From Liberal Horror to Conservative HorrorIn the late-1970s, horror cinema began making what I call the Lovecraft pivot. H.P. Lovecraft was not unknown to the previous era of…Jul 4, 2020Jul 4, 2020
In Defense of Youth SpacesThe 1984 film Breakin’ tells the story of Kelly Bennett (Lucinda Dickey), a privileged California teen with a passion for dance. Growing…Jun 19, 2020Jun 19, 2020
The Metal ImaginationIn the 1980s, the longest and coldest of cold wars, that of adults against children, entered into a new and warmer phase. Before that time…Jun 12, 2020Jun 12, 2020
Why I Watch HorrorI wrote three years ago that horror was having a bit of a moment. It had always been popular, but taken seriously only in fits and starts…Feb 25, 2020Feb 25, 2020
Brunching EternallyMy seeing the appearance of Modern Love on Amazon over the weekend felt a bit like the shark seeing chum or an injured surfer from the…Oct 22, 2019Oct 22, 2019
Punk and Humanism“You’re not punk and I’m telling everyone” is the opening line of “Boxcar,” the anti-anthem of Jawbreaker, who wrote and recorded it…Aug 7, 2019Aug 7, 2019
New Age DeplorablesThe scene: a high school classroom; the year: 2030 to 2035-ish; the cast: bright-eyed sophomores, the hope for America’s (or some…Jul 31, 2019Jul 31, 2019
On “National Conservatism”Since the holding of the National Conservative Conference in Washington, DC the other week, the flood of commentary related to what is now…Jul 27, 2019Jul 27, 2019
Cinéma TouristiqueI’ve long admired the films of David Robert Mitchell. He’s not especially prolific, taking nearly four years out between projects, but the…Jul 3, 20191Jul 3, 20191
Published inThe StartupOn Being a Poser20 years ago, I decided that I was going to be a punk. The particulars that went into this decision escape me today. Sure, I’d lurked…Jun 26, 2019Jun 26, 2019
