Two link dumps in a row? I’m the worst. I shall endeavor to produce something of quality and originality within the next few weeks, but for now, here are some links worth checking out:
- Exercise Vague Caution – Someone puts up a “This Building is Monitored by Closed-Circuit Cameras” sign in Jamie Zawinski’s apartment building, and unimpressed by this security theater, he adds little slogans underneath, such as the titular “Exercise Vague Caution” or “Drone Strikes Authorized 7PM – 5AM”. Beautiful.
- What Does ‘Cinematic TV’ Really Mean? – Interesting video essay by Matt Zoller Seitz and Chris Wade that explores the divide between TV and Cinema. When most people think of “Cinematic” television, they generally just think about production value. A big part of that is that production value for TV is historically pretty terrible. When the X-Files came on in the 1990s, I think everyone recognized a difference. TV at the time had a very “flat” sort of feel to it. The X-Files had actual cinematography and depth that you didn’t see much in TV at the time. Now, that sort of thing is much more common. This video attempts to go further than I have here, and it makes some good arguments, though I think perhaps they may be overstating their case. The best television these days rivals the best cinema, but it’s not like there aren’t craptons of terrible examples of both. Film may still be better than TV on the whole, but TV is growing rapidly.
- Making Meatballs With Mario and Maria Carbone – A neat enough video on its own, but I don’t think I’d be linking to it if Charles C. Mann didn’t append his brief description in a tweet: “A ferocious Oedipal power struggle over meatballs, captured in fine 12-minute video”. Quite an evocative headline for a video about “Dead Cow Spheres”
- The Long, Sweet Love Affair Between Cops and Doughnuts – Surprisingly edifying look into a common trope that has apparently has origins in fact.
And that’s all from now.