dj, you mighta got a tad bit more support for your booklist if it didnt smack so much of ninth grade assigned reading…
actually, i was assigned ‘flowers’ in fifth. had nightmares about it for years. anyone remember cliff robertson in ‘charly?’
Oh, my. Oh, my my my my my.
{taking notes}
Esprix
Because he’ll never be buggered at all! Can I be in your cool gang now? Please? We’ll be best friends and make cakes and sing songs and play games. It’ll be cool.
Yeah, I’m hip.
yosemitebabe:
This is a good point. What is ON the list is very much up for a debate. (And what a wonderful discussion it is. Especially late at night. I’ll start a thread in Cafe Society later to start getting a definitive list going.) But there is no question that such a list DOES exist. Some entries are obvious, however.
And you don’t have to LIKE the movies/books/plays, but you should at least experience them so you can have an informed opinion if it DOES come up.
And it is definately not the ONLY way to relate to people, or even the best, but it is a way to relate to each other none the less. And a pretty common one at that.
These are authors or film makers? I’ll have to check it out on google. What is the topic?
Juniper200:
First off, I find your post to be the most intelligent of the lot in here so far. What you say is true. It is not cool to be ignorant of the culture in which you live. And there are many other sources of culture. But if a book or a film has an obviously large impact, you should experience it if possible. And while a person’s knowledge of culture can be VALID without a pop-culture understanding, it is certainly not complete. You cannot fully understand a culture until you have seen the art of that culture.
And what an art movie-making is. A perfect blend of science and art. And a good book? What some people can do with words is truly amazing. They require you to read certain literature in school, and rightly so. Some books have been deemed so important that it has been decided all children should read them. And still some kids manage to float through school while never even having read this required material. They’ve missed out on intelligent conversation and a chance to understand a little more about the “cannon” of the culture in which they live. English Lit. classes were great fun.
MysterEcks
No, it has nothing to do with how cool I or anyone else is. It annoys me when people don’t go and experience for themselves the art that large chunks of the population find to be important. Upon viewing said artwork, one will have an opinion on the QUALITY of that art. Like it or no, at least you’ve experienced it. And no one is “cool” or “not cool” for their taste in art, music, literature, or drinks. But there certainly are examples of all those things which are cool. That’s not the point . . .
Lynn Bodoni
Pulp fiction isn’t all that gory. It is a little. But the majority of the movie is people talking to each other. Tarantino pulled off some long crazy scenes carried by nothing but the strength of actor’s relating to each other vocally (Jackrabbit Slim’s Conversation is crazy good). You really should check it out. It gets a little twisted, but so does all great art.
I agree with your view on TV shows. They are usually of way lower caliber than even your average movie. And your also forced to sit through the commercials which are disgusting generally. I only really get to watch “The Simpsons” and “The X-files”. Other than that, I don’t watch much TV these days.
I suggest you post what YOU consider to be crucial entertainment in the Cafe Society list I’m gonna start later today. I’d be interested to hear . . .
Gary Kumquat
I’ve been trumped. Great link. And of course, I could really care less what anybody has seen or read, it’s just fun to be able to relate what you may be speaking about to the work of an artist that you have both experienced. I don’t REALLY look down on these people, but I come from a long line of ball-busters and this is how we speak to each other. Authoritatively, aggressively, and with good intentions.
My consistent posting to the effect that style (the art of doing any particular thing) is important, is all just good-hearted fun. Like a Dad who goes on-and-on about the perfect way to Grill a burger. Not exactly world-shattering, but fun to take into consideration.
slortar:
Aint this a bitch? I’m with you here. This stuff goes WAY back. Proof: “To Catch a Thief”. Damn that’s a good movie. Or maybe “Double Indemnity”. Most cats my age have never even heard of these movies. Their loss.
essvee
I picked that stuff 'cause I just can’t understand how anyone my age could have made it through grade school and NOT read those books. But I have met plenty of people for whom this is the case. Weird.
DaLovin’ Dj
Profuse narcissism divided by non-existant validation equals me reaching for a bigger pinata stick.
I’ve seen Pulp Fiction four times. I still can’t decide if I like the movie or not.
{Esprix weeps openly}
Esprix
Isn’t actively avoiding these cultural touchstones just a silly as making absolutely sure you see them?
They’re composers, Mr. Music. :rolleyes:
You claim to be knowledgeable about music and you’ve never heard of Mahler? Or Prokofiev, for pete’s sake? Boy, are you unhip.
pldennison:
I’m real knowledgeable concerning reggae, hip-hop, rock, and funk. Classical, Jazz, techno, house, bluegrass, and blues could all use alot of work. I’ve already got a couple hundred records I haven’t been able to listen too yet, but give me a few years. Music, like hipness, is a trip with no end. It’s a lifetime journey.
There will never be a time when I have nothing more to learn about music. Ever.
Tretiak:
lol. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t I guess.
DaLovin’ Dj
Duh - their works contain neither swear words nor that “wicky-wicky” noise.
:rolleyes:
Esprix
Just thought I’d mention that even in pop culture it’s supposed to be a lot 
(At least you didn’t use your instead or you’re!)
PS
Sweetpea, you’re fun, but this hip crusade of yours is…iffy.
Culture is a conglomeration of all of that, and more. But you don’t have to have an extensive (or for some of us even working) knowledge of it to interact and be valuble. That’s what so damned fun!
So you can’t tell Mahler from a hole in the wall, so what? I don’t know any hockey players names, and that is my favorite professional sport. (Which gives you a hint where professional sports fall on my list of cool.)
You can still appreciate music and I can still enjoy a good game. (its a sight better than football, let me tell you. But football is also part of culture. Just not a part I participate or care to participate in. Its not a vacuum in my life, trust me.)
People are different. There isn’t a “list” of what you “have to have been exposed to” in order to function superbly as a member of the human race. We all bring a pile of stuff to the table, like a pot luck. And a big pot luck is damn good eating.
The only time I would be willing to make a list of what you need to know from pop culture is if you are trying to understand an individual. What an individual brings to the table can only be made with what they had in the kitchen. If you were trying to understand me, watching baseball will get you nowhere. Seeing RENT though could give you some insight. If I were trying to understand you, I’m not going to find hints from Mahler, but I might from pop movies.
Beyond that, your thesis is flawed.
Having seen Pulp Fiction, I can assure everyone that you are not culturally unhip for not having seen it (as if you would care.) And it is gory with a very disturbing rape scene.
The problem with the OP’s list is that it doesn’t make sense. I can list fifty movies that I like, and not a person on this board will have seen all fifty of them (unless you watch just damn near everything.) And every person on this board could do the same and I wouldn’t have watched all of their favorites either.
It’s at times like this I especially miss Eve’s perspective.
And may I say that shade of condescension looks smashing on you. I think dalovindj’s a prick too but criticising the music he likes just because he likes it isn’t called for. So he’s into reggae, hip-hop, rock and funk. And he hasn’t learned about Mahler or Prokofiev yet. So? Does that make you better than him? I’ve got nothing but repsect for you Esprix and I’m looking forward to the Grand Flame, but that was a cheap shot.
If you don’t know who fucking PROKOFIEV is, you have NO business lecturing people on the arts.
No business, understand?
Jesus wept.
What you are talking about is POP culture. A lot of it will not be remember 100 years from now.
Sorry, but John Grisham is a pulp writer. Pushkin was not. See the difference?
I quote Medea’s Child:
True. Well said Medea’s Child. That is one of the great things about people, this city (NYC for those tuning in late), and indeed, this board. Differing views on what is cool is really what I’m after when I state what I think is cool. Not to get others to agree with me, or to change their minds if they disagree. Certainly not to get attacked for having a view on the subject myself. I just wanna get discussion going, really, about what others may have found to be sweet. You see, most of the things that I find to be cool, I’ve found because somebody told me about them. I’ve found things on my own for sure, but I knew where to look due to discussions of what is neat(to bring it to some Wally and the Beav lingo).
But if you wish to speak intelligently about certain subjects, it is much easier if you are familiar with the most important aspects of that subject.
What’s wrong with compiling a list of movies that are essential, for people who dig movies. Or a discussion of the greatest half-back ever, for people who enjoy sports. There are going to be differing opinions on the content, but there is nothing wrong with the attention given to the subject, or making declarations with flare and assertiveness. My uncles were all loggers, and they have this great “logger” schtick they do where they tell the world like it is. It’s funny to see, and part of that humour is the whole “I got it figured out” tone. It is just schtick though, and I aint gonna stop.
If it aint your thing, oh well. I’m sure you can find an interesting (to you) thread somewhere in this mutha-fucker. I don’t really get people getting upset with me when I posit that there may be an art to something like drinking, or watching movies.
I am an Actor and a DJ and I am trying to make those things pay my bills here in this big beautiful city. In order to get to that point you must have talent, and perhaps more importantly (unfortunately): Connections. Any of the acting classes you go to when you first get here pound the same message into your head: Network. Network. Network. That is to say, get out there, meet people, talk to them, befriend them. It is the connections you make that will help you achieve your goals (in this industry).
To make these connections, you must speak with people. Have dinner with them, have drinks with them, and overall relate to them. And when you have an audition with an agent or producer, knowledge of Pop Culture is very handy: “Great. Could you try that again, but this time give me a little more Jim Carey and a little less Robin Williams?” Or when you have to describe an idea for a TV show in 20 words or less. It’s Patty Duke meets 21 Jumpstreet meets Life Goes On.
Whether it’s cool or not, in this setting “being hip” does matter. Image and style are important. Not just in a Jr. High sort of way, but in a “Damn if I pull this one off I won’t have to work for 50 hours a week anymore.”. In a financial way. So not only is the topic fun, but it is potentially life-changing.
So perhaps, coming from this perspective, I am a little more sensitive than your average cat to the guidelines of hip. So be it. It’s all cool to me.
DaLovin’ Dj
But criticising the movies people watch (or don’t) is called for? Puhleeze, Nancy.
OK, I’m joining this thread a bit late, but I have to say the OP was one of the funniest things I have read on this Board so far. I have seen/read most of these, but they are far from representing what I’d call a list of “necessary veiwing/reading”. Where’s Citizen Kane? Where’s Lovecraft? Burroughs? Joyce? Ugh. :rolleyes: Telling people they have to read/rent everything on your list or they’re not hip culturally? Please. That list is patheticly uninteresting. When you see/read something thought-provoking that hasn’t been assigned viewing/reading for a class, start another thread. This one is a joke.