Desperate Living
The optics of ambition have become their own spectacle.
First of all, I want to thank the denizens of Kaitlin’s Gift Guide for stopping me from going on an impromptu trip to Cleveland. It sounds like I dodged a bullet! I’ve also been told by multiple subscribers that the Paraphernalia chat is “broken.” I guess I have to troubleshoot that with corporate? Looking forward to circling back on that, have a nice weekend.
Some quick plugs:
I will be attending the Venice Biennale the week of May 4. If anyone is going, hit me up.
Last week I moderated the Q&A for the U.S. debut screening of John Early’s Maddie’s Secret as part of the emerging and impressive Los Angeles Festival of Movies. I think the movie is a masterpiece and advise everyone to keep it at the top their lists in case any screenings pop up. It comes out in theaters later this year.
This week I appeared on Bandsplain to talk about Hole’s “Boys On The Radio,” a sonic trojan horse through which I got to smuggle out my unleashed thoughts on indie snobbery, dope fiend mentality, ambition, jealousy, female rage, pop subversion, California punk, and Courtney Love’s unforgettable Hollywood rise. This is the kind of thing that gets me cooking with gas, so to speak, so have at it. Courtney even gave us a nice review in the comments, even though I used the term “gutter snipe” at one point. Hey, you either get it or you don’t.
It’s been interesting reliving the Celebrity Skin era in preparation for that podcast, as well as Madonna’s entire career for another project, and thinking about ambition in general — how it’s perceived, glossed over, covered up, defended, excused, demonized, ironized, celebrated, totally ignored, or widely condemned.
It feels like we’re living in a moment of widespread desperation across the board.
