ABJECTION, YOUR HONOR!: Thoughts on two books I skimmed, and one I actually read. first volume of James Agee’s film criticism: I can’t remember the title of this. It’s… hrm. It’s easier to read a lot of Agee at once than to read a lot of James Wood at once, at least for me; but there’s still that same sense that he’s straining to fit his prose to his persona. I don’t know–it’s entirely possible that I’m just insufficiently sympathetic... Read more

GAUDI COUNTS TWICE: So I was organizing my art bookshelf the other day (yes, only one shelf, I haven’t been doing this whole “visual art! who knew?” thing for very long…), and I realized that all my art books have one of two themes: Spain vs. God, and The Twentieth Century: Could It Have Been Prevented? Read more

I read your book, The Madwoman and the Saint, with Sudhir Kakar, and I like the way you show that one cannot bypass desire by confining it within pathology.–Julia Kristeva, in Kristeva and Clement, The Feminine and the Sacred Read more

I’m in New Haven. Posting will be light until I return, on Halloween. I should have quite a bit of fun stuff then, though. Read more

Come back, come back to Blogwatch… Abhay Khosla: The sordid origin of Skippy peanut butter. No, really–a heartbreaking post. Alias Clio: Something I would not have noticed: “Rather like War and Peace, or Gone With the Wind, it opens with a party. Indeed, as with most ‘social novels’, much of the book’s action takes place at parties–at least, that portion of it which does not happen in staff quarters or on the battlefield.” Church of the Masses: Abp Niederauer on... Read more

KITCHEN ADVENTURES: EHHHH, WHAT’S UP, DOC? Two carrot recipes. Creamy Carrots and Onion: Chop a couple carrots into coins, and coarsely chop up some yellow onion. Saute the coins, a good heaping dollop of chopped garlic, and whatever dried herbs or spices you’re using, all in olive oil. (I think I used dried basil–because I’m trying to get rid of it–and sage, cayenne, and black pepper.) Cook until the carrots are… you know… cooked. Quickly throw in your onion and... Read more

DANIEL MARTIN DIAZ. Mysterium Fidei, Latin for “Mystery of Faith,” is the new collection of art from Daniel Martin Diaz. In this collection of oil paintings, drawings, and prints, Diaz contemplates human suffering and one’s undying faith in the afterlife. His mystical imagery reflects the influences of Byzantine iconography, Retabalos, Ex Votos, the Illuminati, ephemera, alchemy, and 16th-century anatomical engravings. Check out the “Exorcism” series. Via Holy Heroes!! Read more

OUR WEIRD LORD: I’m only about 2/3 of the way through the new Dappled Things, but I thought I’d mention my two favorite pieces so far: Matthew Alderman’s quick, fun essay + picture “Quid Tum?”, and Timothy Barr’s poem “The Paschal Four.” The latter is definitely flawed–it won a high school poetry contest, and has the kind of strenuous cleverness you might expect from a HS poetry contest winner. The imagery at points becomes relentlessly clotted, juxtapositions jostling for attention.... Read more

BOO, YOU WHORE!: A review of Mean Girls. Spoilers and possible TMI follow. The short version is, this is diet no-carbs Cruel Intentions, and although I laughed a lot during the movie, I ended up hating it, I mean really disliking it a lot. Whereas despite my problems with the ending of CI, I basically did OM NOM NOM that movie and all its pomps and all its works. The longer version: This movie is kind of based on the... Read more

SOMETHING I LEARNED FROM THIS MONTH’S FOOD AND WINE: There lives a man in this country named Peter Apathy, and he sells hot dogs made of reindeer. Read more