Redartz: Greetings, good day and welcome! Today we offer Two Questions for you to ponder, two questions that are, in this case, related. As veterans of that Marvelous (and Distinctly Cool) era known as the Bronze Age, many of our tastes and preferences in popular culture are related to that time. Comics, film, books, music, TV, you name it. As much as we may enjoy the world and its offerings today, there will always be a special fondness for that time. That said, we do live in the modern world, and like any era, it has good points and flaws. Which brings us to our questions for today:
QUESTION 1: Name one element of current popular culture that you feel other Bronze Agers would enjoy. Here we get to be optimists; look for that Silver lining!
QUESTION 2: Now the flip side, a chance to indulge the curmudgeon lurking within: Name one element of current popular culture that you find intolerable.
Once again, to get things started, I'll provide my answers:
1. Here's a suggestion for a really enjoyable current comic. Indeed, one of very few that I buy with any regularity. Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, written by Ryan North and drawn by Erica Henderson. This comic is loads of fun. North and Henderson fill the book with laughs, puns, and fond 'winks' at various superhero tropes (an example of the humor: Squirrel Girl has ongoing text messages with Tony Stark and Kraven the Hunter). It has the feel of a Bronze Age comic: a lighthearted tone, likeable supporting characters, and even an old-fashioned editorial feel. Like the Marvel Bullpen popped up today to do a book. The clever touches extend even to the bottom borders of each page, where Squirrel Girl (aka Doreen Green) adds a few comments regarding the contents of said page). The book has great art: Erica Henderson has a nice style, not slick but warm and well suited for humor. And the book even has a letters page, with personal comments by Ryan and Erica. I give this book 5 "Bronze Medallions"! Oh, and I love the logo.
2. On the other hand, there is a big facet of current pop culture, specifically music, that I cannot stand: auto-tune. Aaaargh, even the word gives me a headache. I still try to keep up, to some degree, with the modern music scene. Unfortunately it's hard to do so when seeking out only 'real' singers. Perhaps it's just me, but that fake sound just grrraaaates on my ears and nerves. Any time I hear an auto-tuned song (which is waaay too frequently) I wince and reach for the tuner. Thank heavens for Adele...
Martinex1: Great questions Red! Here are my answers that immediately jumped to mind.
1. As discussed recently, I've enjoyed the explosion of television shows that are dedicated to the iconic super-heroes. But I have to say that I have particularly enjoyed the various Netflix series for Daredevil, Luke Cage, and Jessica Jones. I just started watching the latest, Iron Fist, and despite what the critics say I like it so far. I think Netflix has found a way to incorporate the soap opera aspects of Bronze Age comics into their shows. There are a lot of subplots, some that don't go anywhere but may just be seeds for future programs. Episodes unravel like issues building to a major arc's crescendo as the series evolves. There are plenty of supporting characters and intriguing twists. And the villains are not portrayed as simply evil creatures, but there are levels to all of their actions. In many cases the shows lead the watcher to develop an empathy and even sympathy for the bad guys to some degree. The shows can be violent so they are not family friendly. And although the characters are slightly modified they really seem to capture the spirit of the comics, the heroes, and the threats. The Netflix series average around 4 Bronze Medallions for me, which is far better than I expected.
2. I will keep this simple, I am not a fan of movie remakes - particularly remakes of classic or beloved films. The recent trend of remaking films or franchises that are just a couple of decades old baffles me. And when it is a masterpiece being rerouted for a flashier but weaker version, I am mystified. Whether Willie Wonka or the Magnificent Seven, I think it is a misstep to try to redesign those for the current age. The new film just cannot live up to the original. Something like Planet of the Apes is etched in my memory and part of my cultural upbringing, so even though the new versions have interesting aspects I find the mystique woefully missing. I contend that there are plenty of creative people in the world and there are plenty of untapped science fiction, fantasy, drama, and comic sources available that we don't have to keep going to the same well. I actually don't mind if a film builds on a theme, or pays homage, to previous films , but the bland etching of the same wood seems like a money grab to me. So to the trend of remaking everything... no thank you.
