The Arts Desk’s weekly picks for music, movies and more
By ELIZABETH BUNT — arts@theaggie.org
Book: “The Passion” by Jeanette Winterson (1987)
I first came across Jeanette Winterson’s work in a literature class here at UC Davis. Her debut novel, “Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit,” was assigned as an example of postmodernist, feminist innovation in prose. Since that class, I have read three other Winterson novels with “The Passion” being the most recent. “The Passion” is set in Napoleon’s Europe in the early 1800s and follows a young French soldier, Henri, as he follows conflict into Russia. The second plotline traces the life of Villanelle, a young Venetian woman with webbed toes, who is running from a violent ex-husband. Though nominally historic, Winterson uses considerable creative license. Like much of her work, “The Passion” draws from magical realism and surrealism which blends seamlessly with the gritty details of the Napoleonic wars. At the heart of the novel is the contrast between Henri and Villanelle’s differing definitions of passion and their interplay of gender and sexuality.
Song: “Junk Food Chimney” by Ezra Bell (2013)
Ezra Bell is an indie band that was founded in 2013 and slowly picked up popularity until COVID-19 ended touring. Since then, Ezra Bell rarely performs, preferring to record and self-release independent music. This particular song is from the band’s very first EP entitled “Don’t All Look Up At Once.” “Junk Food Chimney” itself is only one minute and eight seconds long, so it’s over just as you really begin to love it. The song describes the experience of reconnecting with an old lover while knowing it won’t last. It’s simple and beautiful and lead singer Benjamin Wuamatt’s unique voice ties the whole song together.
Movie: “Fantastic Mr. Fox” dir. by Wes Anderson (2009)
This movie is one of my all-time favorites. I can and will rewatch it at the slightest provocation. It’s based off of the Roald Dahl novella and done in a claymation style. The cast is stacked with George Clooney and Meryl Streep voicing the lead roles. The soundtrack is bouncy and folksy and comforting in a silly, familiar way. The plot follows Mr. Fox as he breaks a promise to his wife and begins stealing birds from neighbors Boggis, Bunce and Bean, endangering his family and friends. The foxes are driven underground, and Mr. Fox must use his cunning to save them all. I cannot say enough good things about this movie. It may seem like a children’s movie from description alone, but there is so much more to this film. “Fantastic Mr. Fox” is a masterful adaptation of page to screen.
Album: “Songs of Leonard Cohen” by Leonard Cohen (1967)
Every fall, I find myself gravitating back to Leonard Cohen. In my opinion, he may be the most perfect songwriter/artist who has ever lived. His lyrics are incredibly written, his voice is unconventional and there’s enough variation in sound across his dozens of albums that it’s impossible to get tired of hearing him. “Songs of Leonard Cohen” was both Cohen’s first album and first foray into writing music. The 10 song album contains some of his most well-known hits like “Suzanne,” “So Long, Marianne” and “One of Us Cannot be Wrong.” The style of these songs is sparse and pared down, more like spoken word poetry than music in some places. Cohen’s personality shines through in these early bits of writing: his sincerity, his insecurities and his religion — they all come to light in the meandering tunes of this first album.
Written by Elizabeth Bunt — arts@theaggie.org
