FIVE: Arts and Culture Cats
Cat lovers come in all stripes: some of them are cute girls who probably watch a lot of anime, and others are rad dudes who name their fat felines things like “Gandalf” and “Chico.” Artists love cats too, and therefore it’s unsurprising that many cats have made their mark on the arts. Here’s our list of the Top 5 Cats of Arts and Culture.
5. Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats (1939)
CATS is the absolute worst. It combined everything that’s awful about Andrew Llyod Webber’s musicals into one giant catastrophe. However, it was based on a loveable book, written the master of modernist poetry: T. S. Eliot. Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats is a joy for both lit geeks and cat lovers.
4. The Cheshire Cat (1951)
The Cheshire Cat has been visually interpreted many times since his original depiction in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. His role in Disney’s Alice in Wonderland remains his most memorable onscreen appearance. The Cheshire Cat has been interpreted dozens of times, and remains one of the most prominent cats in popular culture.
3. Cat People (1982)
A woman named Irena (Nastassja Kinski) is reunited with her brother Paul (Malcolm McDowell), only to find out that she and her brother are both werecats. They transform into werecats after having sex with normal humans; the only way not to transform is to have sex with another werecat. All werecats are incestuous, and brother and sister gotta get it on to stop the transformation. Also: David Bowie sings the movie’s theme song: “Cat People (Putting Out Fire).”
2. The Catbus (from My Neighbor Totoro)
The scheduled arrival of the Catbus is the highlight of Miyazaki’s delightful children’s film My Neighbor Totoro. What makes the Catbus even better, is that you can buy officially licensed Catbus hats at your local comic book store.
1. Professor Meatloaf
Professor Meatloaf is a veteran of the Regina music scene, and so is his owner – Johnny Amore. The Professor is currently recovering from his second stroke, but that’s not gonna keep the furry Mozart from recording his latest album–out soon on Meatloaf Records.
Christian Hardy
A&C Editor
