Shklovsky's Estrangement Technique: Exhibit A

[lapsedmodernist]

While I refuse to do that "stop thinking about politics and post a picture of a cat" meme, I give you the best thing ever, the MIM notes reviews of pop music, which I clicked on while I was trying to find the MIM review of Ani Difranco for trochee. Hours of endless entertainment at your fingertips:

MIM on Jewel

Unbelievable. First, we thought Jewel is another complacent Amerikkkan who just "wants to have fun" and "mesmerize" the public with "milky thighs."

It's hard to imagine the female singer with a "bedroom" voice and the rest of album devoid of much meaning but typical gender aristocracy mixture of ambiguity ("U have 2 be careful with me") and pornography ("Press yourself into me") still thinks about CHANGING this country. Of course, we salute and truly appreciate such attempts and give Jewel thumbs up just for this song. If only she could drop the rest...

MIM on Celine Dion
The one good song is "Love is all we need," because this refers to "we" as in all people.

MIM on Shakira

Shakira sings in "Whenever, Wherever" "Baby I would climb the Andes solely/To count the freckles on your body." But nowhere in her songs does she talk about what she (or others) might do to fight oppression or end the needless deaths of people around the world at the hands of those who profit.

MIM on Shania Twain

Womyn is not just a pretty face. We would give Shania additional credit for saying that. Also contrary to the opinion popular in some pseudo-feminist circles, it's desirable and admirable for wimmin to be not only astronauts, but ballerinas as well.

MIM on Britney Spears

When MIM comes to power in the dictatorship of the proletariat, entertainment won't be for profit, and we believe we will suddenly see a drop-off in pornography when there's no money in it. It may rightly be considered artistic expression under capitalism, because that's the best capitalism can do anyway, but once the money element is gone there won't be the Britney Spears phenomenon anymore.

All reviews are followed by this caveat:
MIM has explained that one might even "like" this music while knowing rationally that there is something wrong with it, maybe even profoundly wrong and evil. Being a Maoist means being a revolutionary scientist and that means having the ability to question everything that we like.

Enjoy!

Comments

[theophile.livejournal.com]

god, the MIM was the best part of being in college. I miss those crazy bastards.

[lapsedmodernist.livejournal.com]

There's plenty to fill your void on livejournal in case you haven't noticed.

[theophile.livejournal.com]

I guess I meant "miss" as in "retroactively view through rose-tinted spectacles," not "ever want to have to deal with again." kind of like my first girlfriend, but with a much less pleasing odor.

[trochee.livejournal.com]

hee hee. I look forward to reading your letter, especially if it inspired this post. I'm saving your letter as a reward for getting work done. (everybody's got to get motivated).

lunacy. MIM has already made it onto my del.icio.us links; they're so juicy and nutty.

[lapsedmodernist.livejournal.com]

I'm saving your letter as a reward for getting work done.

awww.

It wasn't exactly inspiration, I was just looking up a link for you and realized they now have a full-blown review section. Then I was entranced. Then I had to share.