What I've Been Reading Since I Haven't Been Writing

Though I have taken a break from the computer, I have managed to compile a list of noteworthy items.

1. Alternet brings us two retrospectives on 2004, Arianna Huffington’s list of Things to Forget and the Top Ten Conspiracy Theories of 2003-04. My favorite is the “conspiracy” that the war on Iraq is not about control of natural resources. In my circle, we call that propaganda.
2. The Stepford Way: a female fantasy? Amanda of Mousewords has plenty to say on the notion of the general attractiveness of female submission.
3. A guest blogger at Buzz, Balls, and Hype examines Mommy Lit, big sister to Chick Lit, and the notion that motherhood is not interesting to those who aren’t mothers. (And for that matter, that literary accounts of women’s experiences aren’t as interesting as men’s.)
4. Sixteen Tons of Fun: Dave Eggers of “A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius” writes on Monty Python. I received Eggers’ most recent work, “How We Are Hungry,” for Christmas and it is wonderful, better than his sophomoric effort.
5. New to my blogroll is Whirled View, a blog by three highly credentialed women on liberal and progressive politics. Patricia Kushlis writes Selling Cars, Colas and Countries.
   People in the White House and Pentagon are baffled. According to The New York Times on December 13, American policy makers can?t understand why a country able to market cars and colas to people deeply hostile to the U.S. can’t also “sell its democratic ideals” to them. Madison Avenue is infamous for its ability to persuade people to buy things they don’t need and can’t afford, and yet, our leaders observe, the U.S. falls short in persuading most Arabs (or even most Europeans) that the Iraq invasion was a good idea.

   The Bush administration has been fixated from day one on the “marketing” and “sales” models for influencing foreign publics. Soon after the inaugural a successful ad woman was appointed to head up the Public Diplomacy section of the State Department. To the surprise only of those who recruited her, the lady failed to generate a love fest for America in the Middle East. So she’s gone; wanted to spend more time with the family or something like that, the usual pretext for the departure of a high level political appointee.

   Why am I not surprised or baffled? [more]

6. And finally a fun link, Bollywood for the Skeptical. I have been drawn into the glory of Bollywood this year after taking two movie-heavy classes on South Asian culture. If you don’t know where to start, begin downloading the songs from the 1950s and 60s and anything performed by Lata Mangeshkar. You won’t be disappointed. While you’re at it, rent the 2001 Academy Award nominee “Lagaan” over the new year.

Happy New Year to all! Be safe and smart, as all of you undoubtedly are, over the holiday weekend.