Monday, January 29, 2024

Naomi Klein - Doppelganger

Much illumination about the present day and how we got here. I was struck by her explanation of the convergence of the 'wellness' influencer movement with far right authoritarianism ('diagonalism') through the lens of - among other things - a shared focus on the individual rather than collective or structural responsibilities or efficacy, as well as an associated willingness to treat others' lives as lesser and therefore expendable. 

The concept of the doppelganger at a societal level proves to have pretty good explanatory force, even if it sometimes felt like it was being stretched beyond its natural meaning to do so. I tend to find explanations of collective behaviour that are based on conscious or unconscious repudiation of intolerable knowledge - such as the projection of violent stereotypes on to Indigenous people and people of colour as a response to the awareness of the violence upon which colonial and white society continues to be founded - but Klein's argument for its operation is as compelling as any I've read.

Wish

The animation is pretty nice (a mix of hand drawn and CGI), I've developed an attachment to the main songs, and the story is functional enough.

(w/ L)

Crazy, Stupid, Love

I liked the way it focused most on the middle-aged married couple, and its niceness. Also Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone in a La La Land preview.

Sunday, January 28, 2024

NGV Triennial

From 1 1/2 floors of the Triennial a couple of weeks back. I guess I'd need to see the whole thing to comment informedly but the bits I did see, while frequently enjoyable, struck me as skewed towards the accessible more than the challenging. 

Fernando Laposse - Conflict avocados project (2023) - including a room-spanning tapestry, 40-minute documentary film, and other artifacts, about the way avocado farming in Mexico - where half of the world's avocados are produced - has caused environmental, cultural and other destruction, and the story of Cheran, an Indigenous community that revolted and is now self-governing

Megacities - Tokyo, Delhi, Shanghai, Lagos, Sao Paulo, Cairo, Dhaka, Mexico City, Seoul, Jakarta, each photographed by one resident; projected by city and theme on multiple screens

Six fine Tracey Emin gouaches (2014)

Jeff Wall - "Untangling" (2006), which I've seen more than once before but which landed with renewed forced on this viewing (the lightbox glowed, far more brightly than above)

Malerie Marder - "Untitled" (2001) and Anne Zahalka - "Sunday, 2:09pm" (1995) - part of a tremendous quartet along one wall, along with one each from Gregory Crewdson and Alex Prager, under the theme of 'Narrative' (which also included the Jeff Wall one)

Derek Henderson - "Kohaihai Road, North Beach, West Coast. 10-30am, 9th February 2004" (2004)

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Angie McMahon - Light, Dark, Light Again

Unusual nowadays to find a song that calls on me to replay it over and over, and Light, Dark, Light Again has two in a row - "Fish", with its austere chime and invocation of Pornography-era Cure alongside 90s indie sulk, and the most addictive song I've heard in ages, and then "Letting Go", which is as "Thunder Road" as they come in this mode. The whole album has a vibe; it's good. I can't help triangulating - a little bit Sharon Van Etten, a little bit Courtney Barnett, a little bit Lucy Dacus. Plus McMahon's Australian.

"2023 EOY Mix"

From David. Plenty listenable; best new discovery for me is Wolf Alice ("Lipstick on the Glass").

Migration

Good hearted enough I guess, but also mediocre.

(w/ L and H)

Slow Horses seasons 1-3

The spy stuff is good, the humour an essential addition, and Gary Oldman is the main event.