#Burn It Down: Power Complicity and a Call for Change in Hollywood

[thatwritererinoriordan]

[timeforsomethrillingheroicsblog]

people you want to know better tag game ✨

thanks for tagging me @parallelunivrses!

last song you listened to: help by the front bottoms

currently watching: lost (s3) 

currently reading: the poisonwood bible by barbara kingsolver & burn it down power, complicity, and a call for change in hollywood by maureen ryan

latest obsession: lost in general, jack shephard specifically. i resisted but he got my ass in the end. tragic.

tagging: @stripesysheaven, @unorthodox-oblivion, @obsessivedaydreamer, @youliterallythott, @eponine119, @epiphytecanopy @actual-lea and anyone who wants to do it!

[safflowerseason]

I also haven't done a comprehensive book post but I'd love to hear your thoughts! If anything, it's just made me have 10,000 more questions than I did before which was already A Lot. Also Justice 4 Mischa/Marissa always.

You sent this before we got Mischa Barton dropping major bombshells!! Now so much has changed!! 

I said this briefly in earlier comments but my overall take on the book now is that, while it had lots of insights in other areas not related to Mischa Barton, it ultimately demonstrated the limits of the oral history approach. MB’s specific revelations also demonstrate why an oral history was probably not the best way to really get “behind the scenes” of what happened on this particular show. Like, in my experience oral histories are generally pretty fluffy and they kind of allow everyone to share memories and their recollections without much pushback…which is basically what happened in the book. If you interview as many people as Sepinwall did and absolutely everyone refuses to go on the record about two co-stars dating because they know just how fucked-up it is…that is a story that requires a *totally* different angle than a fluffy oral history, especially one that's such a direct collaboration with the showrunners. I’ve been thinking about the book recently published by Mo Ryan called Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood. That’s the kind of approach you’d need to do her story justice. 

At the same time, I do maintain that Sepinwall emphasized that what happened with MB’s exit was not her fault, in spite of his past (sketch) history with the show. He gave a lot of detail about network fuckery, Schwartz’s failures as a show-runner in S3, and he also showed that Brody and McKenzie were actually the ones being assholes on set, not MB, but that no one in charge cared because to Schwartz they were the two most important characters - ie, MB was considered expendable and the men were not. 

As for Schwartz…I already thought he came off pretty terribly in the book but now, like, oh my god. I don’t know how anyone but ESPECIALLY women could work with him ever again. I think it's so gross to claim that you're going to be open and honest about everything that happened on your show when you know this HUGE SECRET. Like I *get* why nobody wanted to go on the record about this and of course it's fundamentally Ben McKenzie's or Mischa Barton's news to share, but then don't PRETEND that you're going to fully explain what happened twenty years later when you know it's not the full story. Jesus Christ.

What makes me so mad is that the only reason Schwartz was so comfortable “taking the fall” in the limited way he did for what happened with MB and the show’s decline in quality is because it hasn’t actually cost him anything, and sadly I don’t think MB’s interview is going to change that. Nobody important in Hollywood cares because it was so long ago and it was his first show and one actress’s mental health and career prospects are a small price to pay for letting a man do whatever he wants on a set. So he didn’t risk anything by going on the record about all this. 

As for the non-MB parts of the book, of course I enjoyed reading everyone’s perspectives looking back, especially in the first year, and the little random fun stories that were sprinkled throughout. Chris Carmack came off as a pretty decent guy to me, and Adam Brody clearly has done a lot of reflection on that era of his life and how he acted at the time. I love Kelly Rowan and Peter Gallagher so much and I enjoyed their take on things (also intrigued by the comment that they weren't super tight on set?!) And I thought the book was a great overview of just how many factors and voices and interests went into making a single piece of television during the peak years of network tv. Like, so many different execs in charge of different things, all putting competing pressures on the show…it’s easy to see why television was so formulaic in that period. The O.C. in its earliest and best days really didn’t fit the mold for anything on TV, and as the book laid out why that was kind of the show's undoing in a way (in addition to Schwartz f*&king it up).

That was a lot and seems like enough to be getting on with for now, haha. Ultimately what I really want is a two volume exposé on the toxic culture of Hollywood in this early 00's era and how so many young women were chewed up and spat out by the system, with Mischa Barton's story as a prime example. She deserves justice!

[jadelotusflower]

13 Books

tagged by @nerdgatehobbit - thank you!

The last book I read: Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett, which I had mixed feelings about. Absolutely loved the premise and take on the fae, but thought the romance was terribly bland. Sometimes I feel like authors forget that the love interests are actually meant to like each other right? Not just annoy each other until suddenly they're in love?

A book I recommend: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, which I also read recently and really enjoyed. The setup is better than the payoff, imo, but for me it was the right amount of whimscal and referential without becoming too twee. Don't expect actual historical fiction though, this is more about the vibes.

A book that I couldn't put down: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, also one that I would highly recommend! I went in knowing nothing other than it had been suggested as something that would appeal to me, and was so glad I did, able to let the narrative unfold without expectations or preconceptions - this one will stay with me for a while. The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; it’s Kindness infinite!

A book I've read twice (or more): The Scarlet Pimpernel by the Baroness Orczy is one I've read many times since I was a teenager, and have an enduring affection for despite its faults.

A book from my TBR: It's a very long list! One that’s been on there a while is 1001 Arabian Nights, which I actually did start but part 1 alone is over 1000 pages and I had to return it to the library, so it’s technically back on the TBR list.

A book I've put down: I don't often DNF books, even if I'm not feeling it I'll usually put it down intending to get back to it later. But one that’s been put aside for a while is Myrren’s Gift by Fiona Mackintosh, lent to me by my mother because “it’s got witches and magic” but the first chapter is about two dudes and their rivalry which didn’t exactly capture me.

A book on my wish list: The Annotated Alice which is Martin Gardner's annotated version of Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll. Sadly not available in my local library and I've promised myself not to buy any new books until I get further through the pile I actually own.

A favourite book from childhood: Rowan of Rin by Emily Rodda - a seminal work of my childhood and extremely foundational to my love of fantasy. Severely underrated children's book! I also loved the sequel Rowan and the Travellers but didn't read the rest of the series until adulthood so they're not as burned into my psyche.

A book you would give to a friend: It's hard because people are into different things and interests don't always overlap. Maybe The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, since it’s pretty accessible and should be compelling to a wide range of readers, as well as being one that I have long loved.

The most books you own by a single author: Probably Jane Austen, so - 6?

A nonfiction book you own: I own a lot of history books, a few biographies, old textbooks, literary analysis, and even some travel memoirs. One I have held onto for a long time is Almost French by Sarah Turnbull, an Australian woman exploring the culture shock of Paris after moving to marry her French partner.

What are you currently reading:. I always try to have one fiction and one non-fiction book on the go at any one time - at the moment that's Burn it Down: Power, Complicity, and a call for change in Hollywood by Maureen Ryan, and The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne.

What are you planning to read next: Next up it will probably be Judi Dench’s Shakespeare: The man who pays the rent. I’m also revisiting the original Oz books by L Frank Baum and am up to book 4: Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz.

Tagging anyone who wants to do this - I love seeing what other people are reading!

[quoththemaven]

2023 Favoritest Book Reads

Vineland - Pynchon, Thomas

Prophet - Blaché, Sin & Helen Macdonald

And the Ass Saw the Angel - Cave, Nick

Lou Reed: The King of New York - Hermes, Will 

The Color of Magic (Discworld, #1; Rincewind, #1) - Pratchett, Terry

Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative - Kleon, Austin 

Sonic Life: A Memoir - Moore, Thurston

The Fifth Season (The Broken Earth, #1) - Jemisin, N.K. 

Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law - Roach, Mary

Everyone's a Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn Too - Sun, Jonny

The Night Masquerade (Binti, #3) - Okorafor, Nnedi 

Home (Binti, #2) - Okorafor, Nnedi 

Binti: Sacred Fire (Binti, #1.5) - Okorafor, Nnedi 

Binti (Binti, #1) - Okorafor, Nnedi 

Black Paradox - Ito, Junji

David Bowie's Low (33 1/3) - Wilcken, Hugo

Faith, Hope and Carnage - Cave, Nick

The Sirens of Titan - Vonnegut Jr., Kurt

Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth - Aslan, Reza

Smashed - Ito, Junji

Time Shelter - Gospodinov, Georgi

Brian Eno's Another Green World (33 1/3) - Dayal, Geeta

Armageddon in Retrospect - Vonnegut Jr., Kurt

Neverwhere (London Below, #1) - Gaiman, Neil 

The Committed (The Sympathizer #2) - Nguyen, Viet Thanh 

Into the Great Wide Open - Canty, Kevin 

Mongrels - Jones, Stephen Graham 

DisneyWar - Stewart, James B.

Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex - Roach, Mary

The Left Hand of Darkness - Le Guin, Ursula K.

My Bloody Valentine's Loveless (33 1/3) - McGonigal, Mike 

Suttree - McCarthy, Cormac

Life's Work: A Memoir - Milch, David

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - Schwab, V.E.

Against the Day - Pynchon, Thomas

Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood - Ryan, Maureen 

Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA (33 1/3) - Himes, Geoffrey

La Moustache - Carrère, Emmanuel

Janelle Monáe’s The ArchAndroid (33 1/3) - Favreau, Alyssa 

Sooner or Later Everything Falls Into the Sea - Pinsker, Sarah 

The Man Without a Shadow - Oates, Joyce Carol

The City & the City - Miéville, China 

Mem - Morrow, Bethany C. 

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind - Harari, Yuval Noah

Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs (33 1/3) - Eidelstein, Eric

Gutshot - Gray, Amelia 

The Price of Time (Watch What You Wish For #1) - Tigner, Tim 

The Revolution Was Televised: The Cops, Crooks, Slingers and Slayers Who Changed TV Drama Forever - Sepinwall, Alan 

Just Kids - Smith, Patti 

Sounds Like Titanic: A Memoir - Hindman, Jessica Chiccehitto 

Flicker - Roszak, Theodore

Tinderbox: HBO's Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontiers - Miller, James Andrew 

Flashback - Simmons, Dan

Flaming Lips' Zaireeka (33 1/3) - Richardson, Mark 

The Sympathizer (The Sympathizer #1) - Nguyen, Viet Thanh 

Pavement's Wowee Zowee (33 1/3) - Charles, Bryan

Neuromancer (Sprawl, #1) - Gibson, William

Invisible Cities - Calvino, Italo

Don't Fear the Reaper (The Indian Lake Trilogy, #2) - Jones, Stephen Graham 

The Wes Anderson Collection - Seitz, Matt Zoller

Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said - Dick, Philip K.

Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly (33 1/3) - Maner, Sequoia

The Nineties - Klosterman, Chuck

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow - Zevin, Gabrielle 

Wanderlust: An Eccentric Explorer, an Epic Journey, a Lost Age - Mitenbuler, Reid

A Heart That Works - Delaney, Rob 

Imago (Xenogenesis, #3) - Butler, Octavia E.

Cryptonomicon (Crypto, #1) - Stephenson, Neal 

Blacktop Wasteland - Cosby, S.A. 

Pearl Jam's Vs. (33 1/3) - Brownlee, Clint

Tracy Flick Can't Win - Perrotta, Tom

Devil House - Darnielle, John 

Adulthood Rites (Xenogenesis, #2) - Butler, Octavia E.

Heat 2 - Mann, Michael & Meg Gardiner

Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures (33 1/3) - Ott, Chris

Dawn (Xenogenesis, #1) - Butler, Octavia E.

The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer - Stephenson, Neal 

The Republic of Thieves (Gentleman Bastard, #3) - Lynch, Scott 

The Year of the Flood (MaddAddam, #2) - Atwood, Margaret 

[trans-elrond]

This is a heavy read, but if you're at all interested in how television works, or have ever wondered how bad a TV working environment can possibly get, or are a fan of Lost or modern genre TV at all...

This is an incredibly well-reported piece about the racism & abuse in the writer's room of Lost. (TW for abuse, racism, misogyny, and a decent amount of gaslighting.) Anyone working in the entertainment industry will tell you that these people are still working today & get credit for making "great TV" while all their past behavior is completely excused—and that these attitudes are not uncommon in Hollywood at all.

The article is an excerpt from from a forthcoming book: BURN IT DOWN: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood by Maureen Ryan.

For further reading on the same subject, writer Javier Grillo-Marxuach released his full 7-page final statement, including his complete remarks to Maureen Ryan.

[footnotesandendings]

Just finished reading Maureen Ryan's Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood. Very good book, but one part jumped out at me, where she interviewed an actress about working with Bill Lawrence on Scrubs. The actress said Lawrence was the one the cast all felt they could go to with things like "hey this script directly contradicts established facts abot my character" and "I really feel like my character wouldn't do these things, could you talk to the writers" and he would work with them to either fix it or find a middle ground.

Anyway Bill Lawrence left between seasons 2 and 3 of Ted Lasso and I'm deeply deeply wondering if s3 would have been less of a tire fire if he hadn't.

[academiaipromise]

currently reading: burn it down: power, complicity, and the call for change in hollywood by mo ryan, which is absolutely amazing but i am reading it more slowly than i thought i would because i get periodically quite sad about it lol. (side note: if you’ve ever been like “what’s the deal with all the strikes in hollywood rn?”, this book i think is a super readable, long form journalism start on what’s been going on throughout the last two decades in tv especially). after this, i am returning to book people by emily henry because i need to finish it so i can catch up on the emily henry universe for summer. 

favorite color: purple primarily (though sitting at my desk i am realizing there is a lot of pale pink around me...take that for what you will) 

last song: ...left hand free by alt-j (obx nation rise) 

sweet/spicy/savory: it’s between sweet or savory as i cannot eat spice lol (i do have a pretty significant sweet tooth it must be said) 

currently working on: currently doing some cleaning to avoid working on one of the two academic articles i need to finish in the next two weeks (and the cleaning is going very slowly because i also in actuality am rewatching buffy the vampire slayer...) 

tagged by @gravedangerahead

tagging kenzie again for good measure @thegoldenlily but if you want to do this - consider yourself tagged!

[greatcanadian-eh-hole]

- Maureen Ryan, Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood

[witchern]

my library hold for maureen ryan's "burn it down: power, complicity, and a call for change in hollywood" finally came through and after reading only 4 chapters i'm sitting here like......mayhaps we SHOULD firebomb hollywood.

[rsadelle]

Tagged by @alakeeffectgirl

fav color: Red!

last song: Uh, whatever was on in the car on my way home. The last two things I specifically went to listen to were Miguel's "Sure Thing" and AJR's "Burn the House Down" because they were stuck in my head, and I've been listening to Kesha's Rainbow on my morning walk.

currently reading: Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood by Maureen Ryan; Jewish Literacy (revised edition) by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin; Eddie/Buck (9-1-1) fic (no, I have not watched the show). I have decided to abandon Amor Towles' Rules of Civility (but go to book club anyway), so I'll be picking a next fiction book to read soon.

last movie: The Meg, which I expected to be bad but enjoyable and was instead good and enjoyable. In theaters, it was Fast X, which I went to very early on a weekday when there were only a small number of people in the theater.

sweet/spicy/savory: Yes/I have low spice tolerance these days/yes. (I know that's not how this is supposed to be answered, but the choose one answer is that it depends on the day.)

currently working on: I know this is probably supposed to be about writing or other creative endeavors, but I had a rough first half of this year and haven't really written anything in a long time, so what I'm actually working on: thinking about things other than work (work is good, but I want to think about things other than that too), staying cool in the very hot weather, and getting things done that are important but not exciting.

no pressure tagging: @theorajones, @stevieroxelle, @mamaliza, @giganticism

[whisky-soul]

Latest book rec - Burn it Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood by Maureen Ryan

[thornswithroses]

The expose is actually an excerpted chapter from Burn It Down: Power, Complicity and a Call For Change in Hollywood by Maureen Ryan.

Ryan's book is about the abuses that plague the entertainment industry.

Ryan also covered Sleepy Hollow in her book. While the book only got released today, it got summarized here. And let me tell you, white people do not look good here.

just read that Lost writer’s room expose from Vanity Fair … man fuck damon lindelof and all the other hacks who did this vile shit

[conchabae]

Greta Thunberg and Friday’s 4 Future

"I don't care about being popular. I care about climate justice."

This statement by Greta Thunberg is very powerful. Every generation has had youth that to some extent like the idea of and strive for success, fame and power, but these aspirations have been warped and are all too important amongst our younger generations today. This is directly linked to the nature of internet culture and social media which profits and promotes extreme beauty ideals, materialistic possessions and expressions of grandeur alongside a fixation on followers, likes and the analytics of online “popularity”. Yet, we still have cultural norms that view the youngest in society as the progressives, those who are responsible for shifting and building a better tomorrow. Many Western teens today spend their free-time on beauty tutorials, fashion and other forms of entertainment. There’s beauty in that Greta Thunberg, a well-off Swedish white girl, who could turn a blind eye to injustices in the world, fights to unlearn and speak up against climate injustice. In addition, she fights to spread awareness and put pressure on global governments to make needed systemic change. Greta claims she doesn't care about being popular, because she clearly does not do this for being liked and famous, she knows that fighting for climate justice and sustainability is not popular or “trendy”, she does it because it is what she cares about, and because it is right.

It is because of her honesty and dedication, that she has moved and awaken millions of other western people. Ironically, she has become an iconic and famous figure for defending the environment. It is admirable that even with a platform which has received millions of followers, praise from celebrities, as well as invites from famous politicians, she has never given up her principles to become more likable and her message stays the same, even when it is uncomfortable to those who know they do not do enough for the earth.

I did not live in NYC last year, but there was a climate strike in Foley Square in 2019 as well as strikes all across the world. I was inspired by Greta’s movement and participated in the school strike for climate in Stockholm. It was amazing to see so many people of all different backgrounds and ages participating in the city’s center to hear climate activists and my friends and I boycotted school to support the Friday’s 4 Future campaign.

The long term dedication and commitment movements like Friday’s 4 Future and Black Lives Matter have shown for years now, have woken me up to my complacency to my reality, when it does not align with the world I want to live in. I was 13 years old when the Black Lives Matter hashtag and conversation started. I was 18 when Greta Thunberg started striking for the climate. I realize now that it is not only the people we see highlighted in the news who can make important change, it is all of us. Greta Thunberg’s book No One Is Too Small To Make A Difference, really was a wakeup call on how climate change, which is inevitable with our current ways, is a crisis and an urgent issue that can only be resolved by facing it head on.

 Photos from the Stockholm strike taken by: Lotta Fernvall / AFTONBLADET

These are a selection of a few photos taken at the global Climate Strike in 2019, but these are all taken in front of the Swedish parliament, where the movement began. It is surreal how people in the thousands came to join her on this historical global strike in her home country and all over the world, when she started striking all by herself at this exact spot. Greta Thunberg has been the catalyst for heightened awareness and care about climate justice.

I think many people, including Greta Thunberg herself in the trailer for her Hulu documentary, attribute her hyper focus on the reality and danger of climate change to her having Asperger’s syndrome. While a common symptom of Asperger’s syndrome is to have an “obsessive” interest in a particular subject, I do think we should not dismiss her drive, passion and heart in climate justice just to her condition. Greta’s ability to push against her discomfort with social networking, to perform speeches in front of millions, and exchange awkward pleasantries with powerful public figures to access their platform, shows huge amounts of bravery and heart. It is a character strength that she has tunnel vision on the science of climate change and carbon emissions, and this helps her continue to educate herself on the topic. This is something that many of us locals do not show interest in, especially since most of the information is clouded in complicated and exclusionary scientific language, often in lengthy journals.

She does not just care about the environment for the knowledge, she wants to save the world, and save future generation’s right to fulfilling and happy lives. I have so much respect for her and trust in her intentions, and as Greta has said herself, she does not struggle with Asperger’s, she has it. Her journey to activism and contributions to the world should not be pigeon holed or minimized by her condition.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced us all to experience a different state than our regular normal, has made it more clear than ever, that many of our customs and way of life are not sustainable. As the prevalence of police brutality and other systems of oppression are harder to ignore, I think we all are becoming more aware of daily injustices. In the first months of quarantine in Europe, reports were showing photographic evidence that wildlife and ecosystems were improving and thriving because of the reduced human activity that used to scare away wildlife and pollute ecosystems. The visual that is etched into my mind are the rivers in Venice, Italy. Because of the mandatory quarantine, no boats or gondolas were in use, and the rivers all over the water city cleared to a vibrant blue. It took me back to a trip there when I was 12, and how the waters were so green and muddy we joked that falling in would be a health risk. It was somewhat bittersweet to see this imagery, as it was beauty that was rare to see, and that it is rare because of us!

Photos taken of clear water in Italy, taken by @ikaveri on Twitter. 

In this same pandemic, we have also seen the red and orange skies of LA, filled with clouds and rainfalls of ash. This was heartbreaking for the world to witness, as we learned it was the cause of not some dreamy sunset or blood sun, but because of the massive forest wild fires that have devastated families and communities by burning down homes and making the air unbreathable in some places.

Photo credit: Brittany Hosea-Small / AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

Photo by Josh Edelson / AFP VIA Getty Images

There is no quick fix for the climate and like all social issues, we need to be committed and address it from various angles. We need to vote in political representatives that acknowledge climate change as fact, which unfortunately is the first crucial step we must take unlike other democracies with the same quality of education and science. We need to then protest and put as much pressure as possible on local, state and national politics to enact policies that lead to reduced emissions. We must reduce the amount of influence and investments fossil fuel corporations receive from taxpayers, and invest federally into sustainable alternatives. Unfortunately, most Americans do not even realize how much their lifestyle destroys their land but also the global climate temperature. We need to create a social shift in attitudes around consumption in all forms and this starts with widespread education, so perhaps media and specifically social media is the strongest and quickest way to do this.

“If a few girls can get headlines all over the world just by not going to school for a few weeks, imagine what we could do together if we wanted to.”

I think this quote by Greta emphasizes the power of the people being unified and organized. When we are organized is when we are truly unstoppable and cannot be ignored by the appointed leaders that be. We outnumber them all. We need to organize and stay focused to make real and much needed change.

“Adults keep saying - We owe it to the young people to give them hope - but I don’t want your hope.

I don’t want you to be hopeful.

I want you to panic.”

- Greta Thunberg in her Our House is On Fire speech.

I think the discussion around Greta Thunberg and her activism is interesting and there are three camps with different receptions of her in online discourse. I think the first camp were responsible for her becoming a household name globally. People who felt overwhelmed about climate change, had made some attempts at doing their part, like only riding public transport and going vegan. The first camp mainly consists of the younger generations that were somewhat aware but overwhelmed with the amount of structural issues that contribute to climate change. They were the force that joined Greta at her strikes in Stockholm outside Swedish parliament, and the ones who organized strikes in their own home countries. The second camp, were those like me, who found out about her a bit later when a strong media buzz was already present and notably by media that did not intend to further her purpose and emphasize the importance of climate justice, but just used her for novelty, headlines and clickbait instead. Many marginalized people questioned some of Greta’s viral rhetoric that often spoke of her being “stolen of her childhood and dreams'' as we saw a European, well-off white girl, who was being invited to speak to the most influential politicians, embraced by Hollywood A-listers and was also being honored at protests around the globe for her strikes. What could she possibly know about struggle? We respected her passion for climate change, but convinced ourselves that she needs to scold politicians and those who actually hold power for change, so we carried on with our lives and continued to live in comfortable denial. The third camp consisted of active climate change deniers, and conservatives who weaponized her Asperger's and the fact that she was a young woman (can’t forget to add ageism and misogyny to edgy memes eh?) and aimed to assassinate her character and validity in the form of “jokes” and memes. The third camp often brought up her privilege not only as a critique, but as a means to silence her and the topic altogether. Many influential right-wing politicians, including Donald Trump, partook in this to distance their followers from having any interest in her, or climate justice.

“Greta Thunberg is the spark but we are the wildfire.” - Naomi Klein

As I mentioned earlier, Greta Thunberg’s book has taken away my criticisms of her global status. She has brilliant values, an in-depth scientific understanding of the subject she advocates for, and her emphasis on climate equity, which many white activists fail to acknowledge as an important factor, all made me a supporter of Greta. I do not care about the trolls and those who have tried to ridicule and minimize the honor in her life mission. She is probably one of the most inspiring individuals and change makers of my time. Her book and speeches have amazing rhetoric that unprogrammed a lot of my own learned helplessness about the environment. It also reminded me of my individual responsibility as well as my government's responsibility to stop global warming from happening and create a sustainable world. We need to put in the work, we only have so much time left before it is too late, whether we like that fact or not. Her stance that climate change is black and white is so effective and true: “either we reduce global emissions by 50%, or we do not.” It really is that simple. We need to activate so we can enact the needed solutions to meet that goal. Reading Thunberg’s book has inspired me to take more action and make more sustainable choices and unlearn a lot of U.S. consumerism culture. I have educated myself more throughout quarantine by learning about zero waste methods and the environmental benefits of veganism. However, while personal accountability is great, it is a form of privilege to be able to buy more sustainably, especially when the current market place mainly offers unsustainable products as the most affordable. We must also learn how to politically fight for actual policies and political change that force systemic and societal change .

“We have a new wave of contention in society that’s being led by women. … And the youth climate movement is leading this generational shift."

- Dana Fisher

In late 2019, The Washington Post conducted a poll that found that 46% of teen girls said the climate was “extremely important”, while only 23 % of teen boys said so. Furthermore, more than twice as many black and Hispanic teens participated in school strikes on climate change than their white peers, and girls were more likely to participate than boys. This data is one of several including Dana Fisher’s, a sociologist and researcher at the University of Maryland, who found similar ratios when studying the populations of activists and participants in the Washington, DC 2019 climate strike.

I think the ratio of who shows up for the environment points to social roles at large. The likelihood of caring about climate change can do with one’s privilege and ability to empathize with abstract or foreign problems that one may not be negatively affected with (right now). While we all hold some form of privilege, all women have experienced some form of sexism and misogyny, and therefore are more likely to be able to empathize with marginalized groups they do not belong to, and advocate for social movements that address injustices they may not themselves experience.

There is a correlation between those most marginalized in society, being the most active in social reform and revolution. Because when one is in the lowest or lower social casts of society, and has the least social freedoms and privileges, one has nothing to lose and everything to gain from change. This is why we can see in many social justice movements across the US, that black queer people and specifically black trans women, have consistently been at the forefront for important social progress.

When it comes to climate change, there is a certain amount of empathy required, especially when you live in a western country, or part of the world where you have an excess of resources at your disposal and you are comfortable with the status quo. That is something we all need to address and with that comes a checking of ego. Is my temporary happiness more important than other people’s well-being and lives? Am I contributing to the exploitation of people and the destruction of the planet? My planet?

I do not often see men on a large scale extending this type of self-reflection and empathy for social problems, either in small social settings or in positions of power. This is similar to how many men do not reflect on how it feels to be catcalled or sexually harassed as a woman. This is not because men are predisposed to be heartless rather, I believe this is a cause of social conditioning. Women are more conditioned to be team players, to listen and exercise great empathy at all times, otherwise she is socially scorned. Men are not expected to show these traits to the same extent, and often can rely on this lack of social standard and their own privilege to ignore social issues all together. We need to unlearn that issues women care about are insular to “women’s issues”, for they are societal problems, and we need to encourage and expect young boys and men to be equally accountable for a better world.

It is so inspiring to see so many young teens following Greta’s initiative, like Alexandria Villase��or, who after experiencing an asthma attack during a wildfire in California, not only took the time to educate herself on the dangers of this phenomenon, but also organized Friday’s 4 Future strikes in NYC with the US Climate Strike group. Since then, she has also spoken at countless international conventions about climate change, and alongside Thunberg and 15 other youth activists, filed a legal complaint against UN nations who had not upheld their Paris agreement climate goals. This is so badass and I did not even know about this until today. In fact, there are countless teens all over the world, many of whom aren’t of legal voting age, who are suing local / federal governments and organizations for environmental malpractice and for jeopardizing their futures! 

As they should! Let’s all keep fighting for a better and sustainable future.

Students and youth striking in Seoul, South Korea. Photo credit: Chung Sung-Jun / GETTY IMAGES

Young people striking in Edinburgh, Scotland. Photo credit: Jeff J Mitchell / GETTY IMAGES

Youth striking in Hong Kong. Photo credit: Kim Cheung / AP PHOTO

[sasorikigai]

Scorpion Playlist; Roaming Untethered Hellfire 

Disturbed - Inside the fire: End your grief with me. There's another way.

Disturbed - The Vengeful One: He is observing the chaos, taking in the lack of raw humanity. It's as if the entire world's fallen in love with their insanity. Hear the innocent voices scream as their tormentors laugh through all of it.

Morbid Angel - The Vengeance is Mine: The power is in me, hellspawn in aeturnum. I burn with hate to rid this world of the nazarene

Slipknot - Duality: I have screamed until my veins collapsed. I've waited last, my time's elapsed.

Slipknot - The Devil in I: Your station, is abandoned. Fool you cause I know what you've done. Sensation, deprivation. You should've burned when you turned on everyone.

In This Moment - Big Bad Wolf: You see I am the wolf, And this dirty, little piggy lives.inside of me. You see every now and then, I forget which one that I want and which one that I need.

Death - Infernal Death: Existence fading into ashes. Burn those bodies to infernal death.

Ashes Remain - End of Me: Torn apart by this affliction. locked up inside myself. This life is much too young to fadei ran away from the pain. 

Papercut Massacre - Lose My Life: You would give your life tonight. The sky is burning The fear consuming. I'll live forever if I lose my life tonight. 

From Ashes to New - Stay This Way: Everything inside of me is what it is, it's not changing. For you, for you; to myself, I stay true.

From Ashes to New - My Fight: Broke my trust and watched me bleed, ignored my pleas and squashed my dreams.

Imagine Dragons - Believer: You're the face of the future, the blood in my veins, oh ooh The blood in my veins, oh ooh. But they never did, ever lived, ebbing and flowing. Inhibited, limited. 'Til it broke up and it rained down. It rained down, like. 

Demon Hunter - More than Bones: I will send to you a passage far beyond my time. Hear my fury echo through your cold.

Seether - Broken: 'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome. And I don't feel right when you've gone away. You've gone away. You don't feel me here anymore.

Evanescence - My Immortal: These wounds won't seem to heal, this pain is just too real There's just too much that time cannot erase.

Thrice - Black Honey: I keep swingin' my hand through a swarm of bees. I can't understand why they're stingin' me, But I'll do what I want, I'll do what I please. I'll do it again 'til I've got what I need.

Nine Inch Nails - My Violent Heart: Into fire you can send us from the fire we return. You can label us a consequence of how much you have to learn.

Marco Tica - This is the End: (instrumental) 

Hanzo Hasashi Playlist; Seeking Reconciliation with His Own Humanity

Leader - Warrior Inside:��I'm alive, a revolution, lies inside. I'm alive, no longer, will this hate, divide and I'll stand. I will fight, just to survive, I won't be denied, I'm a warrior, inside.

Lamb of God - Embers: Only embers remain, refusing to fade. There's still light to find our way. Only embers remain, black turning to gray. There's still light to find our way. Only embers remain. 

The Wreckage - Breaking Through: Don't tell me everything is all right (I know you know). Don't tell me how to live my life. I'm breaking through tonight. 

Godsmack - Under Your Scars: wish you were here right beside me. So i could watch you sleep, hold you body closer, breathe you deep and everything feels broken when you’re not next to me

Linkin Park - Iridescent: Do you feel cold and lost in desperation. You build up hope but failure's all you've known. Remember all the sadness and frustration and let it go, let it go.

Falling in Reverse - It’s Over When It’s Over: I've got my life laid out in front of me like roads drawn on a map. I've had so many times where I slipped off the beaten path. I took the time to see the picture and for what it's worth. I'd walk a thousand miles without my shoes to make it work.

Spoken - Through It All: Through it all, we've been thrown in the fire. We've been lost in the flame - But we will rise from the ashes again. All our hearts have been broken, we´ve been burned by the flame. But we will rise from the ashes again.

Nine Nich Nails - Mr. Self-Destruct: I take you where you want to go. I give you all you need to know. I drag you down, I use you up. Mr. Self Destruct. 

Nine Inch Nails - The Hand that Feeds: Just how deep do you believe? Will you bite the hand that feeds? Will you chew until it bleeds? Can you get up off your knees? Are you brave enough to see? Do you wanna change it?

My Darkest Days - Save Yourself: Save yourself, from a life, full of lies and a heart full of pain and sorrow! Save yourself, from the choices, I make, 'cause nothing but failure follows me. Save yourself, save yourself!

Cam - Burning House: I had a dream about a burning house. You were stuck inside I couldn't get you out. I lay beside you and pulled you close and the two of us went up in smoke.

Cult To Follow - Leave It All Behind: Suffocate everything. They complicate everything. They steal your fate everyday but you can't believe it. Take yourself far away from nothingness. A million miles from emptiness.

Hollywood Undead - Lion: I am a lion and I want to be free. Do you see the lion when you look inside of me?

Ashes Remain - Without You: Even if you take it all away, I'll wait, for you. Even when the light begins to fade, I'll wait, for you. I'm so desperate calling out your name. Meet me in this broken place.

Fable - Killing Our Memories: The sky is breaking me tonight. I wish that you were by my side. The world keeps falling under me. I wish that you could see.

Skillet - Rise: All I see is, shattered pieces. I can't keep it, hidden like a secret. I can't look away from all this pain, in the world we've made.

The Veer Union - Bitter End: I won't ever surrender like that. I know better, to ever fall back. The enemy was living in my head, I ripped it out and left it there for dead.

Starset - Carnivore: All my life they let me know. How far I would not go. But inside the beast still grows. Chewing through the ropes.

Pelican - Strung up from the Sky: (instrumental)

[jmsa1287]

In Netflix's 'Haunting of Hill House,' a Haunted Family Struggles with Grief

hi i wrote about Mike Flanagan’s great new Netflix series “The Haunting of Hill House.”

Director Mike Flanagan is one of Hollywood's best under-the-radar horror filmmakers. He's found success on the big screen with his outstanding "Ouija: Origins of Evil" and "Oculus" and also on Netflix. He's got a few movies on the streaming service, including the intense cat-and-mouse game involving a deaf woman called "Hush" and an adaptation of Steven King's kink-gone-wrong thriller "Gerald's Game." Despite turning out several solid projects over the last few years, Flanagan has yet to join the upper echelon of horror auteurs — he's more of a filmmaker's filmmaker. (His next project? "Doctor Sleep" — an adaptation of Steven King's sequel to "The Shining.")

That could possibly change this week. Flanagan is returning to Netflix Friday with his take on "The Haunting of Hill House," loosely based on Shirley Jackson's 1959 gothic horror novella. The ten-episode series isn't a straightforward or typical haunted house tale — it's a thoughtful and atmospheric show that's made for adults, offering meditative thoughts about loss, death, grief and family relationships while still dishing out some truly terrifying scares.

"Hill House" follows the Crain family in both the past and present. In the past, the young family is living in, and flipping, Hill House, a creepy old mansion towering in the middle of western Massachusetts. Parents Hugh (Henry Thomas) and Olivia (Carla Gugino) have five children who help fix up the creaky home: Steven (Paxton Singleton), Shirley (Lulu Wilson), Theodora (Mckenna Grace) and twins Luke (Julian Hilliard) and Nell (Violet McGraw). But nothing is as it seems and as "Hill House" unfolds, the house's secrets history and the way in which it impacts the Crains plays out in terrifying ways.

In the present, when the Crain kids are adults, we learn that a bone-chilling event at Hill House has disrupted the family in a major way. Hugh (played by Timothy Hutton in the present) is estranged from his kids, who are each dealing with the ramifications of Hill House in their own way. Steven (Michiel Huisman) is an author, who spun his family's headline-grabbing tragedy into a book, earning a huge paycheck (plus royalties!). Shirley (Elizabeth Reaser) and her husband run a floundering funeral home. Theo (Kate Siegel) has gone on to become a child psychologist but is still struggling with some intense demons. Luke (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) is a drug addict, bouncing in-and-out of rehabs, and Nell (Victoria Pedretti) is still plagued by Hill House and other tragedies that have occurred in her adult life.

The first five episodes mostly focus on each of the Crain children, delving into the characters by cutting between the past and the present. Each episode highlights one of the Crain kids, fleshing them out and getting to the bottom of how the events at Hill House shaped who they are today — for better or for worse.

"Hill House" is often told out of order, with scenes playing out from different points of view. The first five episodes has a "Run Lola Run" set-up but with a spooky twist. Telling this story this way also allows Flanagan to make certain scenes pack a powerful and devastating punch; knowing the fate of a certain character and then watching how they got to their demise is awfully chilling.

Flanagan also trusts that his audience can follow the mostly nonlinear and the eerie threads of this family's tragic story. Episodes of "Hill House" build off each other in a slow-burning prestige TV way that has a wild payoff during the back half of the series. Episode five is a gut-wrenching hour-and-ten minutes with a brutal climax. Episode six is an impressive technical feat with Flanagan pulling off some incredible long tracking shots; his camera is hectic and swirls around the drama that plays out with the Crain family in the present day.

Mental illness and complicated family dynamics have been a prominent theme in horror in 2018. The deeply unsettling "Hereditary" examines a woman's inherited mental illness and how it plagues the ones she loves the most. On HBO's Southern gothic nightmare "Sharp Objects," a young woman's trauma and her mother's mental illness are at the center of this curdled family drama. "Hill House" takes these themes a step further, suggesting paranormal activity can be baked in one's DNA; that the supernatural is passed down from generation to generation and can eat away at a family from the inside out.

Flanagan's "The House of Haunted Hill" proves the filmmaker is at the peak of his craft. Though it's not perfect (again, thanks to the Netflix model the show is probably just a few episodes too long, and for some, it'll feel like an eternity getting there), there's much to admire here. Flanagan is an affective and considerate storyteller who injects humanity into this dark and traumatic family drama. He cares about the psychology of the Crain family and about their journey. His "Hill House" is a compassionate take on a modern horror story and one that's surprisingly powerful.