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We Want the Mr. Beaumont: APT's Coastal Grandmother Summer Kickoff
218 Plays2 years ago
Hot girl summer is out, coastal grandmother summer is in! ☀️👩🌾 In our last episode of the season, we look at the Nancy Meyers inspired aesthetic trend to prepare you for summer! We discuss the trend’s origins and it’s connection to fantasy environments in rom coms.
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Transcript
Farewell to APT Summer
00:00:01
Speaker
Hello, hello, and welcome to Art Pop Talk. I'm Bianca. And I'm Gianna. Bianca, are you ready for an APT Summer send-off of an episode?
00:00:12
Speaker
Ugh, we are going to miss the art pop tarts so much. But Gianna, I do have to say I am ready to get summer started. And literally, what better way to do so than ending the season of APT by talking about the season of the coastal grandmother. Move over hot girl summer. Coastal Jimas are moving in. Let's art pop talk.
00:00:42
Speaker
Oh my gosh, Gianna, this is it. This is it. It'll be very nice.
Balancing Work and Leisure: Challenges of Modern Life
00:00:50
Speaker
Are you looking forward to the summer as much as I am? I am. I suppose I guess I just don't really feel like to be honest these days with kind of working like a nine.
00:01:04
Speaker
five schedule. I literally don't have any PTO because I went to Greece. I'm just kind of feeling like this is the rest of my life. I'm just gonna like go into work and I don't understand how people our age enjoy the summer anymore. Like I'm kind of honestly feeling like a little quarter life crisis maybe. I don't know. I just feel like there's a lot of stuff
00:01:31
Speaker
happening Memorial Day weekend, I'm going to the Poconos and then a week and a half later, I'm going to see you. I know. But I guess I'm also feeling like the reason I'm not going to the Poconos because I don't have any PTO. You know what I mean? So I'm like, fuck that. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. No, I mean, it just like is life. I'm just like,
00:01:53
Speaker
Unlimited PTO folks, if you're an employer, unlimited PTO is the trend. Okay, well shut the fuck up. I don't have unlimited PTO. I don't. I'm just saying. You don't? Wait, I
Cape Cod Plans and Childhood Misconceptions
00:02:04
Speaker
thought you did. No, I don't have unlimited. I do have a hefty amount of vacation days and sick time. I do get off for my birthday, which is... Oh, that's cute. So conveniently for me, my birthday is Friday the 1st and then I have Monday the 4th off.
00:02:20
Speaker
So we're going to the Cape for an extended weekend. You sound like such a coastal grandmother right now. I can't. We're going to the Cape. No, I know, literally. I'm so excited because when we were talking about what to do for my birthday, Sasha 4th, we were like,
00:02:40
Speaker
Should we go to the Cape? And for a long time, I didn't really know what that meant. Like growing up when people said the Cape, I was like, what is the Cape? And I also was telling this to my aunt and uncle over the weekend. So obviously we're, you know, the Cape.
00:02:58
Speaker
includes Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. And growing up, I mean, I had no concept of what Martha's Vineyard was. I think everybody thought that Martha Stewart owned a Vineyard. That's what I thought. I was telling them, I was like, I literally thought it was Martha Stewart's.
00:03:18
Speaker
summer home where she had a vineyard and I truly didn't know that it was just an island called Martha's Vineyard. But we are going there. But we are going there and I hope I hope I see Martha Stewart.
00:03:35
Speaker
I really hope you see Martha too. Thank
Met Gala Dress Controversy: Materiality vs. History
00:03:38
Speaker
you. Fingers crossed. You never know. Fingers crossed. How extraordinary would it be to see Martha's story in Martha's video? I mean, does she have a home there? She surely does. Surely she frequents. Isn't that where... Why did Martha's story get mad at Anthony?
00:03:54
Speaker
Oh, I don't know. Did that have something to do? I thought it was like in Martha's Vineyard. Or does Martha own another vineyard? And that's what she calls it. In Martha's Vineyard. I don't know. Is Martha Stewart a coastal grandma?
00:04:12
Speaker
No, I don't think so. Really? Yeah, for me, Martha Stewart has like a very different her energy is is much too aggressive is not the right word, but much too strong to be a coastal grandmother. I can't like for me, Martha Stewart is not is not a coastal grandmother. But this summer, I 1000% plan on
00:04:38
Speaker
maybe not being like full coaster grandmother, but I think me, this is my first time, quote unquote, going to the Cape. I'm gonna play into it a little bit, you know, I'm gonna like put on some white linens.
00:04:50
Speaker
And I'm excited about it. I'm going to put on some white linens. Yeah. I'm feeling good about it. Well, excited for you. I know it came hot and heavy with some aggressive Martha's store energy, but it's just the FOMO. But that's exciting. Summer will be good. There's always things to do. Maybe I'll go to like the Tulsa Zoo or something.
00:05:13
Speaker
I am sad. I was gonna say, did you see that Lady Gaga added new dates and new uh new geographies? Why did I use your geography? It is far too early to be recording. No, I did not see that. Well literally all her shows like in Texas like none of them were on a weekend and I just like don't
00:05:43
Speaker
Don't understand, bitch. Don't understand. Don't understand. Speaking of things they don't understand, I also don't understand why we keep talking about this. Well, actually I do because it is wildly fascinating. But in lieu of art news this
Art History and the Ethics of Dress Materiality
00:06:05
Speaker
week, we have some follow-up thoughts from the Art Pop Tarts.
00:06:11
Speaker
which we really love. It's always exciting when you guys really chime in and we get to share that. So literally Bianca and I cannot let this conversation go on Kim's Met Gala look because we still find it wildly fascinating and find ourselves wildly fascinated. And the art pop tarts have also just been engaging with us in this conversation as well. So to me, that tells us that that's a sign that you guys also aren't tired of this conversation.
00:06:41
Speaker
So again, in lieu of art news today, we are sharing some art pop tarts thoughts on the subject. These thoughts mostly pinpoint on the materiality of the subject, which I think was just really essential when talking about historic items that have been used versus not used. And that really piggybacks off of what we talked about last week.
00:07:05
Speaker
And this is based on what the material nature of the object is and what the material object also needs in order to be lasting. Secondly, something we didn't talk about as much in last week's episode is the custom nature of the dress that originally was sewn directly onto Marilyn's body to fit her exactly.
00:07:32
Speaker
So there is hardly really any way that this custom dress of this nature of this caliber could fit anyone else exact. And it really shouldn't because the intention was that it wouldn't be worn by anyone else. So to quote this art pop tart, I think the crux of it is that Marilyn's dress was only for Marilyn and she only wore it once and it's sensitive condition.
00:08:02
Speaker
Jewels are constantly passed down through the ages. By their nature, they're meant to endure. Gold is prized because it doesn't tarnish or wear. Those jewels have been worn by many, many people throughout the years, just like a wedding ring is passed down through the family. Now, if someone wore the Queen's state tiaras or coordination crown, that would be different. The jewels are less sensitive to environmental conditions of being wore. In fact, pearls need to be worn to keep their luster.
00:08:31
Speaker
And the owner of the jewels don't expect to be the only wearer of them, and those owners pass them on to the family, sell them at auction, give them as gifts, etc. Marilyn only ever wore the dress once, and it had to be sewn onto her. She never chose to wear it again. It was made just for her. Average vintage clothes, vintage couture, etc.
00:08:54
Speaker
doesn't have the same historical significance as a dress specifically made and specifically worn only by one person or only worn once. Love this episode made me misspirited to Bates in grad school. So, Bianca, what are your thoughts? Again, I thought that was really interesting because we were talking about the material nature of objects so much, and it is really especially important to call out
00:09:20
Speaker
what that material calls for in order to be lasting. Yeah, this also makes me... Could you imagine having this discussion in grad school right now talking about Kim's dress? Oh, God, I would just live for it. This is super interesting and I love this perspective and I love what this art pop-tart is saying about jewels, how the nature of their materiality
00:09:47
Speaker
has traditionally lent them as objects to be passed down as tradition. And I think that is super cool. And I also did not know that pearls needed to be worn to keep their luster. That's just like a fascinating sidebar. I think this person is really just hitting the nail on the head too. I think this is a super strong argument for a thesis, presentation of the matter. And for intent of the object as such,
00:10:17
Speaker
an important aspect when we think about art history and who objects belong to and provenance and how they should be used. Intent, I think is super important. And, you know, last week we had a big conversation about like, as much as it sucks, it's not our choice in the matter because it's owned by a private collector who can do whatever they want with it, blah, blah, blah.
00:10:44
Speaker
I love bringing this into the conversation as well. The intent is that it was sewn onto her body and after her passing, this is one of the relics that we have of her physical presence. And the fact that it is, I don't want to say it's tarnished, but now inevitably the dress will be different because it was worn by Kim Kardashian. I think this is a really, really
00:11:11
Speaker
just strong point that this person is bringing to mind is like the dress because it was sewn onto her exists as a physical representation of Marilyn's place on this earth, not just in popular culture as a figure, but as a human body and how important her body was in both positive and negative circumstances to the public and to us.
00:11:37
Speaker
And while I think it is wildly fascinating what Kim has done with this, we talked about could it have been done without wearing Marilyn's dress? Could the same thing have happened if she wore the replica the entire time? And all of these thoughts coming together is just awesome and totally agree. You can't wait to have this APT grad school.
00:12:03
Speaker
Culture quota class. Culture quota Beatrice needs to lead us in a course on this
Coastal Grandmother: A Lifestyle Trend
00:12:09
Speaker
discussion. I would live for it. It's so interesting because I feel like I'm not really firmly in the middle of this conversation anymore. I definitely understand the gravity of what was done to this artifact.
00:12:24
Speaker
It did take me a long time to wrap my brain around it because we don't experience something like that quite often. And it was a very momentous moment, right? And also, how would we feel if, you know, we feel the way that we do because it's also this specific dress and it's Marilyn's dress. But in what other cases are historic works of clothing
00:12:48
Speaker
okay to wear so I literally don't have the answers to these questions but it'll be interesting when they they will probably come up again um but yeah I mean just a really fascinating and important moment so we like just can't let it go apparently I'm just gonna think about it all summer which is gonna be great just think about it all summer on the coast I think in my Maryland replica dress
00:13:19
Speaker
Oh, I mean, Marilyn, like in in some like at hot, she's at the beach. Oh, yeah. Or like, you know, in gentlemen prefer blondes when they're on that ship, you know. I have laryngitis. Oh, my God. I mean, I could get on some like Marilyn beach vibes. Mm hmm. Yeah, no, she does like good. Yeah, I mean, she's the pro at it.
00:13:47
Speaker
All right, everyone, we are going to take a little break. And when we come back, we are going to share our thoughts on the coastal grandmother.
00:14:25
Speaker
Welcome back, everybody. In the words of Rachel Green, I'm so glad that you shared and I'm so glad that you're done, i.e. the art pop darts on our third Met Gala conversation. Do you remember what context that quote was from in Friends? Gianna, honestly, when I saw this in the doc, I was really trying hard. I feel like I am a pro at Friends trivia and I was like,
00:14:55
Speaker
I was honestly scared for my health and well-being in terms of my friend's knowledge that I was like, where is this from? So it's the episode when she's dating Bruce Willis and he won't stop crying. Paul, I love Paul.
00:15:13
Speaker
I know. And freaking Bruce Willis is really in our thoughts these days. I know. What a delightful human being. But I love the Bruce Willis era of friends. Oh, same.
00:15:29
Speaker
And Rachel has those unbelievable extensions. Oh my god. Oh, also talk about a little bit of coastal grandma vibes with Bruce Willis when they go to that cabin. Yes, yeah. And she does have like white low-rise pants on. Yeah. Those pants are kind of coastal grandmother vibes. Yeah. I too am a neat guy.
00:15:54
Speaker
Oh my god. I feel like I could watch the SNL Bruce Willis episode. Yeah. Yeah. What is it? It's a guy dance party. It's a boy dance party. With just us guys. So good. Oh my god. If you have not watched the Bruce Willis SNL, please do so good. I'm gonna go on a tangent real quick, but did you watch the finale where like half a cast left?
00:16:23
Speaker
I did not. I had an extremely busy weekend. I had to work at an event. I had an art social this week. And yeah, we were recording at 8 in the morning on a Monday. So I did not watch. I did not stay up to watch SNL. But I did watch the highlights of Pete Davidson on Weekend Update. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. What do you think Pete is doing next? Do you think he's moving to Calabasas? You know.
00:16:52
Speaker
I couldn't tell you. Is he going to leave Staten Island? I think he should consider it at this point in his life. I think he talks about how much he hates it. Summer thoughts. Summer thoughts. Summer there. Summer here. Okay, moving on. Moving on. So for today's art block talk.
00:17:26
Speaker
We're going to want to put on our favorite Nancy Meyers movie because we are talking about the internet deemed aesthetic of coastal grandmother. Coastal grandmother has always really kind of been around, but not until recently have we been given a name for it. It has been coined and have been channeling this now trendy energy found in music, film and fashion and into our everyday lives. So let's get into it.
00:17:45
Speaker
It's funny!
00:17:54
Speaker
I first became aware of Coastal Grandmother, specifically on TikTok. And as an article states, I'll share with you guys here in a second suggests that this platform
00:18:04
Speaker
specifically helped secure this style. So Hot Girl Summer is out, Coastal Grandma is in. This particular TikTok that I found was talking about a playlist where she put together this music aesthetic of Coastal Grandmother, which really piqued my interest. And now half of my freaking wedding playlist is specifically Coastal Grandma. Again, like Hot Girl weddings are out.
00:18:31
Speaker
coastal grandmother weddings are definitely in. So the influencer who made this playlist is Lex Nicolleta at least.
00:18:42
Speaker
I believe that's her real name, but that's also her handle on TikTok. And her page is really dedicated to cultivating this lifestyle. Not only that, but she is also the person who coined the term coastal grandmother. And her TikToks really helped define this aesthetic and has garnered millions of views at this point. Homegirl's definitely gone viral. So some of the songs on this playlist that I have, hence, or
00:19:12
Speaker
since stolen. Whatever.
Film Inspirations: The Holiday and Nancy Meyers
00:19:15
Speaker
Gianna, your wedding playlist is fire though. I listen to it all the time. It's like one of my favorite playlists. I really like the playlist. I keep adding to it though, but there's definitely some things that now I'm like over that I don't know. I'm ready to like take off a bit because right now it's a mix of coastal grandmother and early 2000s rap.
00:19:39
Speaker
This is like the witch Martha Stewart Snoop Dogg. Exactly. I was like, maybe that is Martha Stewart's aesthetic. So maybe I need to just call the playlist. Right now, it's Hot Wedding Jams, but maybe it should be Martha Stewart Wedding Jams. Okay. So some of the songs on this playlist include This Will Be, An Everlasting Love,
00:20:03
Speaker
You are the best thing you send me. Do you believe in magic? There's Stevie Wonder, there's Holland Oates, there's Aretha Franklin. So like, are we setting a scene in our head? Is there a vibe? Bianca, what visuals are running through your mind right now with the mentioning of these songs? Okay, I'm just laughing because
00:20:25
Speaker
You Send Me is the final song in the holiday. Oh no it is. Okay and so Juliana made this TikTok where she mimics the movements of that final scene. We're like, oh my god we forgot about that. So the visuals, I'm taking that with this.
00:20:50
Speaker
Oh my god, if you guys could see us, we're gonna link Julianna's TikTok for you so you can understand, or the final movements of the holiday. But honestly, all I can think about now after you said you send me is like the dance moves in the final scene of the holiday.
00:21:05
Speaker
you send me is on the wedding playlist as well because I'm like obsessed with the holiday like I love that movie so much but that final scene is absolutely ridiculous oh my god and Cameron Diaz is wearing the most ridiculous cocktail dress
00:21:26
Speaker
And then like the rest of our outfits in the movie are so good. And then they put her in this weird like bubble cocktail dress. Yeah, I don't know. It's a weird one. Cameron Diaz is the special guest on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. The first two episodes just dropped. And I was like,
00:21:43
Speaker
Oh my god, I'm so here for some camera ideas in my life. Fascinating. Together on my screen. Oh, I'm pumped for it. I know. I love that. Yeah. End of the holidays, definitely. A vibe. Other than that, it's just Jude loving a crew.
00:22:09
Speaker
That movie that was so cute everything up that moment
00:22:14
Speaker
Oh my god, yeah, yeah. Do you believe in magic also reminds me of the Parent Trap? I mean, it's just so interesting the way that these songs are informing Nancy Meyers movies. And like, I understand that's how the playlist was curated. But that's just immediately what my brain goes to. Do you believe in magic is when they're practicing the secret handshake? And they're like learning all about each other's lives in the Parent Trap. Iconic moments that stick with us.
00:22:45
Speaker
So if you are thinking about some of these movies, or if you're thinking about some other ones, or if you need help painting a little picture in your head, I want to... When you said paint, I know we say it all the time, but the episode of Friends were just like, let me paint you a little picture. That is coastal grandmother, because she's trying to sell the boat to that guy. Oh. The wind through your heart.
00:23:17
Speaker
I love the wind in your office. I love the wind in your office. I love the wind in your office. I love the wind in your office. I love the wind in your office. I love the wind in your office. I love the wind in your office. I love the wind in your office. I love the wind in your office. I love the wind in your office. I love the wind in your office. I love the wind in your office.
00:23:39
Speaker
Wow, I'm honestly loving the direction this episode is taking this morning. This is exactly how we needed to start on Monday. Oh my god. Amazing. Okay, well, so if you're not thinking of the Mr. Beaumont, if you are still having trouble thinking of any other movies, Mr. Beaumont.
00:24:05
Speaker
Um, there was an article that I found written by Olivia Marcus called the coastal grandmother aesthetic makes me want to change my entire lifestyle. And she tells us that the coastal grandmother aesthetic has been coined again, the ultimate vibe for the summer. In an unexpected turn of events, you're going to want to raid your grandmother's closet.
00:24:28
Speaker
So I don't know how unexpected I feel like this is, to be honest, because I do feel like it's kind of just a different trend in thrifting almost. And in this article, she does talk about, she quotes Malcomore, like, I'm gonna steal your granddad's clothes or whatever. I feel like this is just an extension or the new extension kind of into thrifting. And also what we've been experiencing with 90s and early 2000s looks.
00:24:57
Speaker
The term Coastal Grandmother started again gaining that major traction on TikTok and has left viewers with much to contemplate. So what is Coastal Grandmother? Do you have a Coastal Grandmother? Is there a way to acquire a Coastal Grandmother?
00:25:13
Speaker
These are all questions that need to be answered. And finally she asks, how do I become a coastal grandmother at the ripe age of 25? Which I really appreciated it because I'm just like smack right there. Essentially a coastal grandmother is an entire lifestyle inspired by the aesthetic portrayed in Nancy Meyers movies. Perhaps you've always felt an affinity to Diane Keaton's character and something's got to give.
00:25:40
Speaker
or Natasha Richardson's portrayal of the glamorous mom in the parent trap. If so, you may be a coastal grandmother. Maybe you find yourself following in Ina Gardner's roast chicken recipe with a cable knit sweater tied around your shoulders. That's coastal grandmother material. And finally, if you've ever felt the desire to take a long solo walk on the beach and a button down in a woven hat,
00:26:03
Speaker
there's no question that you're a coastal grandmother through and through in the article she talks about 10 things a coastal grandmother would do which i think is really the foundation of like what we love about coastal grandma it's this
00:26:20
Speaker
bougie and sometimes irrational character trait in a bad rom-com movie. So here are some of the things that she lists. Steal your lover's work button down and wear it with worn jeans to dinner. Keep a pocket notebook to write poetic phrases when inspiration strikes.
00:26:40
Speaker
Pick fresh peonews from her garden and just tend to a garden in general. Take long walks on the beach, solo or with a dog. And then I thought this one was also particularly important. Wear that capsule wardrobe. You can wear white, you can wear tan, you can sometimes wear blue, you can maybe throw in a pop of color but ultimately like you're staying very beige.
00:27:04
Speaker
Invite your friends to tea, show up to every occasion in a straw hat. Coming from the person who has deemed this aesthetic worthy, our creator, perhaps, Lex Nicolleta, says, quote, it's more about the way you live your life. Slowing down and taking time to enjoy the little things like flipping through magazines and sipping tea on a Sunday morning or preparing a dinner with the day's farmer's market finds.
00:27:34
Speaker
The coastal grandmother lifestyle is attainable no matter who you are or where you live. You don't have to live by the coast or be a grandmother to be a coastal grandmother, she adds. You can take aspects of aspirational lifestyles and bring them into your everyday life. With all of this being said, Bianca, what visuals do you think encompass a coastal grandmother look and feel?
00:28:01
Speaker
Because I have a hot take on the striped sweatshirt that people are saying is like Coastal Grandmother. I think that is too preppy with like the Sperry boat shoe combo. I think that's a little bit preppy and too gay to be Coastal Grandmother.
00:28:17
Speaker
Okay, well, I appreciate that because there's something I want to talk to you about here in a minute. And so I will circle back to that statement. First of all, I just love this description. It's the bougie and sometimes irrational character trait.
00:28:31
Speaker
And that just hearkens back to... I also have to say that the sometimes bougie and irrational character trait was my quote, so I really appreciate that you enjoy that. Oh, that was you. Wow. Yeah, that was me. Oh my God, I love it. Because as I'm going to get into, there's something about rom-coms that there's not that there's not a market for it, there is, but there's so much debate or topic within film or movie, like history about how like rom-coms don't really exist in the ways that they used to.
00:29:00
Speaker
Because they don't cater to a modern audience. I feel like this the irrational behavior is like the meme of Elizabeth James getting ready to see Nick Parker after 11 years. So with your question like what visuals do you think encompass a coastal grandmother look and feel? I think that might move into my
00:29:29
Speaker
my discussion I have a little bit further down. So why don't you like walk us through what you think? Because I'll talk about in my intro to the art of it all about what I did originally kind of feel a coastal grandmother aesthetic was. Yeah, well, I think it's interesting when we think about, you know, why Nancy Meyers or Nancy Meyers vibe is so closely
00:29:55
Speaker
related to this aesthetic that a work of a filmmaker is being explicitly contributed to this coined term. And at the end of the day, I think it goes back to this bit of a 90s and early 2000s complex in a romantic
00:30:12
Speaker
comedy complex that Nancy Myers is really known for. And it's really easy to pinpoint her work and attribute it to this time period. Also, her main characters cover a wide range too in terms of like age or demographic.
00:30:29
Speaker
We actually have coastal grandmothers, like we have Diane Keaton, we have Meryl Streep and then we have those beloved now vintage but iconic styles from Natasha Richardson or Kimberly Williams Paisley and Father of the Bride. But it's not like every single Nancy Meyers movie takes place in the Hamptons either. So I would attribute it a lot to her contribution to romantic comedies
00:30:57
Speaker
especially because that genre again has just been really interesting to discuss in a modern context how we have movies now that have been created that make fun of romantic comedies and again it doesn't mean there's not a market for it because clearly we're like gravitating to
00:31:15
Speaker
and we're creating this aspirational aesthetic in homage to these films. But a lot of them are very cringy and that kind of dialogue doesn't really cater to a modern audience because sometimes those experiences are just... I don't know how relatable they were then. They're not so much relatable now. But we still like those movies for what they are, even though they might not be relatable. Yeah, yeah, I think that's fair. And I think that's also...
00:31:45
Speaker
You know, in terms of just different trends of fashion, different comebacks, and this kind of crisis that we went through over the course of the pandemic where we were all on TikTok and realized everyone had the same experience growing up and no thought is completely original, but this kind of obsession that all of us had with tie-dye girl from the parent trap or Chezzy from the parent trap. And what I think is super interesting is that
00:32:13
Speaker
those feelings are all there and it was so interesting to see everyone kind of unveil them and talk about how Cezie was her first crush and all this stuff. But the same thing could be said for the character of Elizabeth James as well. There's this obsession that we continually have with Nick and Elizabeth and their relationship and Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson.
00:32:37
Speaker
There is something about all of those that we still were quintessential for us growing up. Again, to your point, whether they were relatable or not, whether it was realistic or whether it was reflective of our societies, but they still live with us and are having that influential component on us to this day. So I think there's something to be said for an update of the romantic comedy in a sense to reflect
00:33:07
Speaker
diversity to reflect equality and not be gross and sexist and icky, but at the same time, that doesn't mean I want to do away with
00:33:15
Speaker
with the roots of Aramcom. Yeah, I also think it's the fantasy behind Aramcom too. Like there's something about Coastal Grandma that also puts us in a particular place or time period, a location, like a spot, right? And that's kind of creating this fantasy environment that we can cultivate for ourselves and we can make an extension in our lives, but we're doing that
00:33:38
Speaker
perhaps in a way now that is more like safe and less like mentally like harmful than maybe some of those other romantic comedies that the dialogue and like the situational aspects of them just don't make sense.
00:33:54
Speaker
Yeah, I actually think that's the perfect transition to what I'm going to talk about here. So going back to what I had originally thought I wanted to talk about whenever we started this episode is I was kind of questioning what types of artwork echo the theme of coastal grandmother.
Design Elements in Films: Central to Coastal Aesthetic
00:34:10
Speaker
And I was, you know, toying around with the idea of talking about Impressionism, which seems very fitting, very kind of fluid and beachy and light.
00:34:20
Speaker
particularly the works of Berta Morisot and her beach paintings. Something about a beach painting by her seems kind of quintessentially coastal grandmother, very tan, very beige. And when I started, you know, searching things like art found in Nancy Meyers movies or coastal grandmother art, it was so much more about the home itself.
00:34:44
Speaker
and how place and space really make up this aesthetic. And it's a super kind of sensory experience and aesthetic, how this trend is described in that texture, light, fabric, pattern, color, these kind of basic artistic terms.
00:35:03
Speaker
inform something that has its very own complexities while being a very on the surface, simple presentation. I want to read some quotes from some articles according to Vogue, quote,
00:35:19
Speaker
Credit for all this comforting energy is most definitely due to Meyer's knack for creating comfortable living spaces. Even before she took her place in the director's chair instead of serving as a producer or writer, you could see the Meyer's aesthetic slowly beginning to form. Take the home set of the 1991 Adoption of Father of the Bride and its sequel in 1995, Father of the Bride Part II.
00:35:46
Speaker
A warm and welcoming living room furnished with plush seating, hearty textiles, a grand fireplace topped with an even grander mantle, a laid back understated dining area, a well worn kitchen that brings the entire family together,
00:36:01
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all finished in woods, white accents, and plenty of gentle lighting. In fact, it is the kitchen that serves as the central meeting point in most of Meyer's films. Quote, there's a lot of action in the kitchen because a lot of scenes in my life take place in mine, which, like the movie, is a little too big, Meyer's told Architectural Digest back in 2007.
00:36:26
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The article continues to read, quote, from the Myers Kitchens, a father of the bride days past, a few key design hallmarks have become clear. Wooden cabinetry painted in neutral hues, exposed shelving, a window to let light and outdoor vistas in, a dining area, whether it's an island or a table, to act as an anchor point of key characters and their loved ones, all of which she had admittedly borrowed from her own real life.
00:36:55
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The Meyers kitchen instantly takes us back to a great and sometimes not so great, but definitely memorable times we've spent in our own.
00:37:03
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serving as a big source of comfort and nostalgia for the viewer. Then in a second article from Frederick, written by Mark Elwood, this was actually super interesting. It's a series that they do where they go behind the scenes with different filmmakers and set designers. And in this one, they went behind the scenes with Beth Rubino, the design mastermind behind the quote, soft dreamy and exquisitely detailed interiors of the beloved Nancy Meyers.
00:37:32
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films, including It's Complicated and Something's Gotta Give. Elwood writes, quote, mention a Nancy Meyers movie and its aesthetic is instantly conjured up.
00:37:42
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Other writers write to be the character moving through a space, but her characters live in the environment and spend extended periods of time in them. She's a visual storyteller, says Rubino. Myers differs from many directors, Rubino stresses, in that she treats the built environment as if it were another character in the script.
00:38:06
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Indeed, often her movies unspool like plays in a consistent but small number of locations. Think the hour or so of something's got to give where the story roams between just five rooms. Such attention to detail has been the hallmark of Myers since her very first movie in the 1980s, Private Benjamin. Together, Myers and Rubino have created crave worthy worlds and one that's distinctly all American.
00:38:36
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Again, plush neutral fabrics, the said designer notes pointedly, rather than prints and patterns that would more readily suggest a fussier approach to Europe or Britain.
00:38:49
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Theirs is a red wine free world, truly. However rich though, these rooms and homes are determinedly casual and very intentionally so. Quote, the appreciation of beauty in the world she creates never feels forced. So it doesn't wake you out of what you're watching. And I think that's a really interesting point just in terms of Gianna, what you were saying about kind of
00:39:15
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realism and accessibility and a lot of the problems that we kind of look at when we watch one of these rom-coms is that they are inaccessible while making you think it is accessible. It's very laid back. It's casual. However, those casual pleasures cost a lot of money. So the two of them, Rubino and Myers, their first project together was Something's Gotta Give in 2003.
00:39:42
Speaker
And although the exterior was on a home in Long Island, Rubino calls it a visual barometer for the movie. So the team had to create a Hamptons house from scratch and locals in tiny enclaves are often kind of leering of renting to movie productions. So Rubino quote, evoked the East end on a soundstage in Clover City, California, deploying some signature method touches.
00:40:12
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She says, we had all the actors come through a few days before principal shooting started and I had put a little bit of sand on the mats and sprayed suntan lotion throughout the house so everyone was immediately transported. The house was so encompassing and suddenly you had the familiar smells of being by the beach. So I thought that these two articles were really interesting in that they talked about place and space as
00:40:41
Speaker
a kind of home base, no pun intended, for what a coastal grandmother aesthetic is. And I loved that it was really design-based, and I think that's kind of the principle of fashion and how we think about what kind of clothes and aesthetic and encompassing features
00:41:01
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or additional features make up this coastal grandma like you said walking on the beach with a dog or gold jewelry found at a thrift store that has been accumulated over time like there's all these very interesting little design hints
00:41:17
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all together make up this really cohesive and complex aesthetic. And this past weekend I was in Connecticut and I was kind of along the Long Island Sound on the
00:41:32
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beaches of Connecticut. And it was really interesting thinking about this upcoming episode, all these stores circling now back to your point earlier about the difference between coastal grandmother and preppiness. And everyone I think is very familiar with beachfront stores that only exist at a beach town. And there's like Jade
00:41:55
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JC McLaughlin or something like that or Vineyard Vines you can find in city locations like we have one here in Boston but that has like a preppy beach connotation. So going into all these stores and looking at these beach towns I was like this is super interesting to think about the white coastal grandmother products that are found within the store but the store itself
00:42:24
Speaker
is very preppy beach town store. But if this cute white linen with a blue hue stripe button down was just seen on Diane Keaton, it would be a coastal grandmother shirt. But when it was in the store, it was surrounded by all these other very kind of what you called preppy items. So it was really interesting thinking about that this past weekend too.
00:42:49
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Yeah, I think there's a lot of different aesthetics that you can get into with any kind of environment. But even with the beach, you're gonna have like your conch shell necklace vibe, like you're gonna have your coastal grandmother vibe, you're gonna have like your tacky beach vibe as well, the commercialization of beaches with
00:43:11
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like commercial t-shirts and things like that, the tourism aspect of it. And I think that's what we can avoid, particularly in a movie where you're, you know, constructing this scene of like heavy isolation to the point where it doesn't really seem real. I feel as though they talk about it with something's got to give and how like the house is this
00:43:41
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pivotal point of the environment in which they inhibit. It's to the point where it doesn't almost seem real, like this is the only place on earth that they kind of exist. And there are a lot of different movies that, you know, use these visual narratives to their benefit. But, you know, in The House in Father of the Bride is so iconic too.
00:44:08
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And I think someone just owns that house and lives in it, but you like people go drive by it and look at it. The interior of that house and the exterior are like used very heavily. I don't know. I did like what you talked about with her use of like kitchen scenes too. I thought that was interesting or the concept of like a dinner table. There's so much intimacy that happens within those rooms.
00:44:36
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Yeah, and there were other points about the article, we'll link them obviously in
Adapting Coastal Grandmother Style and Summer Plans
00:44:40
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our resources, but where they talked about, and I think it's Rubino who's talking about this set of it's complicated, and Meryl Streep's character runs a bakery, right? And she talked about how she was very particular in the items that she brought into that kitchen space. So everything was kind of used pots and pans, they had kind of like
00:45:02
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old grease and food stuck on them. And there were just things about the kitchen where the wood is worn on the countertop. It's that way for every movie. Every set designer has those particulars that you don't need to overthink when you're watching the movie because it's just part of the environment. But broken down like that, it was super interesting to read about how this Nancy Meyers aesthetic
00:45:28
Speaker
calls itself to be worn. And I thought and I love what she did with this set to where she's talking about she sprinkled sand into the home. Well, it's just like, we're not gonna see sand necessarily on camera. But again, everything put together for those actors to create that experiential environment if you really want the characters to get into their role. And it's just a clever way to help set the mood, you know,
00:45:58
Speaker
Well, Gianna, do you have any other coastal grandmother thoughts before we wrap up? You know, I don't catch me at the Tulsa Zoo this summer. I guess maybe the Jinx Aquarium. I don't know. Like that's what I have at my disposal these days. Why this bitch is at the gate. So it'll be a good summer. But right now I
00:46:25
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feel sad girl central station. You just be the coastal grandmother of Tulsa. Right. As our founder of coastal grandmother said, I don't have to be on the coast to be a coastal grandmother. Totally. So I am going to try to channel that energy and be calm and at peace as much as I can.
00:46:49
Speaker
Well, Gianna, I am very excited to be seeing you soon, all of the Art Pop Tarts. We are about to sign off here for the summer. However, do not forget that you can follow us on social media, as always, at Art Pop Talk, at Art Pop Talk, across all your channels.
00:47:12
Speaker
Gianna and I will be updating you across those pages with our summer activities. Gianna being a coastal GMA at the Tulsa Zoo, for example, as well as any, as well as any other interesting art news. We will try to keep you updated as much as possible.
00:47:30
Speaker
If you are feeling lonely and missing your Art Pop Talk, you can always go back and listen to our old episodes. Gianna and I will remind you of some thematic episodes on social media, as well as in our monthly newsletter. So do not forget to sign up for that at artpoptalk.com. We'll keep you updated through June and July.
00:47:54
Speaker
Always feel free to email us with any thoughts, comments, suggestions, DMs, whatever. You can email us at artpoptalk at gmail.com.
Podcast Summer Break Announcement
00:48:03
Speaker
We will be checking that constantly throughout the summer. We have a Buy Me a Coffee account, which you can find at the link in our social media bio. If you like this content and you want to hear more in August whenever we come back, consider giving us a little donation to keep our podcast afloat.
00:48:21
Speaker
And if you want to rate us and review us on Apple podcasts, please do so. Everyone keep a lookout. Jen and I have some really exciting things we want to work on over the summer. Keep in touch. We will return with an all new episode on Tuesday, August.
00:48:38
Speaker
Second, so mark that date in your calendars. And with that everyone, we love you so much. Have an amazing and safe summer. Oh my gosh, I'm getting sad. And we will talk to you in August. Bye everyone. Bye. Art Pop Talk's executive producers are me, Bianca Martucci Fink. And me, Gianna Martucci Fink. Music and sounds are by Josh Turner and photography is by Adrian Turner.
00:49:07
Speaker
and our graphic designer is Sid Hammond.