Changing Gears for Summer

For a while I’ve been thinking about making some adjustments to the form of this blog, and the summer is a good time to do it. I’m still enough of an academic to feel the pull of its seasonal rhythms, and the summer is when I used to search for new material about which to read and write. I would also explore new ways of presenting that material. Finally, the summer is when I would really get down to work on longer-term writing projects–or at least I vow to. I have a couple of those to finish, too, so I need to divert some time and energy to those projects.

So first I’d like to swipe an idea from
Tyler Cowen at Marginal Revolution and present a "What I’m Reading" list, expanded to include what I’m listening to as well.

Victor Serge, The Case of Comrade Tulayev. Reading Unforgiving Years has inspired me to read more from this neglected modernist. 

Charles Lloyd Quintet, Rabo de Nube. A live recording of one of the masters of avant-garde jazz. The quintet features Jason Moran, a personal favorite, on piano.

D.N. Rodowick, The Virtual Life of Film. A look at the digital future of the cinema from a major voice in film studies.

Rem Koolhaas, S M L XL. Actually, I’m re-reading this for an essay on the generic city. For the same project I’m also looking at Mutations.