Bloggers all up and down the right-hand column have been playing “In the Bag” lately. Modern Art Notes seems to have been first to take up the cudgel, but after that it spread like kudzu throughout the blogosphere. Since imitation is supposed to be the sincerest form of flattery, I’m flattered–so here we go again.
First, a quick review of the rules for those of you just joining us. “In the Bag” is my private variation of the old desert-island game. In this version, the emphasis is on immediate and arbitrary preference. You can stuff five works of art into your bag before departing for that good old desert island, but you have to decide right this second. No dithering–the secret police are banging on the front door. No posturing–you have to say the first five things that pop into your head, no matter how dumb they may sound. What do you put in the bag?
As of this moment, here are my picks:
NOVEL: W. Somerset Maugham, Cakes and Ale
PAINTING: John H. Twachtman, Winter Harmony
PAINTING: Edward Hopper, Sun in an Empty Room
POP SONG: Aimee Mann, Deathly
FILM: Nicholas Ray, On Dangerous Ground
Over to you.
P.S. If you’re wondering why I put two paintings in the bag this week, by the way, the answer is, I just felt like it.