Max Parrish v. Peter Griffin--the Steel Cage match you've been waiting for!
Two important cultural events to note this morning.
First, the Nevada Museum of Art here in Reno is now hosting an exhibit of the artwork of Maxfield Parrish, one of the most popular and beloved American artists of the 20th Century. If you're in Reno, you should see it.
The other item of note is the return of Family Guy, on the greatest TV network in world history, Fox (yes, I'm being sarcastic) on Sunday nights. I like Family Guy; it can be hysterically funny at times, even if it is a sort of watered-down Simpsons with the biting social commentary mostly replaced by non-sequitors and pop-culture references that anyone who isn't a 30-something white guy isn't likely to get. As an example, on last night's episode there's a little drama playing out that most of us probably remember from High School: Chris Griffin, the teenage son, is at a school dance when he's caught with some booze that was given to him by a friend. Into the middle of this familiar scene pops Hawk from G.I. Joe, who gives one of those "knowing is half the battle" speeches that you remember so well if, like me, you used to watch G.I. Joe cartoons. If you 'get it' it's funny; if like most people you didn't 'get it', the whole thing probably made no sense at all.
Still, it is better than most of what's on TV these days--or ever, I suppose. It seems strange that the last bastions of truly brilliant satire, or even relevant social commentary, is animation. I suppose animation gets away with a lot more than live-action since it's so clearly taking place in un-reality, which makes people slightly less uncomfortable with challenging or controversial ideas but which still manages to get the point across in a funny way. And for the record, the one I really wish they'd brought back is Futurama.
First, the Nevada Museum of Art here in Reno is now hosting an exhibit of the artwork of Maxfield Parrish, one of the most popular and beloved American artists of the 20th Century. If you're in Reno, you should see it.
The other item of note is the return of Family Guy, on the greatest TV network in world history, Fox (yes, I'm being sarcastic) on Sunday nights. I like Family Guy; it can be hysterically funny at times, even if it is a sort of watered-down Simpsons with the biting social commentary mostly replaced by non-sequitors and pop-culture references that anyone who isn't a 30-something white guy isn't likely to get. As an example, on last night's episode there's a little drama playing out that most of us probably remember from High School: Chris Griffin, the teenage son, is at a school dance when he's caught with some booze that was given to him by a friend. Into the middle of this familiar scene pops Hawk from G.I. Joe, who gives one of those "knowing is half the battle" speeches that you remember so well if, like me, you used to watch G.I. Joe cartoons. If you 'get it' it's funny; if like most people you didn't 'get it', the whole thing probably made no sense at all.
Still, it is better than most of what's on TV these days--or ever, I suppose. It seems strange that the last bastions of truly brilliant satire, or even relevant social commentary, is animation. I suppose animation gets away with a lot more than live-action since it's so clearly taking place in un-reality, which makes people slightly less uncomfortable with challenging or controversial ideas but which still manages to get the point across in a funny way. And for the record, the one I really wish they'd brought back is Futurama.
posted by Yukon Sully | 9:27 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home