"Another experience that comes to mind happened a few years ago on set in Los Angeles. The shoot lasted four days and was a porn version of the popular TV show “Survivor.” Every day a few of the boys would get kicked off. One of the boys had just turned 18 and had recently run away from home because his parents were really conservative. He was struggling to pay rent so he got into porn. The “Survivor” thing was his first shoot and the director wanted him to bottom, but not just for anyone; the director specifically made him bottom for a guy with a 12-inch dick that was also really thick. When the boy’s scene finally came up, everyone was watching because no one believed he could take it. But he did. The kid took the dick for like four minutes and then a huge pool of blood shot out of his ass. He was kicked off the show that weekend. He was paid but he didn’t make as much as the rest of us who had “survived” the whole thing."
Sometimes I wonder what constitutes important and meritous reading, and what constitutes frivolous, needless literature. Clearly, everyone has different tastes in what they read, but there is generally some measure of concensus in what is not only an entertaining and 'good' read, but also an enriching read. For example, many philosophers over the existance of the written word have discussed Tragedy. Since the times of Sophocles' works being analyzed by Plato, Aristotle and Socrates, to more recent Tragedies by Shakespeare and contempories, and more recent analyses by Nietzsche, Shopenhauer and Voltaire. These great thinkers, agreed by most to be the building blocks of much of how we now think, deigned to spend a good deal of their mental powers on the topic of this one for of literature (or more accurately, storytelling). Therefore, does this mean that Tragedy is by definition a genre above others, more important to the development and apreciation of the human condition?
I do not agree with this. It is a personal bias. I do not enjoy the melodrama, or the rarely veiled moral lessons of either Sophocles or Shakespeare's work. And according to many of these great thinkers, these are inextricable and important to the Tragedy. Certainly, good tales are told in these stories, but the method that is used to tell them, which is often cited as inseperable from and essential to the genre, is outmoded. The straightforwardness of the moral message is too plain, and the ploys to tug at the reader's heartstrings too blunt for a worldly audience. Little thinking, little examination is required to understand the true meanings behind most classical Tragedy.
This isn't meant to promote another medium or genre of material, but to knock Tragedy down from a pedestal. Some people enjoy celebrity tabloids, or blogs, or pulp fiction novels, or etc. Certainly some things are more important to the world stage, reading the World News section of the newspaper is typically going to make you more aware of the world in which you live than the Sports or Entertainment sections, but who is to say a review of the most recent album from your favourite band isn't as important as a report from the newest warzone? You are much more likely to be affected by the exploits of your heroes than that of a president half a world away.
The impetus for this essay was a link from Warren Ellis' blog. It was an article from the Sanfrancisco Guardian's Sex Positive Blog. (http://www.sfbg.com/blogs/sexsf/2009/02/embedded_the_boy_next_door_1.html) The posting was very interesting, and I followed it to other blog posts on other topics I found interested, such as a history and compilation of AltPorn, both a topic and a medium that is near and dear to my heart. And the question arose in my mind. Is reading this interview with a man who runs a altporn site as effective a use of my time as, say, reading Sophocles, Socrates or Shopenhauer? Certainly, it's much easier and generally more entertaining to read the article, as it is written in a language I'm more familliar with, and on a topic that is of interest to me. But how much am I missing out on by not cracking open a book penned by one of history's greatest minds.
Ignoring the fact that doing something you enjoy is almost always easier than doing something you don't enjoy, I believe that reading the article is just as good a use of my time, if not better. Learning more about the history of my favourite music, how it came about, how it was written, recorded, what its results were, and so on, affects me much more than a discussion on the efficacy and relevance of Tragedy. But beyond that, it's more relevant to my life, and life around me. Certainly, much of modern media borrows and could not exist without the foundation that was built before it, but the world around us is a different place, as is the media within it.
I suppose that the final point that I am trying to make, is that knowledge, all knowledge, has value, if it interests you, and it is relevant to the world around you. It is neccessary to be educated on how to think to be able to think for oneself, and it is neccessary to know what others think to know what your own opinions should be, lest they be from ignorance.
CannibalChris - "I am not a terroist threat. If I have to take down this whole building to make my point, I will!" says:
During a typical Muslim hajj, it is customary to give alms, or charity, to the poor. During his hajj to Mecca, Musa gave so much gold that the price of gold went down significantly across the entire Africa-Eurasia World. It is estimated that he gave away 30,000 pounds of gold, just during his stay in Mecca, not counting the silks and other luxuries that he gave as well.
Jeremy - "You killed me!" "Good!" says:
okay...
CannibalChris - "I am not a terroist threat. If I have to take down this whole building to make my point, I will!" says:
Dont you wish you were that rich?
Jeremy - "You killed me!" "Good!" says:
how did he carry 30000 pounds of gold with him?
CannibalChris - "I am not a terroist threat. If I have to take down this whole building to make my point, I will!" says:
He paid people to carry it for him
he was just that fucking rich
Jeremy - "You killed me!" "Good!" says:
well...that doesnt really count as giving it away
CannibalChris - "I am not a terroist threat. If I have to take down this whole building to make my point, I will!" says:
It was his gold
Jeremy - "You killed me!" "Good!" says:
well, it was more like employing thme
CannibalChris - "I am not a terroist threat. If I have to take down this whole building to make my point, I will!" says:
yeah, he paid people to carry gold so he could give it to others
Jeremy - "You killed me!" "Good!" says:
okay....
and whats the point of all this?
CannibalChris - "I am not a terroist threat. If I have to take down this whole building to make my point, I will!" says:
Dont you wish you were that rich?
Jeremy - "You killed me!" "Good!" says:
i guess i could use 30000 pounds of gold...
would mildly fill my room though....
CannibalChris - "I am not a terroist threat. If I have to take down this whole building to make my point, I will!" says:
You could spend like 1 pound of it on a storage space for the other 29999 pounds
Jeremy - "You killed me!" "Good!" says:
it would be worth like... $288,000,000
CannibalChris - "I am not a terroist threat. If I have to take down this whole building to make my point, I will!" says:
the 29999 pounds?
Jeremy - "You killed me!" "Good!" says:
no, the 30000
CannibalChris - "I am not a terroist threat. If I have to take down this whole building to make my point, I will!" says:
oh
thats good too
Jeremy - "You killed me!" "Good!" says:
go to fort knox... "guess what i have more of than you"
CannibalChris - "I am not a terroist threat. If I have to take down this whole building to make my point, I will!" says:
hahaha
Jeremy - "You killed me!" "Good!" says:
"Uhh...bad hair?" "close...the answer was gold" "How was that close?!"
CannibalChris - "I am not a terroist threat. If I have to take down this whole building to make my point, I will!" says:
Now to set off a nuke in your fort, ruining all your gold, and making mine even more valuble. You guys dont have James Bond around here anywhere, do you?
Jeremy - "You killed me!" "Good!" says:
oh. he's right over there
CannibalChris - "I am not a terroist threat. If I have to take down this whole building to make my point, I will!" says:
well...um...can you ask him to go on lunch?
Jeremy - "You killed me!" "Good!" says:
oh... uhh.... no....
CannibalChris - "I am not a terroist threat. If I have to take down this whole building to make my point, I will!" says:
oh...well, do you know when he gets off? Because the last time someone tried this, that guy really made a mess of it
Jeremy - "You killed me!" "Good!" says:
umm, something like 2024?
CannibalChris - "I am not a terroist threat. If I have to take down this whole building to make my point, I will!" says:
Fiiiiiiiiine
Jeremy - "You killed me!" "Good!" says:
thats his next scheduled break
and then he's just gets a 15 minute coffee break
CannibalChris - "I am not a terroist threat. If I have to take down this whole building to make my point, I will!" says:
What a workaholic
Jeremy - "You killed me!" "Good!" says:
yeah. he'll do that though....guess it evens out with how much of an alcoholic he is
Turns out I passed my Bartending course with an 86%, which I think is the same thing I passed the last one with. Kinda coincidental. Also, I was top of the class last time, but not this time. I don't know which school thats more indicitive of.
I've got good news, and bad news! The good news is we're going to systematically murder each and every one of you, and turn you into merchandise. You're wearing last night's audiance! The bad news is that we're going to play some more shitty music while we systematically murder you - *play song*
Why am I dressed this way? Who dressed me? Why do I look like this. I want...I want to look like you! Give me your clothes! Give me your clothes! Give me your clothes! *Crowd procedes to throw bras, tops, dresses, a tiara, etc. on stage* Why...? Why did you dress me like Amy Winehouse?! Ill smoke all the crack you want!
*After playing Faggot* Lets face it. I could have murdered that song, and as long as I hit the high note at the end, you'd all still want to fuck me. "I've been denied blah blah faggot... Aaaaaaa." "Hmm, suddenly he isnt a skinny crackhead anymore. He's much more attractive now."
Ok, you know what happens now. This is where an encore should be. But we abolished them in America. I made them illegal. You know what normally happens. The band waves and puts down their insturments, and the lights turn off, and you think the band is backstage, but they're really just over here *stands offstage* doing coke and fucking a little hooker. Then the audience starts chanting something stupid like "msi...msi..." and after like 5 minutes the band comes out and looks at the audience like they're shocked. Well, you know what encore means in french-canadian. It means you're retarded. *Jimmy Urine starts to do a cabaret dance to a recording of Theres No Business Like Show Business from Annie Get Your Gun as the other members leave, house lights/music turn on*
I had my final exam yesterday, I think I aced it, despite only remembering it existed a few hours prior, and thus, I didn't study at all. Not that I would have studdied, I'm just saying.
One thing that stood out in the exam was a poem called Neutral Tones by Thomas Hardy. It really spoke to me, and i found it very evocative, which helped me write about it. I figured I'd post it here. I see some good lyrical inspiration in there (aka theft)
We stood by a pond that winter day, And the sun was white, as though chidden of God, And a few leaves lay on the starving sod, —They had fallen from an ash, and were gray.
Your eyes on me were as eyes that rove Over tedious riddles solved years ago; And some words played between us to and fro— On which lost the more by our love.
The smile on your mouth was the deadest thing Alive enough to have strength to die; And a grin of bitterness swept thereby Like an ominous bird a-wing….
Since then, keen lessons that love deceives, And wrings with wrong, have shaped to me Your face, and the God-curst sun, and a tree, And a pond edged with grayish leaves.
Only need to watch the first minute or so, here's an explanation of what happened.
Its a Polish tier 1 league game, and the team on the right has their goalie pulled for an extra attacker, but they take a penalty. In response, the goalie for the team on the left rushes out of the net (typically this occurs when your opponent takes a penalty to give you an advantage until they touch the puck). However, in this case, the goalie saw a 1 on 1 rush develop, and decided to help out. He skated with the forward, and recieved the pass on the 2 on 1. He then proceded to put it into the empty net for the most amazing goal that will ever occur. Sadly, it did not count, and in fact, for leaving his end of the ice, the goalie was assessed a penalty, as can be seen with the penalty shot he saves at the end.
Watching this video stirred something up in me, a serious of thoughts that has been burried for god knows how long, but I know they've been there for a while, without me conciously thinking about them, until this moment.
As irrational as it may seem, is it not entirely possible that the best times of several mediums are behind us? I mean, there will always be good books written. Since before the bible to the current day, there have been provocative, intelligent, thoughtfully crafted works of fiction. So I doubt that the 'Golden age' of books, cinema, or theatrics is come and gone, or will ever exist.
However, two prominent mediums do seem in something of...perhaps not a downward spiral, but likely never to reclaim what they once had.
Music, specifically Alternative Music (the Alan Cross book on tape played no small part in this epiphany), seems, more than anything, to be in a rut. Alt bands don't enjoy the market share or the press buzz they once had (102.1 the edge, for example, has about 1/5 the market share it had in the 80's). More technically talented, polished acts are coming every day, but none of them are capturing attention like bands from the 70's-90's did, and I think there are two reasons for this.
One is a lack of the old rock mentality. Way back when, it wasnt uncommon for your favourite band to be full of drug addled wildmen, drunk or high or both on stage, acting wildly, getting arrested during their off time. This generally made for some interesting music and interesting live performances. These days, with excessive publicity and examination of the lifestyles of the people who entertain us, theres sadly no way that our current generation could get away with the shenanigans that older acts made famous.
The second reason is that there is less ability for inovation today. During the late 70's, technical ability and electronic music tricks were all the rage, allowing musicians to do amazing new things. And some people thought this was getting away from the original intent of rock, making the music seem too professional and soulless. So they rebelled, and made loud, angry and rough music. But now THAT has been done to death too! There's nowhere to go, nowhere to take this genre of music, except into other genres (which is what the majority of noteworthy current acts do (RHCP, NIN, Radiohead)).
The second media who's best years may (and this seems a bigger issue of preference than the first one) be behind it, is Video Games.
Now, undoubtably, graphics, music, physics, and other technical aspects of gaming are vastly superior today than to 10 years ago. And gaming is becoming more popular every day. But I would argue that games are worse today than 10 years ago.
Lets start just by looking at IGN's most recent "Top 10 games of all time" (actually its top 100, but Im taking the top 10) list.
Resident Evil 4 (2005), Final Fantasy 6 (1994), Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1992), Super Metroid (1994), Half Life 2 (2004), Super Mario 64 (1996), Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998), Civilization 2 (1996), Tetris (1989), Super Mario Bros. (1985).
All but two games were made before 1999, and the top 2 games were made before 1990. The two recent games are on this list primarily due to their technology, HL2 Having an incredibly advanced Physics system, and RE4 having the best graphics on the system, and improved camera over previous RE games.
Perhaps it is because so much innovation has already been done, but fewer and fewer compelling games are coming out. Final Fantasy 12 is inferior to 10, and it to previous FFs. The Burning Crusade is from a storytelling point much worse, some would even say insultingly worse than the original World of Warcraft. Is Super Mario Galaxy even close to as fun as Super Mario Bros? Only a rare few games, such as HL2 and its episodes, can continue to be as compelling again and again.
In both mediums, so much has already been done, it gives me worry for the future of both these things, as I enjoy both greatly. I could well be wrong, and something groundbreaking could be right around the corner. Or, this could be the tip of the iceberg in a pool of stagnation.
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