MAV RECOMMENDS – August 7th, 2018

We’re back with some culture recommendations for the dog days of summer. If you’re looking for something to listen to, read, watch, or skim anywhere from the dock to the beach we’ve got you covered. As always, we welcome your feedback and encourage your recommendations back to us. 

First things first…

Don’t call it the September issue, it’s the Beyoncé issue. “Beyoncé in her own words,” because Beyoncé doesn’t let others speak for her anymore. When we hear from her it’s in the statements she’s released, when we see her it’s only as she wants to be seen, what we listen to is how she wants us to understand her. This is a tremendous achievement. The words are important, if not insightful, but the symbolism and the power are palpable. Beyoncé is the first black woman to cover the September issue of Vogue, and she was shot by the first ever African-American photographer to ever shoot a Vogue cover. It would be of staggering impressiveness if it weren’t so grossly overdue. 

While Beyoncé was showing us her work, staff writers at The Ringer recently paid tribute to some of their favourite culture work of the 21st century. With the parameters that a show could only appear on the list once, and that it must have been released between 2000-2018 the site released a collection of the 100 Greatest Episodes of the Century an awe-inducing list that is sure to inspire arguments, praise and constant dialogue. If you can’t get enough, Bill Simmons aired his grievances and lauded praise with editor of the project, Juliet Litman, on an episode of his podcast, which acts as a nice audible accompaniment to the written work. 

Whenever the next iteration of this list is released will surely include the ‘Prague’ episode of the summer’s #1 show, Succession. This show makes the case against binge-watching and in favour of the return of prestige television. It’s equal parts dramatic and campy, comedic and soapy. There’s not a likeable character in the bunch (sorry, Cousin Greg,) and yet, it’s unstoppable. The Roy family’s struggle for power is not relatable, but it’s sure entertaining. The finale will have you salivating for season two, which is great because it’s been renewed.  

Quick hits: we teased this when it was announced in April, and man has it delivered. Still, the breakout star of the season caught me by surprise. Jay Cutler is straight up winning Very Cavallari, to the point where I think they need to ditch all auxiliary Uncommon James employees and just focus on Jay and his deer cam. 

Switching gears slightly, Slow Burn’s second season premiered this week. Season one focused on Watergate and the subsequent Nixon resignation; season two is set to cover the Clinton impeachment. The appeal of the show is how deeply it covers these seemingly well-known historical moments, showing how many details get erased with time, and the convoluted lines from point A to point B. 

I am so excited for ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ (the movie) I’m going to recommend the book series in addition to jumping on the movie hype. If you haven’t read the books yet this is the perfect time. It’s summer, they’re juicy, you won’t regret it.