80s

We Are Action Figures

/ Alex Doriot / Leave a comment

Kids these days – they don’t know how good they have it.

Have you strolled through the toy section of Target or Walmart lately? It’s amazing how far things have come from when I was kid. Especially with the wrestling figures.

(Click Here if you can’t see the video above)

Now that’s how you sell toys! Gosh, I know that commercial by heart. “So close to the real thing it’s like being in the ring!”

Except as awesome as this advertisement was the toys really didn’t live up to the hype.  Continue reading →

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Why Sequels Suck

/ Alex Doriot / 4 Comments

terminator-2-1991-28-gTerminator 2: Judgment Day is the best sequel of all time.

You may argue otherwise. But you would be wrong.

The first Terminator movie is a decent 80s action flick. It’s more focused on Sarah Connor, Kyle Reese, and their struggle to protect her unborn (and unconceived) son than it is the Terminator trying to kill her, played in an almost comically wooden fashion by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

In fact, the famous “I’ll be back” line from the film is just a throwaway line the Terminator offers as he assesses how to break down a doorway to get to Sarah Connor. (Also, dig that rad 80s synthesizer score!) Continue reading →

The Shortcut To Popularity

/ Alex Doriot / Leave a comment

tumblr_li2ojiqJD51qgj47lI cannot stress to you enough the impact Zack Morris had on my life.

Every day before and after elementary school I watched reruns of “Saved By The Bell”. Sure, the show was funny. But really I was studying Zack Morris.

Zack Morris was the epitome of cool. The slicked back bleached blonde hair. The giant cell phone. The swagger.

(Also he could stop time. That was kind of weird. But totally awesome.) Continue reading →

The Best Christmas Movie You’ve Never Heard Of

/ Alex Doriot / 2 Comments

tumblr_lvk7rfN2UM1qzb1qio1_500A Christmas Story. Miracle on 34th Street. A Charlie Brown Christmas. It’s A Wonderful Life. 

All undeniable classics.

Let’s face it though – there’s some really strange, really bad Christmas “classics” that get trotted out every year.

Have you watched Frosty The Snowman lately? It’s just…weird. The Santa Clause is fantastic, but unfortunately The Santa Clause 2 and 3 exist. Vince Vaughn allegedly made a couple of movies called Fred Claus and Four Christmases, but I haven’t seen them and I’d like to continue pretending they’re not real thank you very much.

It makes me sad every year when crappy Christmas movies make the cut and underrated gems become further lost to time.

So I made it a point to spend one day writing about the Best Christmas Movie You’ve Never Seen – Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas. Continue reading →

What To Remember When It Doesn’t Feel Like Christmas

/ Alex Doriot / 2 Comments

What is Christmas supposed to feel like?

Living in Georgia the past 20-some-odd years, I’m beginning to wonder.

Growing up I’ve always thought Christmas was supposed to be feel like winter, interchangeable with snowflakes and hot chocolate and wool sweaters.

So how come it’s December 9 and still 75 degrees outside? Continue reading →

Break It Down Like Bob Dylan

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(Click Here if you can’t see the video above.)

In honor of going to see Bob Dylan in concert tomorrow, I give you this video of Bob Dylan rehearsing his one line from the charity single “We Are The World” for 8 minutes.

This is not your typical short and to the point Happy Friday post. But there’s something magical about the grin Bob Dylan gets around 5:07 in the video.

Even after decades in the music business and unmatched success, he’s still a perfectionist. He’s still humble. He still gets frustrated when he doesn’t sound good. And he still smiles when people like something he did.

Don’t think you’re too big to keep trying hard on something. Don’t think you’re so much of an expert that you can’t improve. And don’t forget to smile when people pay you a compliment.

Happy Friday.

(If you have an extra few minutes, you must read Rembert Browne’s hilarious second by second dissection of this video from Grantland. It will make your day.)

What Is POP GOD?

/ Alex Doriot / Leave a comment

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Does God still speak to us?

The last book with His mark on it, the book of Revelation, is almost 2000 years old. That’s not very Pop Culture friendly.

Pop Culture is of the moment. Rarely does Pop Culture have a lifespan of longer than 6 months. Pop Culture is transient and fleeting. It is rapidly evolving, growing, and fading with every tweet, every post, every new message and medium.

It would be easy to dismiss the Bible as an outdated book and the main character of God as an antiquated invention. After all, when was the last time you read any other 2000 year old book?

So after finalizing the Bible, has God really been silent?

I don’t think so. I think we just have a hearing problem.

God created humanity in His own image. We are created in the image of a Creator. We are created to create.

Through His creations and their creativity the Creator is reflected and His voice is heard.

God makes himself visible in every moment. He is, as Ephesians 4:6 says, over all and through all and in all. He uses stories to draw us closer to Him. He can use the Pop Culture of our world to reveal truths about Himself to us. If only we would look.

There is plenty about God that is not easy to understand (sorry, Book of Leviticus).

There is also an abundance of truth about God waiting in the world around you. It’s there in Pixar movies and Bruce Springsteen songs. It’s there in WWE matches and 80s sitcoms. God’s presence exists in the present tense, speaking to you.

POP GOD is not an endorsement of every aspect of pop culture. Nor is it necessarily an endorsement of all the aspects you see on its pages. POP GOD is an exploration into God’s presence and voice in the most present and vocal avenues our world uses to communicate.

For God is timeless. He exists in time and out of time. And He is present in the now. He is just as alive and vibrant and vocal today as He was 2000 years ago and He will be 2000 years from now.

This blog is an exploration of God in the present tense. For He still speaks every single day. He is present in the culture. He is present in the pop.

He is a POP GOD.