The end of the school year is once again upon us, and summer is (supposedly) right around the corner. A few weeks ago I offered my thoughts about extracurricular reading, and this week, in the spirit of the upcoming break from academia (for most of us, anyway), I thought I’d offer my suggestions for some fun summertime reading.
“Parental Advisory: Music Censorship in America”
by Eric D. Nuzum
I bought this book on a whim using a Barnes and Noble gift certificate, and I wasn’t disappointed. Nuzum takes readers on a journey from the first well-known music censorship (Elvis Presley’s hips being banned from television) to more recent court cases, such as the one that made a 2 Live Crew album legally obscene. If you’ve ever been curious about the “Parental Discretion — Explicit Lyrics” sticker stuck on your latest CD or why your parents wouldn’t let you listen to Twisted Sister, this book should prove an interesting read. There’s something for everyone, from history to pop culture.
“The Simpsons and Philosophy: The D’Oh! of Homer”
ed. William Irwin, Mark T. Conrad and Aeon J. Skoble
Even though school is about to be out for a while and you may not want to crack open another philosophy book right away, I can assure you that this one is well worth the effort. Though most would be tempted to simply satirize or belittle America’s most-beloved animated series, this collection of essays takes itself quite seriously in exploring the philosophical issues present in the show. Entries include “Marge’s Moral Motivation,” “Thus Spake Bart: Nietzsche and the Virtues of Being Bad” and “Lisa and American Anti-Intellectualism.” How’s that for an analysis of a cartoon?
“Me Talk Pretty One Day”
by David Sedaris
A friend of mine loaned this book to me in a moment of boredom last summer and ever since, I’ve been simply hooked on Sedaris’ writing. He is a regular contributor to NPR’s “This American Life” and Esquire magazine and is simply hilarious to boot. “Me Talk Pretty” is a collection of Sedaris’ short anecdotes, in no particular order, and each is written in a very everyday style of prose narration, which makes readers gravitate toward and relate to the stories presented. The title chapter, “Me Talk Pretty One Day,” is one of the highlights, as Sedaris details his attempts to learn French in preparation for a move to France with his boyfriend. It strikes a chord with anyone who has ever tried to learn a foreign language and will have you rolling on the floor by the time you’ve finished.
“Lord of the Rings”
by J.R.R. Tolkien
I know we’ve all had Lord of the Rings thrust in our faces nearly without rest for the past year and a half, but allow me one more opportunity. You simply must read the books in order to really understand and critique the movies, and since the three-volume set (not including “The Hobbit,” LOTR’s prequel and worthy in its own right) measures up at well over 1,000 pages, summer would be a perfect time to read it. After all, the final installment of the movie trilogy, “The Return of the King,” is scheduled for release this December, and I assure you you’ll enjoy it a lot more if you know the original story.
“The Evil Dead Companion”
by Bill Warren
Most people know Sam Raimi as the whiz behind the visual effects of last summer’s “Spiderman,” but there are a select few who knew him long before — as the genius behind the special effects of one of the best horror series ever made, the “Evil Dead” trilogy. “The Evil Dead Companion” tells the story behind the series with amazing attention to detail and everything you ever wanted to know about how, say, they got Ash’s severed hand to choke him or how the witch in the cellar was constructed. Though few know and appreciate the greatness of “The Evil Dead,” my advice is to rent “The Evil Dead” 1 and 2, in addition to “Army of Darkness,” the third installment, and then check out this book to learn the secrets behind the gore.
“The Hipster Handbook”
by Robert Lanham
We all know them. What we might not know is how to be them. I’m talking about the ever-present Hipsters, of course, those cool guys and gals we see at shows, at the ‘Dise and anywhere there’s cheap beer and good music. This book will teach you everything you need to know about this unique group, from what brands of beer hipsters will drink (PBR) to the kind of cigarettes they favor (cloves) and even the most popular hipster haircuts. If you’ve ever encountered someone in a smoky dive and wondered, “Gee, is that person deck or midtown?” this book is for you.
So there’s just a partial list of what I’ll be re-reading over the summer. Whatever you do with your time off, remember to watch for the fall registration issue of the Badger Herald in late August, with the world premiere of Chris Ewing in the Associate ArtsEtc. Editor position. And if you see Nick Marx, be sure to thank him for being a great co-captain for the section all semester. Have a great summer!
