Welcome to Culture Hound, InsideHook’s deep dive into the month’s most important pop cultural happenings.
WATCH: Get Out
Jordan Peele’s white supremacy horror movie looks properly terrifying — the Key and Peele alum makes a radical shift from laughs to scares here, with a plot centered around an interracial couple (Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams) who visit her family estate for the weekend … in a suburb where “a whole bunch of brothers been missing.” Hypnosis, bigotry and the world’s scariest Bingo game ensue. (Feb. 24)
Interact: Hū: The Spectrum of Being
The newest installation in Samsung’s 837 gallery, the one-of-a-kind photographic experience is yet another reason to visit the space. Designed by American photographer Carlos Serrao, the exhibition uses a single Samsung Galaxy S7 combined with dramatic lighting to capture surreal portraits of guests’ movement through their tunnel. An artful (see also: Instagram-worthy) trip.
PERUSE: 50 Parties
New York artist Ryan McGinness threw 50 invite-only themed parties over the course of a year — and documented, in this new hardcover, the hedonism, weirdness and undeniable creativity that resulted. The themes? Sex, drugs, cougar hunting, speed friending, prom, goth, voguing … you name it, they did it (with cameos from a Beastie Boys mom and Michelle Williams along the way). (Out now)
Listen Up: The Man Who Laughs
A musical re-imagining of the 1928 silent film The Man Who Laughs, a story of love, scandal and manipulation. Set in Williamsburg’s transformative culture hub National Sawdust, the film’s live score will be performed by long-time collaborators Grammy winner Michael Leonhart and acclaimed percussionist Mauro Refosco. Expect a “sonic atmosphere echoing Brian Eno, Fela Kuti, Radiohead, Stravinsky and Nino Rota.” Expect to be blown away.
STUDY: Hit Makers: The Science of Popularity in an Age of Distraction
The senior editor for The Atlantic takes a deep dive into the psychology of cultural popularity, dissecting the turns of Facebook, Trump, Obama, Game of Thrones and The Weeknd (and some more historical models). Also discussed: fake news “going viral.” (Feb. 7)
Move It: The Museum Workout
We sleep over, party and dine in museums — why not work out in one? From MetLiveArts, the Met event invites you on an early-morning physical journey with modern movement, stretching and exercise set to disco and Motown hits. Get cultured, get fit. It’s the new New York way.
LAUGH: Myq Kaplan
With his fourth album No Kidding, the master of ridiculously smart wordplay (who counts Louis C.K. as a huge fan) goes a bit more longform but maintains his punny brilliance and penchant for odd drug jokes and Nicolas Cage rants. (Feb. 17)
WATCH: Legion
Noah Hawley turned a small Coen Brothers film (Fargo) into an expansive, must-watch television anthology. So letting him tackle an obscure X-Men character and placing the action in a psychiatric ward sounds like the best superhero paradigm shift since Deadpool. Bonus points for the project appearing seemingly unaffiliated with the larger Marvel universe. Also: Aubrey Plaza co-stars, and she’s an American treasure. (Feb. 8 on FX)
LISTEN: Our monthly Spotify playlist
The winter doldrums are over: we have 26 hot new tracks, featuring the return of Thievery Corporation, Timber Timbre, Arcade Fire, Cloud Nothings and more, plus newcomers Cote, Sorority Noise and SOHN. Plus, hey, Michael McDonald!
ALSO: “Four killer women” direct the horror anthology xx, including a vignette by musician Annie Clark — aka St. Vincent (Feb. 17) … Neo, Morpheus reunion! Yes, that is Laurence Fishburne helping out Keanu Reeves in the ultraviolet sequel John Wick: Chapter 2 (Feb. 10) … Neil Gaiman tackles a cross-dressing Thor in his latest fantasy tome Norse Mythology (Feb. 7) … Just in time for Valentine’s Day, you have your artsy NSFW book choice of Nude Polaroids or 1965 Erotica (pre-orders now) … Author George Saunders was once listed as one of Time’s 100 most influential people in the world. Now he’s using his power to write Honest Abe ghost stories like Lincoln in the Bardo (Feb. 14) … Miss England’s more acerbic take on The Office? Ricky Gervais returns in David Brent: Life on the Road (Netflix, Feb. 10) … The shocking Paris shooting of 2015 at the Bataclan becomes a life-affirming tale of survival the HBO documentary Eagles of Death Metal: Nos Amis (Feb. 12) … Finally, if you hate Valentine’s Day, Netflix basically Better Call Sauls the holiday with Bob Odenkirk’s dark comedy Girlfriend’s Day (Feb. 14)
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