Fight Club. The Matrix. Office Space. The Blair Witch Project. The Sixth Sense. Being John Malkovich. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. Those are just some of the landmark titles released in a dizzying movie year, one in which a group of daring filmmakers and performers pushed cinema to new limits—and took audiences along for the ride. Freed from the restraints of budget, technology (or even taste), they produced a slew of classics that took on every topic imaginable, from sex to violence to the end of the world. The result was a highly unruly, deeply influential set of films that would not only change filmmaking, but also give us our first glimpse of the coming twenty-first century.

Surely You Can’t Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane! by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker (2023) (downloadable audiobook)

An in-depth and hysterical look at the making of 1980s comedy classic Airplane! by the legendary writers and directors of the hit film. With anecdotes, behind the scenes trivia, and never-before-revealed factoids, these titans of comedy filmmaking unpack everything from how they persuaded Peter Graves to be in the movie after he thought the script was a piece of garbage, how Lorna Patterson auditioned for the stewardess role in the back seat of Jerry’s Volvo, and how Leslie Nielsen’s pranks got the entire crew into trouble, to who really wrote the jive talk. It also features testimonials and personal anecdotes from well-known faces in the film, television, and comedy sphere, proving how influential Airplane! has been from day one.

Titles we don’t have but you can borrow from other libraries in our consortium:

No Crying in Baseball: The Inside Story of A League of Their Own by Erin Carlson (2023)

The Coen Brothers: This Book Really Ties the Films Together by Adam Nayman (2018)

Movies (And Other Things): A Collection of Questions Asked, Answered, Illustrated by Shea Serrano, illustrated by Arturo Torres (2019)

The Road to El Dorado

May 17, 2017April 12, 2017 / Kaitlin / Leave a comment

The Road to El Dorado is a wonderful movie for the entire family. It is about two Spanish con men, named Tulio and Miguel, who, after gambling for a map, getting captured and escaping from Cortés himself, and taking his horse Altivo along, find themselves somewhere in South America. They follow the map to find the legendary city of gold. Upon arriving, they meet a wonderful cast of characters, they are worshiped as gods, Tulio forms a relationship with a woman named Chel, and they get caught up in the sinister plans of a man named Tzekel-Kan. All the while, Cortés is drawing closer…

This movie is one of my personal childhood favorites. It is a musical comedy that is perfect for children and adults. The plot is well-paced. At no point does one feel as if things have slowed down too much, which is especially good for children. The songs are memorable, the jokes are consistently funny, and the portrayal of Indigenous people is done very well.

Did you know that the people of El Dorado are meant to represent many different cultures of South America? Each aspect of the society (i.e. the buildings) is taken from a different civilization of South America.

Setting: Spain and the continent of South America in 1519.

What is this movie rated? PG

What is the run time? One hour and twenty-nine minutes.

Is there any objectionable content? There is cartoon violence in this movie, allusions to violence that is unseen, two on-screen deaths (one is a human and the other is a seagull), and two short scenes that show blood. Chel is a bit scantily clad, and there is a suggestive scene between her and Tulio. Tzekel-Kan has some scary scenes when he uses dark magic and when he is trying to sacrifice someone. This character also presents dark views of religion. Also, there are several adult jokes that are aimed at parents. However, as mentioned above, the portrayal of the people of El Dorado is not done disrespectfully.

Is this movie appropriate for children of all ages? Younger children may be scared or upset at a few scenes, but they should be fine otherwise. They will probably miss the adult jokes.

What themes are found in the movie? Themes of friendship, romance, good vs. evil, making mistakes, and adventure are found throughout this movie.

Who would like this? This movie is good for most families who like music, adventure, and comedic family fun.

Rating? Five stars.

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May Is National Photography Month

May 4, 2016March 21, 2016 / Linda / Leave a comment

national photo month

In 1987, May was recognized by Congress as National Photography Month. The word photography comes from the Greek words ‘photos’ (light) and ‘graphein’ (to draw). Photography has certainly evolved over the years. This is a great opportunity to reflect on its history which is highlighted below in a very condensed timeline.

In 1827 Joseph Nicephore Niepce produced the first photographic image with a camera obscura. His sun prints, or heliographs, allowed light to draw his pictures. In 1829, Louis Daguerre helped Niepce improve the process and developed a method called daguerreotype. This method ‘fixed’ images onto a sheet of silver plated copper. It was commercially introduced in 1839. In 1889, George Eastman invented film that had a flexible, unbreakable base. In the 1940’s color and Polariod photographs were developed with digital and disposable cameras making their appearance in the 1980’s.

The first negative was invented by Henry Fox Talbot, an English botanist and mathematician. In 1841, he perfected the paper-negative process and called it calotype. Tintypes were patented in 1856 by Hamilton Smith. A more stable and detailed negative called wet plate negatives (Collodion process), was introduced in 1851 by Frederick Scoff Archer. The processing of these negatives required a portable darkroom, which limited the range of photography.

By 1879, the dry plate negative was invented. This meant no more portable darkrooms and cameras could become hand-held devices. In 1889, George Eastman invented film that could be rolled which made the mass-produced box camera a reality. This opened up a whole new world of photography and the evolution of cameras.

The first twin-lens-reflex camera was introduced in 1929.

Polaroid photography (instant photos) was invented by Edwin Herbert Land and first sold to the public in November 1948.

Fuji introduced the disposable camera in 1986.

Canon demonstrated the first digital camera in 1984.

And in the early 2000’s, the first camera phone was sold in Japan.

Explore the world of photography through Cheshire Public Library’s extension collection here.

A sampling:

The History of Photography – from 1839 to present – Traces the evolution of photography and offers vivid illustrations of technical innovations in this visual form of communication.

A World History of Photography – Traces photographic history both topically and chronologically, profiles key masters, explains terms and processes, and features the landmarks in the development of photography.

The Book of Photography – the history, the technique, the art, the future – Anne H. Hoy – A reference guide to the history and production of photography provides definitions, biographies, a timeline of photographic milestones, and information on genres and technical and aesthetic achievements.

The Camera Phone Book: secrets to making better pictures – A compact guide to using one’s cell phone to take digital photographs demonstrates the capabilities of the latest models of camera phones, explaining how to select the right equipment, take better pictures, and store, print, and send images.

Kodak, the art of digital photography – The revolution in digital technology has turned us all into shutterbugs. Never before has it been so easy to snap photos and share them instantly. But what about the quality of these images? Does simply owning a digital camera make you a first-rate photographer? For those who want to take a better picture, this lavishly illustrated guide reveals the art of composing incredible photos in any scenario.

L.L. Bean Outdoor Photography Handbook – A beautifully illustrated in-depth guide that offers practical instruction on making the best of your outdoor shots, for beginning through intermediate photographers.

Joy of Photography – Provides advice on equipment and accessory selection, effective use of camera functions, basic photography techniques, techniques for a variety of subjects, and development of a personal style, and includes discussions with well-known professional photographers.

A Photographer’s Life – A visual narrative offers more than three hundred images that document the photographer’s relationship with her late companion Susan Sontag, the birth of her daughters, the death of her father, and famous actors and politicians.

It’s What I Do: a photographer’s life of love and war – A MacArthur Genius Grant and Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist documents her relentless pursuit of complex truths in the years after September 11, describing her witness to the American invasion of Afghanistan and the lives of people before and after Taliban reign.