The Schmooze lies at the intersection of high and low culture. Here, the latest developments and trends in Jewish art, books, dance, film, music, media, television and theater are all assimilated into one handy pop culture blog.
The Schmooze
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An Israeli-Palestinian Accident of Birth
There’s a conceit among movie critics to be, well, critical. And “The Other Son,” a French film by director Lorraine Levy opening in the U.S. October 26, has its flaws. But it needs to be said upfront that, although it does not seem particularly realistic, the movie does a nice job on its own terms….
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Dunham, Others Sing ‘You Don’t Own Me’
Yes, that’s “Girls” showrunner Lena Dunham, style rookie Tavi Gevinson, and designer Rachel Antonoff in the “You Don’t Own Me” PSA video that is going viral. These three, along with many other women — especially Leslie Gore (who recorded the song in 1964) — sing it out (or at least lip dub) for women’s rights…
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James Franco Dishes on His Love
We can all feel better now that James Franco has set the record straight about who he is actually dating — or not dating. The gossip rags were reporting that Ashley Benson dumped Ryan Good (Justin Bieber’s BFF) to go out with the much older Franco. Franco cleared things up for us in a HuffPo…
The Latest
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The Orchestra That Saved Hundreds
The Nazi era and the Holocaust are such monumental subjects that any documentary filmmaker dealing with them is bound to feel daunted by the challenge. At the same time, we would be foolish to think that even the most serious moviegoer is breathlessly waiting for the next cinematic inquiry into Hitler’s perverse universe. All the…
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Bizarre ‘Jewish Mum’ Hits British Reality TV
In the Broadway production of Monty Python’s Spamalot, midway through the second act Sir Robin advises King Arthur that “We won’t succeed on Broadway / If you don’t have any Jews.” Starring dancing girls wearing Magen Davids and featuring a Fiddler on the Roof bottle dance parody, the song and the show was wildly successful…
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Books Author Blog: Passing on Stories
Earlier this week, Jami Attenberg wrote about growing up Jewish in a small town. Her blog posts are featured on The Arty Semite courtesy of the Jewish Book Council and My Jewish Learning’s Author Blog Series. For more information on the series, please visit: My mother was in town for a few days that summer,…
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3,000 Years of Persian-Jewish History
At a time when Iran is in the American consciousness thanks to both Washington and Hollywood, a major exhibition about the Jews of Iran has opened in Los Angeles. “Light and Shadows: The Story of Iranian Jews,” which originated at Beit Hatfutsot: The Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv, is at the Fowler…
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Lea Michelle’s First Pregnancy Rumor
First it was reported that Lea Michele might be pregnant. Then she put the kibosh on the supposed baby bump sighting by tweeting: “My first fake pregnancy rumor! I’ve finally made it!” But it does look like there is at least some truth to conjecture that she and her partner both on and off the…
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Books Q&A: Michael Feinstein on the Gershwins and ‘Porgy’
When Michael Feinstein was in his 20s, he had the good fortune to work as an assistant and archivist for the great Ira Gershwin, who, with his brother George, wrote some of the greatest and most beloved songs in American history. Now a beloved singer in his own right, Feinstein spoke with the Forward about…
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Andy Samberg ‘Kidnapped’ for Biel-Timberlake Nups
Are we surprised that Dr. Ruth Westheimer, 84, jumped up out of her seat at a Q&A session following a screening of the movie “The Sessions” and demanded that actress Helen Hunt use contraceptives? Not at all. In fact, we would have been disappointed if she hadn’t. The film is about a sex surrogate, played…
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Books Author Blog: Different, but Special
Jami Attenberg’s most recent novel, “The Middlesteins,” is now available. Her other books include: “Instant Love,” “The Kept Man” and “The Melting Season.” Her blog posts are featured on The Arty Semite courtesy of the Jewish Book Council and My Jewish Learning’s Author Blog Series. For more information on the series, please visit: I have…
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