Musea Art Review #28: The Nation 4/12/04
TomHendricks474
Title: The Nation 4/12/04
What is it? Weekly editorial and news magazine since 1865
Technical Quality: Average
Innovative Quality Average with illustrations below average
and lackluster.
Review: This long running news weekly seems insular in
much of its comments, out of touch in its art reviews, and
occassionaly brilliant in its articles and comments - all with
a leftist leaning.
This issue has a lot of political comment against Bush,
his administration, and the right wing in such editorials
as "Time for Truth" - war on Iraq; "More Blame
for Bush" - Clarke testimony; "Subject to Debate"
the NASCAR dad's voting bloc, etc. Plus comment
on the ongoing Arab Israeli conflict.
There are also articles on Africa's misuse of its Oil
monies (the best and by far the most personal
story of the issue), regime change in Iran, murders in
Algeria, etc.
Next comes reviews of books and the arts that seemed
mostly out of touch views, on inconsequential works,
with more personal comment than insight. "Waterfront",
a book on Manhattan’s shores, two first novels with excerpts that
seem overwrought, over written, over padded, and ultimately
boring and dull, Courtney Love's new CD with snide
comment a plenty; and a look at Eternal Sunshine and two
other films. The reviews seemed soft and lite throughout.
I certainly was not influenced to read or listen or see any
of the art reviewed.
And speaking of lite - there was also a silly poem by
Calvin Trillin who should try harder.
Finally a novel crossword that seemed very tough.
Political comments throughout were sharp
though often inconsequential in their emphasis
on details and strategy over the actual impact of the
issues under discussion. And there seldom was anything
that would really touch most readers. There was a sense
of preaching to a choir throughout , and a very insular choir
at that.
Articles were hit and miss. Reviews were a waste of time,
and extras were lite.
Also I'd like to comment on a very confusing inside ad.
The copy reads, "Nobody owns the Nation. Not GE. Not
Disney. Not Murdoch or Time Warner. We are a wholly
owned subsidiary of our own conscience”...etc.
But the photo along side the ad, is a middle aged African
American with a goofy look on his face and his baseball
cap brim slanted to one side in a comical pose that seems
to me to be downright insulting. What's the point of this slur?
It's needless and offensive.
Contact Info: www.thenation.com
let...@thenation.com
Overall Grade 3.5 out of 10.0
Editor's Choice mini Reviews: Library tendencies to turn into
video stores and homeless hangouts - overall grade: worisome.
Grading system: 9-10 Highest grade - Life's work of a
master (ex. Collected plays of Shakespeare, collected
symphonies of Beethoven) 8-9 Single best work of a
celebrated master's career. 7-8. Best work of an era or
genre or decade. 6-7 Best work of the year. 5-6 Very
good. 4-5 More good than bad. 3-4 Average amount
of good = amount of bad. 2-3 Mostly bad with some
redeeming parts. 1-2 Nothing redeemable. 0-1 So bad
it is offensively bad and outrages the reviewere for
taking up that time in his life - just awful.
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Tom Hendricks tomhend...@cs.com
http://musea.digitalchainsaw.com