seanessay.com Having already seen the show in London, I just had to gleefully stride into the lobby of Calgary’s arthouse cinema, The Plaza, and proclaim at the counter, “One adult for Bella Baxter!” They knew I meant the controversial movie Poor Things, which several female journalists at a certain British well known progressive newspaper had […]
When Mentors are Merry and Gone
seanessay.com Strange how a person can significantly influence your life—and then that person is gone. For a buddy in the reserves, training in a mountain monsoon rainforest with members of the Canadian Airborne Regiment, his mentor was a paratrooper who guided him through the worst. He told me they even had to sleep on sloping […]
Could the film Poor Things be feminist?
seanessay.com (Includes a new footnote for film critics) Opening Credits A “mainstream movie” is where I can confidently tell strangers how good it is; an “art house movie” is when I can’t rate it for you unless I know you. Sean C Teaser A dirty, disgusting movie? Disempowering? With much nudity, and much sex? Well, […]
Seven Books to Brighten the Solstice Season
seanessay.com During this mid-winter of our discontent, we can make things bright by the sun of books. Since starting this blog, for seven books I have essayed, ofttimes as a chance to comment on our world stage where methinks we play the part of witness. Having little regard for SEO, Search Engine Optimization, I seldom […]
Loving A Gay Friend
seanessay.com They say “loving someone gives you courage,” but I was scared. It was Calgary, 1987. I was in the student union building, standing restless, screwing up my courage to go down the hall to a room where the Gay Student Society was about to have their weekly meeting. I was scared to be seen […]
I was Wrong to Shelter Mom
seanessay.com The ancient Chinese told a tale of a middle aged man who was very loyal to his aged parents. He played on the floor around them, like an infant, to shelter them from the knowledge they were old. I sheltered Mom, and that was wrong. During her parenting years, me and my five siblings […]