Think Pink Radio

Latham Owen Zearfoss is a Chicago based film maker and DJ and is always up to something. He is a founding member of the Chances Dances Crew, a graduate from the Art Institute of Chicago and full-time queer generalist. TPR is happy to have him as a guest, here are his top choices for this crazy year:

1. Tongues Untied on DVD

Finally Frameline has made all our lives richer by releasing this quintessential video work by late and great Marlon Riggs. Everybody should see this pro-black, pro-queer, experimental, poetic, deeply moving, self-referential ethnographic movie. Portable and affordable.
Get it TODAY!

2. Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)

Erykah Badu is a licensed Reiki practitioner, which I find to be a perfect metaphor for her latest album: an intimate exorcism of America’s demons (war, racism, isolation) through the channeling of energy (inspiration, hope, self-love). I’m not sure why people aren’t freaking out and screaming ecstatically out of their windows over this messy and beautifully crafted piece of avant-pop. P.S. The first song borrows as much from Laurie Anderson as it does from Parliament!

3. Conversations At The Edge at the Gene Siskel Film Center

This weekly screening series which runs parallel to the spring and fall semesters at the School of the Art Institute
brings both legendary and up-and-coming artists working in moving image media. Programmer Amy Beste does an amazing job of invariably showcasing some of the most important, interesting and relevant moving image work being made today. CULTURE!

4. Chicago’s Smoking Ban

I’m a smoker, and I admit that I do get bummed when i have to smoke in -10 degree windchills, BUT I’m heartened by the lack of burning eyes and stinky clothes and even more so by the temporary outdoor social spaces that we death-wishers create to get our fix.

5. The Nightingale Theatre

This relatively new screening venue, just off the division blue line, hosts a wide variety
of screenings of experimental and independent work, as well as a lot of local artists. Also, Christy LeMaster, one of the organizers of the space, always holds a raffle prize with quirky gifts just before the show. Down-home and so so awesome!

6. Grouper – Dragging A Dead Deer Up A Hill

Echo, delay, repeat. I LOVE this album by Portland’s Liz Harris AKA Grouper. Devastatingly beautiful and haunting. For falling in or out of love. Why a post-shoegaze music movement never happened is beyond me, but this is as good a surrogate as I could possibly hope for.

7. dickipedia.org

This sight can be mildly offensive at moments, but mostly its just hilarious. Made to look exactly like that other
monolithic site, it focuses on those people, places and things with dickish behavior. from kim jon-il to ann coulter to the pilgrims, this site has a bit of time-wasting for everybody. Check out the Blago entry!

8. Crying About Politics

Hillary cried over losing, Jesse cried over Obama, and the mayor of San Diego cried about being a Republican with a gay daughter (and thus his apparently torturous decision to NOT ban gay marriage in his city). Not only does it make “great TV,” but its amazing to know that while politicians might not be human, they do have tear ducts! Just like us!

9. Omer Fast

I saw The Casting in Vienna in January this year and I was not at all surprised that Omer Fast
was invited to install the piece at this year’s Whitney Biennial. He also did an amazing commission for the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I’m hooked!

10. Hope and Exuberance

We could look back and say its been a shitty year, and that might pass muster, but its also been an
incredibly beautiful year full of belief that we can do better. Whatever your outlook, please spread the optimism because the world is always in short supply. Lets bring that good stuff into ’09!