Donna Freitas: February 2008 Archives

I am continually fascinated by what is now an industry onto itself with Thomas Nelson's Biblezines. Biblezines are more or less what they sound like: bibles (usually the New Testament) packaged in a glossy magazine format filled with full color photos, quizzes, advice columns, you name it, all corresponding to whatever versus and/or story that falls on its pages.

They are packaged so well and look so much like a teen magazine that if they were around when I was a kid, I might've actually read the Bible. Which is exactly the point, of course. Biblezines get people, especially teens, reading the New Testament.

In the article, "The Greek Ideal" the New York Times spring Women's Fashion magazine includes a fun survey of popular Greek Goddesses like Aphrodite (Goddess of beauty and desire) and Hera (Goddess of marriage) but with a twist. In addition to drawing images of the Goddesses wearing some of the latest fashions, they speculate on each of the Goddesses' fashion sense. Each Goddess profile includes: signature look, fashion disciples, in what situations you should invoke the Goddess, and what to keep in mind when invoking her.

Consider what they say about Aphrodite:

Aphrodite, goddess of desire and beauty. Signature look: Flowing locks and strategically draped robes. Fashion disciples: Versace, Alberta Ferretti. Invoke her to: Find that elusive third husband. Keep in mind: repeated intercourse with Aphrodite's priestesses was popular method of worshipping this celestial being.

The illustrations are fantastic. Make sure to check out this humorous ode to dressing like a goddess this spring.

As a professor at Boston University, occasionally I (and my colleagues) get email blasts advertising a new movie that's coming out that might be of interest to members of the department, or even a non-BU lecture or art exhibit.

But recently, one of them really gave me pause. It was from "The Undersecretary of Matrixism." I'd almost just deleted the message, when I noticed the signature and went back for a look. Hmmm, I thought to myself. As in the trilogy of movies? Oh yes, apparently! Here's what I learned:

Last weekend I was encouraged to see the New York Times article "Boys Will Be Boys, Girls Will Be Hounded," which poses the possibility of a double standard in the way the press persecutes girl-celebrities like Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan while gently letting the falls and tragedies of their male counterparts (think Owen Wilson, Heath Ledger) remain low-key "out of respect" for the stars and their loved ones. Reporter Alex Williams reflects:

"Men who fall from grace are treated with gravity and distance, while women in similar circumstances are objects of derision, titillation and black comedy. Some celebrities and their handlers are now saying straight out that the news media have a double standard."

You think?

Each month, Idol Chatter reaps the benefits that come from the posts by my fellow bloggers that write up, judge, and reflect on the latest trials and public falls of the likes of the girl-celebrity-trifecta: Paris, Britney, and Lindsay (and occasionally others). These posts tend to receive an enormous amount of hits—as similar posts do on all sorts of other blogs on the web.

I finally saw "Definitely, Maybe," starring Ryan Reynolds as a just-divorced and lonely Dad (who turns out to be a great romantic lead) and the ever-adorable Abigail Breslin as his daughter who longs to fix his broken love life. It's actually a really sweet romance that manages to not get syrupy in the process.

But seeing this particular film, coupled with my chance Netflixing last week of "Catch and Release" (starring Jennifer Garner as an almost-widow, whose fiance dies just before their wedding day), and the recent popularity of the movie-that-I-hated but that everyone else seemed to like, "P.S. I Love You" (starring Hilary Swank, also as a widow, who spends the entire film mooning over her late husband), I got to thinking about the "second chance, starting over" themes in romantic movies lately.

In case you were interested in purchasing the Virgin Mary's miraculous appearance in what most Americans consider mall food or a sports event snack--a giant soft pretzel--you are out of luck. Four radio hosts at a popular station in...

A number of graphic novelists have taken on the Bible in the last several years. Check out "Marked" by Steve Ross, which takes on the Gospel of Mark in both imagery and Word, and pubbed from Seabury books in 2005....

Glory be, hallelujah! The headline on the front page of the New York Times yesterday was, and I quote: "Writers Reach Tentative Deal With Producers." Michael Cieply reports: An end to Hollywood's long and bitter writers' strike appeared close, as...

The “Possessed” column in last Sunday's New York Times Style Section has Shalom Harlow waxing (not so poetically, but still) about her meditation habits and percussion instruments--which include both tapping (as in tap dancing) and playing the drums. Harlow says...

I’m an unabashed devotee of the Religion of Romance, but I must admit, the last year’s cinema offerings (or lack of them) left me a bit spiritually starved. As far as straight-up romance goes, I can’t think of a single...

I may live in Brooklyn, but during the college semester I head to Boston three days a week to teach at Boston University, and today is a day of mourning in this city. The Patriots' Perfect Season hopes were dashed...

Equinox Fitness Clubs--a national chain of workout clubs that are almost as common on NYC blocks as Starbucks--have only one outpost so far in Boston. However, it's already causing quite an unhappy stir among some Boston Catholic folk. In order...