Pop Is Political

Comments (0) By Penn Bullock Thursday, Mar 19 2009

The last time Maureen Dowd was in Florida, she went to Miami Beach with fellow columnist Alessandra Stanley for a depression-era spa treatment. Writing about it for the New York Times’ travel section, she noted both the city’s economic malaise and the spa’s wide selection of “biodynamic wines.” It wasn’t the thriftiest move on her part, considering the state of the Times’ finances (it just sold its own building). But hey — maybe an antioxidant facial peel and an “Intention Walk” are just what the economy needs to flush out its toxic assets.

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Now Dowd and Stanley are returning to Florida for a joint lecture in Palm Beach on “Pop and Politics.” They’re conversant in the subject. Stanley is the Times’ TV and culture columnist, and Dowd is one of the most experienced journalists in politics. She’s the Ann Coulter of the left: a hot, quick-witted bitch, though she isn’t disgraced and malnourished like Coulter. Dowd’s columns merge pop culture and politics, two categories that may have become indistinguishable. Remember the scary Inaugural after-party at which Jay-Z rapped lustily about a trophy-wife right before Biden and his own trophy wife danced hideously under the spotlight? The menace of the Spectacle might be worth bringing up during the Q&A at today’s lecture.

Head to the Society of the Four Arts at 2 Four Arts Plaza in Palm Beach. The discussion begins at 2:30 p.m. Call 561-655-7226, or visit fourarts.org.
Tue., March 24, 2:30 p.m., 2009