Category Archives: Articles

Thanks York University LA&PS for the shout out and support for Feeling Weird

Thanks to York University Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies for the support and piece in their latest Faculty Digest on our graphic novel, Feeling Weird.
https://www.yorku.ca/laps/2022/06/30/prof-christopher-sweeney-publishes-graphic-novel-feeling-weird-on-mental-health/

POP CULTURE: The Dobler Effect

The latest humour/parenting post on POP CULTURE: The Dobler Effect where I discuss the cautionary tale of following the advice in ‘Say Anything.’

Image result for say anythingTHE DOBLER EFFECT

“Lloyd Dobler? All right.”

That line is from the great Gen X teen romantic comedy film, ‘Say Anything.’ In it, good guy optimist oddball aspiring kick-boxer Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) invites the beautiful and brainy valedictorian Diane Court (Ione Skye) to the high school graduation party – and, to the amazement and respect of all and sundry, she agrees. But more than that, people surprisingly respect Diane for saying yes. Lloyd and Diane go on to have a summer romance which her father (John Mahoney) sabotages as he fears this with threaten Diane’s academic future. Dobler does not quit but wins her back with a grand romantic gesture. [MORE}

 

Latest album review: Whitney: “Light Upon The Lake: Demos”

I like Whitney. I really do. I bet they’d like me if we met. I went to their latest concert in Toronto and thoroughly enjoyed their solid, albeit slight, output. By now you may be waiting for the ‘but’ so here it is: But I’m not sure why they released Light Upon The Lake: The Demos a mere year after dropping said debut. Was it to show how very similar their final product is to the original demos? Was it to show how the final polished album is better, with a cleaner sound, sweeter vocals and a more driving feel to it? Or was it to show that there isn’t a whole lot of back catalogue material for them to draw upon?
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Latest Output by Whitney: “Light Upon the Lake: The Demos”

Chris Rock and I Part Ways Over a Bully: Pop Culture post

Chris Rock and I Part Ways Over a Bully

Image result for chris rock blackout tour

I just saw Chris Rock in concert. It was a great night with some very funny pointed stuff. While I’m a fan of Rock’s, I can’t speak definitely on the history of his material though one routine about keeping your daughter off the pole being the mark of a good father is a great bit about parenting  delivered in a very funny, obscene way. I found some of his material (particularly about men v. women and relationships) rehashed and, since his bitter divorce and custody battle, more therapeutic ranting than comedy. But  the audience generally lapped it up.

He had this new bit about bullies though that I keep thinking about. Essentially he has put his daughters into private school and when he went to the orientation he heard how the school was proud of its no tolerance of bullies policy. His response was nearly to pull his daughters out of school – they needed bullies to make them tough and ready for the real world where bullies even get elected president. I get it. It was a joke. And kinda funny. But it got me thinking, which is the mark of a good comedy show in my book.

Review of New Magic, Son Little’s most recent album, in Quip Magazine

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I was really looking forward to seeing what Son Little would do with his new album. His first full length self-titled release established him as someone looking to rework the blues and R&B canon in a new way (or to travel some forgotten byways). That album was spectral, spooky, and a little freaky. It called to mind Screaming Jay Hawkins or Andre Williams. It really grew on me. So, I was looking forward to how he would push things forward on this new outing. Initially, however, [MORE]

Pop Culture: Lies, Damned Lies and Parenting

I have three boys who lie to my face every day.

Recently I have been asked why I haven’t posted on Pop Culture in such a long time. There are lots of reasons, lack of time being the consistently underlying one. As a father of three boys, scrambling to pick up work, often working three different jobs and – with various home and community responsibilities on top of attempting to bootstrap creative projects of my own – I have no time. But that’s a lie. [MORE]