Recent Posts
Not Fit for Dinner: Placing #ObamaInHistory“We can disagree about the connections made on the President biography pages, but we we would be mistaken to think that Obama is ahistorical and is leading America in a past-less present.”
The Televangelists: In Praise of Sherlock & its Co-Creator Steven Moffat“Here, then, is a brief tour through Moffat’s oeuvre of awesomeness.”
Sacred Space: What’s Wrong with Videogames in Church?“My objection to video games in church boils down to what makes a church.”
Grace Notes: My Bloody Valentine“Few bands can claim to have altered the musical landscape, much less charted out an entirely new landscape.”
Mixed Signals: How to Make a Proper Apology“Learning to make a proper apology is one of those indispensable life skills that we all need but few of us were trained to deliver appropriately.”
We Recommend:
Reviews of comics, graphic novels, and manga by Seth T. Hahne, CaPC’s new illustrator.
Author Archive
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Still Watching: Two Sides of Early Woody Allen
Posted on May 23, 2011 | 1 Comment"In Hannah, Allen’s neuroses drive the narrative in a more effective way. They lead him to questions about the existence of God." -
Still Watching: Reds
Posted on May 16, 2011 | No Comments"'Nothing is working,' she tells him, and this expresses more futility of purpose than just the failure of their utopia." -
Still Watching: NYPD Blue
Posted on May 9, 2011 | No Comments"The argument could be made, and has, that NYPD Blue created a slippery slope which has led to graphic shows now being the standard for television. I can’t really argue that, except to say it didn’t do it by itself." -
Still Watching: Gallipoli
Posted on May 2, 2011 | 1 CommentStill Watching is a weekly examination of old TV shows or films. This week, thanks to Netflix, I had the pleasure of watching an old favorite: Peter Weir’s Gallipoli. It had been years since I had seen it, and it held up well. If you... -
Still Watching: I Want a Queue, Too!
Posted on April 26, 2011 | 1 Comment"My suggestion: watch Out of Africa, a visual masterpiece of storytelling." -
Lost Again: Solitary
Posted on April 18, 2011 | No CommentsWelcome back to “Lost Again”, my weekly examination of the Lost series. I am re-watching the series and theorizing, based on the now-complete knowledge of the entire show, which plot lines were cohesive and well-developed throughout, providing amazing payoffs by the end of the series,... -
Lost Again: The Moth and Confidence Man
Posted on April 6, 2011 | No CommentsIn Lost Again, Kristi Israel watches two episodes of Lost each week, examining them in light of the whole of the series. The Moth: Charlie is the focus of this episode. He struggles with his drug addiction, and Locke, at this point still caring at... -
Roller Derby Part 1: Battering the Temple
Posted on March 30, 2011 | 6 CommentsIs Roller Derby an ethically neutral sport? -
Lost Again: White Rabbit and House of the Rising Sun
Posted on March 29, 2011 | 1 CommentI’d like to address something quickly before diving into this week’s Re-Watch of Lost, which I am re-naming “Lost Again”, because Re-Watch isn’t really a word, and I get tired of the dash. I haven’t really expressed my overarching theory of storytelling, especially epic storytelling.... -
Still Watching: Lost Re-Watch, Tabula Rasa and Walkabout
Posted on March 22, 2011 | 3 CommentsStill Watching is a weekly examination of old TV shows or films. Welcome to Week 2 of the Lost Re-Watch. This week I will be coverinng the third and fourth episodes of Season 1, and looking at them in light of any relevant knowledge which... -
Signing Away My Life?
Posted on March 15, 2011 | 3 CommentsSometimes signing a reality show audition waiver can seem like quite the commitment. -
Still Watching: Lost Rewatch, Pilot Parts 1 and 2
Posted on March 14, 2011 | 2 CommentsStill Watching is a weekly examination of old TV shows or films. It is time to start the much-anticipated (by me) Lost Re-Watch. I hope there will be a few people joining me, anyway. I know by the huge Lost fan base active on Twitter... -
Still Watching: Firefly Returns
Posted on March 7, 2011 | No CommentsIf you will allow me a small delay in my expository re-watch of Lost, I would like to give another week for those who want to join in, but need a little extra time. You know who you are. I would also like to use... -
Still Watching: The Plan to Conquer Lost
Posted on February 28, 2011 | 1 CommentA few months ago I moved into a new apartment, and decided to go ahead and try life without cable. It made sense with my efforts to save money and to just generally be more purposeful in what I watch. Now, I find myself watching... -
The Christ and Pop Culture Oscar Preview
Posted on February 25, 2011 | 25 CommentsKristi watched (almost) every nominee and lived to tell about it. -
“The Walking Dead”: What a Gross, Great Zombie Tale Tells us about Naturalism
Posted on February 21, 2011 | 5 CommentsA couple of years ago, I moved from Georgia to Los Angeles to try to be an employed writer and performer. Maybe you can imagine my great delight and frustration when I realized one of this season’s break-out television shows was set and filmed in... -
Big Love Bummer
Posted on January 27, 2011 | 1 CommentRecently I tried to start watching “Big Love”, based on the fact that several people whose opinions I respect love it, and one of them even works behind the scenes on the show, which is filmed not too far away in Santa Clarita. One of... -
Composition and Content: Seeking Excellence in Art
Posted on January 19, 2011 | 15 CommentsWhat should we expect from good art? In her debut article, Kristi Israel explains. -
Thoughts on “Next to Normal”
Posted on January 11, 2011 | No CommentsLast week, I was blessed with the opportunity to attend the last show of the Los Angeles debut and national tour launch of “Next to Normal”, a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical written by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey. SPOILER ALERT: Seriously, if you are planning...