Skip to content

The Pop Culture Philosopher

Books, Music, Movies and Philosophy (Updates Thursdays)

Category: Popular Culture

Featured Video Play Icon

WC Handy: That Random Minor Note Part II

May 17, 2018May 11, 2018 Chris SunamiArt

Last time, we looked at Janelle Monae’s self description as “the random minor note you hear in major songs” and hinted that was somehow related to the artificiality of the even-tempered Western European scale.  But[…]

Continue reading …
Featured Video Play Icon

That Random Minor Note, Part I: Janelle Monae

May 10, 2018May 17, 2018 Chris SunamiHistory

In her excellent new song, “I Like That,” multi-talented singer and former android Janelle Monae refers to herself as the random minor note you hear in major songs. A commentator on Genius interpreted this as[…]

Continue reading …

Wokepedia: Mozart in the Jungle, Missy Mazzoli

May 3, 2018May 3, 2018 Chris SunamiPopular Culture

Second in my “Wokepedia” series of case studies of consciousness-raising Wikipedia edits. Mozart in the Jungle This Netflix show about a hard-living group of classical musicians is a current favorite of mine, and stars Latino[…]

Continue reading …
Featured Video Play Icon

Django Jane’s African Beat

March 22, 2018March 21, 2018 Chris SunamiFeminism

Perhaps to showcase her many sides, the incomparable Janelle Monae released two very different songs/videos in advance of her hotly anticipated new album, Dirty Computer.  A few weeks ago I showcased her funky, bubbly, sex-drenched[…]

Continue reading …
Image by Michael Todd Williamson

7 Best Dylan Covers

March 15, 2018March 7, 2018 Chris SunamiBest

I’ve always been fascinated by cover songs.  The vast majority of them just make you long for the original.  But every once in a while, someone does one that brings the song a whole new[…]

Continue reading …
Featured Video Play Icon

Princess Janelle

March 1, 2018February 28, 2018 Chris SunamiArt

The late great Prince always claimed he was “50-50 girl.” Well, apparently when his male half departed this earthly plane, his female half was reborn as Janelle Monae’s new alter-ego in this smoking new video.

Continue reading …
Featured Video Play Icon

Stevie Wonder: Philosophical Music

January 25, 2018January 23, 2018 Chris SunamiArt

It occurred to me recently that in my survey of philosophical music I had too long overlooked perhaps the premiere philosopher of transcendent pop music, Mr. Stevland Wonder (an artist I had the exquisite pleasure[…]

Continue reading …
Featured Video Play Icon

Alt Classical: The Jazz Connection

January 18, 2018January 19, 2018 Chris Sunamialt-classical

Repost from 2014 A month or so ago, I explored the “cover songs” side of alt classical music, a genre that combines the pleasures of classical music with the vitality of more modern forms. This[…]

Continue reading …
Image by Sarayu Ruangvesh

If You’re Feeling Like a Pimp, Luke… : The Unexpectedly Fresh “Last Jedi”

December 28, 2017December 28, 2017 Chris SunamiMovies

I think the critical consensus is that all of us –steeled for disappointment after the travesty of the prequel trilogy –were perhaps just a little overly celebratory of The Force Awakens, a film that exceeded[…]

Continue reading …

My Dream Episode of SNL

December 21, 2017December 21, 2017 Chris SunamiBest

I’ve been watching SNL for over 25 years now, and with all due respect to the common wisdom that your favorite SNL cast is your first cast, it’s as funny now as it’s ever been.[…]

Continue reading …

Posts navigation

Older posts
Newer posts
  • About the Author
  • About the Blog
  • An Open Letter to Senator Rob Portman
  • Ask Me a Philosophy Question
  • The Declaration of Interdependence
  • About the Author
  • Still Haven’t Found What You’re Looking For?
  • Archives

Recent Comments

  • jennifer hostutler on South Side Settlement House Philosophy
  • Shawn on South Side Settlement House Philosophy
  • Pretty Much Pop #107: Cult Bands and Cultish Fans | The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast | A Philosophy Podcast and Blog on Fountains of Wayne: A Case Study
  • What Makes a “Cult” Band? Pretty Much Pop: A Culture Podcast #107 | Movie Signature on Fountains of Wayne: A Case Study
  • What Makes a “Cult” Band? Pretty Much Pop: A Culture Podcast #107 | Movie Signature on About the Author

Categories

  • alt-classical
  • Animation
  • Art
  • Beauty
  • Best
  • Christian Existential Humanism
  • Christianity
  • Christianity
  • Columbus
  • Comics and Graphic Novels
  • Competition
  • Consumerism
  • Cover Songs
  • Dance
  • Dream Masters
  • Dreams
  • Education
  • Events
  • Existentialism
  • Feminism
  • Fractals
  • Games
  • Hip Hop
  • History
  • Humanism
  • Humor
  • Identity
  • Lists
  • Literature
  • Logic
  • Love
  • Mathematics
  • Metaphysics
  • Money
  • Morality
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Music
  • Music Videos
  • Non Fiction
  • Original Music
  • Partially Examined Life
  • Philosophers
  • Philosophical Music
  • Philosophy
  • Plato
  • Plays and Musicals
  • Poetry
  • Politics
  • Popular Culture
  • Psychology
  • Questions
  • Race
  • Reality
  • Reconstructivist Art
  • Reconstructivist Art
  • Religion
  • Reviews
  • Science
  • Science Fiction
  • Social Change
  • Social Issues
  • Social Issues
  • Sport
  • Star Wars
  • Strategies
  • Technology
  • Television
  • The Economy
  • The Internet
  • Theater
  • Top 10 Movies
  • Trump
  • Uncategorized
  • Values
  • Violence
  • War
  • War
  • Wokepedia
  • Women
  • Yes and Other Answers

Recent Posts

  • Simple Song
  • Die, or Get Better?
  • Fountains of Wayne: A Case Study
  • Find Me at Partially Examined Life
  • “We All Try”: Philosophical Music

Recent Comments

  • jennifer hostutler on South Side Settlement House Philosophy
  • Shawn on South Side Settlement House Philosophy
  • Pretty Much Pop #107: Cult Bands and Cultish Fans | The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast | A Philosophy Podcast and Blog on Fountains of Wayne: A Case Study
  • What Makes a “Cult” Band? Pretty Much Pop: A Culture Podcast #107 | Movie Signature on Fountains of Wayne: A Case Study
  • What Makes a “Cult” Band? Pretty Much Pop: A Culture Podcast #107 | Movie Signature on About the Author

Archives

  • May 2021
  • June 2020
  • April 2020
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • October 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • January 2013
  • July 2012
  • May 2012
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • June 2010
  • September 2009
  • July 2009
  • December 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • March 2007
  • May 2005
  • December 2004
  • August 2004

Categories

  • alt-classical
  • Animation
  • Art
  • Beauty
  • Best
  • Christian Existential Humanism
  • Christianity
  • Christianity
  • Columbus
  • Comics and Graphic Novels
  • Competition
  • Consumerism
  • Cover Songs
  • Dance
  • Dream Masters
  • Dreams
  • Education
  • Events
  • Existentialism
  • Feminism
  • Fractals
  • Games
  • Hip Hop
  • History
  • Humanism
  • Humor
  • Identity
  • Lists
  • Literature
  • Logic
  • Love
  • Mathematics
  • Metaphysics
  • Money
  • Morality
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Music
  • Music Videos
  • Non Fiction
  • Original Music
  • Partially Examined Life
  • Philosophers
  • Philosophical Music
  • Philosophy
  • Plato
  • Plays and Musicals
  • Poetry
  • Politics
  • Popular Culture
  • Psychology
  • Questions
  • Race
  • Reality
  • Reconstructivist Art
  • Reconstructivist Art
  • Religion
  • Reviews
  • Science
  • Science Fiction
  • Social Change
  • Social Issues
  • Social Issues
  • Sport
  • Star Wars
  • Strategies
  • Technology
  • Television
  • The Economy
  • The Internet
  • Theater
  • Top 10 Movies
  • Trump
  • Uncategorized
  • Values
  • Violence
  • War
  • War
  • Wokepedia
  • Women
  • Yes and Other Answers
Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: Oblique by Themeisle.