News

Folks may have noticed we only had three posts this week. In general, I’ve been distracted with other work and haven’t been pursuing contributors as regularly…or writing as often here as I once did. I’m not sure exactly what that means for the future. Chris Gavaler and Robert Stanley Martin still are committed to posting here weekly, and I still do want to write on occasion. If you want to write here, please contact me (myname at gmail); we’re still running guest posts.

I guess what I’m saying is, we’ve been quieter than usual, and it seems likely that that will continue to be the case unless something changes. Anyway, as always, thanks for reading.
 
On HU

Me on the New Black, a documentary about the marriage equality campaign in Maryland.

Shreya Durvasula on Walter White as superhero.

Robert Stanley Martin with on sale dates for comics September and October 1952.
 
Utilitarians Everywhere

At the Guardian I wrote about Deadpool R-ratings, and how superheroes are about wanting/not wanting to grow up.

I took part in the Public Books roundtable on women directors, writing about the Descent and rape revenge for women.

At Quartz I wrote about

—what African-Americans should get a biopic after Jesse Owens.

—how we need to reduce Supreme Court tenures to politicize the court.

At the Establishment I wrote about

—Taylor Swift and how we don’t expect men to step up for Kesha.

—the Mad Max series and how women equal civilization and men gotta ramble.

At Splice Today I wrote about

—Bowie, Lori Maddox, and listening to victims even when they say they’re not.

—Huffpo and the authenticity of hackwork.

At the Chicago Reader

—I previewed Typeforce, a typeface art show.

—I did a little review of indie band Sunflower Bean.
 
Other Links

Greg Howard on how SB Nation published a disastrous piece on Daniel Holzclaw.

David Perry on disability inspiration porn.

Yasmin Nair/a> argues that freelancers shouldn’t write for free.

On HU

Featured Archive Post: Emily Thomas on new text adventure games.

Ng Suat Tong on We Stand on Guard and Brian K. Vaughan’s hackishness.

David James reviews Rich Scranton’s book on global catastrophe.

Chris Gavaler on drawing words in comics.

Me with a review of the documentary Caucus.

Robert Stanley Martin with on sale dates for comics from March/April 1952.
 
Utilitarians Everywhere

At the Guardian I argued that aesthetics needs to consider racism.

At the Establishment I wrote about Orientalism, Beyonce, and that crappy Coldplay video.

At Playboy I wrote about DeRay Mckesson’s Baltimore mayoral bid and black lives matter’s willingness to try new tactics.

At Splice Today I wrote about

—Be Steadwell’s Jaded Dark Love Songs and queer sadness.

—how the Republican establishment seems to be doing fine.
 
Other Links

Ta-Nehisi Coates on pragmatism and reparations.

Avital Norman Nathman and Deborah Wage on frightening expectant mothers for profit.

 
On HU

Me on Moto Hagio’s short story A Drunken Dream.

Chris Gavealer on closure, framing, and the Walking Dead.

Me on As Good As It Gets, love, healing, and bullshit.

Me on Jen Kirkman and condescending to mothers.

mouse on furries invading the mainstream on the cover of Island.

Robert Stanley Martin with on sale dates for comics from Jan/Feb 1952.
 
Utilitarians Everywhere

At Quartz I made the case for disarming the police.

At the Guardian I talked about Oscarssowhite and how Pam Griet, not Helen Hunt, should have won the 1998 Oscar for Best Actress.

At Random Nerds I wrote about male victims and female rapists in Jessica Jones.

At the Establishment I wrote about

—Alexander Hamilton and the history of immigrants bashing immigrants.

—why using hackers to disrupt sex trafficking is a bad idea.

At Splice Today I wrote about:

—how Bernie Sanders thinks socialism will address racism, and why it won’t necessarily

—Patrick Breen’s Nat Turner biography and how his story doesn’t fit into Hollywood tropes.

At the Chicago Reader I wrote about retro thrash band Warhead.

Other Links

This is a thoroughly depressing story about a woman who was trafficked, “rescued” by police, and then ended up being arrested and put on a sex offender registry.

Project Runway Season 7 dress by Mila Hermanovski

 
On HU

Featured Archive Post: My illustrations for Wallace Stevens’ 13 Ways of Looking At a Blackbird.

Robert Stanley Martin on Patrick Modiano’s 2014 novel So You Don’t Get Lost in the Neighborhood.

Chris Gavaler classifies abstraction in comics.

I answered twitter questions about freelance writing.

Me on how women’s genre fiction doesn’t fit the Bechdel Test.

Robert Stanley Martin shows you the Pogo collection you could have bought in sept/oct 1951.

 
Utilitarians Everywhere

At Playboy I wrote about Alan Rickman’s greatest performance on film.

At the Guardian I wrote about Project Runway and how you don’t need to be a superstar to make a living in fashion.

At Random Nerds I wrote about Paul Atreides and the Mary Sue power of being a white guy.

At the Establishment I wrote about Project Runway and the pettiness of making art.

At Splice Today I wrote about

—my favorite hip hop albums of the year, by Father and Death Grips.

—Hitler, Staling, and how the U.S. collaborates with ISIS.
 
Other Links

Adam Epstein on oscars so white.

This album by Fadimoutou Wallet Inamoud is amazing.

Smart little discussion of how television companies gender segregate their content.
 

News

So I’m thinking it may be time for another roundtable? Anyone have any topics they’d like to have us talk about?
 
On HU

Featured Archive Post: Michael Kupperman on his miserable experience at the New York times.

The 25 best albums of the year.

Me on not being able to sew in Project Runway.

Chris Gavaler on the different kinds of panel-to-panel transitions in comics.

Robert Stanley Martin with on sale dates for comics from July and August 1951.
 
Utilitarians Everywhere

At Quartz I wrote about Rahm Emanuel’s big fat Taser lie.

At the Guardian I wrote about why academics studying romance is worthwhile.

At Random Nerds I wrote about Star Trek and how legacy series stifle diversity (or sometimes don’t.)

At the Establishment I wrote about:

—misogyny (or the lack thereof) in Hateful Eight.

—using genre to exclude women at Angouleme.

At Splice Today I wrote about:

—George Lucas’ brave battle against capitalism.

—the digital hippie music of Elfmilk and Eartheater.
 
Other Links

Comics and Cola did a roundup of important comics moments from the last year, chosen by David Brothers, Kim O’Connor, and a bunch of other folks.

The Intercept on Saudi Arabia’s media stooges.

Paola and B.J. May with some suggestions for reforming twitter.