The DB Cultural Review of 2010

Here, dear reader, is my pick of the year for what ever it may be worth. And I suspect its worth very little what with me being so far beyond is currently going on in these areas. Expect of course for music but I shall deal with that in another blog. This is a brief overview of what went on in 2010 or at least what I can remember. I have covered all the important areas of culture and kept my rants to a minimum. Most of what I talk about can be found in further detail else where in this blog I just couldn't be bothered to put in lots of links so if interested hunt for them yourself.

Television

I don't actually watch a whole lot of TV, I'm more of a box set kind of guy. Soap operas and reality shows have no interest for me so I'm dismissing them out of hand. To be honest its hard to recall most of what happened this year in TV land, even with the help of the Internet. At the start of the year there was a new Dr Who, but that show is so childish and so low rent that it seems like its being made by a local theatre group. Mad Men was boring, The Pacific disappointing same for Misfits and 30 Rock and as for Glee, well the drama was awful and the singing controlled by computers. Not to mention the way they completely ignore the rules of American Football.

The Inbetweeners sunk to new depths and eradicated any good will it still had left after the first season and Frankie Boyle showed he doesn't actually have any jokes. Looking back it seems like a pretty awful year for TV and I'm glad I missed most of it. After all we had to cope with both the Lee Nelson show and that god awful thing about stupid people from Essex.

Did I actually like anything at all? Well, The Big Bang Theory is brilliant, almost written solely to make me smile and everyone else wonder whats going on. We Are Klang had a pilot show which was great but I guess didn't get picked up and The Ricky Gervais show was surprisingly good. Perhaps the brightest beacon of light remains BBC Four, easily the best channel on offer. The Beauty of Maps was simply perfect and as such is my pick of the year.

Books

To date I have only ever read one work of fiction in the year it was published so perhaps I am not really in any position to comment on books. But I do love books so I'm sneaking a little bit in here. I've just started reading a book by Stewart Lee that was written this year, so perhaps that counts. Anyway the best book I read this year was One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. OK it was written in 1962 but it is a master piece. Should any one wish to recommend a book from this year I will of course ignore them and carry on reading things by dead Russians.

Movies

This year I actually went to the cinema, twice in fact. Firstly to see Under Great White Northern Lights, the documentary about The White Stripes. Which was a wonderful and insightful film that I enjoyed immensely. The second trip was to see Kick Ass, which I hated more than words can properly hope to explain. To be honest I hate the cinema, its a terrible place to go to, full of teenagers and terrible Hollywood films. I did pick up the DVD of A Prophet, a French film by Jacques Audiard. It is a work of genius and by far and away the best crime based film that has ever been made and as such is my pick of the year.

Comic Books

I have the same issue with comics that I do for books in that I'm always way behind whats going on and swimming in the sea of past glories. Most of my efforts go into reading Alan Moore and I finally got round to checking out his run on Swamp Thing, which is up there with his best work. Most of the current runs are off little interest to me but I am loving Power Girl. Cyanide and Happiness still remains the best web comic and they even had a book out this year. Now of course Dr Doom is the greatest comic book hero of all time and as such his Doomwar was highly enjoyable and added some nice aspects to his character. But my pick of the year is Hit Monkey a story about a monkey hit man, I mean whats not to like?

Gigs

I saw Laura Marling three times this year, each performance was brilliant but it was in the small and intimate surroundings of Conway Hall that see shone. LM is an exceptional talent and one of the best musicians around I cannot stress enough how every one should listen to her. The Black Keys rocked hard in Brixton, Mumford and Sons where a bouncing joy and The Fall was certainly an interesting experience. But by far and away the pick of the year was Jonsi at the Forum. It was breath taking in both ambition and execution and was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. Produced with an artistic and theatrical flourish that is a rare treat not just for a gig but for life in general.

Video Games

Two of the big hits for the year held no interest for me, Mass Effect 2 and Black Ops both suffered at the hands of their predecessors which bored me. Metro 2033, a game based on the book of the same name, was a a very enjoyable game with some nice touches which just failed to fully deliver on its promise. Fallout New Vegas ate up a great deal of my time and was at times wonderful but cruelly had to many bugs and errors. NBA 2K11 was sublime and is perhaps the best sports games that's been made. Bioschock 2 was great but didn't really have the impact of the first game. Battlefield Bad Company Two showed where Call of Duty is going wrong. Fable III was fun but just lacked that certain something as did Halo Reach. But one game stood head and shoulders above all others and takes it place amongst the best games ever made and that was Red Dead Redemption. A game of staggering perfection unmatched by anything else. A compelling and engaging story line matched by a beautiful game world. And of course later in the year they brought out a version of the game that was full of zombies. Zombie bears people, I mean come on, pick of the year.

So there you have it, that was the year that was lets look back all misty eyed and wave good bye.

Christmas Number One's

Matt Cardle has manged to take the coveted Christmas number one spot this year. It seems a pity that we know this already and don't get to wait until the 25th but hey ho. Reaching the top of the charts at this time of year is seen as a big deal and is always a keen contest. Not lest because its most likely to have high sales as people get into the spirit of the thing.

This year Mr Cardle has sold over 400,000 copies of his single, which in this day and age is huge. Happily this means that Biffy Clyro, who themselves were able to get to 8th with 40,000 sales, will get a lot money as they wrote the song that Cardle sings. I don't like the new stuff from Biffy Clyro but was a fan of them in the early days so I'm glad they are getting a bit of wealth and fame.

But I have to ask, whats the big deal with Christmas numbers ones? Why do people make an effort to buy songs at this time? and why are there so many facebook groups pushing for a certain song to get to number one?

Because as far as I can make out Christmas number one is just another phrase for God awful rubbish music. Its beyond me how this "tradition" has come about. Just take a look at the list of songs that have claimed this prize. Go on, off you go and look, I'll wait here.

Right now as you can see its all terrible stuff. Unless of course Mr Blobby and Bob the Builder are now thought of as great musicians. Its all novelty songs and soppy ballads. But DB I hear you cry there are four Beatles songs on that list and one by Elvis. Well best not get me started on how much I hate the Beatles but I think even people who, for some strange reason, like that band will admit that those songs not all that great. Same goes for Elvis and Queen and my first love the Pet Shop Boys.

But even if I allow these songs to pass that at best seven Christmas number ones that pass any kind of musical test. Hardly course for to make it all a hallowed and noble prize to be claimed by the cream of artistic talent. I mean the Spice Girls did it three years in a row.

Well what about Rage Against the Machine? that was a good song and it struck a blow against all that I'm moaning about here, take that Simon Cowell. Yes that's a good song but frankly it doesn't count. Facebook campaigns to get songs to number one are stupid and childish. Its like turning up uninvited to a party where every one is dancing to Girls Aloud and changing the CD to Circle of Dead Children. Which does sounds like something I might do but ultimately you are spoiling other peoples fun. I have no interest in the charts so why would I want to alter it to suit my tastes?

Further more, if we are being honest, number ones in general are pretty awful anyway. Go off and look at them all. I guess I could of put a link in but why should I do all the hard work here. Now as you can see the 50's were nothing until Elvis turned up, the 60's were pretty good and then really not very much worth talking about at all since then.

Looking back at all the number ones since I was born there are only eight that I consider to good which, because I like making lists, I shall now list for you.

Eminem - Stan (Dec 2000)

The Clash - Should I stay (Mar 1991)

MARS - Pump up the volume (Oct 1987)

Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls (Jan 1986)

Kraftwerk - The Model (Feb 1987)

The Specials - Ghost Town (July 1981)

Blondie - Atomic (Mar 1980)

Blondie - Heart of Glass (Feb 1979)

Thankfully I was born when there was an amazing song at number one, hooray for Blondie. And I actually bought Pump Up the Volume but I lent it to Alistair Latimer and he never gave it back, the bastard. This was a taught lesson for an eight year old to learn.

Now I dare say that all rather sounds the rambling of a mad obsessive muso and of course it is for that is exactly what I am. To me the charts really mean nothing at all these days so I don't pay them any mind. There is nothing of any musical value going on in them these days, not since the 60's in fact. One should never forget that Led Zeppelin never charted. How we interact with music has changed and on the whole this is a good thing.

However it does not mean the charts have no merit at all. For a start some people actually like the songs that get into the top 40. And it does provide something for the kids to listen to. None of us start off liking Bob Dylan at an early age, even me and I was buying Acid House songs aged eight. No kids like something catchy or silly then they grow up and discover Nina Simone. I have happy memories of sitting next to my hi fi listing to the radio and tapping songs of the Radio 1 chart show on one of those little desk top recorders. Little DB was locked away in his bedroom for hours making his own mix tapes, some things never change.

Spirt of Christmas.

In these modern times it is often said that we have lost the true meaning of Christmas and its a sad reflection of how we live. But is this true? and what exactly is a traditional Christmas in the first place? Have we lost the true spirit of the festive times?

One would obviously assume that Christmas is a religious festival all about the birth of Christ. Which of course it is, expect that Christ wasn't born at this time, as shown in the bible. Things happen in the story that don't fit for a winter birth but point to summer. Now this doesn't really matter to much and I can understand why the Christan leaders at the time blended it in with what the pagan types where doing. Much easier to convert people if they can keep their festivals and not have to much change.

Christmas actually draws from a lot of various beliefs and ideas. Putting up decorations, the tree, giving gifts, yule logs, mistletoe, they are all distinctly non Christan. We have today an extremely multicultural festival taken elements from Christin and Druid faiths, ancient Babylon and Rome, European tribes and plenty more I'm sure. As far as I know Santa is not in the bible.

Now I don't bring this up to castigate Christians. I think its pretty wonderful thing that perhaps the biggest event of the year has been shaped and moulded over the years by so many different aspects of various cultures. Someone a long time ago had a good idea and its been added to over time. No, I mention this to make a point, which is that the spirit of Christmas is not about religion at all.

How many of us our Druids? How many of us are practicing Christin's? or Christians who actually go to a mass on December the 25th? Even the Christan's don't agree on the date, just ask the Orthodox lot. And even if this was about religion of some form how come so many that don't follow that faith take part?

Christan's can not lay claim to all of the festival, they make up a part of it. In the same way that people who used trees in worship make up a part of it. Thus the whole is more than the sum of its parts.

For me the true spirit of Christmas is in fact the stuff that many might bemoan as the complete opposite. Christmas is about being with the people you hold dearest, of treating them to a present and having a nice time. Its a celebration of family, children, lovers and friends. A part of the year where we make an effort to be nice to the people we care most about. Have some time of work and do a little bit of partying.

How many of you reading this have had any other type of Christmas? Its been like this for as long as I've been alive, that's 31 years of the same thing. I dare say its was the same for my parents, which pushes it up to over 50. And if the majority of people have the same experience then isn't that what Christmas is actually about?

But I do agree that the spirit of Christmas is under attack, even as I see it. My vision is not in itself about commercialism even though it depends on the buying of gifts. But lately this time of year is more and more about spending money.

People get in mad rush to spend all their money, maxing out credit cards and sometimes even taking out loans. I just can't understand why people do this. Why spend what you don't have and get into debt?

I think there is a great deal of pressure to have an idealised "perfect" Christmas and this leads people to feel they have to do certain things or other wise it won't be Christmas. The shops play their part as for them its vital to make as much money as they can. The spirit is changing to one of making as much money as possible.

Instead of taking time and effort to pick out the right gift to make a person you love smile its becoming more important to spend a lot of money to show you love them. And we allow far to much stress to take control of the day. It doesn't matter about cooking the perfect Turkey, in fact last year I had pasta, if your going to argue with your mad uncle then don't invite him and why have you wasted the effort buying him a pair of socks which show no personal touch at all.

It saddens me to see so many people getting so stressed and spending so much money, they are missing the point.

To fully enjoy the true meaning of Christmas surround yourself with those you love, give them gifts that show you actually know them and what they might like and have some fun while you don't work. Oh and get drunk too.

That is Christmas, its how its always been.

Frankie Boyle vs Katie Price

Scandal, controversy, gossip it seems these two are made for it and now they have come head to head over comments Frankie Boyle made about Katie Price and her son.

Frankie Boyle is off course well know for being a comedian who lives on the edge of good taste, in fact most of the time well beyond it. Its not the first time he's been the subject of complaint and debate. His comments this time his joke was that Katie had married a cage fighter to stop her son from raping her.

Which is pretty strong stuff, I think most mothers would be angry, especially since the joke was based around her sons disability.

Of course its just this sort of thing that Frankie is known for and has made him famous. If you don't like it then don't watch and you even get a warning about how its going to be offensive. You can just ignore it if you find it offensive. That's how the case for the defensive usually goes, to a point its correct. People should spend more time changing channels and lest time writing to the Daily Mail. But nether can one ignore things that are offensive other wise we are simply saying its fine to have them. One can't ignore the far right for example. And its all well and good for the rest of us to turn over but whats Katie Price supposed to do?

The better defense for Frankie Boyle is freedom of speech or artistic merit.

He is allowed to say what he wants and perform whatever material he sees fit. Whatever people may believe we do in the UK have freedom of speech. We can attack the government and not get sent to prison for it, its a wonderful thing that we take for granted. However we do not have, nor should we ever have, the freedom to avoid the consequences of what we say.

You cannot slander someone or trick people or insight violence. To do so brakes the law and it is right and proper that you answer to your crimes. Now I'm not saying Frankie has done this but such logic should be applied to all levels of what we say. Simply saying "I can say what I like" does not give you an excuse. If people don't like what you said then you must face the fallout from that. All when and good saying offensive things but if people take offensive then it doesn't necessary mean its their problem.

Was this joke funny? well that's far to subjective, if you laughed its funny. I'm not sure there's anything else to say about that.

Can Frankie pass this off as having artistic merits? again perhaps a little subjective but not as much as laughter. You can justify a lot of stuff if you are using it to make a point or put forward some kind of idea. Stewart Lee was recently in trouble for joking that he wished Richard Hammond had died in his crash. Out of context its not very nice, but seen as part of his show it actually forms a part of an idea that he is trying to get across. Agree with it or not but there is clear intention on the part of the performer to use that joke as a bridge to something else.

In the case of Frankie Boyle I just don't see the same thing going on. He is being offensive purely for the sake of it. And while he's being offensive there is no reverse or clever trick that shows he didn't really mean it was just to subvert your expectations. It comes across as just being what he thinks.

Having seen his new show I personally didn't find it funny, can't say it offended me all that much either. It was trying far to hard be controversial rather than funny. Still I'm sure the playground will be awash with talk of the show. Frankie has said that stand ups should quit at age 40, perhaps he should retire 2 years early.

Not that purely being offensive is in its self a bad thing but it does rather chip away at the argument that one has to give space to the comedy and let the artist pursuer their vision. I have on occasion myself seen how far I can push things in order to shock or get a laugh. But with out any of the above to justify it once you cross that line all you can is hold your hands up and say sorry.

What I'm trying to say is that its all fun and games until a line is crossed, admittedly a line that different for all of us. But once we cross it would should be big enough to admit to it. Unless of course Frankie really intended to hurt Katie Price or if he really doesn't care, in which case he is a rather nasty man. But I don't think I believe that, I mean he could be a lot worse if he wanted.

I have sympathy for Katie Price, who would of thought that possible, anyone would defend their child and she didn't ask for this. But it is kind of a by product of her career , she can't really expect to go through life with out being a target, given how she lives. She was never that kind about Jodie Marsh for example.

Hopefully that's not to judgemental but I don't really see much difference between what Katie Price does and what Frankie Boyle does. They both make a living out of trying to shock people they both want attention for what they are doing. He does it through jokes that are offensive, she made her name with porn, which some find offensive. For each case they have found fame and fortune through breaking taboos and shocking people.

In essence they are both just schools kids showing off in their own way to the rest of the class. Sadly I think they will both actually make a lot more money out of all of this, such is the world celebs live in.


In summation I think Frankie is fine do what he does but this time he went to far. The offend person complained and Frankie should hold his hands and say sorry and then they both get on with their lives. We don't need the press going nuts, this being on the news or dumb idiots writing stupid little blogs about it. And well done to Channel Four for sticking to their guns and not folding like the BBC did over Russell Brand.

So while I do enjoy being outlandish myself I don't think I've ever said anything that I wouldn't say to a persons face or that hard a huge serving of obvious irony.