For a while now I’ve been pondering about how funny it is that everything* I love comes from Canada, and thought I’d debate it in a very unscientific and absolutely-not-acadamic-or-rigorous-manner right here on my blog. That’s right, you’ve just stepped into a rampaging** debate!
So first, up we have the affirmative team. And well, uh, that would be me! So hello, and uh, welcome to my dropping of random thoughts.
Exhibit A***: Margaret Atwood and anything she’s every written. Note, there is no asterisk next to ‘anything’. I really do mean anything. I’m sure even her shopping list would be the marvellous and thought-provoking read! (And if you’re wondering if her videos on Masterclass are brilliant? Yes. Yes, they are.)
Exhibit B: Kaitlin Johnson - Oh my gosh the gorgeous artwork from this gorgeous person is just divine. While I don’t own a piece of her artworky goodness for my walls just yet, I am super-happy to be sporting a dress and leggings made from fabric with her designs and that will keep me going for now! (I think…)
Exhibit C: Alvvays - jangle pop, fun video clips, and tunes that will get stuck in your head (in a good way). Only three words to add to that. Give.Me.More!
Exhibit D: Workin’ Moms - Want an honest, gritty, very funny look at life with kids, juggling family, work, and all that palaver? Then this show is it! It’s quite a bit over-the-top at times but at the heart of each scene is something very real that you can relate to.
Exhibit E: Anne with an E… So up front, I am a long-time Anne of Green Gables fan, so odds were that I was going to like this (though I do still have the 1980s versions of Anne, Marilla, Matthew, and Gilbert Blythe curled up in my heart).
This remake really makes the story its own - it’s not just another version with different actors and improved production quality - it explores so many more layers of the life of Anne Shirley. We find out more about her trauma background, her friendships aside from her beloved kindred spirit Diana Barry, and how she despite everything she has gone through she’s developed that sunny world view that we’ve come to know and love. It also lays open issues related to gender, race, social class, and sexuality, and tells diverse stories of people in 19th century Canada that weren’t covered in the books or previous productions.
The acting is superb and the cinematography and score beyond stunning. (My only complaint is that it wasn’t renewed for another season so we could have some closure on some of the storylines.) Anyone else have a trip to Prince Edward Island on their bucket list?
And the negative team? Well there’s no one here to argue that all the things I love aren’t from Canada, so there are no arguments for the negative which is totally fine, as I wouldn’t be able to say that everything I love is from Canada and that would ruin the whole title of my post.
There we go, very convincing wasn’t it?
Case closed.
GP x
* Okay so I exaggerated a bit here. Doesn’t everyone? ;)
** Rampaging. Okay, I’ll admit maybe it didn’t live up to this descriptor in the end. But it got your attention, didn’t it?
** Yes, I know I wasn’t presenting this case in court and referring to evidence, but I just thought the word ‘exhibit’ gave things a kind of gravitas… well, that and I couldn’t think of another word!
