In the culture at large, the war over science fiction's creative validity has been long since won, but guardians at the gates of literature, movies, and TV linger unconvinced, even as other genres fitfully transcend critical perceptions of insubstantiality. Steve Erickson creativecriticalculture share on social
Inevitably, considerations of God in what otherwise intend to be mass entertainments come down to the same thing they come down to in any context, which is a consideration of humanity. Steve Erickson considerationcontextentertainment Change image and share on social
What we call 'the news' always has tried to tell a story, and it's always told the story it wanted or, put most positively, whatever story it believed needed telling. Steve Erickson believecallneed Change image and share on social
Inside every TV star is a movie star screaming to get out, and Donna Frenzel, with whom I'm guessing you're not instantly familiar, made George Clooney a movie star once and for all in the first ten minutes of his fifth feature, 1998's 'Out of Sight.' Steve Erickson clooneydonnafamiliar share on social
'The Company You Keep' is about outgrowing not just the delusions that accompany youth but the harsh certainties driving our lives and then trapping them before the years outpace the velocity of our dreams. Steve Erickson accompanycertaintycompany share on social
A modern fascination with the fantastic seems to come along every couple of generations, usually at a point when we're future saturated. Steve Erickson couplefantasticfascination Change image and share on social
The beautifully composed imagery of '12 Years a Slave' underscores the savagery of its subject, which is an American South not of knights and ladies but obscene values and a grotesque pageantry, every gorgeous shot of the languid landscape radiating toxicity like a hyperlush blossom that's poison to the touch. Steve Erickson americanbeautifullyblossom share on social
You can't blame movies for embracing spectacle; filmmakers since D.W. Griffith and Cecil B. De Mille have loved spectacle, and spectacle is something that movies convey like no other medium, especially in a digital age. Steve Erickson ageblamececil share on social
David Cronenberg's 'Maps to the Stars' is a Hollywood monster movie in which Hollywood is the monster. Steve Erickson cronenbergdavidhollywood Change image and share on social
Ironically, if only because over the years I've known so many - from college deans to studio executives to European expats - who come to Los Angeles aspiring to nothing other than living in Topanga, I wound up there by accident. Steve Erickson accidentangelesaspire share on social