Category Archives: Movies and film

The “Kicker”

Posted on April 11, 2018 by Katherine Wikoff

I couldn’t think of a good title for this post (“Cement and Metal”???) until I circled back to the one detail that had caught my eye in the first place and made this a photo worth snapping. Because I’m teaching … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Milwaukee, Movies and film, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Birth of a Nation: Lighting and (mostly “non”) camera movement, racism, and Abraham Lincoln’s assassination reenacted a mere 50 years after

Posted on March 27, 2018 by Katherine Wikoff

NOTE: This post is under reconstruction because a) the YouTube account that I originally took my clips from has been shut down and b) WordPress doesn’t seem to be working correctly to allow me to play clips to and from … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Life, Movies and film, Political Analysis, Popular culture, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Red Arrow in bright sunlight

Posted on February 27, 2018 by Katherine Wikoff

Days like this I wish I had a better camera. Or maybe I should say: I wish I had a better phone, because I actually do have a better(ish) camera at home that is never handy for spur-of-the-moment shots. Here … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Milwaukee, Movies and film, Popular culture | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Sergei Eisenstein’s Google Doodle (and cinema tropes)

Posted on January 24, 2018 by Katherine Wikoff

Monday’s Google Doodle honored revolutionary Russian filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein. Here is a cool video I found that provides a little biographical info along with the actual Google Doodle. Sergei Eisenstein was the first “modern” filmmaker. He basically invented modern film … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, History, Milwaukee, Movies and film, Music, Popular culture, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

“Notorious” Associations

Posted on January 15, 2018 by Katherine Wikoff

The old Duran Duran song “Notorious” was playing at the Red Arrow Starbucks (and outside at the ice rink, as well) when I made a coffee run earlier this afternoon. You know how music—like smells—can instantly transport you to another … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies and film, Music, Popular culture | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Unleashing the potential of VR (virtual reality)

Posted on January 10, 2018 by Katherine Wikoff

Virtual reality (VR) is going to shape itself into an art form that is quite different from contemporary cinema. We can’t really predict yet how things will turn out, although my bet is that movies as we know them are here … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Learning, Life, Movies and film, News, Popular culture, Teaching, Technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

How use of color in Spotlight amplifies theme

Posted on October 27, 2017 by Katherine Wikoff

I’m showing Spotlight in my political science class this week and next. We don’t have a lot of time to talk about the press in our course, but I wanted to work in some reflection on the place of news … Continue reading →

Posted in Learning, Movies and film | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

We all gotta start somewhere

Posted on July 7, 2017 by Katherine Wikoff

Just came across this 1984 music video for a song by country singer Ronnie Milsap, “She Loves My Car.” Recognize the “girl” who’s our hero’s love interest?

Posted in Movies and film, Popular culture | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Al Jarreau as “The Jazz Singer” (SCTV)

Posted on February 13, 2017 by Katherine Wikoff

Among my favorite moments from Al Jarreau (who was born in Milwaukee and passed away yesterday) is this parody of Neil Diamond’s 1980 remake of The Jazz Singer. You know it’s going to be great the moment you see Sid Dithers … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Milwaukee, Movies and film, News, Popular culture, Television | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Is Hollywood Over?

Posted on January 31, 2017 by Katherine Wikoff

Really interesting article in Vanity Fair Magazine this month, “Why Hollywood as We Know It Is Already Over.” Basically it says that Hollywood is too bloated and calcified, producing unoriginal action movies that it hopes will hit big in foreign … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Movies and film, Popular culture, Television, Writing, blogging | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments