Some Information About Me
1. What music inspires you?
When I respond to the question of “What kind of music do you like?” with “Anything”, I genuinely mean anything. It is not a noncommittal response. I deeply enjoy driving on sunny days, sunroof open, skin warmed, listening to older country music like George Strait or folkier songs from Fleetwood Mac. I am forever a fan of Neko Case, and I can listen to her music at any given time. She is perfection embodied. On quiet evenings in when I am cooking dinner for my boyfriend and I, I love blasting Indie music on the speakers. I love rock from artists like Rush or amazing guitar riffs in Cliffs of Dover to get excited to do something. I love listening to the newest hip-hop albums when my boyfriend and I find out a new one was released. We both enjoy Chance the Rapper in particular.
2. What television shows have mattered to you?
I really enjoy watching and rewatching Atlanta from Donald Glover, of whom I am a big fan. It provides really interesting commentary on race relations, great humor, and the eccentric nature of the contemporary world. Russian Doll is another favorite of mine for its psychologically-terrifying themes, rude humor, and commentary on getting older in today’s society. Recently, my boyfriend and I have been exploring television from other countries due to us running out of viable options in American television as we wait for new seasons. A big favorite of mine is Kingdom, which is a South Korean drama about ancient Korea and an epidemic of a sickness that creates zombies. On first glance, this plot is absolutely ridiculous. “Why mix a historical drama with zombies?” I initially, and mistakenly, scoffed. Because it is great. That’s why.
3. What are your favorite movies ever?
I have recently gotten into more independent films and winners of awards at Sundance. Some of my favorites include Swiss Army Man with Daniel Radcliff, an amazing movie called Slow West, and I Dream in Another Language, which is right up my alley as an anthropologist. More mainstream favorites are The Blackcoat’s Daughter, Green Book, Budapest Hotel, Train to Busan and Book of Eli.
4. What have you learned from movies?
I have learned that sometimes, movies mimic life, and those happen to be my favorite. I have learned that fairy tales are ridiculous to expect. I have learned that it often does not matter how diligent, persevering, and good one is in life, sometimes things just happen. Sometimes those things are simply out of one’s control, and boy, does it suck. However, those things should never deter a person from continuing to try.
5. What are the best books you’ve read?
I am a huge fan of classic novels. Some of my absolute favorites are The Sun Also Rises by Hemingway, Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, This Side of Paradise by Fitzgerald. Some newer books I enjoy are The Martian by Andy Weir and The Egg, though it is a short story, also by Andy Weir. I like philosophical undertones (or overtones) to stories, so Siddhartha, The Egg, and The Martian are great. I deeply enjoy the writing style of Hemingway, especially in The Sun Also Rises. It is so matter-of-fact, yet appallingly elegant, and the characters are semi-sociopathic products of a society recently introduced to and obsessed with consumption.
6. What is your favorite type of art?
I enjoy paintings often enough, as I also paint; however, looking at too many paintings often leads to feelings of inferiority in me, so they are not my favorite. I like mixed-media artwork. Recently I have become a huge fan of knife making, pottery, lapidary, and furniture making, which I often watch in videos extensively.
7. What are your favorite works of art? (you can define “work of art” however you see fit)
All the books listed above are works of art and some of my favorites. However, I also enjoy any furniture made by Third Coast Craftsman on YouTube, as he often works with more ancient woodworking methods, which I find fascinating. I adore the jewelry made by Heidi Gibson and regard it as a work of art.