attention(s)

“F—- The Girls” is “Attention’s” more unforgiving sister song, a burning cathartic release — it is the song equivalent of a therapist instructing their patient to write a letter with all the incendiary things they’d like to say to someone who has wronged them.

“The attention’s on all these illegal immigrants, and not on them.”

The anniversary of Gehrig’s death is an opportunity, at a time when social media “likes” and “followers” — attention for attention’s sake — are considered synonymous with influence, to reflect on the deeper influence of a virtuous example.

“Because the attention’s on them. They know all the cameras are going to expect to see them do something, and they’re doing it.”

With the sight of two young, charismatic black women with powerful serves and incredible composure, too many story lines converged: the path-blazing precedence of Venus and Serena Williams; the surge of interest in women’s sports; the globalization of tennis; the media’s incessant attention, and also its meta-obsession with cautionary tales of that attention’s adverse effects.