Tag: California

“The Birth of the Queer T-Shirt”

Jonathan Katz writes about the power of activist drag: “[F]rom our current vantage point, the advent of sloganeering clothing seems vastly less of a defining break with the past than in fact it was. Queer fashion once spoke sotto voce to insiders, at once defining membership in a […]

“That Serbian Book in Santa Clarita Diet”

Brandon Hawks considers the fictional Sixteenth Century Serbian book that puts the Santa Clarita Diet‘s zombie disease in historical context. (And he teaches everyone more about mixed media manuscript-print books). “While the book is a plot device, pointing to the mysteries of the disease’s origins centuries before, its […]

Ice Bear is Best Bear

At first it was the way the bears were stacked atop each other that appealed to me. I’d see ads for We Bare Bears while watching other shows and think, “That is adorable and appealing.” Their shape, the color arrangement. Just the whole stacking thing. But one weekend […]

Medieval beasts are transformed into piñatas!

Roberto Benavidez transforms beasts from Medieval illuminated manuscripts–in particular the Luttrell Psalter–into sweet, sweet piñatas. So many cool critters in this gallery! “’I have always admired and gravitated towards old painting techniques,’ Benavidez says of his piñatas. ‘The oddness of the creatures and people, the odd perspective—they were […]

Lois Weber’s Suspense

At Syfy, friend of the Gutter Sara Century writes about Lois Weber and Philip Smalley’s Suspense (1913) and its impact on horror ever since. Lois Weber and Philip Smalley’s Suspense might only clock in at barely over ten minutes, but for the earliest run of home invasion films, […]

Summer Fun Time Reading ’17

It’s summertime again and the living is gelatinous and humid at least for me. Maybe you’re planning a vacation or are relieved to get your place to yourself as you wave good-bye to friends, family, your partner. Maybe you’re going to the beach or on a camping trip. […]