Oppenheimer, The Mothman and me: the August update
A monthly round-up of new culture commentary from thehaughtyculturist
Ah, good day to you. Here’s what’s new at thehaughtyculturist.com, a site about how we tell stories and what they mean. This month: why I’m not atomic smitten, plus beautiful deaths in space, happy travels, and the dark, dark destiny of The Mothman. Happy readings!
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New to the site
1. The trouble with Oppenheimer
Reflecting on the bleak horror of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer biopic and asking: hey, isn’t this the plot of Amadeus?
“If Oppenheimer, destroyer of worlds, is tough to like his womanising only adds to the fuel. Frankly, how did he have time?"
2. Interstellar (2014): stories we tell about sacrifice
Unpacking sacrifice as plot device and moral message in Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi epic, Interstellar.
“In Interstellar, the Lazarus motif comes full circle as the story’s subliminal moral message. Like the sacrifice Jesus models, those who give themselves for humanity earn salvation.
3. Decoding the angels and demons of destiny in 2002 horror The Mothman Prophesies
How The Mothman Prophecies uses prediction and paranormal activity to tell a story about love, grief and second chances.
“If horror films use bookish symbols and stand-ins to authenticate their lore, some go further by mixing markers of reality in with the fiction.”
4. Book review | Around the World in 80 Days (no, not that one)
While not the first to recreate Jules Verne’s race around the world, Michael Palin’s account is quite possibly the funniest.
“‘You want woman?’
We walk on for a bit.
‘I can show you fifty thousand women.’
This is a bit of a leap. ‘Fifty thousand?’
‘More, more,’ he adds hastily, misinterpreting my surprise.”
- Around the World in 80 Days
And just like that, it was over.
See you next month!
Ruth / The HC
Pic credit: Kazuend via Unsplash
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