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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Behind ‘Farm 54’: The Making of a Graphic Novel
The graphic novel “Farm 54” is based on three stories written by Galit Seliktar. The stories were first published in Israeli literary magazines and then adapted into a graphic novel by Galit’s brother, illustrator Gilad Seliktar. “Farm 54” is a real place where both siblings were raised, an actual farm in Ganei-Yohanan — a small…
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The Latest in Settler Tourism: Hiking the West Bank
The summer vacation has started in Israel and people are flocking to attractions — theme parks, hotels, shows and festivals. But like most things here, tourism can be politically-loaded. Increasingly frustrated that they are having little luck expanding settlements, settlers and settler sympathizers are increasingly trying to make their mark on the parts of the…
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How Larry David Creates a Jewish Universe All His Own
Jessica Miglio/HBO Larry David is a clown. Or the last schlemiel who found a way to make Jews the uncomfortable outsiders again. Or a man whose “imbricated” sense of humor “challenges essentialist categories of comic performance,” as well as the tenets of Judaism and Christianity. (By the way, I agree with that take.) And the…
The Latest
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Does the ‘Neighborhood’ Film Represent a Social Revolution?
Crossposted from Haaretz Local residents had no idea what hit them — one morning they were informed that everyone was being vacated from their homes. Real estate sharks had designated the neighborhood as the next luxury complex and thanks to their connections to the mayor their venture succeeded. Liat (the singer and actress Liat Banai),…
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Out and About: Charlie Chaplin Film Discovered; Vampires and Jews
Bob Marley’s son, Ziggy Marley, talks about his connection to Jewish culture and his new comic book, “Marijuanaman.” According to its makers, the video game “El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron” (covered on The Arty Semite here) is going to be controversial among American gamers, but more because of its graphics than because of its…
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This Week in Forward Arts and Culture
I revisit the life and work of the great music and cultural critic Ellen Willis. Jenna Weissman Joselit pays homage to a colonial-era circumcision set. Carol Zemel explores the irony-laden work of Israeli artist Yael Bartana, who is representing Poland at this year’s Venice Biennale. Shoshana Olidort and Jake Marmer review the letters of Paul…
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Friday Film: Hasidim in Love
Courtesy of Eve Annenberg Eve Annenberg has finally hit the big time. After experiencing initial difficulties getting “Romeo & Juliet in Yiddish,” shown at Jewish Film Festivals (difficulties owing, in part, to a scene in the film with nudity), the movie premiered in January at the New York Jewish Film Festival, and receives a theatrical…
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In Song: Balak
‘Bileam und der Engel’ by Gustav Jaeger, 1836 Each week The Arty Semite connects the Torah reading — however tenuously — with a classic work of rock and roll. In this week’s parsha, Balak, the king of Moab, having heard about Israel’s overwhelming military successes, is concerned for his people and his land. He hires…
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Explosive Implants May Be the Latest Form of Terrorism
That attractive, buxom woman you spot at the airport may just be the bomb. Literally. There is a chance that the implants in her enhanced breasts could be made not of silicone or saline, but rather from the plastic explosive PETN. And that guy who looks like he is packing a few extra pounds in…
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Friday Film: Selective Memory in East Germany
The East German anti-Nazi films “The Murderers Are Among Us,” “The Gleiwitz Case,” “I Was Nineteen,” and “Naked Among Wolves” have all been released on DVD before, but now they are being released together in a box set. Naturally, the juxtaposition of the four films invites comparisons. While “Murderers” and “Gleiwitz” are interesting, “Nineteen” and…
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Checkpoint Music
Crossposted from Haaretz The Qalandiyah checkpoint, which over the years has become increasingly fortress-like, had yet to witness such a sight. Young people streamed toward it from both sides, armed with suspicious black cases and metal poles. The cases turned out to be for musical instruments, and the poles were folding music stands. The youth…
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Fast Forward Jill Sobule, pop star who also composed songs for a new ‘Yentl,’ dies at 66
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Opinion Ireland’s prime minister gave condolences for Hitler’s death — here’s why that’s a contemporary problem
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