This Week's Writing 6/17/23
Cockroach solidarity, deradicalizing Jordan Peterson fans, Amok Time, and more.
End of the week again! Time for a nap. But first!
If You Read One Thing By Me This Week, Read:
A short review of Elizabeth R. McClellan’s poem about the Metamorphosis, which finds solidarity even with cockroaches (Split Lip)
Politics
The SC saving the VRA is better news for democracy than the Trump indictment. (Public Notice)
The left’s main goal shouldn’t be converting Jordan Peterson fans. (EIH)
Lindsey Graham shows right wing populism isn’t about the people. (Independent)
Angela Nagle’s Kill All Normies enacts the misogynist cool it claims to critique. (EIH)
Cultural Criticism
Jurassic Park is a big colonial dinosaur. (EIH)
What Idris Elba would change as Bond, and what he wouldn’t. (EIH)
The ugly rock of Hound Dog Taylor. (Splice Today)
Singer/songwriter Aaron Lee Tasjan loves all the genres. (Chicago Reader)
Brennen Leigh’s new retro-honky-tonk. (No Depression)
The 10 best horror films of the 1960s. (EIH)
AMOK TIME! aka; Star Trek discovers slash. (EIH)
The Good Madam is a movie about the intimacy of racist violence. (EIH)
Poetry
I have a tribute poem to the much lamented Rachel Pollack in this issue. (Blue Unicorn)
A poem about neurodivergenting. (Five Fleas)
Stimming
Click pen,
Up down click. At
school desk, click, work desk, click.
Clock tick. Eyebrows grey. Life click lived
By click.
A poem about the ideal reader. (Five Fleas)
Ideal Reader
Read those
Poems quickly.
Don't let the meaning catch
You. The point is just to say you
Read them.
A poem about the sad quest for beauty. (Synchronized Chaos)
Beauty Is Where You Find It
We went to the art museum
But the art museum was closed.
My stomach hurts, and outside the clouds
Sit somewhere while I look at my phone.
That’s not art.
