—For those thinking the “woke” thing is over in Hollywood, know this: It is more profound than a trend. It is, by now, a deeply held collective belief system.
Same goes for all of culture and academia, as much as people would prefer otherwise. "Social Justice" is the sacred ideology and worldview of an entire generation or 2 of our liberal classes, most esp those with gilded educations and credentials, and one election won't change this.
American culture has been completely corrupted and colonized, all vital and interesting work will have to be done samizdat now, far away from any major institutions.
Sasha Stone was my very first Substack and her journey has been an astonishing one, that’s included multiple road trips across the USA and meeting and talking to folks in flyover country. She is hands down a unique and authentic voice, who also entertains w/ movie clips and music.
As for the persecuted Christians thing. It’s just a ‘shiny object’ proxy between pro-warmongers against Iran (of which I believe this publication falls under - those who would welcome a shooting war w/ the mullahs) and those that are no longer following these neocon ways (the great majority of MAGA). Sorry Bibi, but time ran out and the ‘Clean Break’ doctrine of late 90’s and this US-Israeli neocon manifesto won’t include Iran. You’ll have to be satisfied w/ destabilizations of Palestinian supporting states over last 20 years like Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Syria, and Sudan - instead.
Islamic deflectionism on guard as always, amusing yep lamentable to find it's manifestations, variations and ministrations so often from otherwise intelligent people
I haven't listened to anything from former leftist Russell Brand for years but I had thought since he became a religious Christian he might have changed his tune on Israel bashing, and shilling for UK Islamists. I guess not. Woke Left to Woke Right.
Woke right is only so descriptive, Islamic deflectionist is accurate and gets at the whole neocon argument without needing to call them out on their Israel derangement syndrome.
Koch Brothers lobbying got the state department domini guy in, another Islamic deflectionist
Sasha didn’t comment on the much hyped “The Brutalist” so I will: stilted dialogue, wooden acting and needlessly long. Once again, the user vs critic reviews on Metacritic and IMDB reflect the difference between the elitist critics and the average moviegoers: 90 by critics, 6.6/10 by users.
Please tell me how extending the current tax rates (admittedly set to expire at year end) is a tax cut. Of course, it is not. Eliminating taxes on tips and Social Security benefits will be a tax cut, if approved. The absurd budget scoring system and the msm Democrat cheerleaders say extending Trump's 2017 tax rates is a tax cut, and your columnist mindlessly regurgitates this language. I expect better from your reporting and analysis.
However, Sasha, "It was an unfair advantage, yet again, because the only reason Karla Sofia Gascon was nominated was because she was transgender" is itself a problematic framing. "Karla" is a man pretending to be a woman. Or, if you would prefer, a trans identifying male. Language matters and society is better off if we are accurate as to reality. No one ever says that drag queens are women. We know them to be men who perform as women, but are males. Period.
Hollywood is so difficult to watch, I don't really try any more, for all the reasons Ms. Stone listed.
Along the subject though.. The other day I happened upon Mosfilm's YouTube channel and watched (for free) War and Peace (1966) directed by Sergei Bondarchuk (he also plays the role of Pierre). What a production. The battle scenes are incredible, with thousands of actors (mostly Red Army members filling the scenes). It's a bit long at 430 minutes (in four parts) but worth the watch, as long as you don't mind subtitles. It won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1969 - which was a big deal for the Soviets of course. Anyway, I very much enjoyed it and you might too. (If you do watch it, make sure you select the correct movie at their YouTube channel because the have a few versions of War and Peace listed on their YouTube channel).
Great piece indeed....with a question....I don't recall the issue with Green Book....any background you can add about that?
Oh, and though I knew Amelia Perez would be terrible, and even with the intent to watch it as one might watch Creature from the Black Lagoon, we only made it through 30-minutes.
That man that thinks he’s a woman in the movie no one has seen? He’s a he not a she. Even Sasha buys into the fiction. I guess underneath it all she still thinks in Hollywood
The Russell Brand post was taken out of context as he clarifies below the posted tweet:
For anybody confused in the comments, I was answering a question from somebody in the live chat.
I'm not saying that any of the above examples are actually taking place - what I am addressing is that I am against hostility towards any group for any reason
Great piece by Sasha Stone.
—For those thinking the “woke” thing is over in Hollywood, know this: It is more profound than a trend. It is, by now, a deeply held collective belief system.
Same goes for all of culture and academia, as much as people would prefer otherwise. "Social Justice" is the sacred ideology and worldview of an entire generation or 2 of our liberal classes, most esp those with gilded educations and credentials, and one election won't change this.
American culture has been completely corrupted and colonized, all vital and interesting work will have to be done samizdat now, far away from any major institutions.
Sasha Stone was my very first Substack and her journey has been an astonishing one, that’s included multiple road trips across the USA and meeting and talking to folks in flyover country. She is hands down a unique and authentic voice, who also entertains w/ movie clips and music.
As for the persecuted Christians thing. It’s just a ‘shiny object’ proxy between pro-warmongers against Iran (of which I believe this publication falls under - those who would welcome a shooting war w/ the mullahs) and those that are no longer following these neocon ways (the great majority of MAGA). Sorry Bibi, but time ran out and the ‘Clean Break’ doctrine of late 90’s and this US-Israeli neocon manifesto won’t include Iran. You’ll have to be satisfied w/ destabilizations of Palestinian supporting states over last 20 years like Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Syria, and Sudan - instead.
Islamic deflectionism on guard as always, amusing yep lamentable to find it's manifestations, variations and ministrations so often from otherwise intelligent people
I haven't listened to anything from former leftist Russell Brand for years but I had thought since he became a religious Christian he might have changed his tune on Israel bashing, and shilling for UK Islamists. I guess not. Woke Left to Woke Right.
Woke right is only so descriptive, Islamic deflectionist is accurate and gets at the whole neocon argument without needing to call them out on their Israel derangement syndrome.
Koch Brothers lobbying got the state department domini guy in, another Islamic deflectionist
Hopefully The Free Press will post Sasha Stone's article, it's that good.
Agree, but I suspect that Sasha's take is a little to not-NYT-esque for Bari Weiss.
Sasha didn’t comment on the much hyped “The Brutalist” so I will: stilted dialogue, wooden acting and needlessly long. Once again, the user vs critic reviews on Metacritic and IMDB reflect the difference between the elitist critics and the average moviegoers: 90 by critics, 6.6/10 by users.
Please tell me how extending the current tax rates (admittedly set to expire at year end) is a tax cut. Of course, it is not. Eliminating taxes on tips and Social Security benefits will be a tax cut, if approved. The absurd budget scoring system and the msm Democrat cheerleaders say extending Trump's 2017 tax rates is a tax cut, and your columnist mindlessly regurgitates this language. I expect better from your reporting and analysis.
Exactly. It just continues what is already in place. Letting it expire will be a huge tax increase for EVERYONE.
Had no idea about Bannon and the biosphere, that will be my next foray this a.m., terrific writing as always!
Fun summation of The biosphere 2 so many odd unpredictables arrived, the dildo of consequences rarely arrives unlubricated
https://youtu.be/Tf3Z6iRKqRM?si=HQeHREoU9lQjwBVB
Sasha Stone's piece was outstanding.
However, Sasha, "It was an unfair advantage, yet again, because the only reason Karla Sofia Gascon was nominated was because she was transgender" is itself a problematic framing. "Karla" is a man pretending to be a woman. Or, if you would prefer, a trans identifying male. Language matters and society is better off if we are accurate as to reality. No one ever says that drag queens are women. We know them to be men who perform as women, but are males. Period.
Hollywood is so difficult to watch, I don't really try any more, for all the reasons Ms. Stone listed.
Along the subject though.. The other day I happened upon Mosfilm's YouTube channel and watched (for free) War and Peace (1966) directed by Sergei Bondarchuk (he also plays the role of Pierre). What a production. The battle scenes are incredible, with thousands of actors (mostly Red Army members filling the scenes). It's a bit long at 430 minutes (in four parts) but worth the watch, as long as you don't mind subtitles. It won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1969 - which was a big deal for the Soviets of course. Anyway, I very much enjoyed it and you might too. (If you do watch it, make sure you select the correct movie at their YouTube channel because the have a few versions of War and Peace listed on their YouTube channel).
Only Samizdat, not these people … they have become totally horrible, deranged gatekeepers … a hopeless, clueless caste … Great piece by Sasha Stone.
Hollywood lost me when it boycotted a great movie called American Sniper
Great piece indeed....with a question....I don't recall the issue with Green Book....any background you can add about that?
Oh, and though I knew Amelia Perez would be terrible, and even with the intent to watch it as one might watch Creature from the Black Lagoon, we only made it through 30-minutes.
That man that thinks he’s a woman in the movie no one has seen? He’s a he not a she. Even Sasha buys into the fiction. I guess underneath it all she still thinks in Hollywood
The Russell Brand post was taken out of context as he clarifies below the posted tweet:
For anybody confused in the comments, I was answering a question from somebody in the live chat.
I'm not saying that any of the above examples are actually taking place - what I am addressing is that I am against hostility towards any group for any reason