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My Arch-Nemesis

 My arch-nemesis is Glen Weldon, a culture reporter for NPR.


I have never met this person, but I listen to his work for "Pop Culture Happy Hour," and I have issues.


Basically, everything in Glen Weldon's work is a thing that I find somewhat grating in my own work; it's just that Glen Weldon is much more successful and prolific than I am.


At times, Weldon seems to deliver an (unconscious) parody of NPR's general political-correctness overdrive. For example, if I remember correctly, he worried that the "Lion King" remake (the one with Billy Eichner) employed very few African actors (only African-American actors). I'm not saying it's *wrong* to wring one's hands about this; I'm just saying the act of wringing hands in that moment was so very NPR....And to *not* insert a prelude: "I realize what I'm about to say will verge on self-parody...." This seemed striking to me.


Also, Glen Weldon worried that the new movie "Supernova" was too white. It told a story about gay men suffering--but did the gay men have to be Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci? A big part of me rolls my eyes when I hear this kind of reporting. Must every story be *all things* to all people--everywhere, at all times?


Additionally, Glen Weldon liked the movie version of "The Prom." (Nothing more is needed here....)


Finally, Glen Weldon and his team use a kind of aggressively sunny intro theme tune; you can imagine it, as it fits right in with the general NPR vibe. I hate this tune, and I especially hate that the arts desk always says: "That tune you're bopping your head to is called...." I feel bullied in that moment. Because I'm *not* bopping my head. And I hate that NPR is making assumptions about what I'm doing.


OK. That's all. I'm sure Glen Weldon is a nice guy. I just needed to say all of that today.

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Comments

  1. UnknownFebruary 25, 2021 at 5:35 AM

    The Pop Culture Happy Hour can only be described as "grating," but Glen Weldon is unworthy of being your arch-nemesis, Mr. Barrett! Switch to "It's Been a Minute" with Sam Sanders. Or, to escape the NPR universe entirely, "Tom & Lorenzo's Pop Culture Opinion Fest," where the hosts' cats sometimes make cameos. Both are so much more fun. Hope all is well!

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    Replies
    1. ReaderFebruary 25, 2021 at 6:49 AM

      Thank you! I will investigate these. I should say....another thing about the Glen Weldon "Supernova" discussion that bugged me.....any casual moviegoer who reads a description of that film might (I think) at least briefly wonder: "Is this movie SUPER-BORING AND DREARY?" And Weldon seems to pretend this thought wouldn't really occur to anyone. Another issue I have with NPR.....

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