Tag: Paris

Categories
Film Features Film/TV Sports

The Olympic Spectacle

Let’s face it: The Olympics are must-watch television. (Photo: Yalcinsonat | Dreamstime.com)

I’m not a sports fan. Baseball gives me flashbacks to the parade of humiliations that was my Little League career. The constant squeaking sound of sneakers against the floor in basketball games drives me insane. I used to think I liked to watch college football, but in fact I just liked eating fried food with my friends on fall Saturdays. I can do that without the head trauma component. Soccer? Too snoozy. Hockey? Too icy. Golf? Please no.

But I do love the Olympics. The games certainly share many traits that turn me off to professional sports. The massive civic expenditures the host cities have to endure certainly resonates badly with me, a citizen of a city and state that are currently spending hundreds of millions of dollars renovating sports stadiums while we lack a functioning mass transit system. Paris’ leaders seem to have handled that conundrum better than most cities. Many of the stadia and venues are temporary; the only permanent new construction is an aquatics center. In the opening weekend, this fact has made for some spectacular television, like beach volleyball matches played in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. The equestrian events take place on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles. 

The opening ceremonies featured a memorable reference to one of Versailles’ former residents. I’m not sure what kind of opening ceremony I was expecting from the French, but a bloody Marie Antoinette holding her own head while singing a song from the French Revolution with the Gallic metal band Gojira playing on balconies over the Seine was not it. The opening ceremonies are always a mixed bag, at best. The producers have the daunting task of bringing everyone together while making everything seem monumental, and something’s got to give. Paris’ opening ceremonies may just have been the best ever. There was fire, parkour, fashion, art, and a Dionysian bacchanal in the streets of Paris. Instead of marching into the stadium en masse, the teams paraded down the Seine in a flotilla of boats. The only thing that didn’t go according to plan was the rain, which drenched hundreds of dancers along the riverbanks and chased away the crowd. But the driving rain also produced some indelible images, like a regal LeBron James holding the flag aloft at the bow of the American boat like George Washington crossing the Delaware River. 

It was a rainy weekend in Memphis, so I was locked on the couch cramming as many events into my eyeballs as possible. For me, the weirder the sport, the better. I eschewed gymnastics prelims on the opening weekend in favor of rugby sevens. The French men’s team pulled off the upset of the games so far when they won gold in front of a hometown crowd, surviving a squad of swarming Fijians, who had, until Saturday, never lost a game in Olympic history. 

For a professional appreciator of the moving image like myself, the Olympics are a quadrennial update on the state of the photographic arts. The modern games excel at producing beautiful images; the photo editor for The Atlantic reportedly sorted through 25,000 wire photos on Friday. This year, the best television has come not from Paris, but from 9,700 miles away in Tahiti. The surfing competition is being held there on a beach known as Teahupo’o, which translates to “wall of skulls.” With competitors riding 50-foot waves breaking onto a razor-sharp coral reef, it may be the most dangerous event in Olympic history, but it’s super relaxing to watch. 

The camaraderie of the surfers having the rides of their lives while incidentally also competing for gold is the best example of the Olympic spirit. Gathering all of humanity together to see who can run the fastest and jump the highest may seem quaint in our troubled world. But three wars raging across the globe makes the traditional Olympic truce seem like a pretty good idea. The most moving example of peak human performance came from Celine Dion. After being sidelined from the stage for four years due to a rare neurological condition, she closed out the opening ceremony by slaying at a planetary level with Edith Piaf’s “Hymne a l’Amour.” As her fellow NBC broadcasters sat dumfounded, Kelly Clarkson, herself an accomplished singer, struggled through tears to find words for what we had witnessed. It was the most authentic emotion I’ve seen on TV in a long, long time. 

Watch the 2024 Paris Olympics on NBC or Peacock. 

Categories
At Large Opinion

Paris Is Smirking

Photo: Romolo Tavani | Dreamstime.com

“Last night’s mockery of the Last Supper was shocking and insulting to Christian people around the world who watched the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The war on our faith and traditional values knows no bounds today. But we know that truth and virtue will always prevail.”

That was Speaker of the House (and cosplaying Christian) Mike Johnson responding to the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony, which featured drag queens and maybe a naked Jesus? I dunno. To be outraged, you really had to be paying close attention, and I wasn’t. But Johnson wasn’t alone in his outrage. Here is a sampling of the reactions on X from folks proclaiming themselves Christians:

“A complete mockery of Christianity. This was by far the most satanic and disgusting ceremony I have ever seen. Do not defy Jesus Christ.”

“The radical left is a greater threat than Iran, China, or Russia will ever be to the United States.”

“A serious POTUS would send our athletes home.”

It went on for two or three days. Elon Musk (who is a Christian now?) unfollowed the Olympics account on X. That will show them.

But here’s my favorite reaction: “France literally gathered its planners and made a list of EVERYTHING that would get under the skin of conservatives and said, ‘Let’s open with ALL of it!’”

To be fair, this last guy was actually onto something. As someone who is married to a French woman and who has spent a lot of time with her family and friends, I can say, without fear of contradiction, that that is precisely how the French would have approached this project. They love pissing off the unsophisticated, tightly wound knobs of the world, i.e. MAGA-Americans.

Don’t believe me? Here’s the artistic director of the opening festivities, Thomas Jolly: “We wanted to include everyone, as simple as that,” he said. “In France, we have freedom of creation, artistic freedom. We are lucky in France to live in a free country. I didn’t have any specific messages that I wanted to deliver. In France, we are a republic; we have the right to love whom we want, we have the right not to be worshippers, we have a lot of rights in France, and this is what I wanted to convey.”

And it makes the joke even funnier when those who are outraged are, well, just ignorant fools. The opening ceremony had nothing to do with Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper but was intended to be a (very) loose recreation of The Feast of the Gods, a 17th-century painting by Dutch artist Jan Hermansz van Bijlert that hangs in the Magnin Museum, in Dijon, France. The painting depicts an assembly of Greek gods, including Dionysus, on Mount Olympus for a banquet to celebrate the marriage of Thetis and Peleus. So no Jesus, no blasphemy, unless you think dressing in drag is satanic, in which case, well, I can’t help you. 

But let’s be clear: There is no war on Christianity. You’re not a victim. You are a member of the U.S.’s largest religious denomination, many times over. It’s also the largest denomination in France. You’re going to be fine. It’s all a matter of perspective: You’re outraged that children were involved in the opening ceremonies. The French, conversely, are outraged that guns are the number-one killer of children in America.

You’re appalled by a headless Marie Antoinette, Lady Gaga, and Celine Dion. The French (and a lot of Americans) were appalled by the appearances of Kid Rock, Amber Rose, Hulk Hogan, and other creeps at the GOP convention two weeks ago. 

You’re upset because you refuse to believe that the French weren’t intentionally blaspheming Jesus Christ and the Last Supper. Yet I’m seeing no outrage from MAGA types over the countless images circulating of Donald Trump being held from behind by a loving blonde Jesus, or even the one that came from a campaign source via email yesterday, of Donald Trump literally hanging on the cross. His loin cloth is an American flag, and Melania is kneeling at his feet. It’s worth a google to see it, if only just to show that blasphemy, like art, is in the eye of the beholder. 

Categories
Opinion Viewpoint

Addicted to Trump

CREDIT: Bommpark | Dreamstime.com

Paris — I awake to brilliant sunshine. It is a glorious day here on the Left Bank, a short walk from the storied cafe Les Deux Magots, where I’m told Hemingway has preceded me.

What shall I do today? There is a wonderful exhibition of Picasso sculptures at the Picasso Museum and one of contemporary Chinese art at the Louis Vuitton Foundation and, right downstairs, a beckoning breakfast of succulent croissants and butter and coffee made just as I like it.

Oui, oui, so Parisian, but all that must wait. I fire up my laptop. I wonder what Donald Trump has been up to? Ah, he has questioned Hillary Clinton’s mental health. This is a perfect example of the pot calling the kettle black — n’est-ce pas? — but it is precisely what I need in the morning, my Trump fix.

Bommpark | Dreamstime.com

With a sinking feeling, I have come to a horrible conclusion: I am addicted to Donald Trump. Wherever I am in the world, I awake to news about Trump. What has he said while I was asleep? What will he say as the day goes on? I travel with a laptop, an iPad, a smartphone. I am constantly checking on Trump, running up huge bills for data or whatever, consuming gigabytes (whatever they are) that will bust me in the long run. I will squander my fortune, leave nothing for my son and some worthy charities, all because of this addiction. I need a 10-step program, maybe even 12 steps.

I stop. I walk a bit to the cafe and then stop and check my phone: What has he done now? You have to admit that Trump is endlessly creative. He has insulted the disabled, the dead, the parents of the dead, women, Mexicans, Muslims, Asians, African Americans, former POWs, the media, and, to get just a bit more specific, my employer, The Washington Post.

And then he says he did not say what you just heard him say. This is a version of the old Chico Marx line: “Who are you gonna believe, me or your own eyes?” Or he says he was just joking. Or being sarcastic. He is an immense word flow, a human mudslide that comes at you, engulfs you, moves on, and then insists it didn’t happen. When cornered, he commits intellectual bankruptcy: Wipe the slate clean.

What’s next? Now that it seems that Trump will lose and Clinton, as a result, will win, I have come to appreciate him for his entertainment value. To tell you the truth, I was not looking forward to yet another presidential campaign in which nothing extemporaneous ever happened.

Imagine Jeb Bush vs. Hillary Clinton! Where’s the remote?

I long ago tired of politicians who never say anything, adhere to their talking points, and avoid all controversy. They employ the word “frankly,” which is a “tell” that a lie is coming. “Frankly, I don’t look at the polls. The only poll that matters, frankly, is the one they hold on Election Day.” They frequently avoid answering a question by invoking “the American people” — as in, “I don’t think the American people care that I lied about going to college.”

Frankly, they do. But never mind. It has become commonplace to call Trump a reality TV star. That is said as an aspersion, the way Ronald Reagan was called an actor. But Reagan’s acting experience, his ability to talk to the camera and not yell to the hall, is what helped make him such a good politician.

It is the same with Trump. Just as every installment of a reality television show must have conflict, so does almost every one of his campaign days produce a shocking moment. His genius is being able to keep them coming. So I obsessively pay attention. I know that I can turn my back on Clinton and not miss anything much. She will stick to the script, talk the talking points, and maybe make a misstep or two, but they are nothing compared with what Trump is likely to say on even a slow day. I am hooked.

It is a lovely day in Paris. I am with the woman I love, and we are sitting in our favorite cafe for breakfast. I have a croissant and coffee, but the tension is building. Suddenly, my phone twitches with news. Did Trump really just call Clinton “Hillary Rotten Clinton”?

Yes. I am at peace.

Richard Cohen writes for the Washington Post Writers Group.

Categories
Music Music Features

Mulherin Selected for Red Bull Music Academy

Memphian Marshall Mulherin will be taking his talents to Paris, France, this fall as a member of the Red Bull Music Academy. Out of over 4,500 applicants, Mulherin was one of the 61 candidates chosen for the 12-day program that offers workshops, lectures, studio time, and much more to what Red Bull considers the next wave of young, influential musicians.

Since forming Mulherin at Loyola University in New Orleans, twin brothers Marshall and Parker Mulherin have earned a loyal following, been compared to Drake and the Weeknd, and performed regional shows in addition to playing at Loyola. We caught up with Marshall to learn more about his project, what he plans to take away from the Red Bull Music Academy, and how it felt to learn his brother Parker (the other half of Mulherin) wouldn’t be making the trip.

Flyer: How did you and your brother get into making music in Memphis?

We were born and raised in Memphis, and we went to Snowden for elementary and middle school and Central for high school. Ever since third grade, I wanted to be on the drum line, and I started playing snare drum once middle school came around. In high school, my brother and I were both drum captains on the drum line, but we hadn’t really been singing.

It wasn’t until we got to Loyola that we got interested in singing together. We had never sung in front of anyone until we got to college, and around our second year at Loyola, we started making beats and singing.

How would you describe the type of music you make?

The guy who wrote the bio for our Red Bull thing really captured it best. He called us “a downbeat pop and R&B-infused duo from Tennessee.” Our harmonies are inspired by the Beatles instead of something like the Beach Boys, but the production definitely pulls from the darker side of R&B, similar to Drake, Frank Ocean, and the Weeknd. I’m starting to get into D’Angelo, the low-end, darker, and more brooding stuff. But I’m not always sad. I can make some happy stuff too.

How did you find out about the Red Bull Music Academy?

I found out about it from one of my friends at school who is a producer and just a really talented musician. I knew that Red Bull does a lot of music events, sporting events, and all of that stuff, but I wasn’t too familiar with the academy. I also knew Amahl Abdul-Khaliq, a New Orleans rep for the Red Bull Music Academy. He encouraged me to apply, but he didn’t have anything to do with the decision to accept me.

So the Red Bull Academy only chose you to go, even though this project is a duo with your twin brother. How did that work? Was your brother jealous?

That’s just a rule that they have. If they invite a band to work at the academy, they don’t want six people representing a band; they only want one. They want to benefit as many different artists and groups as possible, so they can only take one person per project. He’s going to apply again next year, and he might apply for this thing they have called bass camp. They strongly suggested that he apply again next year, but it was very bittersweet to find out that I was going and he wasn’t.

What do you hope to get out of your time spent at the Red Bull Academy?

The ultimate goal is to not have a real job in a few years. I’ve already gotten some good solid connections with some of the people who are going to the academy, but I want to build more connections and become a better producer and a better writer. There are so many different types of people attending, and all these different people from all of these different places, so I just want to soak it all in.

I’m also really excited about being in Paris. I took French class in college, so I’m hoping to get to try some out.

At the same time, I’m just excited to see what kind of music I’m going to make during or after this experience. It is satisfying to see your play numbers go up and your fan base go up, but to me the most satisfying thing is surprising yourself with something you’ve made. That’s the main goal.

Could you see yourself going solo after the Red Bull Music Academy experience?

I’m not really considering a solo career right now. Mulherin is a very collaborative thing that we are doing together. Making art is something that connects us more, and we haven’t experienced anything like that before. There aren’t any solo plans for either of us; we are trying to build a career out of Mulherin at this point.

What does Mulherin have planned for the future?

We were planning on releasing an EP this summer, and we’ll be making more music and releasing singles. We haven’t really considered a full-length yet. We want to start with singles and wait to do an LP that really captures what we do. When that happens, it will probably be a 10-song deal.

Other than that, we have a lot of shows coming up over the school year, because our whole live band goes to school with us. In the summertime, everyone goes back to New Jersey, Boston, Memphis, or wherever.

Categories
News The Fly-By

Going Places

CREDIT: Dreamstime

If the airport authority had its way, it would be as easy to get to Paris, France, as it is to get to Paris, Tennessee. Members of Air France’s North American sales and marketing team were in town last week for their annual meeting. Local leaders took the opportunity to push for a transatlantic flight from Memphis International to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle.

“To have a second international flight … would be an incredible advantage for us,” says regional Chamber of Commerce president and CEO John Moore.

The airport has lobbied for similar flights before, and both Moore and Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority President and CEO Larry Cox say talks are in the early stages. Air France needs to study whether Memphis could support a flight to Paris. Northwest needs to see if a flight to Paris would cannibalize passengers from Memphis’ only current international flight, to Amsterdam.

“Memphis is not a large market. We’re not New York,” says Cox. “The reason we have a Memphis to Amsterdam flight is not because there are a large number of people flying between Memphis and Amsterdam. … What we have are people flying into Memphis on Northwest [on their way to Amsterdam].”

Some passengers will stay in Amsterdam, but others will use that city’s KLM hub to continue traveling to other places in Europe, the Middle East, or Africa.

If the numbers work, the flight to Paris could have the city saying “mais oui.” And it’s not just because we’ll have a straight shot to the City of Lights. “It would duplicate the economic impact of having the flight we’ve had to Amsterdam for the past 12 years,” says Cox. According to a University of Memphis study, the annual impact of the airport on the region was $21 billion. The economic impact of the Amsterdam flight was $100 million over 10 years.

“It’s nice to have service to Europe and beyond, but more importantly, it’s the access to our community from the rest of the world,” says Moore, himself a former Northwest executive. “If people don’t have an easy way to get to Memphis, we’ll have a hard time luring international tourists to visit or business people to do business with us. Accessibility is an important factor to any economy.”

In fact, accessibility is perhaps more important than location. In December, University of North Carolina professor and urban planner John Kasarda will be in town to talk about his theory that cities should — and will — grow around airports. Calling his city of the future the “aerotropolis,” Kasarda says connectivity will be key in the coming global economy.

Cities at crossroads, be they natural or man-made, have always been areas of growth and prosperity. One has to look a mere hour’s flight east to see that the trend continues today.

“Traditionally, if you wanted to fly internationally, you would have to go to an East Coast airport like New York or a West Coast airport like Los Angeles,” says Cox.

While the airline industry was still under federal regulation, Delta began building a hub in Atlanta.

“That’s how the airport grew and the city of Atlanta grew,” says Cox, “because Delta essentially invented the connecting hub. When the airlines were deregulated in 1978, they had a big start. Because they had all this connecting traffic, they were able to start international flights out of Atlanta way before a city like Birmingham or Memphis could.” Now Atlanta has a metro area of over 5 million people and, because of economic growth, a large local market for international flights.

But passengers aren’t the only part of the story.

A piece about the aerotropolis in the July 2006 issue of Fast Company cites staggering statistics: In the past 30 years, global gross domestic product has increased 154 percent but the value of air cargo has risen a dramatic 1,395 percent. Forty percent of the economic value of the world’s goods are shipped by air, as are more than 50 percent of U.S. exports. And Joel Garreau, the cultural-revolution correspondent of The Washington Post, had this to say: “Because of the airport, it’s possible to imagine a world capital in a place that was an absolute backwater.”

Memphis is the world’s busiest cargo airport — and has been for 14 years — but progress may be flying by.

Moore says that at least three cities are building airports to rival ours: Bangkok, Dubai, and Guangzhou, China.

“They have grasped the notion of access,” he says. “The points by which products flow on a global basis are where thriving economies will exist in the future. … They’re saying, let’s be Memphis but better.

“We have to take Memphis and make it better before they do.”