I once saw a tweet that said, “I need to write but everything is connected and I can’t really get into all that right now.” And let me tell ya.. real.
Try as I may to avoid the humiliation ritual of writing and to keep the shrieking connections I observe to myself—somehow not shouting them to the void is more psychically painful. (Translation: I become a huge bitch.)
So here we are. To talk about the vibes I noticed last month across art, movies, books, and everything else I got into. If I may, a humble mood board to kick us off.
I first noticed it in Vienna, where I took a little Art Hoe sabbatical to see the imperial city’s acclaimed museums.
Now I know can be a snob, but I don’t really believe that just because something’s popular, it’s bad—that only applies to like, Marvel movies. And I can’t imagine a world where Vienna’s famous Kiss isn’t spectacular in person. But unfortunately, I didn’t make it to that one. Besides, I think Death and Life is Gustav Klimt’s more interesting piece of the two.
Not to compare Klimt’s Death with a character from Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, but… very similar Grim Reaper energy! The more I look at the cloaked skeleton, the more I see a mentally checked out guy just doing his job. He’s not singling anyone out—he’s eventually going to have to come for them (us) all anyway.
I felt a similar gentleness from Marianne Stokes’ dark angel in Death and The Maiden when I saw it a few days later in The Albertina (where I seemed to be the only person wearing deodorant.)
There’s a certain comfort in seeing death for the unifying, regular experience it truly is. But taking comfort in it is also a slippery slope to being “fucken’ miserab,” as Tony Soprano would say about his mother. (Yes I’m currently rewatching and yes it’s amazing.)
Recognizing this “absurdity” or meaninglessness of life/death can also be liberating if you commit to creating your own meaning, according to Albert Camus. Which like… great in theory. Easier said than done. Now I see the appeal of organized religion. You don’t really have to do any of the leg work. No offense.
But what happens if you’re neither religious nor absurdist? Well, life’s a bitch, then you die. Which is essentially the TLDR of the classic American novel I read last month, Stoner.
Sorry for the light spoilers—it’s not very plot-driven anyway. It’s a story about an average man with an average life, who doesn’t particularly believe in anything. Which is an easy trap to fall into… perhaps even the great warning of this book. Sounds like a snooze, but it’s weirdly hypnotic. Check it out yourself if you’re feeling particularly existential.
My favorite January watch, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, looks at “meaning” through the lens of someone who doesn’t have time to ponder such questions about life—because she’s a working mom with a sick (annoying) kid. And I’m not evil!!! The film really makes you feel the aggravation of caring for a five year old on a feeding tube. No thanks! It’s torturous, yet lol-worthy. The highest praise to Rose Byrne.
Anyway, if you’ve made this far you can see how I keep returning to the ideas of identity and mundanity as strange, yes, but ultimately unserious. It’s ok to overthink, but not without laughing about it. A fine line indeed!
Below, more art faves and Vienna recs, January reads, and shopping k-holes.
“I’ve taken up books” - Lala Kent
In addition to Stoner, this is what I read last month and I’m not sure what that says about me.
Open by Andre Agassi — Essential for wannabe tennis fans like myself who don’t understand the scoring mechanics and have zero hand/eye coordination but are drawn to the game nonetheless.
Mystic River, Dennis Lehane — Pretty well-done detective thriller if you’re in the mood for a little Mat Damon/Ben Affleck flavor. (They have nothing to do with this book, but it’s extremely Boston coded.)
Rachel’s Holiday, Marianne Keys — Sometimes you just need to read about someone else’s drug addiction. I usually like memoirs but this was juicy enough to get back in the swing of things.
(Sweater) picks of the month
When holiday glimmer fades and we still have months of cruel cold ahead… the least you can do is buy yourself a nice sweater.
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.