Monday Links 08/30/15: Adultery By Any Other Name, Less-Than-Stellar Star Wars, and Steamfunk's Sibling

It’s been a long hiatus, and woefully unplanned, but at last Runicfire returns with a new edition of Monday Links!

The notion that humans are obsessed with sex is all but an axiom. Every society on earth possesses its own sets of customs and taboos regarding sexuality, with some cultivating its expression and others suppressing or controlling the prurient instinct as much as possible. Our society frowns on adultery, considering the practice an insult to the sanctity of marriage, but Sarah Laskow at Atlas Obscura contends that American lawsagainst adultery were employed largely to enforce an altogether different setof taboos (NSFW). Rather than to avenge breaches of fidelity, adultery laws—which have been on the books and enforced as recently as the 1980s in some of the United States—served to punish female sexual expression as well as affections between people of different races.

On an entirely different but no less tawdry subject, Scott Mendleson at Forbes writes about why speculators on the upcoming Star Warsfilm’s profits are setting themselves (and us) up for disappointment.

Lastly, I came across a fascinating article while trying to determine if anyone else had written a novel that could be described as Renpunk. This blog post, by author Balogun O. Abeegunde, posits a name for a hypothetical genre of heroic fantasy set around the time of the Haitian Revolution. Mr. Abeegunde himself is, according to his bio, “one of the leading authorities on Steamfunk—a philosophy of or style of writing that combines the African and/or African American culture and approach to life with that of the steampunk philosophy[.]” I had not heard of Steamfunk before, but I guarantee you I will be looking into the genre more intently, as well as Mr. Abeegunde’s blog, in the future.

That is all for today’s edition of Monday Links. Until next time, stay tuned! 

Abrams' Trek Into Darkness: The End of the Star Trek Philosphy

When I accompanied my friends to see Star Trek Into Darkness last Friday, I knew it was against my better judgment. I grew up watching the 1979 motion picture, The Wrath of Khan, The Voyage Home, and the later films as they reached theatres. Part of my family’s Sunday ritual was to sit down and watch that week’s episode of The Next Generation. When Deep Space Nine aired, we added that series to our retinue as well, and I followed Voyager through the bulk of its seven-season run.

Monday Links: The Prison Problem, VFX Industry in the Red, and the Keystone Pipeline

This Monday's collection of notable links covers two subjects of general importance, with one less far-reaching topic that still hits close to my heart.

I recently found a thought-provoking article in Harvard Magazine, aptly titled "The Prison Problem." The article discusses research sociologist Bruce Western which brings America's criminal justice system into question. We imprison over 2.2 million of our citizens, and half of those who finish their terms go back to prison. Is it because they're born-and-bred criminals? No... they want to go back. Read the article: it explains the situation in full.

Though it's from a week ago, you may find this bit on Greg Laden's blog interesting. Within, Greg discusses the environmental ramifications of the proposed Keystone oil pipeline, the problems surrounding our continued use of fossil fuels, and the moral implications of whatever decision the Obama administration makes on the issue.

You may or may not of heard of Rhythm & Hues. They are a VFX company who created the visual effects which earned The Life of Pi an Oscar. But the company hasn't fared as well as the Academy Award-winning film. They recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. They're not the first in the VFX industry, nor will they be the last, and The Wall Street Journal explains why.

As a student at Cogswell College, many of my friends are studying to enter the animation and effect industries, and I have acquaintances who have worked at Rhythm & Hues. My thoughts still go out to anyone who may have lost their jobs in this debacle.

VFX houses have little choice but to accept a pittance for their services because of domestic and international competition, and the stinginess of some filmmakers. This is unfair. Most films today would be nothing but a few actors making silly gestures in front of a green screen were it not for VFX work.

Some of us have turned our Facebook profile pictures green to spread the word and protest these conditions. If you love films or have friends who have turned their profiles green, please consider following suit.

This Week on Runicfire: March 4 – 10

This Monday we open with a set of links to articles on prison reform, the plight of the VFX industry, and the potential ramifications Obama's pending decision on the Keystone oil pipeline may have on the environment.

On Wednesday I'll be putting up a brief piece on filmmaking.

And Friday shall feature Part II on "Telling Time in the Renaissance:" my series on how the people of the Italian Renaissance kept track of time. You can find Part I here.

Enjoy the week, and stay tuned!

Monday Links: Television Outshines Film, the Wii vs. Cancer, and the Rise of Rape in Morocco

I’d like to open this week at Runicfire with a collection of interesting links for your perusal.

The Economist discusses how the Internet and economics is leading to a shrinking film industry and thriving television business.

The Wii proves useful in combating fatigue in cancer patients through providing a source of low-intensity exercise.

And Allison McManus interviews Nadir Bouhmouch about her forthcoming film 475, and the tacit acceptance of men’s rape of women in Morocco and other countries affected by the Arab Spring.

I hope these articles prove enlightening.