Leah Pickett

Feminism is not a dirty word

By: Leah Pickett | Apr. 25, 2013

Apr. 25, 2013

Female superstars like Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Beyoncé want to empower young girls and be champions for women everywhere. Just don't call them feminists. 
 
When asked if they considered themselves feminists, they all balked at the term: 
 

"I don't really think about things as guys versus girls." — Taylor Swift, The Daily Beast

"I guess I am a modern-day feminist. I do believe in equality. Why do you have to choose what type of woman you are? Why do you have label yourself as anything?

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C2E2 and nerd culture hierarchy

By: Leah Pickett | Apr. 23, 2013

Apr. 23, 2013

Bronies. Homestucks. Browncoats. Whovians. Do these words sound like gobbledigook to you? Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of nerds. 

The Chicago Comic & Entertiainment Expo (C2E2) is headed to McCormick Place April 26-28, and fans have a lot to look forward to this year. In addition to costume contests and sci-fi speed dating, C2E2-ers will have access to three days worth of panels, screenings and other geek-tastic exhibitions. Spotlight guests include Patton Oswalt, Kevin Smith, Felicia Day, Adam West, Ron Perlman, R.L.

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Why vinyl records are important

By: Leah Pickett | Apr. 19, 2013

Apr. 19, 2013

At last, the wait is over. Tomorrow is Record Store Day, an annual celebration of independent record stores with new releases, special shows and giveaways galore. 
 
Held every third Saturday in April since 2007 (and ironically falling on 4/20 this year), RSD has often been described as "Christmas for audiophiles." Dreams of finding those perfect limited-edition LPs and 45 RPM singles dance like sugar plums in our heads; until that magical day finally arrives and we can no longer contain our excitement. We rush out to our favorite stores in the wee morning hours, spending way too much money on vinyl that comes but once a year.

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Biopics to watch in 2013, plus the 10 best (and worst) of all time

By: Leah Pickett | Apr. 17, 2013

Apr. 17, 2013

 

The biographical film, or biopic, is a long-celebrated bastion of cinema that began with Napoléon in 1927 and continues to dominate movie screens to this day.

Last weekend, 42 (a Jackie Robinson biopic starring Harrison Ford and one-time Chicago actor Chadwick Boseman in the title role) premiered to commerical and critical acclaim, as films about real-life heroes often do. 

Other big biopics expected for 2013 include: 

  • The Butler (with Forest Whitaker as White House butler Cecil Gaines, and a slew of other

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Picture or it didn't happen

By: Leah Pickett | Apr. 15, 2013

Apr. 15, 2013

Art punk trio the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have been posting this sign at venues on their current tour: a polite reminder for fans to enjoy their shows without a "I must take a million blurry pictures/horrible sound quality videos to prove that I was here!" mentality.

"Please do not watch the show through a screen on your smart device/camera," the sign reads, "PUT THAT [BLEEP] AWAY as a courtesy to the people behind you and to Nick, Karen and Brian."

Understandably, the band has a zero tolerance policy for looking out at the audience and seeing a constellation of iPhones glowing back at them. 

I will be the first to admit that I've been guilty of this behavior. I've snapped photos during shows for St. Vincent and Ty Segall, compelled to somehow immortalize the experience of seeing my musical idols in the flesh.

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Prepping for Chicago festival season

By: Leah Pickett | Apr. 11, 2013

Apr. 11, 2013

With the start of Chicago festival season less than one month away, Metromix has released their preliminary list of street fests to whet our summer appetites.
 
Some focus on music (from block parties like Do-Division and Wicker Park Fest to festival giants like Pitchfork, Taste of Chicago and Lollapolooza) while others revolve around food or fine art, but all are guaranteed to bring crowds of joyful Chicagoans together for some long-awaited fun in the sun.   
 
Since it's never too early to start planning your summer activities, here's what you can expect from the four-month long bombardment of festivals this year:
 

1. Day drinking 

And lots of it. Pace yourself (pounding Jägerbombs before 10 a.m. is never a good idea) and remember that obnoxious drunk people are slightly more tolerable if you have a buzz going yourself.

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Before 'Fifty Shades' there was 'Secretary'

By: Leah Pickett | Apr. 10, 2013

Apr. 10, 2013

If you haven't seen Secretary, the 2002 indie film starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader as BDSM soulmates, then prepare for an experience that is infinitely more complex and heartbreaking than any of the Twilight fanfiction tripe peddled out to the masses via Fifty Shades of Grey. 
 
Unless you've been living under a rock for the past two years (a rock I would very much like to hide under most days), Fifty Shades of Grey has been hammered into your cultural psyche.

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The 'Mad Men' complex

By: Leah Pickett | Apr. 8, 2013

Apr. 8, 2013

The hit AMC drama Mad Men returned for a sixth season on Sunday night, and fans flocked to viewing parties all over the country to celebrate the occasion. In Chicago, venues like the Public Hotel and Logan Theatre opened their doors for late-night soirees, serving retro cocktails on the rocks and welcoming Mad Men enthusiasts in their finest sixties attire.

After four consecutive Emmy wins for Best Drama and a popular Banana Republic clothing line, the show has a rightful position in our cultural zeitgest alongside other fan-favorites like Breaking Bad, Downton Abbey and Game of Thrones.

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