I've noticed this trend emerging in multiple spheres of existence. Different types of people are seeking to normalize, glamorize, or demonize death. These iterations have various repercussions, and it's interesting to see how they all play together.
The universal division I've seen is between celebration and acceptance vs lingering and extended mourning.
Skulls reminiscent of día de los muertes have become pop culture icons, showing up on all sorts of items ranging from booty shorts to stationary to corporate logos. This normalization of human fatality is a kind of acceptance--everybody dies and it's not horrible or mysterious.
This acceptance of this has shown to be empowering to people. Accepting the inevitable and having realistic expectations has allowed people to embrace life more--their own and their descendents. In a growing trend of "death dinners," families are coming together and discussing death seriously. Many have found the experience relieving--looming and ethereal mortality has been made real and becomes a dealt with instead of vaguely though about.
On the other hand, I was struck at the morbidity of many of our national holidays. News reports on September 11th are excessively haunting. There seems to be a fear of moving on. Instead of focusing on how we've grown as a nation and on the good that has come from this terrible event, we replay in all the vivid glory the traumatic crashes. It is important to remember the tragedy, but it shouldn't be paraded so grotesquely. We're torturing ourselves and promoting fear.
This fear of death yet acceptance of it creates recklessness; it births the idea of protecting life at the cost of life. I'm scared about the state of the world right now. War with Syria is a threat, and many Americans are feeling defensive, which translates into offensive bombing and invasive military action.
As the death culture grows, it's being torn in multiple directions. Every aspect has an influence on the way we interact with the world. It will be interesting to see how it develops us as individuals and as a nation.
Showing posts with label Society. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Society. Show all posts
Monday, September 30, 2013
Monday, August 19, 2013
Urban Camping
This is my current inventory:
I carry two bags with me nearly constantly and I'm not the only one. We're urban campers. Survivalists who have learned to live in a difficult to maneuver environment. I've learned that when it's hard to get home, it becomes necessary to make everywhere more home like.
There isn't much I can take for granted; there isn't much anybody can take for granted. Hence the pack. Packs prepare people for a wider array of experiences. A well prepared pack can get people through nearly any situation.
Last night, my general plan was to make it home. Cook, eat, write. Instead, I stuck around for M and S, started the evening with pizza&beer at Roma's, and party-hopped the night away. After chasing down a bus, we made it home around 3 or so.
My pack gave me (normally would give me) entertainment on the bus so I wouldn't pass out (I'd just finished Gravity's Rainbow and my phone was broken, so I couldn't actually read--but normally it would have been there for me), the spare jacket I would have been miserable without, trail mix to supplement the pizza...
Without my bike, I've been hiking to work. There's about a mile between both my work and BART and my house and BART.
Urban Camping. What do I mean by that? People are prepared to sleep, eat, be anywhere. Is that camping? Kind of. It reminds me of J.S.'s proposed 3-month-long hike through the Appalachians. There are elements of isolation, fending for oneself, and preparedness. These are all things people deal with here too (or in any urban setting, potentially).
Isolation--There are lots of people, but not many interact with each other. Especially not so much to help out. I feel this a lot when it comes to transportation. In the middle of the night, even the bus will pass you by if they please.
That ties in a lot with fending for oneself. There isn't someone who can be relied on. Either they're not present, or they're not to be relied on. There isn't much of a sense of hospitality here--people are too broke. Parties don't have kegs, people bring their own 40s. They're big and don't get put down for someone else to drink. It's sometimes hard sleeping at other people's houses because they might not even have blankets to spare.
This naturally flows into preparedness. In understanding that these are fundamental qualities of the environment, one either learns to deal or learns to avoid. A lot of people want to be here, so a lot of people learn to deal. Hence adaptations like carrying a pack. Bikes kind of fit into it too.
People have recognized the limits and parameters of interacting with this environment. These limits and parameters are similar to those of camping.
I think a lot of it has to do with transportation. There is a trade off between needing to change oneself to adapt to the environment or the ability to change one's environment to adapt to their needs.
The smaller car culture and limits of public transportation are important contributing factors.
Without the ease to move (change one's environment), one has to become able to change oneself.
My ways of interacting with an urban environment have changed with other parts of my lifestyle. When I was very academically focused, I made myself be prepared for spending the day in the library. I'd have the proper clothes (extra layers and jackets), all the conceivably necessary books and any technological implements I might need. I wasn't in a place (mental, mostly) where I'd get swept up into other kinds of interactions. Here, I am. So my pack is better suited to that set up.
I did this with my car somewhat too. (Although it was less necessary because cars promote such independent mobility, it wasn't often necessary to be prepared to stay somewhere I didn't want. Generally, I'd have layers and a work shirt. Books and other more personal items would be in my bag. Although, I did have a big technological focus in my car, centered around music. Phone charger, stereo bits, mini speakers (for a while), cords, wire splitting tools... ...
We all camp. We all carry packs that fit with the call of our own personal environments. (Except, perhaps, those unlucky people who never quite seem to be in their element. They just haven't figured out what they need.)
- (3) notebooks
- (1) book
- (1) sketchbook
- (5) pens
- (1) wallet
- (?) tampons
- (1) clothespin
- (1) toothbrush
- (1) knife
- (2) sets of keys
- (1) headphones
- (1) mini pack of color pencils
- (1) outfit
- (1) work outfit
- (1) watch
- (4) ponytails/rubber band
- (1) stick of deodorant
- (1) light jacket
- (1) inkwell
I carry two bags with me nearly constantly and I'm not the only one. We're urban campers. Survivalists who have learned to live in a difficult to maneuver environment. I've learned that when it's hard to get home, it becomes necessary to make everywhere more home like.
There isn't much I can take for granted; there isn't much anybody can take for granted. Hence the pack. Packs prepare people for a wider array of experiences. A well prepared pack can get people through nearly any situation.
Last night, my general plan was to make it home. Cook, eat, write. Instead, I stuck around for M and S, started the evening with pizza&beer at Roma's, and party-hopped the night away. After chasing down a bus, we made it home around 3 or so.
My pack gave me (normally would give me) entertainment on the bus so I wouldn't pass out (I'd just finished Gravity's Rainbow and my phone was broken, so I couldn't actually read--but normally it would have been there for me), the spare jacket I would have been miserable without, trail mix to supplement the pizza...
Without my bike, I've been hiking to work. There's about a mile between both my work and BART and my house and BART.
Urban Camping. What do I mean by that? People are prepared to sleep, eat, be anywhere. Is that camping? Kind of. It reminds me of J.S.'s proposed 3-month-long hike through the Appalachians. There are elements of isolation, fending for oneself, and preparedness. These are all things people deal with here too (or in any urban setting, potentially).
Isolation--There are lots of people, but not many interact with each other. Especially not so much to help out. I feel this a lot when it comes to transportation. In the middle of the night, even the bus will pass you by if they please.
That ties in a lot with fending for oneself. There isn't someone who can be relied on. Either they're not present, or they're not to be relied on. There isn't much of a sense of hospitality here--people are too broke. Parties don't have kegs, people bring their own 40s. They're big and don't get put down for someone else to drink. It's sometimes hard sleeping at other people's houses because they might not even have blankets to spare.
This naturally flows into preparedness. In understanding that these are fundamental qualities of the environment, one either learns to deal or learns to avoid. A lot of people want to be here, so a lot of people learn to deal. Hence adaptations like carrying a pack. Bikes kind of fit into it too.
People have recognized the limits and parameters of interacting with this environment. These limits and parameters are similar to those of camping.
I think a lot of it has to do with transportation. There is a trade off between needing to change oneself to adapt to the environment or the ability to change one's environment to adapt to their needs.
The smaller car culture and limits of public transportation are important contributing factors.
Without the ease to move (change one's environment), one has to become able to change oneself.
My ways of interacting with an urban environment have changed with other parts of my lifestyle. When I was very academically focused, I made myself be prepared for spending the day in the library. I'd have the proper clothes (extra layers and jackets), all the conceivably necessary books and any technological implements I might need. I wasn't in a place (mental, mostly) where I'd get swept up into other kinds of interactions. Here, I am. So my pack is better suited to that set up.
I did this with my car somewhat too. (Although it was less necessary because cars promote such independent mobility, it wasn't often necessary to be prepared to stay somewhere I didn't want. Generally, I'd have layers and a work shirt. Books and other more personal items would be in my bag. Although, I did have a big technological focus in my car, centered around music. Phone charger, stereo bits, mini speakers (for a while), cords, wire splitting tools... ...
We all camp. We all carry packs that fit with the call of our own personal environments. (Except, perhaps, those unlucky people who never quite seem to be in their element. They just haven't figured out what they need.)
Sunday, June 24, 2012
It's the final countdown
So I'm out of this place in just about a month and ten days.
Which happens.
But what makes it feel weird this time is two things. I feel like I'm really starting over--I'm getting rid of my personal ties and nearly all of my physical posessions. The other part is how much people know about it. I've tended to sneak away when I move, but I advertised it this time.
People are a bit frantic with the eminent deadline--no more me time. And I guess the attention is kind of nice but it's also very overwhelming. I hardly have time to prepare myself or even to spend a moment alone. As much as I crave being with people I like, I need moments to myself.
It feels like my life is divided into time slots dictated by social and financial obligations. I work 40 hours a week and I have to squeeze people into my allocated free time. Part of my frustration might be due to my schedule--it is pretty unnatural. I work nights--meaning I'm taken from 1.30 to 10 most of the time. Most of the time, it feels like. And I stay up late to make it feel like I have a life. And it works sometimes. But sometimes I'm just tired all of the time and feel utterly oppressed.
I was in Louisiana about a week ago, which was nice and horrible in it's own way, and my schedule changed. My schedule shifted to earlier and I felt better. It might have ust been the free time though.
Man, I don't have focus.
I just feel trapped by money. That's the real issue. Because if I had enough, I would have time and that's all I really want in the world.
And the starting over part is scary because I have no idea what I'm getting into and I'm worried about running out of money before things get good. Hah, money.
What's frustrating is that I can't help but feel like it's my fault. I'm in charge of my life--good and bad--so if shit goes wrong, there's no one else to blame. There's no one else to talk to either because no one else is involved.
So I'm leaving again soon. I'm saying goodbyes and enjoying people while I can. I can probably handle being a little sleepy. And as for the future, all I can do is what I can.
Which happens.
But what makes it feel weird this time is two things. I feel like I'm really starting over--I'm getting rid of my personal ties and nearly all of my physical posessions. The other part is how much people know about it. I've tended to sneak away when I move, but I advertised it this time.
People are a bit frantic with the eminent deadline--no more me time. And I guess the attention is kind of nice but it's also very overwhelming. I hardly have time to prepare myself or even to spend a moment alone. As much as I crave being with people I like, I need moments to myself.
It feels like my life is divided into time slots dictated by social and financial obligations. I work 40 hours a week and I have to squeeze people into my allocated free time. Part of my frustration might be due to my schedule--it is pretty unnatural. I work nights--meaning I'm taken from 1.30 to 10 most of the time. Most of the time, it feels like. And I stay up late to make it feel like I have a life. And it works sometimes. But sometimes I'm just tired all of the time and feel utterly oppressed.
I was in Louisiana about a week ago, which was nice and horrible in it's own way, and my schedule changed. My schedule shifted to earlier and I felt better. It might have ust been the free time though.
Man, I don't have focus.
I just feel trapped by money. That's the real issue. Because if I had enough, I would have time and that's all I really want in the world.
And the starting over part is scary because I have no idea what I'm getting into and I'm worried about running out of money before things get good. Hah, money.
What's frustrating is that I can't help but feel like it's my fault. I'm in charge of my life--good and bad--so if shit goes wrong, there's no one else to blame. There's no one else to talk to either because no one else is involved.
So I'm leaving again soon. I'm saying goodbyes and enjoying people while I can. I can probably handle being a little sleepy. And as for the future, all I can do is what I can.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Delusions of grandeur
Is it that I want immortality?
I've always wanted to be in one of those circle of thinkers, creators, even just smart people who create the waves that shape the world; the group of artists from whom stem all the revolutionary ideas of a generation. A group where discussions matter on a large scale--they change the whole world--they make the ideas that penetrate every mind on the planet and determine the flow of history.
Friday, May 11, 2012
I've got the grad school bug again
Ever since I got reunited with my grandpa over this last Christmas, I've been thinking a lot about family and genetics. I've also been obsessed with determinism ever since I first heard of the idea. Christmas got me fucked up with genetic determinism.
The thing is, it makes so much since. I am so convinced that reality is dictated in a calculate-able, predictable, sensible way and there is no escaping it and we all lack free will. I hate it and don't want it to be true so I'm reading everything I can to convince myself that it's not.
I just finished reading "Who's in Charge" by Michael Gazzaniga and it is really good. I recommend it to anyone interested in a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of the brain. It did't quite convince me, but it made a really good case. My current stance is that although complex systems can't be predicted, and human interactions and just even human existence is not only a complicated system, but a complicated interaction of multiple complicated systems, I still think that once we know more these calculations and predictions could be made. I think they could, but I hope they can't.
How this relates to grad school is such:
I am interested in ideas. When I studied literature, I studied it comparatively--how cultures and time periods interact to shape one another. It is a representation of minds bumping into each other within one of our many complicated systems as humans. It's mental evolution. Through studying literature, you can see into the mind of the author, see where he came from, and see the people around him--his society--the world. Books are doors.
There is a more precise study of ideas that I need to learn more about before I commit myself to it and that is the study of memes. Memes are like the genes of thoughts. They are the building blocks of ideas and are transmitted and can evolve just like viruses.
I would love to do a collaborative study with a neuroscientist involving memes, broadly, literature, specifically, and their quantitative role in the human mind.
There are so many places I would like to go with this! For me, this seems to open doors to everything.
I just need to find what kind of program that would be and where I could find it.
The thing is, it makes so much since. I am so convinced that reality is dictated in a calculate-able, predictable, sensible way and there is no escaping it and we all lack free will. I hate it and don't want it to be true so I'm reading everything I can to convince myself that it's not.
I just finished reading "Who's in Charge" by Michael Gazzaniga and it is really good. I recommend it to anyone interested in a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of the brain. It did't quite convince me, but it made a really good case. My current stance is that although complex systems can't be predicted, and human interactions and just even human existence is not only a complicated system, but a complicated interaction of multiple complicated systems, I still think that once we know more these calculations and predictions could be made. I think they could, but I hope they can't.
How this relates to grad school is such:
I am interested in ideas. When I studied literature, I studied it comparatively--how cultures and time periods interact to shape one another. It is a representation of minds bumping into each other within one of our many complicated systems as humans. It's mental evolution. Through studying literature, you can see into the mind of the author, see where he came from, and see the people around him--his society--the world. Books are doors.
There is a more precise study of ideas that I need to learn more about before I commit myself to it and that is the study of memes. Memes are like the genes of thoughts. They are the building blocks of ideas and are transmitted and can evolve just like viruses.
I would love to do a collaborative study with a neuroscientist involving memes, broadly, literature, specifically, and their quantitative role in the human mind.
There are so many places I would like to go with this! For me, this seems to open doors to everything.
I just need to find what kind of program that would be and where I could find it.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Shut up ho, you got too much self-confidence
I feel like people a lot of times don't have enough doubt. That they're too adamant about what they think they know, and with a little, well-measured self doubt, many misunderstandings and arguments wouldn't happen. I'd also think of fewer people as complete dumbasses.
Insisting on something that is wrong is infuriating for those who know. Especially since those who are pushing their misconceptions usually aren't open to being corrected. I guess all of this stems back to ignorance. Nobody wants to be ignorant, which is kind of understandable. But instead of recognizing and doing something about it, many tend to pick an idea and run with it, defending it until the end, even when they don't even know why they think it in the first place.
I'm a person who likes to argue/debate. But this is something that makes it incredibly difficult. There can be no debate, no moving forward, if nobody recognizes that they might not know everything. Within my circle of people I know, I think this is related to the anti-intellectual trend around here. Some try very hard to prove that they don't have to care about learning to be a smart-ass, while others are so devoted to the idea that school is necessary that they feel like they can't be defeated in any sort of debate, ever. Both sides are wrong, but neither is able to compromise.
The more you learn, the more you come to realize that you don't know hardly anything. I've really come to see that this semester as I've been branching out, particularly in government. But this is something people refuse to accept. Everyone is an expert of their own perception, and then they impose that on the rest of us.
Insisting on something that is wrong is infuriating for those who know. Especially since those who are pushing their misconceptions usually aren't open to being corrected. I guess all of this stems back to ignorance. Nobody wants to be ignorant, which is kind of understandable. But instead of recognizing and doing something about it, many tend to pick an idea and run with it, defending it until the end, even when they don't even know why they think it in the first place.
I'm a person who likes to argue/debate. But this is something that makes it incredibly difficult. There can be no debate, no moving forward, if nobody recognizes that they might not know everything. Within my circle of people I know, I think this is related to the anti-intellectual trend around here. Some try very hard to prove that they don't have to care about learning to be a smart-ass, while others are so devoted to the idea that school is necessary that they feel like they can't be defeated in any sort of debate, ever. Both sides are wrong, but neither is able to compromise.
The more you learn, the more you come to realize that you don't know hardly anything. I've really come to see that this semester as I've been branching out, particularly in government. But this is something people refuse to accept. Everyone is an expert of their own perception, and then they impose that on the rest of us.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Antiquated infatuation
Sometimes I feel like I'm obsessed with the past. I have trouble relating to politics today because I only know about the roots. Same as with literature--I have no idea what big trends are happening right now, but ask be about turn of the century and a little after (and of course before), I'll talk your ear off. It feels alienating because I'm unable to talk to many people. About half of my current friends didn't go to college, don't have any interest to go, and some are all out intellectual-haters. I don't know how it happened, but maybe it's just *insert regionalist slur*.
But then sometimes I look at the big picture and it seems like a bunch of society is doing it. Think about how many efforts are out there to restore art and architecture. In ways unlike before, we are studying the past without destroying it. This is somewhat due to innovations in technology--we no longer have to cut open mummies, we have ultrasound, etc etc. But it also seems to be something that appeals to us at this moment. Vintage clothing, retro style is all about cataloging the past and incorporating it into the present. It seems like this is happening to the extent that today, we don't have an identity--everything is a mashed-up, borrowed combination of every previous trend.
This reminds me of Girl Talk and other mash-up musicians. I wonder about the authenticity of their craft. Yes they are creating, but not from individual materials. But if you think about music specifically, it's pretty much been impossible to make anything new for centuries. There are only so many notes, so many novel combinations. But listening to his music, it's impossible to say that his songs don't evoke different emotions than their original pieces. Yet, when I recognize the components, it just reminds me of how I feel when I listen to them individually.
And even still, writing about this idea that nothing is new, everything is done, I can't help but think about Baudelaire and how not much has changed in 150 years.
But then sometimes I look at the big picture and it seems like a bunch of society is doing it. Think about how many efforts are out there to restore art and architecture. In ways unlike before, we are studying the past without destroying it. This is somewhat due to innovations in technology--we no longer have to cut open mummies, we have ultrasound, etc etc. But it also seems to be something that appeals to us at this moment. Vintage clothing, retro style is all about cataloging the past and incorporating it into the present. It seems like this is happening to the extent that today, we don't have an identity--everything is a mashed-up, borrowed combination of every previous trend.
This reminds me of Girl Talk and other mash-up musicians. I wonder about the authenticity of their craft. Yes they are creating, but not from individual materials. But if you think about music specifically, it's pretty much been impossible to make anything new for centuries. There are only so many notes, so many novel combinations. But listening to his music, it's impossible to say that his songs don't evoke different emotions than their original pieces. Yet, when I recognize the components, it just reminds me of how I feel when I listen to them individually.
And even still, writing about this idea that nothing is new, everything is done, I can't help but think about Baudelaire and how not much has changed in 150 years.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Be careful what you hate
I've noticed that people pretend to like things that they find annoying. I guess they're trying to be ironic? I think that's where much of the success for shitty things comes from, like Jersey Shores, crappy music, and bad internet memes. (I've lost friends to Jersey Shores, that's why I singled it out. It's close to my heart, sigh.)
It's starts off a joke. "Hey let's listen to that Waka Flaka song, it's so dumb!" No harm, right? Then it turns into, "Hey, wouldn't it be funny if I bought the box set of Jersey Shore and started fist pumping like a guido?--Haha, totally dude!" It's a sneaky spiral that people constantly fall for.
People are becoming what they hate.
But it doesn't have to happen. When you don't like something, just don't listen to/watch/read it. There's no point in subjecting yourself to something terrible just because you can make fun of it. It's a fact that the more you subject yourself to something annoying, the more your brain enjoys it. Even starts to crave it. Remember those Head-On commercials? That is something you will never forget in your entire life.
Not only does indulging in terrible things degrade your soul, it also makes producers want to make more terrible things. The advertisers don't care why you watch/listen, the fact is that when you do, you're giving them money and telling them that what they're doing is ok. It's not.
It's starts off a joke. "Hey let's listen to that Waka Flaka song, it's so dumb!" No harm, right? Then it turns into, "Hey, wouldn't it be funny if I bought the box set of Jersey Shore and started fist pumping like a guido?--Haha, totally dude!" It's a sneaky spiral that people constantly fall for.
People are becoming what they hate.
But it doesn't have to happen. When you don't like something, just don't listen to/watch/read it. There's no point in subjecting yourself to something terrible just because you can make fun of it. It's a fact that the more you subject yourself to something annoying, the more your brain enjoys it. Even starts to crave it. Remember those Head-On commercials? That is something you will never forget in your entire life.
Not only does indulging in terrible things degrade your soul, it also makes producers want to make more terrible things. The advertisers don't care why you watch/listen, the fact is that when you do, you're giving them money and telling them that what they're doing is ok. It's not.
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