This Week At Media Room
Elio, Simone Dinnerstein, And Number 36 Thanks You.
Thank You From Number 36
I begin by thanking you, my readers. Media Room is now the #36 Substack in the “Music” category and on June 26 published its 400th post. My humble little arts publication is now read in 41 states and 25 nations, on track to host 300,000 views in 2025.
‘Elio’ Is Beautiful And Uplifting
I saw “Elio” yesterday. There is no room on the editorial calendar for a review, so I offer a few words here.
We meet Elio just after losing his parents, living with his military officer aunt in a fictional, near-future United States.
This is Carl Sagan’s America, whose voice opens and closes the movie. It seeks peace and friendship with the billions and billions of fellow clumps of star-stuff in the cosmos. There are no “shithole countries” and the U.S. military protects spacecraft from floating debris instead of patrolling the streets of L.A.
The script brilliantly interweaves themes of parenthood, isolation, and the hopelessness of life in an authoritarian society.
“Elio” shows us a world where diversity is a strength and kindness is not a weakness to be exploited, a world with hope for the future. It feels familiar, but it is quickly fading into darkness.
Summer Deep Dives
New “Summer Deep Dives” are on the way. Last week began with an essay from August 2024, my analysis of Sheryl Crow’s 1993 “Run Baby Run.”
A Minecraft Movie
“A Minecraft Movie” is now streaming at HBO HBO Go HBO Now HBO Max Max HBO Max. My slightly edited review from the April theatrical release published Thursday.
Simone Dinnerstein Interview
On Tuesday Media Room will publish its interview with pianist Simone Dinnerstein who recently released “Bach: Complicité,” her first recording with Baroklyn, the string ensemble she founded and directs.
Media Room is filled with Bach. I have used this space to describe the near destruction of the Brandenburg Concertos and to nominate Johann Sebastian as the greatest artist in human history (Van Gogh is a close runner-up if you have your scorecard handy).
More Band Names From My Spiral Notebook
Lady Gladys And The Starling Murmuration
Bang Average
On Wednesday American Karma republished my essay “The Political Center Has Drifted Far To The Right In One Generation,” a thumbnail history of the gradual radicalization of American immigration policy.
The world is a scary place right now and we need to take care of each other. As a favorite song says, “all you got is people.”
In fact here it is by Tavis E. Triance & The Natural Way, from his album “A Brief Respite From The Terror Of Dying” (2017). Play us out Tavis!
Have a great week.
Frank
Cover Image: Still image from ‘Elio.’ © Pixar Studios.