Graffiti 8

Even a church can be a canvas.

"Why did men worship in churches, locking themselves away in the dark, when the world lay beyond its doors in all its real glory?" -Charles de Lint

"People don't come to church for preachments, of course, but to daydream about God." -Kurt Vonnegut

'Sucker Punch' A Review

Sucker Punch is a misogynist fantasy mascaraing as feminist empowerment. The main character Babydoll gets committed after a tragic accident. In order to orchestrate her escape she goes into a world of her imagination. The movie is an incoherent collage of movies that have already been made, full of dream sequences and trope scenarios. The monsters in two of the fantasy sequences are taken directly from 'Hellboy' and 'Lord of the Rings.' The women are always scantily clad and aggressively controlled by the men in the film. There is build up to a big vengeful pay off that never comes. The plot makes no sense and the characters are so two dimensional you have no investment as to how the story is resolved. There's no creativity or skill involved in Sucker Punch. This same film could have been made by a 13 year old boy with decent pop culture knowledge. As long as he had a budget of $100 million.

Don't see this movie.

'Battle Royale' vs. 'The Hunger Games'

Battle Royale is a 1999 Japanese book written by Koushun Takami. It takes place in a alternate reality Japan ruled by a totalitarian government. Each year a class of 42 students is chosen to participate in "The Program" which is a winner take all fight to the death. The winner of the games is set up for the rest of their life by the government. The Hunger Games is a 2008 young adult novel written by Suzanne Collins. It takes place in a futuristic North America in the wake of WWIII. A totalitarian government rules the region from a large city in the Rocky Mountains. Each year one girl and one boy is randomly selected from the 12 districts surrounding the capitol to participate in "The Hunger Games" which is a winner take all fight to the death. The winner of the games is set up for the rest of their life by the government.

I liked both of these books. Battle Royale more so than The Hunger Games. But as I read The Hunger Games it became clearer and clearer how much of a blatant rip off it is. The similarities are noticeable even in my brief descriptions of the books and they just get deeper. It brings up two points of interest.

1. Cultural Appropriation- The west has a long history of co-opting, bastardising, and marketing Eastern culture. Why do we feel the need to constantly re-create as opposed to create? There are constant re-makes, re-boots, re-imaginings, sequels, spin-offs, and adaptations but very little original material. This speaks to me of a lack of creativity on our part. We don't have ideas so we take others idea's alter them and then reproduce them. The other thing that really bothers me is that there's never any nod to the source material. The Hunger Games never gives any credit to what's gone before it. Someone had that idea 10 years ago. The Hunger Games is very popular and rightfully so, it's a good fun read. But I don't understand how huge it's blown up and how ignored Battle Royale is. The plot and character similarities are startling. I don't mind that everyone has heard of The Hunger Games, I mind them not having heard of Battle Royale.

2. Artistic Inspiration/Plagiarism- Someone has said that all stories have already been written. All characters, themes, ideas, and scenarios have already been used not once but many times. So anyone creating art of some kind is already copying someone else whether they know it or not. I don't know if I buy that but I don't know if it's wrong to start with someone else's idea. If you can improve upon it, change it, make it you're own, you're just furthering artistic expression. Maybe. One of my favorite authors Jonathan Lethem wrote an interesting article about this "The ecstasy of influence: A plagiarism." He makes an aggressive case that plagiarizing or 'borrowing' from other artists in fact advances art because it creates more art and is therefore accessible to larger amounts of people. If someone creates something which inspires someone else which inspires someone else, we're building, we're progressing. He ends the article by offering up all his creative works for copy and re-creation. Needless to say I'm of two minds about this. All I would ask is, if you've read The Hunger Games and enjoyed it, do yourself a favor and check out...

Battle Royale

Panang Curry: Cozy Noodle & Rice

Went to Cozy Noodle & Rice before iO yesterday. The decor of the restaurant is kind of interesting, it's filled with old kitch from the 50's, 60's, and 70's. The curry was disappointing to say the least. The upside was it had the most components of any of the curries I've had so far. It included carrots, basil, red, green, and yellow pepper as well as the standard chicken and curry sauce. The curry itself was very watery, lacked flavor, and had little to no kick. The proportion of the chicken to vegetables was ridiculous. It was probably 80% carrot, 15% various peppers, and only 5% chicken. I figure my expectations shouldn't have been that high considering it's advertised as a noodle place rather than a Thai place. Would I go again? Maybe. Would I ever get the Panang there?

Never.

Graffiti 7

Terminator businessman. I don't know if this is funny, sad, or scary. The implications are somewhat disturbing...

'Limitless' A Review

Bradley Cooper stars as a shlub who gets a hold of a drug that allows him to access and use his entire brain. The movie opens with Cooper at a bar trying to describe his book he's been attempting to write but never actually started. He has long stringy hair, a pot belly, and inexplicably a broken finger. The costuming is a little over the top, we get it he's a loser. It's also difficult for me to believe Cooper as an unattractive loser no matter what. He tries certainly but it has no ring of truth. I doubt Cooper was ever so unattractive or down on his luck. He went to the Actor's Studio for Christ sake. His girlfriend dumps him and he can't write his book.

Enter his ex-brother-in-law a former drug dealer who is now dealing NZT a genius drug. Cooper takes it and turns his life around. These are the most interesting sequences of the film. Cooper has snappy dialogue, makes interesting connections, and does things that are not humanly possible. He cleans himself up, finishes his book, and then ah ha! Discovers the stock market. After getting into the market he quickly becomes the most marketable and savvy trader around. He charms his girlfriend back and gets a meeting with energy titan Robert DeNiro.

This is where the inevitable problem comes into play. Cooper is in debt to a Russian lone shark who wants the drug and Cooper is running out of his stash. After the initial set up the movie becomes very predictable. Cooper is in over his head and the rest of the movie is him staying one step ahead of certain destruction.

The movie has an interesting concept but doesn't explore it fully. After the initial set up the movie turns into a cookie-cutter thriller. The twists and turns of the plot are predictable and have been used in any number of movies before it. There are also a lot of holes in the plot. Most blaringly there is a murder in the middle of the film used to frame Cooper but there is no explanation or resolution. It is used and abandoned so quickly that it's obvious that it's used simply to further the plot. It's almost offensive how caviler they treat the murder of a young woman. Robert DeNiro is totally under used and you wonder why he agreed to do the film in the first place. Although given his recent film choices it shouldn't be that surprising.

The most interesting thing in the film is the drug and it's effects on Cooper. There is a lot of time spent with Cooper going to parties and seducing women which doesn't really jive with someone with unforeseen intelligence not to mention it's not very interesting.

Overall I was entertained but I would never pay to watch it again. I might watch it again if it was on TBS on a lazy Saturday afternoon.

Only if Shawshank wasn't on.

Graffiti 6

This past week I watched a movie that really inspired me, 'Exit Through The Gift Shop.' After watching I realize my classification for this series of posts may have been a little inappropriate or inaccurate. I should have titled these 'Street Art' but for the sake of continuity I will continue to use the term 'Graffiti.' Also some of the things I've featured wouldn't necessarily qualify as street art. Like this sticker for example has a website on it so it's more promotion or advertisement than genuine street art. Moving forward I may make that distinction.

“The thing I hate the most about advertising is that it attracts all the bright, creative and ambitious young people, leaving us mainly with the slow and self-obsessed to become our artists. Modern art is a disaster area. Never in the field of human history has so much been used by so many to say so little.” -Banksy

Panang Curry: Opart Thai House

Tonight HP and I went to Opart Thai House for dinner. The curry was very good. Other than the curry and chicken there was a significant amount of basil which I appreciated. The curry was not as thick as I'd prefer but the flavor ran deep and it was the perfect amount of spicy. I was asked how spicy I'd like it, I requested medium and received medium, which at times isn't always the case. The chicken was a nice surprise, succulent and of a superior quality. Would I go again? Emphatically yes. I haven't seen HP in a while and we had a nice catch up session. At one point...

HP: So me and this girl Lindsay have this class we teach together. And we've been teaching this group since they were 4 and they're 8 now. They're all really great kids and level headed, they go to school together, Hebrew school together, and take our class together.
Me: Sounds nice.
HP: So she has this whole lesson plan written around St. Patrick's day. Leprechauns and shamrocks and stuff. And this one kid looks at her and says "I'm NOT gonna do this! I hate St. Patrick's Day! I'm not Irish and I'm not Catholic! I'm gonna draw Stars of David over all this!" Can you believe it? (laughs)
Me: (pause) Yeah. Good for him.
HP: What!?!
Me: Well I mean it's a Catholic Saint's holiday. Why should he have to participate? I mean he doesn't believe in it.
HP: But to disrupt class and come on it's really a secular holiday.
Me: Well I mean it is Saint Patrick's day. It's become secular because of commercialism. But it's still a religious holiday. A lot of holidays are Christian, just because they're popular doesn't mean you must celebrate them.
HP: Sure but...(pause)...Steve (laughs) you're like really on this kids side for standing up to the status quo.
Me: Oh yeah. Fight the power.
HP: (laughs)

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Nerd Art

What would Andy Warhol say?

Steve's Guide To Happiness

1. Always Carry A Book- You never know when you'll get a flat tire, have to wait for a bus, or need a prop to avoid conversation. Having a book will always allow you to entertain yourself, to escape, to be interested. A book can be a shield, calm in a storm, or a warm friend. When you're reading a book you have a life that you're living parallel to your own. If yours isn't going well, you're a page turn away from anything: adventure, romance, the plush heat of the Amazon, the biting breeze of the Himalayas.

2. Have A Hobby- Have something outside of work and your social life that you're interested in. It can be anything from riding motorcycles to playing chess. Have something that excites you, something you want to spend time with. Something that brings you joy simply by doing it.

3. Treat Yourself- Every once in a while indulge yourself. Get yourself something you really want. That dress that's a little too expensive, court side seats to the Bulls game, dessert. You deserve what you want, give yourself a little encouragement.

4. Have A Passion- Have something that you love to do. Something that you could do and talk about endlessly. In a perfect world this would be your job but the worlds not perfect. If it's not your job FIND what it is. Find that thing that brings you the most energy, the most fire, the most desire to DO. Find that thing that keeps you up at night thinking. Find that thing that once you finish doing it, all you want to do is begin again. For my dad it's the Law, for me it's Improv. What is it for you?

5. Friends and Family- Surround yourself with people that inspire and challenge you. People that make you laugh and bring out the best in you. People that want nothing less than the absolute best for you. People that care about you no matter what. People that you could talk for hours with or companionably share a silence. People that hug you hello.

6. Love- Love as much as you can. Love your friends and family. Love the sunny days and the cloudy nights. Love your anger and your sadness. Love the dappled forest and the sprawling concrete jungle. Love mysterious strangers and the people you see everyday. Most of all, fall in love. Kiss, embrace, and give as much of yourself as you can. It'll make you rich and alive. Who knows, you may find someone you can't live without...

"Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it." -Groucho Marx

Isolation

(via phone)

Me: I think we can kind of broaden the scope at this point. Branch out from emotion.

Beanpole: What you got?

Me: I got a couple, but now I'm feeling 'Moon' for Solitude.

Beanpole: ...hmmmmm...(long pause)...

Me: ...Good or no?

Beanpole: (pause)Yeah...how about, Isolation?

Me: Good.

Del Awards 2011

'Song of Solomon' by Toni Morrison is one of my favorite books. One of the lines from that book that has stuck with me over the years is "Share your happiness with me, not your unhappiness." She's describing the attitude of Milkman, the main character of the book. This quote occurred to me last night before the Del Awards at iO.

Each year the iO improv community has an awards show to honor and poke fun at the previous year of improv. Caitlin asked me at the beginning of the week to help with The Katydids opening number. I painted my face like a white tiger and Caitlin came out on my back for the final chorus. One of the awards is 'Drunken Spectacle' which I was nominated for. The nomination read as follows "Steve Nelson for ruining a Bird and Bison show by getting up on stage and saying woosh." This was a very dark moment for me. Possibly one of the things I feel worst about in my entire life. And of course I won. I knew I was going to. That moment was too juicy and horrible not to get attention. Which brings me to the quote.
The audience was packed. They didn't want to hear about my struggles, they didn't want to hear about my problems, or my regret. They wanted to be entertained. Share your happiness with me, not your unhappiness. It's a feeling I imagine a lot of comedians feel from time to time. Give me all you can, make me laugh, but don't count on me. There was also another layer. Facing the music.

There comes a point where you have to take responsibilities for your actions. Chickens coming home to roost, made your bed now lie in it, any number of phrases. The award seemed to me a reprimand. It was mine, I owned it. I felt a lot of tension the whole night until they said my name. I walked to the stage, accepted the award, and froze. I saw Vince in the front row, took a deep breath, and gave my speech.

Me: I'm ashamed to win this award(laughter). I want to take this opportunity to apologize to The Bird and the Bison, their coach, and specifically my best friends on the team Vince, Eli, and Jillian. I also want to thank Craig Uhlir for having my back and getting me out of the trouble I got myself into(pause for laughter). This was not a good thing. (more laughter, exit)

I wondered for a while why people were laughing. I didn't realize till later I still had my face paint on. Craig called it Kaufman-esque.

That chapter on my life is closed. Last night sealed it.

Own your mistakes as well as your triumphs.

Panang Curry: Sticky Rice

Wes and I went to Sticky Rice tonight for dinner. I, of course, ordered the Panang Curry. The curry was good not great. The consistency of the curry itself was half way between thin and thick, I'd have preferred it to be a little thicker. Other than the curry and the chicken the only additions were the five small chunks of tomato and the two basil leafs you can see in the photo. Overall it was a little lacking, it felt a little incomplete. The spiciness was a good level but this was the first Thai place I've been to that didn't ask you how spicy you'd like it. Presumably however spicy they make it is how spicy you get it. Wes recommended it and after the meal he said it wasn't as good as he had remembered it. Overall I was a little disappointed. Would I go again?

Doubtful.

'The Adjustment Bureau' A Review

Matt Damon plays a New York politician with hopes of becoming Senator. On the night of his crushing defeat he meets the woman of his dreams(Emily Blunt) in the men's bathroom. She inspires him to give a rousing speech that sets him up for another Senate bid a couple years down the line. The thing is it wasn't a chance meeting it was arranged by...THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU!

The main thrust of the movie is that 'The Chairman' has a plan for everyone on earth. Insert whatever personification of God you'd like. S/he has a government-esk organization, with certain powers, that police the human population and make sure they stay 'on plan.' After Blunt inspires Damon they're never to meet again because they're not meant to be together. The rest of the movie is pretty much in two parts. Damon trying to find Blunt and once they are together, trying to avoid The Adjustment Bureau.

The premise or idea of the movie is fascinating but the film makes a conscious choice to get away from some of the bigger issues or implications i.e. Fate vs. Free Will. And that's OK. The chemistry between the characters is great, it's fast paced, and overall a fun journey with a happy ending. I guess, when it comes down to it, there's not a whole lot to the movie. It's a classic love story with bureaucratic fate angles.

I won't go in to the peaks and valley's of Damon and Blunt's relationship or the different attempts by the Bureau to keep them apart. Only because that's the entire movie. The movie briefly sets up the idea of the Bureau and then follows the relatively predictable plot arc of Damon trying to connect with Blunt.

Damon and Blunt's chemistry carry the movie. Their attraction is nice and warming and we as audience members are comfortable when they're on screen together. The big surprise in the movie is Damon's best friend and campaign manager played by Michael Kelly. He's the perfect supporting character and foil for action of the story. He's earnest, motivated, cares about Damon but is totally clueless of the action going on behind the curtain. Anthony Mackie and John Slattery were both kind of uninspired as agents of fate but it didn't overly detract from the piece as a whole.

Generally I say the movie was good. It could have been great. The film gave itself fascinating complex themes and moral issues to play with. It only had the guts to turn it into one long protracted chase scene. But hey...

I like chase scenes.

Graffiti 5

Signs from the Universe...