Ate It Up | 03
crazy movies, Kendrick disses, and zillow
This month has been a slow consumption month due to finals and the end of the first year of grad school! Hell, yeah! 1 year down and one to go. I’m now on summer break soaking in my lazy days and free time. April consisted of rewatching some old favorites and discovering some new ones. This month flew by and it’s crazy to think we are already halfway through the year. April felt distinct but forgettable at the same time, it was honestly a hell of a month but glad to have made it through.
Books
Most readings done this month are for finals so I would love to share some books that I’ve been skimming or have collected and will be reading here soon! Enjoy :)
Why Have There Been Bo Great Women Artists? - Linda Nochlin
One of my profs recommended this book to me as I have been trying to read more about feminism in the arts. It explores an essay written by Linda Nochlin in 1971, which established the foreground for feminist art history. So far it has offered me some interesting insights so I'm excited to continue and see what stands out.
Thug Life: Race, Gender, and the Meaning of Hip-Hop by Michael P. Jeffries
This was a book that I used for research for my elective class. I wrote about Black female sexuality in the 90s Hip-Hop Movement and this book offered me a lot of new insights. It laid out Hip-Hop foundations and the rooted storytelling behind it. I found it to be informative and critical about the industry and how it can condition one’s full identity positively and negatively. I hope to continue to revisit it as I have more time this summer as well.
The Black Experience in Design - By A series of authors
This book I have heard about a lot and picked up a few months back. I have slowly been making strides and it has been so rewarding. It outlines many different experiences and essays from people working at an intersection of being black and being a designer. I have been using it for some research while in grad school and for my gain; it has been penetrating and inspiring.
Shows
You Are What You Eat(Netflix)
This documentary follows identical twins going through a lifestyle experiment. One twin does a carnivore diet, and one follows a fully vegan diet. They have exercise routines, do all their meal prep themselves, and have strict rules to stick to. This was a fun background watch and was interesting to see people enjoy or not enjoy this process. It is more biased than I was expecting and pushes the vegan diet and agenda and it becomes more obvious as you keep watching. Which is fine, I think… but did throw me off a little bit while watching cause I didn’t expect it.
(Rewatch)Living Single - Hulu
Not much to say, one of my favorite shows to watch on repeat. Ain’t no time like the 90’s time and ain’t no fine like 90’s fine. The comedy, outfits, and energy that the show houses are unbeatable for me. This show is such a true treat and a gem.
(Rewatch) The Great British Baking Show - Netflix
If you haven’t been rewatching this show what are you doing? This show specifically season 5 was with me while working on finals until the end of the night. I have watched each season multiple times at this point. I find this show to be the most comforting thing. It makes it feel like it’s wintertime as the sun is going down with candlelight filling the house reading next to the fire. Which has kept me enthralled with it for the past several years.
(Rewatch) The Sex Lives of College Girls - MAX
I love this show. It is funny, raunchy, and a feel-good. I think I’ve watched it 3 times now as I am awaiting season 3. It is fun rewatching and seeing how messy things get compared to how you remember them. It gives chaos, friend drama, teenage problems, and all its glory.
Movies
Boomerang(Prime)
This was my first time watching this movie, and I have been missing out. The film came out before I even existed and definitely would’ve been inappropriate to watch growing up but I am glad I finally tuned in. It had me laughing out loud and rewinding scenes to laugh again. Lots of said scenes are not PC again came out in 1992, but Eddie Murphy signed, sealed, and delivered this role and had me questioning if I have an undiscovered crush on him. The answer is YES.
The Photograph(Prime)
Look at this photograph! This movie was cute. It had me sadder than I expected haha. It follows two love stories of Mae(Issa Rae) and(Michael)Lakeith Stanfield and Mae's mother, Christina, and her lover Issac. I was curious about this movie, I had heard little about it when it came out and have been on a movie run of watching things I've been meaning to watch. It was sweet, quick, and complex, and delivered what I consider to be a soft but heartfelt story. I was eager to see Issa and Lakeith on screen together and they were cute and awkward in all the right places. :)
Bottoms (Prime)
This movie was crazy. It follows two best friends as they start a fight club at their high school. As the movie began it slowly became more and more unhinged. The girls Ayo Edibiri(Josie) and Rachel Sennot(PJ) create this fight club ultimately to sleep with two girls they have a crush on, by any means necessary. Parts of the comedy were my type of comedy, long-winded, satirical, and just purely out of pocket. But it quickly became more and more absurd. It felt like a skit that continued to dig itself deeper and deeper into a hole and I was trying to peer over the edge unsure of what I would see. Regardless this movie delivered a quirky over the top telling of the chaos of high school and girlhood and it grew on me.
Anyone but you(Prime) is now on Netflix and I regret paying $5 to rent
Everyone and their mama has potentially seen ads for this movie. I feel like my TikTok consisted of ads and clips with comments referring to Sydney and Glenn having slept together while filming. WHO GIVES A CRAP?! The movie was okay and pretty predictable. It felt like the director just needed a way to showcase good-looking people rather than tell a whole story. Both Sydney and Glenn were shirtless, pantsless, and in a bathing suit for 90% of the film it seemed. I ain’t mad, if you got it flaunt it! But I think it felt obvious after the second closeup of both of their breasts what was going on. So it took away from the plot for me. It was a fun lighthearted watch nonetheless.
Music
Juno(Deluxe) - Remi Wolf
THIS ALBUM GETS ME! It came out in 2021 and I have had it on my playlist since then but recently I decided to revisit it as a whole. 10000/10. This is the first album revisit in a while that I’ve done that feels like I needed to wait to be able to listen differently this time around. My favorites are Fired, Buzz Me In, Cake, Liquor Store, Sexy Villan, Liz, and Front Tooth. Was I close to just listing the full album, yes, should you go listen, YES! I am a Remi stan! <3
Kendrick Lamar - Diss Tracks
I think I have listened to Euphoria 50 times since it came out a few days ago. I have never been engulfed in any rap beef but this Kendrick V. Drake has me paying attention. I don’t mind quite a few Aubrey songs but the Kendrick releases have me too embarrassed to listen to anything Drake has to say atm. I feel like he sounds like he has been waiting quite a bit to get this off his chest and it got me looking like this….
Wishlist
This month I didn’t even think about purchasing anything other than my sanity, which I couldn’t even afford. So stay tuned in for the next months when my brain is back to longing!
Random but still good things
The Black Feminist Guide to the Human Body: Stage Play
I got the opportunity to go to Professor Lisa B. Thompson’s invited dress rehearsal. I am a huge fan of my professor as a human being, taking her class has forever changed my life. Now, seeing her play I can proudly say she is also now one of my favorite playwrights as well. This play follows 3 characters representing 3 eras of oneself, the play is complex and heartfelt. It is by and intended for black women with a focus on black women in academia. Which if you didn’t know is also me. So I felt not only seen watching this play unfold but also HEARD. Which I am realizing is a fundamental feeling to seek out. The show just wrapped this month but I believe it is going to be traveling. I consider it a must-see if it comes to a city near you. LOVE YOU PROF THOMPSON <3
My Cohort <3
my cohort houses some of my favorite people I’ve ever met. School can be really hard at times and no matter what I am always thankful to have them and to remember that we are in this together. They are one of the best things to have happened to me in a while. <3 <3 <3
Zillow!
I have been looking at apartments as we are hoping to move this summer and Zillow really is that girl. Moving is always stressful but something about scrolling on Zillow helps to soothe my spirits. I also really love to get on there to look at expensive houses near and far like this one for 27 mil. Or this funky one for 9 mil. I think houses are fascinating, I get caught up thinking about selections and layout and taste. What people like, and what they think will “sell” is intriguing.
New Exercises - Hot Yoga & Bouldering
I have been weightlifting/cross-training for the past 3 years or so. Recently, I was looking for a revamp to get me excited about my exercise routines again. My friend recently got me into hot yoga and I have been going on and off with her for the past month or so. So far, I like the sweat, routine, and challenge that it has offered me. Along with a new environment in general. I think the room is close to if not at 100 degrees so the sweat is unlike any other. Outside of this, I went bouldering!!! It was fun, I was so sore after and I keep thinking about going back again.
That’s it for now y’all! Lots of Love,
Ya Little Mama
I've been wondering if I should try bouldering...
Also is Boomerang with Eartha Kitt?