#69: Lerato

We're joined by writer, Lerato, who tells us more about "chalance", David Lynch & the entire Twin Peaks catalogue, Khadijah from 'Living Single', Berserk (manga and 1997 anime), and so much more.

Lerato considers herself as a writer, but very loosely. She writes for work so by all accounts she is  ‘a writer’, but is always looking to write bigger, more personally, more creatively, nonstop. She graduated with a triple major BA in English Language and Literature Studies, African Feminist Studies and Film and Television studies, and completed her honours in Film and Television Studies. Now, she is constantly trying to find her creative voice, make money writing professionally, and continue to be more vulnerable about my dreams and aspirations.

We welcome Lerato to The FRM Newsletter to share what she’s been into recently.

🤷‍♀️🧿 ‘Chalance’

As in, the opposite of nonchalance, though the word itself does not exist. I have recently begun embracing the embarrassing and I’ve been very loud about it on social media, possibly to many of my followers’ annoyance. I refuse to ascribe to the nonchalant nature that has become normalised as of late (no shade if that’s how you are for real). I admit that I have tried to withhold myself in the name of coming across as calm and unbothered before. But, I have come to realise as I have gotten older that there’s a lot of beauty in wearing one’s heart on one’s sleeve. I think that makes life so much fuller.

📽🌲 Twin Peaks (1990-1991, 2017)

David Lynch’s mind is incredible. His work is so bizarre and surrealist but Twin Peaks in particular kind of feels like a warm hug too. It also probably prompted my desire to pursue film studies academically because it made me think about all the insane, beautiful media that’s out there to explore.

🎧❤ Old SA House Music

As a country, we must return to our roots! I have a playlist of songs I grew up hearing on the radio that just FILL ME with absolute nostalgia. Feeling by Miza, 1000 Memories and Love Song 28 by Jullian Gomes, City Rains by Mobi Dixon, the list goes on. That’s the SA I believe in.

🌇🍨 Before Sunrise (1995)

This film ignited my love for films where ‘nothing’ happens. Two people just having profound (somewhat pretentious) conversation and I was hooked from start to finish. It’s very real to me!

Going to the cinema alone - The solo movie-watching experience is so underrated. I love going with friends and debriefing afterwards, but there’s nothing like going on your own, sitting in complete silence and just taking it all in and sitting with what you’re receiving from whatever you’re watching. Extra points if it’s a sad film. Crying alone in the cinema is so cathartic.

💥🈴 Berserk (Manga and 1997 anime)

I have dabbled in a bit of anime, but never really ventured into reading Manga until I watched the 1997 Berserk anime and finished it feeling unsatisfied. I needed to know more. Thus began my obsession with the manga, which is still ongoing since first releasing in 1989. The subject matter gets pretty dark, but the story is incredible.

😿🤞 Hopecore Slideshows

I’ve never not felt instantly better after watching a Hopecore slideshow or video. A sweet motivational quote with a dolphin or a cat in the background of the image? Give it to me. As corny as it may be, it's sometimes the simplest message from a curated hopecore slideshow that turns out to be the best type of motivation.

🎺🎶 River Tiber

This man does not have one bad song. His entire discography is incredible. I love an artist that is constantly evolving and he’s done everything from alternative, to jazz, to RnB, to a bit of electronic. I never get bored of him.

🗽🍸 A Different World

This show changed my life when I first saw it on the Sony channel (formerly channel 127) when I was in high school. It was about an HBCU and had an almost entirely black cast. It dealt with black people’s problems and triumphs, great loves and heartbreaks, and represented them as multi-faceted and non monolithic. I learnt so much about myself and the world from that show and re-watch it regularly.

👭💄 Khadijah from Living Single

Khadijah, played by Queen Latifah, epitomised everything I wanted to be growing up. She was cool, calm and collected. Kind of tom-boyish but a highly sought-after woman. She knew what she wanted, she was beautiful, she ran her own entertainment magazine and she told it like it was, always. I still kind of strive to embody her.