Category Archives: journalism

Morrissey Hasn’t Changed

Essay at The Spectator by yours truly on why Morrissey is constantly going to disappoint those who want him to be some kind of ‘singing Stephen Fry with a quiff’.

March 15, 2012 – 12:30 pm | By Mark Simpson | Posted in article, journalism, Morrissey | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off

Jungian Complexes at the Multiplex

This week David Cronenberg’s feature-length shrink costume drama, A Dangerous Method, about the most famous — and doomed — love-affair in psychoanalysis, premières in the UK. I’m talking of course about the passionate, twisted and teasingly unconsummated romance between Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. Despite very mixed reviews I’ll be going to see it when it’s put on general …

October 26, 2011 – 4:49 pm | By Mark Simpson | Posted in commentary, journalism, review | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (5)

In Defence of Jerry Lewis

Martin and Lewis were the hottest male comedy double-act of all time — who make today’s ‘bromance’ look like bromide. By Mark Simpson (Originally appeared in Out, May 2009 — but has fallen off their website) Forget hair whorls, genomes, amniotic fluid, older brothers, domineering mothers or disco. I can reveal with absolute, religio-scientific certainty …

August 5, 2011 – 11:14 pm | By Mark Simpson | Posted in article, comedy, commentary, journalism, television | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (1)

Assume the Position: a queer defence of hazing

Mark Simpson wants to be be soundly smacked with a paddle (Out magazine, 2006) When I joined my local rugby team, I was made to do terrible, awful things. Even now, all these years later, I feel distressed and choked up recounting what happened. I had to stand on a chair as a full pint …

April 28, 2011 – 12:20 pm | By Mark Simpson | Posted in article, commentary, journalism, masculinity | Tagged , , , , | Comments (11)

German-American Pride and Prejudice

Review of Bryan Malessa’s new novel The War Room, by Mark Simpson in The Financial Times.

February 24, 2011 – 12:25 am | By Mark Simpson | Posted in commentary, journalism, review | Tagged , , | Comments (3)

I Love You, Jim Carrey

Watching the exhilarating ‘l’amour fou’ movie ‘I Love You Phillip Morris’ recently I found myself falling in love with Jim Carrey all over again — after several years of taking him for granted. So much so I forgot he was there all over again. The role of Steven Russell the gay con-man is one he …

January 26, 2011 – 2:19 am | By Mark Simpson | Posted in article, film, journalism | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (7)

Does My Brain Look Big in This? Susan Sontag’s ‘Where The Stress Falls’

This week is Susan Sontag’s birthday. The famous, and possibly last American intellectual, died in 2004. Below is my somewhat irreverent review of her last book (Independent on Sunday, 2002) The first sentence in Susan Sontag’s latest collection of essays is eight lines long, mentions Camus and Pasternak and ends with the word “impinging”. But …

January 18, 2011 – 3:45 am | By Mark Simpson | Posted in journalism, review | Tagged , , | Comments (6)

Joe The Lion: Interview With Yuri Foreman

Photographed by Alisdair McLellan By Mark Simpson (Arena Hommes Plus, Winter-Spring 2011) ‘A few months ago there was a British boxing team training at my gym,’ recalls Yuri Foreman, in his charming, easy-going Russian accent.  ‘I saw the young kids, 12, 13, and, well, they looked just like Russians.  They all looked very tough, y’know. Tough faces.  Wiry bodies.  They walk around …

December 20, 2010 – 1:56 am | By Mark Simpson | Posted in interview, journalism | Tagged , , , | Comments (3)

20 ‘Stella’ Years of Dolce & Gabbana For Men

by Mark Simpson, Arena Hommes Plus (Winter-Spring, 2010) America’s hottest new Hollywood stars – who naturally enough in this post-Hollywood era, don’t actually work in Hollywood but reality TV – were recently honoured with a profile in Interview magazine. The Italian-American ‘Guidos’ from MTV mega-hit ‘Jersey Shore’, who have conquered America with their brazenness and …

November 14, 2010 – 2:50 am | By Mark Simpson | Posted in commentary, fashion, journalism, metrosexual, review | Tagged , , , | Comments (11)

That Lady Gaga backlash is so tired already

The Gaga backlash, which recently found itself a leader in Camille Paglia, was inevitable. It’s also misguided, argues Mark Simpson (Out Magazine, Sept 24 2010) My bitch is better than your bitch! And she wore that dress before yours did! My bitch would kick your bitch’s ass! This is the kind of thing the older generation …

September 28, 2010 – 2:25 pm | By Mark Simpson | Posted in article, journalism, music | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (23)