Editorial Outtakes is a feature in which we publish excerpts from novels and story collections that you won’t find in the finished books because, prior to publication, these sections were cut. This installment of Editorial Outtakes features Carmiel Banasky, whose prologue to her debut novel The Suicide of Claire Bishop was cut from the manuscript at the proverbial last minute. Here's the disappeared prologue, followed by Banasky's commentary on the process of writing (and then cutting) this part … [Read more...] about Editorial Outtakes: Carmiel Banasky
Carmiel Banasky
Things American: Authentic Desire & the Root of Sexuality in HBO’s “Girls”
What if I said I do not believe in desire? As the holidays wind down, and with them the inundation of images of midnight smooches on New Year’s Eve and nuclear families unwrapping presents by the tree, I am always left with that seasonal-depression-idea that I’ve somehow failed to live up to the status quo—those unreachable expectations. And then I pause and think, “Wait, why do I care? That’s not even what I want.” I’m thrown by how much those desires feel, momentarily, like my … [Read more...] about Things American: Authentic Desire & the Root of Sexuality in HBO’s “Girls”
Things American: How Mad Men & Upstairs Downstairs Negotiate History
Every so often a show comes along that attempts to take stock of and reflect upon the moral predicaments of the last half century—serving as a reminder for how far we’ve come, or how far we have yet to go. The strength of Mad Men—one of many strengths—comes from the show’s use of history not for plot, but for setting. In this way, the show is able to move its characters in and (mostly) out of the line of fire, the larger-than-life events the period is known for, allowing for distance and … [Read more...] about Things American: How Mad Men & Upstairs Downstairs Negotiate History