J.D. Salinger passed away a couple of hours ago at the ripe old age of 91. As the author of the Catcher in the Rye I thought of him as an interesting character mostly because he created my favourite character.
I have followed Holden Caulfield's adventures yearly since the age of 14, and I am always pleasantly disturbed by his antics. I have been asked several times why the Catcher in the Rye is my favourite book, and also why he is my favourite character. The truth is that I don't really know the answer, but I do however, always answer the question.
I say that his version of humurous depression amuses me, that I love his negativity towards the world, that his honesty is refreshing, but those are all lies. I am intrigued by Holden because I really don't understand him, because being privy to his mind's meanderings enables me to lose my mind for awhile. It is because I am so borishly sane and normal that I enjoy escaping into his world.
I selfishly thought that I was the only one that experienced this book this way, that I was the only one that "got it". I found out on Facebook that he died, and I found out from people that also love the book, and also feel close to it the same way that I do.
So that got me thinking....how many other things are there, that I assume and take comfort in thinking belong to me, experiences that I deem sacred, but which are actually shared with others? Can anything ever belong only to you? I am going to assume not, as once they are in the mainstream and can be easily consumed by others, they are no longer personal, they don't belong to you anymore, they belong to everyone.
Realizing that I share this book with others will change it for me. I imagine that when I next read it I will be forced to think of others who have read it, do read it, or are reading it as I am.
This is the most honest blog entry I've ever written.
Consume away! ;)
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
90's Dance Party!
Ok people, I have a real treat for you! The Aftershow on MTV hosted a 90's Dance Party tonight, and it was the most fulfilling 30 minutes, since I dont know when! Sure, sure there were bands like n'Sync, BSB and Spice Girls, but there really was so much more fun stuff to listen to in the 90's. What a trip down memory lane that was! I can't believe how cool I once thought I was...weird how I was cooler at 12 than I am at 2-? hehe.Some of the classics whose video clips were shown were B4-4 (shown in picture, how awesome was their hair?!), S Club 7 (download "S-Club Party" for a truly religious experience), 98 degrees, Brandy, Robin, and All Saints (download "Never Ever" and "Pure Shores", I just finished listening to both and got mad flashbacks of me doing karaoke in my living room).
However, I must admit to a sick, sick favourite from the 90's that I'm sure you all loved too, but would be way too embarrassed to admit now.
"Saturday Night" By Whigfield. Trust me, it's wicked.
Have fun rocking out to old 90's tunes! ;)
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Sexual Harrassment?
I am writing an article on sexual harrassment in the workplace for my upcoming mock magazine. So far the process is going terribly bad. I contacted The Manitoba Human Rights Commission and was told some "interesting" things by one of their workers who fields calls and logs filed complaints, however, there is no solid statistical evidence which backs up the "fact" (I think it's a fact) that sexual harrassment even exists.
The stats are dismal, in the last year there have been only 35 complaints filed, 35! So I am wondering if people are too scared to say anything about it, or if they don't really care anymore.
Has our society become so sexualized that sexual harrassment is now a non-issue? Does that mean that if I am feeling uncomfortable with being talked to inappropriately in the workplace that maybe I'm just not that "hip to the jig" and I need to loosen up?
Personally, I think it would be nearly impossible to sexually harrass me anyway cause I'd just knee a brother in the balls, laugh and walk away, but what about the women/men who just aren't that fierce, like the people who are too shy or too scared to stand up for themselves? What happens to them?
Also, if there are no stats and no complaints are filed inside or outside the workplace, than maybe there really is nothing going on....?
I am torn, this article is sooo confusing. But... I will still write it, "grey" areas included! If you're really lucky it may even end up posted here... ;)
The stats are dismal, in the last year there have been only 35 complaints filed, 35! So I am wondering if people are too scared to say anything about it, or if they don't really care anymore.
Has our society become so sexualized that sexual harrassment is now a non-issue? Does that mean that if I am feeling uncomfortable with being talked to inappropriately in the workplace that maybe I'm just not that "hip to the jig" and I need to loosen up?
Personally, I think it would be nearly impossible to sexually harrass me anyway cause I'd just knee a brother in the balls, laugh and walk away, but what about the women/men who just aren't that fierce, like the people who are too shy or too scared to stand up for themselves? What happens to them?
Also, if there are no stats and no complaints are filed inside or outside the workplace, than maybe there really is nothing going on....?
I am torn, this article is sooo confusing. But... I will still write it, "grey" areas included! If you're really lucky it may even end up posted here... ;)
Sunday, January 17, 2010
A play hey?
So....on assignment for my CreComm course, myself, along with about 50 other students attended a play which goes by many names. Firstly, In The Chamber 2010: Last Men, but the two parts within that title were Last Man in Krakendorf and Last Man in Puntarenas. Both part 1 and 2 consisted of one man monologues, written and then performed by two men. Part 1 starred Gordon Tanner whom I recognized as an actor from Inertia, and I also recognized the director, Sarah Constible as his love interest from Inertia.
Now, granted, the performances were amazing. Both male actors did a fabulous job and are awesomely talented. The concept of both parts was essentially a male middle age crisis....a sort of nervous breakdown if you will.
In Part 1 a man named Doug Turner delivers a presentation to a video camera alone in a hotel room. He is equipped with a slide show and some old chinese food. He speaks to a man named Warren Buffett, complaining about subjects such as Human Factor Analysis and pigs being burned alive.
The man is visibly distraught and there is some hint that he might be in some trouble with the law. He curses and breaks down numerous times through out the performance. The actors' use of space was interesting as he seemed to fill the entire set with his massive presence. Quite comical it was to meet him after the show and see that he is exactly the same in "real-life".
Part 2 was much the same type of performance. This time the monologue took place in a nearly empty restaurant. A man delivers a birthday speech to his friends, an empty table, but the "friends" are represented by balloons tied to the tops of chairs. Quite funny I found that every time a friend was leaving the table it was shown by a balloon being carried off the stage.
This gentlemen is dealing with the death of his young son and the resulting failing of his marriage. Not quite as angry or high strung as the first man, but still difficult to watch. The mental breakdown he has is more of an emotional one, a realization that his life is essentially nearing it's end. Not life in a literal sense, but the important milestone events in his life.
However he too manages to touch on this Human Factor Analysis subject (one which, had I understood it, I could explain it now). He also makes several references to prostitutes and mentions that he was attracted to the female students he taught at Balmoral Hall High School.
As I previously stated, the performances were great. Sadly, I am unable to say that I "thoroughly" enjoyed it. To say that would be a lie. However, many of those in the theater did enjoy it, mostly, not surprisingly, middle aged men. There were numerous loud, boisterous laughs coming from the spectators, but my laughs were nowhere to be found.
I have come to the conclusion that it was simply, to be all PR like, not in my "demographic". The play wasn't made for me, wasn't made to entertain me and as a result didn't speak to me at all. The jokes were beyond my understanding and the concept was unrelatable.
A play centered around 20-something females would be more my "thing".
If you've read this far you need to get out more!
Christa
Now, granted, the performances were amazing. Both male actors did a fabulous job and are awesomely talented. The concept of both parts was essentially a male middle age crisis....a sort of nervous breakdown if you will.
In Part 1 a man named Doug Turner delivers a presentation to a video camera alone in a hotel room. He is equipped with a slide show and some old chinese food. He speaks to a man named Warren Buffett, complaining about subjects such as Human Factor Analysis and pigs being burned alive.
The man is visibly distraught and there is some hint that he might be in some trouble with the law. He curses and breaks down numerous times through out the performance. The actors' use of space was interesting as he seemed to fill the entire set with his massive presence. Quite comical it was to meet him after the show and see that he is exactly the same in "real-life".
Part 2 was much the same type of performance. This time the monologue took place in a nearly empty restaurant. A man delivers a birthday speech to his friends, an empty table, but the "friends" are represented by balloons tied to the tops of chairs. Quite funny I found that every time a friend was leaving the table it was shown by a balloon being carried off the stage.
This gentlemen is dealing with the death of his young son and the resulting failing of his marriage. Not quite as angry or high strung as the first man, but still difficult to watch. The mental breakdown he has is more of an emotional one, a realization that his life is essentially nearing it's end. Not life in a literal sense, but the important milestone events in his life.
However he too manages to touch on this Human Factor Analysis subject (one which, had I understood it, I could explain it now). He also makes several references to prostitutes and mentions that he was attracted to the female students he taught at Balmoral Hall High School.
As I previously stated, the performances were great. Sadly, I am unable to say that I "thoroughly" enjoyed it. To say that would be a lie. However, many of those in the theater did enjoy it, mostly, not surprisingly, middle aged men. There were numerous loud, boisterous laughs coming from the spectators, but my laughs were nowhere to be found.
I have come to the conclusion that it was simply, to be all PR like, not in my "demographic". The play wasn't made for me, wasn't made to entertain me and as a result didn't speak to me at all. The jokes were beyond my understanding and the concept was unrelatable.
A play centered around 20-something females would be more my "thing".
If you've read this far you need to get out more!
Christa
Thursday, January 7, 2010
The attention grabbers...
In our PR class we are discussing the concept of a "pseudo-event", for those of you who are not familiar with what that is, here is a brief description:
The terms “pseudo-event” and “media event” refer to the phenomenon that in modern societies many events are created with the sole aim of getting media coverage, or rather that events are staged in a way that lends itself to media coverage. Boorstin (1961) created the term “pseudo-event”.
With that in mind I was sent to research online and find a wicked awesome example of a pseudo event. But I quickly realized that I took part in an annual pseudo event for three years during my university career.
As a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority I participated in our annual "Teeter-Totter-a-Thon". For three days straight my sorority and our partner fraternity rode an oversized teeter totter on an outdoor platform in our university campus.
The event took place at the beginning of each school year and was used to garner attention from media and students alike. The idea was that if we hyped up our sorority, got our name out there and reached the chosen audience than we would receive more "rushes" during rush period. The process of "rush" occurred immediately following our three days on the teeter, and by that time we would already have potential candidates lined up.
During our "rush parties" the most common reason for girls choosing to get to know our sorority was that they saw us riding the teeter totter and it looked like we were having fun! So needless to say our pseudo event was very successful in getting us the attention we needed to "recruit the masses" so to speak!
Christa :) (not a snotty sorority girl!)
The terms “pseudo-event” and “media event” refer to the phenomenon that in modern societies many events are created with the sole aim of getting media coverage, or rather that events are staged in a way that lends itself to media coverage. Boorstin (1961) created the term “pseudo-event”.
With that in mind I was sent to research online and find a wicked awesome example of a pseudo event. But I quickly realized that I took part in an annual pseudo event for three years during my university career.
As a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority I participated in our annual "Teeter-Totter-a-Thon". For three days straight my sorority and our partner fraternity rode an oversized teeter totter on an outdoor platform in our university campus.
The event took place at the beginning of each school year and was used to garner attention from media and students alike. The idea was that if we hyped up our sorority, got our name out there and reached the chosen audience than we would receive more "rushes" during rush period. The process of "rush" occurred immediately following our three days on the teeter, and by that time we would already have potential candidates lined up.
During our "rush parties" the most common reason for girls choosing to get to know our sorority was that they saw us riding the teeter totter and it looked like we were having fun! So needless to say our pseudo event was very successful in getting us the attention we needed to "recruit the masses" so to speak!
Christa :) (not a snotty sorority girl!)
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