Song: “Strawberry Fields Forever” by the Beatles.
“Arguably the most significant musical phenomenon of the 20th century, the Beatles’ impact on Western culture runs deep, transcending music and even the art world generally. Among their many lasting legacies is how the Beatles transformed rock music into a legitimate art form and revolutionized music recording techniques. ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ epitomizes their innovation as studio artists, despite the limitations of a primitive four-track recording console. After recording three versions of the song, with a range of levels of orchestration, John Lennon asked producer George Martin to combine them — a seemingly impossible task since the three versions differed in terms of keys and tempo. But by slowing down a section from one of the versions, he produced a final version that begins with a simple arrangement of guitar and mellotron and builds into a fully orchestrated piece that provides the ideal palette for Lennon’s surreal, Hindu-influenced, Jabberwocky-like lyrics.”
Film: “Deathtrap”
“This 1982 suspense thriller starring Michael Caine, Dyan Cannon, and Christopher Reeve is a film adaptation of a stage play by Ira Levin. The plot centers on playwright Sidney Bruhl (Caine) who, after a string of failures, is desperate to have a successful play. After reading the script written by one of his students (Reeve), Caine hatches a plan to murder the young playwright and pass off the script as his own. Bruhl persuades his wife (Cannon) to join him in the plot, and the thrill-ride begins. However, things don’t go down quite as planned, and several shocking twists and reversals make for stunning viewing. Brilliantly acted and directed, the performances do justice to a masterful script that is charming, menacing, and hysterical. In addition to the technical genius of the film, it has a powerful moral theme and is endlessly quotable.”
Book: “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Harriet Beecher Stowe
“For many years I had this book on my ‘must read’ list but didn’t get around to reading it until recently. Like most people, I was aware of the common use of the phrase ‘Uncle Tom’ as a pejorative term for an African American who somehow betrays their allegiance to their own ethnic group. So, upon reading the book I was surprised to see how badly this pejorative misconstrues the book’s main character. Far from betraying his people or excusing the wickedness of slavery, Uncle Tom provides an inspiring portrait of Christian suffering, as he refuses to condone the evils of the slave system while admirably persevering in his faith.”