This week, I am thinking about tournaments. Several months ago at a small, but rambunctious, Coven Ab, Steph and I began to discuss the overwhelming number of Chrises in Hollywood. This is well-trod territory, but as we got more impassioned/drunker, I pulled out a notebook and began to make list of all the Chrises with the intention of making a March Madness-style tournament bracket.
I've always loved the various March tourneys across the internet, Jezebel, The Fug Girls and, of course, The Tournament of Books, so I figured this newsletter should have one.
After I explained the concept of divisions, we were going to break them up into four groups "heartthrobs", "superheroes", ""franchise" and "other", but it was became clear very quickly that it wouldn't work. Hemsworth is in three of those. Eventually, we decided on a top seed for each division:
Hemsworth for Hot, Pine for Distinguished, Evans for Cute, Pratt for Funny. We then tried to categorize everyone else from the list into those categories. As we got drunker still and began to run out of Chrises (who knew that was possible?) there was some googling and some creative choices, but finally we had enough for The Tournament of Chris.
How you choose your Chris is up to you. Maybe it's hotness, maybe it's charm, maybe it's humor, go with your heart, your head or other things.
The polls will be open until Thursday, March 29th at 10 am.
I'll announce the winner in LITL #86.
Go vote for your favorite Chris, share with your friends and in the meantime let me know if we left off your favorite Chris.
This week in reading. . .
When I began to read 300 Arguments, I didn't think I would finish. It is aphorism after aphorism, but after a while the pace feels familiar and overall it feels immensely quotable
Here Comes the Sun was brutal and unrelenting. I wasn't anticipating it being such a painful read. The Jamaican Patois slowed me down a bit (sub-vocalization FTW).
I read the immensely readable Warcross, which felt like Ready Player One meets The Hunger Games. It has world building and bad ass female protagonist, and gets overall high marks despite the fact that I could see the ending coming from a mile away.
Then I started This Shall be My Undoing which is just fine? It was so hyped up that I am underwhelmed. I also blame number one troll, Nicole, for filling my head with negativity.
I am going on vacation next week. What are some good, juicy beach reads? Bachelor Nation, perhaps? Please send suggestions!
This week in listening. . .
*HEAVY SIGH* Sooo Many White Guys books really great guests who have great, interesting stories to tell, but I don't think I can get past Phoebe's schtick anymore. She called Gloria Steinem "GloGlo" and said she was happy to have DeRay on because "actors and celebrities are fine, but it's good to have on someone with substance". I know what she was trying to say, but damn, bite the hand that feeds you much?
Absolutely obsessed with Mona Chalabi and was really excited to hear her on Note to Self.
Been perusing this list for podcasts to fill the Another Round shaped hole in my heart. Fingers crossed that I find something good.
This week in TV. . .
I was really excited to watch Rise, but then I read this piece and this one about a character, who is based on a real gay person, being written as straight with the reasoning that it would depend on “clichés that didn’t feel quite honest for what was our experience today.” I love Jason Katims and this is just utterly disappointing.
The This is Us finale was a tear-jerker, obviously, but their flash forwards are such a fascinating storytelling device. I am here to say that I will fly to LA and egg someone's car if they do anything bad to Beth. MARK MY WORDS.
I hated the Elena Ferrante books (I KNOW I KNOW, DON'T @ ME), but I am very excited to watch the show?
This week in a gif. . .
SKBonSNL
This week in movies. . .
I saw A Wrinkle in Time and while I didn't love it, I loved that there was a girl at the center with all these amazing, powerful women around her. Also from this piece in Vulture:
DuVernay mentioned a key scene in the film where Meg holds out her hand to Calvin and asks her to trust him, and the young man does, following Meg into the face of danger. “Tell me where you’ve seen that before,” said DuVernay.
This scene resonated deeply with me for exactly the reason that Ava says. I've never ever seen that before. I want my niece to see representations like this even if it comes wrapped up in a weirdly CGI'd movie.
Looking forward to seeing "Love, Simon" especially because of this piece by my uncle-not-cousin, GGG.
This week in a quote. . .
"A photograph isn’t necessarily a moment of truth, but what the photographer wants you to see. This is not just photography’s problem. It is a fundamental flaw of memory. We remember only a version of the story, and we tell only a fraction of that version. And sometimes, even that sliver will fail us." - Abeer Hoque
This week in photo things. . .
Love Ryan McGinley's portrait of Cardi B. for the NYMAG music issue. (Bonus: Jazmine Hughes' perfect essay and Angela Flournoy on Man's Not Hot)
I am going to need a copy of How New York Breaks Your Heart ASAP.
Love these gifs of pinball machines by Hannah Whitaker for Topic.
Russian photographer Masha Ivashintsova's unearthed archives are incredible.
This week in The Interview with Kendra Ross. . .
If money (and access) was no object, what frivolous thing would you buy or do today?
Red Leather Slouchy Tamara Mellon Boots…they keep popping up on my IG and I gag every time.
Have you ever gone on a pilgrimage?
I have been on a spiritual pilgrimage over the past 18 months to a year. It hasn’t been a continuous one, but it also hasn’t ended. It expands each time I travel to a new place…I think it started in Cuba.
What is your favorite time of day?
The morning; 7AM is the perpetual clean slate
What do you think you do best?
I am best at being my damn self!
Please share your favorite photo of yourself and why it is your favorite.
It’s not my fave ever, but it is my fave right now. I was in Bali and I felt and look(ed) like a whole grown ass woman who was in her bag. This pose is exactly how I want to feel everyday.
Photo Credit: Denele D. Biggs © 2018
Kendra Janelle Ross is an award-winning cultural worker and social entrepreneur who is passionate about the nexus between artistic practice, arts advocacy, scholarship and social justice. She has spent nearly 20 years as a music business professional coordinating and managing record label operations at top global music corporations. She’s also spent 15+ years writing, recording and performing music as a solo artist and in collaboration with celebrated artists. When not on stage or in the boardroom, Kendra is an arts advocate and cultural organizer in Pittsburgh and a doctoral candidate in Community Engagement at Point Park University.
For more of her interview (and the archive of previous interviews), go here.
This week on the internet. . .
One day I'll be brave and articulate enough to discuss my own class anxiety, but until then I'll just link to brilliant essays like this one by Ashley C. Ford.
What it costs to an instagram influencer. These stories will are always fascinating.
In praise of tender masculinity. I am thinking about this A LOT lately. NYMAG also published a great package on how to raise a boy.
One of my faves Rumaan Alam (pre-order his book here) interviewed another fave Mallory Ortberg.
This profile of India Mahdavi (especially because of the pictures).
I love Kelly Marie Tran.
me, as a dog,
Leonor
