This is a minor thing in the grand scheme of your post, which overall was a compelling read. Your line about the Paste review of 'The Tortured Poets Department' is dismissive and flippant. Not toward Paste, they showed their true colors with the byline and the Sylvia Plath line itself, but toward Plath herself. Plath is portrayed in vulgar (in the classic sense) media as a tortured poet who killed herself, and her suicide is the butt of jokes, like Paste did. Plath is widely known as much more than the "tortured artist" that she is portrayed as in popular media. This is mostly due (today) to the disastrous treatment of her in the 2003 film Sylvia, directed by Christine Jeffs and starring Gwyneth Paltrow.
The film, like many portrayals of Plath in popular media, turned her into a caricature. Originally tapped to direct, Paweł Pawlikowski quit the project over creative control issues, calling it a 'Hollywood film.' Christine Jeffs, trying to make a name for herself as a woman director, did the best she could with the material. Paltrow and Daniel Craig were praised for their performances, but the film faced criticisms from those close to Plath and her husband, English poet Ted Hughes. Frieda Hughes, their daughter, wrote this concerning being approached about the film:
... they think
I should give them my mother's words
To fill the mouth of their monster,
Their Sylvia Suicide Doll
Rather than call out Pulse for wussing out on the byline, and making a joke comparing the review to harsh Pitchfork reviewers looking to shout above the noise of the early Internet, it might have been more thoughtful to attack them for what they did: Reduced one of the most formative voices in the Feminist Movement to a punchline.
very dear friends of mine. for what it’s worth, pitchfork tanked my band’s career too. shit sucked, and i still can’t quite laugh about it!
Totally get that. I respect it, honestly. Nurse that grudge like it’s a dear friend
Fascinating, informative, beautifully written: all the stuff I like in an essay. Thanks, Adam.
Thank you so much!
Getting crapped on by coastal elites is a formative experience for all sensitive Michiganders.
True! Altho historical accuracy compels me to point out that Pitchfork was based in Chicago at the time. The rough ‘n tumble Midwest!
Hadn’t heard that band name since … hm well
Oh pardon me! I would never knowingly disrespect my elders
Millennial hipster activation phrase
Ahem gen x
This is a minor thing in the grand scheme of your post, which overall was a compelling read. Your line about the Paste review of 'The Tortured Poets Department' is dismissive and flippant. Not toward Paste, they showed their true colors with the byline and the Sylvia Plath line itself, but toward Plath herself. Plath is portrayed in vulgar (in the classic sense) media as a tortured poet who killed herself, and her suicide is the butt of jokes, like Paste did. Plath is widely known as much more than the "tortured artist" that she is portrayed as in popular media. This is mostly due (today) to the disastrous treatment of her in the 2003 film Sylvia, directed by Christine Jeffs and starring Gwyneth Paltrow.
The film, like many portrayals of Plath in popular media, turned her into a caricature. Originally tapped to direct, Paweł Pawlikowski quit the project over creative control issues, calling it a 'Hollywood film.' Christine Jeffs, trying to make a name for herself as a woman director, did the best she could with the material. Paltrow and Daniel Craig were praised for their performances, but the film faced criticisms from those close to Plath and her husband, English poet Ted Hughes. Frieda Hughes, their daughter, wrote this concerning being approached about the film:
... they think
I should give them my mother's words
To fill the mouth of their monster,
Their Sylvia Suicide Doll
Rather than call out Pulse for wussing out on the byline, and making a joke comparing the review to harsh Pitchfork reviewers looking to shout above the noise of the early Internet, it might have been more thoughtful to attack them for what they did: Reduced one of the most formative voices in the Feminist Movement to a punchline.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frieda_Hughes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_(2003_film)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_Plath
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Hughes
This may very well be the piece that convinces me to pan a Substacker's novel in the pages of TMR.
😈