STAGING | Erstwhile Flâneur, Philosopher

Only Boredom Can Save Photography Now

Photography is under siege by the smartphone, the device that has made everyone a photographer while equally rendering all unable to appreciate images.

2019-12-17
Faves On Ideas, Concepts, Intuitions

Why Hamilton is Great

Finally some explanations why this play is so important!

2019-12-05
Idle Reflections

Booth Tarkington’s “The Magnificent Ambersons”

Why do some works of art age better than others?

2019-12-03
On Literature, Books Reading Journal

Patricia Highsmith’s “Tales of Natural and Unnatural Catastrophes”

The promise of unnatural catastrophes turns out not to be catastrophic nor unnatural enough

2019-07-07
On Literature, Books Reading Journal

Uncertain reflections on the Coen Brothers’ misanthropy

Reflection on David Denby’s critique of the Coen brothers’ consistent misanthropy

2015-01-15
On Film, Movies, Cinema

“Hiroshima Mon Amour” (1959), Part 1

Bodies impersonal but affective are instruments of memory.

2014-10-23
On Film, Movies, Cinema

Protected: Lu gets a new bike

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

2010-10-25
Idle Reflections

“Pépé le Moko” (1937): Failure to Escape

Comments on the 1936 film Pépé le Moko, starring Jean Gabin, and set in the Casbah

2008-06-08
Viewing Journal On Film, Movies, Cinema

The iPhone Easily Led Me into the Future

Reflections on getting an iPhone

2008-01-12
Idle Reflections

Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” (1954): Murder as Fantasy, Sex as Violence

Rear Window appears a murder mystery in which Jeff and Lisa play amateur sleuths. In truth, the film is a fantasy about the strange gravity between sex and murder.

2007-12-08
Faves On Film, Movies, Cinema

Chet Travels: sur les bricoleurs de l’angoisse

One of the things I learned on my last trip to Paris was about this special group of individuals in French society. They have been called the “bricoleurs de l’angoisse,”...

2007-09-04
Idle Reflections Way Back

from the journals of Chet (8/6/04)

A lovely set of days in Umbria, Italy, with philosophers and one in particular.

2004-08-26
Idle Reflections Way Back