literature
Geek literature from the New York Times or the recesses of online. Our favorite stories showcase geeks.
Gratuitous Excess: Baz Luhrmann's 'The Great Gatsby'
The greatest novel of the American dream (in my opinion) is F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. It's sad and sweet and gets read once a year as I sit on the shores of Long Island, beach chair in tow and getting roasted by the sun just to find out if it doesn't end the same way. (Spoiler--Gatsby still dies. I'd apologize for that, but if you haven't read it by now, shame on you).
By Marina Caitlin Watts9 years ago in Geeks
Silver Linings Playbook
As many (well-read and cultured) people will say, the book is usually better than the movie, with a few exceptions. One film that didn't include a major motif that the book highlighted throughout was the cinematic one of Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick. The 2013 film of the same name tells the story of Pat, a man who is recovering from separation from his wife after leaving a mental institution. On his road to recovery, he befriends Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), who helps him "beat his crazy by doing something even crazier." It made me laugh, cry, laugh so hard I cried, and the message of staying positive to always have that shot at a silver lining has been something I carry with myself everyday.
By Marina Caitlin Watts9 years ago in Geeks
"Gon," a Manga Without Boundaries
Narrative art is unique in its method of conveying a story by not being necessarily reliant on text. Ask any comic book artist, art instructor or publisher, and they'll tell you that a good comic should be able to visually tell its story without the need of text. The flow of the narrative must work even before the words and balloons are added in. But what if you take this philosophy to its most extreme lengths? You end up with a little manga series that transcends both language and culture called
By Joachim Heijndermans9 years ago in Geeks
Interview With Jennifer Camper, Host of the Queers & Comics Convention
As is the case with many social movements globally and throughout history, art–and in this case comic art–is a key element of LGBTQ culture and one of the most effective mechanisms for social commentary, critique and progress. It is in this very spirit that cartoonist and graphic artist Jennifer Camper and her co-organizers put together the inauguralQueers & Comics Conference in 2015. To put this in context, until as late as 1989 the Comics Code Authority had banned any mention of homosexuality in comics, forbidding gay characters, themes or even subtle references in dialogue. Even in the years following, queer comics were relegated to the underground comic world, where the niche content gained traction and an impassioned following until it spawned a genre unto itself. You need only look at the presence of queer comic book characters like Supergirl to understand that queer comics is underground no longer.
By Geeks Staff9 years ago in Geeks
Amazing Book-to-Movie Adaptations
Have you ever met a devoted bookworm, and have you ever asked them how they feel about the movie adaptations of their favorite book? So often, they respond with the same line: "The book was MUCH better than the film." Said with an air that implies that the whole idea of a filmmaker adapting the written world to the silver screen is doomed to fail. And, indeed, many film adaptations of books do fail. They don't recapture the magic of the original. They forget important details.
By Anthony Gramuglia9 years ago in Geeks
Popular Instagram Model Releases Spellbinding Debut Novel Titled “Give It Back”
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON—Ever since she was a little girl, Danielle Esplin wanted to write professionally. Today, that goal is now a reality. In 2016, she received a publishing contract from Black Rose Writing. The company recently released Give It Back, a mysterious and fast-paced novel guaranteed to leave readers on the edge of their seats with each attention-grabbing page.
By Nikki Gaskins Campbell9 years ago in Geeks
We Need A Haiku To Save Us: Batman
Haiku's are sparingly used, and if they are it's usually some form of satire. The elegant simplicity of a haiku lends itself to mockery and bawdiness, which leaches the sincerity out of an ancient respected form of prose. My goal is to bring the Haiku back to legitimate literature circles, and what better what to do that then to focus on something near to me, and a huge part of our zeitgeist: Super Heroes. These titans are at their zenith of influential power right now, with their action grip clenched on the silver screen, and our hearts. Read the first installment here.
By Derek Heid9 years ago in Geeks
Books About TV Shows by Pop Culture Critics
There has never been such a saturated television landscape as there is now, and the variety of TV shows that exist only continues to grow exponentially. If you're anything like me, you appreciate the episode post-mortem almost as much as the TV show itself (slight exaggeration, but I digress...).
By Rachel G. David9 years ago in Geeks
How Batman Would Defeat the Justice League
There are many facets of Batman that make him formidable. While his training and gadgets are important, his skills as a tactician are what really make him stand out. His ability to outthink his opponent is what elevates him to superhero status. However, Batman is as paranoid as he is brilliant, and that means he always has a backup plan. He is always prepared for the worst, even within the Justice League of America. This paranoia is on full display in the comic JLA: Tower of Babel.
By Jason Schwartz9 years ago in Geeks
We Need A Haiku To Save Us: Spider-Man
Haiku's are sparingly used, and if they are it's usually some form of satire. The elegant simplicity of a haiku lends itself to mockery and bawdiness, which leaches the sincerity out of an ancient respected form of prose. My goal is to bring the Haiku back to legitimate literature circles, and what better what to do that then to focus on something near to me, and a huge part of our zeitgeist: Super Heroes. These titans are at their zenith of influential power right now, with their action grip clenched on the silver screen, and our hearts.
By Derek Heid9 years ago in Geeks
