Tag Archives: Noah

Utilitarian Review 7/16/16

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Fecund Horror

My ebook, Fecund Horror, is out! Please consider buying a copy if you haven’t, so I can write more and then you can buy those and then I can write more, like an aesthetic ponzi scheme, but without the ethical problems.

Matthew Brady put together this great list of every movie I mention in the book, to whet your appetite.

And Phil Sandifer said nice things about the book. “I’ve been enjoying the hell out of the book, which takes the tired “trashy exploitation films have something interesting to say” angle and finds fresh new life in it, suggesting that the genre works by “looking wrong” at the world, and that this is a generative and, well, fecund angle to take. It’s a delightfully odd collection, hitting obvious things like I Spit On Your Grave and also totally weird things – the title essay culminates in an enthusiastic paen to the subversive potential of a piece of erotica about wasps that lay mind-controlling eggs in people’s brains.”

On HU

Chris Gavaler on Kirby layouts vs. Steranko layouts.

Jimmy Johnson on a Law and Order episode that doesn’t suck.

Petar Duric on Attack on Titan, Saga, and a better American war canon.
 
Utilitarians Everywhere

At Random Nerds I wrote about the joys of writing exploitaiton ebooks.

At Patreon, for $2/month subscribers I wrote about how Keanu Reeves is perfect as Jonathan Harker in Coppola’s Dracula, precisely because he is such a stiff.

At the Chronicle I wrote about why most academics will always be bad writers.

At PLayboy I argued that more black women police officers might reduce the number of police shootings.

At TNR I wrote about why police aren’t at the forefront of the gun control movement.

At the Guardian I wrote about Frank Cho, William Marston, and whether Wonder Woman should be sexy.

At Quartz I wrote about

—the sexual assault charges against both Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.

—the new Ghostbusters, which is less sexist and better than the first.

At Splice Today I wrote about

— the documentary Pervert Park, and how treating sexual offenders as monsters doesn’t help victims.

—the Great McGinty and the dream of unambitious politicians.

For the Chicago Reader I wrote a brief piece about the music of singer/songwriter/indie genius Mobley.
 
Other Links

This open letter about conflicts on the left over racism and sexism has been circulated a lot.

Brianna Wellen on the fact that Pitchfork doesn’t book many female-led acts.

Fecund Horror Is Here

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My ebook on exploitation film, Fecund Horror, is now available from Amazon.

Here’s an exciting description:

Terrror! Blood! Torture! Insect sex zombie apocalypse! In Hollywood films the guy gets the girl and the monster is defeated, which is boring and unsatisfying, since who wants Tom Cruise to win, anyway? But in exploitation films, the monster gets the girl, the guy gets torn limb from limb, and the whole project is really more satisfying for everyone. This 49K collection of essays covers horror films, slashers, rape/revenge, women-in-prison and other mean, twisted, exploitation atrocities which chew up your humanity and your gender and spit it out as a staggering chitinous abomination. Freud, feminism, the male gaze, and a hideous ichor from beyond the stars engage in a struggle to the death as the world dissolves in filth and abasement.

Among the films discussed are The Thing, Cronenberg’s Shivers, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Under the Skin, I Spit on Your Grave, The Stendahl Syndrome, The Last House on the Left, Martyrs, Hostel, Halloween, Friday the 13th, Caged, The Big Doll House, Death Proof, and Switchblade Sisters.

“So, while you may not have seen everymovie discussed, his enthusiasm may make you want to. At a minimum, itmakes the essays a delight to read even if they’re not about yourfavorite exploitation sub-genre. — Kate Skow, Splice Today”

Hope some of the regular readers here will feel inspired to read it…and maybe to leave a comment on Amazon if you like it (comments are important for sales, I’m told.)

I’ve published the introduction to the book (about Carpenter’s Halloween) on Patreon for subscribers…so if you want a sneak peek, you can become a patron, and help contribute to more such ebooks in the future too.

Utilitarian Review 7/8/16

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News

My exploitation film ebook Fecund Horror is out on Monday, July 11! Kate Skow wrote a review! If you can’t, can’t wait, you can contibute to my Patreon at $3/mo and get it earlier!

Or! if you pledge $2/mo, you can see my essay on Under the Skin and alien domesticity right away, rather than waiting for the ebook to come out.

On HU

Featured Archive Post: Sina on Robert Kirby.

James Romberger on how Huston’s The Dead is more sexist than the Joyce story.

Chris Gavaler wonders whether Warhol’s Monroe paintings are comic strips.

Jimmy Johnson on the colonial subtext of animal attack movies like The Shallows.
 
Utilitarians Everywhere

At Quartz I wrote about Dallas and the myth that good guys with guns will stop gun violence.

At Random Nerds I wrote about Wonder Woman’s sword and feminine superpowers.

At Splice Today I wrote about

—the fascism of Mr. Smith goes to Washington (beginning a series on political films)

—Ross Douthat and how anti-elitism stumbles into anti-Semitism.

At the Reader a short review of Castle Freak, grindcore true believers.
 
Other Links

Amanda Ann Klein and Kristen Warner argue (contra me) that pop culture writers need to read and talk to academics.

Great interview with Mariame Kaba, prison abolitionist.

Kelly Lawler on why Tom Hiddleston fans aren’t happy with him dating Taylor Swift.

Utilitarian Review 7/1/16

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On HU

Featured Archive Post: Kailyn Kent on service in the Grand Budapest Hotel.

Me on the tragic vision of Red Dawn.

Chris Gavaler retells Superman’s origin story in the style of road signs.

Chris Gavaler and I provide dueling 20 key superhero texts.

I restarted my Patreon, so if you like my writing and have spare pennies consider contributing.
 
Utilitarians Everywhere

At Quartz I wrote about

—the documentary Yarn and the feminism of fiber art.

—the fact that the main victims of gun violence: men.

At the Guardian I wrote about why the Shallows is better than the Birds. (film snob twitter was really upset at this one.)

At the Chicago Reader I wrote about Brian Wilson and how idiosyncratic genius is coded as white.

At Playboy I wrote about how Terminator 2 is the best sequel ever.

At Splice Today I wrote about:

—why I wrote about the Hammer vampire films.

—Neil Degrasse Tyson, Trump, and the allure of technocracy.
 
Other Links

Suki Kim on the racist reaction to her reported book on North Korea (which was sold as a memoir.)

Saving Country Music on the blackballing of the Dixie Chicks.

Noah Gittell on LBJ’s pop culture moment.

David Perry on a Clinton ad full of disability stereotypes.

The Creeping Doom of Patreon

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Hey all. So, I’m going to be starting up my Patreon again. I’ve reworked goals and rewards. Here’s my statement about what I think I’m doing.
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I’m Noah Berlatsky, a writer and cultural critic. I’m working on putting together a series of ebooks focusing on topics that make me happy—exploitation film, the Hammer Dracula films, alien invasion films and stories, Project Runway, Twilight, and who knows what else. The ebooks will include some essays I’ve published elsewhere…but I’d also like to write new, extra, bonus pieces I wouldn’t get to write for anyone else because no one wants to pay for that essay about James Baldwin and Angel Heart (trust me, I’ve checked.)

That’s where this Patreon comes in. Your contributions will give me a bit of time and space to write about things I wouldn’t be able to in more depth than I’d otherwise manage. In return, contributors can learn early on about what I’m planning for the books, get access to exclusive essays before the ebooks are published, and copies of the ebooks themselves before they’re available for purchase.

How many essays and books will I be writing? It depends on how many folks want to contribute to this patreon (and if anyone buys the books off of the demonic retailer that shall not be named but which rhymes with shamazon.) I have high hopes though! Thanks for aiding and abetting them!
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So, if you’re a regular reader of me and would like to regularly read more, please consider contributing. Thanks all!

20 Key Superhero Texts

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At the comics scholar list serve we both frequent, Chris Gavaler asked folks to think about what 20 superhero comics they’d choose as key texts for an intro to superheroes course. Here’s what he’s planning to use.

Chris’ List

Siegel & Shuster: Action Comics #1 – Superman #1 (1938-39)
Kane, Finger & Fox: Detective Comics #27 – Batman #1 (1939-40)
Eisner: The Spirit (1940-52)
Marston & Peter: All Star Comics #8 – Wonder Woman (1941-48)
Kirby & Lee: The Fantastic Four #1 – #8 (1961-62)
Ditko & Lee: Amazing Fantasy #15 – Amazing Spider-Man #38 (1962- 66)
Steranko: Strange Tales #151 – Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #5 (1966-68)
O’Neil & Adams: Green Lantern /Green Arrow #76 – #89 (1970-72)
Claremont & Byrne: The Uncanny X-Men #108 – #143 (1977-81)
Sienkiewicz & Claremont: The New Mutants #18 (August 1984) – #31 (1984-85)
Wolfman & Perez: Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985-86)
Moore & Gibbons: Watchmen (1986-87)
Miller & Mazzucchelli: Batman: Year One (1987)
Gaiman & Keith: The Sandman #1-8 (1988-89)
Morrison & McKean: Arkham Asylum (1989)
McFarlane: Spawn #1 (May 1992)
McDuffie & Bright: Icon #1 (May 1993) –
Waid & Ross: Kingdom Come (1996)
Ellis & Hitch: The Authority #1-12 (1999-2000)
Bendis & Gaydos: Jessica Jones: Alias (2001)
Fraction & Aja: Hawkeye (2012)
Wilson & Alphona: Ms. Marvel #1 – 5 (2015)

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Noah’s List

I figured what the hey, I might as well put together a list. I tried not to think about this too hard, though I have put in a short rationale for each.

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1. Siegel/Shuster, Action Comics #1
Probably the most influential superhero comic ever, and fairly entertaining in its own right.

2. Marston/Peter Wonder Woman, some affordable collection
One of the most popular comics of the golden age, and also the greatest superhero comic of all time (says me.)

3. Eisner, The Spirit
Honestly, haven’t read much of this, but universally acclaimed, very influential, and I like the art.

4. Kurtzman/Wood, Superduperman, and maybe other Mad parodies
Superhero parodies are central to the genre, and this is probably the most celebrated of them. Also, it’s great.

5 Goscinny/Uderzo, Asterix (one volume)
Popular, acclaimed…and quite obviously a superhero story when you stop to think about it for a minute. Good way to think about superheroes in different cultures, humor and superheroes, what makes a superhero. Also, again, who doesn’t want to read Asterix?

6. Jack Kirby, some splash pages
Influential and wonderful…but I think separate pages of art are the way to go. I’ve never read a Kirby comic I could bring myself to make anyone else read.

7. Lee/Ditko, first Spider-Man story
Obvious choice.

8 Batman 1966 movie
Yes, this is supposed to be a list of comics…but superhero movies are seen by many people as comic books, which means they are functionally comic books. Also, Adam West’s Batman defined comic book superheroes for non-fans for decades (and still to some extent today.)

In some sense an MCU film should be on this list too…but they all suck, so screw ’em.

9. Moore/Gibbons Watchmen
Another obvious pick.

10. Miller/Sienkiewicz Elektra
This is Miller’s weirdest and best, thanks to Sienkiewicz.

11 Paul Chadwick, Concrete
A bit forgotten, Concrete was one of the important alternativey/titles of its day. It’s a lovely, adult contemporary superhero take, a way to do supeheros as literature which avoids the de rigeur nostalgia.

12. Grant Morrison; something from the Doom Patrol run
Grant Morrison’s an important creator, and Doom Patrol is his smartest take on superheroes, before he got staid and boring.

13 Gaiman, something from Sandman
Another popular and influential series; interesting way to talk about superhero mashups with other genres.

14. Ware, Acme Novelty Library #10
Ware’s best work, imo, and a good encapsulation of the way that indie art comics have been influenced by and struggled with superheroes.

15 McDuffie/Bright, Icon
Influential and critically acclaimed series, and a smart effort to think about the racial implications of superheroes.

16 Takeuchi, Sailor Moon
One of the most popular superhero comics of all time, and again good for discussions of definitions/limitations of superheroes.

17. Gail Simone and others, Women in Refrigerators website
Again, I see genre and medium boundaries as quite porous; Simone’s discussion of the treatment of women in comics has been hugely influential in thinking about female supeheroes, women in comics, and women in popular culture more generally.

18. Meyer, Breaking Dawn
You could argue for Buffy on this list, but I think Meyer’s weird pacifist take on superheroes is a lot more interesting (and probably more popular as well.)

19 Morales/Baker, Captain America: Truth
Flawed and not that well known, but one of the most ambitious and daring comics ever produced by the mainstream publishers—and focusing on a character who the movies have made central to what people these days think of when they think of superhero comics.

20 Wilson/Alphona, Ms. Marvel
Probably the best superhero comic out now, as well as being quite popular and a thoughtful take on the tropes.

I’ve done a crap job of including women and poc creators. I’m not sure how you rectify that when focusing on superhero comics…which might make me reluctant to do a course about superhero comics, or to take the key text approach if I did. But be that as it may, this is what I got. Let me know what you think I (or Chris) should have put on here instead!

Win Fecund Horror!

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So, as I’ve mentioned before, I’m going to be publishing a collection of my exploitation film writing on July 11 (if the good lord is willing and the zombies don’t get me.) There’s the cover designed by Vom Marlowe up there at the top.

I tried to do a giveaway contest thing, offering a free preview to anyone who could guess the three new essays in the book…but no one really bothered to try. (There’s a new essay on Halloween, a new one on Under the Skin, and a list of the top ten rape/revenge films…so now you know.)

Anyway, I thought I would try again with a simpler, more straightforward contest. I will give a preview ebook to the first three people who:

1. Leave a comment below saying they want one.

2. promise to write an Amazon review when the book comes out.

Remember, if you promise a review and don’t actually write a review, a gelatinous ichor from the far side of the galaxy will absorb you cell by cell and then write a review in your name. Don’t say you haven’t been warned.

Contest starts…now!