Tag Archives: Steve Brodner

The Life Elsewhere Predictions Show

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A Caricature For President was the title of our 16th of August, 2015 edition of Life Elsewhere. We were being smart-alecks, ironic perhaps. Our intent was to focus in on how crazy things had become in the world of politics and in turn, how talented caricaturists and political commentators like Steve Brodner were having a field day. Looking back now, we had no idea then just how loony-tunes our world as we knew it would become. Two and half years on and we face a new year. Perhaps we should add, with trepidation? Does the past determine the future? If that premise is correct, we are certainly in for a strange and unprecedented year ahead. How strange? How unprecedented? Even the most reliable crystal-ball wizard may have a hard time getting this one right. So, we have assembled a panel of our favorite contributors to Life Elsewhere from the past twelve months to offer their crack predictions. Environmental journalist, Robert Hunziker eagerly jumped at the task, with the caveat that he has one prediction he cannot reveal immediately, but will in good time. We pressured him on your behalf, but he only teased that we will soon learn what he means. Meanwhile, author and book critic, David Ulin has an alternate view on predictions which he articulates with gusto. Lucia Graves, the astute journalist with The Guardian, has intriguing ideas, including which movie will win an Oscar. While film and media critic Bob Ross has a disparaging view on award shows but offers up his predictions with a generous nod and a wink to his area of expertise. Washington Post, art and architecture critic, Philip Kennicott cannily takes us to alternate prediction domain. Articulate and engaging Rant News Deputy Managing Editor, Remy Carreiro wastes no time getting her ideas across. And, we had to call upon Steve Brodner to hear what the man who famously said about Trump, “He has a tiny mouth and it’s kind of vertical, I’m sorry Norman, it’s kind of vaginal.” As expected, Brodner does not hold back. Make sure you do not miss the Life Elsewhere Predictions Show.

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Show #254

The Caricaturist & The Tastemaker

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Illustration by Steve Brodner for The Nation

Illustration by Steve Brodner for The Nation

“Caricature is a subcategory of illustration, it’s about finding the narrative elements within a portrait and making them clear as tools in making literal and figurative points. When done for publication, it is not merely about making big things bigger and small things smaller. It is storytelling. This involves knowledge about what is under the surface of a face and teasing it to the top. Caricature is not the destination. It is the journey. It’s the bike you ride.” The words of famed caricaturist, Steve Brodner, a popular guest on Life Elsewhere. This past week, we asked Steve to put his words to work by watching the most recent GOP debate in Las Vegas and report back with a caricaturist’s take on the characters at the podiums. Brodner took to the task gleefully and next day, ready for the interview, he was bubbling over with brilliant observations of the potential Presidential candidates. His unyielding descriptions of Trump and Cruz and Carson and the rest of the parade, confirm he has a seriously keen eye and biting sense of humor. Don’t miss caricaturist Steve Brodner’s beautifully nuanced and unforgettable depictions in the next edition of Life Elsewhere.

With the big seasonal Holiday less that a week away, Norman B wanted to discover new ideas for a Christmas dinner. So, we called upon David Sax, author of The Tastemakers. This is the man who set about learning “Why we’re crazy for cupcakes and fed up with fondue.” David offers advice with an amiable wit and he has a few surprising truths about what we eat, how we eat it, and why. Join us for the next edition of Life Elsewhere, as we make a meal out of Holiday dinners.

Sundays 12 noon ET at The Source WMNF HD3  
Mondays 7.00pm ET at WROM Radio
Mondays 5.00pm PT at NWCZ Radio

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A Human Instinct For War is the title of Norman B’s latest contribution to Trebuchet Magazine.

 

It’s Hugely Impossible!

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Before you tune in this evening, for the spectacle that will be the GOP debate, in of all places, Las Vegas, we invite you to revisit our post and listen to Norman B’s interview with Steve Brodner, from August of this year.

A Caricature For President.

There’s an old saying, “Be careful what you wish for.” With that venerable adage in mind, let’s reflect for a moment on the unequivocal fact that the moment Barack Obama was elected President, the loyal opposition wasted no time in feverishly going to work to denounce his every utterance, move or even the teeny tiniest bat-of-his-eye-lids. With their non-stop scramble to deride, ridicule and berate the President, they also comfortably succumbed to tolerating and enabling childish name-calling and crude, unseemly rhetoric. This uncouth behavior not only gained momentum, it became de rigueur.  So much so, that when the crown prince of bloviating, taunted the world with yet another crazy notion of running for President, the other clown car characters felt empowered to up the anti with wacko pronouncements. Unfortunately for them, The Donald continued on with his jest.  All of the wacko-doodle pronouncements from Cruz, Huckabee, Paul, Rubio, Christie, Santorum, Walker etc, paled as Mr. Trump blurted out one over-the-top looney quote after another. It has been like the class clown on the school bus deliberately and proudly letting out a fart. Everyone knows he did it, including the teachers, yet no one knows how to handle it.

While the GOP contenders flap their arms, squawk meaningless drivel, the Democrats gloat and cable news goes giddy. One talented group see the whole spectacle as a dream come true – Illustrators! Mr. Trump is the ultimate caricature, says esteemed satirical illustrator and caricaturist, Steve Brodner. To help us understand why political illustration has become so popular recently, and the fascination  with caricatures of Trump, Brodner will join the next edition of Life Elsewhere. Steve has been putting pen to paper for a long time to craft memorable political caricatures, he is a master of the editorial idiom his work has appeared in most major magazines and newspapers in the United States, such as Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The New Yorker, Esquire, Time, Playboy, Mother Jones, Harper’s, Mother Jones, The Atlantic. Make sure you do not miss Steve Brodner and his thought-provoking opinions, including why racism refashioned political illustration, during Obama’s term.

The graphics above are just a few of the images of Donald Trump we have collated from the internet. We do not own any of these images and will remove any immediately if requested.

Click here to hear Steve Brodner talk about A Caricature For President.

Steve Brodner assures us he will be tuning in for the GOP debate and paying careful attention, not only for inspiration for his next brilliant Mr. Trump caricature but also for his commentary on the next edition of Life Elsewhere.

Sundays 12 noon ET at The Source WMNF HD3  
Mondays 7.00pm ET at WROM Radio
Mondays 5.00pm PT at NWCZ Radio

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A Human Instinct For War is the title of Norman B’s latest contribution to Trebuchet Magazine.

Who Chose The Great Bear Sleeping Bag?

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Mark Haskell Smith
Steve Brodner by Nik Kowsar
Zuzu
Patrick O’Neil
Robert Newman
Great Bear Sleeping Bag

We called upon a distinguished panel of guests to take part in the 3rd Annual Life Elsewhere Holiday Gift Special and asked them to come up with three books and one non-book gift. The results are as diverse as they are intriguing and unpredictable. One guest selected for their non-book gift, a Great Bear Sleeping Bag. Can you guess who? Could it be frequent contributor and witty author, Mark Haskell Smith? Perhaps it was astute caricaturist and social commentator, Steve Brodner? Or maybe talented new British-American singer-songwriter Zuzu, who demonstrated in last week’s edition she has a cheeky sense of humor. Then there’s the erudite raconteur, Patrick O’Neil, a master of incorporating the unconventional into his tales. And, finally, did Robert Newman the esteemed creative director, widely recognized for his perceptive take on life, select the Great Bear Sleeping Bag? Find out in the next edition of Life Elsewhere.

Also in the program, we are very pleased to welcome back, renowned film and media critic, Bob Ross, who will give us his sensible overview of this year’s Holiday movie releases.

Life Elsewhere airs:
Sundays 12 noon ET at The Source WMNF HD3  
Mondays 7.00pm ET at WROM Radio
Mondays 5.00pm PT at NWCZ Radio

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A Human Instinct For War is the title of Norman B’s latest contribution to Trebuchet Magazine.

Cecil The Lion. Donald The Caricature. Mama Africa.

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Gareth Patterson
Trump by Steve Brodner for Time
Miriam Makeba

The death of Cecil the lion resulted in headlines around the world, filled with outpourings of concern for the welfare of African wildlife. Gareth Patterson has dedicated his life to caring for and understanding African wildlife. From his home in a remote location on the edge of the Knysna forest, in South Africa, Gareth joins the program for an informative chat about Cecil, African lions, the elusive Knysna elephants and the truth about big game hunting. If you are curious to know the full story about hunting lions like Cecil and the fate of African wildlife, you won’t want to miss this exclusive interview with Gareth Patterson on the next edition of Life Elsewhere.

“Donald Trump is the ultimate caricature”, says esteemed satirical illustrator, Steve Brodner, who has been putting pen to paper for a long time to craft memorable political caricatures. Steve is a master of the editorial idiom, his work has appeared in most major magazines and newspapers in the United States, such as Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The New Yorker, Esquire, Time, Playboy, Mother Jones, Harper’s, Mother Jones, The Atlantic. To help us understand why political illustration has become so popular recently, and the fascination with Trump, Brodner, a man who adroitly articulates his insights and opinions, will join the next edition of Life Elsewhere.

For this week’s Hit That Never Was, we could not resist playing a request that came as the news of Cecil the lion was breaking: Mbube* by Miriam Makeba. The revered South African singer and civil rights activist, who died in 2008, was nicknamed Mama Africa, was the first artist from Africa to popularize African music around the world. She recorded and toured with many popular artists, such as Harry Belafonte, Paul Simon and her former husband Hugh Masekela. She was a fervent campaigner against apartheid, which resulted in the South African government revoking her passport in 1960 and her citizenship and right of return in 1963. As the apartheid system crumbled she returned home for the first time in 1990. Makeba died of a heart attack on 9 November 2008.
*Mbube  means lion..it has been sung for centuries in South Africa. In the West, it is better known as The Lion Sleeps Tonight.

The illustration of Donald Trump by Steve Brodner, was created for the latest edition of Time, used by kind permission of the artist. 

Life Elsewhere airs:
Sundays at 12 noon ET at The Source WMNF HD3  
Mondays at 7.00pm ET at WROM Radio
Mondays at 5.00pm PT at NWCZ Radio

Recent editions of Life Elsewhere can be heard at our Soundcloud page

 

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