This site is updated Thursday at noon with a new article about an artistic pursuit generally considered to be beneath consideration. James Schellenberg probes
science-fiction, Carol Borden draws out the best in
comics, Chris Szego dallies with
romance, and Ian Driscoll stares deeply into the
screen.
While the writers have considerable enthusiasm for their subjects, they don't let it numb their critical faculties. Tossing away the shield of journalistic objectivity and refusing the shovel of fannish boosterism, they write in the hopes of starting honest and intelligent discussions about these oft-enjoyed but rarely examined artforms. Click here for the writer's bios and their individual takes on the gutter.
SHAMELESS AND GREEDY PEOPLE OF DISMAL TASTE
Interviewed about the legacy of Canadian tax shelter films
in Cinema Canada in 1985, Mordecai
Richler said,
"I think they squandered a
grand opportunity and it's largely the fault of producers who were shameless
and greedy, people of dismal taste, who were more interested in making deals
than films and who made a lot of money for themselves. And so Canadian films do
not enjoy a larger reputation anywhere and it's a pity... a lot of damage has been
done."
Well, Mordecai, I couldn’t disagree more.
Continue reading...
Perfect Candidates for Costumed Aggression
Alienated, ranting about how the world
could be perfected if only the fools would listen, plotting intricate
schemes, focusing great minds on tiny slights, losing their beloved
and scarred by experiments gone awry, revenging themselves on the
world, supervillains are where it's at. Here are some of my favorite
villains--in alphabetical order to avoid retribution.
Continue reading...
Old Reliable?
Dean Koontz has been on the bestseller list with his books for quite a
few decades now; one of his current series started with a book called
Odd Thomas in 2003. Odd (that’s his first name) sees dead people. I see
an old idea in new clothes.
Continue reading...
