Today's texts are fluid. They're online and off; sacred, profane, and sometimes a mixture of both; written for the people, by the people. But considering sacred Jewish texts through the lens of the contemporary reality for writing, how broadly are we willing to define "text"? Is it anything that was handed down at Sinai, or by Talmud-era rabbis, or by contemporary rabbis; do compilations (like a siddur, mahzor or haggadah, for instance) qualify for classical text status, even if parts of them are always changing?
A few months ago, I was part of a panel discussion on text, context, art and tradition, as seen through a series of short films about the steps of the Passover seder. "Projecting Freedom," a project of the Skirball Center for Adult Jewish Learning at Temple Emanu-El and underwritten by an Ignition Grant from The Covenant Foundation, gathered video and visual artists in an intensive exploration of the themes and images of Passover, giving them the textual tools to interpret the Haggadah in new ways. (Check out Hanan Harchol's "Maror" segment below.)
In preparation for the panel, Skirball's Founding Director, Rabbi Leon Morris, sent the panelists a series of questions to have in mind during our preparation. I found these questions really interesting, and wrote out some responses. Give them a read and let me know what your thoughts are on tradition, art and text in the age of technology.
Over the last year, noted artists have been studying and interpreting the steps outlined in the Passover Haggadah that together create the Seder, or order, of our remembering the Exodus from Egypt. Taking their learnings and reflecting them through their art, they've created a series of short films; the resultant video series, "Projecting Freedom: Cinematic Interpretations of the Haggadah," is now being screened in select venues in New York City, San Francisco and London, and is available for viewing at www.projectingfreedom.org.
The video shorts premiered on www.projectingfreedom.org and in New York on March 22nd at The Skirball Center. They will be shown again THIS THURSDAY, APRIL 1, at 7:30 pm at the JCC in Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave. at 76th St. along with a panel discussion on “Art and Interpretation: New Ways of Looking at Tradition,” featuring Jeremy Dauber, Associate Professor of Yiddish Language, Literature and Culture at Columbia University; Jewish blogger and social commentator Esther Kustanowitz (hey, that's me!); Rabbi Michael Strassfeld of The Society for the Advancement of Judaism; and, some of the participating video and film artists.
If you're in New York, please consider joining me at the JCC on Thursday night for this interesting discussion about text, art, and interpretation.
If you've never heard of Socalled, you're missing a unique and weird talent whose music blends klezmer, hip-hop, funk and other elements in a fusion like you've never heard before. And now he's the subject of a new documentary, which will be released Tuesday on YouTube and screened at a special event at the SXSW festival (Maggie Mae's, 323 E. 6th Street, Austin, TX on Tuesday, March 16, 9pm- 1am, with a Socalled live performance @ 10PM). You can also view the trailer below, and you can rent from YouTube for $.99.
Klezmer-hip hop maestro Socalled is a musician, producer, composer, arranger, magician, filmmaker, photographer and visual artist based in Montreal. Born in Ottawa and raised just north of there, in Chelsea, Quebec, he grew up taking piano lessons and loving funk and hip hop. When Socalled first heard klezmer music on an old Yiddish record, he was fascinated by the cool sounds he could sample to make hip hop beats. Then he realized that integrating this Jewish music from the 1930s into his songs was a way of representing himself and his cultural heritage. It enabled him bring something of his own to funk and hip hop, giving him what he calls "a real reason to make music." (from his bio)
In NYC on April 1 (during the intermediate days of Passover)? Join Rabbi Michael Strassfeld, Professor Jeremy Dauber, and me for "Projecting Freedom: Cinematic Interpretations of the Haggadah" at the JCC of Manhattan. (Note to self: get a more impressive title - perhaps "Duchess" or "Queen.")
Discussion will be based on 14 short films based on the steps of the Haggadah that will premier at the Skirball Center for Adult Jewish Learning in NY on March 22, in London on March 25, and in San Francisco on March 31. You can read about the project (and see a video about the project) at www.projectingfreedom.org.
Here's more information about the event:
For the past year, a diverse group of filmmakers and video artists have been studying the Passover Haggadah creating 14 short films based on the "steps" of the Haggadah as a project of the Skirball Center for Adult Jewish Learning at Temple Emanu-El. The JCC is pleased to present a West Side screening of these films during Pesach followed by a panel discussion on the theme of "Art and Interpretation: New Ways of Looking at Tradition" with Professor Jeremy Dauber, Associate Professor of Yiddish Language, Literature, and Culture at Columbia University; Esther Kustanowitz, writer; and Rabbi Michael Strassfeld, Society for the Advancement of Judaism, and co-author (with Rabbi Joy Levitt) of A Night of Questions: A Passover Haggadah. Responses will follow by Saul Robbins (curator), Carrie Dashow (video artist), and Hanan Harchol (video artist).The project is made possible by a grant from The Covenant Foundation and the program is presented in partnership with the Skirball Center for Adult Jewish Learning at Temple Emanu-El.
Today is Oscars Day in Hollywood. For the 2nd straight year, no one has invited me to the red carpet or to the awards. This is obviously a huge oversight. In protest, I've not seen any of the nominated films, except "A Serious Man," which was required of all Jews.
However, I was recently invited to the Movieguide Awards (OK, so I invited myself, but are we really going to quibble about semantics?) I created one video post for Beliefnet's Idol Chatter (the official reason I was there), and just uploaded the "scenes that didn't quite make it" (see link at left or embed below) - and yes, the Melora Hardin interview appears in both because I love Jan Levinson.
But I thought that beyond the Movieguide Awards, I might take a few moments to make some Oscar predictions. These premonitions, these insights into the inner workings of Hollywood have been gleaned through careful analysis of contemporary trends, delving into celebrity psyches, and general observations of the non-blue human species. And might make an excellent drinking game. (Drink responsibly, kids.)
Esther's 2010 Oscars Predictions/Drinking Game
1. Mo'nique will a) thank God/Jesus, b) cry, c) hyperventilate. (This is not a multiple choice quiz - she may do all of these.)
2. Quentin Tarantino - through a manic, energy-infused frenzy of disbelief - will a) dedicate his award to justice or the triumph of good over evil, b) possibly mention Jews, and c) (although this is an outside possibility) mention Hitler.
3. Some otherwise attractive actress will wear something awful to the red carpet. Another actress - potentially one who doesn't fit the typical Hollywood size - will be lauded for her fashion bravery or maligned for trying to wear something nice in her size. And young actresses (under 20) will be dressed up to look like they're 30.
4. The Coens will sport some strange facial hair.
5. Jeff Bridges will invoke the memory of his late father and perhaps mention Beau/the Fabulous Baker Boys. Also, keep your ears ready for the name "T-Bone."
6. Jokes will center on the following themes: blue skin, James Cameron making a lot of money, Quentin Tarantino, revenge on Hitler, the fact that there are 10 Best Picture nominees, the awkward "battle of the exes" (James Cameron v. Catherine Bigelow), with perhaps a riff on the Yiddish opening segment of "A Serious Man."
7. Colin Firth will be overlooked tonight. But he'll win someday.
8. There will be moments of imposed sadness, as nominees mention Haiti and other disasters around the world. Then they will all donate their gift bags and the proceeds of their next films to disaster relief. (Just kidding about that second part. Although I'd be delighted if they proved me wrong.)
9. Peter Jackson will go home without an Oscar. But he already has enough of the Precious, right?
10. George Clooney will look awesome, and flash that smile at anyone who talks to him. That smile, by the way, is like that magic light in "Men in Black," except instead of making people forget they've seen aliens, it makes people forget Clooney's "Facts of Life" mullet.
11. Helen Mirren will look awesome and someone will make a GILF joke. Meryl Streep may make a strange fashion choice, but is so awesome that no one will care.
12. Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin will engage in witty banter and show us why Oscars-hosting is tough, even for pros. Although I also think they might totally rock. Potentially, jokes about: Alec in Beetlejuice, Steve's arrow-through-the-head beginnings, the scene in "It's Complicated" where Steve catches a view of Alec's business, some reference to Meryl Streep, 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live.
13. Israel vs. Germany in the Best Foreign Film category. If I took my Delorean back to 1945, no one would believe it. And if Germany wins, Quentin might use his "Basterds" Oscar to bash Germany over the head.
14. Big tears and applause during this year's Death Montage. I mean, "In Memoriam" segment.
15. Someone will make a joke about Facebook or Twitter.
16. You will not win your Oscars pool.
17. You will find the musical numbers pointless.
18. You will eat too much (and possibly drink too much, even without this drinking game) at your Oscars party.
19. Someone will get "played off" way before they've thanked everyone because they spent the first minute at the podium "OhMyGod'ing." I'm looking at you, Mo'nique and Sandra Bullock.
20. No one will ask George Clooney, "Hey, where's @EstherK?
And now, that footage I promised, featuring Melora Hardin, some kid from Wizards of Waverly Place (What's that? Exactly...), and Heroes.
Gerry Wolfman's a bit different from other dentists lately. Check out the surreal, faux-horror story of a man gone moon-mental complete with fine supporting turns by Faith Salie (Significant Others will always rock) and Will Forte, and penned by Sheryl Zohn (Penn & Teller) and Rob Kutner, former writer for both The Daily Show and The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien. Well-produced, as usual, by Stephen Levinson.
So if you're in NY, make sure to get your tickets for the 92Y Tribeca Purim spiel run by the fine folks at the Shushan Channel. Why should you buy tickets for this spiel? I asked Rob to pitch you, the readers, directly:
"I left the Daily Show and moved to LA to write for 'The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien.' And then suddenly, I had an awful lot of free time. And unresolved issues. So I wrote a sketch about 'Mordecoco' being displaced by 'Jayman,' and wrangled a star from the actual Tonight Show to weigh in on it by video. My therapy, or your entertainment? Come and find out."
Still not enough? The show features Lizz Winstead, the awesome original creator of The Daily Show, a video from Joel McHale, and a surprise message from a star of the gone-but-not-forgotten Conan show. Plus, the 10pm show features Scott Adsit (from 30 Rock).
This week, the Twitterverse and online-pub-o-sphere has been all abuzz with the latest way social media - a.k.a. "the people" - are making an impact on big media: the possible - even if limited-duration - return of "Ronna and Beverly," a Showtime series created by Jenji Kohan ("Weeds") and two comedians from UCB, Jamie Denbo and Jessica Chaffin, and featuring Denbo and Chaffin as two older ladies who authored a dating book titled "Don't Worry, You'll Do A Little Better Next Time: A Guide to Marriage and Remarriage for Jewish Singles." The title alone is genius - but the most genius thing is the "a little"...as if doing "much better" or just "better" next time is unattainable. (Which is basically what it feels like. But I digress. This isn't JDaters Anonymous...)
Who are Ronna & Beverly? Rachel Sklar (Mediaite) gives us a look:
Ronna & Bev are not real people — except insofar as you may be have grown up around them, or God forbid, be related to them. They are the incarnation of your worst Jewish mother-in-law or Passover seder nightmare, created by LA-based comedians Jessica Chaffin and Jamie Denbo, longtime fixtures of the LA comedy club scene — and now, the subject of a new Showtime pilot that just might have a shot.
But how much of a shot does it really have on impacting a major cable player like Showtime, which this season picked up no new pilots (essentially saying, nothing personal, Ronna and Bev)? Mashable says (and we have to trust Mashable, because they know lots of stuff about media gone social) that while it's tempting to frame the strategy as groundbreaking, it might not have the desired impact.
Although social media and online campaigns have had an impact on many other mediums, television has remained an elusive nut to crack. Campaigns to get followers to tune into television premieres have consistently failed (or failed to sustain themselves after the initial flurry is over) and online-specific campaigns to take a show to the small screen have been equally unsuccessful.
My go-to examples of a successful online fanbase precipitating the continuation of a TV show both happen to center on Joss Whedon - the "Buffy" auteur who created "Firefly"'s alternate space western universe and the human trafficking-themed "Dollhouse." In the first case, the fan base demanded a movie and got it: when "Serenity" opened to lackluster box office even with the support of the fan base (and that was before Twitter), the model was seen as not viable for replication. When fans protested the impending cancellation of "Dollhouse," the series got a stay of execution for an additional season; it has since been cancelled, but that additional season does allow the writers to craft an ending for the series, which is a blessing for closure-seeking fans.
It was also this base of technosavvy, loyal admirers (along with Joss Whedon's financial support) that made "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" a smash internet sensation, shattering the paradigm for content and distribution venues, and giving Felicia Day the success she needed to encourage her into taking her idea for "The Guild" directly to fans via webisodes, bypassing networks and cable entirely. The first season of "The Guild," an sitcom webseries about a group of online gamers, was financed entirely by PayPal donations from fans, and then for its second season, drew corporate support from XboxLive, Microsoft and Sprint. Amazing. (Hearing Day's experience at her Digital Hollywood panel was a real eye-opener about how the industry is changing, yet "legacy media" refuses to admit that change is necessary.)
These are small strides, not enough to open a box office blockbuster or get a third season of "Dollhouse," and maybe not even enough to save a couple of Jewish yentas from Boston from cable retirement from being put out to pasture even before they've begun. But I think all this grassroots mobilizing, this "power to the people" democracy when it comes to which entertainment products we choose, why, and how those products are delivered is not the ends itself of social media, but the beginning of a path that negotiates network goals and user preferences. I think we'll all look back on these moments as the evolutionary step, the entity that emerged from the primordial ooze of our now, but what we'll then call "the way television used to be."
So, what do we remember about 2009? Or more importantly, how did we "vote with our fingers" about what pop culture elements we'll remember about 2009?
According to the Facebook Memology (yes, it's a scientific study now, performed by the Facebook data research division) top 15 status trends of 2009, we think Farmville (and other Facebook applications) is more status-worthy than celebrity deaths, religion, family or even ourselves ("I" ranked at #15).
Moving over to YouTube, our idiocracy proves it's video-crazy, with the Top YouTube videos of 2009 including "OMG, We Can't Believe a Homely Woman Can Sing Beautifully" (Susan Boyle), "Some Parents Shouldn't Have Video Cameras" (David After Dentist), "Wedding Party Dances Non-Ironically to a Chris Brown Song," (JK Wedding Intro), "Hey That 17-Year-Old Actor Now Has Killer Abs" (the "New Moon" Trailer), and, of course, "Roller Skating Baby Gangs" (Evian Babies).
And on Twitter, a tool that I'm still explaining to most of the people I meet, they did Trending Topics top ten lists in seven categories, including People, News Stories, Sports, Technology, Movies, TV Shows and Hashtags. To sum up the year using the top two of each top ten list, 2009 looks approximately like this:
Iran Election, Swine Flu, Michael Jackson, Susan Boyle, Google Wave, Snow Leopard, SuperBowl, Lakers, Harry Potter, New Moon, American Idol, Glee, #musicmonday and, to round out the list, #iranelection.
If you add the #3 position on all those charts, you get:
Gaza, Adam Lambert, District 9, Teen Choice Awards, Tweetdeck, Wimbledon, and #sxsw.
What do you think? Does this list reveal more about what actually happened or more about our fears and anxieties? Should there be a 3-day waiting period for parents applying for videocamera ownership? And will 2010 be more of the same?
Not so long ago (now), in a galaxy not so far away (here), a small band of internet rebels stood against the evil Empire; mobilizing from separate rebel bases, they used all the tools at their disposal - PhotoShop, DreamWeaver, Flash, Java, iMovie and others - to recreate their favorite scenes in the classic sci-fi film "Star Wars."
Some scenes are animated, others re-enacted with live actors, and still others transposed favorite scenes into contemporary contexts. The trailer below provides a glimpse into what the final film might look like.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go to Toschi and pick up some power converters.
Rarely does an episode of House go without a Jewish reference, even when Jewish Doctor Cuddy isn't in the storyline. Cartoons - notably the Simpsons and South Park - have explored Jewish identity. And now, The Family Guy aired a show last night called "Family Goy," in which Lois Griffin discovers that she's Jewish. But what's strange is that recently, in pop culture, there seems to be Jewiness everywhere.
One of the most-talked-about films of the month is the Coen Brothers' most recent oddity, "A Serious Man," which explores the 70s era midwestern Jewish childhoods of the Coens through an opening midrash of sorts in Yiddish with English subtitles, and shows life in Hebrew school where teachers refuse to speak English in class. In that scene, the audience is forced to join the students in their bewilderment, because neither of them gets subtitles for the Hebrew conjugations being taught in the class. This film, my friend Lindsay noted, is "Jewier than @estherk's friend list." (She's not wrong. I claim it's Jewier than "Yentl," but my friend Wendy disagrees. Oh well, it wouldn't be Jewy without Jews failing to agree. Maybe I should propose a debate titled, "Which one is Jewier, Yentl or A Serious Man?" for this year's LimmudLA conference.)
Listening to the radio, you might hear the Black Eyed Peas' latest, a song called "I Gotta Feeling." Released this summer, the song's increased in airplay to at least 150 times a day on every radio station in Los Angeles. Well, in case you haven't heard, there's both a "mazal tov" and a "l'chayim" in the lyrics (check out the clip above, around 3:17 in, for the one-two Hebrew punch). While it's slightly surprising to hear Hebrew in an American pop song, you might remember that the BEP have always been very popular in Israel, perhaps for including the region in the song "Hey Mama" ("Then we drop bombs like we in the middle east") or for proclaiming big love for the country when they tour there. What's next? Prediction for 2010: Kanye West interrupts a Black Eyed Peas concert, changes his name to "KanYiheyeh B'Seder" and starts blogging for Benji.
Even Ahmadinejad may boast Jewish roots. Well, not "boast," actually - more like "vehemently deny while threatening to bomb Israel." But as Jewlicious pointed out, this was something that our resident prophet/animation guru William Levin came up with as a joke in a Birthright Israel recruitment video: turns out that the best comedy has reality (or at least, a potential reality) as a basis. If the rumors are true, it just fuels additional questions - if Mahmoud's mom was Jewish, would my parents consider him an acceptable potential match? Does he have the right of return? Is he related to Lois Griffin? Does he pay retail?
I can't watch every news broadcast or TV show (or can I?), so if I've missed some important pop cultural moment this week, I blame Sukkot. (Why not? I'm sure if you say "schach" enough times it damages your vocal cords and renders you forgetful. Someone needs to research that.) What'd I miss? You tell me. (You always do.)
