Friday, Jan. 27, 2017: Kent Monkman, Michael Fassbender and more
Today on q, hosted by Tom Power:
1. Kent Monkman is using his art to explore First Nations' history and resilience
Kent Monkman's latest exhibit, Shame and Prejudice, aims to challenge the rhetoric around Canada's 150th birthday. By using his own paintings, drawings and sculptural works, paired with historical artifacts, Monkman tells a story of Canada's Indigenous history through the perspective of his narrator and alter-ego, Miss Chief Eagle Testickle.
Find some of Monkman's art here.
— Produced by Sarah Grant
2. How Michael Fassbender vigorously prepares (and gets out of) his many movie roles
As with all his roles, Michael Fassbender put a lot of prep into his latest one in Trespass Against Us. Known for his rigorous process of diving into his roles, how does the actor leave his characters after the movie wraps up? "All of it's left on the floor, hopefully," Fassbender tells host Tom Power. "I'd go mental if I stayed in character all the time, but I do enjoy coming in and out of it, too."
Trespass Against Us is available in select theatres across Canada now.
— Produced by Ben Edwards
3. q This
In q's weekly segment, q This, CBC Radio 2's Raina Douris and Grand Analog frontman Odario Williams give listeners a rundown of the week's most noteworthy music releases. Today's picks: Fancey and Matt Martians.
— Produced by Diane Eros
4. John Early and Kate Berlant put a surrealist touch on Hollywood ruthlessness in 555
There are archetypal roles that comedians John Early and Kate Berlant would probably never get cast to play. So how does the duo rectify that? By writing and casting those roles for themselves in their latest miniseries project, 555. The series has been touted as "Black Mirror meets Hollywood," with the two taking on various characters and surreal situations that hold a mirror up against Tinseltown's ruthlessness. Early and Berlant hope that this digs deeper than other web series about twentysomethings though, as Early notes that most series out there suffer a disease where they rarely "move beyond the theme of 'I'm a mess.'"
555 is available now, exclusively on Vimeo. Early and Berlant will be going on The 555 Tour, which kicks off in Toronto, Ont., on Jan. 29. For more tour dates, head to Berlant's website.
— Produced by Sarah Grant
5. Nova Bhattacharya uses dance to explore her relationship with migraines
Nova Bhattacharya is known for the way she incorporates classical Indian dance into contemporary Canadian choreography. Her upcoming performance, Infinite Storms, uses dance to explore her relationship with migraines. Although she was diagnosed in her 20s, her parents say she suffered from headaches for most of her life and by the time she reached her 30s, the migraines escalated. After seeking treatments, Bhattacharya has somewhat made peace with her diagnosis. The award-winning dancer explains how migraines are this "crazy, perfect storm of physical and emotional symptoms," but by pushing through the pain, you can learn resilience. "You feel like dying, but you don't die."
Infinite Storms is on at the Theatre Centre in Toronto from Jan. 26-29. Find more details here.
Music from today's episode:
Joel and Bill Plaskett, 'Blank Cheque'
The New Pornographers, 'Mass Romantic'
Fancey, 'Baby Sunshine'
The Internet feat. Kaytranada, 'Girl'
Matt Martians, 'Diamond in da Ruff'
Charlotte Day Wilson, 'Work'