During college, I wouldn’t bat an eye at driving four to five hours one way for a concert then driving back home the same night. We’d drive to New Orleans or Little Rock to see bands like the Juliana Theory or to Lake Charles to see acts like Pop Unknown or Baton Rouge to see The Gloria Record. On a trip to Lake Charles, … Read More Mineral’s “The Power of Failing,” Birth, and Death
Thirty years ago, I discovered Sunny Day Real Estate while watching MTV’s 120 Minutes late one Saturday night. I saw the video for “Seven” and immediately fell in love with the Seattle band, rushing out as soon as I could to pick up their debut album Diary on black cassette, the norm for Sub Pop at the time. Over the years, I’ve been able … Read More The “Psychic Colors” That Make Our Memories
A few months ago, I received an email from a colleague and mentor. In the email, he did as he always does, asked how I was doing and putting me first. He was reaching out to see if I had a copy or information about an image that he planned to use or reference in an upcoming book. I saw the email but didn’t … Read More Ciao Giovanni
+ american history, civil rights, civil rights memorial, history, james baldwin, martin luther king, jr, memory
The illusion of history does not serve to move us towards progress; rather, the myths that the illusions construct hinder any forward movement and in many ways serve to repel and repeal any progress towards equity and equality. The James Baldwin documentary I Heard It Through the Grapevine (1982) makes this abundantly clear. Dick Fontaine and Pat Hartley follow Baldwin as he returns to … Read More Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Illusion of History
While Ram V and Anand RK’s Blue in Green, as I discussed in my previous post, examines the ways that we use memories to create life, it also looks at the ways that pain and suffering impact creativity and the ways that the pain that the artist uses to produce a work of art remains, long after the artist’s passing. This is a theme I’ve been … Read More Memory Creates Life: Part II
Interminable Rambling 