The first thing we nee dot establish, are we imitating them as writers, are we going to imitate them in public, or just over the Internet?
Let’s see I guess there’s only one author I could see myself posing at, no wait (takes a sip of beer), there’s at least two, I think. First I think Mark Twain, or Samuel Clemens would be a blast. I get to write about America and be old and cranky. I could spend time in the south. I just really like most of the things he’s written and most everyone in America has read at least a part of a book by him, and since he’s dead, I think imitating him would be pretty easy. Just get my pipe, some scotch on the rocks, and wear a nice white suit with a monocle, I could pull this off, even in public, maybe.
Besides Mark Twain I could pose as Stephen King. Let’s see he’s been writing horror and fantasy books for at least the last 20 years or so. The plots and monsters in his books have started to slide downhill a bit. I’m sure I could come up with something like his that would be pretty authentic. There’s even an episode of “Family Guy” that makes fun of him, as he pitches the next idea of his book to his publisher. It’s about a lamp monster and the publisher just tells Stephen King that’s he no longer trying is he. So I’m sure I could write as bad as he does. And since I wear glasses and have dark hair this one would be easy in public as well.
And who can forget Ernest Hemingway, a drunk by nature. I’m almost sure he wrote most of his stories while inebriated, now that would be a fun way to write. Just toss back some booze and beers and start writing, and since you’ll be so drunk at the time, no one will be able to read what you wrote not even yourself. Let’s see I would have to work on my classical English a bit, look up some hunting information in the 19th century, but I think I could pull off a decent imitation of him, maybe on the Internet.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
Persepolis, movie vs graphic novel
It's long post beware, ditch the 6 pack and go for the 18!
Persepolis
I went and saw Persepolis at the Kenworthy Theater in Moscow, on Friday. I was one of the only ones in the theater and I’m almost certain I was the guy by myself from WSU. Well the film was similar to the graphic novel, but almost right away there were some noticeable differences. I felt the graphic novel focused on the happiness in the times of tragedy, while the film seemed to focus on nothing but tragedy after tragedy, whether it was the revolution, Satrapi leaving, or other tragic incidents that took place.
As the film opened I noticed two differences right away. The beginning was in color versus the graphic novel we read was all in black and white. All the voice acting was in French with English subtitles while, what we read was in English. Also the film opened with Satrapi being a young woman returning to Iran. Furthermore in the beginning of the film, we see some of Satrapi as a little girl and her visits with her uncle and the talk of her becoming a prophet, but this moves rapidly away versus the graphic novel which focused on her growing up as a whole and the idea of becoming a prophet is emphasized a lot more.
The biggest difference between the film and the graphic novel was after about halfway through the film, the film moved away from what we had read as Persepolis and in the 2nd graphic novel which was about the time Satrapi spent in Europe drifting from place to place trying to find herself. She fell in love, got her heart broke at least 2 times, became a beautiful women, but she felt guilty. She felt guilty because here she was enjoying life in Europe while her family and friends were suffering in Iran under the new government and the war with Iraq. Eventually she returns to Iran and gets married and it seems that things will work out despite a divorce and her depression.
But the first part of the film I felt highlighted some of the important issues the graphic novel covered. There were plenty of scenes in the film about the oppression of the Iranian people under the Shah, which was oddly portrayed in the film as a miniature satire/play with mocking puppets of the Shah and the western powers. There was also a lot about the actual rebellion portrayed in the film such as the overthrow of the government, the protesting, and the drastic changes Iran underwent. There was a slow over emphasized bit about her Uncle Anoosh in the film meeting her, getting imprisoned following the revolution, and then being executed. With her uncle, the film focused heavily on this while the graphic novel moved away from this.
Two parts of the graphic novel I remember fondly were when her parents visited Turkey and brought back the posters, this was missing from the film. Another part from the comic that was missing in the film was when her and her friends follow the non-conformist guys to a street where teenagers can hang out and act like normal teenagers. But the film did make use of Satrapi' s love of Iron Maiden repeatedly, including when she went down and bought the tape and being confronted by those who worked for the Shah about her style of dress, and her jacket, which read, “Punk is not Ded.” Also the film showed Satrapi rocking out multiple times to Iron Maiden in her room and in the living room, something I felt the graphic novel semi-ignored.
Other parts of the film that tied directly into the graphic novel included when Satrapi stands up against her teacher. In the film her parents get the phone call after her uprising at school but the film doesn’t talk about how she had to transfer schools. The other two issues, which were portrayed extensively, were when the Iranian government was handing young boys keys and telling them they would die as martyrs while virgins and gold awaited them in heaven. Furthermore the secret party lifestyle resulting from the Iranian government crack down was over exaggerated. Just like the novel, everyone has to keep things a secret and in the film. Satrapi and her family get pulled over and they have to run home after being followed by the guards to dispose of all the booze.
Overall there were a few parts of the film and the graphic novel, which received the same amount of attention. These included Satrapi’s rebellion, the changes in the Iranian government, and how she grew up in the process. Now, if we had read the second part of Persepolis we might have seen more similarities.
The question here is, why were some parts of the film different? Well primarily there is only a limited time frame for a film and some of the issues the director and/or the producer may have felt were redundant. For example, the parts about her getting into Iron Maiden, including the posters, the director may have felt it was repetitive and not crucial to the story. Whereas the parts about her uncle and her family going to these illegal parties were stressed because one of the important themes to the novel I felt was the importance of family, and their support of each other in the time of hardship. Also from my perspective it felt as the director and the film producer wanted to focus on her growing up, her relationship with her family, and the conflict in Iran. Why? Well conflict and war intertwined with struggle make interesting films that sell well to the masses even if they have never heard of the graphic novel.
If I were the director I would have used more of the first novel, and less of the second. I would have kept it in black and white and started the film with her growing up. I would have used less of her parents and showed more of the ways she was rebelling against the oppressive Iranian culture.
Persepolis
I went and saw Persepolis at the Kenworthy Theater in Moscow, on Friday. I was one of the only ones in the theater and I’m almost certain I was the guy by myself from WSU. Well the film was similar to the graphic novel, but almost right away there were some noticeable differences. I felt the graphic novel focused on the happiness in the times of tragedy, while the film seemed to focus on nothing but tragedy after tragedy, whether it was the revolution, Satrapi leaving, or other tragic incidents that took place.
As the film opened I noticed two differences right away. The beginning was in color versus the graphic novel we read was all in black and white. All the voice acting was in French with English subtitles while, what we read was in English. Also the film opened with Satrapi being a young woman returning to Iran. Furthermore in the beginning of the film, we see some of Satrapi as a little girl and her visits with her uncle and the talk of her becoming a prophet, but this moves rapidly away versus the graphic novel which focused on her growing up as a whole and the idea of becoming a prophet is emphasized a lot more.
The biggest difference between the film and the graphic novel was after about halfway through the film, the film moved away from what we had read as Persepolis and in the 2nd graphic novel which was about the time Satrapi spent in Europe drifting from place to place trying to find herself. She fell in love, got her heart broke at least 2 times, became a beautiful women, but she felt guilty. She felt guilty because here she was enjoying life in Europe while her family and friends were suffering in Iran under the new government and the war with Iraq. Eventually she returns to Iran and gets married and it seems that things will work out despite a divorce and her depression.
But the first part of the film I felt highlighted some of the important issues the graphic novel covered. There were plenty of scenes in the film about the oppression of the Iranian people under the Shah, which was oddly portrayed in the film as a miniature satire/play with mocking puppets of the Shah and the western powers. There was also a lot about the actual rebellion portrayed in the film such as the overthrow of the government, the protesting, and the drastic changes Iran underwent. There was a slow over emphasized bit about her Uncle Anoosh in the film meeting her, getting imprisoned following the revolution, and then being executed. With her uncle, the film focused heavily on this while the graphic novel moved away from this.
Two parts of the graphic novel I remember fondly were when her parents visited Turkey and brought back the posters, this was missing from the film. Another part from the comic that was missing in the film was when her and her friends follow the non-conformist guys to a street where teenagers can hang out and act like normal teenagers. But the film did make use of Satrapi' s love of Iron Maiden repeatedly, including when she went down and bought the tape and being confronted by those who worked for the Shah about her style of dress, and her jacket, which read, “Punk is not Ded.” Also the film showed Satrapi rocking out multiple times to Iron Maiden in her room and in the living room, something I felt the graphic novel semi-ignored.
Other parts of the film that tied directly into the graphic novel included when Satrapi stands up against her teacher. In the film her parents get the phone call after her uprising at school but the film doesn’t talk about how she had to transfer schools. The other two issues, which were portrayed extensively, were when the Iranian government was handing young boys keys and telling them they would die as martyrs while virgins and gold awaited them in heaven. Furthermore the secret party lifestyle resulting from the Iranian government crack down was over exaggerated. Just like the novel, everyone has to keep things a secret and in the film. Satrapi and her family get pulled over and they have to run home after being followed by the guards to dispose of all the booze.
Overall there were a few parts of the film and the graphic novel, which received the same amount of attention. These included Satrapi’s rebellion, the changes in the Iranian government, and how she grew up in the process. Now, if we had read the second part of Persepolis we might have seen more similarities.
The question here is, why were some parts of the film different? Well primarily there is only a limited time frame for a film and some of the issues the director and/or the producer may have felt were redundant. For example, the parts about her getting into Iron Maiden, including the posters, the director may have felt it was repetitive and not crucial to the story. Whereas the parts about her uncle and her family going to these illegal parties were stressed because one of the important themes to the novel I felt was the importance of family, and their support of each other in the time of hardship. Also from my perspective it felt as the director and the film producer wanted to focus on her growing up, her relationship with her family, and the conflict in Iran. Why? Well conflict and war intertwined with struggle make interesting films that sell well to the masses even if they have never heard of the graphic novel.
If I were the director I would have used more of the first novel, and less of the second. I would have kept it in black and white and started the film with her growing up. I would have used less of her parents and showed more of the ways she was rebelling against the oppressive Iranian culture.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Chuck Palahniuk
I liked reading Chuck Palahniuk’s stuff it was interesting and straightforward. No holds barred for anyone or anything. Kinda of when someone gets drunk at the bar and tells that girl next to the door what they really think of her. I thought to myself, okay I could read some more of this guy. To the bookstore! Or better yet just ask Brian (Carney) if he has any of his stuff and would loan it to me. He does, but once again he forgets it at his house in Spokane.
Then we watched the clip of him. And I thought, “Wow, not only is he trying to promote himself, he seems like a tool.” I wouldn’t pay to see him; I might go to one of his readings if there was free refreshments or free beer.
As for the feeling of the need to prove yourself, that was something we talked about in class. As a writer you need to be new, or something different, or well I can’t remember the last option. If as a writer if you are not new or different you end up being on the shelf in grocery stores falling under the genre of crap. By that I mean the genre of generic horror, thrillers, romance, sex and the city chick lit, Tom Clancy-ish , all books which have been done over and over again.
I’ll sit there in the store buying my six pack of Coors, wondering if it will get me drunk enough and stare at the covers of these books designed to sucker people into buying them based solely on their artwork. I’ll also be wondering why anyone would buy them and low and behold, a middle-aged housewife comes up and gets a romance novel for herself and a Tom Clancy for her husband.
In other words Chuck is new and falls under the category of transgressive fiction. He looks at sex, crime, drugs and rock and roll. Out the door is everything he or we knows about conventional fiction. He is new and different, and doesn’t deserve a place next to crappy fiction and he is proving himself by doing something different.
Then we watched the clip of him. And I thought, “Wow, not only is he trying to promote himself, he seems like a tool.” I wouldn’t pay to see him; I might go to one of his readings if there was free refreshments or free beer.
As for the feeling of the need to prove yourself, that was something we talked about in class. As a writer you need to be new, or something different, or well I can’t remember the last option. If as a writer if you are not new or different you end up being on the shelf in grocery stores falling under the genre of crap. By that I mean the genre of generic horror, thrillers, romance, sex and the city chick lit, Tom Clancy-ish , all books which have been done over and over again.
I’ll sit there in the store buying my six pack of Coors, wondering if it will get me drunk enough and stare at the covers of these books designed to sucker people into buying them based solely on their artwork. I’ll also be wondering why anyone would buy them and low and behold, a middle-aged housewife comes up and gets a romance novel for herself and a Tom Clancy for her husband.
In other words Chuck is new and falls under the category of transgressive fiction. He looks at sex, crime, drugs and rock and roll. Out the door is everything he or we knows about conventional fiction. He is new and different, and doesn’t deserve a place next to crappy fiction and he is proving himself by doing something different.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Time Travel
Well let’s go off the theory of Timecop that no two beings can occupy the same space. So what would I do, most of this would be for fun.
First off a quick hope to about 2001 where I'd kick my own ass for dating that one girl in high school and for some other unmentionables that I did. Maybe a jump back to 1985 so I could actually remember meeting my Grandfather before he died. Then a quick jump to 2015 to find an Almanac then a quick jump back to the present to invest in the right stocks.
Now taking this out of context and theorizing I can jump back further. Here's my list!!
1.I would go back to the late 60s and kick Nixon in the balls. Why you might ask? Well let's see I would tell him he gets two options, he can leave Vietnam alone or he can do it the right way per say one of his drunken rants to Kissinger. "Nuke the damn thing." Would have saved us a lot of trouble and effort.
2. Next up, jump forward and kick President Ford in the balls for sucking so much while he was president. Next up, kicking Jimmy Carter's ass and telling him the Iran-Contra affair was a waste of time. And tell him to lower the gas prices that America was facing in the 70s. (Can you tell I'm a history major?)
3. Next up Regan, I'd make sure he only gets one term in office b/c of Alzheimer’s. Then I'd tell him to quit the Cold War and that his "star wars" program a giant laser in space is the dumbest idea since Nixon. Also stay the F*** out of Afghanistan you dumbass that's only going to create more problems later
4. And the last two presidents that need an overhaul. Well Mr. Clinton you're next. If you're going to get on an Intern make sure she's hot, and when push comes to shove as Chris Rock says blame it on Hilary, you know that is was her fault. Also don't lie to the American people and stay the hell out of Somalia (waste of time). And maybe you can nuke France, no one likes them anyways.
And George W., well I'd just make sure he dies in the midst of his own vomit during a beer bong at his fraternity during a party at Yale.
I guess ball kicking wouldn't be enough, I really don't want to kill them as some may do if they went back in time. Honestly you kill someone and another takes his place, this one with more problems. So a quick kick in the ass should set some of these guys straight.
First off a quick hope to about 2001 where I'd kick my own ass for dating that one girl in high school and for some other unmentionables that I did. Maybe a jump back to 1985 so I could actually remember meeting my Grandfather before he died. Then a quick jump to 2015 to find an Almanac then a quick jump back to the present to invest in the right stocks.
Now taking this out of context and theorizing I can jump back further. Here's my list!!
1.I would go back to the late 60s and kick Nixon in the balls. Why you might ask? Well let's see I would tell him he gets two options, he can leave Vietnam alone or he can do it the right way per say one of his drunken rants to Kissinger. "Nuke the damn thing." Would have saved us a lot of trouble and effort.
2. Next up, jump forward and kick President Ford in the balls for sucking so much while he was president. Next up, kicking Jimmy Carter's ass and telling him the Iran-Contra affair was a waste of time. And tell him to lower the gas prices that America was facing in the 70s. (Can you tell I'm a history major?)
3. Next up Regan, I'd make sure he only gets one term in office b/c of Alzheimer’s. Then I'd tell him to quit the Cold War and that his "star wars" program a giant laser in space is the dumbest idea since Nixon. Also stay the F*** out of Afghanistan you dumbass that's only going to create more problems later
4. And the last two presidents that need an overhaul. Well Mr. Clinton you're next. If you're going to get on an Intern make sure she's hot, and when push comes to shove as Chris Rock says blame it on Hilary, you know that is was her fault. Also don't lie to the American people and stay the hell out of Somalia (waste of time). And maybe you can nuke France, no one likes them anyways.
And George W., well I'd just make sure he dies in the midst of his own vomit during a beer bong at his fraternity during a party at Yale.
I guess ball kicking wouldn't be enough, I really don't want to kill them as some may do if they went back in time. Honestly you kill someone and another takes his place, this one with more problems. So a quick kick in the ass should set some of these guys straight.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Spring Break an excuse to drink...err read?
Yes its true while many of my classmates and fraternity brothers are out enjoying the sun and the beach, I traveled back to good old Vancouver. Or as I like to call it my parents house-were-only- expensive-shitty-beer-is-drank-and-all- my-friends-have-got-the-hell-out-of-this-town. Options for the week, looking up a few old friends who might be still around, work on my midterm, or hang with minors who cannot drink. I decided to catch up on my reading and try to finish my midterm, start my creative writing final and take care of some freebie sites (more info here free)
Enough of my whining, after a 6 hr long car ride back to here I'm not excited. Well books for this week include, Time Travelers Wife, Peter Chilson's-Disturbance Loving Species, Pledged (a book for my final project), and Broken Pledges (another novel for my final). So in light of this week I have a few books to tackle. Most of them are not what I would read on a regular basis but oh well its something to do.
So why do I read a lot, I used to read a lot for knowledge to learn how things work or to understand things. I used to read everything I could get my hands on, manuals, guides, magazines, playboy, and comics. Lately I've preferred to read for enjoyment, since for some reason as college has progressed it seems to be more of a chore. I try to enjoy simple books, not really, just nothing that has to do with school so I can let my imagination drift away.
However, I used to read way more in middle school and part of high school but as I progressed to college, many of my books stayed behind so the last 5 summers (yes I've been in school 6 years, okay, beer break, should make me feel better), I've been sorting through my books, giving them away and selling them. Simply I just don't feel that I have enough time to read these days but I'm hoping that changes after this summer. They say you are never to old to read or something like that. Maybe its you're never to old to learn something new?!
Enough of my whining, after a 6 hr long car ride back to here I'm not excited. Well books for this week include, Time Travelers Wife, Peter Chilson's-Disturbance Loving Species, Pledged (a book for my final project), and Broken Pledges (another novel for my final). So in light of this week I have a few books to tackle. Most of them are not what I would read on a regular basis but oh well its something to do.
So why do I read a lot, I used to read a lot for knowledge to learn how things work or to understand things. I used to read everything I could get my hands on, manuals, guides, magazines, playboy, and comics. Lately I've preferred to read for enjoyment, since for some reason as college has progressed it seems to be more of a chore. I try to enjoy simple books, not really, just nothing that has to do with school so I can let my imagination drift away.
However, I used to read way more in middle school and part of high school but as I progressed to college, many of my books stayed behind so the last 5 summers (yes I've been in school 6 years, okay, beer break, should make me feel better), I've been sorting through my books, giving them away and selling them. Simply I just don't feel that I have enough time to read these days but I'm hoping that changes after this summer. They say you are never to old to read or something like that. Maybe its you're never to old to learn something new?!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
9/11 and where I was, or where I should have been
9/11 most of us were in middle schooler or younger and we were confused when the two towers fell. In preparation for this story its noted you might want a stiff drink, skip the Mai Tai or the Wiskey and coke. Go with a Gin and Tonic or a Long Island, or better yet fuck all those and crack a beer. As I was saying on 9/11/2001 I was in the bathroom getting ready for my senior year of high school hoping we didn't have a pop quiz and that I could get a date for this weekend. Or I could just stay at home and play video games until my eyes melted.
Well my mom came into my room and yelled "Erik Logan Kubik get your ass out here!" Well it was something like that. I ran into the den where the news was on. The first tower was belching smoke like crazy and I watched it fall.
After I drove to school and headed to class, I remember the building being eerie silent. There as no laughter or loud talking. In every class we talked about what was going on and what this meant.
I remember I was angry, as were some of my friends. We wanted to know who was responsible and when we found out we wanted them to suffer the worst way. Hell, I wanted all of them to be nuked with biological weapons and to die a horrible slow death. I'm sure I said some nasty slang toward who did this. Many of my friends who were seniors that year enlisted, they wanted to go to battle with the enemies of the U.S. The president painted a picture of what must be done and we cheered him on. Only to find ourselves stuck in a giant litter box half a world away.
At first I was angry and sad, then I was happy we were going after them, now I could care lees with all the mess we've gotten ourselves in. Since we are too busy over there to focus on issues in our own country. Next time just bomb the hell out of it like we should have done in 'Nam.
And on a side note one song for the blog
Story of the Year-We don't care anymore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRQAVW3_4To
Also keep your eyes open on my other blog if you will (free stuff for nothing)
http://freestuff4nothing.blogspot.com/
Well my mom came into my room and yelled "Erik Logan Kubik get your ass out here!" Well it was something like that. I ran into the den where the news was on. The first tower was belching smoke like crazy and I watched it fall.
After I drove to school and headed to class, I remember the building being eerie silent. There as no laughter or loud talking. In every class we talked about what was going on and what this meant.
I remember I was angry, as were some of my friends. We wanted to know who was responsible and when we found out we wanted them to suffer the worst way. Hell, I wanted all of them to be nuked with biological weapons and to die a horrible slow death. I'm sure I said some nasty slang toward who did this. Many of my friends who were seniors that year enlisted, they wanted to go to battle with the enemies of the U.S. The president painted a picture of what must be done and we cheered him on. Only to find ourselves stuck in a giant litter box half a world away.
At first I was angry and sad, then I was happy we were going after them, now I could care lees with all the mess we've gotten ourselves in. Since we are too busy over there to focus on issues in our own country. Next time just bomb the hell out of it like we should have done in 'Nam.
And on a side note one song for the blog
Story of the Year-We don't care anymore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRQAVW3_4To
Also keep your eyes open on my other blog if you will (free stuff for nothing)
http://freestuff4nothing.blogspot.com/
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Comics vs literature or as I liked to say boring vs fun
Well can Comics be considered literature? I feel that comics with their pictures, graphics, and doodles could be literature. Dictionary.com says literature is "..writings in which expression and form, in connection with ideas of permanent and universal interest, are characteristic or essential features, as poetry, novels, history, biography, and essays.."
So comics have writing in them, there is expression and form to the writing and to the art. I guess some of them could be considered essays or novels in an unconventional sense. There are some universal characteristics. Hell most kids know who Superman and Batman are, well at least kids in the modern world. I'm sure the Communist countries of the last-half century had comics glorifying their leaders and bashing the west. Comics share a lot of these features and some of them have very in depth stories.
Now the debate between graphic novels and comics might get nasty. I have a feeling more people would consider graphic novels as literature vs comics. Comics tend to be shorter and run in series. Graphic novels feel like more work has gone into them, and seem to tell a complete story, most of the time, well I guess not always.
What about the idea of entertainment? Most of us are entertained by literature, can't comics do the same on a diffrent level. Some may argue comics are only for kids and are dumbed down. That's not always true sometimes comics and graphic novels deal with real world issues just in a different sense. So I guess what I'm trying to say is I think some comics could be considered literature. If someone made "Crime and Punishment" into a graphic novel I still wouldn't read it, why cause its boring.
Graphic novels that I enjoy Punisher, Walking Dead(black/white art with lots of zombies), Marvel Zombies, and a few more I've forgotten.
Song/video for the blog Stone Temple Pilots- Interstate Love Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGVobPA6b4Q
Also in further debate for next week which is better, Keystone Ice or Keystone Light, both taste bad, cost about the same, but one will make you hit the floor faster. So many choices and so little time.
So comics have writing in them, there is expression and form to the writing and to the art. I guess some of them could be considered essays or novels in an unconventional sense. There are some universal characteristics. Hell most kids know who Superman and Batman are, well at least kids in the modern world. I'm sure the Communist countries of the last-half century had comics glorifying their leaders and bashing the west. Comics share a lot of these features and some of them have very in depth stories.
Now the debate between graphic novels and comics might get nasty. I have a feeling more people would consider graphic novels as literature vs comics. Comics tend to be shorter and run in series. Graphic novels feel like more work has gone into them, and seem to tell a complete story, most of the time, well I guess not always.
What about the idea of entertainment? Most of us are entertained by literature, can't comics do the same on a diffrent level. Some may argue comics are only for kids and are dumbed down. That's not always true sometimes comics and graphic novels deal with real world issues just in a different sense. So I guess what I'm trying to say is I think some comics could be considered literature. If someone made "Crime and Punishment" into a graphic novel I still wouldn't read it, why cause its boring.
Graphic novels that I enjoy Punisher, Walking Dead(black/white art with lots of zombies), Marvel Zombies, and a few more I've forgotten.
Song/video for the blog Stone Temple Pilots- Interstate Love Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGVobPA6b4Q
Also in further debate for next week which is better, Keystone Ice or Keystone Light, both taste bad, cost about the same, but one will make you hit the floor faster. So many choices and so little time.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
My view on Persepolis without a beer
Persepolis is an interesting novel in itself, more like an interesting concept in itself. Take one part coming of age story, one part graphic novel, one part 1984/Stalinist/Maoist regime and toss it in a blender. Results are in, drum roll please, and the blend equals this novel. Could this tale be told without the use of comic book panels and word bubbles, of course. Now would this make it a better story. NO! There are too many books that go into someone's life that have been written without the use of visual aids. Bring on the graphic novel, it makes it easier to read and frankly more fun. We get to see it and read it and not just have our over stimulated brains attempt to fill it with pictures of kittens with guns. (Don’t ask) So the visuals help make or break the story and in this case, delicious thought of beer are overridden with Iranian officials acting as if they belonged in Orwell’s novel 1984.
Her age does affect the story a bit. If this was a 21 year old rehashing events in their life through a graphic novel there would be death lots of explosion and tons of gore, all to distract you away from the story which from an older perspective might seem tired and boring. But told from a pre-teen point of view readers get to see what she wants us to see and how she reacts to everything that is changing in her life. In other words readers get to see her grow
As for Marji being the main character yes. Is this a memoir? Yes most likely, just in a different form then most of us are used to. But I think the story is more about what is happening in Iran then about her life. In some parts it seems a little “Anne Frank-ish.” But the narrator’s life at times is overshadowed by what is going on with the country, or maybe there so intermixed like a good long island that you can’t tell the difference between the story and the flavors of booze. (Thanks goodness ‘cause whoever came up with the taste of gin should be hung from their thumbs and roasted alive).
As for changes in the novel Marji matures, she becomes rebellious to her parents and to the oppressive government. She becomes older, duh, but she also gains a sense of what is going on in the country and how’s it’s having an impact on the rest of the world. Overall it’s a fun read that kept me sober for the most of the time.
Song/video for the day Captain Dan-7 seas
(It's pirate rap!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCO2kBjsuFc
Monday, February 11, 2008
Why Ladies of Grace Adieu"made me want to drink more....
Let's see why I thought this piece sucked. First off I do not consider this piece to be anything close to fantasy, we have the mention of magic and the girls turn into owls. Well how is that interesting where are the epic battles and wizards blasting each other with fireballs, where are the alternate dimensions where dogs and cats talk and act like humans, when in reality they dine of human flesh? Where are the beautiful princesses that need to be rescued by a drunken knight in tarnished armor with a broken sword riding a goat instead of a horse?
If this is fantasy, Tolkien is probably rolling over in his grave, threatening to come back and eat our brains. for reading something that is the furthest thing from fantasy. I couldn't get into the story there was no hook and it felt awkward trying to sympathize with the characters.
So the parts which really sucked the beginning, the middle, and the end. There was little use of magic or mention of magic, the British call their wizards magicians, what the hell does that mean some sort of cheap guy on stage making rabbits pop out of his hat and sawing people in half just
for entertainment, now that's a musician. If they really wanted to escape these men they should have turned them into frogs and tortured them, or better yet blasted them with some cool curse or spell running their lives forever.
The only part I liked is when the turned into owls. But the dialogue would have better better if one of the girls, had turned into a dragon ate or burnt the other two ladies and had the three men for dessert.
Well I'm off too enjoy a few beers and read some fantasy about dragon slaying or gnome killing or dwarf bashing or something like that.
I decided to steal this from Carney Monoxide and post a video/song for the day. It will either fit the subject matter of the blog or just be random as hell.
So here it is Limp Bizkit-"My Way."
I'm out. so enjoy a cold one on me and remember writing this bad only makes you want to drink more.
If this is fantasy, Tolkien is probably rolling over in his grave, threatening to come back and eat our brains. for reading something that is the furthest thing from fantasy. I couldn't get into the story there was no hook and it felt awkward trying to sympathize with the characters.
So the parts which really sucked the beginning, the middle, and the end. There was little use of magic or mention of magic, the British call their wizards magicians, what the hell does that mean some sort of cheap guy on stage making rabbits pop out of his hat and sawing people in half just
for entertainment, now that's a musician. If they really wanted to escape these men they should have turned them into frogs and tortured them, or better yet blasted them with some cool curse or spell running their lives forever.
The only part I liked is when the turned into owls. But the dialogue would have better better if one of the girls, had turned into a dragon ate or burnt the other two ladies and had the three men for dessert.
Well I'm off too enjoy a few beers and read some fantasy about dragon slaying or gnome killing or dwarf bashing or something like that.
I decided to steal this from Carney Monoxide and post a video/song for the day. It will either fit the subject matter of the blog or just be random as hell.
So here it is Limp Bizkit-"My Way."
I'm out. so enjoy a cold one on me and remember writing this bad only makes you want to drink more.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Today assingment's or rather my attempt at them.
Alright, I'll admit I was hungover this morning, I blame my roommate. But here I go with one of the wonderful in class assignments we had. Also I didn't do prompt number 2 but I did 1 and 3.
The first prompt after looking out the window and deciding there wasn't that much to write about in the first place.
1. Student in an orange coat shuffles along the gravel-studded path among displaced red, brick buildings. His staggered steps show his regard for the ice and snow dominating the beaten footpaths. His thoughts are not of his exam in 10 minutes but of his current hangover which plagues him like bad breath making rational thinking impossible.
3rd prompt:
After hearing the news he walked outside. The sun had punched though the black cloud cover warming those who embraced it on this normally gloomy day. The red bricks of the building glistened with the beckoning light, causing it to ripple across the windows of the next to kin structures. I breathe the slightly chilled air feeling the embracing heat from the sun, getting me ready for the rest of my life.
The first prompt after looking out the window and deciding there wasn't that much to write about in the first place.
1. Student in an orange coat shuffles along the gravel-studded path among displaced red, brick buildings. His staggered steps show his regard for the ice and snow dominating the beaten footpaths. His thoughts are not of his exam in 10 minutes but of his current hangover which plagues him like bad breath making rational thinking impossible.
3rd prompt:
After hearing the news he walked outside. The sun had punched though the black cloud cover warming those who embraced it on this normally gloomy day. The red bricks of the building glistened with the beckoning light, causing it to ripple across the windows of the next to kin structures. I breathe the slightly chilled air feeling the embracing heat from the sun, getting me ready for the rest of my life.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Never Let me go and the children
A few questions to look at , Is it ethical to create and raise children to donate their organs?
Why don't the students question what's going on rather than accepting it?
In the way of ethics, well it's a difficult thing. I just finished The Island and the same question was asked. Now the people in the move are clones who are raised to have their organs harvested. They live simple lives with no knowledge of the outside world; all they want to do is work hard and escape to the island. Now what about the children in the book, they have lives sort of. They learn, have relationships, and grow old. They know they are donors.
So is this right or wrong? Is someone playing god here? Technically yes and no, I’m under the impression that lives down the road are going to be saved and no one is complaining. But in the case of myself I don’t really care. Since the children are clones, then I think it’s ethical. It’s sort of like stem cell research, the stem cells are not really living people, they aren’t full grown. If it’s going to better the world somehow, just do it. And for this discussion, I’m not involving GOD or religion because that is a one sided battle that’s just going to piss me off and make me want to drink some beer.
Why don't the students question what's going on rather than accepting it?
Well they have been created for this. This is the only place they know, the only idea they know, and they are kept in isolation. Exposure to the outside world is limited. Young kids are impressionable, so from the very beginning they are brainwashed. They don’t know anything else. I’m sure if one of them gets curios they are shipped out to a new facility or they are killed, maybe eaten.
Why is there so much emphasis on sex?
I don’t know cause the author is a pervert. Maybe sex has to do with free-will and expression. Maybe it can show everyone the clones are people.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Something I'm not proud of....
I sit here, locked away in my study. I refuse to go out, tale any calls. My servant brings my tray of food twice a day and leaves it outside my door. For months no one has known I’ve been here, hiding, tucked away, waiting for my day again. I have done some terrible, so terrible I cannot even bear to mention it.
Angry mobs gathered outside my place of work and at my home. I was called a “Monster.” “A Demon-spawned soul sucker.” Instead of fixing the world, I was only dooming the world as a whole.
What have I brought upon this world? I have brought ruin and destruction to all. Societies will crumble, life, as we know it will case to exist. Families will be divided; turn asunder, never to be the same again. Brothers will be pitted against each other.
And they said the “Great War” was the war to end all wars. They said that was a horror stricken tragedy that the world must never go through again. And here we sit on the brink of another life changing, world transforming even, one that will fill the skies with darkness.
I, Philo Farnsworth have done the worse thing a man could do. I have invented the television, a talking, squawking black box that has replaced the TV. Families no longer eat together. Brothers and Sisters fight over who gets to watch what. Our children are taking things from television that is making them morally corrupt. They are failing at their schoolwork
The world is coming to end, no longer will people of earth have the social skills to meet and greet one another. Our only forms of communication will flow out something with vacuum tubes. Could this get any worse? I peer out of my house looking down into the streets, and wonder what have I done. Oh yes, this did get worse, as soon as Cable TV became readily available for the masses. And the Internet, don’t get me started on that. …
Friday, January 25, 2008
A poem....
Alright I saw a few poems posted so here's mine from a class last semester. And yes its free verse
Heading back
Long winding roads break and weave,
thoughts of what this school year will bring.
Sunny summer days have fallen to autumn nights.
My trunk bulges with gear, clothes and books.
Everything is packed.
My tattered “Wolf pack” sweatshirt dangles
from an over stuffed crate.
Faded signs flash by on the road
“Welcome to NMU, home of the Wolf pack.”
I look out as the pavement zips by.
Wolves have run through
splattering the pavement with painted paws.
The colored paws beckon and point me home.
It’s not far.
College-bound cars rush by, competing for lanes.
Our pack stays steady, weaving in and out.
Scenery evolves, desert hills transform as
tall trees crest the horizon.
The smell of green pines penetrates the nostrils.
The road winds, hills heave up and down.
Anticipation to go home,
like a wolf stalking its prey.
The radio plays a welcomed distraction from the tiring drive.
Suddenly I see the car in front hit the brakes.
They slide left and jerk right.
With a loud bang I slam into their bumper and swerve off and down the incline,
flipping and rolling, splitting bushes.
Crumpled rock meets crumpled metal, bouncing and spinning.
The world heaves,
textbooks fly out of the shattered windows,
My forehead cracks against the steering wheel.
Blood obscures my vision as night comes early.
Like a wolf pack nearing the kill, college bound cars circle their wounded prey.
Waiting.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Poetry...best read drunk or not at all
Since I am a creative writing major someone decided along the way that all creative writing majors should have to take at least one poetry class, which includes reading and writing it. That's a terrible idea, 98.2% of the creative writing majors here are prose, meaning fiction and non-fiction writers. Poetry makes us run in terrot. I mean there are a few poets that I like, Lord Alfred Tennyson and Edgar Allan Poe make my list of decent poets, William Blake's poems may be tough to stomach and understand but the dark over tones make it an interesting read even if I have no idea what's going on. But most of the modern stuff we are forced to read made me want to drown myself in a sea of ice beer, and not good ice beer either, at the time I was drinking Mickey's Ice which tastes like the end of a sewage drain.
Poetry is tough thing to swallow. Sometimes you can never understand what the author wants you to interpret from their writing. Sometimes it's amazing and other times its a jumble of words that makes no sense. Sometimes poetry can amaze you and make you go wow! Other times it will make you want to put a gun to your head in frustration. Been there many times, take that Coleridge and Frost! Just kidding... Poetry can mean whatever you want it to mean whether the author likes it or not. My preference if you are going to make us take poetry classes, make it simple and encourage free verse. Rhyme and Rhythm only bring frustration to the masses.
As for Chapbooks (I had to go look that word up thank you very much), a pocket sized book or a Hallmark card? Well the cards are cheesy, and cranked out by a bunch of Monkeys in an underground cave, then I'll have to take the pocket sized book of poetry known as a chapbook. Also I tend to stay away from the sappy, love sick poems. Ick.
Well its Thursday and I'm off to have a few beers somewhere.
Poetry is tough thing to swallow. Sometimes you can never understand what the author wants you to interpret from their writing. Sometimes it's amazing and other times its a jumble of words that makes no sense. Sometimes poetry can amaze you and make you go wow! Other times it will make you want to put a gun to your head in frustration. Been there many times, take that Coleridge and Frost! Just kidding... Poetry can mean whatever you want it to mean whether the author likes it or not. My preference if you are going to make us take poetry classes, make it simple and encourage free verse. Rhyme and Rhythm only bring frustration to the masses.
As for Chapbooks (I had to go look that word up thank you very much), a pocket sized book or a Hallmark card? Well the cards are cheesy, and cranked out by a bunch of Monkeys in an underground cave, then I'll have to take the pocket sized book of poetry known as a chapbook. Also I tend to stay away from the sappy, love sick poems. Ick.
Well its Thursday and I'm off to have a few beers somewhere.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Drunkey-the drunk ass
Drunkey, was an ass like no other. He could out drink anyone. In fact he was Animal U’s champion beer pong, boat races, and flip cup player. Yet to all who knew him he was a total ass. When little old ladies needed help opening the door or walking down icy stairs, Drunkey would slam the door in their faces or purposely push them down the stairs. At football games when parents brought their kids, Drunkey would purposely drink Tequila until he was near black out level, sit behind the kids and he would braw and heckle the refs. He would swear enough to make a sailor blush.
When he went to class he would sleep in the front row, talk loudly on his cell phone, or yell and laugh at everything the professor would say. At the bars he would push through the lines threatening to fight anyone including the bouncer who stood in his way. And at 6’ 5” at 320 pounds of muscle no one even whimpered. He treated women like they were objects, cheating on his many girlfriends just because he could.
He refused to work, only using his student loans for beer money. He’d spent the last 6 ½ years in college, failing out twice, and he still had three semesters worth of school to finish before he graduated. He was avoiding the real world like a bad bag of oats.
The truth was he was a sad donkey on the inside. He felt that he had failed at life and would never be accepted by anyone. So to mask his feelings of remorse he took drinking to a whole other level. Whether it was Monday or Sunday, 9am or 10 pm, Drunky found someone to share his love and pain with. It could be a bottle of Jack or a 30 pack of Busch Light, whatever made him happy.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
The ideal reading expirence or as some like to call it, what makes reading good...
So the ideal reading experience is what? Or maybe it should be a who or a how?
Many people feel they have to read something because they are told too or because they are forced to. That's not how one should read. The ideal reading experience takes place somewhere where you can be alone with your thoughts, somewhere you can sink into the pages like a feathered bed.
Whether its on the subway heading home after work sharing a few moments with the friend that doesn't judge, the classical novel, or curled up in the corner of the library, hidden in the stacks free from your own distractions. Others find the ideal reading experience to be in other venues such as coffee shops or bookstores. I prefer to read at home either on a couch or in my computer chair. Background noise is fine since I'm usually concentrating on the task at hand.
Time for another cold one...
Friday, January 11, 2008
6 word bio
Well this was a long and painful process to come up with something original and witty. Well here it goes.
A rambling path backtracking to nothing.
Maybe I've just been in school too long.
A rambling path backtracking to nothing.
Maybe I've just been in school too long.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Reading, drinking, and such
So I'll have to admit it seems society has turned us into a army of mindless zombies bent on the tv and the internet. I used to read a lot, especially when I was younger, it was enjoyable and I could read what I wanted.
As I started college I had to read textbooks. And as most college students can agree, textbooks are nothing more then an intricate form of torture designed to further make us dislike certain classes. Not so much in the English department, most of the books I've read are enjoyable, the kind of book one can sit down and finish whereas the other kind of books are met with distaste and distraction. I could read this terrible 300 page book for English or I could drink a beer. One beer turns into several and the book is forgotten. Later on I realize I have a paper concerning the book due tomorrow at 9 am. Drunk reading and writing is not recommended.
As I started college I had to read textbooks. And as most college students can agree, textbooks are nothing more then an intricate form of torture designed to further make us dislike certain classes. Not so much in the English department, most of the books I've read are enjoyable, the kind of book one can sit down and finish whereas the other kind of books are met with distaste and distraction. I could read this terrible 300 page book for English or I could drink a beer. One beer turns into several and the book is forgotten. Later on I realize I have a paper concerning the book due tomorrow at 9 am. Drunk reading and writing is not recommended.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)