the young people's professor

It's back....

NOW LET'S BE FRANK....

• Now Let's be Frank, what was your very first impression of me when you heard, saw, or noticed me for the first time? How has (or hasnt it) changed? Someone recently posed this question, and i'm now extending it to you.
• Alright, now really, let's be Frank, some of these blogger love relationships are really carrying on!!! Then the children have the nerve to act like you're in their business when they're the one's that have advertised and put their shit out for the world to see! The kids make me laugh with this!
• Now Let's be Frank, I’m not ready for the Holiday’s to be over. I'm really pissed actually to think thats its almost January. Couldn’t you use about 30 more days of Christmas joy? The happy and friendly spirit of the Holiday Season has prevented me from cutting many-a-bitch, so now that’s its almost over I’m not sure what’s gonna happen.

• Now let’s be Frank, the critical reception of Brokeback Mountain has occurred in a vacuum. Here's the tragic irony: while the film’s subject matter has been hailed as bold and provocative, on the ground-level, the material realities of men who love other men in violent settings (i.e. the United States) continues to be ignored or seriously addressed. At its core, Brokeback’s critical success is just another example of Hollywood's tendency to re-package Difference as a trendy consumer entity—especially when its “sexy,” white, and masculine. If two Queens—instead of butch, buff, gym boys—were the protagonists of the film, would it have been such a hit? Based on the poor reception of Jonathan Larson’s Rent (another problematic flick) the answer seems like a resounding “NO.”
  
  Interestingly, long before Brokeback re-popularized the gay-cowboy theme, independent filmmakers and conceptual artists such as the U.K’s brilliant Isaac Julien and even Andy Warhol were exploring rural, queer cowboy storylines and aesthetics in much more provocative ways. For instance, Julien’s 1999 installation piece “The Long Road to Mazatlan” tells the tale of an interracial erotic male cowboy couple in 1960s Texas. Where are the references to these films in Brokeback’s critics’ praise?
• Now Let’s Be Frank, this winter has been a “strike” season for New Yorkers. First NYU graduate students strike, now MTA workers. Unfortunately both labor unions have run up against the mighty hands of two millionaire tyrants: NYU President John Sexton and NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg. And things don’t look great on either side. We’ll see what the final results are on both fronts.
• But really Let's Be Frank, you're really gagging at the thought that this strike might last until next week.
• Now Let’s Be Frank, the party options for this year’s New Year’s Eve seem bleaker than ever, especially for the Blacks. While there are a few cute little shin-digs being held in Manhattan, overall this year the options are far and few in between. Oh, how I long for the golden-days of The Warehouse and The Octagon. I’m predicting a return of House Parties in 2006.
• Now Let’s Be Frank, the king’s (and no doubt Queens) of the black gay blogger-sphere are in need of expansion. While the first eight months of 2005 were dominated by the genius of SmilingontheDL, Larry Lyons, No4Real, Prodigal Sun, Trent Jackson, Stone, Ryan Canty, Karsh, Bejata, Clay Cane, Coley, Bruthafree, Divo, Steven Fullwood, Rodonline, Got Nathan, myself and a few others—over the past six months we seemed to have reached a slump. Blogging just aint what it used to be! I mean, do you remember all the fun highlights and blogger drama of the summer 2005? Who is the new freshman class of black gay blogger boys?
• Now Let’s Be Frank, with 2005 coming to a close in less than twelve days, get ready for a slew of “Best of” lists. I’ll start. What would you say have been some of the “best” blogger moments of 2005? (i.e. Trent Jackson’s interview with No4Real, my summer post on HIV/AIDS, Rod’s series of Noah’s Arc, Smiling’s rebirth as Unconquerable Soul, the controversy surrounding Karsh’s announcement of the Black Blogger Awards’ winners, etc.)
• Now Let’s Be Frank, Brian J. White—who currently plays a gay man in the hilarious family drama The Family Stone starring Sarah Jessica Parker (go see this movie!!)—is just too dam fine. I've known about White for years, but only recently have I witnessed him obtaining more quality roles. My prediction is he's the next Big Thing.
• Now Let’s Be Frank, the musical version of The Color Purple was a flop. Let’s just admit it already. It will be closed by February, latest. Oprah must be gagging. But then again, Beloved wasnt much better.
• Now Let's Be Frank, if you're reading this blog and you're thinking to yourself "I really cannot stand him...."---can you just imagine how I probably feel about you?

I Just Love Being Frank. Dont You?