Horror, Hope, Hugs, and Hedonism

Four things that have taken up my time lately:
1. Enjoying several Horror and Action movies.
a. 30 Days of Night - Why do the vampires waste so much blood? Didn't really see the twist ending coming.
b. Resident Evil: Extinction - Eh, it was all right.
c. Crazy Eights, part of Horrorfest 2007. - Just didn't have enough meat to the story or to the "evil thing" to get the job done.
2. Thinking about the results of my mother's biopsy.
3. New anime series (several) and...
4. Battlestar Galactica, starting from the beginning. Normally I can take or leave Sci-Fi shows, especially those set in space, but the acting of the entire cast pretty much rocks.
That's about it.

Widening Eyes

Laugh or Jump? When watching a horror film, one conceit must be agreed upon by all parties involved. Usually the film is paused about fifteen to twenty minutes in to make this judgement, or the agreement can be made during a lull in the action. Is this a film to be mocked, commented on, and laughed at? Or is it a film to make us grip the edges of the seat chair, check behind us, or even make us jump in surprise or fear? Some might argue that, after watching a film several times, that which scared us on the first go-around may make us laugh now. Or even that, a film can be a combination of both - silly-scary, where the special effects in one sequence might be ridiculous but that one scene with the elevator (or statue, or noise, etc.) is...creepy!

Why bother deciding this question? Well, for some people, the most enjoyment gotten out of a horror film comes from the atmosphere...the hushed watchers, dim ambient light, and lack of outside noise and interruptions. While others may concentrate more on the story and not lose focus when distracted by an errant conversation, some viewers like to immerse themselves in the often bizarre, hopefully clever tale unfolding on the screen.

I would argue that this deciding action is most necessary for horror films in particular. Comedies may be laughed at, remarked on, and interrupted (provided they are being viewed on DVD or VHS) without losing too much of the movie's atmosphere. But horror movies, and eerie thrillers (as opposed to slasher flicks) in particular, can be ruined if someone turns on a bright light, strikes up a conversation, or makes a humourous remark.

However, a rare event occurred last night: L.B. and I watched The Grudge and managed to combine fear with humour. The most amusing times came when the screen attempted to fade to black, and all you could see was...the reflected lights of the Christmas tree on the screen. Swelling music, terrifying face, and...CHRISTMAS! AAAHHH!

The first time I saw this film, my thought process went like this: "Creeped out; the grudge spirit has a unique, frightening way of moving; why would you ever go towards the thumping? Not in the bed, that's terrible! Run! It's coming down the stairs; leave the boyfriend, he was stupid anyway and needed a haircut; Wait a minute...that's the sound I use to comfort myself and purr!" So I, of course, was not scared...not at the climax of the film, anyway.

The point is, films good. Friends good. Happy Mandala.

Timely Soundtrack: "Bring it on Home to Me" by Sam Cooke from Live at the Harlem Square Club
Quote Trapped in My Head: *Rckckrckckrckckrckckrckckrckkk!*
What I Learned Today: Orblicious!

It's Hard to Love a Perfect Superhero

Humans need their superheroes to be...well, human. Gods can be perfect, since we do not need to interact with them or sympathize with them. Why is this true?

Having just seen Superman Returns (parts of it in 3D!) with Raj, I found myself meditating on the subject of heroes, superheroes, and gods.

Superheroes take care of us from afar; yet they need a human element for us to interact with them and care about them. They are physically able, efficient, and must, as a rule, be flawed.

Firstly, they need a weakness (or a weak spot, such as vengeance or kryptonite) to create drama and the possibility of failure. Otherwise, the story of a superhero would never capture the imagination. He would be like a god in visible form. Oddly enough, we attribute failures of mankind to man subverting the will of the gods, while we blame the ills a superhero failed to correct on his weakness, disattention, disinterest, or untimely absence. Perhaps it is because the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God of human religions can be everywhere and do anything, so he must choose not to intervene. He couldn't possibly be hog-tied in some evil villian's lair, poisoned with kryptonite or surrounded by 'bad energy'.

Superheroes also need a human flaw - not a fatal one, but one that makes them susceptible to the emotions of humans, no matter how alien they may be. This could be Batman's lust for revenge, Wolverine's rage, or even just alienation from the rest of society. This is so we fear not only for their bodies, but for their minds - and their souls.

Logically, we know that nothing is perfect - that is why only the aforementioned omni³ God survives as flawless being. The Greek and Roman gods had weaknesses - they were like superheroes without moral compasses; using their powers as outlets for humanity's baser instincts. Even our villains need to be substantially flawed - obviously morally, but also in mental capacity or ability, so we know (well, mostly) that our superheroes will win. The best villains are capricious, insidious, well-prepared, meticulous, and fly so low under even Superman's radar that no one knows they exist. When they strike, it is swiftly and anonymously, and they never stick around to gloat or explain their plans.

There is nothing inherently new about the new Superman movie; by which I mean no profound truths are revealed, no dialogue sent shivers down my spine, no one had an epiphany but the ones scheduled by the writers for their fictional characters. But I did start to see the hypocrisy that humans believe, one that is necessary for us to understand our world and our desires. Instead of hanging our hopes on a better future, we wait for intervention from gods that will come only once we have become perfect - something even our 'best' creations (superheroes) can never be.

Timely Soundtrack: Superhero Girl by Eve 6.
Quote Trapped in My Head: "You've got a hole in you I never saw." - from Monsters in the Parasol by QotSA.
What I Learned Today

Cold & Hot

Don't look at me like that. It's not entirely my fault I haven't posted in a while. I had that trip to Virginia - Washington, D.C. and Arlington, to be exact (many thanks to Mr. 3am and Ms. 7am, his lil sis, for keeping L.B. and me company); then there was that thing with Ringo Charm, L.B.'s new iPod, and then there was my discovery.

A most wonderful book that explains so many things.

Today, though, I have not much to kick on about. Of course, I was also kept silent by my seething rage at the Gay Marriage Blocking-attempts of our lovely government; by the ill will I harbor for some unknown reason; by inexplicable discomfort.

I am really restless and churlish, even for me. I feel my anger at such a distance, like a subject slighted by the Queen's sneeze, or Hera having to bend to the will of a path between daisies. (Yes, I am aware that I occasionally make NO SENSE, so stop it.)

Well and good...this was my path to the land of the bizarre:
- Just a general vibe all this month that something is not right, something is coming.
- Came across Alice Through the Looking Glass on a random channel, and watched it from book reading to book reading.
- Worked almost nonstop on photos from both of my trips, while - get this, this is how crazed I was for peacefulness - watching the entire extended DVD version of TLOtR "The Two Towers" WITH commentary by the cast.
- Cleaned my room a bit, unpacked my bags, got rid of a lot of physical clutter, but not enough mental/psychic chatter.
- Found the most amazing book that names and gives help for sensory defensiveness.
- Installed "The Sims 2: Open For Business" expansion pack and "Dreamfall" (the sequel to "The Longest Journey". Immediately became enthralled.
- Died in my dream.

Momentary Soundtrack: "Akua Tuta" by Kashtin.
Quote Trapped in My Head: "The troubles of our proud and angry dust // Are from eternity, and shall not fail. Bear them we can, and if we can we must. Shoulder the sky, my lad, and drink your ale." - A.E. Housman - Last Poems 9, 22.
What I Learned Today: How CAT scans work.

Two Great Flicks

Just seen two great flicks, BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE and ALL ABOUT EVE. Both of them made me think about very different aspects of modern life.

BFC made me want to get out of this country while I still can. It made me incredibly sad, even as I sat shaking my head in wonder and bemusement at the stupidity that the U.S has at its core. Bush must not be re-elected. Environmentally, politically, economically, he couldn't give a fig about the people of this county -- except to take their money and to keep them in the dark -- and he has proved this time and again. His environmental record is apalling. Terrorists (as S. said) want him in office, he's a convenient figure for them to present as the evil corporate oppressor. His bombing program (a continuation and expansion of Clinton's, I realize) gives them reason to attack us and to keep the people united in a common enemy, and so busy with their program against us that they don't notice that none of these leaders risk their own lives for the country. Is Sadaam helping the Iraqi people? He fled. Threw them to the wolves and left.
Is Bush helping the U.S.? Have you been helped? The tax cut helped the wealthiest only. The work for welfare program brings tragedy. But I digress.

Is the purpose of a president to reflect the will of the people or to do the best thing for this country? It is a philosophical dilemna, one that has human life as its ticket price. Don't believe me? Watch BFC, read between the lines of the corporate and government sponsored newscast, read the articles from Green groups, check out the government's proclamations and boil them down. We are kept in a culture of stupidity and ignorance because it would blow our minds, we couldn't handle the truth? We let our access to information on our own lives be controlled by a faceless bureaucracy, hiding its tracks and denying anything and everything that puts its employees' jobs in jeopardy. How long will we give these rulers, these monarchs, the opportunity to say, you can't handle the truth, you're not mature enough, you don't know enough, that you're happier stupid, that ignorance is bliss. Ignorance is an iron wall that crushes you when you turn your back on it. It is the single united state of America. How long will we let those whose fates are not dependent on law rule ours, make the laws that determine our lives.

We are too busy, we are just surviving, we have worked long and hard for our rest, we deserve respite. What about the billions of other people who worked just as hard, and never got anywhere? What about those who pulled themselves up and then turned around and gave back to the community, to the nation, to the world? What rest do they get? What is their reward? We love them, until we have to be like them. They are not saints. They have no special powers. They just opened their eyes and saw, and realized that to close their eyes again would be ignorant bliss, but a bliss tempered with guilt. WIth memories of wrongs unrighted, of justice usurped by power. With thousands, no, millions of voices crying out in need, day and night, fretful, restless, plaintive, hopeful. And the hope undoes you every time. There should be no false hope. There will be a brighter day, if you have to do it yourself. It hurts to give yourself up, to want to help, to help and to put your own happiness on hold. But there is a peace, a final sense of something is right with the world, a belonging, that comes with helping others. With taking a stand. With saying, I don't believe your culture of stupidity, I don't believe your stereotypes, your way of making us hate one another, of silence and rape, of torture and apathy. I am just a human. Just a mass of flesh and bones, of tendons and muscles, organs and blood, always blood. My veins are open and you are bleeding me dry, bleeding us all dry, you cut open our veins at birth and catch our blood to make soup you sell back to us, tempered with water, misinformation, a veil that helps us take our medicine without question. We are all just humans, the same ratios, the same parts, the same species. None of us is born better or worse than any of the others. But we do not all have the same chances to live, to flourish, to love, to die and live happily. And until we do, we can not call ourselves a wealthy society, a civilization, or even a people.

I have been to two of the places listed in BFC as sites of U.S.-sponsored overthrows of democratically elected presidents. These leaders were not overthrown because their policies were hurting the people, but because the U.S. wanted stronger economies, better friends, because the dictators that the U.S. put in their place smiled at our country and promised huge deals at the cost of thousands of lives. The statistics are startling, but so are the actual places, faces, and even one person who experienced either event. I've been to Santiago, Chile, I've lived there. I've walked down Avda. 11 de Septiembre, the date of Pinochet's 1973 coup. I've heard the stories of those whose family members disappeared. I've seen the footage of executions. I've learned that everything that has been since is a reflected shock, a rebuilding, a deal with Pinochet the lifetime senator, a deal with themselves. I've been to a town in El Salvador where government-sponsored soldiers raped and murdered thousands of women, where people were lined up outside of a church wall and shot with no mercy, no questions asked, all civilians, basically for the fun of it. Where the crater left by an exploded bomb is bigger than some of the refugees' tin or cardboard houses. Where they dropped babies down a well to crack their heads open on the rocks below. Where children wander still, with fleas and bare feet, giving you a tour of the burned-out shell of a house (to earn any small price) and repeating a story that no 8, or 10, or 11 year old should know, should have to know that it was true. These events occurred in the 70s, in the 80s, in the 90s. These are not tales from long ago. There are people, there are children who lived through these U.S. government-sponsored annihilations, the survivors, those who lived and promised to tell their stories.

What would happen if we all left this country in protest? If we fled to Canada, to Africa, to Europe, to Latin America, to Antarctica even? What if we created a gigantic brain drain, labor drain, people drain? What if we just refused to work for money, if we only did charity, or community service, if we all said, we don't believe that paper can make us happy? What if we reinstated a barter system? What if we all laughed at the government and said, we believe in equality, we are going to perform our own marriages, or no marriages at all, no one will be married, you can not track us. We will not report our race, we will not record our sex, our income. We will disappear off of your radar. What if we camped out en masse on the White House lawn? If we stopped working altogether, made it difficult for others to work, to concentrate, to do their useless paperwork until our cries were heard? If we called for impeachment, for full release of their policies, all documents passed by the government, translated by a liberal, unknown lawyer, unbribed and untouchable? What if we took our country back? Because we need to take it back, out of the hands of those who would wish us ill, who would laugh at our funerals and would rather fake a bow to the ignorant masses then help those who need it most.
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Unhelpful song quote of the day: "Let's all take showers in Windex. We all look the same inside, what have we got to hide..." RLS