March 2009 Archives

Stephenie Meyer is officially a celebrity, and one whom the queen of all fashion magazines has decided is worthy of watching: in "Dreamcatcher," the March 2009 issue of Vogue features the author of "Twilight" and those vampires of hers we have come to know and love.

"Dreamcatcher" is a long article (hooray!), and includes everything from her birthplace (Connecticut), to her daily routine (lots of dropping off and picking up the kids with help from hubby), and the role of glamour (or the lack of) in her life (it is Vogue after all):

"As much as she has brought glamour to the lives of teenage girls with her Romeo and Juliet-with-blood lust story, the glamour she surrounds herself with is decidedly unglamorous, unless you are a boy, that is--the backyard is an aspiring athlete's paradise...For her, happiness is being at home or attending a Little League game or the elementary school band concert. She believes this is what success in writing has given her, a kind of luxury that would not be listed as an asset by the IRS. "Luxury for me is getting to take care of your kids," she says."

Though, speaking of glamour, Meyer looks awfully lovely in her photograph, dressed in a long black gown, beautiful, colorful jewels, and that signature red hair flowing down her back. Check it out.

On September 11, 2009, playwright Wajahat Ali's "The Domestic Crusaders" will make its world debut off-Broadway. Why does this matter? Because with this play, Ali is thrusting the genre of Islamic art into a modern arena, where theater, television, and other venues are becoming part of the artistic discourse.

"The Domestic Crusaders" is the story of a Muslim family whose children struggle with identity issues, among other things. But it is way more than a Muslim "All in the Family" or your typical East-meets-West kids and parents clashing-type fare, says Beliefnet contributor Shahed Amanullah, who offers up his review of the play.

The play takes a leap forward by attempting "to tie together themes of Muslim history and American Muslim culture, as much as such a culture exists today," Amanullah writes. It asks many questions, like "What does it mean to be a Muslim in America? What parts of American culture can be integrated into the still-emerging American Muslim culture? Where is the line that exists between the cultural values of the immigrant generation and the Islamic ones?"

If you happen to be in New York in the fall, check out "The Domestic Crusaders." (Learn more about the play on its website) You'll get some laughs, and learn a thing or two.

Thank you Perez Hilton for reminding me that 14 years ago today, the world lost one of the most talented female artists to ever cross over between Tejano music and English pop music, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez.

Although I cannot say that I was a big Selena fan growing up, I gained a newfound respect for her through the 1997 film "Selena," in which the relatively new actress, Jennifer Lopez, portrayed the star.

Last year, I wrote about the effect "Selena" had on me in the Idol Chatter post. "Top 10 Movies to Put Your Faith in Love (and Cry in the Process)":

When Mexican-American singer Selena, "Queen of Tejano Music" burst onto the music scene in the early 90s, I was too busy banging my head to Nirvana and Pearl Jam to notice. But when she was murdered in 1995 by her fan club manager, I was awakened to the shock, anger, and heartbreak among her many fans. In the heavily Hispanic areas of my hometown, Brooklyn, N.Y., I noticed memorial T-shirts worn by many. In "Selena," Jennifer Lopez wonderfully portrays the music star (in a performance she hasn't matched to date) as a carefree, caring, amazingly talented young woman, whose life and career was cut way too short. Watching her fans and family grieve her loss was absolutely heartbreaking. I've seen more than one boyfriend cry during scenes from this movie.

If you haven't already seen the film, check it out. In the meantime, watch this beautiful Selena tribute:

Frustrated with the conflict in the Middle East? Wondering if the strife in the region will ever be resolved? Despondent over the fact that Muslims, Jews, and Christians can't agree on anything? Well, don't have a sacred cow, man: one of the US's top ambassadors is reportedly on his way to try his hand at uniting the region...Homer Simpson's going to the Holy Land.

According to Ha'aretz:
Multiple media sources have quoted the show's executive producer, Al Jean, as saying that America's number one animated family will head to the Holy Land next year.

"I think we're going to do one next year where they go to the Holy Land as we haven't been there yet. The premise will be that the Christians, the Jews and Muslims are united in that they all get mad at Homer. It's the only thing they can agree on," Jean said.

Finally, a peace process America can believe in.

Phil Vischer, the madcap mind that brought you VeggieTales, talks like a man who's been, well, reborn. After surviving the bankruptcy and sale of a Christian entertainment empire that came to include Bible-based feature films, morning cartoon shows and children's videos, Vischer has invented JellyTellly, a website where a few felt puppets do the work of a crowd of vegetables.

But if JellyTelly goes as Vischer plans, it won't be just an outlet for moral Muppets; it will foster a new crop of Christian filmmakers like him, while, as he says, "raising a new generation of Christian kids." I talked with Vischer this week about how he envisions success after VeggieTales.