Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with modern

Bada Bing Book

Sully — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:45:51 -0800

I've been watching the last season of the Sopranos and am curious about the mob in NYC and NJ today. Can you recommend a book or website that details the modern day Mafia? Or, if power has changed hands to a group other than the Italian one, a book about that group? Thanks.

Modern novels of youth [20s-30s] and figuring out life?

mattsweaters — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:49:28 -0800

Modern novels of youth [20s-30s] and figuring out life? I just read "Norwegian Wood" this afternoon and remembered how much I love first person novels about first loves and trying to figure out what you want in life. I'm kind of one of those spots in my life.

Some examples of what I'm thinking of..
Ask the dust, Catcher in the Rye, Goodbye Columbus, On the Road/Dharma Bums, Mysteries of Pittsburgh, The Moviegoer, The Sun Also Rises, Bright Lights, Big City, Play it as it Lays.

I think The Stranger, The Great Gatsby, The Sportswriter would also fit into the same mindset. Any ideas? Thanks!

Relocation relocation relocation of an interior design article

Beautiful Screaming Lady — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:49:18 -0800

Interior/exterior design memory loss: a few months ago I was casually flipping through one of the many interior design magazines on the shelf at Borders and saw an article about an amazing place that I'd love to find more details about. Unfortunately I was distracted and don't remember many details... This is a long shot, but - a guy (likely German) had bought a turn-of-the-20th century square red brick mid-terrace house, like those you find in any UK working class town (here's an example), painted the exterior entirely black, had replaced the windows with smaller, ultra-modern brightly coloured glass and had gutted the insides to leave (as I remember) a super white and super minimal interior. It was stunning both for what it was, and for where it was.

I can't remember where this was, the guy's name or which magazine it was in, but based on this vague description, if anyone can help me to find pictures of this place, or any article about it online, I'll be deliriously happy.

Full Fathoms Five...

Viola — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:36:17 -0800

I need help remembering the most famous Shakespeare references in modern literature. Nabokov repeatedly compares Lolita to Miranda, Eliot speaks of his father's death by quoting Ariel in "The Wasteland." I don't need entire adaptations like this question asks for, or characters overtly discussing Shakespeare (like Stephan discussing Hamlet in Ulysses) just oblique or embedded references. For some reason my brain can only recall references from The Tempest.

Glee, Seinfeld and a Question about Post-Modernism

CollectiveMind — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:45:14 -0800

I keep thinking about the word, "post-modernism." As I understand it, it began after the crash of 1929, and has since represented a ironic self-evaluation of our relativistic values, ideas, cultural touchstones, etc. I've probably missed the nuance, but I'm wanting to get a generalized understanding. If it began after 1929, does that mean the tendency for us to criticize our own navel gazing happens when we experience shattering events, like Pearl Harbor, or 9/11 or the Great Recession of 2008?

And if its marked by irony, is that why there are so many, (some would call) smart, snarky, dark or meaningless comedies beginning with, maybe, Seinfeld, and now including Community, Parks and Recreation, The Office, Glee, etc?

Finally, if this post modern ball got rolling around the 1930s, is it destined to keep rolling forever, meaning I wonder, if post-modern itself is doomed to be eternally post-modern; the old irony continually crushed by the new irony. Hasn't this always been the human condition?

Be Critical

god particle — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 08:00:33 -0800

I want to start thinking critically about art, especially modern/contemporary art, so what should I read? I want to be able to discuss contemporary/modern/conceptual art with my peers, and I also want to learn about past art movements and their effects on today's art. What books would you recommend?

Wall unit. Who made this thing?

dudeman — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 13:47:38 -0800

Need a new drawer glide for my wall unit. Can you identify the manufacturer of this furniture (photo) or a source for replacement parts? In 1997 I purchased a modular wall unit from Workbench Furniture, a furniture importer and retailer that went out of business in 2003. I believe they called it the "Venezia wall system". It could be configured many different ways. I know it was made in Italy but i have no other information on the manufacturer. The unit has shifted slightly over time, and as a result the panels pulled away from each other, the drawers pulled on the glides, and now I have one drawer glide (photo) that is bent out of shape and needs to be replaced. The new glide has to be exactly the same size as the old- it fits into a cutout in the middle of the right side of the drawer - 11 1/8" long, 1/2" high, 1/4" deep. I've checked with a few local hardware stores and none have anything that will fit. So I want to contact the manufacturer and see if they can supply the part.

For what it's worth, the Workbench invoice lists one of the part numbers (the base) as I59018WL (wide base w/4 drawers). No model name or number on the invoice or the wall unit itself.

Desk Chair on a budget

priested — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:31:33 -0800

Best modern/ contemporary office furniture maker on a budget? I'm specifically interested in the hive's thoughts on best desk chairs for someone that would like something of contemporary/ modern fashion, European or American made. Budget is for under $200... am I wasting my time?

If you know of a good place to go to purchase, please also let me know. I'm in Southwest VA so online might be only option.

Groomsmen Gifts for the Non Brahs Out There?

entropicamericana — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:11:29 -0800

I need ideas for modern groomsmen gifts. My groomsmen don't really smoke, drink, golf, or wear french cuffs, which eliminates 99% of the results for "groomsmen gifts" from Google. Mainly our common interests include coffee, photography, design, and vaguely geeky 30-something interests (1980s Spielberg/Lucas movies, Tron, Atari 2600, Apple products). (We're not the kind of geeks that wear the term with some sort of goony pride, so ThinkGeek is right out. So are things like knives, flashlights, and AirSoft toys) Any ideas?

What is "the modern condition" ?

Jason and Laszlo — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 05:21:05 -0800

What is "the modern condition" ? What does this phrase mean when used colloquially versus academically? Where can I see the modern condition in art, film, and literature. (Chaplin's Modern Times seems too quaint to get at the heart of it, don't you think?) Does the modern condition still apply to us, living today?

Modern Art From 1980s

mshellenberger — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:10:41 -0800

I am searching for references and especially pictures of two pieces of modern art. Both were displayed at the same time at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in the late 1980s. The first is called "The Rose" or perhaps "The Rows". It was a large piece of white canvas on a frame with red lines drawn on it and it resembled graph paper.

The second consisted of two large pieces of canvas on frames positioned above and below each other. In the gap between the to canvases was a racquetball that, I believe, was used to create the artwork.

I've searched Google (and its predecessors) many times over the years.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Where to turn after Arvo Part?

mizrachi — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:25:04 -0800

Arvo Part blows me away. Who else should I check out? My taste tends towards Fratres and Summa, the choral work less so.

Wanted: Lightly Used Interocitor

LastOfHisKind — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 12:03:58 -0800

Any recommendations for vintage and/or surplus shops in the SF Bay area? I'll be visiting the San Francisco Bay area in a few weeks for a long weekend and I'd like to do some shopping. Specifically, I'm a sucker for mid-century household stuff and, especially, scientific and engineering equipment of that era. Think vintage lab equipment, weird electronic devices, tools, and so on. Are there any good places for this sort of stuff that you can recommend?

Health Wanted, Apply within

generic230 — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:05:43 -0800

I have been growing progressively sicker over the last five years getting chronic bronchitis every few months and my separate doctors (A lung specialist, an ENT and my GP) have been treating me without success this entire time, and I am growing gradually more and more weak and exhausted. This has gotten so bad that I realized that, it would be a relief if I just died in my sleep from one of my severe infections. Even when I don't have bronchitis I am exhausted much of the time. I do not have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, it's been ruled out. I have chronic sinus infections which we have been unable to control consistently.

But, I also have acid reflux, which my ENT says is the main cause of these infections, and he believes I aspirate the acid and that's how I get bronchitiis. No meds or sleep accommodations or air filters have improved this. I am overweight and he wants me to lose weight. The thing is, every time I exercise, I get sick. I mean I get bronchitis, and I am out for 10 days to 2 weeks. I want to exercise, but without fail, 6 weeks in, I come down with bronchitis. At that point, when I was exercising, I got bronchitis every 3 months. I stopped exercising and managed to get bronchitis only every 6 months. So, I can honestly say the exercise makes it worse. HOWEVER, I absolutely believe, if I lost 30 pounds, these problems would be fixed. The thing is the EXERCISE triggers the infections. Just to give full info; I also have asthma, which I'm being treated for, and 62% lung capacity. I have lived in LA many years. BUT, I never had these problems until 3-5 years ago. I moved inland from Santa Monica to Pasadena 5 years ago when I got married to my gay partner. My ENT does not believe the move is responsible for my condition getting worse. He has been treating me for 10 years for my allergies and acid reflux, I did swell for 5 years then I started to deteriorate after the move. Moving to Santa Monica is not an option right now. No money and the market sucks. I wouldn't rule it out altogether, but I would need a way to absolutely prove that it's the move to Pasadena before we could even begin to consider such an expensive proposition.

And here's my question: I feel like what I need is like an old fashioned sanitarium. A place I could go where I could get a thorough exam, a retreat where I would get fed foods that would help me get healthy and get properly monitored exercise under a medical person's care so that, if I start to get sick, they can observe it and act quickly and at least observe and come to some conclusion as to what's triggering it.

Does such a place exist? Is there like a place I could go for 6 weeks to recover, lose weight, have medical personnel who are part of it so I'm not at the mercy of some weird, unapproved "Eat kelp and have your auras repaired" hippie place. I don't mind some hippie influence, just, I've had my auras repaired, and had a fairly bizarre "air massage"--"We don't touch your body or any of your aching muscles, we just massage the air around you and it's the same thing only better." Also, I don't want crystals placed on my chakras and it shouldn't be in Mexico and involve coffee enemas.

I need a top to bottom, full blood work-up, and a controlled environment in healthy air where I can do yoga, pilates, walk, and eat healthy. Does such a place exist? Has anyone here ever been to one or can they vouch for such a place?

I desperately need to get well. I am about to get to run my own TV show for the 2nd time in 17 years, and if I can't stay well, I won't be able to achieve this career dream.

How do you pronounce 'κινειν'?

amery — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 19:34:26 -0800

Greek speakers needed! How do you pronounce 'κινειν' in both modern and ancient Greek? Bonus points: recordings of either version or explanations of why this question is based on bad assumptions. Thanks!

Campus Architecture

senorpuma — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:48:20 -0800

What Universities have great modern architecture projects on campus? I'm a recent graduate in Architecture, and I'm interested in visiting some campuses that have great architecture. I appreciate historic architecture (Georgetown, Rice, and Stanford come to mind) but what I'm looking for are campuses that have a lot of modern and contemporary architecture. Thanks!

I need an online new tonalism and serialism fix.

the matching mole — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:51:41 -0800

Where can I hear modern symphonic music online? I'm very interested in modern (non-rock, non-jazz, made with strings, whatever you call it) music lately, but find it hard to come by.

I read Alex Ross's blog, and the songs he posts only arouse my appetite. I want to be able to listen to the music of Paul Moravec, Joan Tower, and Elliot Carter all day long. I frequently borrow music from my local libraries, but their selection of this music is appalling. I need another source.

Please recommend sites streaming or podcasting this music. Thank you MeFites!

I have modern furniture. Now what?

burnmp3s — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:36:38 -0800

Help me find some modern accessories to go with my modern furniture. I ditched my old furniture and went with a modern style (lots of glass, steel, and shiny plastic). Now I want to continue that style with the rest of the decor. I'm looking for lamps, clocks, coasters, art, etc. Basically anything that isn't a table or something to sit on.

Please point me in the direction of stores or individual items that would fit. I'm located in between Chicago and Milwaukee, but I'm expecting that I'll probably buy a lot of it online.

Romantic yes, but also ironic.

pseudostrabismus — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 20:32:56 -0800

Please suggest self-aware romantic comedies. (Rather lengthy explanation sheepishly included.) Here is a list of things I like in a movie, with examples. The basic genre is "smart romantic comedy", but there is a specific list of attributes I'm focussed on.

1. Can you suggest more movies that fit into this genre?
2. Can you succinctly name this genre?

PLOT
The major conflict is realistic & interpersonal (no chainsaws, no sharks, no murders).
The stakes are not "life v. death", they are more like "fulflling, challenging love v. boredom & loneliness" (eg, Annie Hall)
The plot is logical and simple, although it can be quirky.
The plot is possible- it could happen to almost anyone in the audience.

TONE
The tone is irreverent, ironic, and modern (although I'm very interested in classic movies that fit this genre, too).
The music is important and carefully chosen, and maybe even performed live by a character at some point (the final duet in Juno).
The locations are romanticized (Paris in Amelie, the record shop in High Fidelity, the quarry in Garden State)
I like quirky, but we don't need to go overboard (Garden State goes overboard: Juno is pushing it in a few scenes).

CHARACTERS
The characters are charming, detailed, funny, self-aware, and ironic.
Females are smart, funny, and genuinely equal matches for males. Men are not slacker cads who resent growing up, and women are not shallow bridezillas (eg, not like Knocked Up).
Not everyone is the same race, sexual orientation, social class, etc., and yet these differences are not a big deal and don't drive the plot.
There is a sense of friendly competition and fraternity between the characters, especially the lead couple (Pam & Jim in The Office).
The characters enliven their days by playing games with themselves, or indulge in small, private ceremonies (Amelie skips stones; Cusack makes lists in High Fidelity).
The characters have a high reference level- they are up to date without seeming too trendy or topical (Woody Allen knows his McLuhan in Annie Hall, Tina Fey in 30-Rock).
There are comedic "bits", plum roles, and/or killer scenes that may be somewhat tangential to the main action but add a lot to the tone. (Jack Black in High Fidelity, the orgasm scene in When Harry Met Sally.)
The romance is quirky- people give each other Pepto Bismol and comic books, not roses and chocolate.
The characters tend to be a little dry, cynical, or self-conscious, but there are parts where we see their genuine sweetness and love.

SWEET ENDING
At the climax, the audience reaches a soft, open, innocent emotional state where they smile a lot and cry a little at the same time. A big, swelling, satisfying feeling (Amelie when the music swells as they ride the scooter through Paris, Wall-E when he & Eve hold hands).

AWARENESS OF VIEWER
** I'm interested in movies that only fit the above criteria- but, major bonus points if you can suggest films with the following trait as well:

The main characters are occasionally aware of the viewer and look or speak directly to camera at times.
(as occurs in The Office, Annie Hall, High Fidelity, Amelie.)

That's about it, I guess.
So, how to pithily describe this genre?
What movies should I rent in order to research it?
I also welcome general comments about the genre if you think my list of its traits is flawed or incomplete,
and resources for learning more about how best to write this specific type of movie.

Thanks for your help!

Wanted: Vintage 1960 Modern Architect

LastOfHisKind — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 11:06:48 -0800

I'm interested in hiring an architect in Houston to design and build a modest, mid-century modern style house. Looking for an existing house I like hasn't been going well and I'm seriously thinking that what I'd really like to do is find an empty plot of land and hire an architect to design a house and help me find a contractor to build it.

I've got a general concept in mind, something along the lines of a modest mid-century modern house built with being ecologically green in mind. Stylistically, imagine a house a stylish young executive or young family might have built circa 1960 or so and you're pretty much there. Neutra, Eichler, and so on.

My pet theory is that simplicity and interesting use of basic materials will help offset the cost of custom home. I can live without giant bathrooms, stone countertops, fake window shutters, and overwrought exterior trim.

I can look the AIA site and find hundreds of architects, but how do I go about finding somebody willing to slip into a Mad Men grey flannel suit, smoke his pipe thoughtfully, and pretend that it's 1960?

Plucking strings?

Korou — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:05:13 -0800

What songs feature the pizzicato technique? I've always liked pizzicato music (as in Benjamin Britten's Simple Symphony, Op. 4: II and Andrew Bird's Skin is, My). What classical and non-classical songs feature the pizzicato technique?

Modern art framing

jayder — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:15:23 -0800

Art museum painting framing question. A common style of framing in art museums --- especially with abstract paintings such as Cy Twombly and Mark Rothko's works --- involves a thin strip of wood around the edge of a painting, perhaps with a few-millimeter gap between the edge of the canvas and the inner edge of the wood. The strip of wood is usually flush with the face of the painting. That's all there is to it. I would like to replicate this effect with some paintings I have. Any idea how best to accomplish this effect? I am hoping to do it myself, using some basic hand tools, but I am not sure how best to fasten the frame to the painting, nor am I sure what is holding the frame together. The wood strips are very thin, perhaps a quarter of an inch wide, no more than half an inch.

Dish on Dishes

bananafish — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 19:37:22 -0800

My SO and I have unique (it seems) taste in dishware. We'd like something that is modern, not monochromatic, and more interesting than just a colored outer ring. We'd like a geometric design in a 16-pc set. Ideally, the dishes would be available from a national retailer in the U.S. so we can add them to our wedding registry. Here is an example of what we like. The example is no longer available for sale. Does anyone know if such a thing exists?

Recommend me good modern violinists

Leech — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:28:21 -0800

Can you recommend me great modern violinists? Like Jo Young-wook, Paul Cantelon, etc. I'm starting to learn to play violin, and like many classical violin stuff, but I like more modern stuff like:

Jo Young-wook (Sympathy for Lady Vengeance OST)
Yann Tiersen
something from Emir Kusturica and Paul Cantelon.

What do you recommend me?

Halogens hate me (and the feeling's mutual)

dinger — Sun, 04 May 2008 14:52:58 -0800

Help me find decent non-halogen desk lamps. So one of my six-month-old halogen desk lamps just went dark. Once again, a transformer fizzled. This is the third halogen desk lamp to bite the dust on me in about two years. I've gone from expensive (Tizio from Artemide) to midrange (powder coated aluminum from Costco) to cheap (this latest plastic pair from Ikea). No matter what I buy one of the pair always dies, and it's always the transformer. At the repair shop it's always the same story: It would cost more than the lamp is worth to replace the transformer. (Well, not always. In the case of the Tizio it seems that Tizio transformers are only available from virgin albino trolls and must be installed at a small shop on one of Saturn's moons). And no, it's not the bulbs, and yes, I'm aware that you should never touch them with your bare fingers. At any rate, I'm over halogens.

It's been about two years since the hivemind was solicited for desk lamp recommendations, and at that time the question specified halogens. Since then LED's have matured and entered the market, natural-spectrum fluorescents have become popular, and the ever-dependable incandescents have hung on. So, un-halogen me. What are your recommendations for cool, non-halogen desk lamps?

My taste runs to clean, sleek, and simple designs, what I guess you'd call modern or minimalist. I don't mind spending money for decent quality, and I'm not enough of a snob to turn up my nose to a bargain. Oh, and as for light output: when I turn them on I want to go blind.