2-Year Anniversary: A New Sort of Meme
We bloggers tend to get a little pensive as the years roll by; in such an ephemeral medium, it surprises even us that we somehow manage to continue. My blog anniversary coincides with SXSW. I started writing/self-publishing after becoming inspired at the festival a little over two years ago. So, my 2-year post comes a bit late, as I was waiting for the spirit to send inspiration, and funny, it came in the form of the Indigo Girls. Interesting that the Girls also inspired my very first blog post.
I’ve easily seen the Indigo Girls perform live on 8 or 9 occasions. I’ve been a fan since I dug their first album out of a discount bin when I was in 7th or 8th grade. They are the only band that has lasted with me so thoroughly over the years. When I go to their concerts, I feel a tinge of sadness. People assume that you have to be a lesbian to enjoy them, but to me, their music transcends such narrow labels. They are fantastic musicians–incorporating different instruments and musical styles; their lyrics are smart and meaningful; and they have great energy on stage, making live shows consistantly fun. Austin revealed its appreciation of the Girls at the show the other night with equal enthusiasm but the audience was still mostly lesbians and some straight girls with only a smattering of men.
Why am I going on about this? Their music, to me, is genre transcendent. You might not love to listen to them all the time, but if you really listen, I can’t believe that any music lover wouldn’t recognize their talent. This brings me to the meme aspect of this post.
I’m really irked that the most commented post on my blog in two years is a flame war, and I’d like to out-comment that post while at the same time connecting to my readers in a new way. Here’s the challenge: submit to me one book, movie, song, album, etc. that has made an impact on you and that you believe is genre transcendant and I will read, listen to, watch each and every one and write about it here. Yes, even if it is your own work! The only restriction is that the work has to be reasonably available. If not, you’ll have to help me out in getting a copy.
I can’t promise when I’ll get to it but I can promise that I will. I want to share art, discuss it and connect with people in new ways. That’s why I started doing this in the first place.
Clearly not Twittering enough, Agnes! 
Well, I definitely don't blame you and I completely understand what you mean. Absolutely. I think you should ...
I'm sorry to disappoint you Mark, and thanks for the shout out. I've been thinking about posting for a while ...
You won't miss a thing. Shows are better as entire seasons online or on DVD. We watch the ...
Comment by Sujewa on 18 June 2008:
Happy 2 AV!
I don’t know if this is genre transcendant (cause Jarmush movies are his own genre, but yeah, it is accessible to non-fans, probably more so than his other movies), but I submit Jarmusch’s movie Mystery Train for you to watch & write about. It should be available at your local video store (if there is one there) or through the web (amazon, netflix maybe, etc.).
- Sujewa
Comment by Chris Hunter on 18 June 2008:
Congrats!! Also not sure if this is genre transcendant, but Beulah’s final album “Yoko” was an amazing record. I don’t know its a sad, honest, poppy (if that’s the right word) kinda record. My favorite song on that record is “Hovering”. It’s a record that more people should know about, from a band that really means something to me. Its avail where-ever people actually buy music these days.
Comment by tully on 18 June 2008:
read Revolutionary Road before the movie comes out and ruins your ability to appreciate it!
Comment by Huub Koch on 18 June 2008:
Hi Agnes,
Congrats with your anniversary. Maybe you’d like to take a look at: De Roltrap | Musings of That Escalator Vlognik at http://www.deroltrap.nl and write about it.
Best Regards!
Huub Koch | the Netherlands
Comment by Pamela on 19 June 2008:
Okay, here’s my response: “Soldier of the Great War” by Mark Helprin, American genius. Supposedly, Edward Norton bought the rights to make the flick. I read this book on a trip to Israel many moons ago and both the book and that trip changed my life. I would read everything by Helprin, actually.
Comment by Mitchell on 19 June 2008:
Hey Agnes,
Congrats on your two-year milestone!
My pick is a musical one. As I think you know, I am a collector of obscure, underground Christmas music. This obsession was born back in 1984 when, in a flea market, I discovered Miles Davis’s “Blue Xmas (To Whom it May Concern)” featuring caustic vocals by jazz legend BOB DOROUGH — who also wrote the tune.
This mid-’60s bebop classic put a decidedly unsentimental spin on the season. And the idea that someone would be critical of Christmas, especially in a song, was a revelation to me.
I had the privilege to interview Bob for the doc I am currently working on and I am quite certain you’ll find his songs sentiments refreshing.
Thanks for taking on this challenge and take care.
m
p.s. If you need an mp3 let me know which email address to send it to.
p.p.s. I’m sure you’ll remember Bob Dorough as the musical genius behind ABC’s Schoolhouse Rock animated TV series.
Comment by Chuck on 20 June 2008:
It seems like everyone’s most commented post is a flame war. Mine was brief mention of Georgia candidates for Senate in 2004 and it turned into a place where people were engaging in some of the worst mudslinging and rumor-mongering I’ve ever seen.
I finally shut down the comments because someone who had no understanding of blog etiquette took it upon herself to start issuing all kinds of broad accusations against a semi-public figure….Weird stuff.
The media “object” that has stuck with me the most lately is probably the “Once” movie and soundtrack. They both evoke each other so deeply that they are sort of inseparable. All-time, my first though is always of Chris Marker’s Sans Soleil, which is the film that made me want to study film rather than literature.
Comment by Juliet on 27 June 2008:
What a great query. My 2 cents:
Book: _The Giver_, by Lois Lowry. Written for children, but transcendent in its ability to evoke the simplicity and strength of the human experience.
Music: Melody Gardot’s first (and, currently, only) album: _Worrisome Heart_. In particular, the track, “Love Me Like a River Does.” She’s a young, indomitable musician. There was a great profile of her here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=87997628
I look forward to your thoughts.
cheers,
J
Comment by Agnes Varnum on 27 June 2008:
Thank you all for your suggestions so far. I’m going to get started on my list this weekend!
Comment by Erin on 28 June 2008:
I’m late to the party but I love this meme!
I’m going to the buck the high-brow trend and suggest the Patrick Swayze movie Black Dog. It totally works as a straight action film (plus Meatloaf as a Bible-quoting antagonist and Randy Travis as a sidekick which I’m sure you have a new appreciation for living in Texas) that has a lot of class rage in it as well.
I saw it on my first solo date in HS but just watched it again last month and thought it was still wildly entertaining.
Comment by Angela on 13 July 2008:
Definitely a good meme.
I’m going to weigh in with Lifeguard. This is a low-budget feature from the 70s. Beach movie/B movie, but with spotless acting and a super script, totally breaks out of the genre. Stars Sam Elliot, Anne Archer, Kathleen Quninlan, Parker Stevenson. The casting is impeccable.