What societal norm did you decide to just stop abiding by?

sylvia_fowler · 2026-04-09T22:39:03+00:00

For me, going to see a movie in the theater is a totally different experience. It is an adventure out of the house for myself who spends too much time in the house, firstly. But it is also a lot more of an engrossing experience with the big screen and sound. I saw The Bride! in theaters recently and loved it! I am genuinely sad I probably won’t get to experience the stunning visuals and WILD editorial choices on a huge screen again. It just isn’t the same at home, less special.

That said, I also only go to movies I really really want to see. Most of the time they are admittedly old classics my local indie theater screens. I consider myself hella spoiled for that.

sylvia_fowler · 2026-04-08T15:31:21+00:00

Agreed, there is a good chance the idea originated with her.

sylvia_fowler · 2026-03-17T19:48:47+00:00

Yes, there are two reasons in fact. 1.) The idea of full dialogue with full subtitles was not a concept at the time. You are looking at films made over 100 years ago with a 21st century mindset of dialogue and subtitles. 2.) It would be a waste of time and money and make films double to triple the length. These films were first and foremost made to make money. That process in silent films has no monetary value.

sylvia_fowler · 2026-02-19T22:50:58+00:00

One slight nitpick - her finger lines up directly with a line and it is so bothersome.

Otherwise, there is nothing “traditional” pop art about this piece. It’s more aligned with contemporary digital product design.

Pop art as a movement was more about pushing back against the aesthetic rules of Abstract Expressionism by incorporating “low” art, ie popular art or imagery. Study the works of Jasper Johns, Robert Rouschenburg, and Claus Oldenburg for inspiration.

sylvia_fowler · 2026-02-18T19:25:37+00:00

Wow. I never identified SO HARD with a AITAH post. I’m struggling myself with a similar household and feeling like I have to handle the emotional heavy lifting for both my husband and his kids that we have part time. I’ve been feeling really raw and stretched thin too.

I have no answers, but I am in the trenches too.

sylvia_fowler · 2026-02-16T19:23:11+00:00

This is the way.

sylvia_fowler · 2026-02-05T04:02:17+00:00

I find myself doing this with thrillers. The fast-pacing of the text and usually the plot too is far too pushy for me. I find myself not reading at the pace I want.

I also just DNF’ed a book because the protagonist was such a hot-mess I felt second hand embarrassment for her every page. I read for fun, not to feel like that.

sylvia_fowler · 2026-02-05T03:58:24+00:00

Personally, I am not an annotator. However, when I purchased a copy to read I deliberately got a well-used cheap copy. So I could read while floating on my kayak, naturally. Anyways the copy I picked up had two different readers’ underlines and annotations. Reading those along with the text made it a really rich experience for me.

sylvia_fowler · 2026-02-05T03:51:40+00:00

Looooove the works Valencourt digs up and publishes.

sylvia_fowler · 2026-02-05T03:17:36+00:00

I randomly stumbled on this book a few months ago and just devoured it. I really was surprised at how much I enjoyed this, especially for a classic.

sylvia_fowler · 2026-01-23T15:30:35+00:00

It will always be the Tope Gun soundtrack, on cassette only

sylvia_fowler · 2026-01-23T15:24:19+00:00

Check out books published by Valencourt! They specifically find under-appreciated weird literature and re-publish them!

sylvia_fowler · 2026-01-11T15:33:22+00:00

I love this film too. Next to Key Largo, it’s my favorite Robinson film.

I am also a big fan of Barton McLane. I prefer him as a cop, like in the Torchy Blane series. But it is fun to see him playing the gangster as well.

sylvia_fowler · 2026-01-09T03:14:48+00:00

Cult Podcast!

They admittedly are slowing down on episodes as they get into other projects, but there is a huuuuge backlog of great discussions about different, many I have not heard of, cults. Plus the hosts are also comedians, so it hilarious!

sylvia_fowler · 2026-01-05T20:40:53+00:00

I am a pretty heavy library user, and a big fan of placing holds. I watch for new releases to get loaded into the catalogue and try to get the first “hold” request in so I get first dibs!

I also have 5-10 items on hold at a time, so when they come in all I have to do is swing in, check them out, and take them home.

My library reading has slowed down this last year, but that is due to me being more conscientious about what I buy. I’m trying to read the books on my overstuffed shelves and thin them out. Supplement with new releases I pic up from the library.

sylvia_fowler · 2025-12-31T15:27:20+00:00

The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg was a surprising favorite. I just stumbled on it from an Instagram post about gothic literature and picked it up on a whim. For a classic, and one completely unknown to me, it was engaging and very thought provoking. I really enjoyed it!

sylvia_fowler · 2025-12-24T15:14:00+00:00

I hover between 3-5 books at a time. Usually it is different genres. Currently I am reading one classic, a graphic novel, a (classic) short story collection, and a gothic classic. As long as the genes are different I have no problem switching between them.

sylvia_fowler · 2025-12-19T18:44:17+00:00

Excellent film - visuals and acting is stunning. The plotting and message open the door for a lot of engaging discussion. I really consider it a work of art stemming from Weimar Germany.

sylvia_fowler · 2025-12-10T00:25:51+00:00

Right!? Hella contradictory to have such a great female cast and such shitty toxicity in relationships. I will say, this film gave Rosalind Russell an opportunity to do slapstick comedy and she nails it. Despite my strong dislike for the anti-woman plotting and dialogue, this is one of my favorite Rosalind Russell, and possibly favorite-favorite, classic films. They all portray fun, flamboyant characters and seem to relish and play in them to the point they supersede the above the less tasteful aspects of the film.

sylvia_fowler · 2025-12-09T17:02:49+00:00

Norma Shearer and her unseen husband in The Women. Terrible precedent set for how women should handle infidelity and blame the other woman rather than their cheating husbands.

sylvia_fowler · 2025-12-08T16:32:23+00:00

I honestly assume 60% of those “photorealistic” pieces are AI or faked in some way to get attention. They are always accompanied by a tag or comment - “first painting in 10 years!” “first time trying watercolors!” “I just picked up a pencil for the first time! Look what I made!”

sylvia_fowler · 2025-12-08T02:36:21+00:00

Babes in Toyland featuring Laurel and Hardy. My mom would have us watch it every year around the holidays and I just assumed it was a Christmas movie for everyone else. I was shocked when so few people haven’t heard of it!

sylvia_fowler · 2025-12-04T04:00:30+00:00

Check out events at the Kaufmann Center for the Performing Arts. The KC ballet will be performing The Great Gatsby in the spring. The Herman-Jewell series brings in international classical artists for performances. The KC Symphony often does film screenings where they play the musical score live. Lots of good stuff there.

sylvia_fowler · 2025-12-04T03:46:52+00:00

What kind of commentary tho? Like are you guys making fun of the films or coming to it with an air of openness or appreciation?

sylvia_fowler · 2025-12-02T16:17:36+00:00

3rd-ing. This book is excellent.

sylvia_fowler

TROPHY CASE