Commercial radio and television are vast wastelands (for the most part). I know many people who are growing weary of the mind-numbing stupidity that commercial media feeds us insultingly labeled as 'entertainment'. How many news stories must one hear of Amy Winehouse or Rihanna as if they matter? And what is up with the overkill on the radio? Who has not grown tired of the empty, rootless and imitative music that comes out of the speakers every time the radio is switched on? And let's not speak of the level of narcissistic exhibitionism in many of the popular musicians today.
The following playlist celebrates a different kind of sound seldom heard....
Our strategy should be not only to confront empire, but to lay siege to it. To deprive it of oxygen. To shame it. To mock it. With our art, our music, our literature, our stubbornness, our joy, our brilliance, our sheer relentlessness - and our ability to tell our own stories. Stories that are different from the ones we’re being brainwashed to believe. The corporate revolution will collapse if we refuse to buy what they are selling - their ideas, their version of history, their wars, their weapons....their notion of inevitability.
A few weeks ago while doing a little research on something I'm working on, I ran across a very interesting philosopher/cultural critic named Slavoj Zizek. I've listened to and read my fair share of academic/social philosophers throughout the years, but I have never found any of them humorous (except for Cornel West on occasion). Zizek is not only damn funny in both the content and manner of his presentation, but he has a fascinating erudition as well. He makes quite lucid observations on a broad range of topics from film to the war in Iraq, but through it all, he retains an iconoclastic and acerbic wit that zones in our our most cherished beliefs. From what I have read of him so far, his mission seems to be somewhat Buddhist in nature in that he wants us all to constantly engage the "real" (in Engaged Buddhism, being idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology is dangerous and close-minded. Zizek attempts to break these mind-shackles, I think, by asserting that there is no such thing as absolute truths. In fact, in his mindscape, the world only makes sense if you turn it upside down and inside out!).
There are two books I will have to add to my already huge "must-read" list which are "The Fragile Absolute" & "The Puppet and the Dwarf". I think exploring the mind of this engaging philosopher is time well spent. Here are a few clips of Zizek:
(This is deep. If one reads between the lines, he seems to suggest that our notions of "love" are deeply flawed and tragic. Love as a violent act, in his terms, may suggest a form of spontaneous non-attachment which is an alien notion in a culture saturated with fantasies and illusions of love...)
Oh! The games people play! We have all heard or perhaps experienced our fair share of love affairs that started out with so much hope and reciprocity only to end up in smoke & ashes for one reason or another. Everyone's situation is unique so passing judgment is a foolish venture, but I have to admit, men (sorry fellas) are largely to blame (although women aren't too far behind in the blame department!).
The notion of "men are from Mars/Women from Venus" has some elements of truth in it as it appears that we see & experience things differently on many levels. Studies on the brains of men and women have proven this. For example, men rank good looks and facial attractiveness more important than women do, whereas women rank honesty, humor, kindness and dependability more important than men do. Men cheat more than women do not because of love, but because of sex. Some women cheat because of sex, but mostly they cheat because of the aforementioned factors (kindness, attentiveness, etc). What I have learned is that the golden key to any relationship is compromise. Conceptually easy to understand, but damn hard to execute as so many factors come into play (class & cultural differences, education & experience, etc) which tend to lean more towards antagonistic contradictions. What I find lacking in most folks is the art of compromise or sacrifice. It's as if no one wants to give up his/her selfish desires/inclinations & would much rather conveniently sweep stuff under the rug (which is why most relationships fail).
I am no "relationship expert" (don't believe in that crap as those so-called experts with all the answers have their fair share of breakups too!), but I do know that what are absolute "musts" in any relationship are gut-bucket honesty and no-frills communication every step along the way. Oh sure, feelings will get hurt sometimes, but would you prefer to live in a happy lie or a painful truth? If you answer the former, your ass is doomed.
