Monday, August 3, 2009
The Road to Hell Is Hot
I HAVE NO LIFE!!! ONE DAY, SCHOOL I GOING TO START, AND I WILL BE SAD. I DON'T WANT MY SUMMER TO TERMINATE WHEN I'VE DONE ALL OF NOTHING....BUT I DID GET A TATTOO A FEW DAYS AGO!!! OH WELL....SCHOOL IS LAME, AND LINK CREW IS ODD.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Feel The Burn!!!
I've pretty much failed at life so far this summer....Владелец Кормы (Poop Master, Russian!!!)
I exercised today!!!!like bike stuff, which I haven't been doing a lit lately!!! o_O
NO. CELL 612-876-6982. Владелец Кормы
I exercised today!!!!like bike stuff, which I haven't been doing a lit lately!!! o_O
NO. CELL 612-876-6982. Владелец Кормы
Monday, July 13, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Religion
Ah, that which seeks to give those poor souls hope that do believe in such nonsense is useless in today's time of rationality and science. Yes, there are many a smart man who do believe in the existence of a god or the supreme christian God, but they seem to me to lack a certain function in their minds. Those are the men and women who have not let their beliefs of such imaginary beings go. They encourage the belief in Santa Claus, who is only a model for consumerism, but who provides almost sacrilege in turning the birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth into a consumer holiday. It lacks logic.
We have all of these political leaders in America who are dedicated to the worship of one messenger of God or another, and so many of these people use their religion to sway their own decisions which are completely unrelated to the sublet matter of their position. It confounds me that one in America sees so many ultra-conservative religious fanatics protesting against abortion and gay marriage. But really, what is it to them. Oh, they value the human life, that's why they don't want other people to get an abortion; yet they support a war on who knows what that kills thousands of innocent lives, and many who are very young. And I will never understand the fear that these people have against two people of the same sex getting married. How does their marriage affect the sanctity of yours in any way, shape, or form??? IT DOESN'T!!!!
I can understand why so many people believe in god and the afterlife and whatnot, it's a good thing to hope for when there's nothing left in your life. Religion was in the first, I imagine, only invented because the people of earlier ages needed a method to explain the natural events that influenced their lives, but do we really need to keep on believing in fairy tales when we have real, proven ways that explain all the phenomena that occur on earth?
I respect all folks, but I wish the religious fanatics would quit trying to make me believe in something that's not logically conceivable? Thanks, but no thanks.
We have all of these political leaders in America who are dedicated to the worship of one messenger of God or another, and so many of these people use their religion to sway their own decisions which are completely unrelated to the sublet matter of their position. It confounds me that one in America sees so many ultra-conservative religious fanatics protesting against abortion and gay marriage. But really, what is it to them. Oh, they value the human life, that's why they don't want other people to get an abortion; yet they support a war on who knows what that kills thousands of innocent lives, and many who are very young. And I will never understand the fear that these people have against two people of the same sex getting married. How does their marriage affect the sanctity of yours in any way, shape, or form??? IT DOESN'T!!!!
I can understand why so many people believe in god and the afterlife and whatnot, it's a good thing to hope for when there's nothing left in your life. Religion was in the first, I imagine, only invented because the people of earlier ages needed a method to explain the natural events that influenced their lives, but do we really need to keep on believing in fairy tales when we have real, proven ways that explain all the phenomena that occur on earth?
I respect all folks, but I wish the religious fanatics would quit trying to make me believe in something that's not logically conceivable? Thanks, but no thanks.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
That Which Concerns Persepolis, Installment Number Two
14 Stories of Importance
My reading of this graphic novel was in no manner spread out longer that it had to be, I really did not spend too much of my time trying to discern the symbolism hidden in the words of this very real memoir. So many cultures have been passed on through time through the ever entertaining and informative story. In our time, as well as those past, stories provided the reader with either a moral to learn, or a lesson to interpret to their own designs; these usually directly correlate to one another. Persepolis is told in such a manner where the reader learns both important life lessons, and morals that will attempt to challenge us throughout life. The author, Marjane Satrapi, has told her story in a manner that expresses the importance of stories to us today.
In my personal opinion, life would be much like the descriptions of Leo Tolstoy, long winded, but still helpful, if we did not have stories, or things with which to enhance our narratives with. It holds with me that the world would be a monotonous one if we did not have the variety that stories of others offer to our senses. In many senses, all of today's holy books a either based off of, or are stories. One can look at, for example, the story of Noah's Arc. The fact that it is so fantastical makes it difficult in the extreme for me to believe, but it gives the reader a sense of wonder that good can be done, but extremely glorified. Stories are how so many of today's values and morals are passes to one another. They are the basis for almost everything.
I can look today, as I browse the bookshelves of Barnes & Noble, for a story, of any nature I choose, with extreme ease. I could look at memoirs, or I could look into those that distinctly fall under the category of stories that are also just as true as any memoir. Such examples of, for lack of a better word, "awesomeness", are The Maus graphic novels, and this one as well. These are the books that most influence people with their lessons and knowledge, and not because they have pictures, but because they have so artfully hones that great art which is story telling. Not only do the authors incorporate pictures, but they weave and make a story out of their words to attract the reader, and not detract from the truth of the story.
In Persepolis, we see the narrator, Marji, weave her own story with those of others, not to a point where her story is lost, but to actually enhance and even make more sense of her own. We can look at the sorrowful tale of Marji's uncle Anoosh; his employment with his uncle, who was a professed Communist, to the bitter divorce he went through with his Russian wife. Anoosh's story helps let the reader know not only of Marji's story, but of the hardships that the people of her nation must suffer such a regime. Marji had found a hero in her uncle Anoosh, and so we too must learn how to find heroes in our literary genius's.
15 History
Not too many people above the age of 18 would have any courage to pick this book up; too many of them have the mutual fear that because it is illustrated, there is no value in the content. I pity those who are so sadly mistaken. The picture of this girls life, one that she so bravely painted of herself, helps bring to light to the reader the importance of ones own history. I know it to be true that almost everyone has at one time, had the caprice to write either a memoir or an autobiography of themselves, and only a few really have the capabilities to do so with success. (Not meant as an offense, just my own interpretation of what I've been presented).
Marjane, in her riveting story of preservation of family and of hope, tells me, and I am sure many other readers, the importance of acknowledging ones past, as well as looking forward to ones future. In every step in life that we take, we move towards a more complete image of our own identities, and in doing so, we gain a sort of confidence in ourselves not to be associated with vanity. A similar manner works as well for ones family, and what they have to offer to the collective story of your life. Her story would not exist without that of her family's to encourage her along through birth into the "real" world. Without the background of her family before her, there would be, really, no basis to the story that she provides, in a sense. All that I am trying to say is that you are nothing without your family, as well as their love and support. (Or back-handing).
From all the family members that Marji surrounds herself with in the novel, we can assume that not only do they provide a base for which Marji's own life story is supported, but also help provide a reader with a special glimpse into the "heart" of the author. Satrapi offers us a look into the inmost thoughts and feelings of her then young mind, and without the stories that her various family members have to offer, her story would be purposeless in relating the tale of the Islamic Revolution on its own.
(yes, I know I ramble)
8 I Desire Freedom versus Captivity
My reading of this graphic novel was in no manner spread out longer that it had to be, I really did not spend too much of my time trying to discern the symbolism hidden in the words of this very real memoir. So many cultures have been passed on through time through the ever entertaining and informative story. In our time, as well as those past, stories provided the reader with either a moral to learn, or a lesson to interpret to their own designs; these usually directly correlate to one another. Persepolis is told in such a manner where the reader learns both important life lessons, and morals that will attempt to challenge us throughout life. The author, Marjane Satrapi, has told her story in a manner that expresses the importance of stories to us today.
In my personal opinion, life would be much like the descriptions of Leo Tolstoy, long winded, but still helpful, if we did not have stories, or things with which to enhance our narratives with. It holds with me that the world would be a monotonous one if we did not have the variety that stories of others offer to our senses. In many senses, all of today's holy books a either based off of, or are stories. One can look at, for example, the story of Noah's Arc. The fact that it is so fantastical makes it difficult in the extreme for me to believe, but it gives the reader a sense of wonder that good can be done, but extremely glorified. Stories are how so many of today's values and morals are passes to one another. They are the basis for almost everything.
I can look today, as I browse the bookshelves of Barnes & Noble, for a story, of any nature I choose, with extreme ease. I could look at memoirs, or I could look into those that distinctly fall under the category of stories that are also just as true as any memoir. Such examples of, for lack of a better word, "awesomeness", are The Maus graphic novels, and this one as well. These are the books that most influence people with their lessons and knowledge, and not because they have pictures, but because they have so artfully hones that great art which is story telling. Not only do the authors incorporate pictures, but they weave and make a story out of their words to attract the reader, and not detract from the truth of the story.
In Persepolis, we see the narrator, Marji, weave her own story with those of others, not to a point where her story is lost, but to actually enhance and even make more sense of her own. We can look at the sorrowful tale of Marji's uncle Anoosh; his employment with his uncle, who was a professed Communist, to the bitter divorce he went through with his Russian wife. Anoosh's story helps let the reader know not only of Marji's story, but of the hardships that the people of her nation must suffer such a regime. Marji had found a hero in her uncle Anoosh, and so we too must learn how to find heroes in our literary genius's.
15 History
Not too many people above the age of 18 would have any courage to pick this book up; too many of them have the mutual fear that because it is illustrated, there is no value in the content. I pity those who are so sadly mistaken. The picture of this girls life, one that she so bravely painted of herself, helps bring to light to the reader the importance of ones own history. I know it to be true that almost everyone has at one time, had the caprice to write either a memoir or an autobiography of themselves, and only a few really have the capabilities to do so with success. (Not meant as an offense, just my own interpretation of what I've been presented).
Marjane, in her riveting story of preservation of family and of hope, tells me, and I am sure many other readers, the importance of acknowledging ones past, as well as looking forward to ones future. In every step in life that we take, we move towards a more complete image of our own identities, and in doing so, we gain a sort of confidence in ourselves not to be associated with vanity. A similar manner works as well for ones family, and what they have to offer to the collective story of your life. Her story would not exist without that of her family's to encourage her along through birth into the "real" world. Without the background of her family before her, there would be, really, no basis to the story that she provides, in a sense. All that I am trying to say is that you are nothing without your family, as well as their love and support. (Or back-handing).
From all the family members that Marji surrounds herself with in the novel, we can assume that not only do they provide a base for which Marji's own life story is supported, but also help provide a reader with a special glimpse into the "heart" of the author. Satrapi offers us a look into the inmost thoughts and feelings of her then young mind, and without the stories that her various family members have to offer, her story would be purposeless in relating the tale of the Islamic Revolution on its own.
(yes, I know I ramble)
8 I Desire Freedom versus Captivity
In this novel, we see the government of Marji's people take advantage of them in so many ways. One such sad instance is that the government seeks to do so under the people's weakest point, which is their religion. Not to "Dis" religion, but it has provided the basis for so many debates, conflicts, and the like across the world. Any way, we see an example of "captivity", so to speak, when it was made mandatory for women to ware veils to hide their too tempting hair. Such is not the literal definition of the word, but it reduces the freedom of those who are under such an edict, which is a form of captivity.
In Persepolis, we also pay witness to the captivity that is dished out in the home. Parents are equal to gods in the eyes of children, unless they were wise enough to straighten out in that sense, and they hold very powerful sway over their children. (May I add that it is no necessarily from respect that we do so, just the fear of having to do our own laundry!). In this manner, we see captivity every day.
Also in the story, we see the true kind, that which includes prisons and death. Wee hear of the story of Marji's grandfather, and how he was taken to prison. Also, the story of Marji's great uncle, Ferydoon, and his imprisonment and later his execution. All in all, the book provides us with a pretty accurate look into the various types of captivity and freedom.
In the book, we see Marji begging for tokens from her parents travel abroad, to Turkey. Hers is a rebelliousness that was encouraged by her parents, and her own way of freedom through defying the government with smuggled contraband. We see others simply refuse to ware the veil, which in many senses stifled the freedom of women. They partied too, even though it was a very dangerous practice at the time.
Sometimes I am graced with the most sensible execution of English grammar, and at others I fail to even spell the simplest of words correctly. I hope my blog provides for you a sense of completeness, and that along with informing, that you too should be entertained.
In Persepolis, we also pay witness to the captivity that is dished out in the home. Parents are equal to gods in the eyes of children, unless they were wise enough to straighten out in that sense, and they hold very powerful sway over their children. (May I add that it is no necessarily from respect that we do so, just the fear of having to do our own laundry!). In this manner, we see captivity every day.
Also in the story, we see the true kind, that which includes prisons and death. Wee hear of the story of Marji's grandfather, and how he was taken to prison. Also, the story of Marji's great uncle, Ferydoon, and his imprisonment and later his execution. All in all, the book provides us with a pretty accurate look into the various types of captivity and freedom.
In the book, we see Marji begging for tokens from her parents travel abroad, to Turkey. Hers is a rebelliousness that was encouraged by her parents, and her own way of freedom through defying the government with smuggled contraband. We see others simply refuse to ware the veil, which in many senses stifled the freedom of women. They partied too, even though it was a very dangerous practice at the time.
Sometimes I am graced with the most sensible execution of English grammar, and at others I fail to even spell the simplest of words correctly. I hope my blog provides for you a sense of completeness, and that along with informing, that you too should be entertained.
ALERT
I NOW I'M PUSHING IT, ERIN...THIS IS JUST A PRELUDE TO MY ACTUAL BLOG...JUST ALLOW ME SOME TIME, THAT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED...
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Persepolis is Late
I am a slacker, and I fail. Go ahead, admit it...anyway, here are the words that everybody hangs off of their seats to read....
Religious-osity, (13)
In the words of Karl Marx, " Religion is the opiate of the masses.", and so it stands in many of the prominent governmental systems around the world. A few years ago, I thought my energies would best be spent on theology. Not so much di the world of religion interest me, but more so the fact that I could develop a better understanding as to why people still adopt gods as their own, but still seem to reject scientific actualities. I am what most people call atheist. I know this is not really appropriate school talk, but since it the topis at thand, I will not shy away from my own beliefs.
In the book, we see the young herione, Marji, a.k.a. the author of our beloved book, consistantly speaking to God. Her realtionship with him, so it appeared in the book, was almost on intimate terms. Also, our young activist was bent ever so earnestly on becoming a prophet when she was older, one of the last prophets, and if I'm not mistaken, to her own sort of religion-medley. Even though Marji seems to reference and pray to God every time she is faced with a difficult decission, at the end of the section entitled "Sheep", Marji's uncle, Anoosh, falls by influence of the government, captured as a Russina spy, and executed. This was Marji's greates hero; now she had one in her family like her little friends did. It seems that after this passage, after she renounces God, he appears no more in the illustrated text. This passage always struck to to be a major pivitol point in Marji's life. God had failed her, and so she gave him up. And whats more is that she was deeply religious.
Another key role that religion played in Persepolis was that the Shah used religion as a means to convince the people that his hold in power came from some sort of redeemable source, in this instance in the deeply religious community in Iran, God. We can look at other regions that had used a system of beliefs meant to be so peaceful to the detriment of the people following it. The former Soviet Union, (Communist Russia), seems to be an appropriate example. Though the people were kept in terrible living and working situations, they followed blindly not only because they were able to believe in what they believed in, but the government kept the people poor, unhealthy, and uneducated, so they followed blindly. Another great example is back in B.C.E. times. When rulers were moving through the fertile crescent to conquer all the other lowly races/places, they allow the conquered peoples to keep their religion, so long as they followed complacently.
A large role in the Islamic revolution was religion, as are most worldy conflicts. The author seems to try and "degrade" to a certain point the idea of fundamentalism in her religion. It seems as though in the begining of the graphic novel, she was one such strict and conservative follower, accepting the word of anyone and the religious text with a zeal only a child could express, just because someone said so. Example, when their textbooks said that the Shah was cohsen by god. I think that anyone who has had a doubt concerning religion, is apt to "make social commentaries" about it. Everyone gets so worked up trying to make other people believe what they do, and yet no one really says that what I believe in is all that matters to me, so I have no need to concern myself with the goings on of other peoples beliefs.
Also, i think it was said that the veil was used to keep men pious and true to form becasue the hair of women is too tempting. I hate it when religious authorities abuse their power!!!
I Ain't No Hippie Chick (9)
All children will do what they can to get a little adrenaline running through their blood; anything to excite them and their freinds. So when we see the young people in persepolis, despite the strict rules dissallowing it, trying to smuggle the trends into their lives. We see in the book Marji become intrigued and coaxed to follow these girls to skip school and meat up at this restuarnat. They are just kids, and breaking the rules is like gold to us. If there's on set, we go out of our ways to see that it is broken. Actually, as a word of advice, don't really tell us the rules, and we won't break them, we're faily docile under most circumstances.
Also, we see Marji's parents take a trip to Turkey. Marji is desperatley in need of a Iron Maiden poster, and new Nikes, and all of the latest and greatest trends in America. Paraphanela from America is on the "I catch you with it coming across the borders, you get arrested" variety of stuff. Her parents went though the risk of being caught just so their child could rock out in style. We see Marji don the leather jacket, defy the veil, don the shoes and a Michael Jackson pin, and strut through the streets, rubbing America's filthy trends in their noses. She even got "captured" by the brigade of women law upholders because of her risque wares.
Unfortunatley, I am one of those who will always be ten years old in mind, even thogh my body will have aged to forty. My actes of rebellion are unoriginal. I have done nothing that any other kid has'nt already done a decade before me. I am mostly complacent with the perameters that my parents set up for me, but I do have a tendancy to use my amazing word abilities on them and make them feel like shit like no one else can. At that I'm a genius.
Woman Powered Factories (12)
We have been alive as a collective people for thousands of years, yet still the differences in skin and sex play a pivitol role in separating us and ensuring the inequality rules at the reigns. Another connection with religion here, is that in many of the religious texts, especially Christianity, the woman was the downfall of her male counter-part. Such is the role we are given because men want us, and think we're evil for it. The same can be said for many other reilgions besides that one, and the same can be said for Marji's beliefs.
The older you were and the more connected with the government you were, the more you yourself, a woman, believed that your "kind" were bad and too tempting. The opposite can be said for those who were younger as well as older who had had some sort of ordeal in their family concerning the government and the ill treatment of their families. Those who followed, usually had no discernable connection to the government, and some were only following along for the fact that if they didn't, they could lose their jobs, and worse lose their lives. Such is the role that the gov. seen fit to put their people in; traitorious and blind.
I never really resolved my addition of Karl Marx in there. He is not only seen her in my blog, but in the pages of Persepolis also. I think he had some brilliant, yet quite utopian, ideals.
I know i fail for lateness, but read on everyone else!!!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Consumerism: Read if you want the truth.
*Erin, I'm not too clear on this, but it's partly my fault for not asking you on Friday, but Shelby assisted me with the basics, so I should be covered???
Visual Essay
I figured that I would go in the direction of connecting my photos to the prominent theme, consumerism.
I chose this picture to best represent what a modern view of consumerism might look like, at least in our times. The picture takes some of the more commonly known labels/brand names. etc., and has turned them into a never ending cycle, which in a way, it is. We're built to consume, maybe not in the manner of buying things, but we need a lot of things, and unfortunately a lot of corporations take advantage of one of our weaker sides.
For me, I see the subject of this picture and I imagine it to look like one of the "units" in the story; so zoned out and constantly bombarded with images of "purchase Purchase PURCHASE". It's hard to imagine living a life when even after you've turned everything feedy off. It's like no privacy, your only motivation to get up would be to actually succumb to the feed, let yourself buy so it would stop.
The onion is great, it's so sarcastic and cynical, but ever so true. This picture reminds me of spending your way out of debt, not going to work, just as buying won't battle consumerism. It's more of a joke than anything, but it's so true. I could see it happening on the news, one of those bleach blond reporters saying you can buy your way out of buying.
For awhile, I've thought that it makes sense for companies to push holidays, and for more than one reason. Not only does that loving face of Santa {invented by Coke} make people buy their kids stuff, but it breeds them in the future to do so as well. Get 'em while their young, so the idea of purchasing is as much a part of them as going to the bathroom is. Same with the tooth-fairy, Easter bunny, and all the other holiday mascots. It's quite a revelation, when one realizes that this is true.
The original version of this photograph is ingrained into every one's brains-patriotic, heroic, noble-so it would make sense that the most recognised food chain in the world would replace the American flag so smoothly. The idea that we revere McDonald's is not far from the actuality in which we worship it. I doubt that if you visit any industrialized country in the world, you will meet someone who has not had McDonald's. In some ways, McDonald's is the international sign of "I'm fat, you're fat, lets be friends."
In the book, it's mentioned more than once that nature, in its reality, is gone because of the dangerous habits that we even use today, like clear-cutting and the "unclean", {if they ever can be} carbon missions. This picture really puts the raw consumption of the natural world that we don't see, into perspective. And it's funny how everyone is obeast, as my dad would say. We teeter precariously on the edge of the destruction of our world, and no one seems to care. At least no one that would ever be listened to.
This photo is so similar to the one with the soldiers erecting the McDonald's sign, except here is the true nature if America. So many of the common logos that we see on a daily basis, signs of or need to consume, our brainwashed need...are there for us to see, so blatantly put out there, exposing Americas shame for everyone to see.
This brings to mind the arrogance that the characters in feed are reduced to speaking, the manner in which they act that everything they're doing is fine, without question. Here, the idea of brainwashing comes to mind as I scan back and forth the similarities in these characters. It's sad to think, but some people, like Mall-of-America lady, don't even realize how much they spend and how much impact it really has on your life. Maybe not positive impact, either.
It's only a matter of time before religion gets dragged into our classroom, so lets start early. Jesus is supposed to represent everything positive. He loves everyone equally {even though the religious extremists say otherwise}, and yet this image renders him just as ignorant as the people in feed, demanding and blinded by the sheer consumerism pulsing through his veins. It makes sense that to get a message across, some people would put it into reality by "bashing" a religious figure, the only beacon the government has to keep us blind and following.
Everyone has come across that item in their life, the one that says what the picture does. But haven't we already gone over that fact that buying does not fill the void of unhappiness? I take pity on those who think it does. Filling your life with a bunch of mundane objects is not going to make you a better person, or make you live longer {although with this health care system, only the monetarily rich can afford it}, and like I saw while I was browsing images for this, "He who dies with the most toys...is just as dead".
I hope this fits the parameters for the visual essay, but I can only be certain that I hope this sends a message to all who read it. I want everyone to know that their lives do not have to be dominated by the artificial need to buy. We can resist the feed together.
Visual Essay
I figured that I would go in the direction of connecting my photos to the prominent theme, consumerism.
I chose this picture to best represent what a modern view of consumerism might look like, at least in our times. The picture takes some of the more commonly known labels/brand names. etc., and has turned them into a never ending cycle, which in a way, it is. We're built to consume, maybe not in the manner of buying things, but we need a lot of things, and unfortunately a lot of corporations take advantage of one of our weaker sides.
For me, I see the subject of this picture and I imagine it to look like one of the "units" in the story; so zoned out and constantly bombarded with images of "purchase Purchase PURCHASE". It's hard to imagine living a life when even after you've turned everything feedy off. It's like no privacy, your only motivation to get up would be to actually succumb to the feed, let yourself buy so it would stop.
The onion is great, it's so sarcastic and cynical, but ever so true. This picture reminds me of spending your way out of debt, not going to work, just as buying won't battle consumerism. It's more of a joke than anything, but it's so true. I could see it happening on the news, one of those bleach blond reporters saying you can buy your way out of buying.
For awhile, I've thought that it makes sense for companies to push holidays, and for more than one reason. Not only does that loving face of Santa {invented by Coke} make people buy their kids stuff, but it breeds them in the future to do so as well. Get 'em while their young, so the idea of purchasing is as much a part of them as going to the bathroom is. Same with the tooth-fairy, Easter bunny, and all the other holiday mascots. It's quite a revelation, when one realizes that this is true.
The original version of this photograph is ingrained into every one's brains-patriotic, heroic, noble-so it would make sense that the most recognised food chain in the world would replace the American flag so smoothly. The idea that we revere McDonald's is not far from the actuality in which we worship it. I doubt that if you visit any industrialized country in the world, you will meet someone who has not had McDonald's. In some ways, McDonald's is the international sign of "I'm fat, you're fat, lets be friends."
In the book, it's mentioned more than once that nature, in its reality, is gone because of the dangerous habits that we even use today, like clear-cutting and the "unclean", {if they ever can be} carbon missions. This picture really puts the raw consumption of the natural world that we don't see, into perspective. And it's funny how everyone is obeast, as my dad would say. We teeter precariously on the edge of the destruction of our world, and no one seems to care. At least no one that would ever be listened to.
This photo is so similar to the one with the soldiers erecting the McDonald's sign, except here is the true nature if America. So many of the common logos that we see on a daily basis, signs of or need to consume, our brainwashed need...are there for us to see, so blatantly put out there, exposing Americas shame for everyone to see.
This brings to mind the arrogance that the characters in feed are reduced to speaking, the manner in which they act that everything they're doing is fine, without question. Here, the idea of brainwashing comes to mind as I scan back and forth the similarities in these characters. It's sad to think, but some people, like Mall-of-America lady, don't even realize how much they spend and how much impact it really has on your life. Maybe not positive impact, either.
It's only a matter of time before religion gets dragged into our classroom, so lets start early. Jesus is supposed to represent everything positive. He loves everyone equally {even though the religious extremists say otherwise}, and yet this image renders him just as ignorant as the people in feed, demanding and blinded by the sheer consumerism pulsing through his veins. It makes sense that to get a message across, some people would put it into reality by "bashing" a religious figure, the only beacon the government has to keep us blind and following.
Everyone has come across that item in their life, the one that says what the picture does. But haven't we already gone over that fact that buying does not fill the void of unhappiness? I take pity on those who think it does. Filling your life with a bunch of mundane objects is not going to make you a better person, or make you live longer {although with this health care system, only the monetarily rich can afford it}, and like I saw while I was browsing images for this, "He who dies with the most toys...is just as dead".I hope this fits the parameters for the visual essay, but I can only be certain that I hope this sends a message to all who read it. I want everyone to know that their lives do not have to be dominated by the artificial need to buy. We can resist the feed together.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Feed Blog #2
Boring
It's no wonder that Titus imagines that the picture of the sailboat is boring when he has the feed to constantly care for and entertain him, (although it's arguable that the feed is at all healthy, look at those smexy lesions, I just love it when I can see past someones skin...). Anyway, because Titus and his friends are constantly wrapped up in their feeds, they have no time to actually care about anything substantial unless it can be bought off the feed. The picture suggests freedom in the subject of roaming the open waters, yet Titus and his friends remain ignorant to the real, tangible pleasures that could have existed if they had not thrown their world away.
Metaphor
It is quite odd to hear someone comment on the fact that you used a metaphor, but we have already established that Violet goes beyond the norm when it comes to the feed dominated lives of the novel's characters; but violets comment suggests that not only can she recognize one, which I bet is a "brag" type thing in their futuristic time, but that Titus has set himself apart from the pack as well by not reverting so much to the almost demeaning form of speech that the feed has reduced them to use. This continues on into another point, the fact that their language is so odd and somplified suggests so much time within a system that only breeds them to use the feed and take advantage of what the world has to offer, versus coexisting with the resourcesthat the earth offers us...The feed and the corporations who control it have reduced them all to a bunch of bumbling idiots, even school is'nt taught to teach them how to learn useful things, it only teaches them how to take advantage, and in a way that I see as bad...
Dead Language
Violet comes from one of the few low income families depicted in the feed, preventing them form actually getting it in the begining. Also, her dad and her mother seemed pretty intent on insuring that their daughter could think for herself versus having an implanted computer dictate everything you do. Even so, nat having a feed in those times brought on minor inconvieniances, see, unfortunatley everything that happened happened on the feed, and they had none...off point, but it;s important to have backroung information...Her dad is probally one of the last truly educated men left in the time of the feed, and who wouldn't want to learn all these things, especaillly when your mind was not impeded by the ever harassing feed???Her dad home schooled Violet in the hope that she would not become entwined with the feed, that she would resist, is waht I imagine her father to encourage her to do...when I first started the book, I thought that the hacker dude was going to end up being her dad...in her family, real education and a dose of healthy rebillion played key roles that helped violet to understand that goal of the feed and help caox Titus out of his protective shell that the feed has created for them...
Violet wrong???
Everyone experiances what violet does, and yes, I think that there are times when violet has no right to be such a, well, bitch, but I also can't really blame her because since her feed was put in later rather than sooner and was less compatable with her system and her family can't afford the updates,so of course it would malfunbction,...that's one of the corporations biggest scams, ...always come out with product after product to ensure that people will desire the newest and best model versus the old one which is just as good...Everyone contradicts themselves once and a while, and sh'es only human, really, with computer pieces lodges in her brain!!!...ugh, this book really pisses me off....
UNRELATED
I have strep throat, so I did not go to school today... :)
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Feed Blog #1:"Everything must go."
I have already read and finished the book, and it pains me to know that this could very well be our future, we are fast approaching such systems everyday, and some of us, like the kids in the book, are too blinded to realize that we're barely in control of our own lives. We see everything as an opportunity to spend or buy just so we can be up to date or running tangent to the modern trends. Our lives now almost certainly revolve around advertisements, telling us what we need to live and be happy. An example, look at all of the medication ads, like for viagra and lipitor, etc., we are at the point when we're told to second guess or one up our doctors, telling them what we need to be healthy, versus the other way around. Anyway, on to more pressing matters...
"To all those who resist the feed."
Today, I imagine that the feed would generalize all the advertisements, in short. They're comprised of subliminal messages to encourage us to buy buy buy. Like Erin mentioned in class, there are people out there who's jobs are to make the product appeal to us, in the manner of music in the stores, to colors and environments that encourage us to purchase. It's fucked. I won't sugar coat it. To resist the feed I imagine is along the lines of sticking it to the man...I can think back to the book when it speaks multiple times about the riots and protests against the feed, now would be like someone either not listening or giving into the ads and promotions and what not. Sadly, as I've said many times, we buy into it. It's unfortunate that people take advantage of our need for stuff. Yeah, we have need for some of it, but these companies build off of it severely, almost hypnotizing people to buy their shit. In the book, to resist the feed is to not have one, or do as violet did and ensure that she was inapplicable in any consumer profile. The book's idea is fucked, and I'm sure that M.T. Anderson just gave all the big corporations ideas for the future...or maybe they're already starting!!!
Change Hair
Trends, unfortunately, play a large role in everyday life. They, well, celebrities, the bitches of the corporations, influence the trends and alert the general public that what they're doing is not good enough, we're not good enough, spend your way out of being miserable and unpopular because you don't have Hello Kitty lip gloss that runs for $50. BULL SHIT.You see the trend following more prominent in girls because we're so concerned with our appearance and have, tragically, a severe need to criticize every thing we think is a flaw on ourselves. da da da...We see this behavior in Calista and Quendy. The feed tells them whats hot, and like brainwashed little minions, they follow so they won't be left behind when the trends shift again in ten minutes. I pity them, despite the fact that they are fictitious characters. Trends change in the novel, when the corporations aren't raking in the dollars, and it's virtually the same in today's market. They exploit slave labor in other countries to decrease the amount of money that they would normally spend on their employees, and then sell the finished product at an inflated price to gain even more money. Our systems are, once again, fucked. Author dude probably wouldn't have come up with this book idea if it wasn't going on around him in front of his own eyes. We may not have feeds like they do, but right now, I can see at least five different advertisements.
Sucky Moon
The first words out of the books mouth totally tell us what's going on in this frightening novel. The language is already simplified, showing that the people in the book have a decreased capability to think for themselves. Slang takes up most of the conversations...they can't even use the right words because in School(TM) they're not taught educational things, they're taught how to utilize the feed... I imagine mostly the buying parts...But anyway, everything seems to have also been genericized*, meaning that it's no longer part of the current trends...goodness, this book has just made me think that if we continue on in this way, we're doomed. I may sound like a total wing-nut, but if one persons thought of it, it's likely that others have too.
*yes, I can make up my own words...
"To all those who resist the feed."
Today, I imagine that the feed would generalize all the advertisements, in short. They're comprised of subliminal messages to encourage us to buy buy buy. Like Erin mentioned in class, there are people out there who's jobs are to make the product appeal to us, in the manner of music in the stores, to colors and environments that encourage us to purchase. It's fucked. I won't sugar coat it. To resist the feed I imagine is along the lines of sticking it to the man...I can think back to the book when it speaks multiple times about the riots and protests against the feed, now would be like someone either not listening or giving into the ads and promotions and what not. Sadly, as I've said many times, we buy into it. It's unfortunate that people take advantage of our need for stuff. Yeah, we have need for some of it, but these companies build off of it severely, almost hypnotizing people to buy their shit. In the book, to resist the feed is to not have one, or do as violet did and ensure that she was inapplicable in any consumer profile. The book's idea is fucked, and I'm sure that M.T. Anderson just gave all the big corporations ideas for the future...or maybe they're already starting!!!
Change Hair
Trends, unfortunately, play a large role in everyday life. They, well, celebrities, the bitches of the corporations, influence the trends and alert the general public that what they're doing is not good enough, we're not good enough, spend your way out of being miserable and unpopular because you don't have Hello Kitty lip gloss that runs for $50. BULL SHIT.You see the trend following more prominent in girls because we're so concerned with our appearance and have, tragically, a severe need to criticize every thing we think is a flaw on ourselves. da da da...We see this behavior in Calista and Quendy. The feed tells them whats hot, and like brainwashed little minions, they follow so they won't be left behind when the trends shift again in ten minutes. I pity them, despite the fact that they are fictitious characters. Trends change in the novel, when the corporations aren't raking in the dollars, and it's virtually the same in today's market. They exploit slave labor in other countries to decrease the amount of money that they would normally spend on their employees, and then sell the finished product at an inflated price to gain even more money. Our systems are, once again, fucked. Author dude probably wouldn't have come up with this book idea if it wasn't going on around him in front of his own eyes. We may not have feeds like they do, but right now, I can see at least five different advertisements.
Sucky Moon
The first words out of the books mouth totally tell us what's going on in this frightening novel. The language is already simplified, showing that the people in the book have a decreased capability to think for themselves. Slang takes up most of the conversations...they can't even use the right words because in School(TM) they're not taught educational things, they're taught how to utilize the feed... I imagine mostly the buying parts...But anyway, everything seems to have also been genericized*, meaning that it's no longer part of the current trends...goodness, this book has just made me think that if we continue on in this way, we're doomed. I may sound like a total wing-nut, but if one persons thought of it, it's likely that others have too.
*yes, I can make up my own words...
Thursday, April 16, 2009
?Tanesha!!!
I have to say that that is one of the oddest pictures I've ever seen, (refer to below, please...), the things look very strange...They're going to have sex! Or the girl one just got beat up by the dude-manequin...
Tanesha, if you read this, I am sorry, I will never write any stories of that nature about you and Nick...
Tanesha, if you read this, I am sorry, I will never write any stories of that nature about you and Nick...
Teabagging Anyone?
I don't know if anyone has heard, but that strange new "revolution" that is occurring, the one supposedly based on the Boston Tea Party of olde, call themselves "teabaggers". What an odd name, I find it funny that 1)they don't seen to know waht teabagging means (dropping nuts into someones mouth, the sac supposedly represents a tea bag, hence the name...).
It humors me that people like Rush, a.k.a. the "Drugster", support a movement that is named after a fairly sexually explicit act when he is supposed to be so hip and whatnot...
It humors me that people like Rush, a.k.a. the "Drugster", support a movement that is named after a fairly sexually explicit act when he is supposed to be so hip and whatnot...
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
I'm In Need of ENTERTAINMENT!
I desire something, something in the range of edible...hmm, sounds like lunch time to me...
Ah, yes, a good, ice cold can of Royal Crown cola would be just magnificent right about now...
I have no clue about almost everything...poop on you all...
My friend wants some girl to poop on a glass table while he watches underneath, yeah Christian, I'm talking about you!
BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH
Thankfully the MCA's that have held us confined in our now stifling classrooms are over...
I'm glad that they're only once a year...
1234 tell me that you love me more
I'm going to the metallica concert on October 13th with my uncle Troy...oh yeah, I bet you're jealous. I want to go to Rock the Garden at the Walker, see the Decemberists, my new favorite band...
The Real Doll
I was entranced when first I saw them...the Real Dolls. Now, despite the photo of a Miss Raggedy Anne above, the real Real Dolls are the most exquisite sex doll out there. I watched a special on them on HBO once upon a time...The company that makes real dolls has several models of the utmost (supposed) beauty. I concede that they do look quite realistic, but alas, who would want to fuck a soft silicone figure, why not a real person? They make dude ones too...they had a weird special about chicks doing the doll on camera, it was most certainly odd...
I know how to execute a proper man hug, between two men...
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Fork And Spoon
How many times a day do we really use the ever so lowly thought of fork and spoon...just think, without them, we'd have fingers caked with eons of goo, that's only if we didn't have sinks, though too...anyway, i feel that forks and spoons are more important than you, not really, I kid...i don't know, feel up on my nickers, why don't ya? Don't, though...dingle berry...shit stain, splodgenessabounds...poopzilla
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Does It Work???
Oh my cow, I think it might work....hello world, I will always promise to bore the pants off of you, unless someone out there is actually interected in what i do. This blog has a purpose other than my being annoying, and it's for english, yes...blah blah blah blah...
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