March 20, 2007March 20, 2007 by Edward Champion

1984 Hillary Commercial: Ingenious Viral Video or “Penguin Army” Revisited?

The San Francisco Chronicle‘s Carla Marinucci wants to know who created this anti-Hillary Apple mash-up, uploaded by one “ParkRidge47.” There are little clues as to the user’s identity. Aside from Marinucci, Michah Sifry has also tried to answer this question, receiving a response from ParkRidge47 that declared the video “a bold statement about the Democratic primary race.” But since ParkRidge47 would prefer to remain anonymous, I’m wondering if this might be a replay of “Al Gore’s Penguin Army,” whereby the Wall Street Journal determined that the anti-Gore video was the work of an oil lobbying firm. Is it possible that the Hillary 1984 commercial is a more clever and elaborate version of this ruse from a similar pro-Democrat lobbying firm? Until ParkRidge47 reveals his true identity, I can’t pay a lot of credence to this viral video, however entertaining it might be. If ParkRidge47’s concern is Apple’s legal team going after him, I should note that even a performance artist like Banksy had the temerity to reveal that he was the one who tampered with hundreds of Paris Hilton albums in record stores.

March 20, 2007March 20, 2007 by Edward Champion

Bookforum: All Male, All the Time

The latest issue of Bookforum has hit the stands and the Artsforum gang has made most of it available online. Of particular note: Christopher Sorrentino on the new Flanagan book, this interview with A.M. Homes, and Ben Marcus on Lydia Davis. What is not particularly good is that out of 35 reviews, only fourteen are written by women. That’s a mere 40% of reviews, with the bigger reviews going to men. And if we hold Bookforum to the Tanenhaus Brownie Watch standards, it’s severely lacking on this point. Not quite as bad as the NYTBR, but surely the Bookforum people can do better.

March 20, 2007 by Edward Champion

Roundup

Maud Newton is looking for your questions in what appears to be a very interesting conversation between Colson Whitehead and Calvin Baker on “branding & freedom in the market economy.”
Levi Asher offers a report on the Kevin Kline production of King Lear.
M. John Harrison: “So what is the function of the novelist ? Not to fellate the audience in the hope of delivering a more acceptable product.”
The Independent conducts a five-minute interview with Edward Rutherfurd. Hmm, reminds me of Mr. Sarvas’ format.
Dina Horwedel observes that despite Hispanic literature’s popularity, it’s not being incorporated very efficiently in high schools and college curriculums.
Here’s an update on the Marshall Public Library imbroglio: Fun Home and Blankets will remain on the shelves. (via Is listening to writers discuss their works high-minded? (via Bookninja)
Tod Goldberg unearths some misogynistic book promotion. (via Bill Peschel)
Where is our Orwell? Where is our Dickens? Henry Porter seems to think that novelists who are indicting government and society are in short supply these days. It’s a fair enough charge, but what he doesn’t realize is that any time Harold Pinter opens his mouth, thanks to a secret and well-funded organization that I cannot name, a memo is sent to all English language novelists reminding them of the pointlessness of novelists preaching to the converted and suggesting that these sorts of predictable fulminations are best addressed through the prism of fiction.
Those hoping to read a confessional book written by Madonna’s nanny will be disappointed by this recent news. The book’s been canceled by Crown, but whether this book has been muzzled by Madge’s litigious fervor is anyone’s guess.
A “grown-up” music festival is being planned. We’ll have none of your drinking or your pot smoking or your Bic lighter waving, thank you very much. This is serious business. You will sit there and listen to Bjork and you shall not cheer! There shall be no audience participation, save silence! And the only food served in the booths will be saltine crackers and lima beans.
In celebration of Free Comic Book Day, Fantagraphics will be offering a Peanuts comic book for free. There will be no football pulled on this offer, which you can take up at your local comic book store on May 5.
Never underestimate Ohio journalists. A scab working for the Toledo Blade found his car scorched, with a cinder block thrown through the window.
Also at Editor and Publisher, it appears that Helen Thomas has her front seat again in the White House press room. Or does she? A White House memo reveals, “The White House, however, will continue to determine seating assignments for all presidential news conferences.” I’m wondering if this is intended as a quid pro quo of sorts.
I missed Julia Klein’s interesting take on Finn in this Sunday’s L.A. Times, but Klein’s review also offers an interesting summation of works that turn minor literary characters into starring roles. (Thanks, Quill and Quire, for the reminder!)
Ron Silliman offers a lengthy take on the late Ed Dorn.
Paul Collins unearths a unique comic book cover from 1944.