Two at the Top

 

Normally I wouldn’t be interested in reading a New Yorker article about Martha Stewart, but when I saw it was written by Joan Didion, I immediately became interested.  I thought that Didion would write some unique and thoughtful takedown of Stewart.  That was lazy thinking.  Yes, she gives us something novel, something important to chew on, but it is never dismissive.

The enormity of Stewart’s empire is well described.  Didion understands that it is not just about “elevating the role of homemaker” as Stewart likes to say.   Didion does what she usually does as she explains Stewart in the annals of American capitalism. 

The other female phenomenon that came to mind, of course, is Oprah.  I don’t think she inspires as much parody or criticism, but maybe it’s out there and I don’t keep tabs.  Or, maybe I've even avoided it because I like Oprah more than Martha.

I hope I don’t find out that these two capitalists are sheltering their money, paying off politicians or sending rockets into space. If that happens, I’ll wait for Joan Didion to explain.

Still Learning

 

Natalie has invited me to read along with her for one of her college classes.  I ordered the book from the library.  I hope my mind hasn’t wandered too long in the mush of mysteries and relationships.  I’m just going to have to put my teeth back in my mouth so I can chew on the hard stuff.

When I told my friend Gerry about Natalie’s generosity, he mentioned his friend who had just retired as a professor at her school.  Which sent me thinking about academia.  A few years ago, another professor, my ex-husband’s daughter Laura Kipnis, wrote an article about sex wars on her campus.  It created quite a buzz.  Recently, I watched the Netflix show, The Chair. The story seems like it might be the way things are today.

Natalie is organizing a philosophy club.  I told her my favorite philosophers are the stoics.  And Camus.  That seems about right for now.