Media I read and watched this week + Eurovision
I get all my articles via local library on Libby or PressReader. As a press junkie, those sources are a blessing, VÖBB, I love you 🤟
The Old Guard by Samuel Moyn (Harper’s)
There is a common problem in politics - too many old men in power. It shouldn’t be necessarily the government, though it is, but also the voters and those who have amassed a certain amount of wealth and thus gatekeeps change. The article focuses on the USA, but the same situation can be seen around the world. I have observed it in Germany many times. Quite scary, actually. The people who run the show they have no stakes in anymore (sorry if it sounds harsh) are, unfortunately, not allowing younger people into decision-making. Look out of the window to notice the consequences.
Celebs’ irritating book clubs (The Economist)
Long story short - famous faces sell. Parasocial relationships are real and we somehow tend to trust the celebrities, like Dua Lipa, to tell us which books are good. And they turn a solitary hobby into a social one.
Sorry, I did not like this article, as I don’t understand the hype behind celebrities trying so hard to carve themselves the status of intellectuals. Well, now I sort of understand, but still cannot accept it.
En Bretagne, suivez le druide by Guillame Tion (Liberation) ❤️
What promised some serious beef with people who abuse RSA (welfare system in France) turned out to be a very deep and fascinating dive into contemporary Druid culture. Yes, there is such a thing!
On the first look, these people do not fit into a neoliberal order we all suffer from right now, but as I always say in recent years, the worth of a person should not be determined by productivity. These druids create a community free of charge, but the price is honesty and devotion to the cause.
Was really happy to read this one!
Le big bang du diagnostic tardif by Cécile Deffontaines (L’Obs)
Topic that has hit home - last year I was diagnosed with autism at the age of 29. The article focuses on people above 40, but we all have the same problems. Having it hard to fit in even in one’s own family, not knowing what is wrong, seeking answers - been there, absolute hell. Something tells me, that the more common diagnostics can become, the more people will find out, that they are neuroatypical. Can’t wait for the discourse to shift, because the contemporary status quo of the world leaves us overboard.
Guardian writes about cars being not a good thing for anybody.
Instead of the article, I can wholeheartedly recommend the YouTube channel of CGN - Cycling global Network. They have already made several reportages (I’d rather call them documentaries) about this problem with a particular stress on bikes vs cars. I have also found a book on this topic: “Life after cars” by Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon. Haven’t had the chance to read it, but looks promising. Fuck cars (with exceptions, of course, I am not naive).
Eurovision 2026 🎶
You can hate it as much as you want, but I have been a ESC aficionado since 2004. I was bloody 8 year old back then. Yes, most of the songs are that bad. Yes, it is political. Both things have always been there. I am there for the show and music, as some songs live in my playlist rent-free ever since I heard them during the finale. I never watch the semis and never listen to the songs before, this is a tradition. And yes, I might sleep on 31.12, but I will never sleep on the Eurovision night.
Not ashamed of it, even proud. So let’s move to some observations (man, I even made notes this year!!):
Vienna is a very rich city in terms of culture, so it wasn’t surpising to see the orchestra. Plus with the recent scandal when a young prominent Hollywood actor said something stupid and everybody took it out of context, there were many instances with opera clearly influencing the songs (take France or Romania plus several overs). Music in the Postcard section was a piece of art and I’d love to find it!
All in all, this year wasn’t particularly strong, some entrances were decent in terms of choreography, some had strong vocals (Poland!) and refreshing messages (UK). My problem is, that many songs overall are being created to become torn up by TikTok edits, so that they do not sound coherently anymore. But this is Grandma in me speaking, it is just a new form of culture, which is inevitable.
A good thing: more and more countries decide to ditch singing in English and it works perfectly! Albanian number and lyrics made me cry, that hasn’t happened for a while. This is the diversity I personally ask for:
The presenters:
M: talks about rules in French
S: I couldn’t have said it better!
M: Si!
Eurovision, apart from huge problems, is about a night full of partying and legacy. 70 years of it. You can boycott it, you can snobbishly say, that the composers of 19th century would have had a heart attack, but Eurovision is still there. There are still people like me, who Shake It once a year in May. It is emotional and I want it to stay this way.
P.S. the memes on Reddit rose to the occasion before the livestream was ended :D
P.P.S. Had more time this week and watched the French adaptation of Monte-Christo (2024) - they have changed things that did not age well and left the rest with love alone. Highly recommended!
