AKA Five things I loved in this decade
It’s a new year and a new decade – the 20s again! In my head I’m doing the conga 😉
Anyway, in the spirit of positivity I want to go into this big new phase remembering all my favourite bits of entertainment from the 2010s. These weren’t necessarily made in the decade but I discovered them then.
💎 Documentaries
Walt Disney – A controversial man today, he sure built an extraordinary art empire from nothing.
Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story – I had no idea just how brilliant Hedy was, and how wronged by the American government.
Kathy Burke’s All Woman – An empathic, sensitive look at women’s lives today. Everyone needs a Kathy in their lives.
The Story of Women and Art – Presented by Professor Amanda Vickery. The artists who’ve been written out of art history, including a 16th Century sculptor to rival Michael Angelo who began by carving the stones of fruit!
Mothers, Murderers and Mistresses – Presented by Professor Catharine Edwards. All About the Empresses of Ancient Rome and how they gained and used power.
Honourable Mentions:
There were more, probably than I can even remember, but I also loved these documentaries:
David Bowie: Finding Fame.
A Day in the Life of Andy Warhol.
Anything presented by Lucy Worsley or Janina Ramirez.
But most importantly, The Lost Home Movies of Nazi Germany – Chilling, difficult to watch but absolutely essential viewing.
💎 Music
I don’t think I discovered any of these artists this decade but I have listened to an awful lot of their music the last ten years so I’m going to count them.
Lady Gaga – ♥️ Her style, her strength.
David Bowie – Anything. He’s the North Star 😍
Kate Bush – How?! I mean Wuthering Heights is phenomenal and she was so young when she wrote it. *Bows down in awe*.
P!nk – The Last Song of Your Life is beautiful.
and Frank Liszt – The Liebestraum makes me cry every. single. time.
Honourable Mentions:
Queen – forever and ever.
And now for two I definitely have discovered this decade: Swingrowers and Janet Devlin.
💎 TV
The Marvellous Mrs Maisel – Comedy, set in the past, female driven. Love it.
The Barbara Stanwyck Show (thank you Prime) – Not every episode holds up to modern eyes (some very anger-inducing 1950s woman’s place stuff) but some are true gems and for any Stany fan it’s a gift from heaven.
Miranda – Yes, it officially started in 2009 but I didn’t hop on board until the repeat just before the second series the next year so for me it’s a 2010s thing. I adored this programme. Still quote it. “Such Fun”.
Peaky Blinders – The style, omg it’s soooo artistic! Love the era, love the underworld setting, love the style of it. And did I mention the style?
The Great British Bake Off – Fell in love with the very first episode and been with it ever since. I think I love it even more now in its current incarnation on Channel 4 with Sandi, Noel and Prue.
Honourable Mentions:
There was such a mountain of tv I enjoyed that I couldn’t whittle it down so here my honourable mentions:
The Last Leg
I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!
And how could I not include the coverage of The 2012 Olympics?
And the 2020s look off to a great start with The Masked Singer.
💎 Learning Resources
Reedsy – A new discovery, so I’m only just learning all its intricacies but so far finding it very informative for my writers education.
FutureLearn – A variety of free mooc courses by top universities around the world on all manner of topics. Some even accredited. I highly recommend the Screenwriting one.
FEA – One for the entrepreneurially minded out there. So much great content, easy to implement and lovely community.
Duolingo – Everyone’s favourite. For a reason, fun way to see your progress.
Basically YouTube – What can I say? I’m lazy and since I’m already on the site, then why not?
💎 Youtubers
Alexa Donne – Makes great videos on the craft of writing. Spills the tea on publishing. If you want to publish your book with a traditional publishing house then this is the person you’ll be wanting to watch.
Rachelf – Documents learning the guitar.
The Long Haired Flapper – Historical beauty videos, with homemade recipes.
Makoccino – Maker of inspirational art videos and lovely watercolours. Really makes you believe you can do it too.
Emzotic – Pet videos by a professional Animal handler. Who also happens to be an actress.
💎 Movies
The Post (2017) – I had no idea freedom of the press and democracy in the USA faced such a threat in the late 60s early 70s! Fast paced it’s history Spielberg style.
Ball of Fire – Retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, but with a nightclub dancer and some professors. Funny, gorge to look at and had me rooting for Stany and Coop.
The Bride of Frankenstein – Somehow better than the film for which it is a sequel. So innovative it still holds up today.
It – 1927 Clara Bow silent. Stunning, modern and I want to be Bow’s friend.
The Lady Gambles – Perfection. A stunning portrait of descent into addiction, with a sympathetic view on mental health. Way ahead if its time and Stanwyck’s performance is incredible; she should have won the Oscar for this, and I’ll fight (with words, obvs) anyone who says she shouldn’t have.
Honourable mentions:
Daisy Kenyon – It made me happy, what can I say.
The Two Mrs Carrolls – Yes, it’s been a Stany year and very lovely too.
Mr Blandings Builds a House – A gentle and comforting film with Cary Grant and Myrna Loy that got me through a bad time.
There’ve been some real stinkers too like The Bargee, The Captains Paradise, Snow White and the Huntsman, Seance on a Wet Afternoon. Maybe I should blog about them 🤔
💎 Books
The Testaments – Adored The Handmaid’s Tale in college and I’ve been waiting to find out what happened to Offred for more years than I care to admit to. So happy Atwood returned to Gilead and gave us all hope for our world. I wrote about my thoughts and feelings here.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Fictionalised Classic Hollywood tale featuring sex and scandals. Loved it. The twist actually left me gasping. How did I not see that coming?!
She Means Business – Inspirational and practical business advice from the founder of the Female Entrepreneur Association.
How to be a Woman – Caitlin Moran being Caitlin Moran for 300 pages straight.
Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? The autobiography of Jeanette Winterson, who wrote Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit and depicts a childhood even more bleak than the fictionalised version of Oranges. I feel it should come with a handle with care warning.
Honourable Mentions go to The Daisy and Hazel detective series. Ok it’s technically a children’s series but I loved it anyway. I mean a 1930s boarding school with murder and cakes, what’s not to love? Same with the Theodosia Throckmorton Series set in 1907 about a young Egyptologist who sees curses on artefacts, there are sinister brotherhoods, walking mummies and a quest. It’sheaven.
What were your highlights of thedecade?
The Facts: Writer. Actress. Creatrix. Classic Movie Lover.
The Feels: I'm a cat person who deals in the feels. 