5 Things I Consumed Last Week (slouching towards Bethlehem 🎼)
on the lost daughter, roadrunner, alpha males, expedition happiness and how to make iconic art
I was surprised when I got to know the phrase and the song ‘Sloutching Towards Bethlehem’ comes from Yeat’s poem ‘The Second Coming’. It is a phrase used to describe the slow coming of an apocalyptic revelation, which will forever change the world.
No, this newsletter is not going to be as intense as an apocalypse (we leave that to Cigarettes After Sex) but one of the recommendation relates to this phrase. Also, some of the recommendations might move you slowly towards a new idea/perspective - just like slouching towards Bethlehem.
There is no reading material in this issue, happy watching and listening folks!
The Lost Daughter | Netflix | Movie
Based on a book by Elena Ferrante, The Lost Daughter with it’s portrayal of unfamiliar yet realistic layers of motherhood, is a moving movie with Leda as the protagonist. I watched this movie a while back but this Vox article reminded me of so many metaphors that I missed.
And all these permutations come from Leda at the center, whose own name is a bit of a key. It’s inextricably linked to the myth of Leda and the Swan, in which the god Zeus takes on the form of a swan and rapes a girl named Leda.
As a younger woman, Leda — was fascinated with Yeats. One of Yeats’s poems was in fact about Leda and the Swan, which Yeats saw as ending one of the great epochs of history, as important as the announcement to the Virgin Mary that she would bear Jesus, and as important as a third cataclysmic event that Yeats believed was impending in his time. (Another of Yeats’s most well-known poems, The Second Coming)
The movie is slow and is not one of those thrillers which keeps you hooked but look closely and you will find things to think about.
Roadrunner | Anthony Bourdain | Documentary
Roadrunner — which at times pulses with energy that feels borrowed from a late-’90s music video on MTV— straps us onto the back seat of the motorbike that was Bourdain’s career, starting with the bombshell publication of Kitchen Confidential in 2000, rocketing through his awkward early TV years and into the more confident ones, and ending with his devastating death. ~Vox
This documentary will move you, break you, inspire you and make you laugh - all at once. In the end, they discuss a message from Tony’s fans. It’s a quote from a poem called Falling and Flying, by Jack Gilbert.
“Everyone forgets that Icarus also flew… I believe Icarus was not failing as he fell, but just coming to the end of his triumph.”
That’s the way I’d like to remember Anthony Bourdain.
Todd McFarlane, Legendary Comic Book Artist — How to Make Iconic Art, Reinvent Spider-Man, Live Life on Your Own Terms, and Meet Every Deadline (#639) | The Tim Ferriss Show | Podcast
Do you know who holds the market share for comics after Marvel and DC?
Image Comics! Founded by Todd McFarlane.
Todd McFarlane is an Emmy- and Grammy-winning director/producer and creator of one of the world’s best-selling comic books, Spawn. He is best known to many comic book fans for his work as the artist on The Amazing Spider-Man, for which he co-created Marvel’s top villain, Venom.
A superhero in real life, Todd will make you revisit your vision boards and work harder. His knack of going with the flow and grabbing every opportunity that comes your way is unparalleled. Absolutely loved his energy, humor, candidness and tenacity.
Don’t miss the second part of the podcast where he talks about Stan Lee.
Alpha Males | Netlfix | Series
Funny, relatable, ironic and woke! Do not get swayed by the title.
It is a story about four best friends who are struggling in the modern era tackling fourth world feminism and crushing patriarchy. It revolves around how these four handle the women around them and the society that picks on men for their problems.
I think adulting forced me to get more inclined towards comedy dramas because already have enough serious drama in life. I feel I am short on the mental bandwidth to go through serious stuff like Alias Grace in comparison to what I used to do in college. Well, adulting has it’s ways!
My partner recommended this show, we are almost halfway through and we find it extremely funny. If you also want to hop on a no-serious drama bandwagon, try this!
Expedition Happiness | Netflix | Documentary
For the travel influencaa in you.
This documentary will make you travel places - literally!
Starring Mogli (check out her soundtrack) and her partner, it is a vlog/movie about a long road trip, starting in Alaska and going all the way down to Argentina. The couple purchases an old school bus and converts it into a "loft on wheels."
I watched it years ago and the soundtrack is still stuck in my mind. I am sure it will be stuck in your head too. This is a feel good movie and perfect for a cozy Sunday.
Sit back and relax 🛀
More to come next week!
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With warmth and love,
The Hummingbird🌺
Hi Bhumika, thanks for sharing these :) I'm from India and wondering if you could please share where one can watch "roadrunner" online?
I have been a subscriber of your newsletter for a while now, and it has quickly become one of my favorite newsletters. Just ensure it remains free for 4 years.