On Manners vs. Zombies

The 80's must have been an amazing decade. Neon Clothes were ok to wear, Disco was finally dead, and there were Mullets. Lots of Mullets. Then there was a new art form (some might say) emerging in the form of the mix-tape.

No longer were people relegated to telling there friends about there favorite songs, why not give them the songs? People suddenly had a say in not only what they listened to, but also were able to orchestrate a pleasing blend of music to make others listen.

As with a lot of things (especially in the States) if something is good, more is better.

Not necessarily. The Mix-tape in its various forms that extend beyond music has become so prevalent in our society that originality as a result is suffering. Reboots and High-Concept films dominate the box office. Music artists like Girl Talk have put a new spin on the mix-tape by actually combining the songs themselves. Sandals with Bottle openers on the bottom. It's everywhere. Everything is something mixed with something else.

Take for instance a book I am currently reading. This past weekend I had a discussion with a good friend about the merits Jane Austin. I usually can't stand Jane Austin. She's a great writer (no argument there), I just can't read it. But, A title caught my eye in the Washington DC Airport Borders. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Catchy little number isn't it.

The book follows much the same plot as the original novel (checked through my girlfriend, I haven't read the original) except that there are Zombies thrown in just for fun. Elizabeth Bennett is not quite as proficient in the oral arts as the martial ones. Manners is replaced with Kung Fu.

You get the idea. It's a really fun read, but does that make it original? It certainly is a combination out of left field. Roger Ebert once said of Quentin Tarantino's blending of old movies, that it's not that he is not creative, it's that he is too creative. I disagree. Sadly I think the old days of originality are gone. At least for a time.

On Love and Art (intense right?)

I had the immense pleasure of watching a movie two nights ago that has stuck with even through the last two days. I struggle with delving into the story and dissecting from it the subtext without giving away the story. My family used to hate me for ruining the ends of movies. But I'll try and be good.

Do I Love? How do I know if I Love? I've based my ideas of Love upon Books, Movies, and relationships I have had throughout my life. But is my idea of Love really Love? How can people have such vastly different definitions of Love? The questions are endless so I'll stop.

The movie, as most movies at their core, dealt with a few of these questions. Mainly it toys with the idea that we cannot, in and of ourselves, Love. Love comes from something outside of us. Specifically the movie centered around Art and creation (small c). As someone who enjoys making things, this hit me pretty hard. It's in my nature to build and make things. If something exists I feel the need to dismantle it and discover its how's and why's. You might say I love to do this.

Where did this come from? Goodness knows I wasn't conditioned to view the world this way (fond memories of my father asking his eight year old son to fix the TV spring to mind). No this comes from somewhere else. Somewhere that gifts writers with words, musicians with tunes, and carpenters with hammers.

God blesses us all in various ways, different ways. But most importantly He blesses us with the ability to Love and be Loved. He Loved Mankind enough to make Mankind.

To Love to is to experience. Whether it be a weekend project or a life long relationship, Love allows us to Experience (yes, big E) the Essence of things. To see the invisible.

Perfume: The Story of a Murder is a great, weird, beautiful movie. But I could be wrong about what it's about.

Website Update

I revamped my website and added a few things like a photo gallery and a video gallery. Take a look and let me know what you think...

thisisthacarter.com


More to come.