March
It’s been a few weeks of cultural indulgence. Between a couple of Wordfest events, a visit to Contemporary Calgary, and a film screening courtesy of the Queer Arts Society, I found myself really engaging with my city. When I wasn’t out and about, I was securing future joy in the form of concert tickets. If the last few weeks have taught me anything, it’s that the only extra I really want in life is access to a steady stream of live shows.
Spring is (allegedly) on its way, though as I write this there is snow is still falling outside, forever a reminder that renewal is more of a concept than a reality around here. But still, I feel a shift, however subtle.
Book Recommendation: One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad
History is often rewritten in real time. Atrocities unfold while many look away, justify inaction, or insist that the situation is complicated — but once the dust settles and outrage becomes risk-free, the same people might claim they were always against it. That’s the idea at the heart of Omar El Akkad’s latest book, its title inspired by a tweet of his that captured this phenomenon. Drawing from his personal experience and journalistic insight, he examines moral contradictions in response to Gaza.
El Akkad was a guest at one of the Wordfest events I went to (and have previously been lucky enough to see Tegan and Sara, Elliot Page, and Matty Matheson speak at). To hear him in a sold out room felt exceptional. He spoke at length about his disillusionment — the way he once believed in the ideals of fairness and justice, only to watch these values dissolve when it mattered most. His book expands on this, carving itself out as a necessary critique in how easily people can distance themselves from injustice until it’s convenient to care.
It’s not an easy read, but it shouldn’t be. It’s a powerful reflection on complicity, history, and the responsibility to bear witness.
When the time comes to assign blame, most of those to blame will be long gone. There will always be feigned shock at how bad things really were, how we couldn't have possibly known. There will be those who say it was all the work of a few bad actors, people who misled the rest of us well-meaning folks. Anything to avoid contending with the possibility that all this killing wasn't the result of a system abused, but a system functioning exactly as intended.
For many people, that will be enough — a return to some more tolerable standard of subjugation. But for many, it won't be, and the liberal class that acquiesced so begrudgingly to the least of measures will find that a sizable contingent who might have previously aligned with its ideals can no longer bring themselves to do so. Not after what has been done, what has been seen, what cannot be forgotten.
Honourable mentions: Bibliophobia by Sarah Chihaya, One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter by Scaachi Koul, Strange Pictures by Uketsu
Movie Recommendation: A Nice Indian Boy by Roshan Sethi
The day after seeing Omar El Akkad speak, I was at another sold out event — this time, a screening of the newly released A Nice Indian Boy, with director Roshan Sethi and actor Karan Soni both in attendance. Based on Madhuri Shekar’s play, A Nice Indian Boy is about a quiet doctor who brings his new boyfriend home to meet his traditional South Asian family. It’s so sweet, funny, and full of warmth, with an undeniable chemistry between Soni and co-lead Jonathan Groff that makes you feel like you’re watching a Nancy Meyers story.
Honourable mentions: Polite Society by Nida Manzoor, Laapataa Ladies by Kiran Rao, Nickel Boys by RaMell Ross
Music Recommendation: BETA by Peter Cat Recording Co
If you’re into dreamy, genre-bending tunes with a bit of a psychedelic flair, you would be in for a treat with Peter Cat Recording Co. Pitchfork described their sound as “early-20th-century cabaret, 1950s vocal jazz, 1960s soul, 1970s Bollywood, and early-2000s indie rock”, and while it’s a mouthful I’m not sure there’s a better way to sum them up. Their latest album BETA is a wild blend of moments that feel both nostalgic and innovative. My own favourites off the album are “People Never Change” and “Connexion”, but I would strongly recommend checking out their 2019 record Bismillah. I was also fortunate enough to have caught that they’ll be touring near me — a rare treat to see the band far from their home base in New Delhi.
Honourable mentions: Around the Fur by Deftones, The Slow Rush by Tame Impala, Widowspeak by Widowspeak
Other Favourites:
I attended my first Sapph-Lit book club meeting in March to discuss Emily Austin’s We Could Be Rats, who was actually there to chat about her latest release — I love books, I love women, I love community!
I’ve been mildly sick for six weeks (and unfortunately counting) and needed something a bit easier on the brain, so turned to my childhood favourite That’s So Raven — still pure nostalgia and absolutely hilarious, and who was going to remind me that the physical comedy was so consistently strong?!
The Great Canadian Baking Show for another comfort watch — my favourite uncompetitive competition show where the bakers are as sweet as their creations (and as a side note, it feels important to support the CBC right now while certain parties are waffling to defund it — public broadcasting is a good thing that ensures access to independent news, arts, and culture without being completely driven by corporate interests)
Finishing up a semester of classes has been a confidence booster, and reminds me that an openness to lifelong learning really does keep things interesting
This artwork named “School Trip” by Rokuro Taniuchi, whose gentle imagination still makes the rounds nearly 40 years after his passing:
Til next time,
Sab