REVIEWS
Ikonica: A Field Guide to Canada’s Brandscape
By Jeanette Hanna and Alan Middleton [Douglas & McIntyre]
Remember Naomi Klein’s No Logo? The book that convinced you to burn everything you owned with a Nike swoosh? Now picture the opposite: Ikonica, a 232-page celebration of brands. The description of Ikonica is promising. Terms like “visually stunning” and “provocative analysis” are used. The book does look pretty, and there are some nice photos. But the content is as bland as white bread. There is very little analysis, and none of it is provocative. Ikonica profiles some of Canada’s largest corporate success stories, from Tim Hortons to Roots. But many were written by the presidents or founders of the company being profiled – which is like asking a Nike spokesperson why they chose red for their new trainers instead of why they still use child labour. Had the authors really wanted to provoke, they would have asked WestJet to write Air Canada’s profile, with additional comments from its leagues of frustrated customers. In the end, the book reinforces an unfortunate Canadian brand: that we are passive, boring and so worried about offending anyone that we never say anything of value. This book is as forgettable as a Roots T-shirt. (Though considerably more attractive.) _Lindsey Norris
Pachyderm Painting
Kamala has taken the concept of outsider art a step beyond, breaking down inter-species barriers and giving us a glimpse into the animal mind. The Sri Lankan-born abstract painter makes her home in Calgary. But perhaps even more compelling than her art is her unusual creative process. Known for fits of passion that send paint and brushes flying, Kamala’s outbursts are frequent and characterized by a lack of remorse. Conversely, when pleased with her toils, the artist emits trumpeting sounds and stomps her feet, demanding lunch. Yet her compositions are extremely sophisticated. Her application of paint is deliberate and bold. “Hang 10,” detailed above, has energy and movement; it draws the viewer in, while at the same time forcing us to question the purpose of the piece. While her earlier works depict life in her homeland, it is the broad, sweeping brush strokes and dramatic colour choices of this painting that truly convey the artist’s awareness. Still, one wonders if we can expect much longevity from one so prone to primadonna-ism. See kamala paintings for more. Proceeds go towards improving quality of life for elephants at the Calgary Zoo. _Paige Weir
Palm Reading
Tired of our usual microwave entrées, a colleague and I headed off in search of a two-course lunch special with a side order of enlightenment. Edmonton’s Russian Tea Room (therussiantearoom.ca) offers a broad selection of reasonably priced diner-style food. For a fee, you can also select from a menu of psychic readings while waiting for your mushroom soup. First rule: what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas – we discussed our readings while we ate, but agreed not to gossip back at the office. I selected a palm and tarot card reading from “T” (15 minutes, $30). T’s first comment upon looking at my right hand was, “You think too much. Stop that.” She went on: I can look forward to a long life (full of ruminating, no doubt), no money worries (whew!), a happy love match (right on!) and three children (sorry, boss, but maybe some of them will be step kids). Should you take career advice from a psychic? T was the second person in two years to say that creativity is written all over my hand. So a career in media is a great fit. But her advice? Add balance by including writing in my daily agenda of spreadsheets and team-building. _Joyce Byrne
Then We Came to the End
By Joshua Ferris [Little, Brown and Company]
You’re young and hip. You know from funny. You like The Office (both versions, you’re careful to say, making it clear that you’re cool enough to appreciate the original). You like it because it speaks to your experience and the soul-crushing existential dread you feel whenever you’re at your desk. But you want something a bit more literary. After all, you don’t wear dark rimmed glasses for nothing. You need to read Then We Came to the End. The novel is about the goings-on of a Chicago ad agency at the end of the internet boom, when jobs are fading, the future seems ambiguous, and everyone is reacting to the dread of layoffs. The book’s tone, written in the corporate speak of the first-person plural, could almost become worn if Joshua Ferris wasn’t so adept at switching points of view even while keeping the “we.” It succeeds because it manages to find the biting humour of office life without losing the tragedy, camaraderie and safety: satire, without too much bitterness., Everyone who considers themselves part of our “next gen business” mandate will curl up into the prose and find comfort and joy, and the peace of being finally understood. _Greg Hudson
PREVIEW
International Film Festivals
[Calgary: Sep. 19 to 28;
Edmonton: Sep. 26 to Oct. 4]
Cannes, Toronto… Alberta? We may not land the world premieres, nor Hollywood’s A-list, but the province’s two major film fests have certainly matured in recent years. As the cities become more sophisticated, audiences demand bigger and better films, yet at the same time become more receptive to experimental and local fare. At Edmonton’s fest, which turns 22 this fall, highlights include the second installment of Our Own Backyard, a day of short films produced by Albertans, and 45 features, including strong docs (Carts Of Darkness, about North Vancouver bottle-pickers, and aging metal-head flick Anvil!) as well as Canadian-made alien invasion action-comedy Freezer Burn, staring the ever-creepy Crispin Glover and Tom Green. Three hours down the highway, Calgary’s fest has evolved since its birth in 1999 into a 10-day juggernaut with more than 300 screenings. It’s the third best-attended event in town (after the folk festival and Stampede). Last year, Cam Christensen’s award-winning local short I Have Seen The Future – an animated take on Calgary musician Kris Demeanor’s song of the same name – went on to screen at Sundance. Boo-ya. _Dan Rubinstein U
Category: Life
