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Welcome to 667Shotwell. Here is the 2004 Top Ten List Chris Sollars wrote for a new book by Courtney Fink the Director of Southern Exposure in San Francisco. For a 3.9 mb PDF Click Here
| Chris Sollars Top Ten 2004 |
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1. Anti-War, Get out the Vote, and Protest: Thank you, groups organized by the people for the people. We need to keep up the momentum to create change or keep change from rolling back (I never would have thought of that). Ranging from the pink slip protest, to voter registration. Mass Gay marriages in SF to 100,000 plus protest marches against the war. Let’s recognize these accomplishments and Keep up the Fight. It’s TIME for the ART in San Francisco to match our progressive politics. |
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Let’s thank the voices of reason in the media: Bill Moyers and NOW, actually give the news on TV in a time of media consolidation. Did you see their entire expose on Sept 11? How many people actually saw it? Just think if they had, what impact. We need to continue the pressure on our public airways for the same journalism with integrity that Moyers had. Amy Goodman & Democracy Now. How hard Goodman, Juan Gonzalez and the rest of their crew work day in and day out, to put out the news that isn’t heard. Their level of commitment inspires. Seymour Hersh that broke the Abu Ghraib prison scandal and continues to break stories on the Afghan and Ira wars. John Stewart & the Daily Show keeps pushing true political satire into the American Psyche when we most need it. And when Stewart gets on Crossfire, speaks his mind, and challenges the hosts to have a real debate, stand up and clap. Frontline had some great shows this year including “Is Wal-mart good for America?” and “The Persuaders” a show about persuading the consumer to buy goods and SUVs to legislation and the Presidency. |
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Matt Gonzalez Mayoral Election Campaign |
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HUMOR ON TV: Dave Chappelle. His humor attacks and roars like a laughable beast, and the bite is subversive and intelligent. Turning every cultural faux pas and Racist slur into his own joke. Have you seen the “Blind Black White-Supremacist,” the fifty’s white sitcom the “Nigga Family,” and Chappelle as a Black George W. Bush? Can I have another bowl of “Nigga Please” cereal? With Curb your Enthusiasm, Larry David has come back with comedy that has true Seinfeld humor, with a more twisted dilemma and bite than before. The Simpson’s episode in which during the Star Spangled banner Bart moons the flag while riding a donkey, Marge’s defensive statements sound anti-American, the mayor changes Springfield to Liberty-ville, Homeland Security arrest the Simpson’s in church and try to re-educate/brainwash them on Alcatraz, from which they escape, are rescued to France, and have to sneak back into the US as illegal immigrants. How can this be shown on FOX? |
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Castro Theater and Indy Theaters: If I have a temple, the Castro Theater is my temple (except maybe for the Gothic Church on 22nd between S. Van Ness and Capp St. that has a giant laughing Buddha in the door. Go see that). It is my favorite place to watch films anywhere. Through my escapism into the Castro Theater, I become even more connected to the world around me. Seeing Battle of Algiers 1965 and Hearts and Minds was wonderful. Let’s help it maintain its integrity and legacy. Also support the Red Vic whose films and homemade popcorn are an awesome combo. |
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Film of the Past in 2004: Battle of Algiers 1965, which shows the true cost of an occupation, and Hearts and Minds 1974, that ends with America not willing to learn from its mistakes. Good Films speak across generations and these two do it. Man so good. |
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Literature of the Past in 2004: Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail of 72 & 2004 Hunter S. Thompson I opened 72 recently and was amazed with such clarity he was describing my thoughts and fears today just as they were with the Democratic Primary. Then Hunter does it again in with new writing on the presidential election of 2004. Susan Sontag: What’s happening in America? 1966 and Regarding the Pain (and Torture) of Others 2003 & 2004 “What’s happening” brings my thoughts of hope and the reality of my dreams for America home. “Regarding the Pain” is an explicit and thorough discussion of the use of images in the media. |
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Art: Instant Coffee, It Can Change, Sliv and Dulet, and Creativity Explored who I applaud for facilitating events and organizing more people to participate in the process. And a Thank You, to the spaces that have supported these activities: New Langton & SOEX. I needed to see the, Robert Gober installation at the SFMOMA. The juxtapositions of inside<->outside, nature<->man-made, space<->sound, prison<->freedom was moving. Alison Pebworth’s Anatomy of Desire show at 111 Minna. It’s been a long time since I have been excited about painting and what it can do. Her recent charts and diagrams both subvert and awaken my senses. There aren’t many works of art that hold my attention long and keep me coming back for more. Robert Shetterly’s series of 60 plus portraits of Americans Who Tell the Truth. The Hay-bale Labyrinth at Half-Moon Bay. A pumpkin farm every Halloween puts together a 1-3 acre x 10’ tall labyrinth for families to walk though. It is immense and hard to find your way around. With multiple corridors, it’s just like being in a dream. Finally the Artists, Viewers, and Supporters of 667 Shotwell. Thank you so much. You have inspired me both through your work and conversations. |
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New FILMS: I Heart Huckabees. I need movies like this right now, with a touch of political satire and dialogue and opposing sides confronting each other at the dinner table. Plus classic Lily Tomlin comedy (like the days of Laugh In), Dustin Hoffman in peak performance, Jason Schwartzman best since Rushmore, Mark Wahlberg and Naomi Watts are hilarious, and Jude Law is so good at being a two faced devil. I am not big on special effects but they contribute a lot to illustrating meditation and interconnectedness. I have to throw support to Michael Moore’s Farenheight 911, which is very effective in putting together all the sound bites and stories of Bush and 911 in one place. Also to Control Room, an awesome documentary, which gives a face to the name Al Jeezera. It shows a group of journalists trying to create a more balanced media and a more full picture in Iraq. Uma buried alive in Kill Bill 2. Oh my, to almost forget Eternal Sunshine how could I do that? I think I did so I could not remember how great it was and come back and see it for the first time again. I didn’t even know it was Kate Winslet till after the film. Carrey is sweet. Gondry’s and Kaufmann are awesome in putting this together. |
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BUSH & HOPE? I am both Shocked and in Awe how Bush can unite the world and divide a country. Through media consolidation and repetition of lies and half-truths to make it easier for us to believe that. Bush saved us from 911, defeated the terrorists, saved us from nuclear holocaust, freed a country and made it democratic, jump started the economy, slashed the deficit, made the environment cleaner by drilling for oil, using clean coal technology to make the air clean, all while GOD is on Bush’s side and Jesus loves him most. When you think about it one can be constantly angry. Is it easier to try to forget to not deal with it? When 30% of Americans are political 15 minutes every four years when they vote, how can we change things? It is hard to think about the country actually casting votes against who you are, Gay Marriage, and keeping people from voting based on the color of their skin in 2004. The disenfranchised will continue to grow with these economics of “Haves and Have Mores,” and credit cards help create an illusion of comfort. HOPE & ACTION Let’s awake from our United States of Amnesia and move from our United We Stand Around. We will never forget 11-02-04. On-ward and up-ward in 2005 and beyond. I / WE have to believe in this. |
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