With the end of every calendar year comes the customary influx of “Best Of” lists, definitively ranking the créme de la cultural créme of the last 365 days. But as 2013 winds down, we’re also making plans for the next year of books, movies, and shows. Click through for Flavorwire’s cultural resolutions for 2014 — what we want more of, what we want less of, and what parts of 2013 we could do without altogether.
I’d love to say I was going to spend the new year going to more museums or checking out more concerts, but who’re we kidding, I’m not getting out much these days. But as part of the inevitable end-of-the-year catch-up for critics’ polls and year-end round-ups, I finally caught up with Drug War, from acclaimed Hong Kong action maestro Johnnie To — and I’m ashamed to say, after years of hearing about him, that this was the first of his films I’d seen. So let’s just say, a few minutes after I finished watching it, I went to Netflix and put all the Johnnie To movies in my queue; that should keep me busy for a healthy chunk of 2014. — Jason Bailey, Film Editor
For reasons both professional and personal, I spent less time with new music in 2013 than during any other year I can remember. As a lifelong music fan and sometime music critic, that’s disturbing to realize. I’ve even started to worry it’s a sign that I’m getting old and reactionary. Next year, I resolve to make time for at least one new album a week— and pay special attention to artists I haven’t heard before. — Judy Berman, Editor-in-Chief
Spend absolutely no time ever paying attention to Masters of Sex again. — Michelle Dean, Editor-at-Large
Finally watch The Wire. — Jason Diamond, Literary Editor
See more films. I never see films. I’m terrible. — Tom Hawking, Music Editor
I’m an opera freak, but I failed to attend a single show this year. I’m scoping out the new season in different cities and currently fantasizing about attending the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, which is hosting several open-air performances in amazing settings and historical locations. — Alison Nastasi, Weekend Editor
Build up my film knowledge base. I’m pretty good about seeing the new stuff when it comes out, but there are shamefully huge gaps (read: most of the ’70s) that desperately need some Netflix-assisted filling. — Alison Herman, Editorial Assistant
This year’s government shutdown was proof that Americans live in an increasingly divided nation, which is one of the reasons I am always angry when political differences lead people to dismiss entire regions of the country. I usually see this kind of ire directed at red states, places that are indeed home to smart, culturally sensitive, innovative people, despite being represented by particularly clueless politicians. I grew up in Oklahoma and see the problems people have with places like my home, but these places cannot benefit if so called “progressives” are writing them off. It’s this kind of attitude that drives ambitious kids away from cities like Nashville, Omaha, and Lawrence in favor of the crowded coasts. Hidden in some of the reddest states are some astoundingly cool communities with kind people, and I believe everyone would discover this if they bothered to look. — Sarah Fonder, Editorial Apprentice
More movies at Anthology Film Archives. You can never go there too often. — Kevin Pires, Editorial Apprentice