Utilitarian Review 12/17/16

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Noah Berlatsky

News

I released a little ebook on American political films. Buy one!

Utilitarians Everywhere

At Quartz I wrote about

—the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly as camp antiwar masterpiece.

—Bernie Sanders and picking up Trump’s political correctness talking points.

At the Establishment I wrote about It’s a Wonderful Life as bleak Trump-era paean to white male resentment.

At Splice Today I wrote about

—how the media’s handling of the DNC emails was unethical even if it wasn’t a Russian plot.

—the smug gods of Westworld.

—Clueless as an assimilation fantasy.

Utilitarian Review 12/10/16

Posted on December 9, 2016 by Noah Berlatsky

On Patreon

I wrote about Trump, Deliverance, and masculine anxiety around the white working class.

Utilitarians Everywhere

At Quartz I wrote about post-truth as a post-truth euphemism.

At the Reader I wrote a little blurb on prog band Thank You, Scientist.

At Splice Today I wrote about The Wachowski Sisters’ Bound and gender as (or as not) performance.

At Lithub I argued that critics should compare apples and oranges (and that Lair of the White Worm is better than Old Man and the Sea.

Utilitarian Review 12/3/16

Posted on December 3, 2016 by Noah Berlatsky

News

My book on American political films is available for preorder.

A recent review of Wonder Woman books, including mine.

Patreon

For subscribers I wrote a bleak post about The Dead Zone and Trump.

Utilitarians Everywhere

At Quartz I wrote about Jill Stein’s recount and the Democrat’s leadership vacuum.

At Splice Today I wrote about

—Catherine Breillat’s wonderful Sex Is Comedy, and all the things a woman director can be.

—Trump’s tweets and fascism.

Utilitarian Review 11/26/16

Posted on November 25, 2016 by Noah Berlatsky

News

Suzette Chan interviewed me about my book Your Favorite Superhero Sucks, which you can buy here.

Utilitarians Everywhere

At Eruditorum Press I wrote about the ethics of vampire genocide. This is an excerpt on my vampire book, which you can buy here.

At the Guardian I wrote about:

—Black Mirror and near future fictions.

—Billy Lyon and why no one likes anti-war films.

At Quartz I wrote about Stop and Frisk, Zero Tolerance, and why law and order solutions don’t work.

At Lithub I wrote about Martin Lund’s book on Superman’s Jewishness (or lack thereof.)

At Splice Today I wrote about:

—Bend It Like Beckham, the female gaze, and the blurring of identity and desire.

—Bernie Sanders’ book, for worse and mostly for better.

—the dangers of incompetent fascism.

Utilitarian Review 11/19/16

Posted on November 19, 2016 by Noah Berlatsky

Patreon

On the Black Mirror episode “Men Against Fire”, and how its take on fascism is already out of date.

Utilitarians Everywhere

At Quartz I wrote about Loving, and pushing back against Trump-era stereotypes of black people and white people.

At Splice Today I wrote about:

—why voters voted for Trump. Economics? racism? or identity?

—Kelly Reichardt’s Old Joy and naked guys in the woods.

At the Reader I wrote about New Zealand metal band Ulcerate.

Utilitarian Review 9/12/16

Posted on November 12, 2016 by Noah Berlatsky

Patreon

I wrote about DePalma’s Carrie and sadism.

I wrote about the Black Mirror episode San Junipero and simulacrums of profundity.

Utilitarians Everywhere

At the LA Times I wrote about the really fun new spy novel by Stephenie Meyer.

At Quartz I wrote about who’s to blame for Trump. (Trump voters.)

At the Establishment I interviewed Jordan Flaherty about his book No More Heroes, and ending savior social justice.

At Splice Today I wrote about:

—best-selling American biographies as self-help for white guys.

—the film Belle, and how racism and capitalism go together.

—why John Oliver is good for kids

Utilitarian Review 11/5/16

Posted on November 5, 2016 by Noah Berlatsky

News

My Hammer Dracula ebook is out! Alas, no one seems to want to read about vampires…but you can buy it and be one of the exclusive few who own it.

Patreon

I wrote about the first Black Mirror episode, Deliverance, and rape as a political program.

Utilitarians Everywhere

At the LA Times I wrote about Dr. Strange visiting Tibet like all the other superheroes in search of clichéd Asian awesomeness.

At the Guardian for Carrie’s 40th anniversary I wrote about horror films and female audiences.

At Quartz I wrote about:

—why empathizing with Trump voters is condescending and ugly.

—Peter Thiel, and why taking Trump seriously but not literally is dangerous.

—why we need to beat Grassley to end Republican obstruction (spoiler; it’s not ending.)

At Playboy I wrote about why we should lower the voting age.

At Splice Today I wrote about:

—A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, and the female vampire gaze.

—the terrifying Madea film and hating children.

At the Reader I wrote a little review of Lemaitre, a fun dance pop duo.