More Recs from The Culturist!
More Books, Articles, Movies and TV Shows, plus Some Documentaries!
Books:
Historical Fantasy: Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
By one of the great writers in science fiction, this story is a tough look into the wounds and consequences of intergenerational trauma. A story about a black woman having to travel in time to save and protect her white, slaveholding ancestor throughout his life. She must do everything to survive on a Maryland plantation. Butler spares no thought for white guilt or fragility when depicting slavery in all its cruelty and horror. A must read for anyone who wishes to understand the historical and psychological context American racism.
Non Fiction: The Open Veins of Latin America by Eduardo Galeano
This book is a bible for anyone who is interested in Latin American history. It is an account of 500 years of the continuous pillaging of one of the richest continents in the world.
Literary/Historical Fiction: Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
This is an origin story for Berta, aka the madwoman in the attic in Charlotte Bronte’s ‘Jane Eyre’. In this story, Berta is a Creole heiress, born Antoinette Cosway, who captures the eye of a young Englishman. He marries her, but the rumors of madness in her family eventually turn him against her and he sees it fit to force her to conform to the rigid — and indeed maddening — ideals of Victorian England. It’s a great commentary, with the feminism and anti-colonialism that Bronte (constrained by her time) could not offer.
Articles:
‘How Portugal silenced ‘centuries of violence and trauma’
This is a comprehensive essay on Portugal’s history with racism and slavery, from its leading role in the slave trade to the 20th century’s glorification of the country’s colonialist past to today’s black struggle against cultural and political erasure.
Movies:
(Adventure, Comedy) The Mummy
Iconic movie. Fun throughout.
(Anime, Romance, Speculative) Your Name
A well written, expertly animated romance from Japan. It details two teenagers, one in Tokyo, one in a small town, who suddenly start switching bodies. It is not as simple as that, though. The movie is filled with twists and turns that make this adventure worthwhile and that add a little mystery to the overall story.
TV Shows:
(Comedy) Harley Quinn - The Animated Series:
This show is an animated feast of millennial and “zoomer” humour. It is quirky, violent, and wonderfully adult-like in its themes and subject matter. It makes excellent use of the well-known world of Gotham and effortlessly pushes many of DC’s cult characters (and D-listers) to new heights. This show should be considered one of the best things DC has ever created. It even made the Joker watchable! But even if you don’t much care for Batman lore, Harley Quinn still has lots to offer in the form of organic commentary on social issues and fresh humour that is not bogged down by stiff and formulaic writing or by the burden of having to say something profoundly deep about society at every moment. Definitely a must watch!
(Comedy) Schitt’s Creek:
Can’t say enough good things about this show. It’s funny, it’s different, it’s comforting, it’s fresh, it’s familiar. The list goes on. If you’re looking for a sitcom that will make you laugh and will give you that same warm cozy feeling that Friends or How I Met Your Mother did minus the misogyny and homophobia, then this is the show for you. It’s witty, clever and topical, and most importantly, wholesome. Watch it and embrace the new age of comedy.
(Animation, Science Fiction) Voltron: Legendary Defender
A cozy set of characters and satisfying world-building and storytelling. And amazing animation!
Documentaries:
(True Crime, Comedy) Buzzfeed Unsolved: True Crime on YouTube
This is for everyone who is weirdly interested in true crime stories and supernatural mysteries, but who doesn’t want to sit through psychologically draining, highly dramatised documentaries about them. The hosts are silly and hilarious and occasionally witty, making this a more fun and casual exploration of otherwise dark topics.
(History, Archaeology) Lost Kingdoms of South America - presented by archaeologist Dr Jago Cooper, Curator of the Americas at the British Museum, this is a great watch for anyone who’s interested in the lesser known — though no less impressive — ancient civilisations of South America. Over four episodes, Dr Cooper introduces us to such forgotten civilisations such as the Chachapoyas, Tiwanaku, and the Muisca.
By R. Jordan Ortiz and A. Jordan Ortiz