Quarry Hill Creative Center, Vermont's hip refuge for the unusual and artistic-- founded 1946 by Irving and Barbara Fiske, writer for the WPA/poet/playwright/freelance writer, and cartoonist/artist/painter/visionary. Read our Blog and write to us! Your comments always welcome...
Showing posts with label TLC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TLC. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
New Writer on Sister Wives (Blogcritics)
Last year I wrote about the TLC show <> Sister Wives each Sunday night for Blogcritics in their column TV Open Thread. This year, while I'd still like to write an article on this topic (polygamy revealed) occasionally, I have other writing projects on which I'd like to focus.
Fortunately for me, a very interesting young woman named Sara, who has a site called http://www.polygrrl.com/, and lives in a committed polygamous relationship with three other women and one man, was willing to take over the column. She is much more in touch with the issues (so to speak) than I am :-), and I am very happy with the arrangement. I'll still write for Blogcritics on other issues, as well.
Check out "Polygrrl's" blog. It is fascinating and I am amazed at the ease with which they all seem to make their arrangement work... there are no children yet which may make a difference, as they can be spontaneous in their interactions. But I like the fact that the women are friends and each person has his or her own space.
My best wishes to them all.
Ladybelle
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Sister Wives tonight!
Don't forget to watch Sister Wives on TLC at 9/8 Central, and post with me after the show. I write a short (sometimes not so short) article and ask people to post their remarks at Blogcritics.org, where I'm a writer. TV Open Thread is the name of the feature, and I've been getting some great comments on the state of the State there lately-- how much should the government control people's personal lives?
The children of the Browns seem happy, yet they are about to be driven out of their home state, Utah, and to struggle to find somewhere else to live. Kody Brown, the husband, annoys me sometimes-- he insists he is the "leader" and must make the decisions, even though they affect everyone. (At the beginning of the show, much was made of each wife having a choice to do as she pleased and no coercion being exerted. But it was clear from last week's episode that in order to change the decision of the family, a wife (for instance, Christine, wife number three, who doesn't want to leave) would have to leave it and go off on her own.
Still if they stay in Utah, Kody and perhaps other meembers of the family can and probably will go to jail for bigamy and the children may be taken away-- so it is not much of a choice.
What do you think? Join me on Blogcritics.org tonight about 10 to chat and rant about the show and the lives and the laws...
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Sister Wives "Polygamist Party"
http://blogcritics.org/video/article/tv-review-sister-wives-polygamist-party/
Check out my most recent review of Sister Wives on TLC. The lights were out at QH last Sun and Mon (at least at my house) and I wasn't able to publish my review till now.
Article first published as TV Review: Sister Wives - "Polygamist Party" on Blogcritics.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
TV Open Thread: Sister Wives- "Carving into Polygamy”
My weekly column on Sister Wives, (TLC 9/8 Central) is up at "TV Open Thread" at Blogcritics.org.
Join me and comment... what do you think about plural marriage in which only the man can have more than one partner?
I may post the full column here tomorrow. Photo courtesy TLC/Discovery: The Brown Girls Gather Pumpkins...
www. blogcritics.org
And here's the article I wrote last night for BC:
The family celebrates Halloween this week as the Northern hemisphere wakes into springtime. Watching the Browns pick pumpkins for Halloween and paint the kids’ faces, one gets the feeling that this episode was created in part to give a sense portraying the normalcy Brown family’s lives. They speak of a police investigation going on—and their stress about it—but there is no explanation of what exactly is happening. There is a peculiar feeling of trying to have fun while dark clouds are gathering over them.
The family, to forget their problems, take the kids out for pizza (which they say they can’t usually afford to buy) and to pick pumpkins—a Jack O’ Lantern for each member of the family!
Five months after the wedding, it seems, the family is settling in together. "I like being a part of the family,”" says Aurora, Robyn’s oldest daughter. Meanwhile, one of the other little girls cries because another child pulled her hair. It seems the Brown kids have been raised to “knock it off and play” rather than cry, while Robyn’s kids are sensitive and easily upset—but they are getting accustomed to one another.
The family picks almost thirty greenish pumpkins (one of the kids saying pumpkins are never really orange, except in commercials). I want to say, “They are in Vermont, kids!”
The family loads the pumpkins into the cars, amazed by how many pumpkins they ended up buying. “With the Browns, it’s go big or go home,” they say.
“There are a lot of kids, but I don’t see it as an overwhelming responsibility—they’re just my kids,” says Robyn.
There is a little "very little talk" about the police and their legal problems. Janelle says she feels differently about police because of the investigation; the older kids, Meri says, are concerned about what is going on. They call the adults when they see a police car on the street. “I just want to forget about it for today,” says Janelle, “and have fun.”
Join me and comment... what do you think about plural marriage in which only the man can have more than one partner?
I may post the full column here tomorrow. Photo courtesy TLC/Discovery: The Brown Girls Gather Pumpkins...
www. blogcritics.org
The family celebrates Halloween this week as the Northern hemisphere wakes into springtime. Watching the Browns pick pumpkins for Halloween and paint the kids’ faces, one gets the feeling that this episode was created in part to give a sense portraying the normalcy Brown family’s lives. They speak of a police investigation going on—and their stress about it—but there is no explanation of what exactly is happening. There is a peculiar feeling of trying to have fun while dark clouds are gathering over them.
The family, to forget their problems, take the kids out for pizza (which they say they can’t usually afford to buy) and to pick pumpkins—a Jack O’ Lantern for each member of the family!
Five months after the wedding, it seems, the family is settling in together. "I like being a part of the family,”" says Aurora, Robyn’s oldest daughter. Meanwhile, one of the other little girls cries because another child pulled her hair. It seems the Brown kids have been raised to “knock it off and play” rather than cry, while Robyn’s kids are sensitive and easily upset—but they are getting accustomed to one another.
The family picks almost thirty greenish pumpkins (one of the kids saying pumpkins are never really orange, except in commercials). I want to say, “They are in Vermont, kids!”
The family loads the pumpkins into the cars, amazed by how many pumpkins they ended up buying. “With the Browns, it’s go big or go home,” they say.
“There are a lot of kids, but I don’t see it as an overwhelming responsibility—they’re just my kids,” says Robyn.
There is a little "very little talk" about the police and their legal problems. Janelle says she feels differently about police because of the investigation; the older kids, Meri says, are concerned about what is going on. They call the adults when they see a police car on the street. “I just want to forget about it for today,” says Janelle, “and have fun.”
They carve the pumpkins, and Kody pronounces them “very creative.” Again, the feeling is inescapable that there is little substance this week, though it is pleasant to see the children having a good time.
The Brown wives decide to dress as the four elements, earth, air, water, and fire; they want Kody to be “man, because he is powerless against the elements,” but he is offended by this and say "Oh yes, it’s so great to seem powerless in this family,” so they paint his face to represent the Sun instead (Christine rolls her eyes at his egotism).
There is some discussion of his being an “avatar” that controls the four elements, but Robyn insists, “He doesn’t control us.” In the end, Kristine is air, Meri fire, Janelle earth, and Robyn water, and Kody dresses as the sun—“corny,” the kids say.
The children enjoy trick-or-treating. “It’s fun to go trick or treating with a lot more brothers and sisters,” says one child. The emphasis is definitely on how well everyone is getting along and fitting in together. The three original wives seem to be adjusting to Robyn’s presence, and even Janelle, who last week seemed worried about finance and a little resentful, is clearly glad she’s there. “I couldn’t have asked for a better family,” Robyn says.
The Brown wives decide to dress as the four elements, earth, air, water, and fire; they want Kody to be “man, because he is powerless against the elements,” but he is offended by this and say "Oh yes, it’s so great to seem powerless in this family,” so they paint his face to represent the Sun instead (Christine rolls her eyes at his egotism).
There is some discussion of his being an “avatar” that controls the four elements, but Robyn insists, “He doesn’t control us.” In the end, Kristine is air, Meri fire, Janelle earth, and Robyn water, and Kody dresses as the sun—“corny,” the kids say.
The children enjoy trick-or-treating. “It’s fun to go trick or treating with a lot more brothers and sisters,” says one child. The emphasis is definitely on how well everyone is getting along and fitting in together. The three original wives seem to be adjusting to Robyn’s presence, and even Janelle, who last week seemed worried about finance and a little resentful, is clearly glad she’s there. “I couldn’t have asked for a better family,” Robyn says.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
TV OPEN THREAD on Blogcritics.org: SISTER WIVES, Season 2!
Article first published as <a href='http://blogcritics.org/
(I have agreed to write a brief comment on Sister Wives, Season 2 (Sunday on TLC, 9/8 Central), each week, and be available to "chat" about it for 20 to 30 minutes after the show ends on the West Coast. Join me and other viewers to discuss the show, varying forms of love, and what you think of polygamy... could you share your husband with another woman? Would you be more willing if you had another husband? What do you think of the show?)
The article from Blogcritics.org:
In the opening episode of Sister Wives, Utah polygamist Kody Brown, 40, and his four wives: Meri, 40; Janelle, 41; Christine, 38; and new bride Robyn, 32 prepare to go to New York City to be on the Today Show and to reveal their plural marriage to the world.
At the same time, the children begin a new phase of life by going to public school, mostly for the first time, and find a welcome there that gives the parents hope. Later, Kody and the kids go “ice blocking,” sliding down grassy hills on blocks of ice.
The family speaks eagerly of the new standards of tolerance and acceptance that public schools now teach; they look forward to a time when plural marriage will be accepted. The Browns hope that when people see how nice and “normal” they really are, they and their lifestyle will be accepted.
Though fearful about coming out of the closet, the family takes the plunge of doing interviews in New York: they discover the excitement and the oddity of sudden fame. On TV, verbal, outgoing Kody suddenly becomes shy and tongue-tied. He likens telling the truth about their polygamy to jumping out of a plane without knowing if the chute will open.
Despite their optimism, danger looms over the family. The police have been investigating them, and Kody may soon be charged with bigamy.
Will Meri, Janelle, Christine, Kody and Robyn find that the monogamous world outside their closed, protected circle is far less tolerant than they had dreamed? What will happen to them if Kody goes to jail? Will the women lose their children? What will happen this season on Sister Wives?
Will Kody be sorry he decided to “stand up and be different?” What do other viewers think?
(I have agreed to write a brief comment on Sister Wives, Season 2 (Sunday on TLC, 9/8 Central), each week, and be available to "chat" about it for 20 to 30 minutes after the show ends on the West Coast. Join me and other viewers to discuss the show, varying forms of love, and what you think of polygamy... could you share your husband with another woman? Would you be more willing if you had another husband? What do you think of the show?)
The article from Blogcritics.org:
In the opening episode of Sister Wives, Utah polygamist Kody Brown, 40, and his four wives: Meri, 40; Janelle, 41; Christine, 38; and new bride Robyn, 32 prepare to go to New York City to be on the Today Show and to reveal their plural marriage to the world.
At the same time, the children begin a new phase of life by going to public school, mostly for the first time, and find a welcome there that gives the parents hope. Later, Kody and the kids go “ice blocking,” sliding down grassy hills on blocks of ice.
The family speaks eagerly of the new standards of tolerance and acceptance that public schools now teach; they look forward to a time when plural marriage will be accepted. The Browns hope that when people see how nice and “normal” they really are, they and their lifestyle will be accepted.
Though fearful about coming out of the closet, the family takes the plunge of doing interviews in New York: they discover the excitement and the oddity of sudden fame. On TV, verbal, outgoing Kody suddenly becomes shy and tongue-tied. He likens telling the truth about their polygamy to jumping out of a plane without knowing if the chute will open.
Despite their optimism, danger looms over the family. The police have been investigating them, and Kody may soon be charged with bigamy.
Will Meri, Janelle, Christine, Kody and Robyn find that the monogamous world outside their closed, protected circle is far less tolerant than they had dreamed? What will happen to them if Kody goes to jail? Will the women lose their children? What will happen this season on Sister Wives?
Will Kody be sorry he decided to “stand up and be different?” What do other viewers think?
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