Mo’ Rumblings: Controversial Opinions Edition
>>> By now, you may have seen the YouTube of the New Year’s Day performance of Vaudevillains, the Space 1026 Mummers troupe. Yes, it is very cute. But something about it has been nagging away at us: While we love the Space 1026 kids so much, watching them dumb it down and share street with the towering testament to mookdom that is Mummery feels like watching your really smart friend go out for the football team, make the cut and suddenly, said friend is pressuring you to do ‘roids and a kegstand. Which is to say, guys, be careful with this irony thing: One false move and you become what you despise. [ArtInTheAge]
>>> Ron Jaworski, welcome to the pantheon of men who look like old lesbians. Fuck, Jaws, it didn’t have to be this way! [MenWhoLookLikeOldLesbians]
>>> We meant to include this in our year-end wrap-up, but better late than never, right? Confidential to women who came of age in late 80s and 1990s: The whole pin-up/Vargas/burlesque culture in which you can hide your fat (and hatred of icky modernity) with tattoos and Betty Page bangs? NO LONGER OKAY. Played out. Seriously. I mean, y’all look nice and all, but in terms of circling the wagons and turning your back on the forward progress of time, you’re getting to be right down the list from Skinbyrds. It’s 2007: Cherry Poppin’ Daddies ain’t having another hit record, baby. Neither is Social D. Worse still? Marking your lifestyle-moxie territory with unfortunately bred, frankly quite dangerous dogs that give you cred by proxy whilst invoking said played-out retro culture. Calgon, take it away. All of it. [PinupsForPitbulls]
January 8th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
re: Space 1026 and Mummers
“Which is to say, guys, be careful with this irony thing: One false move and you become what you despise.”
When I last visited Space 1026 (early Dec.) there were a couple of persons sewing so I asked them what they were doing. After talking to them and the guy who was on the cover of the Alt Weekly recently, learned about their new troupe.
Irony didn’t really seem to be a part of the equation.
January 8th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Aren’t we treading on thin ice when we suggest that some forms of retro are more equal than others? After all, precious little retro holds up under close scrutiny; and if we held a moratorium on all things retro, most of Philly’s hipster culture–with its blues/folk based music, flares, old skool hippity hops, beards and shag hairdos–would dry up and blow away. I for one find that slightly-less-hip-than-NYC aspect of Philly endearing, if not comforting.
Let he without vintage DNA cast the first stone.
January 8th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Like it or not, the Mummers Parade is Philly’s contribution to living American folk culture, which in most parts of the country now rots into oblivion beneath the barren parking lots of anonymous sports arenas named after sterile corporations. It’s loutish, unruly, joyous, drunk, playful, grassroots, incorrect, DIY, yells “Happy New Year” from its pink face to everyone within earshot, is impervious to good taste, and stinks of piss. I love it. It’s about as close an approximation to street life in a nineteenth-century American city as you are likely to find.
Oh, and I think 1026′s participation in the city’s largest annual art project is only fitting. Artists should be out there among their fellow citizens, not sniffing with disdain from over the lip of scarves. Leave that to me.
January 9th, 2008 at 1:53 am
Seriously, though? After DangerDangergate, you’re taking on the fucking Mummers’ Parade? I’m sorry, but you are just not going to win this one. I love you, Philebrity, but you’re bringing me down.
January 9th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I love you lord whimsy!