Summer 2012

Although my blog has had a (too long) summer break popular culture has not grinded to a standstill in fact summer 2012 (at least on this side of the world) has had enough things to keep the world fascinated.

Firstly, there were the 30^th Olympic Games in London of which the opening and closing ceremonies gave me all the more reason to love popular culture. With millions of viewers worldwide it was definitely an event that deserved our attention. These ceremonies are in fact intertwined with popular culture and let’s face it, Danny Boyle’s opening ceremony just may have been one of the most entertaining movies of this season. The direction of this event was captivating, smart and entertaining from the beginning to end. Take for instance Britain’s comic the world has come to love doing an act, James Bond (Daniel Craig) escorting the queen to the ceremony or the wonderfully inspired music history sequence.

Secondly, still linked with the Olympic Games we witnessed the probably last performance of the Spice Girls ever. I hate say it but for all the nineties people (at least for me), and I was never even a fan, it was a goosebump moment. Not to mention that they put on an entertaining show and they proved they still had it in them. Too bad their reunion was before and after sometimes overshadowed by petty fights.

 

Thirdly, there was the much awaited release of the third (supposedly final) Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises. In 1939, Batman became another much loved American superhero that to this day has not faded from our popular culture. I personally also look forward to that other hero flying onto our screens again in 2013, Superman. Despite all the hard work Christopher Nolan put into the direction of this last film (I still remember him being excited at the MTV Movie Awards when announcing the then still upcoming movie) it was dwarfed by the terrible theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado, America.

Fourthly, and even though it might yet be presumptuous I hope Lindsay Lohan has been making her comeback this summer. Where do I start, she was just there in many a movie I liked as a child Parent Trap, Freaky Friday, Mean Girls… and I always thought she had it in her. Therefore, I’m hoping her upcoming movie about Liz Taylor (whom she also portrays), Liz and Dick, can be the start of something new because goodness knows she has had many a chance.

Fifthly, popular culture made a bang when on 21 February 5 members of the Russian feminist punk rock group, Pussy Riot, staged a performance in a Russian orthodox church. During that performance they ‘prayed’ for Russia to be saved from Putin. Even though the members were wearing balaclavas they were identified by the police. Three were sentenced to a prison camp but the other two are meant to have fled the country. This summer the story really made the press as the trial and conviction attracted international attention.

(The end of the romance between Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson :(

Finally, on a more personal note I am happy popular culture is there and it continues to brighten my path in surprising ways!