Here are some of the interesting pieces I’ve read this last week:
1) “Art in a Fallen World” by Gregory Wolfe
In this piece author Wolfe examines the motivations behind many of Thomas Kinkades’ paintings and, while not bashing the artist, he draws out the deficiencies of his artistic philosophy. Particularly interesting to note is how this “Christian” painter has a very unChristian approach.
2) “Where to Find Christian Hipsters: 10 U.S. Cities” by Brett McCracken
This funny 2010 article was sent my way. I imagine the portrait portrayed in the article is probably accurate, even if it is unscientific. I also think Portsmouth, OH is on its way up the Hipster social ladder!
3) “Roger Isn’t Who I Am: An Interview with John Slattery of Mad Men” by John Meroney
This interview from earlier in the month was interesting. Maybe I liked simply because I’ve been enjoying Mad Men, but gosh darn it if I don’t just like John Slattery too. His interview in the most recent GQ was even better, but it’s only available in print.
4) “Half of New Graduates are Jobless or Underemployed” by Associated Press
Based off of some serious research the figures for un-or-under-employed college graduates has been on a rapid rise. Due to both degree-inflation and a hard-hit economy a lot of college students are finding themselves serving coffee after college. This is especially true if you’re degrees are in the humanities. My degrees are and I know this reality first hand.
5) “Meet the Urban Datasexual” by Dominic Basulto
This is an interesting piece on a rather disturbing trend among young urbanites to gather and proliferate useless personal data. A new trend to collect personal data and turn it into a sort of status symbol has been building and is now reaching the level of popular culture. In this piece we get an insight into some of the new tech doing that for us, and some theorizing about where this is all going. It’s not so much scary as it is weird, in my opinion.
6) “College-Age Millennials are Becoming Less Religious” by Joe Carter
Here, Carter reports on some survey data revealing what we all know to be true: millennials in college are less religious than the rest of the nation. The numbers are common place enough, these days, but the specifics of what they believe and don’t believe is helpful for those of us in full-time ministry. These are the areas that churches like mine, which is full of college students, should spend some time on.
7) “The Re-Appropriation of Ryan Gosling” by Kirk Bozeman
In this rather insightful piece from over at Christ and Pop Culture, Bozeman analyzes the way in which the internet age has made artistic re-appropriation a reality. The popularity of the Ryan Gosling meme leads him to wonder if re-appropriation of a person is a healthy thing, it also propels him to offer some advice to Christians.
8) “The Flight from Conversation” by Sherry Turkle
This is a brilliant piece on the loss of conversation in the digital age. Turkle has spent 15 years studying the relationship between people and their technology and has seen how over time people not only no longer know how to have conversations but also don’t know how to think reflectively about themselves. This leaves us, she says, increasingly alone. This is important for Christians to think about. It’s important not only because of our need to reorient our focus, but it’s important because it can help us to serve others in and outside of the church.
9) “Indian Country’s American Nightmare” by Anthony Bradley
This disturbing piece on the state of the American Indians in the U.S. is eye-opening. Bradley follows research that reveals how governmental interference has actually aided the complete downfall of the American Indian societies across the nation. It is a sad state they find themselves in, and Bradley says it exemplifies all the worst of governmental interference.
10) “The GQ Guide To 24 Hour Energy” by Josh Dean
I’ve lately been feeling really tired. I mostly thought it was a lack of coffee intake or not getting enough sleep. Truth is, however, I could benefit from nearly all the changes on this list.
11) “Get Him To The Geek” by Dennis Tang
A fascinating look inside the world of video-gamers. Tang visits the Penny Arcade Expo and discovers not only his repressed or forgotten youth, but that this world is fully of a cadre of expected and unexpected characters.
12) “A Complete Guide to ‘Hipster Racism’” by Jezebel
Warning: language. Anthony Bradley called this piece an insight into microagression. The author points out all sorts of ways in which “hipsters” (though really it’s much more broad) promote racism. The trend of “ironic racism” is, as the author points out, just racism. This is a piece that helps me think carefully about what I say, whether in jest or earnest.
Sparrow & Heart Soul Care 