Obsessive Specific

The post is a not-very-cleverly disguised plug for the latest thing I love, brought to you by the staff of The Onion.  Wish I had written it myself.  It is the kind of thing that ought to make Borders and B&N rethink having a coffee shop and comfy chairs, because I would tuck right in and read this whole thing.  But then I couldn't read it again, could I?

List books are all well and good.  Anyone can make a List.  The difference between trivial and commentary is the differenc between "15 famous brains and what they weighed" (zzzz) and "6 quiet film revlutions."

The art of the list is not in Top 10s of Top 10s lacking subjective criteria, that make the INTJ you love ask "Best Romantic films by what standard...?"  in that whiny way she has before she reties her shoes too tightly.

The art of the List is in its specificity.  It's obsessively specific  specificity, as the title of this book explains: Inventory: 16 Films Featuring Manic Pixie Dream Girls, 10 Great Songs Nearly Ruined by Saxophone, and 100 More Obsessively Specific Pop-Culture Lists . 

Amazon has the audacity to categorize it under History & Criticism.  You go, Amazon. 

Highlights of Lists you can try to make on your own, but better let the professionals do it.

11 beloved songs sung by secondary singers (ie Peter Criss)



8 great films made by directors after they turned 70 (ie Fish Called Wanda)


15 common types you meet on DVD audio commentaries (I listen to a lot of DVD Commentary. When you hear some of these types at work, it is best just to bail. Directors and Producers actually provide the most engaging commentary. And parenthetical bloggers)


22 great songs inspired by heinous true crimes (have a good time with that one. Billy Joe may not be true.)

10 things The Ramones Do and Don't Wanna
 
 
 
Enjoy.