Michael Cox
@mcoxinscotland.bsky.social
An academic, dramaturg, critic and editor who dabbles in creating. A cultural nerd and news junky. A Southern Californian expat at home in Scotland.
Actually managed to watch all of Stranger Things without any spoilers. Luck, behaved viewers or did the algorithm favour me? No idea, but I enjoyed it.
November 29, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Actually managed to watch all of Stranger Things without any spoilers. Luck, behaved viewers or did the algorithm favour me? No idea, but I enjoyed it.
Sharing this to watch it all later—but some interesting ideas so far.
This is a really remarkable video essay on contemporary film and the theories of Laura Marks. It's making me think about movies in a new way.
Why Movies Just Don't Feel "Real" Anymore
YouTube video by Like Stories of Old
www.youtube.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Sharing this to watch it all later—but some interesting ideas so far.
I loved her in performance. I loved her in interviews. She always seemed like the smartest person in the room, and her line ‘Well la-di-da’ was a family inside joke. Oh, and if you need another reason to love her, there was also her contribution to this famous picture. RIP Diane Keaton.
October 11, 2025 at 9:34 PM
I loved her in performance. I loved her in interviews. She always seemed like the smartest person in the room, and her line ‘Well la-di-da’ was a family inside joke. Oh, and if you need another reason to love her, there was also her contribution to this famous picture. RIP Diane Keaton.
When I did the 'meet the parents' thing back in 2000, my soon to be wife's father told me he wanted to turn 100 (he was a youthful 74 at the time--you would have sworn he was in his early sixties at worst). Today, he’s pulled it off. The sincerest 'Happy Birthday' to my father-in-law, Jack Brownlee.
October 8, 2025 at 8:15 PM
When I did the 'meet the parents' thing back in 2000, my soon to be wife's father told me he wanted to turn 100 (he was a youthful 74 at the time--you would have sworn he was in his early sixties at worst). Today, he’s pulled it off. The sincerest 'Happy Birthday' to my father-in-law, Jack Brownlee.
Damn!
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.
October 5, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Damn!
An interesting read—and much to unpack.
Chris Goode's voice dominated the theatre blogging culture of the 2010s. @alicesaville.bsky.social reflects on how the abusive theatremaker used his writings to hide in plain sight
Alice points to the need for greater transparency in the theatre industry. In that spirit, this post is free to read
Alice points to the need for greater transparency in the theatre industry. In that spirit, this post is free to read
Chris Goode told the truth about who he was. How did we fail to see it?
Goode's voice dominated the theatre blogging culture of the 2010s. Alice Saville reflects on how the abusive theatremaker used his writings to hide in plain sight
exeuntmagazine.substack.com
October 3, 2025 at 11:30 AM
An interesting read—and much to unpack.
Just because change is sometimes painful doesn’t mean the change was wrong. Really having to remind myself of that this evening.
September 12, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Just because change is sometimes painful doesn’t mean the change was wrong. Really having to remind myself of that this evening.
Food for thought.
I'm making the case for why EVERYONE in this industry benefits from critics.
That, and what's at stake if we disappear - or let publications tie our hands.
If you read only one of my articles this week, or this month, please make it this one.
Available to everyone this week, not just our patrons.
That, and what's at stake if we disappear - or let publications tie our hands.
If you read only one of my articles this week, or this month, please make it this one.
Available to everyone this week, not just our patrons.
Film Critics Are Wolves (and That’s a Good Thing): Critically Acclaimed Newsletter (8/23/25) | The Critically Acclaimed Network
Get more from The Critically Acclaimed Network on Patreon
www.patreon.com
August 23, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Food for thought.
Haven’t seen or heard this clip. Love it!
This They Might Be Giants TONIGHT SHOW performance of "Birdhouse In Your Soul" from 1990 remains firmly lodged in my noggin thanks to the Tonight Show Band's full commitment and Doc Severinsen's incredible trumpeting... It took an already great song and made it transcendent.
August 23, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Haven’t seen or heard this clip. Love it!
The genius of Tom Lehrer. I discovered only last month he was still alive. His wit was an influence, particularly during university. RIP.
July 27, 2025 at 10:15 PM
The genius of Tom Lehrer. I discovered only last month he was still alive. His wit was an influence, particularly during university. RIP.
Reposted by Michael Cox
NEWS:
You have until this SUNDAY 29 June 2025 to take part in the survey into the future of the Brunton Theatre in Musselburgh.
News about East Lothian Council's infrastructure survey:
www.alledinburghtheatre.com/brunton-surv...
Take the survey here: eastlothianconsultations.co.uk/infrastructu...
You have until this SUNDAY 29 June 2025 to take part in the survey into the future of the Brunton Theatre in Musselburgh.
News about East Lothian Council's infrastructure survey:
www.alledinburghtheatre.com/brunton-surv...
Take the survey here: eastlothianconsultations.co.uk/infrastructu...
June 25, 2025 at 10:37 AM
NEWS:
You have until this SUNDAY 29 June 2025 to take part in the survey into the future of the Brunton Theatre in Musselburgh.
News about East Lothian Council's infrastructure survey:
www.alledinburghtheatre.com/brunton-surv...
Take the survey here: eastlothianconsultations.co.uk/infrastructu...
You have until this SUNDAY 29 June 2025 to take part in the survey into the future of the Brunton Theatre in Musselburgh.
News about East Lothian Council's infrastructure survey:
www.alledinburghtheatre.com/brunton-surv...
Take the survey here: eastlothianconsultations.co.uk/infrastructu...
Fascinating read.
After the latest round of grading papers, I wrote about AI, ChatGPT, the death of the student essay, and what it means for the future of human cognition.
The Death of the Student Essay—and the Future of Cognition
One professor's reflections on the end of an era, as AI tools such as ChatGPT have murdered the student essay (RIP). Here's why that threatens the future of human cognition—and how to save ourselves.
www.forkingpaths.co
June 19, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Fascinating read.
Shall we raise a glass.
May 20, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Shall we raise a glass.
Scary but essential reading.
(🎁) GIFT LINK to a stunning but also inarguable New York Times piece that says in no uncertain terms that America is no longer a democracy but an autocracy.
Opinion | How Will We Know When We Have Lost Our Democracy?
www.nytimes.com
May 9, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Scary but essential reading.
Very funny.
25% tariff on a whiskey drink
37% tariff on a Vodka drink
85% tariff on a Lager drink
110% tariff on a cider drink
132% tariff on songs that remind you of the good times
138% tariff on songs that remind you of the better times
37% tariff on a Vodka drink
85% tariff on a Lager drink
110% tariff on a cider drink
132% tariff on songs that remind you of the good times
138% tariff on songs that remind you of the better times
May 5, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Very funny.
An interesting take on the AI business model. Still digesting and processing—this, and AI in general.
Newsletter: I am sick and god damn tired of everybody pretending that generative AI is the next big thing. The media is complicit in accepting fantastical nonsense - both in the numbers put out by OpenAI and the silly jobs created by Anthropic - and it has to stop.
www.wheresyoured.at/reality-check/
www.wheresyoured.at/reality-check/
Reality Check
I'm sick and god-damn tired of this! I have written tens of thousands of words about this and still, to this day, people are babbling about the "AI revolution" as the sky rains blood and crevices open...
www.wheresyoured.at
April 30, 2025 at 11:04 AM
An interesting take on the AI business model. Still digesting and processing—this, and AI in general.
I love seeing older clips where the answer is longer than a mere soundbite.
April 25, 2025 at 5:40 PM
I love seeing older clips where the answer is longer than a mere soundbite.
Happy Anniversary to the love of my life. 24 years. Crazy how time flies. ❤️❤️❤️❤️♾
April 11, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Happy Anniversary to the love of my life. 24 years. Crazy how time flies. ❤️❤️❤️❤️♾
I’m a big scaredy cat but braved Ghost Stories. It helped having seen the film so knowing what most the jump scares were. Good fun.
April 8, 2025 at 10:12 PM
I’m a big scaredy cat but braved Ghost Stories. It helped having seen the film so knowing what most the jump scares were. Good fun.
Unpopular opinion: The White Lotus just might be the most overrated TV show currently running. Just finished the final episode of season three. It was...fine.
April 7, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Unpopular opinion: The White Lotus just might be the most overrated TV show currently running. Just finished the final episode of season three. It was...fine.
I absolutely understand this reflection.
What happens when you are a natural born people-pleaser… and also a critic?
@anyaryan.bsky.social has been called ‘heartless’ for being a theatre reviewer, and yet she hates conflict. Here, she reflects on the competing urge to be honest, and to be liked
@anyaryan.bsky.social has been called ‘heartless’ for being a theatre reviewer, and yet she hates conflict. Here, she reflects on the competing urge to be honest, and to be liked
'How could my words have made someone feel so terrible?'
The agony of bad reviews when you're a critic - and also a born people-pleaser
exeuntmagazine.substack.com
April 1, 2025 at 10:55 AM
I absolutely understand this reflection.
Happy Twin Peaks day, to those who celebrate. I’ve begun a rewatch of The Return in honour—of the date, and of the unfortunate loss of the brilliant Lynch.
February 24, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Happy Twin Peaks day, to those who celebrate. I’ve begun a rewatch of The Return in honour—of the date, and of the unfortunate loss of the brilliant Lynch.
To my darling valentine: here's to many more adventures together. I love you with all of my heart and soul. 😍😘❤️❤️
February 15, 2025 at 4:07 PM
To my darling valentine: here's to many more adventures together. I love you with all of my heart and soul. 😍😘❤️❤️
