I just finished Clytemnestra so I really appreciate the comparison to Agamemnon. I didn’t know Tyler Childers until your mentions of him and he’s slide right into my Americana/Folk playlist.
Just getting around to reading this but you do a great job of laying out both sides and making me reconsider (😊) what I originally thought and was so quick to take a side on. And Paige is right, if there weren’t videos, would either have been controversial?
The Golden Spoon was a great read - thanks for the recommendation!
I read The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda and I would definitely recommend it.
Loving the breakdown of these and considering the context behind them. On another note when you do see the Barbie movie, I would love a deep dive on the creation theme. I find it fascinating and want to hear everyone’s take.
Also just read The Appeal by Janice Hallett and it was captivating! It’s like 48 hours in book form. So just email/message/phone transcripts with two lawyers chiming to figure out what happened. Couldn’t put it down.
Thank you for this, Knox. I appreciate the thoughtfulness you bring here. So often my knee jerk reaction is to dismiss things out of hand and I always appreciate when someone else’s words help me to slow down and expand my thinking a bit. (Beth from Pantsuit Politics also does this!).
I’m recommending “If We’re Being Honest” by Cat Shook. Patriarch dies, kids and grandkids come home to same street they all grew up around and try to work through both the sudden death...and the unexpected reveal at the funeral. Sad moments, lots of heart, and it reminded me of my cousins when we’re together as adults (you can’t take us anywhere!)
“Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.” – Albus Dumbledore
This week I read Exiles by Jane Harper. It’s the third book with Aaron Falk as the protagonist. It was very good. You don’t have to read them in order but there is a bit of backstory you may not get. Start with The Dry, then Force of Nature and then Exiles. You won’t be sorry.
Another thing I’ve seen people getting upset about concerning Jason Aldean is that he is just not from a small town and doesn’t necessarily know how a small town community functions. He grew up in Macon, Georgia. I think anytime a famous person tries to take on a more humble/rising from small town persona, and they don’t legitimately come from those roots, it becomes upsetting/frustrating. Similar to Jamie’s mention about TSwift in Wednesday’s Popcast episode.
Really interesting essay, Knox! Your point on the "feeling of community" vs. "villainous others" reminded me a lot of the discourse surrounding the "He gets us" ad campaign. Good message in theory, but still manages to villain-ize almost every non-White person when you get the visual (music video/commercials), almost certainly due to a lack of diversity (not just racial but diversity of opinions, etc.) in the community that generated the material.
1a. Why are music videos still being made? It seems like a colossal waste of money and time but I know nothing of the music industry so probably there’s a financial reason.
1b. I listened to Jason Aldean’s song a couple weeks ago and liked it (I loved it but he has a season pass for me…probably a trash opinion but it is what it is) and I could not find the controversial element…and then I learned about the video.
1c. I listened to Tyler Childers song the other day and loved it and had no idea there was controversy around the video because I didn't know there was a video (see1a).
2. I am musically promiscuous so I like most songs. I think much like misbehaving children - bad attention is still attention - and somewhere along the line of people who have a hand in making anything “artistic” and hopefully profitable someone knows that and uses it to their advantage.
1b. Season passes are never trash opinions. The heart wants what it wants and that's ok!
1c. SAME. I think it's interesting that both songs existed as just songs and without any real ZEAL attached to them for a moment before the videos added a layer of intrigue and discourse.
2. This is a word. And to this point, I think most people making anything (musicians, actors, podcasters, newsletterers etc etc) are complicit in using spice or controversy to get attention. It's why I never want to be TOO congratulatory to someone or TOO derisive of someone if the only difference is the finesse with which they play the game.
I just finished Clytemnestra so I really appreciate the comparison to Agamemnon. I didn’t know Tyler Childers until your mentions of him and he’s slide right into my Americana/Folk playlist.
Just getting around to reading this but you do a great job of laying out both sides and making me reconsider (😊) what I originally thought and was so quick to take a side on. And Paige is right, if there weren’t videos, would either have been controversial?
The Golden Spoon was a great read - thanks for the recommendation!
I read The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda and I would definitely recommend it.
Loving the breakdown of these and considering the context behind them. On another note when you do see the Barbie movie, I would love a deep dive on the creation theme. I find it fascinating and want to hear everyone’s take.
Also just read The Appeal by Janice Hallett and it was captivating! It’s like 48 hours in book form. So just email/message/phone transcripts with two lawyers chiming to figure out what happened. Couldn’t put it down.
Thank you for this, Knox. I appreciate the thoughtfulness you bring here. So often my knee jerk reaction is to dismiss things out of hand and I always appreciate when someone else’s words help me to slow down and expand my thinking a bit. (Beth from Pantsuit Politics also does this!).
I’m recommending “If We’re Being Honest” by Cat Shook. Patriarch dies, kids and grandkids come home to same street they all grew up around and try to work through both the sudden death...and the unexpected reveal at the funeral. Sad moments, lots of heart, and it reminded me of my cousins when we’re together as adults (you can’t take us anywhere!)
Knox, your ability to see and put words to nuance is much needed in this 2023 world. Thank you and please keep going.
“Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.” – Albus Dumbledore
This week I read Exiles by Jane Harper. It’s the third book with Aaron Falk as the protagonist. It was very good. You don’t have to read them in order but there is a bit of backstory you may not get. Start with The Dry, then Force of Nature and then Exiles. You won’t be sorry.
I’ve enjoyed all of the Aaron Falk books!
Another thing I’ve seen people getting upset about concerning Jason Aldean is that he is just not from a small town and doesn’t necessarily know how a small town community functions. He grew up in Macon, Georgia. I think anytime a famous person tries to take on a more humble/rising from small town persona, and they don’t legitimately come from those roots, it becomes upsetting/frustrating. Similar to Jamie’s mention about TSwift in Wednesday’s Popcast episode.
Really interesting essay, Knox! Your point on the "feeling of community" vs. "villainous others" reminded me a lot of the discourse surrounding the "He gets us" ad campaign. Good message in theory, but still manages to villain-ize almost every non-White person when you get the visual (music video/commercials), almost certainly due to a lack of diversity (not just racial but diversity of opinions, etc.) in the community that generated the material.
If you saw the Barbie movie and would like a 9,000 word deep dive essay on the history of Barbie (the toy, not the movie) this article is for you. https://www.slashfilm.com/1341484/an-exhaustive-guide-to-barbie-lore/
1a. Why are music videos still being made? It seems like a colossal waste of money and time but I know nothing of the music industry so probably there’s a financial reason.
1b. I listened to Jason Aldean’s song a couple weeks ago and liked it (I loved it but he has a season pass for me…probably a trash opinion but it is what it is) and I could not find the controversial element…and then I learned about the video.
1c. I listened to Tyler Childers song the other day and loved it and had no idea there was controversy around the video because I didn't know there was a video (see1a).
2. I am musically promiscuous so I like most songs. I think much like misbehaving children - bad attention is still attention - and somewhere along the line of people who have a hand in making anything “artistic” and hopefully profitable someone knows that and uses it to their advantage.
1a. AGREE.
1b. Season passes are never trash opinions. The heart wants what it wants and that's ok!
1c. SAME. I think it's interesting that both songs existed as just songs and without any real ZEAL attached to them for a moment before the videos added a layer of intrigue and discourse.
2. This is a word. And to this point, I think most people making anything (musicians, actors, podcasters, newsletterers etc etc) are complicit in using spice or controversy to get attention. It's why I never want to be TOO congratulatory to someone or TOO derisive of someone if the only difference is the finesse with which they play the game.