2011 In Review: Pop Culture!

[retsuko]

I was perusing some of the "Best Of" lists of movies and books this year in various sources (LA Times, NY Times, The Onion's A.V. Club), and realized that in most cases, I had only heard about half of the works on all the lists. This has never, ever happened before. In the case of books, I feel slightly better about it; books don't get the same

Comments

[alexeia_drae]

But in the case of the movies... gah. This is really how having a child has changed our lives.

OMG, cannot agree more here! And I even have parents who will drop everything at the drop of a hat to watch B! It really hit me when a friend who doesn't go to the movies often asked me for a recommendation in December and I drew a complete blank, because the last movie I think I've seen is Deathly Hallows.

Strangely I feel like I have less patience for something as long as movies. My free time is so valuable now and movies are a long, 2 hour commitment. I keep thinking of the reading, writing, or walking I could get done during those two hours...

Books are much the same story--read in a very slapdash fashion here and there.

I've had periods where I've read voraciously and then not at all. Still need to check out The Wilder Life because it sounds so interesting. Plus nostalgia trip.

If I had to sum up 2011's musical trend in one genre, though, it would be kick-ass lady folk-rock/rocky-folk, like Florence + The Machine, Aimee Mann, my

[retsuko]

OMG--you need to hear Neko Case's Middle Cyclone. The last track is a little odd (30 minutes of crickets chirping) but the rest of them are AMAZING. It's amazing. :D

I'd love to hear your opinions on the Wilder Life, but I'd get it from the library, or wait until it's in paperback (don't spend the $$$ on the hardcover edition.)

[orichalcum]

There's a reason why my first reaction after pregnancy announcements (after "Congratulations" where relevant) is "Go see movies! Now! While you can!"

[retsuko]

That's going to be my mantra from now on, that's for sure. :p