DJ Curium's Dance for UnCanny Con-Goers

My playlist from my set at 2018 CONvergence this passed weekend: 

Bad Reputation from the movie Kick Ass covered by The Hit Girls

Let’s Do It from the movie Tank Girl covered by Joan Jett and Paul Westerberg

Everyone is Wrong from the movie Elektra by The Donnas

Kids in America from the television show Riverdale (inspired by Archie Comics) covered by KJ Apa and Camilla Mendes

None of Your Business (Barb Wire metal mix) from the movie Barb Wire by Salt 'n' Pepa

Backdoor Lover from the movie Josie and the Pussycats "performed" by Du Jour

I Want Your Cray Cray from the television show Jessica Jones performed by Rachel Taylor (Trish Walker) & Kandi Marks

It’s On Again (piano edition) from the movie The Amazing Spider-Man 2 by Alicia Keys featuring Kendrick Lamar

King Charles from Marvel’s The Runaways by YUNGBLUD

DeadPool Rap from the movie Deadpool by TEAMHEADKICK

Wrek tha Discotek from the movie Blade by Roger Sanchez & Soulson

Opps from the movie Black Panther by Vince Staples & Yugen Blakrok

99 Red Balloons from the movie Watchmen by Nena

Just Like Heaven from the movie Atomic Blonde (based on the comic Coldest City) by The Cure (I picked a song from this movie because there is a scene in which there is a television on in the background and an Information Society video is on)

(Can’t You) Trip like I Do from the movie Spawn by Filter & the Crystal Method

Atom Bomb from the original X-Men movie by Fluke

Poison Lips from the movie Dredd (based on the comic 
Judge Dredd) by Vitalic

Bidibodi Bidibu from the television show Wynonna Earp by Bubbles

Wonder Woman’s Wrath (edited) from the movie Wonder Woman by Rupert Gregson-Williams

CONvergence 2017 Playlist

My original set though I had to drop a couple of songs due to time constraints. Includes source material. Pretty awesome and looking forward to doing it again.

  1. Yellow Flicker Beat performed by Lorde from the movie Mockingjay Part. 1 based on the novel Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

  2. #1 Crush -Garbage from the movie Romeo & Juliet, story by William Shakespeare 

  3. In Your Grave -Jaymes Bullet from the movie Vampire Academy based on the books in the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead 

  4. I Want You to Want Me performed by Letters to Cleo from the movie 10 Things I Hate About You adapted from The Taming of The Shrew by Shakespeare

  5. Kids in America- The Muffs from the movie Clueless an adaptation of the book Emma by Jane Austen (also recently featured in Riverdale)

  6. Hush performed by Kula Shaker from the movie I Know What You Did Last Summer based on the book by Lois Duncan 

  7. Let’s Do It-Joan Jett & Paul Westerberg from the movie Tank Girl based on the comics series Tank Girl  by Jamie Hewlett & Alan Martin 

  8. It’s On Again by Alicia Keys (featuring Kendrick Lamar) from the movie The Amazing Spiderman 2 based on the comic series created by Stan Lee

  9. Backdoor Lover performed by “Du Jour” from the movie Josie and the Pussycats based on the comics created by Dan DeCarlo

  10. Poker Face performed by Lady Gaga from the movie the Lightening Thief from the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan 

  11. Obsession performed by Sky Ferreira from the show The Vampire Diaries based on the book series created by L. J. Smith 

  12. Choosing Dauntless by Junkie XL  featuring Ellie Goulding from the movie Divergent based on the book series by Veronica Roth 

  13. Into the Lair performed by Zedd from the movie The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones based on the book series by Cassandra Clare

  14. Tea Party performed by Kerli from the movie Through the Looking Glass based on the book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll 

  15. Brand New Day performed by Diana Ross and Micheal Jackson from the movie The Wiz based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz book series by L. Frank Baum

  16. Be Our Guest performed by Ewan McGregor, Emma Thompson, Ian McKellen, Gugu Mbatha-Raw from the movie Beauty and the Beast based on the book La Belle et la Bête by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont

  17. Other Father Song performed by They Might Be Giants from the movie Coraline based on the book by Neil Gaiman

  18. Kings and Queens and Vagabonds  performed by Ellem from the show Reign inspired by the Young Royals Series by Carolyn Meyer 

  19. Breath of Life performed by Florence and the Machine from the movie Snow White and the Huntsman based on the fairy tale by The Brothers Grimm

  20. Once Upon a Dream performed by Lana Del Rey from the movie Maleficent based on the stories La Belle au bois Dormant by Charles Perrault and Briar Rose by the Brothers Grimm

The 100 (but really only like 20 or something)

Nuclear War. Fanatical religion. Tribalism. Treacherous A.I. Ecological Disaster. Making our children fight wars for us. Just to name a few of the elements that fuel the storylines of the show "The 100". Based on a book series by Kass Morgan, the television show "The 100" sits on a lot of lists with titles “Best Shows You’ve Never Seen” and “Most Underrated Sci-Fi Shows.” The overwhelming majority of the time I do not agree about what shows are on these lists, but in this case they are correct. 
Set a little less than 100 years after nuclear war has wiped out most of mankind, "The 100" tells the story of 4,000 survivors sent to live in a space station above the planet to ensure the continuation of the human race. Resources are scarce and they are supposed to last far beyond what they realistically can, so any crime, no matter how small, is punished by death-unless you are under the age of 18. These crimes include stealing needed meds or food, and having more than one child.
But best laid plans really are the road to hell. The ark (as the station is called) does not have what it takes to ensure the survival of anyone, much less 4,000 people, so they send 100 “prisoners” to see if Earth is in any way habitable. Here they find radioactive storms, toxic soil, warring clans, and societies that shun anyone not genetically attractive (not unlike leper colonies from history). 
Merciless in killing off of characters, somewhere near the end of episode 3 The 100 is already down to less than half. (At this point into season 3 I am surprised if anyone makes it through an episode, much less a season). 
"The 100" brings with it some of the more realistically theorized behavior of humanity after a nuclear war than I would say most shows do. In the sci-fi writing world there are genuinely only a handful of things writers seem to agree on. Humankind’s annihilation at their own hand, be it through nuclear war or ecological disaster, definitely is one of those things. And really, when you have a look around, I don’t think anyone (reasonable) would disagree that this is a possibility beyond measure these days. It also establishes once again that here on Earth we seem to have a pretty hard time learning any lessons. 
The books had not yet been published when the CW picked up the rights for the story. I didn’t know much about it when it was being filmed, but I decided to avoid watching it for some time because what little I knew about it I didn’t want spilling over into my own writing as I was rounding out completing my first sci-fi novel at the time. (This ended up being unnecessary as the stories are pretty different). 
In the first season of the show the soundtrack was comprised of popular, recognizable hit songs and it did not work. It was one the few elements keeping it from being a serious sci-fi epic, but season 2 came and that changed. 
As the kids go out into the world and discover not only do they not necessarily have any idea what morality is or what that could even possibly mean in this world they now live in, the music gets more complex and immersive. And one way this is demonstrated is by the discovery of relics of the past. And it is UNSETTLING. It’s in these moments that the nature of the story really hits home. A very good example of this is a scene when a group is headed once again to find if there is any safe passage across a stretch of land and in a moment of seemingly carefree jubilance they sing along to "Add It Up" by the Violent Femmes-a pretty familiar song in the indy rock world. It’s only then you realize how eerie the lyrics to this piece of music really are, and that 100 years from now is not much time. 
*as a side note, the linguist who worked on Game of Thrones has also worked in developing the Grounder language on "The 100" 
*I also appreciate that sexuality is a non-issue. It just is.

Katniss Everdeen

Miserable, misanthropic, reluctant, trying to do the right thing even though you don’t always want to or even know what it might be-
Of all the Young Adult books I’ve read (which numbers into the hundreds the last 10 years) and of all the movies made in the genre, no one embodies these qualities more in my mind than Katniss Everdeen. 
In the world of the Hunger Games, where the differences of status and authoritarianism is the rule, the most vulnerable of people paying the highest of price-one can’t help but notice the correlation to reality in our world where the wealthiest of us take more and more and the gap between economic classes continues to grow. The overwhelming anger this can cause is enough to make anyone want to hide away and not deal with it because who ever knows what to do to change anything? We seemingly often end up back in the same place. And Katniss Everdeen gets to live through all of this cycle. Her anger drives her and her detachment keeps her alive and her emotional reactions inspire a world. 
Unsurprisingly, due to it’s “unsatisfactory religious content”, sexual implications, and seemingly violent political messages, this book has become one of the most challenged pieces of writing out there. In 2013 it hit the #5 spot on the list of books people tried to ban. As such, I think one of my most joyous moments as a reader was helping buy an entire classroom full of kids a copy of the first book. 
These books are important. Our society tries very hard to stomp the rebellious spirit out of us as we grow older, and never more so than when we are teenagers. In a lot of ways the Hunger Games trilogy is not a new set of stories but simply a retelling of a world that has a very difficult time learning its lessons. 
Reality television dominates the world that Katniss inhabits-sound familiar? 
Suzanne Collins used as reference many of her father’s own hunting and foraging books as well as his knowledge he acquired growing up in the Great Depression. He also served in the Vietnam war and this had a big impact on her family growing up. 
Not all that long ago I was talking with someone who felt uncomfortable saying they didn’t like the movie “since it was so popular.” I countered with explaining that it’s not the type of movie you like. Kids are killing kids to survive, it’s not a story to entertain you, it’s a story to make you think. 
So as you have your celebrations today, with all the things that people enjoy on this day: hot dogs & hamburgers (created in Germany), apple pie and soda (created in England), cold beer (so old-think Mesopotamia, read: Ancient Iraq) and of course fireworks (invented where else but China?) consider what it means that we have an administration with implications of an election having been influenced by a foreign government and a president demanding to see the most sacred of documents in a democracy-the voter rolls- and recall what author Suzanne Collins hoped to accomplish with the Hunger Games which was, "questions about how elements of the book might be relevant in their own lives," like not taking your next meal for granted and being politically aware. 
It’s not really a secret where the ideas for these stories come from. With that I give you Lorde’s excellent cover of Everybody Wants to Rule the World from the movie Catching Fire in the Hunger Games series. 
(If you need something a little lighter to do with the Hunger Games I recommend looking up the Onion’s review of Catching Fire)

In Which I am Going to Dj at Convergence

To be clear, I was never under any illusion that trying to dj was an easy task. As a party host/long time club-goer-if you put even a bit of effort into doing anything really- it’s a lot of work (and also money but that’s a conversation for another time). 
However, now that I’ve been learning not just the gear but what it means to put together a specific idea for a set, I can tell you with certainty this is a wonderful but complicated and time-consuming craft. I was someone who liked to dig for music already, but getting into something that’s niche as is fantasy/sci-fi/horror music soundtracks specifically based on books for Young Adults -well, let’s just say my next book isn’t done yet because I decided to give this a try too. Yeah that’s it. 
I wanted to share a little bit about what I’ll be attempting on Friday night by sharing videos and clips from movies in the theme. I decided for Sunday to start with something from The Wiz because as a kid growing up it was one of the few things I recall watching on TV from time to time, particularly on Sunday for family movie days. It was a pretty big deal because of course when we are honest we know that there there is not enough inclusiveness in the scifi/fantasy world -especially in movies. And really, when you know what you want to do and you know who is going to come I do not see the point in throwing a party if you are not even going to try to have something for everyone. 
SO I start here. 
A few things about the books and movies:
The Wiz is based on the 14-book series that started with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum in 1900.
The first Oz movie was not a commercial success even though the books were a smashing hit.
The Wiz also didn’t start as a box office success but did end with critical success including garnering 5 Oscar Nominations. 
In the books Dorothy’s shoes are not red. They are silver. Diana Ross wore silver, Judy Garland wore the red ones.
L. Frank Baum worked for women’s suffrage. 
The Wiz is when Michael Jackson started to learn choreography, which he took very seriously. 
Quincy Jones, who put together the music for the film, never left the set. 
There was backlash over this movie as people called it a movie “for black people” rather than a movie with “black stars” and it had a direct effect on the film’s original box office take and distribution. 
Set in modern environments, the film pays tribute to the director’s home city by featuring landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge and Coney Island. 
I picked this particular clip because I never recalled seeing it in the times that I watched The Wiz on TV as a child. I came to learn that it was, in fact, edited out because it was “too sexy.” 
Considering this is a scene about opioid flowers I’m not sure the hot ass ladies are the problem but you can decide for yourself. I present “The Poppy Girls”.

At Home with Monsters: My favorite pieces in the exhibit.

The At Home with Monsters exhibit has no doubt been written and photographed more times than pretty much any art exhibit ever. I am no exception here. I went to see the exhibit three times spending many hours examining, reading, photographing and trying to soak up every detail I could from the magnificent collection. Not the least of which was Del Toro’s personal notebooks. I didn’t get my creative life off the ground until much later in my adult life. It is one thing I do wish that had happened and I try very hard not to wish for things. Only to work towards them. I did not grow up in any kind of environment that allowed for what was considered something so frivolous and a few times as I got older (into my early 20’s) I had a couple of boyfriends who informed me I had no talent and shouldn’t be bothered. And for some time I didn’t. I was surrounded by creative people and their talent intimidated me and I was quite sure I would never be one of them. 

Then I just stopped worrying about it and started to do things. I can’t even say exactly why but I know part of it was that I just got tired of not creating anything and only consuming it. Don’t get me wrong, I am critical as hell of myself and I am nowhere near where I hope to be someday but I no longer wish for it and I try hard not to worry about empty, critical comments. Genuine critique sure but someone just being an ass, nope. It takes time to learn the difference but once you do, you sort of just smile and shrug. Possibly make sarcastic remark. Go about your business. 

I am drawn to the weirdoes for inspiration. We have reached a peak in the creative world where the weirdoes have really taken over too. Monsters, fairy tales, superheroes, villains, etc…all the things we were shunned for when we were younger all sit on top of the popular culture heap. 

Del Toro’s work is certainly for outsiders but it turns out that the outsiders number into the many thousands and even millions at this point. The universal appeal of the monster that lives in us all is something he has genuinely been able to communicate to the world. And that monster doesn't make us bad. And that brings comfort to many souls. 

His unusual upbringing which includes odd things like his father winning the Mexican National Lottery and growing up in a tumultuous part of Mexico- that at one point his father was actually kidnapped and the family had to pay ransom to get him back- twice, brings with it a not ordinary point of view. Del Toro’s work is a wonderful example of how not white washing everything in the states keeps storytelling from growing stale. It’s not a secret that the horror, fantasy and sci-fi genre can sorely lack inclusiveness and for some reason that I have yet to comprehend this is a subject of battlement with some caucasian writers(can you hear my eyes rolling, I wonder).

I am so glad I got this peek into his personal world. His commitment to his art. His success in a world that does not make it easy for the weirdoes. Even though the weirdoes always tell the best stories. Literally, we all know this-with that here are some photos of my favorite pieces from the At Home with Monsters Exhibit.

Midnight Special

A fair number of the last few superhero movies have a left a bad mark on my love for the genre. The rampant sexism is not helping. Even with Wonder Woman finally appearing in DC's latest disaster they couldn't help the "I thought she came with you" comment. 
And as much as I enjoy the Avengers movies I am close to finding them tiresome. Too much CGI, too many big stars who are themselves and not the characters-yawn, yawn, yawn.
So, I went to see Midnight Special last night. It is wonderful. It is quiet, thoughtful sci-fi and strangely possessed of moments that feel as though they are happening in real life. It's a small budget movie and as it often seems for that reason more gets poured into it from the people working on it. It's nice to see something that is not a franchise nor just a remake of something that didn't need resurrection in the first place.

Movies

I am going to Star Wars tonight and I had not really planned to see it anytime soon. I haven't been too excited about it as it seems to me that movies are constantly the same these last ten years. Well, I guess I am caught in the snare as well. I did watch a few trailers of continuing franchises this morning and this is the one that caught my eye the most.

Friday Fandom: Guillermo Del Toro

I thought I should start with Guillermo Del Toro on my Friday Fandom since the movie I am most excited to see this year is Crimson Peak. Seriously, I love his movies and adore his book. His Bleak House work/storage/art museum is somewhere I wish I could go. Also, I certainly wouldn't mind my own extra house filled with my own whimsy. Hellyboy 2: The Golden Army is pretty much perfect. If you don't think so, I don't know what's wrong with you. If you're not familiar with Mr. Del Toro's work you should look him up. You will not be disappointed. The house in the trailer for Crimson Peak looks like somewhere I wouldn't mind living and the costumes! ::SWOON:: He's so good at telling a scary story without an overabundance of gore. Sans, possibly the show The Strain. But I've even watched some of that and will likely finish it. 

You can get his book for endless inspiration. As someone who has no truly deep imagination and who struggles to create anything, I greatly admire people who are deeply gifted with such talents. Especially when they use it to make marvelous things.

Pictures from the Legendary movie site as well as Pinterest. Though I can tell you some come right out the book. LOOK HIM UP!!