10 Essentials of 2009 Culture
I love Top 10 lists at year end. Cultural options are exploding and these lists collectively help us wade through it. I have no way to do a top 10 list for any one medium because I just can't consume enough of it. But, here is my list (in an order that promotes variety) of 10 things that I think were great in 2009.
Up in the Air. This one is on almost every top 10 film list out there, and I think for good reason. Jason Reitman took a mediocre (but hilarious) book by Walter Kirn and turned it into the perfect fable for the Lost Decade. Our obsession in the 2000s with perceived progress (see: Iraq, Real Estate Bubble, Pets.com) over real success has no better hero than George Clooney's rootless, airline-elite-status seeking layoff consultant.
I and Love and You, The Avett Brothers. No other album did I keep coming back to more than this one. Hard core fans seem to think these North Carolinians sold out given the big name producer (Rick Rubin) and more polished sound. For me, it is as good as it gets.
Morning Joe. I don't watch much TV, but in the mornings I like to have it on. After years of being a CNBC junkie, I just can't stand it anymore. The endless parade of people predicting the day's stock market direction just feels like a lie. Morning Joe is the perfect antidote. Varied topics, great guests, discussion not yelling, and the great Mika Brzezinsky leading the way.
Await Your Reply, Dan Chaon. Most of my year reading was spent on award winners from year's past (great stuff from the likes of Zadie Smith, Jhumpa Lahiri, Michael Chabon, Gabriel Garcia Marquez), but Chaon's literary page turner was a highlight. I could not put down this cautionary tale of the new era of virtual identity and reinvention.
(500) Days of Summer. The romantic comedy has to be one of the most bankrupt genres out there. Until 500 Days breathed new life into it. I just don't remember enjoying a movie more than this one (I Love You Man was right there too). Simple in plot and ambition, but super creative and well acted, this one nailed the joys and pitfalls of youthful romance. And, nothing was funnier than the dance sequence above celebrating the consummation of a long, awkward, yearning crush.
Far, Regina Spektor. There is something wholly original in Regina Spektor. Part pop and part indie, at times challenging and others completely accessible, this album (and her previous debut) is a must have.
Kindle 2. Not since Oprah has something made reading so cool as Amazon's e-reader. They nailed the basics (wireless downloading, readable screen) and are reaping the rewards. They also raised the bar on the mobile tech world and whole slew of innovation is coming in its wake. Whether it ends up the dominant platform is irrelevant to its legacy of starting it all. Bonus: if you get one, make sure you check out Feedbooks to get free classics in the Kindle format.
The essays of Thomas Friedman and Atul Gawande. No one is doing better thinking on the issues of our time than these two commentators. Friedman continues to lay out the challenges of our oil import obsessed nation and the creeping erosion it is inflicting on our competitive advantage. Gawande brings common sense and perspective to the health care debate based on real world experience as a surgeon. They are also two examples of how the main stream media still has a lot to offer.
The Hurt Locker. Not my favorite movie to sit through, but I just have not been able to get this one out of my mind. If you want to understand what we are up against and what we are putting our soldiers through physically and mentally, there is no better 2+ hours you can spend.
Oscar Dudamel. I am ignorant when it comes to classical music, but Dudamel, who took over the LA Philharmonic this year, is truly a rock star. I am not sure if it is his wild hair or the incredible performances with Youth Orchestras (both are in full display in above clip), but he makes you want to listen. And, given he is only 28, he is just getting started.
So that's what I liked. I am sure I will spend most of 2010 catching up on what I missed in 2009. Any suggestions?
