New Deep South contributor Hunter Murphy in Birmingham sent us a video of a Louisiana boy who's rising to the top on this season of American Idol. Joshua Ledet (pronounced "Luhday" in these parts despite what Ryan Seacrest says) hails from Westlake, Louisiana.
There’s nothing wrong with choosing a South to depict, just so long as you recognize that it’s not THE South. Lots of people, from cavaliers to carpetbaggers to snowbirds, have been seeing the South through a money-colored lens for generations. Thank God it’s not the only lens in town, though.
While "The Help" didn't take home best picture at the Academy Awards last night, and Viola Davis's best actress award went instead to Meryl Streep, it was still a great night for the South. Octavia Spencer was recognized as best supporting actress for "The Help," thanking her family and home state of Alabama, Mississippi got plenty of nods, and a little film made in Louisiana won best animated short.
In celebration of our Southern Literary Trail App and Southern lit in general, we're excited to kick off "Literary Fridays" every week here at Deep South. We'll be sharing glimpses into the locations featured in our app, plus literary news, websites and blogs, reading material and more that pertains to the South. We hope you'll all join in the conversation as well by commenting on posts, sharing your own literary jaunts and joining us in special, upcoming Twitter chats.
Earlier today, we got an email with an infographic from Banyan Branch, a Seattle-based social media agency, depicting buzz online for the Oscar nominees. Find out how much buzz "The Help" is getting on Facebook and Twitter and how many people are talking about Viola Davis's performance as Aibileen.
Here in South Louisiana, we've been celebrating Mardi Gras since Friday. Now that Ash Wednesday is upon us, the revelry is over, but we wanted to share a few pics taken throughout the weekend in Lafayette and out in the country in Eunice.
A new exhibit in St. Landry Parish depicts the Courir de Mardi Gras. "A day like this
I know many of you are wondering about the status of the recording of Flannery O'Connor found at UL Lafayette in late January. Last night was my final class with Dr. Mary Ann Wilson, and she played a few minutes of the recording for us to hear.
by Laura Sobbott Ross Not lilies for lovers, or roses the color of blood cravings—pacts mingling between velvet, thumb and thorn, or all those daisies, posies, or pansies— elfish, stained like Siamese cat faces; he brings me resurrection ferns.