In the decades following her death, Marilyn Monroe has been exalted as the human embodiment of bygone Hollywood glamour and unmatched sex appeal but recently, she has been given another accolade: the counterweight to our culture’s ever-thinner beauty ideal. The oft-invoked argument centers around the declaration that Monroe was a size 8/10/12/14 and if she were alive today, she would be considered overweight and probably, never would have been a star. (These claims are inherently problematic because women’s apparel sizing has varied considerably over the years, rendering numbers utterly useless as indications of proportion and because such conjectures are speculative and sensational in nature.) Continue reading
Tchotchke
23 posts
Here at Crasstalk, we have some amazingly funny and insightful commenters and every week, the sharpest comments are rewarded with a COW. But Glinda’s designations aside, we all have a few comments that stick out in our minds as particularly stellar. Continue reading
The Susan G. Komen foundation has ended its partnership with Planned Parenthood after being subject to intense pressure from right-wing, anti-choice activist groups. Previously, SGK provided grants to Planned Parenthood, so that low-income women could have free breast cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood facilities. Continue reading
Under-appreciated post-punk/college rock trailblazers, The Feelies
Musically, New Jersey is known for two big exports: Bruce Springsteen and (ugh) Bon Jovi. While reasonable minds may disagree over the merits of Springsteen and gang, the truth of the matter is that New Jersey is home to a rich and diverse music history that warrants further inspection. Continue reading
If you have ever wandered past a skate park, rock club or a seedy neighborhood in your town, chances are that you have seen Black Flag’s stark, iconic logo scrawled on the surface of a wall, skate deck or t-shirt. If you are older (or just like hanging out with old punks), you have probably encountered a number of poorly-done tattoo replicas of the band’s Ray Pettibon-designed logo on sagging biceps. The band, like the logo, has become an indispensable insignia of punk anti-authoritarianism and underground culture for marginalized kids everywhere. A quarter century since they disbanded, Black Flag continues to have a strong influence on the worlds of punk, indie, and metal music. Continue reading
Though they are not a household name, Fugazi and its frontman, Ian MacKaye, possess a near-mythological status among those within the indie community. Since their hiatus in 2003, Fugazi’s stature among music obsessives has continued to grow and the legend of their live shows has ensnared a new generation of fans. Now, thanks to a combination of technological advancements and a favorably hobbled music industry, Fugazi is primed for a promising second life.
Grab your kids, lock your refrigerator and load up your butter gun, today’s feud involves two chefs: Southern butterball, Paula Deen and my boyfriend New Jersey smartass, Anthony “Tony” Bourdain. Continue reading
Queen Bitch Elton John is furious that his song, “Something-Something, Blurb-Blurb” did not win the “Best Original Song” award at Sunday night’s Golden Globes. Instead, the honor went to a narcissistic heap of undulating gristle otherwise known as Madonna.
In the inaugural edition of “Crate Digging,” we unpack the negative baggage associated with the Grateful Dead and propose revisiting their discography. Continue reading
Never ones to rest on their contrived laurels, Metallica has decided to follow up their masterpiece my favorite album, Lulu, with a 3D film. Continue reading