So this is probably of intrest to no one except me. Every since getting the This American Life app for my phone I've been listening to two episodes a day while riding the bus to and from school. The entries are just notes to remind myself that I had opinions on these things.
Episode 73: Blame It On Art. Stories about art and the art world, about the thing people to for art. And so forth.
Act I - Life in a Bubble.
Paul Tough reports about Aaron Hsu-Flanders, a guy who is one of the world's pre-eminent ballon animal artists. He's written best selling books on the subject. Really, he wants to be a musician, but he got ostracized by his musician friends for selling out. To the Corporate Balloon Animal Machine, or something. Professional jealousy. Sort of interesting.
Act II - Still Life.
David Sedaris reads a story about snorting crystal meth and doing performance art. As a gay man, I am contractually obligated to like this.
Act III - Reverb.
Nancy Updike reports about Ellery Eskelin, a musician who never knew his dad. His dad was musician, too. Supposedly a genius who could pick up any instrument and play it. Escolin becomes influenced by the music his father made, connects with his father through his father's music. Stories by Nancy Updike are always good, and this is no exception. Recommended.
Act IV - Grace Note.
A true (?) story read by Joel Kostman, a NYC locksmith who repairs the lock of a guitarist who plays at weddings. Kostman has a book of his stories. Pretty good.
Episode 68: Lincoln's Second Inaugural. This text is taken straight from the website because it is pretty interesting: In his second inaugural address, Lincoln wondered aloud why God saw fit to send the slaughter of the Civil War to the United States. His conclusion: that slavery was a kind of original sin for the United States, for both North and South, and all Americans had to do penance for it.
Act I - Politics.
A story by Jack Hitt about South Carolina's Governor, David Beasley's decision to remove the Confederate flag from the state house, a decision which cost him re-election. In 2004 he ran for US senate against Jim DeMint and lost. Interesting.
Act II - Mandela and Lincoln.
A story comparing the two, I guess. I didn't really pay attention to this one, didn't hold my interest.
Act III - Good Blacks/Bad Blacks.
A story by Malcolm Gladwell in which he investigates why certain ethnic blacks seem to be able to move forward while others are mired in stasis. It was interesting to hear his voice after reading his work in books, magazines and else where. Interesting.
Act IV - Good Whites/Bad Whites.
A story about a woman coming to terms with being raised in a racist household. Interesting.
