Resources for December 6, 2016

"I know by own experience how, from a stranger met by chance, there may come an irresistible appeal which overturns the habitual perspective just as a gust of wind might tumble down the panels of a stage set - what had seemed near becomes infinitely remote and what had seemed distant seems to be close." - Gabriel Marcel, "On the Ontological Mystery" quoted by Sarah Bakewell in At the Existentialist Cafe: 132.

Denniss, Richard and Julie Nelson. "It's the Economists, Stupid." Ideas (November 28, 2016) ["Interest rates. Unemployment. GDP. Markets. Austerity measures. Economists tell us what we, as societies, can and can't afford. But how do they decide? What values are at play? IDEAS producer Mary O'Connell speaks with two economists about how modern mantras on the economy limit our choices and shut down civic debate."]

Edwards, David. "Fake News about 'Fake News': The Media Performance Pyramid." Media Lens (December 5, 2016)

Koski, Genevieve, et al. "Suicide Squad / The Dirty Dozen, Pt. 1." The Next Picture Show #39 (August 9, 2016) ["David Ayer has characterized his new entry in the DC Expanded Universe, SUICIDE SQUAD, as a modern take on Robert Aldrich's THE DIRTY DOZEN, a 1967 war/heist film that set the standard for movies about a band of criminals teaming up to take on a greater evil. In this half of the conversation, we put THE DIRTY DOZEN's violence and attitude toward war in historical context, and tangle with the film's difficult morality."]

---. "Suicide Squad / The Dirty Dozen, Pt. 2." The Next Picture Show #40 (August 11, 2016) ["Our comparison of bad-guys-doing-good films continues with THE DIRTY DOZEN’s ultra-modern, ultra-messy progeny, the new DC Extended Universe entry SUICIDE SQUAD. We try to make sense of the many issues plaguing the newer film, and decipher how the two films each come down on the ideas of villainy and leadership."]

Mandelbaum, Randel F. "The 9 Best Reactions to the House Science Committee’s Breitbart Tweet." Scientific American (December 2, 2016)

Peabody, Fred. "All Governments Lie: Truth, Deception, and the Spirit of I.F. Stone." Film School (November 4, 2016) ["ALL GOVERNMENTS LIE: Truth, Deception, and the Spirit of I.F. Stone is a timely documentary for audiences who are increasingly seeking alternatives to news media owned by large corporations. News events and journalistic trailblazers stretching over many decades are linked together to tell this important story. This film will resonate with audiences in the US and worldwide, as news media ownership increasingly falls into the hands of a few giant corporations."]

Yancy, George. "I Am a Dangerous Professor." The New York Times (November 30, 2016)

Yates, Michael. "Vietnam: The War That Won't Go Away." Counterpunch (December 5, 2016)

ALL GOVERNMENTS LIE: Truth, Deception, and the Spirit of I.F. Stone (Trailer) from WhitePinePictures on Vimeo.