What I Consumed Recently #01
Welcome to a new segment!
This week I am coming at you with a consumption report. I consume a lot on a daily, let alone weekly basis. I might be biased but I think I enjoy a good chunk of it so I thought I should start sharing it if you’re anything like me and love a good recommendation. So here’s a list of some books, articles, movies, random things. Also potential spoiler if you haven’t watched Love is Blind, season 6 yet, sorry!
Books
August Wilson - Fences
In my last post, I talked a little about the class I am taking all about black performance. We have been revisiting some of August Wilson’s many works in class. I read Fences and Joe Turner's Come and Gone but now being much older I have a newfound appreciation. We also rewatched the film adaptation of Fences as well. So much can be said about the difference between Denzel Washington’s Troy vs, the original play with James Earl Jones as Troy. James Earl’s depiction was thunderous in a way I can’t put into words. See the clip for reference. I loved revisiting these pieces of art and getting to explore the depth and reflection that Wilson offers about blackness, fatherhood, and love.
The Creative Act: A Way of Being By Rick Rubin
I haven’t even finished this book but I am already really loving it. It feels like one of those, caught me at the right time kind of things. This book is all about rethinking how one explores creativity. It is a little spiritually driven, but not too much, it is split into very short chapters but jam-punched with helpful nodes of encouraging thought. Highly recommend.
Gabriella Karefa Johnson: NYT Article
I have rebooted my subscription to the New York Times, very mature adult of me and I have been loving it. I play Wordle and Connections every day and have been reading lots of fun new articles. A recent one was a profile on Gabriella Karefa Johnson about her time at Vogue and reflections on life and working in the fashion industry. I thought this piece was insightful and fun. I used to fantasize about working at Vogue or Manrepeller (the girls that know, know) or in media in general. I am such a fan of Gabriella and can’t wait to continue seeing her refocus the fashion world
The Hunt For…: Column NYT
As I mentioned I am a girl with the times lol and one of my favorite sections is the real estate section and more specifically a section called The Hunt For…They feature family/ personal profiles and make a game of options for you to guess what the family chose. ITS FUNNN to me and I like guessing it right, typical Capricorn tendencies.
Movies
American Fiction
I enjoyed the hell out of this movie! I highly recommend it! It made me laugh, squint, wince, question, and walk away still thinking about it. All the things I enjoy. The cast was truly flawless, I missed Erica Alexander on my screen outside of my sporadic Living Single rewatches. Jeffrey Wright ate his character up. I was with Monk on this back-and-forth journey of questions and contradictions. Sometime this year I plan to read Erasure, the book American Fiction was based on, and give it a rewatch to give a more thorough write-up, so stay tuned.
Malcolm X
I recently watched Malcolm X for the first time after knowing about it for my whole life. I am glad I waited cause little Rose would not have been able to sit through this 3-hour movie. I enjoyed it though, I found the shots vibrant and fulfilling. The costumes were breathtaking. The movie felt full of life and tragedies, Denzel played that role, and I kept looking at his actions and voice in relation to Malcolm X’s famous speeches, seeing the embodied influence. Some scenes were questionable, and after some research, my questions have been answered. I still want to read the autobiography and I think this film did a good job at offering some framework.
Shows
Mr and Mrs. Smith
This show is cute and funnnn. I found the plot and new take on the “classic” refreshing. I think Donald Glover and Maya Erskine embodied these characters in such a comedic and tender way. I fell in love with both of them despite being often annoyed with their decisions. I think they came together on screen in a way that made my heart BEAT, and each ep offered a new scenario to get caught up in and get a thrill. Highly recommend it if you’re looking for a wind-down, binge-worthy show.
Love is Blind
GIRL. Hunter Harris said it best. But we are back and yet again I am enthralled with this show once again. This season has me covering my damn eyes and wincing at the awkward encounters. The way people are so trying to make something work but you can tell their heart just isn’t in it, yes, I am looking at some more than others. I won’t say too much to not spoil anything if folks haven’t watched yet but my goodness, I think this season is gonna be a ride.
Random but still good things
Ice Face Roller
This face roller has changed the morning routine game for me. I look forward to waking up, turning on my bathroom lamp, grabbing it from the freezer, and standing there listening to a morning meditation. It has just helped to start my days at peace. So small and simple but effective as hell.
Weleda
Best face lotion in my very humble opinion!
The Cutting Room Floor: Podcast
Recho is back! And I am tuned the hell in! I have been following them for the past two years and I love these conversations and the video format. This is one of the few podcasts that I will happily pay for. Recho has been and is still doing the work! I admire and appreciate her so much. :)
Milanote
Someone put me on this but I can’t remember, but thank you to them! This app is like a mixture of Slack and notion and I have been liking it within my constant back and forth of text, images, and random sticky notes. It can do it all!
That is it, for now, thank you as always for reading <3
Ya Little Mama