On ‘Being Elmo’

Mar 09, 2012

Last week I watched Being Elmo on Netflix, thanks to the “recommended for you” feature that helps me pry my fingers away from this keyboard during many weekday nights (no spoilers, don’t worry).

I don’t know about you, but a documentary on the puppeteer behind our little red friend didn’t immediately scream out ENTERTAINMENT to me.

Interesting, maybe. Thought-provoking, sure. But I have an allegiance to Sesame Street. Anything Jim Henson touched is certainly worth a considered look, right? I was in a for a surprise.

Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, the film dives wholeheartedly into the life of Kevin Clash, world-renown puppeteer. It’s stunning to me, that as a person who consumes many movies, TV shows and theater performances as the graduate student income allows, I have never really thought about what it takes to be a puppeteer.

On one hand, I suppose that is a testament to their talent, that I would never think about what it takes to stick your hand inside a fleece-lined object and experiment with different voices and movements until the right combination created a character. On the other hand, my ignorance of the myriad things a puppeteer must consider, be mindful of, care about, and be sensitive to, in order to make what would be to you and me a lifeless toy truly come to life, was kind of pathetic. Being Elmo corrected that in a little over an hour.

Beyond the mechanics, this film focuses on what made Clash tick — how this Baltimore-born shy kid had the nerve to up and decide that one day, he had to figure out how the puppets he saw on TV were made. That curiosity led him down a dedicated path. And thank goodness.

Watching Clash speak on camera, I was struck by how much I loved Elmo as a kid, and I was struck by relearning, from an adult’s perspective, why he’s still so important. He’s all about love, that one. Elmo wants to hug you, kiss you, make you laugh. That’s it. People want to be needed, and Elmo needs you — this film reminds you of that.

It can sound sentimental, but whatever, human beings are sentimental. Maybe we should be more sentimental.

Elmo taps into something deep and special in people. You can see it in kids’ faces and you can read it adult’s teary eyes. Look, you’re gonna cry when you watch this movie. YOU WILL CRY. But it’s a good cry because Elmo brings out the real. And it’s all because of introvert-turned-puppet-master, Kevin Clash. I really got that after watching this film. Hope you check it out.

Trailer

Image source.

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Moving type

Jan 31, 2012

I just saw this video — a mashup of a Taylor Mali poetry performance and an animated typography assignment for someone’s class. I’m not usually a fan of the spoken word style, but this guy delivers a nice spin on the oration. Well, the thing about my preference is not entirely true. I used to be a fan of spoken word, but after a few too many collegial readings at Fairfax and La Brea I reached my limit. A person can only take so much finger-snapping.

Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo.

If you have an issue with the proliferation of “like,” “you know” and the inevitable upward inflection at the end of sentences that are not actually questions in the American lexicon, this might become your new favorite thing. Mali takes it on, not totally from a syntax point of view, but from challenging who we are as people.

What does it say about who we are as a society if every time we make a statement, it sounds like a question? If every time we open our mouths, we “ummm” our way from one thought to another?

What the hell happened to our backbones, Mali asks. I’m not sure the answer is as important as the realization — that we pretty much walk around asking for permission, even when there is none to be given. It’s a cultural thing. A generational thing. And I hope it’s on it’s way out? (See??)

My parents snuffed the “like” right out of me in the third grade. I remember it clearly. Each time I said the word “like” in a place it didn’t belong (Q: How was your day? A: Oh, it was like, cool), they would interrupt me and make me start the sentence from the beginning. Same with “lookit.” I could never get away with it. The inflection thing has never been much of an issue for me personally. I tend to err on the side of plowing through, rather than hanging back on the sidelines. Ask for forgiveness, not permission! Words to live by.

The graphics are also very cool. Like good typography is meant to do, it conveys an emotional tone to Mali’s message. I love mashups. There is something fundamentally human about taking something that speaks to you — something that exists completely outside of you — and making it better, fuller, richer — to then share it with the world.

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WTF! Marc Maron is here!

Jan 20, 2012

Via Creative Loafing Atlanta

Today is a wonderful day. Marc Maron, self-deprecating comic and not-so-underground hero of the podcast world has come to Atlanta to delight from behind the mic. I’m taking Darryl to see him perform tonight. I’m pumped. You know I really believe a good comic is a good writer — a good storyteller, first.

Creative Loafing did a nice write-up of Maron’s career and persona in honor of his visit. Maron hosts the show WTF with Marc Maron (yes, that would be What the Fuck), which I discovered on my beloved LA-based radio station KCRW. During the average show, Maron goes off on a riff for a few minutes then leads into an in-depth conversation with a fellow comic.

What makes the show great is that unlike most interviews where the questioner is on the outside of the subject’s world, Maron is speaking from way inside. His deeply personal knowledge of the (struggling) comedian’s life makes for intimate conversation, revealing anecdotes and a lot of shop talk. Honestly, I never thought of myself as the biggest stand-up comic fan — I keep up with the well-known names, but wasn’t indie-savvy — so the initial attraction was the relaxed, informal nature of two jokers joking. And sometimes being brutally honest. Brutal, y’all. Like, hearing Patrice O’Neal describe his experiences in an adult prison as a teenager. Oy.

Maron usually records from his garage at his home in LA, and it’s a barebones approach. No major music fade-ins. No pauses for news desk briefs. Just an hour-and-change of conversation — you’ll occasionally here Maron + company sipping a beverage or munching food. Super casual. But effective. It’s fantastic radio.

He’s interviewed Louis C.K., Chris Rock, Amy Poehler, Jon Hamm, Donald Glover and even Anthony Bourdain. That was a good one. You can stream or download the most recent 50 episodes for free on iTunes or from the show’s site.

So tonight, he graces the stage at The Laughing Skull Lounge in Midtown Atlanta to a sold-out crowd waiting to hear some good stand-up. May he begin with those three precious words.

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Womenetics profile: Jacqueline Boone

Jan 18, 2012

Writing news!

I recently had the opportunity to meet and interview fellow writer Jacqueline Boone for Womenetics, a news, tips and feature hub for high-level professionals. I was thrilled to have the chance to write for their savvy, successful audience and equally thrilled to meet the subject of this profile. Click here to read.

Jackie is the founder of 6 Months to Live, a blog that chronicles her journey in living life fully — whatever that might mean in the moment. I can’t wait for you to hear more about her — what she’s accomplished and what she’s planning for the future. Sometimes you feel certain you’ve come across an individual who will impact the world on a major level. You don’t want to miss out on this.

Forbes.com ranked Womenetics as one of the top 100 websites for women, and the their new senior editor Janece Shaffer is an accomplished playwright and visionary. Check out their site and find them on Facebook.

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Ira Glass on storytelling

Jan 16, 2012

If you clicked through to read this, you probably already know who Ira Glass is and why so many people love him and his work. If you ventured over anyway and have no clue, please allow me a brief introduction.

Ira is the host and executive producer of This American Life, a fabulous radio show that has serious problems describing itself. Basically they search all over the country (and sometimes beyond) looking for real, good stories told by engaging, real people and usually each episode has a theme. It rocks. Also, Ira is cousin to composer Philip Glass, for whom people either swoon or harbor deep resentment, due to his unique approach to classical music. But back to Ira.

Recently I came across this video, a text-animated version of Ira talking about telling good stories. The content here is edited from a recording via Current TV and Public Radio International. This clip spoke to me because for one, I’m very interested in process and so often, creative people fail to discuss it publicly. I think mostly because talking about process requires avid discussion of failure, and few of us find pleasure in talking about our failures unless we have a huge success on the horizon that makes it all worthwhile. Second, more and more the art and craft of storytelling has become for me, one of our most meaningful abilities as human beings. Like, it’s what gets me going in the morning. So it’s encouraging to hear from such a bonafide pro on perhaps, the lesser-known, but still ubiquitous aspects of the form.

For your listening pleasure:

Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.

You can watch the full videos on YouTube. Although, if you’re like me, you might have to close your eyes. After so many years of hearing Ira’s voice on the radio (or podcast), completely isolated to auditory sensations, it’s just weird to watch him talk. I mean, even when they had the This American Life TV show, Ira was only on screen for a few minutes. Enjoy!

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Patience is overrated

Jan 14, 2012

Patience is totally overrated. Even George Clooney says so.

Vanity Fair, February 2012

Obviously, if the king of Hollywood says so, it must be true. I need an ally, okay?

It can be tough, constantly hearing the old adages in the face of stalled movement and progress:

“Patience is a virtue.”

“You should be more patient.”

And my favorite: “You’re not very patient, are you?” Gee. How did you guess?

In the right context, I see how patience can work well. It can provide a sense of peace in what might otherwise be a challenging situation. Horrendous traffic. Waiting to hear back about a job interview. Cooking with a CrockPot.

But for the most part, I think patience is what other people tell you to have when they don’t want to (or are not capable of) doing what they’ve been asked to do. Making a decision. Meeting a deadline. Keeping a promise. In other words, it’s like a pat on the head and a raincheck. Patience can suck it.

For the new year, one of several thematic perspectives I’ve taken on is the sense of now. Like Now. Nowness — which is actually a word, if you can believe it. Not now like Veruca Salt, fists banging on the floor. Now, like that’s all we’ve really got. That’s all we have. This moment. Right here.

In committing to this point of view around my work as a writer, how that shows up is there is no “later.” Okay, there is, ideally, but it’s not promised. So the time to work, create, share, produce is (all together!) right now.

I understand not everything manifests itself just because I want it that way. If I went through life like that, I’d be a miserable, disappointed person. Maybe what I’m really calling for is abandoning the sense of idle patience. That way of being that allows people to avoid fulfilling their responsibilities unless they’ve been called out. It’s the waiting in vain Bob Marley was talking about.

Back to King Clooney. He sure is handsome, isn’t he? This is a guy who has done great work in the Sudan. You don’t make changes like that in the world doing the Dusty. You ask pointed questions, you make clear decisions, you make mistakes and try again. But you act. You know. Now.

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An open letter to Chick-Fil-A

Dec 02, 2011

I know that businesses can spend their money however they want. It’s their business. But I find it strange that Chick-Fil-A has tried to conceal their position on gay marriage for some time now. Sort of reeks of playing both sides. Businesses can do that, too. It’s their business. The thing is, I’m not really a fan of my chicken biscuit cash funding the anti gay rights movement. So, I had a come-to-Jesus moment, if you will. I quit Chick-Fil-A. And their closeted homophobic behavior.

Realistically speaking, if you started digging, it’d be easy to find that many companies are probably connected to some organization with an opposing values system. But I have a choice to make here, so I’m making it. I believe people know in their hearts that discrimination is wrong. But they keep riding this train to some Nazi-type fantasy land that the world would be better if we were all the same. That is, straight and Christian. Well, I disagree.

Seeing that the Chick-Fil-A website was interested in my feedback (“we value what you have to say”), I sent them my two cents. Maybe you’ll be inspired to send some of your own.

Dear Chick-Fil-A Leadership:

I have been a customer of Chick-Fil-A’s for about 5 years, since I moved to Atlanta. I was quickly won over by the chicken biscuits, the kind and courteous staff, and the seasonal hand-spun milkshakes. They’re wonderful. But your politics are not.

I’m writing to tell you I will no longer be patronizing your company, and will do my best to ensure my friends and family follow suit. I find your corporate support of anti-gay rights legislation abhorrent, a true anti-American stance, a massive failure in your company’s leadership.

As a married heterosexual I realize that civil rights for all do not come about unless those who are seemingly “unaffected” also stand by those who are being victimized. You may think this will just be a ripple in your gay customer base. It will not.

I hope you will reconsider your position. Gay men and women have fought and died in wars for you. They go to church, pay taxes, work in your locations and buy your sandwiches. You spit in their faces with these hateful actions. I hope you change your position. Until then, every twinge I get for one of those biscuits or milkshakes, I’ll spend at a gay rights nonprofit. It will be money well spent. And it’s ‘my pleasure.’

Sincerely,

Osayi Endolyn

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Gazing towards ‘The Bachelor’ at SECAC

Nov 11, 2011

This week in Savannah, Georgia, SCAD has been host to the Southeastern College Art Conference.

SECAC is a non-profit organization that is all about spreading the visual arts love across the land. Members include anyone interested in promoting the visual arts and range from university faculty and students, museums, scholars and of course, artists.

I’m presenting at one of the sessions for their annual conference tomorrow. I get to talk about The Bachelor. Yes, that one.

So, at these academic conference things, a lot goes on. People present on their work ranging from art history during WWII to the ways new media influences the form. There are lectures, exhibitions and lots of networking. I’ve never seen so many art historians in one place. It’s kind of cool. And strange, even for an art school student. People are making jokes about post-structuralism. You had to be there.

The panel I’m sitting on is discussing the male gaze as it relates to E. Ann Kaplan’s essay about the way female subjects are viewed as objects in cinema. The essay, published about 30 years ago, took from Freud, Lacan and the fabulous Laura Mulvey to craft a new way of dealing with the way we view women in visual media and the impacts of the patriarchal system in which the media was developed. It can get pretty intense. I sometimes feel like I’m over my head. The past few days, tightening up my presentation, I’ve had a lot of reason to believe that is actually the case. But then, how often do you get the chance to talk about the societal ramifications of this:


Season 11, Bachelor Brad Womack (l) discusses his options with host Chris Harrison. Image via ABC.

Looks innocent enough, right? I’m arguing in my paper that even though The Bachelor appears like a female-driven show, it is actually quite patriarchal in its concept and execution. That not only do female viewers get sucked into the male gaze, one that objectifies both the viewer and object, but that the show perpetuates the stereotypical roles women have played since Kaplan first published her essay several decades ago.

I like exploring these kinds of things. Even though all this theory can drive a person nuts, it really does change the way you see the world. This is my first major academic conference and I’ve heard that sometimes, people can get a bit ornery. Academics like to be right. I come in peace, folks. Peace and theory. Should be fun.

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If Ryan Gosling were a feminist . . .

Nov 09, 2011

He would say this:

And this:

And particularly this:

One of my favorite places to be on the Internet right now is Danielle Henderson’s blog, Feminist Ryan Gosling. She’s a gender studies graduate student in Wisconsin with a great sense of humor. Using the “hey girl” meme, she started the site as a sort of joke to help herself keep the various theorists straight. Right. Because all women “study” while looking at Ryan Gosling. I see you Danielle! I see you. Read the FAQ, it’s insightful and brilliant. We need more of this in the world, y’all.

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Who’s bad?

Nov 08, 2011

Great things are happening in the world of contemporary photography. The folks at Aint-Bad Magazine have followed up their first issue with another moving collection of images that comment on my favorite topic — human beings. Who we are and what we do and just what is going on underneath all the stuff we call life.

I had the pleasure of working with their team of talented editors to craft the latest issue’s intro. Leading up to such heavy-hitter work ain’t easy. But — wait for it — it ain’t bad either.

Click here to preview and purchase (snail mail or download). If you’re a photographer, look out for their next call for submissions.

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