Snobbin: Beautiful Trash in the Pop Culture Gutter

Tony Silver's Style Wars (1983) focuses a tighter lens on graffiti, breakdancing, and subway art than Wild Style. The interviews add realism lacking in that earlier film and provide a more comprehensive focus than its scripted story. However, that film feels more organic because of its less glossy cinematography and the community involvement in its production.  Style Wars includes interviews with graffiti artists and break dancers who champion their art's creative expression and those like Mayor Ed Koch, the NYC Police Department, and disgruntled parents who view graffiti as the destruction of public property. These figures come across as hilariously out of touch, while the artists and their graffiti show the enthusiastic promise of a burgeoning art form.  The soundtrack consists of a representative assortment of classic hip-hop tracks, including Grandmaster Flash's "The Message" and The Treacherous Three's "Feel the Heartbeat," next to songs that j...

The films in Criterion Channel's Fiftieth Anniversary of Hip Hop collection include insightful documents of the early 1980s New York scene. Charlie Ahearn's Wild Style traces the convergence of disparate, yet equally creative cultural strands, including rapping, breakdancing, and tagging.

I never live up to what I expect from myself. I have Imposter Syndrome and Generalized Anxiety. I achieve most of my goals, but I am still unhappy since I do not know when to quit.   I cannot stop comparing myself to others despite different career paths.  I compete with myself as much as others.  I have been teaching five courses per semester at the highest level for years. I have a vigorous publishing schedule that often gets in the way of my personal goals.  I enjoy writing most of the time.  I'm not getting any younger, so I think I might just have to give up. I should settle for what comes and finally write that book.  I will remain tired.   I am angry most of the time.