I realize the “I’m Fucking Matt Damon” bit has become the joke that wouldn’t die, but the particular episode in this ongoing gag has some relevance to a post I just made at one of the other blogs I contribute to, about a New York Times article discussing the way that online word of mouth is becoming key to campaigning among younger voters. I think videos like the above also demonstrate that these sort of word of mouth or “viral” models of distribution also are a key way that people engage with and comment on the political realm. It might not be heady analysis, but it’s commentary nonetheless — perhaps in the vein that fan videos are commentary on tv shows or movies.
Through some twist of lucky faith, I had the immense privilege of serving as column editor for Henry Jenkins way back when I first started working on Flow. One of my favorite pieces was one discussing the problem of Sarah Silverman’s film, Jesus is Magic.
We recently ran a kind of “greatest hits” issue, and Jenkins’s column is there, with a new postscript from the author. Silverman’s humor hasn’t gotten any less intriguing, and as Jenkins rightly points out, that sort of “aww shucks” approach now has several well-known practitioners, including Sasha Baron Cohen of Borat fame.
I think this video works because it plays with the slippage between the homosocial and the homosexual. Also, it’s almost painfully funny.
The video, “I’m Fucking Ben Affleck” is a response to the “I’m Fucking Matt Damon” video that Sarah Silverman and Matt Damon did. In the response video, Jimmy Kimmel says the video is a jab not at Silverman, but at Damon, who he blames for “taking something [he] loved.” For this and other reasons, the video becomes further homosocial as the significant exchange is not that between Silverman and Damon or Silverman and Kimmel, but between Damon and Kimmel.
In addition to being an interesting study in homosocial romantic/sexual exchange, it’s a great parody of Live Aid. Check those celebrity appearances. Gold star to Joan Jett.
As I’m moving toward a place in my academic career where I’m thinking more about publishing my work, I’m drawn to thinking about some of the problems with academic publishing. In particular, I’m concerned about how limited access is to academic journals. danah boyd recently-ish posted about why she’s made the decision to post only in open-access journals.
I think that the promise of open-access publishing is great — particularly as we move more and more toward digital publication. Flow, the journal I’ve been most involved with, is open access to the max, and the model has thus far proven really successful. It’s also involved the volunteer labor of dozens of graduate students and a few faculty, but sometimes that’s what it takes. Most closed-access and print journals involve a lot of unpaid labor, and I know at least some of us over at Flow enjoy the whole mess. I certainly have over the past few years. That said, however, I think the shift is going to be difficult, if it’s possible at all. Many journals that are not open-access are very entrenched — many rightly so, having published often literally decades of significant scholarship. I think the most likely scenario is that there will be an increase in open-access journals, but that this increase will not necessarily unseat the place that traditional subscription-only journals have occupied.
And, finally, if you’re interested in open-access journals, the Directory of Open-Access Journals, which lists over 3,000 journals, is a good resource.
I interviewed Austin-based Brothers and Sisters earlier this evening at band founder Will Courtney’s house. I arrived just as the photo shoot was ending, and stood around while they wrapped up. As the photographer was snapping the last few pictures, Will’s sister and bandmate Lily* pointed out that there was a rib on the floor near the door. Everyone cracked up, because, you know, rib on the floor.
The band seems like a nice pack of people. They’re on the verge of completing their second album, and they’re definitely part of what’s hot and new in Austin music. They sound like a smear of California music history, lots of ’60s dreams — and their song “Without You” made it onto the OC before it got canceled, which doubtless lowered the average age of their fanbase by at least a year or two. In any case, the article should be in the May issue of Soundcheck.
*Note: Will and Lily are the only actual brother and sister pairing.
