Feldman's Faves: May 1, 2023

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE

Well, that’s a relief….Stanley Cup or bust!!

It was nice to see so many people IRL last week at our Firm Wide Appreciation Lunch and then at our Section Lunch where we were finally able to formally welcome Joanna, Jennifer and DJ. It’s great being able to connect in this way and to do so while eating - aka the Goodmans way….

I can’t believe that our new group of summer students is starting next week. This summer will be the first “real” summer experience for our students since Covid so please do your part to be present for them. Your involvement with and investment in our newest firm members will be a real difference maker.

Today’s theme is the work of Phoebe Robinson.

YOU CAN’T TOUCH MY HAIR By: Phoebe Robinson – I had never heard of Phoebe Robinson until I listened to the Spark and Fire PODCAST (noted below) that introduced me to her work and her amazing outlook on life. You Can’t Touch My Hair is book of essays that addresses some very serious issues in a very funny way and makes some of these issues (that are completely new to me), very accessible and understandable. The title track about hair (something I have a very distant personal memory of) is a very thoughtful and insightful piece on this issue. She also loves U2 as do I (or at least I used to before the concerts got so long and boring). The theme or at least the tone, that permeates all of the work, is one of joy, good humour and seriousness of the issues. She takes her work seriously, but not herself seriously – something we at Goodmans take great pride in ourselves. As one reviewer notes, “A black female comedian lays it all out there. Stand-up comic and co-star of the WNYC podcast 2 Dope Girls, Robinson has a lot to complain about, starting with the need people have to touch her hair. In case readers fail to pick up on her humorous vibes regarding hair, the author includes a second chapter on the history of black hair in film, TV, and other media. Throughout the book—a hybrid of humor, truth-telling, and poking-fun-at-life-in-general—Robinson delves into what it means to be a woman and black and, more importantly, a black woman in today’s American society. Filled with references to pop culture and plenty of hashtags, the narrative addresses issues like how to avoid being the one black friend in a group of white people, the difficulty of being hired to play a role in a show because you’re either too black or too light, and why NFL players need to treat women better. She gives readers her list of nine guilty pleasures (No. 1: “Ranking Members of U2 in the Order of Whom I Want to Sleep With”; The Edge is first) and a list of demands for a future female president, including penalizing those who perpetuate the thigh-gap obsession. She also explains why “Lisa Bonet is Bae. Queen. Jesus” and waxes poetic on why she takes her laundry home to her parents’ house. “If a person were to play [the dryer] in a movie—don’t ask me why—it would be played by Meryl Streep,” she writes. “The dryer is that damn good.” Although the humor is forced and tiresome in places, Robinson does hit the mark on some important issues, and fans of her podcast will enjoy the book. Up-and-down humor that sometimes gets to the heart of the realities of being black in America.” You Can’t Touch My Hair is a quick and fun read. Here’s a good review from NPR - https://www.npr.org/2016/10/02/496060677/no-you-cant-touch-my-hair-and-other-lessons-from-comic-phoebe-robinson

Spark & Fire: Fuel Your Creativity - Create from joy: Writer Phoebe Robinson on "You Can’t Touch My Hair" – For those of you who don’t feel like reading the book but want a taste of Robinson’s work, this PODCAST does the trick. I really love the fact that she is joyful in what she does and loves and appreciates the opportunities she has. I can totally relate to this approach to work and to life and I have always said that I will do this job as long as it is fun. While there are of course better days than others the good days WAY win over the bad days. You can be creative from a place of joy and Phoebe Robinson is the poster child for this idea. Here is an excerpt from the PODCAST itself, “There’s a commonly held belief that great creative work comes from pain. But comedian and writer Phoebe Robinson says that this is a myth. Instead, Phoebe believes great creative work comes from a place of joy. As Phoebe shares her personal story of writing her debut essay collection, You Can’t Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have to Explain, she draws on the things that bring her the most joy in life, whether it’s her Peloton bike, or her obsession with the band U2. Her joy is what allows her to hone her unique creative voice, which she describes as having “a lot of pop culture references, but there's also some smarty smarty pants stuff that's going on.” Phoebe will inspire you to tap into what brings you joy, whatever it may be, and use it as fuel to create — and have fun doing it.”- https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/spark-fire-fuel-your-creativity/id1544310633?i=1000609610031

Thank you for your ongoing engagement and participation.

And remember to stay safe, stay healthy and to docket daily.

Jon