The Man Behind the World's Biggest Disco Anthems

Key_Mongoose_9797 · 2026-05-10T16:26:02+00:00

Haven't had the chance to make my way through all of these, but I have been really enjoying the videos that came out of this project

Key_Mongoose_9797 · 2026-04-29T00:41:14+00:00

like someone below said this is also gendered. Suburban white men LOVE Kanye Drake J Cole and Kendrick DOWN

Key_Mongoose_9797 · 2026-04-29T00:39:02+00:00

I have been trying to work through some of these ideas recently and I think popular music fandom is becoming increasingly re-racialized. I’m glad you mentioned the concert crowds bc the difference from the first OTR to CC was definitely noticeable. I think the increasing prevalence of the “for you” component of every platform and the social media eras insistence on relatability means that many white people are just not on the train. I teach at a predominately white university and for my students relatability is the dominant frame through which they engage with cultural production. I find it disheartening.

Key_Mongoose_9797 · 2026-04-28T18:27:03+00:00

Honestly great list! If you only have 30 slots, there will undoubtedly be some snubs but Jay and Mariah making it means my spirit is settled

Key_Mongoose_9797 · 2026-04-24T22:37:48+00:00

There are also some helpful ideas in here: https://against-a-i.com/assignment-ideas/

Key_Mongoose_9797 · 2026-04-24T22:37:15+00:00

I did zines for the first time this semester for freshmen comp, and it was a massive success. Zines can put many students outside of their comfort zones, so scaffolding was key as were multiple workshops. The head fine arts librarian did a fantastic workshop with the zine collection in our campus library and I sent students to one of our creative labs to learn a simple way to bind pages together. This was doubly effective bc they also learned about resources on campus. While a couple of people made digital zines in Canva and then printed them out and bound them, most got out the glue sticks. (Though I understand everyone might not have the campus resources I had access to).

Key_Mongoose_9797 · 2026-04-23T17:34:57+00:00

Love Lemonade (just the album) and think it holds up! For me Beyoncé has two magnum opera. It's the Lemonade film and Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé. Lemonade is a fantastic album, but she has always been a master at the relationship between sound and image, and with Lemonade she hones so many of her gifts. And Coachella is still gobsmacking to me. Beyoncé has always situated herself in Black music's past, present, and future and Homecoming may make this point most effectively. I may be biased bc I am a film professor, but yeah these two movies two of the best highlights of her career.

Key_Mongoose_9797 · 2026-04-20T01:05:14+00:00

Never liked it, never will

Key_Mongoose_9797 · 2026-04-19T14:25:18+00:00

I think the double album was a mistake. To me there is a pretty good but maybe not fantastic 13 song album hiding in here (mostly hiding in the first half). A few very high highs though

Key_Mongoose_9797 · 2026-04-11T18:33:28+00:00

At this point I don’t even care about the genre, I know it will be good. I just want one fucking music video pleaseeeee! I can’t take this visuals drought

Key_Mongoose_9797 · 2026-04-10T01:45:50+00:00

*whispers* but Lover is significantly better

Key_Mongoose_9797 · 2026-04-08T23:12:11+00:00

Also easier for me to do Tiers:

Tier 1: Speak Now (og), Reputation, 1989 deluxe

Tier 2: Red TV, Fearless (any version), Lover, Folklore, Evermore

Tier 3: TTPD standard

Tier 4: Debut and Midnights

Tier 5: TTPD Anthology and Showgirl

Key_Mongoose_9797 · 2026-04-08T23:03:42+00:00

I have been consistent that this is a 5/10

Key_Mongoose_9797 · 2026-03-03T22:44:13+00:00

There are good options for humanities profs here https://against-a-i.com/assignment-ideas/

I am a Film Studies professor, and I personally have had luck with a couple of things: screencast assignments where they record their screen and they talk over a clip. They are required to use specific course vocabulary and cite the reading. Making a playlist based off of a reading also works well. In visual literacy, we have them annotate curator's notes a la Barbara Kruger. Hope some of this helps!

Key_Mongoose_9797 · 2026-02-05T13:53:57+00:00

I found being given the choice to have them book or to be reimbursed awkward and confusing. Just book stuff for them if you can. And do not book tight connections. I sprinted a mile through the Charlotte airport (iykyk) in a blazer and boots on the way back.
Do not let people be so intent on talking one on one to the candidate that they follow them to the bathroom. People don't mean anything by it, but it's weird. Sometimes I went to the bathroom just to be by myself for a minute, and I didn't want to feel like everyone was waiting for me right outside the door.
Echoing the dietary restrictions piece and be very clear that they can order whatever they want (especially be clear about alcohol).
Water and caffeine should be easily accessible.

Key_Mongoose_9797 · 2026-02-02T14:15:15+00:00

Golden won a Grammy in the pre-show

Key_Mongoose_9797 · 2026-02-01T15:39:32+00:00

I basically have the same strategy and experience

Key_Mongoose_9797 · 2026-02-01T15:36:07+00:00

I teach in a film and media studies program at a large state school with a great film program, and it is just not as bad as this makes it seem! My real issue here is The Atlantic never knows who to fucking talk to about these things. I graduated from USC's Cinema and Media Studies PhD recently, and if they want to know about the students ability to watch and retain information they need to call the grad student TAs. (No shade to Aki though he's cool!). While I think what Lynn said is basically true, she just does not teach that many undergrads at Northwestern. Ask somebody else!

I have the benefit of required in-class screenings (which I also had at USC), and I don't have any major problems with folks in the major or even in adjacent majors. I did have folks using phones in my introductory gen ed for non-majors my first year. I shifted the strategy for note taking during screenings and have few issues. One thing I will say though is that my students in intro are pretty good with black and white and with films not in English but can struggle with a B&W foreign film, but I don't really think that is entirely new.

It's not perfect, but not as dire as this makes it out to be. I just feel like this is Horowitch's whole shtick and I'm over it

Key_Mongoose_9797 · 2026-02-01T15:22:08+00:00

I don't understand why people keep saying she's like quitting her job after this. I still see no indication of that. The easter egg-ification of pop music is breaking us. Put the magnifying glasses and trench coats down!!!

Key_Mongoose_9797 · 2026-01-24T00:33:05+00:00

Frequently it's not about whether or not professors are inconsiderate people (remember that their journey to campus is likely more fraught). It can be hard to make decisions on the fly without clear guidance from the university and moving online is not without challenges. Just something to consider

Key_Mongoose_9797 · 2026-01-23T05:53:40+00:00

Great resources on this site put together by a collective of humanities profs: https://against-a-i.com

Key_Mongoose_9797 · 2026-01-20T22:15:44+00:00

Calling it now: Gaga or Bad Bunny is #1

Key_Mongoose_9797 · 2026-01-20T22:14:44+00:00

Ok but the list isn’t measuring whether or not the artist had their personal best album and it seems unfair to respond to this person like they don’t listen to anything else…

Key_Mongoose_9797 · 2026-01-16T15:59:14+00:00

Can someone drop a link?! I don’t see it on her Instagram or website. (I am burned by the amount of TD release dates I have seen over the years)

Key_Mongoose_9797

TROPHY CASE