Purple Mountain's Majesty
So how did I spend my July 4th?
Well in the spirit of outside patriotism I decided--beyond examining the development of American literary criticism RE:Moby Dick--to finally catch up on the televised iteration of This American Life.
I've heard people complain of University taking the fun out of things they love but having mostly had Film and TV classes I've managed to dodge that bullet for the most part.
That is, except for poor Ira Glass and his radio show.
Granted, I come into this an apologist for this sort of Americana. I love my Keillor and anyone who's been with me reading an old book about old America knows I love ramblings and -isms and Sleepy Hollows-a-plenty. I don't know why, but I do. And when various parts of the internet and various crushes on Sarah Vowell lead me to the show I was hooked.
But still, moving into Television Ira...that's like breaking into my house.
So how was it?
It was good. It was what was expected. It was heavily narrated mini-doc essays on various subjects sorted by theme. The subjects were a bit more intense, or at least seemed so perhaps due to the visuals. It had the same radio pace, which made sometimes for bland episodes but overall it had what I'd like and what I'd defend in either version of This American LIfe: It makes you feel glad to be a singular, fallible odd person.
The show always focuses on little crazy things of little importance but simply through it`s focus reminds me of their great importance in my day to day life. Through Glass the tiny imperceptible rolling alongs of people like me aren't squished by the behemoth lives of epic people. Its good that you are weird and that makes you special. It might be sappy, it might be a misrepresentation but damned if it doesn't make me feel good about myself and good about a place that normally runs on daunting overdrive 24/7.
4th of July hug...courtesy of America and Ira Glass.
Cam
So how did I spend my July 4th?
Well in the spirit of outside patriotism I decided--beyond examining the development of American literary criticism RE:Moby Dick--to finally catch up on the televised iteration of This American Life.
I've heard people complain of University taking the fun out of things they love but having mostly had Film and TV classes I've managed to dodge that bullet for the most part.
That is, except for poor Ira Glass and his radio show.
Whether it's documentary profs discussing their qualms with his process, essay film profs discussing their ANGRIER qualms with his process or just American profs showing chagrin for his view of American life, I always face a diatribe against this show. They say he focuses on--dare I say--New Sincerity minutia rather than big pictures and he wields some sort of militant command over the hip view of Americana and crushes his essayists into working in his style. Needless to say they leave me little room to enjoy things.
Granted, I come into this an apologist for this sort of Americana. I love my Keillor and anyone who's been with me reading an old book about old America knows I love ramblings and -isms and Sleepy Hollows-a-plenty. I don't know why, but I do. And when various parts of the internet and various crushes on Sarah Vowell lead me to the show I was hooked.
But still, moving into Television Ira...that's like breaking into my house.
So how was it?
It was good. It was what was expected. It was heavily narrated mini-doc essays on various subjects sorted by theme. The subjects were a bit more intense, or at least seemed so perhaps due to the visuals. It had the same radio pace, which made sometimes for bland episodes but overall it had what I'd like and what I'd defend in either version of This American LIfe: It makes you feel glad to be a singular, fallible odd person.
The show always focuses on little crazy things of little importance but simply through it`s focus reminds me of their great importance in my day to day life. Through Glass the tiny imperceptible rolling alongs of people like me aren't squished by the behemoth lives of epic people. Its good that you are weird and that makes you special. It might be sappy, it might be a misrepresentation but damned if it doesn't make me feel good about myself and good about a place that normally runs on daunting overdrive 24/7.
4th of July hug...courtesy of America and Ira Glass.
Cam
posted by Cam at 10:05 PM
1 Comments:
This American Life is good shit indeed. I totally remember Pavsek ragging on it too, I think he was just too pessimistic for his own good.
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