From the Editor
The common cold -seemingly debilitating, generally dramatic. I have mostly recovered, thanks to a concoction of remedies made up of good old pharmaceutical drugs, homemade brews (I’m surprised how much drinking very hot water is actually very helpful), a little superstition, and of course binging old comforts.
It’s challenging to read in midst of sneezing fits, and despite the guilt, I forced myself not to do any work because I knew it would be slow, bad, and that the best remedy for a common cold is actually to do nothing.
But one can still do nothing while watching something – somethings. Here’s the list:
Howl’s Moving Castle Hayao Miyazki’s work of genius adapted from Diana Wynne Jones incredible novel
One Fine Day – massively underrated romantic comedy
Season one of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – I was having withdrawal symptoms now that House of the Dragon season three is over
Season one of Dune: Prophecy – such a brilliant show that I’ve seen before but I want to get reacquainted as season two is out late this year I believe, and of course the film in December
Season one and two Rings of Power – I will go on the record to say that the first episode of the first season is actually a perfect first episode of anything
I know that’s a lot of stuff to have watched and I truly believe more that medicines, bone broths, and ginger, vitamin C, honey, mint liquids I drank and inhaled, watching good stories on the screen also helped with the healing.
The downside to all this of course was that this week’s newsletter isn’t as meaty as I would have liked. I had some exciting stories planned that will have to wait and unfortunately, I wasn’t able to record The Voice Note this week. It definitely wouldn’t have been a pleasurable experience for you to hear me discuss culture while sipping on honey water and sound like I’m crying.
Also, it goes without saying the loss of another two great culture icons, dearest Dolly Parton and the force that was Yayoi Kusama. Goes without saying that I will have something on both soon. Dolly in particular is something I don’t want to rush.
Regardless of the dreaded cold, I persevered writing and editing on various projects while breathing through one nostril and also managed to put something together for you all.
Enjoy,
Maan Jalal
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I implore you all to watch Howl’s Moving Castle by Hayao Miyazaki.
Sophie is a young unassuming milliner who is turned into an elderly woman by a witch, a curse she’s unable to speak of. Against the backdrop of war with another kingdom, Sophie meets a wizard named Howl and gets caught up in his refusal to take part in the war while trying to free herself of the curse.
Howl’s Moving Castle is such an interesting point for Miyazaki as a storyteller and director. What he does with notions of love and sacrifice is as fascinating to me as well as his depiction of war, power, and violence.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve never seen any of his work or if you’re “not into animated films” this goes beyond all of it.
One List Thing…
This Week’s Quote
I hardly read this week and when I did pick up a book I chose, of all things, Alexandre Duma’s mammoth 1,243 page The Count of Monte Cristo (Penguin edition).
While flicking through, I came across a paragraph that caught my attention simply because of its clarity, clean description, and the way it left me wanting to keep reading this great undertaking.
Meanwhile, the master had taken off his shirt and jacket, and secured his trousers around his waist; as he was barefoot, he had no shoes or stockings to remove. Once dressed – or, rather, undressed – like this, he put his finger to his lips to show that they should observe complete silence and, after slipping gently into the sea, swam towards the shore, but so cautiously that they could not hear the slightest sound. His path could be followed only by the phosphorescent trail he left in his wake. Soon even this disappeared, and it was clear that Gaetano had reached land.
This Week’s Question
It obvious what I’ll be asking you this week, cause we all have a list, or at the very least one film or show we come back to when we feel like we need a bit of healing. So I pose this question to you:
What is your greatest comfort watch?
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As always thank you for your continued support and subscribing to The Culturelist.
See you next week,
Maan Jalal
Rest in power Sliman 🕊️