In Simulacra and Simulation, Baudrillard refers to Los Angeles as a "perpetual pan shot": more a cinematic circulation of hyperreal fantasy than a space-bound city of definable dimensions. This association is strengthened by how the city's sprawling urban landscape is typically traversed, rendered as a steadily-streaming assortment of images scrolling through the letterbox framing of … Continue reading City Scenes: Mediated L.A. Spaces
Month: January 2023
City Scenes: Toronto Cinema Spaces
Film venues and screening spaces are among my favorite fixtures of the urban mediascape. For me, the crown jewels of Parisian cultural superiority are not the sidewalk cafe tables but rather the abundant cinemas (and also the multi-story bookshops that seem to be all around). Toronto also has a strong film culture and a number … Continue reading City Scenes: Toronto Cinema Spaces
A “Frank the cat” playlist (plus Spotify links!)
New year, new roommate. Frank is a ticked tabby whom I met in the West End. Shouts out to Animal Advocates for their rescue work and for letting Frank adopt me. To commemorate, I put together a “Frank the Cat” playlist. There’s some of the obvious cat-centric cuts, as well as some potentially glaring omissions … Continue reading A “Frank the cat” playlist (plus Spotify links!)
City Scenes: Zenith vintage & brunch
My sister’s trip to Pittsburgh this past summer gave me an opportunity not only to revisit some favorite local spots but also to check off some items from my Steel City bucket list, like Jerry’s Records. One of the other places I got to experience for the first time was The Zenith: an antiques shop … Continue reading City Scenes: Zenith vintage & brunch