If any of you have been following late night talk shows lately, you might have seen some type of stint about a man named Chris Crocker. As I was watching Jimmy Kimmel Live on Youtube yesterday, I came across this very "interesting" character. Chris is a gay man who makes videos about celebrities, his feelings, and his very obvious identity crisis. He is often very real about his feeling on himself, society, and others (albeit oftentimes delusional feelings). Most recently he has come into the popular media limelight with his rant about how the media should leave Brittney Spears alone. In this very popular Youtube video, Chris is seen crying hysterically and shouting profanities at paparazzi. While I am not personally a supporter of Chris' lifestyle and his gay pride, I do find myself sympathizing and seeing his point on some issues. This is one of the beauties of internet celebrity. It can bring down barriers of communication and understanding.
I see Chris as a perfect example of the diversion of public media from major corporations to society in general. The opening of media channels to the everyday person has helped to reshape the American dream and perpetuate the American Idol syndrome throughout our society. Whereas, five years ago, the only way that anyone could be famous was through major media conglomerates, now anyone with a web cam and internet access can become an overnight sensation. We, as a society, are coming to use the internet as our primary source of community, celebrity and news. TV shows are online; News can be found on demand online. Blogs are becoming an increasingly mainstream medium of communication, in some circles replacing objective news in its entirety.
I look on this whole phenomenon with apathy. I don't really think it's a bad thing necessarily. We are becoming more connected in some ways to others in our society. The internet has opened up modes of communication that can allow us to carry on a meaningful relationship with someone 3000 miles away. It has allowed everyone to have a voice and contribute to the betterment of society. At the same time, the internet can be a very bad tool. Internet pornography has become a $4 billion dollar industry, further enslaving many men and even women to it's very accessible alluring attributes. Internet theft is a very large problem, destroying lives for the sake of personal gain.
Overall, I think that the dissemination of power from corporations to society is a good thing. While there is a lot of crap being made by people, it has also served to expose very talented people to the public who would never have a voice otherwise. People, like Chris Crocker.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
Take the 3:10 to Yuma
On Sunday I finally got a chance to see 3:10 to Yuma. This wonderfully made western movie brought to mind the classic John Wayne movies that characterized the American West in my father's day. I was quite surprised as to how true it really was to the genre. Actually, I would be willing to bet money that in ten years it'll be a classic.
One element of the movie that I found especially intriguing, however, was the unique use of a common American myth known as The Value of a Challenge. In this common myth, we find one character who encounters a unique challenge that he must face and overcome. In the end he learns something about himself and others, and comes to understand reality in a new and more full way.
This myth is never more evident than in 3:10 to Yuma. This well done remake of a classic 1950 starts out with a cattle rancher in Arizona in the late 1800's. The railroad is coming into town and he finds himself in debt to a very bad man, with the railroad set to steam right through his property. He goes into town, seeking an extension on his land lease, but instead gets shot down by the evil debt collector for the hundredth time. Little does he know, but he will soon find himself face to face with a man so evil and twisted, but yet so handsome, attractive, and smooth talking that he could convince you to cut off your own leg and enjoy it at the same time.
Enter the outlaw, Ben Wade (Russell Crowe). Wade is notorious in those parts for his part in nearly 41 robberies and murders and almost 400,000 dollars in lost revenue. Due to one little misstep, he finds himself in the hands of the local authorities, who have it in their mind to bring him to justice. The farmer, Dan Evans (Christian Bale), needing the money desperately, agrees to escort Wade to the 3:10 to Yuma, leaving from the railroad town of Contention in two days time. Little does he know, the journey will be the journey of his life, leading him through a deserted pass occupied by some not-so-happy Apache Indians, the death of all but two of his traveling companions and through a town where nearly 40 outlaws have their guns blazing, all aiming to capture the bounty on Evans head.
The ending is a phenomenal picture of redemption and justice, all played out in 2 very opposite men. In my opinion, there's nothing better than a good western movie, where the good guys are good, the bad guys are bad, and good always overcomes evil. 3:10 to Yuma is such a picture and not a picture to miss for your life. But don't take my word for it. Go see it for youself.
(3:10 to Yuma is currently playing at all major theaters. )
One element of the movie that I found especially intriguing, however, was the unique use of a common American myth known as The Value of a Challenge. In this common myth, we find one character who encounters a unique challenge that he must face and overcome. In the end he learns something about himself and others, and comes to understand reality in a new and more full way.
This myth is never more evident than in 3:10 to Yuma. This well done remake of a classic 1950 starts out with a cattle rancher in Arizona in the late 1800's. The railroad is coming into town and he finds himself in debt to a very bad man, with the railroad set to steam right through his property. He goes into town, seeking an extension on his land lease, but instead gets shot down by the evil debt collector for the hundredth time. Little does he know, but he will soon find himself face to face with a man so evil and twisted, but yet so handsome, attractive, and smooth talking that he could convince you to cut off your own leg and enjoy it at the same time.
Enter the outlaw, Ben Wade (Russell Crowe). Wade is notorious in those parts for his part in nearly 41 robberies and murders and almost 400,000 dollars in lost revenue. Due to one little misstep, he finds himself in the hands of the local authorities, who have it in their mind to bring him to justice. The farmer, Dan Evans (Christian Bale), needing the money desperately, agrees to escort Wade to the 3:10 to Yuma, leaving from the railroad town of Contention in two days time. Little does he know, the journey will be the journey of his life, leading him through a deserted pass occupied by some not-so-happy Apache Indians, the death of all but two of his traveling companions and through a town where nearly 40 outlaws have their guns blazing, all aiming to capture the bounty on Evans head.
The ending is a phenomenal picture of redemption and justice, all played out in 2 very opposite men. In my opinion, there's nothing better than a good western movie, where the good guys are good, the bad guys are bad, and good always overcomes evil. 3:10 to Yuma is such a picture and not a picture to miss for your life. But don't take my word for it. Go see it for youself.
(3:10 to Yuma is currently playing at all major theaters. )
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Punishing Crime
I can remember the first time that I read Crime and Punishment. It was the summer of my senior year in High School and I was a very bored little lad. Having read through all of the summer reading assignments I was now relegated to playing video games, doing yard work, and getting badgered by my mother to "get a real job." (No, wait. Actually, that was only this summer.) Around the second video game that I had played through once, I began to realize how boring it was getting. I needed a new hobby, so I decided that I would go and get a book that I could read for the summer.
On the shelf downstairs, in my father's study, was a book that I had heard about, but had never read. I am refering of course to Crime and Punishment, the classic novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky. I had heard a lot from many of my "anti-intellectual" friends about how "boring and mundane" this book was. (Of course they did not use the word mundane, as they were "anti-intellectuals"). Nether the less, I decided that I, in all my intellectualism would be able to tackle this book and understand all of it's profound intricacies.
I picked up the book and started reading. The story of a college student who rationalized murder, and his route into the deepest bowels of guilt, murder, coverups, and hell itself intrigued me. For the first four chapters that is. After I had finished discovering that he had committed the climactic murder within the first four chapters, I began to lose interest. Then came the names. . .
If any of you aren't familiar with Crime and punishment, it is a Russian novel, with Russian names and Russian places. Naturally, being a person well versed in the English language, I did not understand the Russian elements of the book well. Why did all of the names end in "y"? Who exactly were all of these characters and why did I keep mixing them up? I would get to a part where a new character would be introduced, but still think the new character was the last character introduced. Quite obviously, this frustrated me to no end and I ended up putting the book back on the shelf, after only finishing four chapters.
One year later, I now have had the opportunity to brush the dust off of the book and begin reading it all over. This time the reading is slightly easier and far more pleasurable. I am beginning to understand the genius of Dostoevsky and why he has been proclaimed a literary genius. The deep and intrinsic story of a man who commits murder and the coinciding guilt, depression, sickness, and ultimately confession is the story of us all. It hits deep in my soul and I cannot wait to finish this book (which I hope to finish by December at the latest.) If not only to say that I, Ben, read through the entirety of the book that is Crime and Punishment.
On the shelf downstairs, in my father's study, was a book that I had heard about, but had never read. I am refering of course to Crime and Punishment, the classic novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky. I had heard a lot from many of my "anti-intellectual" friends about how "boring and mundane" this book was. (Of course they did not use the word mundane, as they were "anti-intellectuals"). Nether the less, I decided that I, in all my intellectualism would be able to tackle this book and understand all of it's profound intricacies.
I picked up the book and started reading. The story of a college student who rationalized murder, and his route into the deepest bowels of guilt, murder, coverups, and hell itself intrigued me. For the first four chapters that is. After I had finished discovering that he had committed the climactic murder within the first four chapters, I began to lose interest. Then came the names. . .
If any of you aren't familiar with Crime and punishment, it is a Russian novel, with Russian names and Russian places. Naturally, being a person well versed in the English language, I did not understand the Russian elements of the book well. Why did all of the names end in "y"? Who exactly were all of these characters and why did I keep mixing them up? I would get to a part where a new character would be introduced, but still think the new character was the last character introduced. Quite obviously, this frustrated me to no end and I ended up putting the book back on the shelf, after only finishing four chapters.
One year later, I now have had the opportunity to brush the dust off of the book and begin reading it all over. This time the reading is slightly easier and far more pleasurable. I am beginning to understand the genius of Dostoevsky and why he has been proclaimed a literary genius. The deep and intrinsic story of a man who commits murder and the coinciding guilt, depression, sickness, and ultimately confession is the story of us all. It hits deep in my soul and I cannot wait to finish this book (which I hope to finish by December at the latest.) If not only to say that I, Ben, read through the entirety of the book that is Crime and Punishment.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
The Battle of The Egos
I was recently watching MTV when I heard something very interesting. 50 Cent, the rapper who is notorious for his "street cred" (he was shot 9 times), made a statement that if his record sells more than the new Kanye West album, which comes out on the same day, he will stop making records altogether. 50 made the statement:
Later 50 tried to play it down, going on an ego trip and essentially saying that there is no way that Kanye would sell more records than him, because "West is a 'worker bee' while he is a 'boss'." I have listened to 50s music and quite frankly I am not impressed. The only real reason, in my eyes, that this guy even got as big as he did is his ability to take nine bullets in the chest and still be alive. His albums have been mediocre at best, inciting all the cliche "gangsta" topics including, and limited to: busting caps, getting busted by a cap, sweet bling, having enough "G" to buy China, and smoking a doobie. (For those of you that don't know what those phrases mean, that's probably for the better.)
Kanye, on the other hand has strived to put out some rapping that is lyrically deep and introspective, while at the same time incorporating music that is actually music and not a bunch of recycled beats that have been used since the early 90s. On his new CD he actually has many comments interspliced throughout his music that deplore the state of rap today.
I have heard some songs from both albums (both slated to hit stores on September 11th) and I am quite impressed with Kanye's. With 50's? Not so much. So here's what I say:
I say we bring 50 Cent down a notch. Everyone go out and buy the new Kanye West CD on September 11th, if not only to exchange one bad rapper for a slightly better one.
Power to Kanye!
(a not to anyone who is offended by cussing, you might want to buy the edited version from Wal-Mart)
"Let's raise the stakes. If Kanye West sells more records than 50 Cent on September 11, I'll no longer (perform) music. I'll write music and work with my other artists, but I won't put out any more solo albums."
Later 50 tried to play it down, going on an ego trip and essentially saying that there is no way that Kanye would sell more records than him, because "West is a 'worker bee' while he is a 'boss'." I have listened to 50s music and quite frankly I am not impressed. The only real reason, in my eyes, that this guy even got as big as he did is his ability to take nine bullets in the chest and still be alive. His albums have been mediocre at best, inciting all the cliche "gangsta" topics including, and limited to: busting caps, getting busted by a cap, sweet bling, having enough "G" to buy China, and smoking a doobie. (For those of you that don't know what those phrases mean, that's probably for the better.)
Kanye, on the other hand has strived to put out some rapping that is lyrically deep and introspective, while at the same time incorporating music that is actually music and not a bunch of recycled beats that have been used since the early 90s. On his new CD he actually has many comments interspliced throughout his music that deplore the state of rap today.
I have heard some songs from both albums (both slated to hit stores on September 11th) and I am quite impressed with Kanye's. With 50's? Not so much. So here's what I say:
I say we bring 50 Cent down a notch. Everyone go out and buy the new Kanye West CD on September 11th, if not only to exchange one bad rapper for a slightly better one.
Power to Kanye!
(a not to anyone who is offended by cussing, you might want to buy the edited version from Wal-Mart)
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