Top Ten List of Contemporary Culture...

yea, sometimes I get to read other people's blogs while eating my dinner.

Anyway, via the volokh conspiracy, I am taking up tyler cowen's parlour game (in response to David Frum's original top ten list) with a list of my own.

Contemporary Landmarks (1950 - 2000) which will still matter in 200 years:

1. Loveless by My Bloody Valentine. Here is where Tyler is totally on! This is by far the best and most timeless album in my entire collection.
2. Kind of Blue by Miles Davis. who could object?
3. Flamenco Roots by Munir Bashir. If you haven't heard the "oud master" you owe yourself a favor to search this album out. This album alone is keeping me sane through my first year in law school.
4. Agaetis Byrjun by Sigur Ros. Ambient, Icelandic. This is a must-have for any timeless music collection.

(okay, I realize my list is heavily weighted toward musical landmarks first, but I only buy music that is timeless and I'm passionate about it...now on to movies).

5. Yojimbo by Akira Kurosawa. I was just commenting today that this is still one of the best films ever made. Probably the best role Mifune has played.
6. Mars Turki (Clean Sweep) ... without a doubt the best Israeli film ever made. I have watched it at least 100 times and will watch it 1000 more. You simply cannot get tired of it.
7. Buckaroo Bonzai. Absolutely timeless modern classic. 200 years from now, perhaps we will have figured out interdimensional travel and the "oscillation overthruster" thing, but you gotta hand it to Buckaroo! (ok, yea. he's cute too!)

(okay, now on to art and architecture)

8. The Transamerica Pyramid. Who could imagine the SF skyline without it?
9. Any porcelain sculpture by Paul Stein. I own two of his larger pieces, and he's a personal friend. But that aside, he is by far the most accomplished and talented potter in the modern era. His "collectors" know what I mean. The DeYoung Museum (Sacramento) has a few of his pieces, and you can sometimes find his work in galleries on the northern CA coast or big sur. His recent work is smaller and much more affordable than his earlier (larger and pricier) vessels, but even more precious because the pieces are so small.

(and last but not least, in the literature category...)

10. Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. The very first book report I ever did in grade school was on this book (even against the advice of my teacher who thought I was too young to "get it.") This is the one of the few modern books I've read that will remain relevant in 200 years.