One of the most rewarding aspect of researching and writing the book was my growing realization of the central role of gender in social and political life, in the Arab world and elsewhere. Reality television animated the discussion of gender by featuring unmarried young men and women dancing, singing, eating, and (in some shows) living [...]
[12 May 2010]
From episode 418 of “Ugly Betty.” I am now convinced that the prop masters of “Ugly Betty” raided my mama’s closet. She had one of these shirts. In fact, I think she had this exact sequined butterfly shirt with the same color combo and everything. Like neon, legwarmers, and jelly shoes, this shirt is an [...]
[8 Apr 2010]
For the record: I now want to be besties with Krista Thompson, the 2009 winner of the David C. Driskell Prize and Associate Professor of Art History at Northwestern University. Her recent High Museum lecture, “Of Shine, Bling and Bixels: Toward a Post-Soul Art History,” blew me away with its analysis of contemporary artist Kehinde [...]
[13 Mar 2010]
Something that spools from these is that we don’t really have style subcultures anymore. Instead we have a playlist culture, where you’re allowed to mash up everything around you in a sort of pick’n’mix. Ekow Eshun, Artistic director, Institute of Contemporary Arts, London. From The i-Decade, on the More Intelligent Life blog. I think Eshun [...]
[15 Nov 2009]