PolicyMic's Culture Round-Up: 5 Things We’re Looking Forward to in September

Culture

So long to August! Hello to September. As we head into this glorious autumn month not only is it back-to-school season, we are also waking up from the sleepy summer haze of August and plunging head first into a jam packed season of arts and entertainment goodies. Here are five things the Culture section is really looking forward to in the coming month.

1. The Return of Television

Summer hiatus is over, and (most of) your favorite TV narratives are coming back. Top on my list is Nashville (what happened to Deacon and Rayna in the car crash???). Top on Julianne’s list is the new show Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. We are looking for fall TV recappers. Interested? Send me an email.

2.  Brilliant new books

Make some reading time because there are some very buzz-worthy new books coming next month; including the uber blogged about Jonathan Lethem novel Dissident Gardens. Top on my fall reading list is Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Lowland. Julianne is counting down to Jesmyn Ward’s Men We Reaped.

3. The Emmy Awards

I don’t know about you but I will be glued to the TV on September 22nd  to take in every second of the Emmy Awards. Neil Patrick Harris is hosting (already a win), and Netflix is expected to break some records. Also fingers crossed for a comedy other than Modern Family getting some recognition this year.

4. The start of Oscar-worthy movies

Summer has been grim. According to summer movies, the world ended many times over – and according to box office numbers, not that many people cared. Fall begins the start of all those movies vying for this year’s Oscars. It’s coming out in October (cheating, sorry) but I’m already excited for Gravity. Sandra Bullock and George Clooney adrift in space? Yes, please. Julianne is looking forward to Don Jon (Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s directorial debut). 

5. Theater Treats

Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie is coming to Broadway. Julianne already saw it. Her review: “Incredible. It made my whole family cry.” I’m ready.

What are you really looking forward to this September? Share with us in the comments section.

Shout Outs of the Week:

Shout out this week to Michelle Juergen whose piece The Economics Of Hookup Culture racked in 19,701 views last week, making it the most read story in the section. 

Save the Date:

Save the date! We will be holding a PolicyMic Culture Section Happy Hour on Tuesday Sept. 17th. Details to come but expect: the glorious tour of our new digs, some IRL face time with me and Julianne, and a meet and great with some of our awesome New York-based writers.

 

What Have You Been Up To?

Want the PolicyMic community to know about the show you’re in, the article you published, or the book you just wrote? E-mail me any achievements or announcements that you’d like shared out in the newsletter. I’ll be highlighting our pundits successes both on and offline, so send in your triumphs!

Culture Section Must-Reads of the Week:

On Miley Cyrus’ X-Rated, Attention-Whoring Teenyboppery at the VMAs (Sam Shokin, @samshokin) – Miley Cyrus and the decline of Western civilization.

The Hardest Thing About Being Beautiful in Asia (Dana Ter) – The features that women in the east change through plastic surgery are considered beautiful and exotic in the west.

Bastille Frontman Dan Smith on Success, Wild Hair, and Meeting David Lynch (Evan Almeida, @anerdandaguitar) – Meet Dan Smith, the creative force behind the chart-topping UK band Bastille.

James Turrel’s Guggenheim Exhibit Makes Frank Lloyd Wright Irrelevant (Anne-Louise Brittain, @annelouisebritt) – James Turrell's 'Aten Reign' doesn't just recast Frank Lloyd Wright's classic architecture — it ignores it.

This Taboo Topic Is Comedy’s Final Frontier (Emily Duncan, @emduncaroo) – Amy Schumer had a sketch thrown out because of its sensitive subject matter, raising the question of whether there's a right way to joke about suicide.

Porn and Football Share a Dangerous Obsession (Jonathan Smith, @Smythe18) – The bodily risks taken by both athletes and porn actors are the consequence of viewers’ demands for entertainment in the form of bigger hits, harder tackles, and raunchier sex scenes.

Why Are Straight Women the Icons For Gay Men? (Russell Wagoner, @RussellWagoner) – Though they may be strong allies, straight female celebrities can't truly represent the gay male community, or gay sexuality. It's time for a king of the gays.

7 Must-Reads For Any 20-Something Moving Abroad (Daniel Lefferts, @d_lefferts) – Millennials go abroad to work, travel, and explore. While it seems like new territory, books remind us of the 20-something travelers who came before. And how much we can learn from them.

I’d love to hear your feedback! Email me at Elena@policymic.com