Hispanic Heritage Month September 15th to October 15th is officially recognized as Hispanic Heritage Month in the USA.The dates of the observance were chosen due to the timing of El Grito, the "cry" that brought the independence of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua's independence (followed closely by Mexico and Chile.). Some fellows celebrating "El … Continue reading Hispanic vs. Latino & Hollywood Brownface
Photoplays We Fancy — Herr Arnes pengar (Sir Arne’s Treasure)
Herr Arnes pengar Dir: Mauritz Stiller. 1919. Starring: Mary Johnson, Richard Lund, Erik Stocklassa. Silent Film/Foreign. Subtitled “a winter ballad in five acts,” Herr Arne’s Adventure is a bleak and beautiful masterpiece of Swedish cinema. In the 16th century, a gang of conspiring Scotsmen are banished from the country except for their leaders, who’re locked … Continue reading Photoplays We Fancy — Herr Arnes pengar (Sir Arne’s Treasure)
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Senegalese Film
During the Colonial era, cinematic images of Africa and its people were entirely the work of Western filmmakers. The Tarzan movies, African Queen, King Solomon's Mines and others were usually filmed on soundstages half a world away from Africa and made little to no effort toward authenticity, instead trading in exoticism aimed primarily at exploiting … Continue reading Senegalese Film
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Photoplays We Fancy — Schatten – Eine nächtliche Halluzination
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vwUem5Us6M Schatten (dir. Arthur Robison, 1923) begins with a five minute introduction to the film’s players, who are trotted out like the foils in a police lineup onto an actual stage where they’re identified with intertitles. After this lengthy prologue, the film abandons the use of titles altogether and embraces the purely visual ideal of … Continue reading Photoplays We Fancy — Schatten – Eine nächtliche Halluzination
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The Korean Wave
Korea's recent global rise in profile is sometimes referred to as "The Korean Wave" or Hallyu. Back in the early 1990s, Korean Drama underwent explosive growth in popularity around East and Southeast Asia as well as in cities like Los Angeles, with large immigrant populations from these regions. Soon, Korean movies (beginning with Shiri) gained … Continue reading The Korean Wave
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Glitter Rock — The red-headed stepchild of a red-headed stepchild
If you find Glam too brainy, too challenging, too confusing, then perhaps you're what the press used to refer to as a Glitter Kid! These bands didn't take their cues from the androgynous, artistic pretensions of David Bowie, Bretty Smiley, Cockney Rebel, Doctors of Madness or Jobriath. They looked to the big, stomping beats and … Continue reading Glitter Rock — The red-headed stepchild of a red-headed stepchild
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Unrecognized Caucasia and neighboring regions
The current situation in the Caucasus prompted one of the loyal blog readers to request that I post about the confusing region and shed a little light. If you blog readers have any requests for blog topics, I always welcome them. ****** (If interested, there are similar entries about Eastern Europe, North Asia and South … Continue reading Unrecognized Caucasia and neighboring regions
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Warren Mayes – Keep on kickin it
In the mid-1980s, though hip hop was still primarily an east coast phenomenon, it was quickly spreading to other locales like the musically rich bottom of the map, New Orleans. In 1984, Mannie Fresh, Mia X, DJ Wop and New York-transplant Denny D formed New Orleans' first rap crew, New York Incorporated. Two years later, … Continue reading Warren Mayes – Keep on kickin it
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St. Louis Union
St. Louis Union were a Manchester six piece fronted by impeccably-coifed singer, Tony Cassidy. Shortly after forming they won a Melody Maker beat contest in 1965 which scored them a deal with Decca. They were billed as "THE Group on the Northern Soul Scene." Their sound was centered around Alex Kirby's tenor saxophone and Keith Millar's electric guitar … Continue reading St. Louis Union
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Happy Fourth of July! — In which various VHS and DVD titles are suggested…
These chaps have the right idea! Some "Cut & Run" types think it's ok to celebrate such other July 4th holidays such as: Filipino - American Friendship Day Day of Agwe - Haiti Birthday of Queen Sonja - Norway Commemoration of Jewish Genocide - Latvia Family Day - Lesotho Fisherman's Day - … Continue reading Happy Fourth of July! — In which various VHS and DVD titles are suggested…
Eric Brightwell 