Celebrating rural contributions to the cultural conversation and popular imagination. Dropping in your inbox every other Thursday.

Presenting The Good, the Bad, and the Elegy.

The Good, the Bad, and the Elegy is a newsletter from the Daily Yonder focused on rural media, entertainment, and culture. In each edition, you’ll find features reviews, retrospectives, recommendations, and more. Let’s dig into the best, and worst, of rural representation on our screens, speakers, stages, and pages.

Get Up to Speed

Celebrating ‘Democracy Day’: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

On this ‘Democracy Day,’ we look back on a classic film that emphasizes the value of democratic engagement even when political realities leave something to be desired.

by Adam B. Giorgi

What to Watch: Three Post-Roe Rural Recommendations

These three movies give voice to rural women’s experiences and are worth contemplating after the recent overturn of Roe vs. Wade.

by Adam B. Giorgi

‘Nope’ and More Sci-Fi That Gives Rural Life a Starring Role

Jordan Peele’s latest film leads our roundup of recent science fiction stories that rely on rural themes to explore the infinite possibilities of outer space.

by Adam B. Giorgi

Reflections on ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’

Although surrounded by controversy, the film adaptation of Delia Owens’s best-selling novel explores themes that may resonate with many rural viewers.

by Lane Wendell Fischer

‘Rutherford Falls’ Tackles Serious Topics with Wit, Warmth, and Humor

The streaming series, which recently released its second season, tackles tough subjects with thoughtful optimism and proves that Indigenous representation is relevant and popular.

by Anya Slepyan

Review: A Sweet, Surreal Escape Into ‘The Dark Divide’

Butterflies, bigfoot, and the beautiful backcountry of the Pacific Northwest feature in this indie film worth a second look.

by Claire Carlson

The Small-Town Nostalgia of ‘Stranger Things 4’

The fourth season of Netflix’s first big streaming hit fleshes out Hawkins, Indiana, with plenty of 1980s wood paneling and period-accurate décor, while underscoring the importance of our relationship with the places that raise us.

by Adam B. Giorgi

Revisiting ‘Mass,’ a Cinematic Consideration of the Aftermath of School Shootings

The overlooked indie film “Mass,” sadly made for this moment, reckons with the worst imaginable and challenges us to not move on so quickly when tragedy strikes.

by Adam B. Giorgi

Load more posts

Loading…

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Brought to You By

Adam B. Giorgi is the main writer behind “The Good, the Bad, and the Elegy.” He hails from the Iron Range of northern Minnesota.

He wears a lot of different hats at the Daily Yonder, but this newsletter allows him to tap into one of his most natural talents: geeking out about a good many things.

Get More from Adam

Want More?

Subscribe today to get “The Good, the Bad, and the Elegy” directly in your inbox.

Got Rural Recs?

Want to suggest something to be featured in a future edition of “The Good, the Bad, and the Elegy”? Have feedback for us? Contact our team today.