#a symposium on popular songs

[aardwolfpack]

Yeah, my brother and I spent a lot of time watching these videos back in the day. Also one of my music teachers would leave these videos for subs to show us when she was gone even though we were freaking teenagers.

Here comes a rant! Obviously the music videos/musical numbers were preexisting footage, but I always assumed the framing material/wraparound segments were made for these videos. But no, it's all recycled. Professor Owl's class comes from two old shorts, Professor von Drake's lectures come from a different old short, and the other guest lectures come from old T.V. shows and maybe some other stuff. Looking at as an adult, it's obvious that the animation is in an old style and also badly synched to the audio (and also also the theme music sounds like a bargain bin keyboard demo).

Sorry, I have a lot of happy cartoon memories, but then there's stuff like this that was already kind of mediocre in the eyes of a child and now just seems like V.H.S. shovelware.

Does anyone else remember this?

[leonardcohenofficial]

i feel like this particular call for papers might appeal to some folks on here!

For the 2025 Symposium on Music of the Sea, we are seeking proposals for papers in Music, Ethnomusicology, History, Literature, Folklore, or other appropriate disciplines that address any aspect of music or verse of the sea, rivers, or inland waters from the Age of Sail until the present. 

Topics may include: shipboard work songs, songs of maritime or other occupational trades, songs of rivers and lakes, seafaring cultures and cultural change, ethnicity and ethnic influences, ballad and broadside traditions, the use of sea music in literature and in popular culture, including the Internet, and the work of collectors and performers of sea music. We are particularly interested in the maritime musical cultures of the Connecticut River Valley and the Town of Essex (formerly Pettipaug).

The one-day Symposium on Music of the Sea is part of a three-day festival celebrating the lives and work of sailors through concerts and demonstrations in the Town of Essex, CT. The Symposium will be held in the Town Hall’s Auditorium, 29 West Ave, Essex, CT 06426 on FRIDAY JUNE 6, 2025.

Graduate students, practitioners, and independent scholars are encouraged to submit proposals which will be reviewed by a committee of scholars and experts in the field of sea music. Presentations with audiovisual components are welcome.

We plan to hold the Symposium in person; we will also review proposals that would be recorded in advance with presenters participating remotely. The Symposium will be recorded. Each presenter will have 45 minutes: papers should be 30-35 minutes long to allow time for questions.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE is February 1, 2025

Proposals should be 1-2 pages and should include a thesis, an explanation, and a list of sources, plus a short (under 100 words) bio of the presenter(s).

[isagrimorie]

It's so hilarious how in Renaissance Man, the penultimate episode of the whole Voyager series (WHY), we find out that Janeway would rather fall on a sword than spend extra time with the EMH Doctor.

This is the face she makes when the EMH Doctor asks if they could spend more time together when they return to Voyager after being on a Medical symposium together:

And then after the EMH Doctor screwed things up (BY NOT FOLLOWING HER DIRECT ORDER AND TELL THE CREW SHE WAS A HOSTAGE-- in the same season he put the entire crew in danger, for a bunch of holograms who ended up betraying them), and they were both in a brig, the EMH Doctor requested that they socialize more:

A brief flash of pure panic.

Janeway rebuffs with: No, thank you, I don't really socialize.

He then complains that she socializes with Chakotay having meals with him and with Seven, playing Velocity with her.

As that one popular song said: Take a hint!

(Also they're her husband and her wife!)

[modmad]

so we all agree billionaires are evil, but what about Scrooge McDuck? surely he's as mad about it as the rest of us? he made his money square so he must pay his workers fairly

oh alas anon, one of the eduring character traits is that Scrooge McDuck IS a billionaire and is GREEDY and has paid Donald Duck, his own nephew, 30 cents an hour over the past 80 years! but you know who is as mad as us about it all? a guy who's been here before-

[ltwharfy]

Talk to us about Arnlee! How did they become friends? What do they bond over? When does each realize that they have feelings for the other? Were they afraid to tell each other how they felt or were they confident? Would they date early in life or later?

So, I'm not sure how long it's been since I got this ask! I think a couple of weeks? But I want to start by saying how much I appreciate it. Most of the asks I get are in response to ask games or are questions that are sent to lots of members of the "Bob's Burgers" fandom- and I love being included in those! But it was really nice to get an ask related to one of my fics, and particularly about Arnold/Kaylee, the rare pair that I wrote the first fic for!!

That said, one of the reasons I didn't respond sooner (in addition to being busy and forgetting about it for a while) is that I'm still sort of figuring where I want to go next with Arnlee. I literally just noticed them dancing together in "Ancient Misbehavin'" one night and wrote a little background story for it the next day- I didn't really think about where I would go from there! And since there is less to go off about them in canon, that makes it harder for me to come up with ideas for them- I like having a clear canon starting point for my stories (several of my fics are episode tags or prologues or missing scenes- including the Arnlee story!)

But here's my current line of thought for your questions:

I really do like the idea that I came up with in "The Life of the Symposium (aka Party)" for sort of being the beginning of their friendship. I see Kaylee post-"Prank You for Being A Friend" trying to be more social and still finding it difficult, but then happening to strike up a conversation with Arnold and making a connection. I think that Arnold and Kaylee are both kind of nerdy outsiders- and I think Kaylee would like Arnold because he is more comfortable in embracing his nerdy outsiderness. He's the youngest and smallest kid in his grade, he wears his karate gi to school almost everyday- but he seems remarkably confident and comfortable in his own skin. And I think Kaylee- the girl who wants to wear her wizard cape everyday- would like that. (And I think the ability to embrace being an outsider makes them a bit different from Louise and Rudy who- if they don't actually aspire to be considered cool or popular- at the very least both seem to care too damn much about what Chloe Barbash thinks of them.)

And I guess that's sort of the dynamic I imagine for them as friends- and eventually more- is as these dorky outsiders who are just kind of happy to be themselves together. I could see them inviting the other to check out their interests- Arnold inviting Kaylee to his dojo; Kaylee getting Arnold involved with the Thinkgineers. I can see them sharing nerdy creative hobbies and interests- like RPGs, maybe even LARPing.

In terms of realizing that they have feelings for each other and dating- I see that as happening when they are at the end of their Wagstaff time/entering high school (which, yeah, is also kind of what I tend to write for Louise/Rudy. I'm a sucker for childhood friends to lovers and that time just sort of seems like a logical point for that transition. Also, it's possible that I'm a little burnt out with being a single middle-aged adult and would prefer my beloved fictional characters avoid that fate...) For Arnold and Kaylee, I think it is particularly interesting because Arnold skipped a grade so he's a year or two younger than her- which means nothing when you're an adult but can mean a lot in adolescence.

I imagine Kaylee developing feelings first and being uncomfortable with and it denial of it. Even if she managed to overcome her shyness/social anxiety to connect with Arnold and others as friends- I think that the idea of trying to make a romantic connection would still be very daunting to her. As I noted during the WIP ask game, the song "Young In Love" by Sweet Nobody gives me these series "Kaylee Morganstern with a crush" vibes, and someday I hope to write a fic on that concept using lyrics from this song as a title.

Especially with Arnold being younger, I imagine him as basically being oblivious to her feelings to him. But when she eventually tells him her feelings he's totally blown away- like he hadn't even been thinking about the possibility but as soon as he finds out she's been feeling that way he's just so happy about it!

Those are my current thoughts about them- they might change at some point between now and whenever I write another fic about them! But I truly do appreciate the opportunity to think and talk some more about my beloved nerds!

Thank you so much for the ask!!

[menlove]

put 5 songs you listen to, post it, then send this ask to 10 of your favorite followers <333

OOOH FUN

I listen to sooo many songs I'll go w some good ones that aren't super popular

forest whitaker by bad books

a.c.l by the symposium

so in love by omd

so you found yourself a rockstar by kellen of troy

all I want by oberhofer

[michaelgruberfan]

Gruber and friends sing “Pretty Lady” from “Pacific Overtures” for Paper Mill Playhouse: Humanities Symposium Series, A Stephen Sondheim Retrospective. Hosted by Peter Filichia and Robert Johanson. You can watch the whole video here: (X) This took place on April 30th 1998 on the stage used for Follies which as we all know Gruber played Young Ben in. Follies despite its popularity and possible Broadway transfer eventually closed a month later on May 31 because there were no available theaters to transfer to. Gruber mostly only sings with minor parts/ in groups in this concert however does get a few solos such as with the song “Joanne” from “Sweeney Todd”

[sanatik-aga]

Working with Disney

For today’s assignment I had to pick two people who worked with Walt Disney and write about them, and so today I chose Walter Lantz and Xavier (X) Atencio. So let’s begin!).

Walter Lantz was born on April 27, 1900 in New Rochelle, New York. He started his animation career at sixteen years old working for William Randolph Hearst at “New York American, William Randolph Hearst’s”, newspaper company that wanted to create cartoons from popular Comics strips. He was just simple office boy where he had to wash brushes for Winsor McCay. Since then company was closed and he moved to Universal Studios as a gag writer for Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in 1927 and then in 1935 he was put in charge as a producer for the show. He distributed for the show many good things such as introducing new characters for the series including Andy panda and audience favorite Woody Woodpecker

He’s studio worked on shorter projects longer than any other studio before while they all increased their duration to grab viewers attention as long as possible. But in 1972 he had to stop due to shrinking revenues. In 1979 he received special Oscar for his special achievements and in 1994 he passed away.

He never actually worked for Disney, but rather for his opponents Universal Studio. But he was in friendly terms with Disney since both of them were in the association, the Animated Cartoon Association made of Leon Schlesinger of Warner Bros, Fred Quimby of MGM and Walt Disney. They were always cooperating and he said that in was very friendly group, for some people hearing that is something they would never believe in because everyone would rather imagine cutthroat type of relationship between big companies. But Walter Lantz said that he was in touch with Disney, if one of his employees thought about going to Disney instead, he would call Disney himself and tell about his employ that wants to work for him, Disney will ask how much Salter paying him, he would answer and then Disney would say that he won’t pay him more than Lantz already does.

I’m glad than I picked Walter Lantz for my blog because reading his interview with Don Peri definitely made me smile, this guy is very wholesome and nice guy. I picked him because I thought that his name is funny since Lantz part reminds me of name Lancelot. And I was even amazed when I found that he got an Oscar because back then really talented people were getting Oscar, and looking at his achievements, I can say that this man is really talented and hardworking man.

Second man that I want to talk about is Xavier (X) Atencio

So, Xavier Atencio was born on September 4,1919 in Walsenburg, Colorado. At the age of 18 he moved to Los Angeles as a student of Chouinard Art Institute and year later he began his career in Walt Disney Studio as an inbetweener on Pinocchio. Then he became assistant to Wolfgang Reitherman on Fantasia and Dumbo. After that he was in rolled into U.S. Army for WW2. After the war he returned to Disney and worked on small projects like Toot, Whistle and so on. His big projects he worked on were Jack and Old Mac in 1956 and then Noah’s Ark in 1959.

In 1962 he worked on A Symposium on Popular Songs as an instrumental in creating along side with Bill Justice. This duet also created the Special effects for Mary Poppins where the nursery magically tied up. Xavier shortly moved to WED in 1956 and worked on attractions there. His notable works are lyrics for Yo Ho for the Pirates of the Caribbean and Grim Grinning Ghost for Hunted Mansion. After his Retirement in 1984 he was labeled as a Disney Legend in 1996.

In his interview with Don Peri he was asked how did happened that he went to work for Disney.

He said that before that he was unrolled into Charles Mintz Studio because his uncle was a worker there. But he didn’t have enough experience with animations so they sent him to Chouinard Institute which had a preanimation. After the graduation his professors were collecting portfolio for Disney. At first he rejected offer, because he was committed for Mintz at first. But after the while he gave a shot and then they accepted him.

So, my thoughts on this man that he was pretty much an essential figure in Disney. If he wasn’t there I guess we can’t tell for sure how some works would turned out.

That’s it for now, thank you for your attention.

[prnanayarquah]

Israel Maweta joins Prof. John Collins, Others for Borborbor Symposium at University of Ghana

New Post has been published on https://plugzafrica.com/israel-maweta-joins-prof-john-collins-others-for-borborbor-symposium-at-university-of-ghana/

Israel Maweta joins Prof. John Collins, Others for Borborbor Symposium at University of Ghana

Celebrated Ghanaian Traditional Musician, Israel Maweta, has been named one of the key Panelists to join renowned Musicologist/Lecturer, Professor John Collins, at a Borborbor Symposium on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at the University of Ghana, Legon.

Starting from 9:30am through to 3:00pm, the theme set for the gathering is “Innovation and General Changes in Borborbor Dance-Drumming of The Ghanaian Ewe Youth”.

Venue is Kwabena Nketia Conference Hall, Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Legon campus. The event is a collaboration between The Department of Music School of Performing Arts College of Humanities and The Camegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program.

Israel Nanevi Maweta will be sitting on the panel with Prof. Kodzo Gavua (University of Ghana), Dr. Eyram E.K. Fiagbedzi (University of Ghana), Prof. John Collins (University of Ghana), Ms. Rita Fianu (Dance Leader & Choreographer of Edzordzinam Fafali Borborbor Band), Mr. Wilson Doh (Trumpeter – Dekaworwor Borborbor Group), Mr. Patrick Agbo (Chief Drummer – Edzordzinam Fafali Borborbor Band), and Mr. John Kyere-Amedome (Borborbor Show Host – Accra 100.5fm).

About Israel Maweta:

He is a thoroughbred African Traditional Musician who also majors in other genres such as Gospel, Reggae, Highlife, among others; he holds an active music career spanning over 25 years with at least 23 Albums to his credit (19 Solo Albums, 4 Joint Albums). His latest Solo Album titled “Amenuveve” with 8 songs was released on January 5, 2024 with Telecel Ghana Music Award 2024 ‘Gospel Artiste of the Year’ Winner, Nacee,  featured on 2 of the songs. He is best known for popular songs like “Medi Be Mayi”, “Manor Amesi”, “Tsor Si Gborna”, “Woewoe”, “Mehaya”, “Kristo Yome”, “Mawu Nye”, “Netuwo Di Ha”, “”Wovevewo Nu Ayi”, “Edzobibi”, “Nukeke Li Nawo”, “Akume He”, just to name a few.

He won “Traditional Song Of The Year” at Ghana Music Awards 2003 with his hit single “Akume He”.

Listen to “Amenuveve” Album here: https://ditto.fm/amenuveve

Watch “Don’t Pass Me By” on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/oNhngQFtaa8?si=KSCEU6EGJoKyuOT8

Watch “Zi Kpoo Remix” (ft. Nacee) on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/aLaz3D-6Rmc?si=X42oeBZ3RadZaZTy

For Bookings and Press Engagements: mawetabookings@gmail.com

Management: +233266633090

Facebook: Israel Maweta

Instagram and X (Twitter): @MawetaMusic

Youtube and Tiktok: @IsraelMaweta

[sheetmusiclibrarypdf]

Richard Sherman (1928-2024)

Richard Sherman (1928-2024)Best Sheet Music download from our Library.List of worksPlease, subscribe to our Library. Thank you!Disney legend Richard Sherman, songwriter of ‘Mary Poppins’ and ‘It’s a Small World,’ dies at 95

Richard Sherman (1928-2024)

Richard Morton Sherman (June 12, 1928 – May 25, 2024) was an American songwriter who specialized in musical films with his brother Robert B. Sherman. According to the official Walt Disney Company website and independent fact-checkers, "The Sherman Brothers were responsible for more motion picture musical song scores than any other songwriting team in film history."

Some of the Sherman Brothers' best known songs were incorporated into live action and animation musical films including Mary Poppins, The Happiest Millionaire, The Sword in the Stone, The Jungle Book, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Snoopy Come Home, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Slipper and the Rose, and Charlotte's Web. Their most well known work is "It's a Small World (After All)", written for the theme park attraction of the same name. According to Time, it may be the most publicly performed song in history. List of works Major film scores The Parent Trap (1961) Big Red (1962) In Search of the Castaways (1962) Summer Magic (1963) The Sword in the Stone (1963) Mary Poppins (1964) Follow Me, Boys! (1966) The Happiest Millionaire (1967) The Jungle Book (1967) The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band (1968) Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) The Aristocats (1970) Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) Snoopy, Come Home (1972) Charlotte's Web (1973) The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1974) The Slipper and the Rose (1976) The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977) The Magic of Lassie (1978) Magic Journeys (1982) Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore (1983) Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (1992) Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving (1999) The Tigger Movie (2000) Iron Man 2 (2010) (Composed the song "Make Way For Tomorrow Today". Instrumental versions were later featured in Captain America: The First Avenger and Avengers: Endgame) The Jungle Book (2016) Christopher Robin (2018) Motion picture screenplays A Symposium on Popular Songs, 1962 Mary Poppins, 1964 (*treatment only), The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, 1973 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, 1974 The Slipper and the Rose, 1976 The Magic of Lassie, 1978 Ferdinand the Bull, 1986 (*TV screenplay) Stage musicals Victory Canteen, 1971 (Ivar Theatre, L.A.) Over Here!, 1974 (Broadway, NY) Dawgs, 1983 (Variety Arts Center, L.A.) Busker Alley, 1995 (U.S. Tour) Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 2002 (London) Mary Poppins, 2004 (London) On the Record, 2004-5 (U.S. Tour) Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 2005 (Broadway, NY) Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 2005 (UK Tour) Busker Alley, 2006 (Broadway, NY - *one night only) Mary Poppins, 2006 (Broadway, NY) Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 2007 (Singapore) Mary Poppins, 2008 (UK Tour) Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 2008 (Second UK Tour) Mary Poppins, 2008 (Stockholm) Mary Poppins, 2009 (US Tour) Mary Poppins, 2009 (Copenhagen) Mary Poppins, 2009 (Shanghai) Mary Poppins, 2010 (Australia) Mary Poppins, 2009 (South Africa) Mary Poppins, 2009 (The Hague) Mary Poppins, 2009 (Helsinki) Mary Poppins, 2012 (Budapest) Summer Magic, 2012 (Morristown, Tennessee) The Jungle Book, 2013 (Chicago, Illinois) The Jungle Book, 2013 (Boston, Massachusetts) A Spoonful of Sherman, 2014 (London) Mary Poppins, 2015 (Vienna, Austria) Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 2015–16 (UK Tour) Mary Poppins, 2015–16 (UK Tour) A Spoonful of Sherman, 2017 (London) A Spoonful of Sherman, 2018 (UK/Ireland Tour) A Spoonful of Sherman, 2019 (San Jose, CA) A Spoonful of Sherman, 2019 (Singapore) Mary Poppins, 2019 (London) Bedknobs and Broomsticks, 2021 (UK Tour) Theme park songs There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow for Carousel of Progress The Best Time of Your Life for Carousel of Progress Miracles from Molecules for Adventure Thru Inner Space One Little Spark for Journey into Imagination Magic Journeys for Magic Journeys The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Pooh's Hunny Hunt it's a small world (after all) for the 1964 New York World's Fair attraction, Pepsi Presents WALT DISNEY'S "it's a small world" – a Salute to UNICEF and the World's Children, then adapted to each Disney Park installation of "It's a Small World" The Astuter Computer Revue for the 1982 premiere of the CommuniCore Exhibit at EPCOT. Magic Highways for Rocket Rods Making Memories for Magic Journeys The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room for Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room We Meet the World with Love and Meet the World for the same exhibit in Tokyo Disneyland Kiss Goodnight exit music from Disneyland Forever for Disneyland's 60th Anniversary Nighttime Fireworks Spectacular show, originally sung by Ashley Brown.

Disney legend Richard Sherman, songwriter of ‘Mary Poppins’ and ‘It’s a Small World,’ dies at 95

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-izLHwieo4 Read the full article

[influencermagazineuk]

Liverpool to Transform into Taylor Town to Welcome Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards / iHeartRadioCA, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Liverpool, renowned for its vibrant musical celebrations, is set to elevate its reputation by transforming into “Taylor Town” to honor Taylor Swift and her legion of fans during her three-day run of sold-out shows in June. Following its successful hosting of Eurovision in 2023, the city aims to celebrate Swift’s visit with a series of events and installations between June 8 and 16. Swift will be performing at Anfield Stadium from June 13 as part of her global record-breaking Eras tour. To mark this occasion, Liverpool ONE, Royal Albert Dock Liverpool, and the Metquarter will feature unique art installations representing each of Swift’s 11 albums. Curated by the city council’s Culture Liverpool team in collaboration with social enterprise Make CIC, these installations will include: - A moss-covered grand piano representing the evermore era. - A “red room” symbolizing the Red era. - Giant hearts depicting the Lover era. These installations form the Taylor Town Trail, encouraging fans to explore the city while engaging with Swift-inspired art. In addition to the art trail, Liverpool will host a series of ticketed craft workshops under the banner "Liverpool Loves Taylor (Craft Version)" at the Metquarter. These workshops will allow participants to: - Create origami pieces for an installation. - Transform T-shirts in a session called "Swif-tee Transformation." - Upcycle denim and make collages. - Decorate cupcakes, all inspired by Swift’s music and style. The University of Liverpool is organizing "Tay Day," an academic conference on June 12 to "debate and deconstruct" Swift’s work. This symposium, led by the university’s Institute of Popular Music, will bring together fans, students, and academics to discuss Swift’s impact on culture, feminism, and music. Topics will range from her role as "Miss Americana" to her persona as an "anti-hero." The conference will conclude with a session of "Critical Karaoke," where researchers present one-song essays on their chosen Swift tracks. Dr. Sam Murray and Dr. Amy Skjerseth, organizers from the Institute, highlighted Swift’s significant cultural and economic influence, stating, "The musical, social, and economic impact of Taylor Swift is undeniable. We look forward to exploring her style, her wildest dreams, and discussing her reputation." Liverpool’s City Council, represented by Councillor Harry Doyle, has been monitoring the economic impact of Swift’s European tour on host cities, noting the substantial influx of fans and economic boost. The Eras tour, starting its UK leg in Edinburgh on June 7 before heading to Liverpool, Cardiff, and London, is expected to inject £997 million into the UK economy, as projected by the Barclays Swiftonomics report. This city-wide celebration of Taylor Swift underscores Liverpool's commitment to embracing and celebrating musical talent, promising an unforgettable experience for Swift’s fans and a significant economic boost for the city. Read the full article

[brookston]

Holidays 12.19

Holidays

Advocacy Day (Ukraine)

Almanack Day

Bantha Appreciation Day (Star Wars)

Build a Snowman Day

A Christmas Carol Day

Digital Twin Day

E-Mail Santa Claus Just in Case He Didn't Get Your Letter Day [ mailroom ] 

Fiesta of Santo Tomas begins (Guatemala; until 25th)

Gender Critical Coming Out Day

Goa Liberation Day (India)

Holly Day

I've Got My Big Guy Fat Pants On Day

Liberation Day (Goa)

Look for an Evergreen Day

Mitch Marner Day (Canada)

National Emo Day

National Harry Day

National Heroes & Heroines Day (Anguilla)

Olive Day (French Republic)

Robinson Crusoe Rescue Day

Thorn Cutting Ceremony (Glastonbury, Somerset, UK)

Yuletide Lad #8 arrives (Skyrgamur or Skyr-Gobbler; Iceland)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Chocolate Pizza Day

Cream Liqueur Day

Currant Buns Day (UK)

National Hard Candy Day

National Oatmeal Muffin Day

3rd Tuesday in December

Christmas Cookie House Day [3rd Tuesday]

Independence Days

Børge (a.k.a. Republic of Libri; Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Republic of Lakotah (Declared; 2007) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Adam (Christian; Saint)

Anastasius I, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Asgard Day (Pagan)

The Bee (Muppetism)

Bernard Valeara (Christian; Saint)

Cavendish (Positivist; Saint)

Dalek Remembrance Day (Pastafarian)

Feast of Goddess of Sankrant (Hindu)

Juventas Festival (Ancient Rome)

Lillian Trasher (Episcopal Church)

Lorenzo di Medici Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Nathan Oliveira (Artology)

Nemesion (Christian; Saint)

Opalia (Celebrating Ops, the old Roman Mother Earth)

O Radix Jesse (3rd O Antiphon or Great Advent Antiphon; Christian) [O Root of Jesse; 3 of 7]

Robot Awareness Day (Pastafarian)

Saint Nicholas Day (Eastern Christian) [Ukraine]

Samthann of Meath (Christian; Saint)

Urban V, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Fortunate Day (Pagan) [49 of 53]

Prime Number Day: 353 [71 of 72]

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 58 of 60)

Premieres

The Aristocats (Animated Disney Film; 1980)

Babes in Toyland (TV Movie; 1986)

Bars of Steal or The Hard Cell (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S3, Ep. 136; 1961)

Being There (Film; 1979)

Blue Suede Shoes, recorded by Carl Perkins (Song; 1955)

Boris Badenov and His Friends? (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S3, Ep. 135; 1961)

Captain Blood (Film; 1935)

A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens (Novella; 1843)

A Clockwork Orange (Film; 1971)

Deal or No Deal (TV game Show; 2005)

The Fellowship of the Ring (Film; 2001) [Lord of the Rings #1]

From All of Us to All of You (Animated Disney TV Christmas Special; 1958)

Judgment at Nuremberg (Film; 1961)

Kramer vs. Kramer (Film; 1979)

Laughing Boy:A Navajo Love Story, by Oliver La Farge (Novel; 1929)

The Little Drummer Boy (Xmas Song; 1958)

Little Shop of Horrors (Film; 1986)

The Man with the Golden Gun (UK Film; 1974) [James Bond #9]

Mary Poppins Returns (Film; 2018)

Mona Lisa Smile (Film; 2003)

Monsters, Inc. (Animated Pixar Film; 2012)

More Kittens (Disney Cartoon; 1936)

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (Film; 2014)

9 to 5 (Film; 1980)

People Are Bunny (WB MM Cartoon; 1959)

Platoon (Film; 1986)

Porky in the North Woods (WB LT Cartoon; 1936)

Punch Trunk (WB LT Cartoon; 1953)

Raging Bull (Film; 1980)

Seems Like Old Times (Film; 1980)

Song of the Sea (Animated Film; 2014)

A Symposium on Popular Songs (Disney Cartoon; 1962)

The Tale of Desperaux (Animated Film; 2008)

Titanic (Film; 1997)

Tomorrow Never Dies (US Film; 1997) [James Bond #18]

Topaz (Film; 1969)

Yes Man (Film; 2008)

Zero Dark Thirty (Film; 2012)

Today’s Name Days

Benjamin, Susanne (Austria)

Anastazije, Eva, Tea, Urban, Vladimir (Croatia)

Ester (Czech Republic)

Nemesius (Denmark)

Maarius, Mairo, Mario (Estonia)

Iikka, Iiro, Iisakki, Isko (Finland)

Urbain (France)

Benjamin, Susanna (Germany)

Aglaia, Aris (Greece)

Viola (Hungary)

Dario (Italy)

Jordisa, Lelde, Minjona, Sarmis (Latvia)

Darijus, Gerdvilas, Rimantė (Lithuania)

Isak, Iselin (Norway)

Abraham, Beniamin, Dariusz, Gabriela, Mścigniew, Nemezjusz, Tymoteusz, Urban (Poland)

Aglaia, Bonifatie, Grichentie, Trifon (Romania)

Judita (Slovakia)

Darío, Eva (Spain)

Isak (Sweden)

Boniface, Mecheslav, Mecheslava (Ukraine)

Daria, Darian, Darien, Dario, Darion, Darius, Haysten (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 353 of 2024; 12 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of week 51 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ruis (Elder) [Day 22 of 28]

Chinese: Month 12 (Jia-Zi), Day 7 (Xin-Hai)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 7 Teveth 5784

Islamic: 6 Jumada II 1445

J Cal: 23 Zima; Twosday [23 of 30]

Julian: 6 December 2023

Moon: 50%: 1st Quarter

Positivist: 17 Bichat (13th Month) [Cavendish]

Runic Half Month: Jara (Year) [Day 9 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 88 of 89)

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 28 of 30)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 12.19

Holidays

Advocacy Day (Ukraine)

Almanack Day

Bantha Appreciation Day (Star Wars)

Build a Snowman Day

A Christmas Carol Day

Digital Twin Day

E-Mail Santa Claus Just in Case He Didn't Get Your Letter Day [ mailroom ] 

Fiesta of Santo Tomas begins (Guatemala; until 25th)

Gender Critical Coming Out Day

Goa Liberation Day (India)

Holly Day

I've Got My Big Guy Fat Pants On Day

Liberation Day (Goa)

Look for an Evergreen Day

Mitch Marner Day (Canada)

National Emo Day

National Harry Day

National Heroes & Heroines Day (Anguilla)

Olive Day (French Republic)

Robinson Crusoe Rescue Day

Thorn Cutting Ceremony (Glastonbury, Somerset, UK)

Yuletide Lad #8 arrives (Skyrgamur or Skyr-Gobbler; Iceland)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Chocolate Pizza Day

Cream Liqueur Day

Currant Buns Day (UK)

National Hard Candy Day

National Oatmeal Muffin Day

3rd Tuesday in December

Christmas Cookie House Day [3rd Tuesday]

Independence Days

Børge (a.k.a. Republic of Libri; Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Republic of Lakotah (Declared; 2007) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Adam (Christian; Saint)

Anastasius I, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Asgard Day (Pagan)

The Bee (Muppetism)

Bernard Valeara (Christian; Saint)

Cavendish (Positivist; Saint)

Dalek Remembrance Day (Pastafarian)

Feast of Goddess of Sankrant (Hindu)

Juventas Festival (Ancient Rome)

Lillian Trasher (Episcopal Church)

Lorenzo di Medici Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Nathan Oliveira (Artology)

Nemesion (Christian; Saint)

Opalia (Celebrating Ops, the old Roman Mother Earth)

O Radix Jesse (3rd O Antiphon or Great Advent Antiphon; Christian) [O Root of Jesse; 3 of 7]

Robot Awareness Day (Pastafarian)

Saint Nicholas Day (Eastern Christian) [Ukraine]

Samthann of Meath (Christian; Saint)

Urban V, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Fortunate Day (Pagan) [49 of 53]

Prime Number Day: 353 [71 of 72]

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 58 of 60)

Premieres

The Aristocats (Animated Disney Film; 1980)

Babes in Toyland (TV Movie; 1986)

Bars of Steal or The Hard Cell (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S3, Ep. 136; 1961)

Being There (Film; 1979)

Blue Suede Shoes, recorded by Carl Perkins (Song; 1955)

Boris Badenov and His Friends? (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S3, Ep. 135; 1961)

Captain Blood (Film; 1935)

A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens (Novella; 1843)

A Clockwork Orange (Film; 1971)

Deal or No Deal (TV game Show; 2005)

The Fellowship of the Ring (Film; 2001) [Lord of the Rings #1]

From All of Us to All of You (Animated Disney TV Christmas Special; 1958)

Judgment at Nuremberg (Film; 1961)

Kramer vs. Kramer (Film; 1979)

Laughing Boy:A Navajo Love Story, by Oliver La Farge (Novel; 1929)

The Little Drummer Boy (Xmas Song; 1958)

Little Shop of Horrors (Film; 1986)

The Man with the Golden Gun (UK Film; 1974) [James Bond #9]

Mary Poppins Returns (Film; 2018)

Mona Lisa Smile (Film; 2003)

Monsters, Inc. (Animated Pixar Film; 2012)

More Kittens (Disney Cartoon; 1936)

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (Film; 2014)

9 to 5 (Film; 1980)

People Are Bunny (WB MM Cartoon; 1959)

Platoon (Film; 1986)

Porky in the North Woods (WB LT Cartoon; 1936)

Punch Trunk (WB LT Cartoon; 1953)

Raging Bull (Film; 1980)

Seems Like Old Times (Film; 1980)

Song of the Sea (Animated Film; 2014)

A Symposium on Popular Songs (Disney Cartoon; 1962)

The Tale of Desperaux (Animated Film; 2008)

Titanic (Film; 1997)

Tomorrow Never Dies (US Film; 1997) [James Bond #18]

Topaz (Film; 1969)

Yes Man (Film; 2008)

Zero Dark Thirty (Film; 2012)

Today’s Name Days

Benjamin, Susanne (Austria)

Anastazije, Eva, Tea, Urban, Vladimir (Croatia)

Ester (Czech Republic)

Nemesius (Denmark)

Maarius, Mairo, Mario (Estonia)

Iikka, Iiro, Iisakki, Isko (Finland)

Urbain (France)

Benjamin, Susanna (Germany)

Aglaia, Aris (Greece)

Viola (Hungary)

Dario (Italy)

Jordisa, Lelde, Minjona, Sarmis (Latvia)

Darijus, Gerdvilas, Rimantė (Lithuania)

Isak, Iselin (Norway)

Abraham, Beniamin, Dariusz, Gabriela, Mścigniew, Nemezjusz, Tymoteusz, Urban (Poland)

Aglaia, Bonifatie, Grichentie, Trifon (Romania)

Judita (Slovakia)

Darío, Eva (Spain)

Isak (Sweden)

Boniface, Mecheslav, Mecheslava (Ukraine)

Daria, Darian, Darien, Dario, Darion, Darius, Haysten (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 353 of 2024; 12 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of week 51 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ruis (Elder) [Day 22 of 28]

Chinese: Month 12 (Jia-Zi), Day 7 (Xin-Hai)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 7 Teveth 5784

Islamic: 6 Jumada II 1445

J Cal: 23 Zima; Twosday [23 of 30]

Julian: 6 December 2023

Moon: 50%: 1st Quarter

Positivist: 17 Bichat (13th Month) [Cavendish]

Runic Half Month: Jara (Year) [Day 9 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 88 of 89)

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 28 of 30)

[criticalmethodsforfirdausi]

Short Writing: Devin Kenny's Talk at Strangers

In the Art, Theory, and Practice department's first symposium Strangers in May of 2015, Devin Kenny gave the first of many talks. Strangers was meant to emulate the space of an underground bar focused on illicit activity and the disruption of ideological narratives. Kenny's talk certainly did not disappoint in exhibiting this theme.

As introduced by his colleague Thomas Love, Devin Kenny is an artist who needs no introduction and assumes the role of a familiar, yet not wholly acquainted with friend. Love notes that Kenny plays with the boundary between idiosyncrasy and commonality—that is, he makes audiences question whether something was a cultural reference or something truly strange. This spirit of playfulness and commentary on mainstream institutions was certainly exhibited throughout Kenny's talk.

After taking the podium, Kenny opened by rapping to a song, in what felt like a disorienting and awakening experience. Kenny then discussed his history with the internet—as a younger artist, he was able to recall chatting on older Internet tools like Usenet and IRC as teen in the era of Web 2.0. Kenny expressed that his opening performance was a form of trolling, a nefarious activity particularly characteristic of Internet users like himself at the time. Indeed, Kenny's talk discussed at length what defined trolling by comparison with troll-like art forms and cultural production.

The first item trolling was compared to was art produced to shock the bourgeoisie. However, Kenny noted that this sort of art was explicitly created to form some sort of culture, unlike internet trolling. Kenny then turned to reference material, noting Wikipedia's definition of "bad faith" and Merriam-Webster's notes on "playing yourself." These concepts were useful in helping Kenny outline the unique experience of being on the Internet. Because of its lack of physicality and pseudonymity, users often engage in bad faith practices and act ambivalent to the concerns of the millions of other fellow users.

Kenny then discussed explicitly three types of internet trolling. The first one, which he discussed at length, is ad hominem attacks. This type of "argument" is often used in internet debates when the debater's platform is on shaky ground, leading them to insult their interlocutor's person rather than argument. As a non-internet example, Kenny presented a clip from Bill O'Reilly in which O'Reilly attacks a journalist for their manner of speech and old appearance. Kenny expresses disdain at the use of trolling even when the subject is of significant importance, like global warming, or a plainly factual nature, like the roundness of Earth. Certainly, in the era of COVID, anti-scientific debate is something the general public is now familiar with.

The other two forms of trolling Kenny explained were doxing and swatting. Kenny noted that doxing, the act of obtaining personal, sensitive information about an internet user, is distinct from blackmail in that doxers do not wish to bargain with their victims—the information is gathered and released for the sake of pure harm. Swatting is also a form of pure harm. In a swatting, trolls will call a false police report on someone, usually a person who is livestreaming a video game. The troll gains nothing other than the enjoyment of watching police storm the streamer and detain them.

Kenny goes on to explicate the nature of trolling as being an end in and of itself. After reciting the 12 Commandments of Flaming, Kenny discusses how trolls came to exist. After the rise of blogging, hacking as a form of sadism ceased to be popular, and trolling in comment sections and discussion forums became commonplace. Kenny notes astutely that trolling cannot exist where there is some hierarchy of power, otherwise it would simply be satire.

It is here that Kenny explicitly dives into the worlds of art and politics. Behavior like defacing street art or the work of the Church of Satan are expressly not trolling, even though they have a similar disruptive nature. These non-troll actions are meant to effect some change in the community or politics, whereas true trolling is done without any such motivation. After going through several more examples of trolling and almost-trolling, Kenny concludes the talk by once again singing a song before opening up for questions.

Another aspect of the talk I found interesting that occurred throughout was Kenny's fiddling with his MacBook. Rather than a curated slide deck, Kenny presented clips and images by searching through his file folders and opening them up individually. Additionally, he would sometimes pause to scroll through a set of images as he talked. If not for the subject of the talk, I would assume this was simply a case of lacking tech-savviness. However, as I am now familiar with Kenny and his style, it seems clear that the talk itself was an elaborate troll and an instance of his tendency to play with the boundary of idiosyncrasy and commonality. Indeed, the talk felt more like an art performance than any sort of lecture.

Overall, I thought Devin Kenny's talk was fascinating as someone more familiar with internet trolling than contemporary art. Seeing these defined in terms of each other gave me a deeper appreciation of both.

[dfilms]

A Symposium On Popular Songs, 1961

[sherman-brothers-playlist]

“Charleston Charlie” from ‘A Symposium on Popular Songs’ (1962), performed by Gloria Wood.