We’ve lost the plot. I'm sure you agree, though we might've reached the same conclusion by different paths. See, I'm thinking about how we've lost all sense of context, and you can't follow any storyline without context: what led to this point, what the goal was, why the choice was made, all that.

Growing up, I was fed a steady diet of my dad’s rock music: Janis Joplin, CCR, The Doors. Thankfully, he kept up with music, so he picked up U2’s Joshua Tree, Melissa Etheridge’s debut album, and Tori Amos’ Under The Pink (he was wicked cool and on the pulse for a few years there). Before I could buy my own tunes, I had the context of old good music, and could chart the path to the new good music; or, more clearly defined, what new things fit the category we had already established as good.

Bigger musical nerds than myself will find the inspirations and favorite musicians of their favorite musicians, and do a deep dive, exploring the generational and stylistic step stones that led to a particular artist. In Flea’s memoir Acid For The Children, he does this masterfully: he lovingly takes us from his childhood jazz roots through his punk days, to his Red Hot Chili Peppers fame. In the appendix he includes lists of musicians, and books that formed him, passing along the gift of context to those who crave it.

As a word nerd, my literary context is pretty solid. I've read popular classics, some of which are great (everything by D.H. Lawrence), some of which were awful (skip Brontë’s Wuthering Heights at all costs), and some of which are just not the best work of a great author (read Fitzgerald's The Beautiful and Damned instead of The Great Gatsby, and frankly, D.H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover isn't his best). That's how I learned that Steppenwolf was a book before a band (they did Born To Be Wild, so yes, you do know the band). This led to modern classics like One Flew Out of the Cuckoo's Nest, and then Kesey leads to his friends: Ginsberg, Kerouac, Burroughs (talk to Andrew Jamieson about Burroughs; I have yet to make it through a book). And then I check out my fave authors fave authors, which doesn't always work out, but is definitely interesting. Tom Robbins, for instance, loved Pynchon’s Gravity's Rainbow, and I made it maybe 40 pages in before I gave it away.

It should be no surprise that some of the things we perceive as commonplace were revolutionary in their time: Impressionist painting, for instance. A movement named after a piece by Monet titled impression, Sunrise, we take for granted this whole movement of pastel, fuzzy pictures made up of a million visible brushstrokes. However, when it was unveiled to the public, they were made fun of by critics and artists alike. See, the trend at the time was still detailed realism, and these dreamy, out of focus vistas seemed careless. Same with Matisse and his brightly coloured works: the movement was called Fauvism, the group Les Fauves, or wild beats, marked by abstraction and bold colour choices dictated by feeling rather than literal rendering.

Now that art is “content”, we’re perpetually inundated by new works. It's a gift, truly, living in a time when I have new art in my pocket along with an infinite library, and the whole interwebz to educate me. It all happens so fast though, that we seldom stop to cherish, rarely take the time to trace the evolution of the things we love. Social media favors the one dimensional, the flattening or all aspects into one über-digestible bite sized niblet of reality. (While you might know that über is German for being above, as in better than, you may not know that grok is a word coined by Robert Heinlein in Stranger in a Strange Land to mean a deep and inherent sense of understanding. Siri is a word referring to Lakshmi, Goddess of luck, wealth and glory. That wasn't why they picked the name, but they were aware of the various meanings; in Swahili it means secret, and in Norse it refers to a beautiful woman who leads you to victory. More on all that here.)

Here in Canada, we can't post news content to Meta. While disguised as a copyright issue, it seemed to actually be a pissing contest between the Canadian Government and you know, one of the biggest, richest mega-corporations of the dystopia currently underway. Regardless, it further feeds the interaction mill of online arguments and outrage. We can post and debate about newsworthy matters, but we can't post sources. Isn't that interesting? It leads so directly to broken telephone, it can barely be considered accidental. It's a wild west of “he said/she said” without any receipts, leading into angry loops with no reference points. Social media runs on how many interactions you garner, not facts. In fact, they stopped fact-checking all together, so not only is the context gone, the actual FACTS are gone. How wild and crazy is that?! (Btw, that's a reference to Steve Martin's wild and crazy guy bit.)

The responsibility for both facts and context now lie solely in the hands of each of us. Sure, schools should teach you to care about critical thinking, fact finding, and the importance of from whence it all came. Yes, it would be nice if we could trust the things we read, or the things people say, but we must take the time to do our own digging. Without digging for context, we are destined to misunderstand.

Take for example commonly truncated quotes like “Great minds think alike”. The full sentence is “Great minds think alike, though fools seldom differ.” Or “blood is thicker than water”, the entirety of which reverses the meaning: “the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb”, meaning those who have shed blood together on the battlefield are bonded more closely than family. (Sir Walter Scott said it, by the by.) Lastly, let me add the ever popular Oscar Wilde quote, “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”. Those familiar with Wilde will recognize that it's an uncharacteristically earnest statement (I'll leave that wordplay for you to sort), and they would be right. The complete quote is “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness”. I would suggest that if we remember the importance of context, we might not become great, but we can avoid mediocrity.

trans pride 2025 has arrived

🎉✨ Trans Pride Festival! 🎉✨

Let's celebrate our community together through rich and inspiring programming!

SATURDAY MARCH 29 - DAYTIME

➡️Panels

📌Trans leadership: In the face of increasing attacks, how to exercise unifying and resilient leadership?

📌Support without erasing: A panel on the role of allies in the trans struggle.

➡️Performances

📌The patience of blood: Matéo Pineault shares an intimate story about his transition through a poetic reading.

📌T Wolves: A drag performance transforming the werewolf myth into a celebration of transmasculine joy.

📌No Dumping: the duo Reflex Hammer presents us an absurd dance number and sketch about trans identity.

➡️Conference

📌Beyond Survival: FrankieB Lambert talks to us about radical solidarity and resilience.

SATURDAY MARCH 29TH - EVENING

🍸 TransConnection Cocktail: Networking and celebrating in a festive atmosphere.

🦄 Transtopia, in collaboration with Unikorn and Hauterageous: A night of pure decadence, joy and celebration of trans visibility!

SUNDAY, MARCH 30TH

➡️The Trans Pride Show

📌Come learn, exchange and support trans art and entrepreneurship, while connecting in our communities.

➡️Conférences

📌Neurodivergence and transidentity: Gabriel Robichon, a trans man and coordinator at the ARCG, explores the intersection between neurodivergent and gender identity.

📌Transcestors: Marian Fournier, candidate for a master's degree in Museology at UQAM and cultural worker, tells us about the forgotten history of trans ancestors.

➡️Panel

📌Create to exist: Art as a space of visibility and resistance for trans people.

All events are free and open to all, except Transtopia. Stay tuned, we will reveal all the details soon! 🌈🎉

Aide aux Trans du Québec (ATQ) would like to express its sincere gratitude to STUDIO ZX, an essential partner in the realization of this 19th edition of the Festival Fierté Trans, and to Livart for their warm reception of the events of this edition.

From Screen To Stage

Get ready for a night at the movies -- but better.

In this show, a team of improvisers watch the first five minutes of an obscure 80’s B-movie that none of them have seen before, and then improvise the rest of the story live on stage!

This month will feature a cheesy (forgotten) romantic comedy!

And while the show is new and different each time, this particular concept has some history:

No one seems to remember who exactly created “At The Movies” - that's improv, baby - but it debuted as a regular Montreal-based series in 2017, inspired by the Little Mountain Improv’s version of the show that preceded it. It has been performed in the years since by Impro Melbourne in Australia, Bad Dog Theatre in Toronto and Instant Theatre in Vancouver, BC, among others.

$8 in advance, $12 at the door. Produced by Mojo Comedy Co.

WHAT: At The Movies

WHERE: Montreal Improv, 3714 Notre Dame St. W., Montreal, H4C 1P7

WHEN: Friday, March 28 @ 930 PM

METRO: Place Saint Henri (Orange)

TICKETS: Eventbrite

35 Jokes

Join comedian and producer Claudio Silvio Capri as he celebrates the big 3-5! Dan Kestler hosts this awesome show, featuring amazing local comedians including Marko Kulik, Nazeer Khan, CJ Monias, Zak Kik, Shosho Abotouk, Daniel Carin, Erik Intervado, Sarah Offredi, Peter Bowen, and if course, Claudio!

WHAT: Laugh Knight's - Claudio's B-Day Edition

WHERE: Café Eevee, 1251 St. Zotique St. E., Montreal, H2S 1N8

WHEN: Saturday, March 29, Doors @ 7 PM Show @ 8 PM

METRO: Beaubien (Orange)

TICKETS: Eventbrite

Need a Snowboard? Or, Other Stuff?

In the words of Sergio himself:

Big Day! Big Sale! Come buy our stuff! I think I still have a unicycle around here and Dan has been trying to sell a snow board for like 2 months. Email Michelle if you want to sell your stuff too!

WHAT: Vente de Garbage 2: The Unjunkening

WHERE: Turbo Haüs, 2036 Rue St-Denis, Montréal, H2X 3K7

WHEN: Sunday, March 30 @ 12 PM

METRO: Sherbrooke (Orange)

DETAILS: Facebook

Pre-Tams

Celebrate the return of spring, and the last Tamjam of Winter 2025!

It’ll be a sunny day no matter the weather! The party’s indoors, and the music will be hot, with Latin percussion, African djembes, and DJs adding to the rhythm.

There's a planned Potluck, with a photo and video presentations on the history of the event.

It's the vibe we we need as we count down to mountain season!

WHAT: Spring Beat

WHERE: Bar La Marche à Côté, 5041 Rue St. Denis St., Montreal, H2J 2L9

WHEN: Sunday, March 30 @ 2 PM

METRO: Laurier (Orange)

DETAILS: Facebook

World’s Smallest Comedy Night has so many cool things happening, so here are their events this, week in order!

What Do You Know? Like, Seriously…

Tonight! Come to Hurley's for Trivia Night, and get bonus laughter! Put your knowledge to the test! Whether you're a history buff, a pop culture guru, or a sports fanatic, there's something for everyone. Grab a pint, enjoy delicious pub fare, and get ready to show off your trivia skills. Grab your team, and enjoy this night of comedy, friendly competition, and great company. Hosted by Vance Michel, this week features Peter Bowen, Nazeer Khan, and Alvaro Salvagno.

WHAT: Trivia Night at Hurley's

WHERE: Hurley's Irish Pub, 1225 Crescent St., Montreal, H3G 2B1

WHEN: Every Wednesday @ 8 PM

METRO: Lucien l'Allier (Orange) & Guy-Concordia (Green)

RSVP: Eventbrite

Friday Jr.

Thursday, head West for more killer comedy!

Welcome to the Rustik Comedy Night!

Get ready to laugh your socks off at Rustik Pub & Grill!

Montreal's most talented comedians and touring pros hit the stage at the legendary local haunt, Rustik. Make your East-side friends come to your part of town for a change, or come explore the NDG for yourself! It's a chill and hilarious night every time.

This week’s show is going to be an absolute blowout! With Just For Laughs showcase season coming up, we’ve got Montreal’s best bringing top shelf tales, and premium punchlines. Troy Stark hosts this week's killer lineup, featuring Quin McMorrow, Carmina Berbari Daou, Chris Venditto, Lawrence Corber, Quinn Lague, Vance Michel,

Olivia Benaroche, Lou Laurence, and Walter Lyng!

Grab your tickets now and save a few bucks: $15 in advance, $20 at the door

WHAT: Rustik Comedy

WHERE: Rustik Pub & Grill, 5621 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, H4A 1W4

WHEN: Thursday, February 13, Doors @ 7 PM

METRO: Vendôme (Orange)

TICKETS: Eventbrite

Classic Coke

Beat the Monday Blues with WSC’s OG offering, The World's Smallest Comedy Night!

Enjoy a showcase of the best comedians in the city, hot up-and-comers, national and international touring comics, and surprises! Hosted by Vance Michel featuring Samson Cooperman, Jonathon Burello, Edyson Dufort, James Mancini, Shosho Abotouk, Hash the 1, and Nazeer Khan.

WHAT: The World's Smallest Comedy Night

WHERE: Hurley's Irish Pub, 1225 Crescent St., Montreal, H3G 2B1

WHEN: Every Monday @ 8 PM

METRO: Lucien l'Allier (Orange) & Guy-Concordia (Green)

TICKETS: Eventbrite

Dirty Monday

The Monday Night Dirty Mic is the best uncensored open mic in town. Hosted by Vance Michel, every show is an unpredictable and unique experience as a hilarious collection of comedians from newbs to pros take the stage. See the best before anyone else, and catch seasoned locals doing their freshest funnies!

Comics: show-up, sign-up