The Free Press is bringing back a Reviews section after some absence. We hope to review plenty of events around town. Check back frequently and if what\'s going on is any good.
Arts & Culture
Hollywood’s latest blockbuster V for Vendetta, another comic book adaptation, is the cause to commotion and ongoing discussions. Praised as an anti-authoritarian action film on the one hand, criticized for it’s recasting of current American politics on the other.
Originally a comic produced in the mid 1980s by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, V for Vendetta is about a man who destroys the corrupt state he lives in, promoting Anarchy to the masses all the while.
Obviously, Hollywood twisted this core message so severely, that Alan Moore asked to be withdrawn from all media references and to have his name removed from the film's posters.
"One of the things I objected to in the recent film ... recasting it as current American neo-conservatism vs. current American liberalism. There wasn't a mention of anarchy as far as I could see."
Alan Moore started working on the novel around 1981, a time of severe political insecurity in Britain. Margret Thatcher had been in power for two years. There were riots all over the country and fascists groups, trying to make political capital out of what were fairly depressed and jobless times.
Originally a comic produced in the mid 1980s by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, V for Vendetta is about a man who destroys the corrupt state he lives in, promoting Anarchy to the masses all the while.
Obviously, Hollywood twisted this core message so severely, that Alan Moore asked to be withdrawn from all media references and to have his name removed from the film's posters.
"One of the things I objected to in the recent film ... recasting it as current American neo-conservatism vs. current American liberalism. There wasn't a mention of anarchy as far as I could see."
Alan Moore started working on the novel around 1981, a time of severe political insecurity in Britain. Margret Thatcher had been in power for two years. There were riots all over the country and fascists groups, trying to make political capital out of what were fairly depressed and jobless times.
"V For Vendetta"
Directed by James McTeigue
Written by Andy and Larry Wachowski
Based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore
Running Time, 132 mins
Directed by James McTeigue
Written by Andy and Larry Wachowski
Based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore
Running Time, 132 mins
"Why We Fight"
Directed by Eugene Jarecki
Running time: 98 mins.
It is mentioned in the film’s tagline that “it is nowhere written that the American empire goes on forever.” One interview subject points out the rise and fall of past empires such as the Roman Empire, Imperial Britain, Nazi Germany, and the Soviet Union, as a warning that the crisis of American capitalism will follow these totalitarian regimes to the grave.
Why We Fight, a documentary detailing the emergence of the military-industrial-complex, opened recently at the Drexel East Theater. The film takes its name from a series of pro-U.S. World War II propaganda films. In doing so, the film’s theme explores the symbiotic relationship involving the weapons industry, the American government, its military, and commerce, as the principal reason for constant war readiness following World War II.
Directed by Eugene Jarecki
Running time: 98 mins.
It is mentioned in the film’s tagline that “it is nowhere written that the American empire goes on forever.” One interview subject points out the rise and fall of past empires such as the Roman Empire, Imperial Britain, Nazi Germany, and the Soviet Union, as a warning that the crisis of American capitalism will follow these totalitarian regimes to the grave.
Why We Fight, a documentary detailing the emergence of the military-industrial-complex, opened recently at the Drexel East Theater. The film takes its name from a series of pro-U.S. World War II propaganda films. In doing so, the film’s theme explores the symbiotic relationship involving the weapons industry, the American government, its military, and commerce, as the principal reason for constant war readiness following World War II.
“Murdered By Capitalism: A Memoir of 150 Years of Life & Death on the American Left”
by John Ross (Nation Books, 2004)
In his most recent book, author John Ross combines the fire of Edward Abbey with the rampaging flare of Hunter S. Thompson to produce a masterpiece of historical prose. Caught between his personal memoir and an intimate discussion with the dead the author slips in and out of history - fueled by wine, whiskey, and drugs - to tell the story of the American Left.
The book begins in Trinidad, California at the grave of Eddie Schnaubelt brother of Rudolph Schnaubelt an anarchist who was implicated in the bombing at the Haymarket on May 4th, 1886. The historical narrative begins when Ross accidentally spills a bottle of wine at the grave and hears the voice of Eddie demanding more.
by John Ross (Nation Books, 2004)
In his most recent book, author John Ross combines the fire of Edward Abbey with the rampaging flare of Hunter S. Thompson to produce a masterpiece of historical prose. Caught between his personal memoir and an intimate discussion with the dead the author slips in and out of history - fueled by wine, whiskey, and drugs - to tell the story of the American Left.
The book begins in Trinidad, California at the grave of Eddie Schnaubelt brother of Rudolph Schnaubelt an anarchist who was implicated in the bombing at the Haymarket on May 4th, 1886. The historical narrative begins when Ross accidentally spills a bottle of wine at the grave and hears the voice of Eddie demanding more.
A couple of days ago I was part of a group that met at the Dayton International Peace Museum to discuss John Perkins’ book "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man” in which he relates his role in convincing various poor nations to accept loans
In the past I had read about various loans from the World Bank and the IMF, which instead of helping poor people in other countries, actually increased their suffering. This happened because these nations were not able to repay their loans and the banks, in the process of renegotiating them, successfully demanded that these nations reduce or eliminate their small-scale social programs as a part of "structural adjustment." It was difficult for me to completely understand why they could not repay the loans, although I knew that it was likely that some of the loans had gone into the pockets of the ruling oligarchy in some nations.
In the past I had read about various loans from the World Bank and the IMF, which instead of helping poor people in other countries, actually increased their suffering. This happened because these nations were not able to repay their loans and the banks, in the process of renegotiating them, successfully demanded that these nations reduce or eliminate their small-scale social programs as a part of "structural adjustment." It was difficult for me to completely understand why they could not repay the loans, although I knew that it was likely that some of the loans had gone into the pockets of the ruling oligarchy in some nations.
Kenyon Farrow will be at Monkeys Retreat, Tuesday 2/21/06 from 6-8 pm to promote his book LETTERS FROM YOUNG ACTIVISTS: TODAY'S REBELS SPEAK OUT
BIO: Kenyon Farrow is a writer and activist living in Brooklyn, NY. He is the culture editor for Clamor Magazine, and co-editor of Letters from Young Activists: Today's Rebels Speak Out (Nation Books 2005).His essays have appeared in print publications and online, and in the upcoming anthology, Spirited: Affirming the Soul of Black Gay and Lesbian Identity (Red Bone Press 2005). Recently named one of the nations "Movers & Shakers" in HIV/AIDS activism by The Body.com, Kenyon's work as an activist has also included prison and police brutality issues, drug policy, LGBT, youth and homelessness issues. He is currently working on his first solo book.
Goes into its 2nd Printing in January!!! www.lettersfromyoungactivists.org
About the book:
BIO: Kenyon Farrow is a writer and activist living in Brooklyn, NY. He is the culture editor for Clamor Magazine, and co-editor of Letters from Young Activists: Today's Rebels Speak Out (Nation Books 2005).His essays have appeared in print publications and online, and in the upcoming anthology, Spirited: Affirming the Soul of Black Gay and Lesbian Identity (Red Bone Press 2005). Recently named one of the nations "Movers & Shakers" in HIV/AIDS activism by The Body.com, Kenyon's work as an activist has also included prison and police brutality issues, drug policy, LGBT, youth and homelessness issues. He is currently working on his first solo book.
Goes into its 2nd Printing in January!!! www.lettersfromyoungactivists.org
About the book:
This brilliant tour de force is testimony that film making can still have quality and value in this country. It is a mesmerizing docu-drama, superbly written and acted, with multiple messages for a nation now facing its worst civil liberties crisis ever.
Like Arthur Miller’s justly iconic Crucible, this film cuts to the heart of the McCarthy Era. The Crucible does double-duty, illuminating both the repression of the 1950s and the horrors of the Salem witch trials, which it depicts with stunning impact and accuracy.
Good Night, and Good Luck takes on McCarthy directly, but also demands an in-depth examination of the role of the modern electronic media, just in its birth. It does the job plainly and directly, with no punches pulled and no cutesy trucks, cutting right to the heart of this most serious of matters.
Like Arthur Miller’s justly iconic Crucible, this film cuts to the heart of the McCarthy Era. The Crucible does double-duty, illuminating both the repression of the 1950s and the horrors of the Salem witch trials, which it depicts with stunning impact and accuracy.
Good Night, and Good Luck takes on McCarthy directly, but also demands an in-depth examination of the role of the modern electronic media, just in its birth. It does the job plainly and directly, with no punches pulled and no cutesy trucks, cutting right to the heart of this most serious of matters.
Biowarfare and terrorism
by Francis A. Boyle
Foreword by Jonathan King
This book outlines how and why the United States government initiated, sustained and then dramatically expanded an illegal biological arms buildup. Most significantly, U.S. expert Francis A. Boyle reveals how the new billion-dollar U.S. Chemical and Biological Defense Program has been reorientated to accord with the Neo-Conservative pre-emptive strike agenda--this time by biological and chemical warfare.
Linking U.S. biowarfare development to the October 2001 anthrax attack on Congress--the most significant political attack on the constitutional functioning of democracy in the United States in recent history--Boyle sheds new light on the motives for the attack, the media black hole of silence into which it has fallen, and why the FBI may never apprehend the perpetrators of this seminal crime of the 21st century.
by Francis A. Boyle
Foreword by Jonathan King
This book outlines how and why the United States government initiated, sustained and then dramatically expanded an illegal biological arms buildup. Most significantly, U.S. expert Francis A. Boyle reveals how the new billion-dollar U.S. Chemical and Biological Defense Program has been reorientated to accord with the Neo-Conservative pre-emptive strike agenda--this time by biological and chemical warfare.
Linking U.S. biowarfare development to the October 2001 anthrax attack on Congress--the most significant political attack on the constitutional functioning of democracy in the United States in recent history--Boyle sheds new light on the motives for the attack, the media black hole of silence into which it has fallen, and why the FBI may never apprehend the perpetrators of this seminal crime of the 21st century.
Dining with terrorists
Meetings with the world's most wanted militants By Phil Rees
Picador
ISBN 0330438468
Explaining the “War against Terrorism”, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has constantly warned: ‘the single greatest threat to peace and freedom in our time is terrorism’.
And in making a case for the global reach of the “War against Terrorism”, US President Bush roared to an audience of soldiers a few weeks after 9/11: ‘Afghanistan is just the beginning’. At the same time Vice President Richard Cheney said that forty to fifty countries could be targeted for diplomatic, financial or military action.
‘This is total war. We are fighting a variety of enemies. There are lots of them out there………’ declared Richard Perle, a key Bush foreign policy advisor.
Meetings with the world's most wanted militants By Phil Rees
Picador
ISBN 0330438468
Explaining the “War against Terrorism”, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has constantly warned: ‘the single greatest threat to peace and freedom in our time is terrorism’.
And in making a case for the global reach of the “War against Terrorism”, US President Bush roared to an audience of soldiers a few weeks after 9/11: ‘Afghanistan is just the beginning’. At the same time Vice President Richard Cheney said that forty to fifty countries could be targeted for diplomatic, financial or military action.
‘This is total war. We are fighting a variety of enemies. There are lots of them out there………’ declared Richard Perle, a key Bush foreign policy advisor.
Dylan to English Dictionary,
by A.J. Weberman (Dylanologist).
2005. New York: Yippie Museum Press.
560 pages. ISBN: 1-4196-1338-3.
www.booksurge.com
orders@booksurge.com
by A.J. Weberman (Dylanologist).
2005. New York: Yippie Museum Press.
560 pages. ISBN: 1-4196-1338-3.
www.booksurge.com
orders@booksurge.com