I just watched The Architecture of Doom on Netflix, which is an examination of that sort of thing. It's not good as far as movie-movies go (none of the added music or animated pictorials that a more current documentary might've used), but it's a very informative picture-essay, with a lot of architectural sketches by…

Sesame Streetism is basically an aesthetic philosophy, mediated via genocide.

Sesame Streetism is basically an aesthetic philosophy, mediated via genocide.

From video: "We'll call it the McFlurry Flourish!"

From video: "We'll call it the McFlurry Flourish!"

That George Elliot really is good, isn't she?

That George Elliot really is good, isn't she?

I read most of them, but somehow missed Disclosure and Rising Sun (don't worry—I saw the movies later). The one that surprised me was Airframe, which honestly I remember very little because I was so surprised at the liberal f-word usage.

I read most of them, but somehow missed Disclosure and Rising Sun (don't worry—I saw the movies later). The one that surprised me was Airframe, which honestly I remember very little because I was so surprised at the liberal f-word usage.

I'd agree with you…except that the message of The Color Purple is literally that freedom for women can only be achieved once they have discovered proper massage techniques for their clitorises. At least, that was my takeaway.

I'd agree with you…except that the message of The Color Purple is literally that freedom for women can only be achieved once they have discovered proper massage techniques for their clitorises. At least, that was my takeaway.

GWB: Iraqi Murderer.

GWB: Iraqi Murderer.

Puzzlingly, Joel Stein wrote the Time review of DFW's last book of short stories, Oblivion…and it's not too bad a review: http://www.time.com/time/ma…

Puzzlingly, Joel Stein wrote the Time review of DFW's last book of short stories, Oblivion…and it's not too bad a review: http://www.time.com/time/ma…

I don't even like The Avengers, and I know that's a stupid POV.
Objectively, inflexibly stupid: once something becomes the 3rd-biggest
movie ever, then it becomes a thing of interest, no matter how
"cultured" or "mature" you may consider yourself. If you take that stance, now, all you're really saying is: "I am…

I don't even like The Avengers, and I know that's a stupid POV.
Objectively, inflexibly stupid: once something becomes the 3rd-biggest
movie ever, then it becomes a thing of interest, no matter how
"cultured" or "mature" you may consider yourself. If you take that stance, now, all you're really saying is: "I am…

@Potions:disqus —that's exactly right. I think it's just galling for Joel Stein, of all people, to claim that stuff written for adults is somehow de dicto better than stuff written for adolescents, when, whattayaknow, Joel Stein is out there claiming to be writing for adults.

@Potions:disqus —that's exactly right. I think it's just galling for Joel Stein, of all people, to claim that stuff written for adults is somehow de dicto better than stuff written for adolescents, when, whattayaknow, Joel Stein is out there claiming to be writing for adults.

Joel Stein is no Lev Grossman.