i watched this movie the other day. "the prizewinner of defiance, ohio." it was pretty good, although i didn't see the first bit of it. i like a story with a strong protagonist and a frustrating antagonist and a plot that upsets you a bit, makes you wish it wasn't going the way it is, leaves you unsatisfied and a bit sad. those are the kinds of stories i like.
i remember i loved "pan's labyrinth" because of that, and i really loved the story the girl told her unborn little brother about the rose.
this isn't really about that. although i'm sure once i finish i will realize that it actually kind of was.
the title of this is taken from "the prizewinner.." it was said in regard to a writing competition, at a cultural crossroads where something that once took skill and knowledge was being adapted to appeal to the everyman. a new advertising slogan: "no skill required." i struggle with this tension personally. the concept of lowered standards, which i suppose could also be translated as the concept of inclusivity. if you know me, you know i'm a the-more-the-merrier kinda gal. but at the same time, i have high standards and i believe in excellence. mediocrity is my frustrating antagonist.
vange and i were just having a discussion about going back in time to be 50s housewives for a week. we figured we would feel very accomplished, getting all that housework and cooking and baking of cookies and smiling done with our singular-purpose time. but we would need to come back quick, to the era of possibilities and dreams, where we could run away to far-off places and become artists and writers and chefs and photographers...this time we live in where everyone can be anyone. (if we forget about money that is)
isn't the internet the place where everyone gets to be anyone? (i think this is a very deep social and psychological treasure trove.) consider where we are right now. i didn't have to get a degree or compile a portfolio or appeal to any higher power to send these thoughts and words out into the world. i just had to be human and able to type. i am the self-proclaimed guru of whatever i decide is important in any given moment.
i think my favorite way to write is to intentionally neglect to include a thesis statement. and then to make a bunch of statements that support either end of an idea. like right now, do you think i'm arguing that it's good that everyone has equal opportunity to have their voice heard? or do you think i'm complaining about it because i figure we are becoming a culture of mediocrity? i don't even really know. i get too caught up in it all.
i remember i loved "pan's labyrinth" because of that, and i really loved the story the girl told her unborn little brother about the rose.
this isn't really about that. although i'm sure once i finish i will realize that it actually kind of was.
the title of this is taken from "the prizewinner.." it was said in regard to a writing competition, at a cultural crossroads where something that once took skill and knowledge was being adapted to appeal to the everyman. a new advertising slogan: "no skill required." i struggle with this tension personally. the concept of lowered standards, which i suppose could also be translated as the concept of inclusivity. if you know me, you know i'm a the-more-the-merrier kinda gal. but at the same time, i have high standards and i believe in excellence. mediocrity is my frustrating antagonist.
vange and i were just having a discussion about going back in time to be 50s housewives for a week. we figured we would feel very accomplished, getting all that housework and cooking and baking of cookies and smiling done with our singular-purpose time. but we would need to come back quick, to the era of possibilities and dreams, where we could run away to far-off places and become artists and writers and chefs and photographers...this time we live in where everyone can be anyone. (if we forget about money that is)
isn't the internet the place where everyone gets to be anyone? (i think this is a very deep social and psychological treasure trove.) consider where we are right now. i didn't have to get a degree or compile a portfolio or appeal to any higher power to send these thoughts and words out into the world. i just had to be human and able to type. i am the self-proclaimed guru of whatever i decide is important in any given moment.
i think my favorite way to write is to intentionally neglect to include a thesis statement. and then to make a bunch of statements that support either end of an idea. like right now, do you think i'm arguing that it's good that everyone has equal opportunity to have their voice heard? or do you think i'm complaining about it because i figure we are becoming a culture of mediocrity? i don't even really know. i get too caught up in it all.
2 comments:
umm oh yeah. by the way. this isn't the end. or the beginnging. did it leave you wanting? like i could have done much better? like i should have oranized my thoughts?
...
hmm. i get what you're saying. one of the things i dislike greatly about pro sports, is that there is a huge focus on competetion, "survival of the most talented".
the reason i dislike this, is becase artists are starting to pick up this same sense of competion. the best sounding artists sell CDs, the most talented writers sell books. then the artist who are purely out to make money cheapen the artists who are trying to make provocative art (aka, art that seeks a responce).
not to mention shows like "survivor" or "the swan" who cheapen humanity, saying that there is someone better than you who deserves a prize more than you.
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