David Shields, Reality Hunger, was published February 2010. I just got around to reading it last week. For a writing nerd like me, this book is awesome. To readers this book is awesome. To philosophers, this book could be awesome. To pop culture junkies, this book is awesome. I admit that it probably would be boring to the rest of the world.
A non-fiction collaboration of personal thought, quotes from various people of all genres and ages, ranging from Oprah to Eminem to classics like Emerson and even Picasso. A nice little collage arguing the blur between fiction and non-fiction in pop-culture.
This book is a little difficult to grab attention at first, but once it grabs you, which it will, you will not be able to put it down.
A unique genre, Shields labels 'manifesto', breaking from tradition of much written in the past.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Harry Potter Hype
I have to admit that I, hands down, love Harry Potter, so this is going to be an extremely biased post.
I actually started watching the movies before I picked up the books, but before the 5th movie was released, I began to read all of the books and that is when my deep appreciation for Harry Potter was developed.
J.K. Rowling is a literary genius and anyone who argues differently is ignorant to the fact that most of the novels that are in the 'canon' (for those of you don't know, a list made up by a bunch of white European males, concerning what can and should be on reading lists in schools) are journey novels. Starting with The Illiad and Odyssey and even The Bible. They are all novels concerning human morals and what is right what is wrong, the temptations that we all face, the mistakes, etc. No, I'm not comparing The Bible to Harry Potter because I realize that many take The Bible as a non-fictional book. However, the initial structure of the stories are fairly similar. It can also be compared to The Epic of Gilgamesh, The Lord of the Rings series, Agamemnon, and many other journey novels.
J.K. Rowling created a world that we all want to live in. She created a world that is vast in adventures and thoroughly detailed with her personal creations, including language, characters, scenery, and magic.
The movies are not nearly as fantastic as the books, but if you go into the theater with an open mind, they are still quite entertaining and on there own, they are pretty great. I am really happy that they broke up the last book into two separate movies and I almost wish they would have done that with every book starting with the fourth novel.
If you have not read Harry Potter, please don't be holding off just because you think the culture surrounding it is a tad ridiculous or because you feel silly reading stories about magic. These books and movies are made for all ages and even if the first two books are fairly difficult to get through, the writing in the books develops as they go on, as well as the characters, and just about everything else, including action. This is probably my most highly recommended book and I hope that one day all of our children and there children are required to read it, just as they are other novels throughout high school and college.
I actually started watching the movies before I picked up the books, but before the 5th movie was released, I began to read all of the books and that is when my deep appreciation for Harry Potter was developed.
J.K. Rowling is a literary genius and anyone who argues differently is ignorant to the fact that most of the novels that are in the 'canon' (for those of you don't know, a list made up by a bunch of white European males, concerning what can and should be on reading lists in schools) are journey novels. Starting with The Illiad and Odyssey and even The Bible. They are all novels concerning human morals and what is right what is wrong, the temptations that we all face, the mistakes, etc. No, I'm not comparing The Bible to Harry Potter because I realize that many take The Bible as a non-fictional book. However, the initial structure of the stories are fairly similar. It can also be compared to The Epic of Gilgamesh, The Lord of the Rings series, Agamemnon, and many other journey novels.
J.K. Rowling created a world that we all want to live in. She created a world that is vast in adventures and thoroughly detailed with her personal creations, including language, characters, scenery, and magic.
The movies are not nearly as fantastic as the books, but if you go into the theater with an open mind, they are still quite entertaining and on there own, they are pretty great. I am really happy that they broke up the last book into two separate movies and I almost wish they would have done that with every book starting with the fourth novel.
If you have not read Harry Potter, please don't be holding off just because you think the culture surrounding it is a tad ridiculous or because you feel silly reading stories about magic. These books and movies are made for all ages and even if the first two books are fairly difficult to get through, the writing in the books develops as they go on, as well as the characters, and just about everything else, including action. This is probably my most highly recommended book and I hope that one day all of our children and there children are required to read it, just as they are other novels throughout high school and college.
Friday, July 22, 2011
The 'Hottest Club in the Midwest'
Clicking on the Piere's website, I have come to the realization that I'm not sure where they got the statistics from. However, after serious consideration, I would have to consider this one of the better bars that I have been into in INDIANA simply because it has five different bars all hidden in one little package and you could linger to and from every single bar by paying one admission fee. I'm not entirely sure what regular rates to get into this place are, but with a college ID on a Thursday, it is free.
There is a variety of atmosphere's to go to. On Thursday night, not everything is open. In fact, the club that I would have most interested was closed. Club V, Crooners, and All Star Sports were open. In Piere's beer pong and corn hole tournaments were taking place. You really couldn't go empty handed long because there are drinking booths set up at every little corner. Memo: Do not go to the dismal corner bars to get water, the girls get put off by it, and I really don't blame them because the tip jar was damn near empty.
Overall experience of the night really was underwhelmed, not a place that I would go to often, BUT that may have been because I went to Club V on the hottest (quite litterally a hundred degree with high humidity) day. Every single body in the club was drenched with sweat, which made it almost miserable, especially after a few drinks. The people took dirty to a whole new level! Hip hop really is not my jam and I think that had the techno bar (The Zone) been opened, I would have had a completely different experience.
I enjoy the variety of bars that the place had to offer and if I was not in the mood to dance, I probably would have had a great time at the karaoke bar (Crooner's). I think that this bar really has something to offer everyone and I fancy that variety all under one roof.
This is a pretty huge bar, so I would recommend to always have a bar buddy.
Piere's Web Link
There is a variety of atmosphere's to go to. On Thursday night, not everything is open. In fact, the club that I would have most interested was closed. Club V, Crooners, and All Star Sports were open. In Piere's beer pong and corn hole tournaments were taking place. You really couldn't go empty handed long because there are drinking booths set up at every little corner. Memo: Do not go to the dismal corner bars to get water, the girls get put off by it, and I really don't blame them because the tip jar was damn near empty.
Overall experience of the night really was underwhelmed, not a place that I would go to often, BUT that may have been because I went to Club V on the hottest (quite litterally a hundred degree with high humidity) day. Every single body in the club was drenched with sweat, which made it almost miserable, especially after a few drinks. The people took dirty to a whole new level! Hip hop really is not my jam and I think that had the techno bar (The Zone) been opened, I would have had a completely different experience.
I enjoy the variety of bars that the place had to offer and if I was not in the mood to dance, I probably would have had a great time at the karaoke bar (Crooner's). I think that this bar really has something to offer everyone and I fancy that variety all under one roof.
This is a pretty huge bar, so I would recommend to always have a bar buddy.
Piere's Web Link
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Wounded in Action
If you have ever been to Chicago, down the Magnificent Mile, specifically off of Randolf and Michigan St is a large building called the Chicago Cultural Center. There in no admission fee, but I do believe that they take donations. The donations are not required and there aren't people hassling you right when you come through the door for these donations. They always have a few really interesting exhibits. Not to mention, the actually building itself is a work of art. Every single time I spend more than a few hours in Chicago, I try to make it a point to stop by the place because they do not have permanent exhibits, so there's always something new. I have seen an Andy Warhol exhibit, Marilyn Monroe, Japanese art, and many others that just didn't stick out quite as well.
The last time that I went to the cultural center, and currently, they have an exhibit called "Wounded in Action". It is all relevant to soldiers and veterans that took place in the current war. The exhibit itself, was one of the best art exhibits that I have been to, especially for the topic it covered. Most of the artists were donating large sums from the pieces they were selling to go toward the American Orthopedic Association. The major theme was supposed to be amputee victims, but there was much more than that. My personal favorite piece was called 'Patience' by a man named John Ton. It was a picture of a veteran with a cane walking down the street. Now, the unique part about this piece was the fact that it was solely constructed with bullet shells. It was a touching exhibit, and having family that has been in the war, as many people do, stirred emotions, while the exhibit creatively put them onto canvases.
This building and this exhibit are definitely worth taking a look at, if you ever get the chance.
Chicago Cultural Center Website
The last time that I went to the cultural center, and currently, they have an exhibit called "Wounded in Action". It is all relevant to soldiers and veterans that took place in the current war. The exhibit itself, was one of the best art exhibits that I have been to, especially for the topic it covered. Most of the artists were donating large sums from the pieces they were selling to go toward the American Orthopedic Association. The major theme was supposed to be amputee victims, but there was much more than that. My personal favorite piece was called 'Patience' by a man named John Ton. It was a picture of a veteran with a cane walking down the street. Now, the unique part about this piece was the fact that it was solely constructed with bullet shells. It was a touching exhibit, and having family that has been in the war, as many people do, stirred emotions, while the exhibit creatively put them onto canvases.
This building and this exhibit are definitely worth taking a look at, if you ever get the chance.
Monday, July 18, 2011
4-H Fair & Fine Arts
I don't remember the 4-H fair being such a big deal when I lived near Chicago, IL. Once my family moved to a rural area in Indiana, I realized what a big deal it was. There are animals, rides, crafts, scholarship programs, and food among many other things.
The rides are overpriced, as most fairs are. The food is overpriced as well, and to be completely honest, will give you the shits for at least 24 hours because most of them are high in fat and greasy contents. The vendors always sell cheap hippy stuff for more than they should or other odds and ends. Tradition is the one of the only reasons that I still go to these things.
Recently, I was at a 4-H fair in northern Indiana. The animals were all very cute, with the exception of the turkeys and chickens, because, well, who really thinks those things are cute? The botany projects were crafty and pretty awesome to look at. The paintings were few and far in between. Quite honestly, I wonder how the judges grade these kids because there was a painting of a parrot and a painting of a horse that this kid did, he labeled it "tube painting" which I have never heard of. Even after I looked it up, I still don't understand exactly what it is, but it was absolutely amazing. I wanted to touch the painting because it looked 3D. After a little bit of research, I'm still confused as to what it is. The kid did not win and his was clearly not only the best, but the most unique. The only way that they could have given such a low judgment was due to the fact that the judges didn't understand exactly how the kid made the project.
The moral of the story, art can be judged by an audience, but if you have ever entered Fine Arts into a 4-H exhibit and received a low score, don't give up on your passion, because there are people like me that thought your grading was unfair and your art is beautiful.
The rides are overpriced, as most fairs are. The food is overpriced as well, and to be completely honest, will give you the shits for at least 24 hours because most of them are high in fat and greasy contents. The vendors always sell cheap hippy stuff for more than they should or other odds and ends. Tradition is the one of the only reasons that I still go to these things.
Recently, I was at a 4-H fair in northern Indiana. The animals were all very cute, with the exception of the turkeys and chickens, because, well, who really thinks those things are cute? The botany projects were crafty and pretty awesome to look at. The paintings were few and far in between. Quite honestly, I wonder how the judges grade these kids because there was a painting of a parrot and a painting of a horse that this kid did, he labeled it "tube painting" which I have never heard of. Even after I looked it up, I still don't understand exactly what it is, but it was absolutely amazing. I wanted to touch the painting because it looked 3D. After a little bit of research, I'm still confused as to what it is. The kid did not win and his was clearly not only the best, but the most unique. The only way that they could have given such a low judgment was due to the fact that the judges didn't understand exactly how the kid made the project.
The moral of the story, art can be judged by an audience, but if you have ever entered Fine Arts into a 4-H exhibit and received a low score, don't give up on your passion, because there are people like me that thought your grading was unfair and your art is beautiful.
Good Read
"Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" by Hunter S. Thompson. I have heard so many things about this book. I have watched the movie many times. Fear and Loathing is a cultural icon for the American drug culture via 1970's. I can clearly see why. Although difficult to follow sometimes because I have not done nearly any of the drugs discussed in this book, it was a fast paced, fairly easy read. The end was slightly confusing, as I imagine many drug binges to be.
I would not suggest this book to children, especially those of protective parents. However, if you have time to kill and an itch for a good read, this book is definitely recommended for those that eat up counterculture/drug culture information. It is after all a 'cult classic'. On a scale of 1-10, I would give it a 7.5 and recommendations are fairly high for this classic.
Also, the movie follows the book better than most all movies based off of books that I have ever seen. Give it a shot!
Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas Movie Trailer
I would not suggest this book to children, especially those of protective parents. However, if you have time to kill and an itch for a good read, this book is definitely recommended for those that eat up counterculture/drug culture information. It is after all a 'cult classic'. On a scale of 1-10, I would give it a 7.5 and recommendations are fairly high for this classic.
Also, the movie follows the book better than most all movies based off of books that I have ever seen. Give it a shot!
Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas Movie Trailer
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