Physics gets its own litÂtle opera. And you’ll nevÂer look at quadroÂcopters, those ball jugÂgling robots, in quite the same way. Nice work “OperaÂmanÂda”…
via @chr1sa
The Ramones Live in 1978: 26 Songs in 54 Minutes
Princes of New York punk, kings of CBGÂB’s (take virÂtuÂal tour here), and the only AmerÂiÂcans, then or now, who could pull off skinÂny jeans with impuniÂty, The Ramones were masÂters of the short and sweet. Here’s a recordÂing of a live 1978 set at the PalÂlaÂdiÂum in New York City: 26 songs, 54 minÂutes, all set to clips from old sci-fi movies.
via NPR
SheerÂly Avni is a San FranÂcisÂco-based arts and culÂture writer. Her work has appeared in Salon, LA WeekÂly, MothÂer Jones, and many othÂer pubÂliÂcaÂtions. You can folÂlow her on twitÂter at @sheerly.
The Shape of A Story: Writing Tips from Kurt Vonnegut
A few years ago, Open CulÂture readÂers listÂed SlaughÂterÂhouse Five as one of your top life-changÂing books. But Kurt VonÂnegut was not only a great author. He was also an inspiÂraÂtion for anyÂone who aspires to write ficÂtion – see for examÂple his 8 rules for writÂing ficÂtion, which starts with the so-obviÂous-it’s-often-forÂgotÂten reminder nevÂer to waste your readÂer’s time.
In this video, VonÂnegut folÂlows his own advice and sketchÂes some brilÂliant blueÂprints for enviÂsionÂing the “shape” of a stoÂry, all in less than 4 minÂutes and 37 secÂonds.
FYI. OrigÂiÂnal works by VonÂnegut appear in Free Audio Books and Free eBooks colÂlecÂtions.
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
Ray BradÂbury Gives 12 Pieces of WritÂing Advice to Young Authors (2001)
John Steinbeck’s Six Tips for the AspirÂing Writer and His Nobel Prize Speech
WritÂing Tips by HenÂry Miller, Elmore Leonard, MarÂgaret Atwood, Neil Gaiman & George Orwell
SheerÂly Avni is a San FranÂcisÂco-based arts and culÂture writer. Her work has appeared in Salon, LA WeekÂly, MothÂer Jones, and many othÂer pubÂliÂcaÂtions. You can folÂlow her on twitÂter at @sheerly.
How Walt Disney Cartoons Are Made: 1939 Documentary Gives an Inside Look
Walt DisÂney’s 1937 proÂducÂtion, Snow White and the SevÂen Dwarfs, broke new ground on a numÂber of fronts. It was 1) the first cel-aniÂmatÂed feaÂture film ever proÂduced; 2.) the first aniÂmatÂed film made in colÂor — techÂniÂcolÂor actuÂalÂly; and 3.) DisÂney’s first aniÂmatÂed film, one of many comÂmerÂcial and artisÂtic hits to come. (Catch a quick clip here.)
Two years latÂer, DisÂney proÂduced an in-house docÂuÂmenÂtary, How Walt DisÂney CarÂtoons Are Made, that walks you through the stages of Snow White’s develÂopÂment – the writÂing of the first stoÂry lines, the draftÂing of the aniÂmaÂtion sequences, the hand paintÂing of 250,000 celÂluÂloid frames (done by “pretÂty girls,” as they say) and beyond. Back in the day, AmerÂiÂcan filmÂgoÂers watched this footage in the cinÂeÂma, the trailÂer before the main feaÂture film.
MeanÂwhile, you can also watch online ParaÂmounÂt’s 1939 answer to DisÂney’s big hit — GulÂlivÂer’s TravÂels, anothÂer cel-aniÂmatÂed TechÂniÂcolÂor feaÂture film directÂed by Dave FleisÂchÂer, who latÂer brought us an aniÂmatÂed verÂsion of SuperÂman (1941).
If you would like to supÂport the misÂsion of Open CulÂture, conÂsidÂer makÂing a donaÂtion to our site. It’s hard to rely 100% on ads, and your conÂtriÂbuÂtions will help us conÂtinÂue proÂvidÂing the best free culÂturÂal and eduÂcaÂtionÂal mateÂriÂals to learnÂers everyÂwhere. You can conÂtribute through PayÂPal, PatreÂon, and VenÂmo (@openculture). Thanks!
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
DonÂald Duck Wants You to Pay Your TaxÂes (1943)
Disney’s Oscar-WinÂning AdvenÂtures in Music
DonÂald Duck DisÂcovÂers Glenn Beck: A Remix
Inside Job, Oscar-Winning Documentary, Now Online (Free)
In late FebÂruÂary, Charles FerÂguÂson’s film – Inside Job – won the AcadÂeÂmy Award for Best DocÂuÂmenÂtary. And now the film docÂuÂmentÂing the causÂes of the 2008 globÂal finanÂcial meltÂdown has made its way online. A corÂrupt finanÂcial indusÂtry, its corÂroÂsive relaÂtionÂship with politiÂcians, acaÂdÂeÂmics and regÂuÂlaÂtors, and the trilÂlions of damÂage done, it all gets docÂuÂmentÂed in this film that runs a litÂtle shy of 2 hours.
Inside Job can be purÂchased on DVD at AmaÂzon. We all love free, but let’s rememÂber that good projects cost real monÂey to develÂop, and they could use real finanÂcial supÂport. So please conÂsidÂer buyÂing a copy.
HopeÂfulÂly watchÂing or buyÂing this film won’t be a pointÂless act, even though it can rightÂly feel that way. As Charles FerÂguÂson remindÂed us durÂing his Oscar accepÂtance speech, we are three years beyond the Wall Street criÂsis and taxÂpayÂers (you) got fleeced for bilÂlions. But still not one Wall Street exec is facÂing crimÂiÂnal charges. WelÂcome to your pluÂtocÂraÂcy…
More than 20 Years Before “Lost” — “The New People”
There was a good deal of time-travÂel in the ABC hit series Lost, one of the more ambiÂtious and popÂuÂlar shows of the past decade. But neiÂther Jack, Sawyer, HurÂley, nor any of our othÂer beloved 21st cenÂtuÂry castÂaways ever went back to the year 1969. If they had, and if they’d had access to a TV, they might have found themÂselves watchÂing a show about — themÂselves.
Well, sort of. The New PeoÂple ran on FriÂday nights on ABC from SepÂtemÂber 1969 through JanÂuÂary 1970 (It lastÂed only 17 episodes). We’ll take a shot at sumÂmaÂrizÂing the genÂerÂal premise, which might ring a couÂple of bells:
A plane crashÂes on a remote island in the PacifÂic, leavÂing its motÂley group of surÂvivors strandÂed and fightÂing about what to do next.… As they explore their new home, they find an entire town, fulÂly stocked with proÂviÂsions and weapons, but creepÂiÂly empÂty. Soon the surÂvivors disÂcovÂer that this island was once set up .…to be an AtomÂic EnerÂgy ComÂmisÂsion testÂing site!
No Lost fan can live withÂout a conÂspirÂaÂcy theÂoÂry, but we’re pretÂty sure there was nothÂing fishy in the comÂmonÂalÂiÂties, and in the end, are we not all chilÂdren of GilliÂgan? FurÂtherÂmore, there’s a good deal more to the plot, which includes racial conÂflict, adoÂlesÂcent angst (the surÂvivors are all colÂlege stuÂdents), and a healthy dose of Lord of the Flies-style chaos. Full episodes are not online, but at TVobÂscuÂriÂties you can find a wealth of relatÂed conÂtent, clips, links to reviews, and even the theme song, with lyrics.
Also, be sure to check out the episode guide, which realÂly does intrigue. NumÂber 12, for examÂple:
The Pied Piper of Pot. StepÂpenÂwolf thinks his felÂlow islanders are too uptight, so he grows potent marÂiÂjuaÂna that threatÂens to send the stuÂdents into a harÂrowÂing, one-way trip.
The New PeoÂple was proÂduced by Aaron Spelling, who went on to bring us CharÂlie’s Angels, The Love Boat, Hart to Hart, and BevÂerÂly Hills 90210, among many, many othÂers. But we’re not sure if he ever did come up with anothÂer charÂacÂter as comÂpelling as StepÂpenÂwolf.
(Thanks to Bryan Thomas)
SheerÂly Avni is a San FranÂcisÂco-based arts and culÂture writer. Her work has appeared in Salon, LA WeekÂly, MothÂer Jones, and many othÂer pubÂliÂcaÂtions. You can folÂlow her on twitÂter at @sheerly.
Father and Daughter: An Oscar-Winning Animated Short Film
Dear Daniel B.,
Thank you for bringÂing the 2000 MichaĂ«l Dudok De Wit short, Father and DaughÂter, to our attenÂtion. We always appreÂciÂate readÂer sugÂgesÂtions.
We must take issue, howÂevÂer, with your warnÂing: “Be advised, it will indeed break your heart.” At Open CulÂture we approach the arts with a disÂcernÂing, engaged and unsenÂtiÂmenÂtal eye — our heart does not break, it blogs.
It will thereÂfore take much more than an 8‑minute carÂtoon, no matÂter how artÂfulÂly renÂdered, underÂstatÂed, critÂiÂcalÂly laudÂed, or Dutch, to move us. Please keep this in mind for the future.
All best,
Open CulÂture.
P.S. OK, fine you win. This post was typed from the floor, drownÂing in the pudÂdle we’d been reduced to by the 6 minute mark. And yes, bawlÂing like babies.
P.P.S. Per your sugÂgesÂtion, we’ve added it to our colÂlecÂtion, 4,000+ Free Movies Online: Great ClasÂsics, Indies, Noir, WestÂerns, DocÂuÂmenÂtaries & More. Thanks again.
SheerÂly Avni is a San FranÂcisÂco-based arts and culÂture writer. Her work has appeared in Salon, LA WeekÂly, MothÂer Jones, and many othÂer pubÂliÂcaÂtions. You can folÂlow her on twitÂter at @sheerly.
Japan’s Earthquake & Tsunami: How They Happened
On March 11th, Japan sufÂfered a 9.0 earthÂquake, folÂlowed by a masÂsive tsunaÂmi. Just weeks latÂer, NOVA has proÂduced a 47 minute docÂuÂmenÂtary that does an impresÂsive job of explainÂing the sciÂence behind these twin geoÂlogÂic catÂaÂstroÂphes. The proÂgram folÂlows Roger BilÂham, a seisÂmolÂoÂgist at the UniÂverÂsiÂty of ColÂorado, who arrived in Japan two days after the quake. And what you get is a blow-by-blow account of the unfoldÂing events, couÂpled with some sound analyÂsis and stunÂning footage (like the ground splitÂting open and pushÂing water to the surÂface.) This is by far the most subÂstanÂtive treatÂment of Japan’s quake/tsunami that we’ve encounÂtered to date…
via SciÂence Dump
Do Look Back: Pennebaker and Marcus Talk Bob Dylan
D.A. PenÂnebakÂer’s clasÂsic 1967 docÂuÂmenÂtary Don’t Look Back will be re-released on Blu-Ray on April 24. As a feaÂtured extra, it will include this terÂrifÂic remÂiÂnisÂcence between PenÂnebakÂer and music journalist/cultural critÂic Greil MarÂcus, who wrote two of our favorite Dylan books: The Old, Weird AmerÂiÂca: Bob Dylan’s BaseÂment Tapes and Like a Rolling Stone: Bob Dylan at the CrossÂroads.
Our othÂer favorite is of course litÂerÂary critÂic ChristoÂpher Ricks’ nutÂty and wonÂderÂful Dylan’s Vision of Sin. Ricks and MarÂcus approach the artist through very difÂferÂent prisms — for a fun chance to comÂpare and conÂtrast, check out their recent joint lecÂture at the HeyÂman School for the HumanÂiÂties. (The video clocks in at over an hour and forty minÂutes, too long for some, not nearÂly long enough for the Dylan-obsessed.)
via FlaÂvorÂwire
SheerÂly Avni is a San FranÂcisÂco-based arts and culÂture writer. Her work has appeared in Salon, LA WeekÂly, MothÂer Jones, and many othÂer pubÂliÂcaÂtions. You can folÂlow her on twitÂter at @sheerly.
The Billion-Bug Highway You Can’t See
When you look up in the sky, what do you see besides the blue sky, clouds, the occaÂsionÂal bird and plane, the Sun, and the Moon? In this whimÂsiÂcal aniÂmatÂed video from NPR, we learn about the varÂiÂous insects – the wasps, aphids, beeÂtles, etc. – that inhabÂit the upper levÂels of the troÂposÂphere. What’s incredÂiÂble is that in the peak sumÂmer months, there are bilÂlions of these insects high in the sky, with some cruisÂing at an altiÂtude of 19,000 feet, equivÂaÂlent to the height of Mount McKinÂley!
For the botanists out there: the title of the video is a litÂtle misÂleadÂing, as the word bug actuÂalÂly refers to an insect of the order Hemiptera; to be preÂcise, we have to call it the bilÂlion-insect highÂway…
HighÂly recÂomÂmendÂed: the accomÂpaÂnyÂing NPR stoÂry from Robert KrulÂwich.
Eugene Buchko is a blogÂger and phoÂtogÂraÂphÂer livÂing in Atlanta, GA. He mainÂtains a phoÂtoÂblog, EruÂdite ExpresÂsions, and writes about what he reads on his readÂing blog.
Kinetic Strandbeests on the Beach: Alchemy of Art & Engineering
Since 1990, Dutch artist Theo Jansen has givÂen life to StrandÂbeests. They’re made of nothÂing more than a mass of yelÂlow plasÂtic tubes. But these kinetÂic sculpÂtures feed off of the wind. They roam the beachÂes on their own. And they evolve. Soon enough, Jansen says, you will see StrandÂbeests livÂing in herds, and who knows what the alcheÂmy of art and engiÂneerÂing will bring next.
This clip comes from a BBC proÂducÂtion, Nature Knows Best, that aired late last year. You can also catch Jansen introÂducÂing his self-proÂpelling beach aniÂmals at TED.
If you would like to supÂport the misÂsion of Open CulÂture, conÂsidÂer makÂing a donaÂtion to our site. It’s hard to rely 100% on ads, and your conÂtriÂbuÂtions will help us conÂtinÂue proÂvidÂing the best free culÂturÂal and eduÂcaÂtionÂal mateÂriÂals to learnÂers everyÂwhere. You can conÂtribute through PayÂPal, PatreÂon, and VenÂmo (@openculture). Thanks!
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