This is exactly how I felt. I saw the stage show twice and it’s one of the best concerts I have ever been to. The way they used the space was so precise, considered, and choreographed. It rewrites the rules for a concert.

“I had a dream my life would be /
So different from this hell I’m living”

Just a reminder that this was an actual commercial that Jack in the Box ran:

I live in Amsterdam and can get it fresh from the source. It still sucks.

I thought it was incredibly limp for a supposed takedown of the male ego.

I expected to see Ex Machina about halfway through the list. When it still hadn’t shown up by the time I reached the top 5, I thought “Wow, is Ex Machina gonna be in the top 5? Bold move AVClub.”

In high school, I read Roger Ebert’s review of Princess Mononoke and, inspired by his overwhelming love for the film, went to go see it in theater. I was absolutely entranced. It was stunningly beautiful but incredibly mature and intelligent. I remember the feeling, it was like seeing Star Wars for the first time.

The harmonica solo from John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers' "Room to Move" is a goddamn force of nature.

I recently moved to Amsterdam. Last month, the "new herring" came in (the first catch of the year) and they brought some in to my office.
My Dutch coworkers went ballistic.
They were posting to Instagram and texting their friends. Someone said, "this stuff is like gold." It was the most emotive I have seen them get.…

Actually, I saw that Uber was offering free rides away from the area.
But hey, go ahead and use a tragedy to make a dig at an unrelated company that you don't like.

I must have taken crazy pills because I really disliked the central premise of Civil War.
Why?
Because of Bucky. It was maddening to watch Capt America have Bucky's back. Bucky is your friend from childhood who turned out to be a dick. He shows up at your house, blacks out, and starts making inappropriate advances on…

I don't disagree at all but this is a step in the right direction.
Just think about a 12 year old seeing this performance. It could be the gateway to a whole world of academic thought. When I was twelve, Mariah Carey was the top black female pop singer. Now look at this! We're coming back around.
Beyonce isn't perfect…

I never said anything to insult young activists. I said it was great to bring the discussion into the mainstream. Do you disagree? Do you think people need to be certified to become activists?

I disagree. I think making enemies out of allies because they aren't perfect is childish and shortsighted. I think Beyonce inspires young people and her current message is light-years ahead of "Bills, Bills, Bills". I think you don't have to wear a balaclava to want to help.

But look at the discussion we're having right now because of this performance. Even if it's just dumb pop music (which I don't think it is) being shown on a platform run by an ethically dubious multinational corporation, we're having this discussion.
And I like that.

You're really angry at someone who is trying her best to bring social justice to light. Is she going full militant? No. But she's repeating the names of black people who have been murdered by police.
She is asking your average person to engage. That is important, whether your believe it or not.

I hate to break it to you but for real change to happen, you need everyone to start talking about it. If it's only academics, it's only going to stay in academia.

And where do you think the organized grassroots lobbyists of the future come from? Do they just blink into existence or do they see moments like these and become emboldened?
Your anger is out of proportion and misdirected.

Did you actually listen to the speech? Did you watch the performance? Does art serve no purpose in activism?

How about less complaining about auto-play and more discussion about what actually happened? This is an important cultural moment and people are whining about their browser making noise. We all need to spend less time worrying about our personal comfort.
Williams' speech was incredibly powerful and the Beyonce…