When I think about the seasons of my life, I tend to think about the art I enjoyed as a defining characteristic of those times.
Maybe it’s because art has always been a big passion of mine — I just grew from reading contests in elementary to writing music review columns in college. Or maybe it’s because I’ve learned that art has a way of connecting to our emotions and memory in a way many things don’t (though that might be better suited for my philosophy of art class from this spring.)
Whatever it is, when I think of the summer I got my driver’s license, I think of Ben Rector’s album “Brand New.” It’s a happy, folksy album about youth and growing older, and I blasted the CD through my minivan speakers every day.
Or, when I think of the winter during 2020-21, I think of the movie “Little Women (2019).” It had recently become available for purchase, so my college roommates and I watched it at least once a month. It’s a tale of friendship and growth through a difficult season — both the movie and that winter.
With back to school marking the unofficial end of summer, I started thinking about the relationship between art during this most recent season. While it’s been a busy time, I’ve been quite lucky with the books, movies and music I’ve found.
So, in a different spin of columns I’ve written thus far, I’d like to share my favorite finds of the summer — I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
Book: “The Anthropocene Reviewed”
In “The Anthropocene Reviewed,” John Green reflects on his experiences and the world around him through a collection of personal essays formatted as five-star scale reviews. Though simple in concept, I found it deeply thought-provoking and encouraging.
As a Hoosier author, Green also ties in quite a bit about living in Indiana. One evening, I had the pleasure to read his thoughts on Indiana sunsets while viewing one. He wrote, “I was reminded that aesthetic beauty is as much about how and whether you look as what you see. From the quark to the supernova, the wonders do not cease. It is our attentiveness that is in short supply, our ability and willingness to do the work that awe requires.”
I felt pained to return this book to the library and am intent on purchasing a copy — it feels like the type of book you’d want to carry with you through life.
Movie: “Cha Cha Real Smooth”
Streaming on Apple TV+ exclusively, “Cha Cha Real Smooth” follows the story of a recent college graduate, Andrew. Working at a fast food restaurant and sharing a bedroom with his pre-teen brother, Andrew strikes up a gig as a bar mitzvah DJ. During this time, he finds a unique friendship with a mother and her daughter, and they help each other through their times of transition.
I hesitate to give too much more background since the pulse follows the relationships between Andrew and his family, his friends and himself — the events in-between act as a catalyst to his growth and grief. Though many characters are flawed and frustrating at times, I thought they were very genuine.
In short, I laughed, I cried and I re-watched it a month later.
Album: “Voulez-Vous”
While the previous recommendations have been fairly new, I feel almost silly introducing “Voulez-Vous” when it’s double my age. Nevertheless, “Voulez-Vous” is the sixth studio album for ABBA, a Swedish disco pop group from the ‘70s.
And on a random June afternoon, it became part of my plot for the summer of “ABBA Fridays.”
Technically any ABBA music is appropriate for this nonsensical holiday, but I thought to mention “Voulez-Vous” because it has some of my favorites, “Angeleyes” and “Chiquitita.” It’s also the only ABBA album I own on vinyl.
However, more than any ABBA song, I love how enthusiastically my college friend group joined in on the fun when I told them my idea. From Fort Wayne to California, we always check in during the afternoons on “ABBA Friday.”
While there were many honorable mentions, I think I’ll look back at these three works as encapsulating the spirit of the summer of 2022 — a time of reflection, transition and celebration.
This next season will be the first in my memory where I’ve not returned to school as the leaves change color. I can’t wait to see what new art awaits, and welcome all recommendations.
holly@news-banner.com
