Artistic Consumption Log, Feb. 6, 2012 - Feb. 12, 2012

BROOKLYN, N.Y.—I've suddenly found myself fairly busy, what with a bunch of film reviews and an interview blog post on the horizon...so this week's artistic consumption log will be another barebones effort. As you can see, though, the highlight was easily my first exposure to the gorgeous, haunting, ceaselessly changing textures of Steve Reich's Music for 18 Musicians via his 1978 ECM recording. Who says minimalism can't be beautiful?

Films

The Prefab People (1982, Béla Tarr), seen at Walter Reade Theater in New York

Snowtown (2011, Justin Kurzel), seen at Magno Review in New York

On the Ice (2011, Andrew Okpeaha MacLean), seen at WME Screening Room in New York

Michael (2011, Markus Schleinzer), seen at Film Forum in New York

"Academy Award-Nominated Animated Short Films 2012," all films seen at IFC Center in New York
★ Sunday/Dimanche (2011, Patrick Doyon)
★ A Morning Stroll (2011, Grant Orchard & Sue Goffe)
★ Wild Life (2011, Amanda Forbis & Wendy Tilby)
★ The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (2011, William Joyce & Brandon Oldenburg)
La Luna (2011, Enrico Casaroasa)
Skylight (2011, David Bass)
★ Hybrid Union (2011, Serguei Kouchnerov)
Nullarbor (2011, Alister Lockhart)
Amazonia (2011, Sam Chen)

"Academy Award-Nominated Documentary Short Films 2012," all films seen at IFC Center in New York
Incident in Baghdad (2011, James Spione)
★ Saving Face (2011, Daniel Junge & Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy)
★ The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom (2011, Lucy Walker) [second viewing]
★ The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement (2011, Gail Dolgin & Robin Fryday)

"Academy Award-Nominated Live-Action Short Films 2012," all films seen at IFC Center in New York
★ Pentecost (2011, Peter McDonald & Eimear O’Kane)
Raju (2011, Max Zähle & Stefan Gieren)
★ The Shore (2011, Terry George)
★ Time Freak (2011, Andrew Bowler & Gigi Causey)
Tuba Atlantic (2011, Hallvar Witzø)

Music

★ Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano (1998, John Cage, performed by Aleck Karis)

★ Music for 18 Musicians (1978, Steve Reich)

★ Einstein on the Beach (1993, Philip Glass/Robert Wilson)

Literature

★ Hollywood from Vietnam to Reagan...and Beyond (2003, Robin Wood)