the white asshole’s burden

New post up on Overthinking It today, in what’ll hopefully be the first post in a series overthinking Treme: The White Asshole’s Burden: Since these are problems that affect black people, even if they’re not “black problems,” the temptation must have been strong to create a Great White Hero who would swoop in and save [...]

tiger woods and the iron law of stardom

New post on Overthinking It today that looks at the recent Tiger Woods Nike commercial in light of Louis Menand’s theory of the “Iron Law of Stardom”: As soon as the commercial aired, the professional commentariat began debating whether or not this “penance” was “sincere.” Polls went up. Comments on YouTube exploded. Sports pundits and [...]

and I’d as soon go to Dublin as to hell

Vegas updates continue tomorrow. I owed Overthinking It a post first: For Love or Money: The Lessons of Modern Romance. Romantic movies are merely the latest medium in a tradition that dates back to the dawn of human civilization. From the myth of Pyramus and Thisbe, the correspondence of Abelard and Heloise, the epic poetry [...]

why weak male characters are bad for women

New Overthinking It post on why weak male characters are bad for women: On the surface, [She's Out of My League is] a forgettable sex comedy. Adorable schlub lands major-league hottie; usual series of pratfalls and embarrassing incidents; he rises to the occasion and proves himself worthy of her love. No bankable stars and plenty [...]

but thou must

New article up on Overthinking It today about video games and the categorical imperative. Excerpt: You don’t need to question if killing everyone you see, stockpiling on shuriken and climbing cliff faces while birds fling themselves at you like meteorites (these damn BIRDS) is getting you closer to your end. You never stop and wonder, [...]

I’m a hustler, homey; you a customer, crony

New post on Overthinking It today about how gangsta rap and Seinfeld validated each other. Check it out.

it is not dying; it is not dying

Returned to the Overthinking It podcast this week, talking about the two-year anniversary of the site, Conan O’Brien’s tumultuous departure from The Tonight Show and the SAG awards. I highly recommend downloading the podcast. But, if you can’t, my thoughts on late night: I feel nothing so much as a profound pity for Conan O’Brien, [...]

what’s the matter with kids today?

New post up on Overthinking It today, comparing the attitudes of juvenile delinquency in A Clockwork Orange and No Country for Old Men. Check it.

shut the door; have a seat

Monster post on Overthinking It today, overthinking Mad Men Season 3, which just wrapped this past Sunday. Preview: Mad Men is a story about men and women searching for meaning. Mad Men can tell this story because it’s set in an ad agency. Consumer capitalism, which really came into its own following World War II, [...]

it is not dying; it is not dying

I Still Like Him Better Than Steinbrenner For my Don Draper costume, I had to shave my sideburns off for the first time in at least six years. This took considerable effort, as attacking six years’ growth with a disposable razor will, and left the skin underneath a little raw. But it looks fine now. [...]