Lights, camera, action! Followed by lights, music, and dancing? Just one day of film festival programming followed by music festival jamming left me exhausted from all the flimflamming. Don’t read me wrong, I love the artsy vibe in Oxford. It’s wonderful to live somewhere cultured enough to showcase local and otherwise films across such a span of genres—animated, documentary, narrative short, music video, feature length, and even experimental. Likewise, one of the many things that called me back to Oxford is its incredible music scene, also flush across genres—bluegrass, funk, country, rock ’n roll, electronic, blues, hip hop, and even experimental. So much was offered at the film festival I wanted to devote all my time and energy to it and its makers this weekend. And yet I could not forsake the talented local musicians that keep the Square pulsing each and every weekend with their motley beats and rhythms by denying them my time and energy.
This weekend I was torn between two artistic mediums—film and music. I respect each and tried to do both, for both and each deserve acclaim, yours and mine, our energy, our time, and let’s not forget our dime. I gave to each and now I’m beat. And neither got their full due for I was split between the two. Twice as much fun today leaves you with twice as less energy tomorrow. And that translates to twice as less attendance at both the music and film festivals. I sure couldn’t make it out to a second day of film and music. But what I did experience of each was great. Please, next year can we take them both by each, one weekend to celebrate the local film greats and another to celebrate the local music greats? I love them both and want each to reach their time to shine in the Oxford sun and fun.
Seriously? “Notes From the Visiting Yankee”? Couldn’t think of a better title?
When that term is slung around as an insult, I am not sure what you are trying to prove with that title. Maybe you’re just trying to blend, I suppose.
Try working here and being called that. It is not a term of endearment. It is another way for people to remind you that you do not belong here, just because you happened to be born someplace else.