• Faves

Only Boredom Can Save Photography Now

5 years ago

Photography is under siege by the smartphone, the device that has made everyone a photographer while equally rendering all unable…

  • Idle Reflections

Why Hamilton is Great

5 years ago

Finally some explanations why this play is so important!

  • On Literature, Books

Booth Tarkington’s “The Magnificent Ambersons”

5 years ago

Why do some works of art age better than others?

  • On Literature, Books

Patricia Highsmith’s “Tales of Natural and Unnatural Catastrophes”

6 years ago

The promise of unnatural catastrophes turns out not to be catastrophic nor unnatural enough

  • On Film, Movies, Cinema

Uncertain reflections on the Coen Brothers’ misanthropy

10 years ago

Reflection on David Denby's critique of the Coen brothers' consistent misanthropy

  • On Film, Movies, Cinema

“Hiroshima Mon Amour” (1959), Part 1

10 years ago

Bodies impersonal but affective are instruments of memory.

  • Viewing Journal

“Pépé le Moko” (1937): Failure to Escape

17 years ago

Comments on the 1936 film Pépé le Moko, starring Jean Gabin, and set in the Casbah

  • Idle Reflections

The iPhone Easily Led Me into the Future

17 years ago

Reflections on getting an iPhone

  • Faves

Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” (1954): Murder as Fantasy, Sex as Violence

17 years ago

Rear Window appears a murder mystery in which Jeff and Lisa play amateur sleuths. In truth, the film is a…

  • Idle Reflections

Chet Travels: sur les bricoleurs de l’angoisse

17 years ago

One of the things I learned on my last trip to Paris was about this special group of individuals in…