Reviews – The Pop Culture Philosopher

Long Division

April 4, 2019March 30, 2019 Chris SunamiLiterature

I first encountered author Kiese Laymon when I read his essay “You are the Second Person,” an unapologetically bridge-burning reckoning of his encounter with a assimilationist editor who tried to deracinate his work. What stuck[…]

Image by Nthinila "Conz" Phumaphi

The Incredibles

March 14, 2019March 13, 2019 Chris SunamiAnimation

In honor of the recent release of Incredibles 2, a repost of my look at the philosophical implications of the original movie. While I found it impossible not to like and enjoy Brad Bird’s animated[…]

Both Eyes Open: Remembering James Alan McPherson

February 14, 2019February 11, 2019 Chris SunamiPopular Culture

I first discovered James Alan McPherson when I read his masterful novella Elbow Room, in a collection of stories by black authors called The African American West. I traced it back to his Pulitzer-Prize winning collection, also[…]

Top 10 Movies: #1 – Children of Men

July 19, 2018July 18, 2018 Chris SunamiBest

Repost: Just rewatched this amazing film recently, and what once felt like a warning from the near future now feels ripped from the headlines… Today, most people know director Alfonso Cuarón as the first Latino[…]

"Octavia Butler" by Sandy Oppenheimer

Kindred

June 28, 2018June 27, 2018 Chris SunamiIdentity

Repost in honor of Butler’s birthday, and her selection for a Google Doodle: The late, great Octavia Butler was best-known as a rare black female superstar in a genre –science-fiction –largely dominated by white men.[…]

Alt Classical: The Innovators

June 21, 2018June 21, 2018 Chris Sunamialt-classical

Reposted from 2015 This week brings a new installment of my series on alt-classical music –music that combines the instrumentation, elegance and sophistication of classical music with the vitality of newer and more modern approaches[…]

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[…]

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[…]

The Pop Culture Philosopher

Books, Music, Movies and Philosophy (Updates Thursdays)

Category: Reviews

Long Division

The Incredibles

Both Eyes Open: Remembering James Alan McPherson

Kindred

Alt Classical: The Innovators

Alt Classical: The Jazz Connection