A quick heads up: The first issue of The StradÂdler, a new quarÂterÂly online magÂaÂzine, has just been launched. If the ediÂtors have their way, it will be the “anti-magÂaÂzine of our day.” In the first issue, you’ll find:
an essay explorÂing the relaÂtionÂship between an EmiÂly DickÂinÂson poem, the New Testament’s Book of Matthew, the GetÂtysÂburg Address, and George Bush’s 2007 MemoÂrÂiÂal Day speech.
a conÂsidÂerÂaÂtion of the AmerÂiÂcan gangÂster film in light of the AmerÂiÂcan ecoÂnomÂic sysÂtem;
a medÂiÂtaÂtion on works by Anne CarÂson and recent Nobelist Doris LessÂing; and also
some origÂiÂnal artÂwork, poetÂry, and ficÂtion.
Just a quick fyi: AmaÂzon’s digÂiÂtal book readÂer, the KinÂdle, is finalÂly back in supÂply. If you’ve been waitÂing since March, now is your chance.
A quick fyi: SeaÂson 2 of the teleÂviÂsion verÂsion of This AmerÂiÂcan Life starts tonight at 10 pm on ShowÂtime, and we’ve postÂed below the brief trailÂer for the new show. MeanÂwhile, the radio verÂsion remains the most downÂloaded podÂcast on iTunes (iTunes — Feed — Web Site). It has been that way for a long time. And you can always find it in our Ideas and CulÂture PodÂcast ColÂlecÂtion.
It’s not exactÂly the same as watchÂing a film on the silÂver screen. But you get what you pay for. Below, we have Frank Capra’s 1939 clasÂsic, Mr. Smith Goes to WashÂingÂton, starÂring JimÂmy StewÂart and Claude Rains. For those who cling to the hope that democÂraÂcies can rid themÂselves of corÂrupÂtion and speÂcial interÂests, this film is for you, and it also appears in our colÂlecÂtion of free online movies.
Get a highÂer qualÂiÂty copy of Capra’s clasÂsic on DVD here.
In 2006, docÂuÂmenÂtary filmÂmakÂer Jehane NouÂjaim (ConÂtrol Room) made a wish at the TED conÂferÂence (see below) — for world peace. For NouÂjaim, peace starts with culÂturÂal exchange, with getÂting to know one anothÂer. And since we all can’t travÂel, anothÂer way to achieve this is through film and its abilÂiÂty to “take you into new worlds” and “across borÂders.”
Two years latÂer, NouÂjaim’s wish may come true, and the uniÂfyÂing powÂer of film will be put to the test. May 10 marks Pangea Day, a day when peoÂple from around the world (from MumÂbai and Cairo to Kigali, Rio and LA) will come togethÂer and watch the same films made by varÂiÂous interÂnaÂtionÂal filmÂmakÂers. “Watch parÂties” will be held worldÂwide, and the event will be broadÂcast via webÂcast and mobile phone. Below, we’ve also postÂed a movie trailÂer introÂducÂing the conÂcept of Pangea Day. For more inforÂmaÂtion, click here. (Thanks Natasha for the heads up.)
Last week, AlexanÂdra Juhasz conÂtributed a guest piece reviewÂing her experÂiÂmenÂtal efforts to make YouTube an effecÂtive teachÂing tool. And it didÂn’t take long for the web to take notice. Soon after we postÂed her review, The Wired CamÂpus (ChronÂiÂcle of HighÂer EduÂcaÂtion) took an angle on the piece. Next, the venÂerÂaÂble Ars TechÂniÂca used the post as a springÂboard for its own sumÂmaÂry. And finalÂly, that stoÂry soon reached the homeÂpage of Digg.com, which inevitably meant that AlexanÂdra’s piece got picked up by umpteen smallÂer blogs. It’s always fun to watch the ripÂple effects of the web go through their motions.
The UniÂverÂsiÂty of PennÂsylÂvaÂnia has done it. They’ve creÂatÂed a robot that you can kick apart, and it knows how to reassemÂble itself. Eerie stuff. Give it a few decades, and these guys (the robots and the stuÂdents) will be runÂning the show. (Video added to our YouTube playlist)
Across the pond, Apple is runÂning a series of ads fashÂioned after the “Mac v. PC” comÂmerÂcials that have run so sucÂcessÂfulÂly in the States. Although the vocabÂuÂlary and accent are natÂuÂralÂly difÂferÂent, the gist of the British ads is essenÂtialÂly the same. Yes, Apple’s schtick transÂlates well, and I’m declarÂing the third one my favorite. (See the series of comÂmerÂcials below.)
As our readÂers from LonÂdon will know (fact: we have more readÂers from LonÂdon than any othÂer one city), the actors in Apple’s ads are hardÂly unfaÂmilÂiar. The two — David Mitchell (PC) and Robert Webb (Mac) — star in the award-winÂning EngÂlish sitÂcom, Peep Show, which is just about to begin a new seaÂson. (Watch secÂond clip below. Note that it feaÂtures adult lanÂguage and themes.)
On the AmerÂiÂcan home front, the Iraq war has entered its apaÂthetÂic phase. The war conÂtinÂues to grind on, but the misÂsion gets far less news ink than before, and the debate over the war’s merÂits and tacÂtics rarely gets hashed back through. That’s perÂhaps because many have decidÂed to menÂtalÂly park the issue until a new adminÂisÂtraÂtion takes over next year. Or because declinÂing home prices and risÂing food and gas costs have elbowed the Iraq issue aside. UndeÂterred, Phil DonÂahue and Ellen Spiro have co-directÂed a new docÂuÂmenÂtary called Body of War. Being released in US theÂaters this month, the docÂuÂmenÂtary (feaÂturÂing music arranged by Eddie VedÂder) tracks the daiÂly life of Tomas Young, a solÂdier shot and parÂaÂlyzed durÂing his first week of fightÂing in Iraq, and it gives you a rare glimpse into the difÂfiÂcult road that Young and othÂers have had to travÂel. All of this makes tanÂgiÂble someÂthing that the corÂpoÂraÂtized media hasÂn’t covÂered much — the real human costs of this war. To date, 4,361 AmerÂiÂcan solÂdiers have died in Iraq; over 30,000 have been injured in hosÂtile action; and suiÂcides of returnÂing vets have reportÂedÂly risen to alarmÂing rates. Below, we have postÂed the trailÂer for the film. In addiÂtion, I’d point you to this recent podÂcast by Bill MoyÂers (iTunes — Feed — Web Site), which introÂduces you to Tomas Young, Phil DonoÂhue, Ellen Spiro and the film they made.
We're hoping to rely on loyal readers, rather than erratic ads. Please click the Donate button and support Open Culture. You can use Paypal, Venmo, Patreon, even Crypto! We thank you!
Open Culture scours the web for the best educational media. We find the free courses and audio books you need, the language lessons & educational videos you want, and plenty of enlightenment in between.
