Blog Set 12: Don't Bury Me And Be Careful What You Wish For!

"The Premature Burial" 

Have you ever heard of the adage, "You can worry yourself sick?" How about, "Thoughts grow into our worst fears?" The premise that all thoughts eventually lead to our own affliction is not entirely factual, but does stand to make a good argument that something can be grown within the mind to dangerously sickening proportions. Can someone worry himself or herself to sickness? My answer is: yes. That's speaking from personal, first-hand experience. There was a time in my life when I would worry about everything! I mean ev-ery-thing. My first flight to London was horrendously dreadful as I imagined all of the thousands upon thousands of possible tragic outcomes that come with flying in an airplane: the plane might experience engine failure, I might catch an incurable disease, or someone will steal from me, etc. These thoughts eventually grew so deep into my mind that weeks prior to my trip, I was undergoing the physical complications of extreme anxiety: sweaty palms, upset stomach, headaches, and there were always the horrible images of trypophobia flashing across my mind. It was utter misery that I was putting myself through. All of this beginning in my mind and radiating outward into true physical manifestations; I hated myself for thinking up all of the horrific scenarios. 

My personal experiences can easily be related to our narrator in Edgar Allen Poe’s short story, "The Premature Burial”. He worries about being buried alive so much that he sets up an elaborate system of "fail/safes.” To his climactic conclusion, during a hunting trip with friends, he assures to himself that the constant fear of the unknown cannot shadow his need to live in the moment. He sets aside his fears and carries on without hesitation to the possible grim realities that might befall him in the most assuring of certainties. 

After my trip to London and returning safely home, I was recommended to several doctors and holistic healers for my "homegrown" fears. After seeing a plethora of professionals and educating myself on the vast array of self-help tips, my anxieties and inner mind fears were pretty much all but eliminated from my psyche. During the subsequent years after my intensive treatment, I successfully traveled numerous times to Europe and throughout the United States. I also found helpful tricks of the mind to keep my worries of the possibilities that life might throw at me in check. One of which, is my favorite, "STOP IT!" Video enclosed. 

I would assume that Poe understood psychology of the mind and that fear is grown outward from the mind and very rarely inward to the mind. He ever so elegantly draws his readers into their darkest fears of being buried alive by telling us short captivating stories. Once he has our undivided attention, he goes in for the kill. He recalls his own close call of being buried alive and does not foreshadow the moral outcome of his tale. Only at the very end of the short story does he assert his mental recheck onto our minds the notion that fear can be deafening to the soul's enjoyment of life. Similar to my experience, I can only look back with self-confidence that I overcame my fears. Now, what about you? 

"The Monkey's Paw"

        Be careful what you wish for. You never know what you might just get. This story was chillingly captivating and mysterious. The realm of supernatural streams over this story like a dense fog over a moor. You can feel the anxiety in the air as the solider foreshadows the doom that comes from the usage of the Monkey's Paw. The elements of magic and unseen powers directing fate are strong foundations to the unexplained world.

        We have all had our wishful thinking periods in a lives. Winning the lottery or being humble enough to get that dream job, are all possibilities, if we believe. "The Monkey's Paw" by J.J. Jacobs plays into those very notions of thought. The what if's to everyday occurrence and the unlikely results of irresponsible wishing. After reading this story, I remembered a short tale about a man who wished for a million bucks. The magic lamp, which housed a powerful genie granted this person his wish by making a million "buck" deers appear. I assume he should have been a little more detailed in explaining, a million US dollar bills than a million bucks.

        The supernatural is an unseen truth of the human condition. Throughout the ages, this unexplained world has been our salvation and excuse for our way of life and moral compass. It gives us hope that there is a life beyond this physical one and that sometimes, a coincidence is not always what it seems to be. If you wish for someone to return from the dead, be sure to detail that they should be restored to their previous self, not their current rotting condition. What gets me is the ignorance of the parents and their foolish wish requests. It was only during their desperate time of need, did the father's logical request in sending his mangled sons body away made me feel assured that providence prevailed. What a trip! Could you imagine if Disney's Aladdin played out like this story? I'm sure the parents would have loved that! 

Blog Set 11: Between Two Coffee Mugs!

"Berenice" Interview. 

***This scripted interview is a modern take on the tragic events depicted in the short story, "Berenice", by Edger Allen Poe. The concept of the interview has been taken from Zach Galifianakis's highly successful web-episodes, "Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis”. Enjoy!***

Falcon: "Hi and welcome to another edition of “Between Two Coffee Mugs”, I'm Michael Falcon. My guest today is Mr. Egaeus, who is mostly know for his horrific crime against his beautiful cousin Berenice, back in 2013. His deplorable crime of passion sent shock waves throughout the nation as police uncovered the details of his horrific crime against the then gorgeous, Berenice. She was featured on the hit television show, “Americas Got Talent”, and most recently, before her tragic demise, “America’s Next Top Model”. But, I digress. Mr. Egaeus, welcome and thank you for being on “Between Two Coffee Mugs”.

Egaeus: (Looking off into space, like a mad man who just recently escaped from jail) "Thanks Michael.” (Long pause) “I'm glad to be here." 

Falcon: "Well, it's good to have you here, even if it's only half of you, and by that, I mean the physical you." 

(Egaeus looks at Michael for a brief moment, they lock eyes as if they are having a moment of deep thought in the middle of their conversation.)

Falcon: "Soooooo I hear you like reading books! Why don't you share with us some of your favorite titles that you’ve recently read.” (Awkward pause, staring at Egaeus, paper with questions in hand. He shuffles them around nervously.) “You know, I read a book once, it was called "Rashomon". A very good book, I highly recommended if you have any time." 

(Egaeus waits a moments, still staring at Michael with what appears to be disbelief.)

Egaeus: "I like reading books, they keep me in my happy place." 

Falcon: "And what the hell is your happy place, a dentist office? I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that!" 

Egaeus: "Asshole. No, I like reading about Latin and old stories about love and longing. I desire certain things in life and I always seem to be just out of reach of getting them.” (Stretches his arm out towards Falcon as he says that. Subsequently, Falcon leans back into his chair to avoid Egaeus’s hand) “Have you ever had that feeling? That longing for connection and companionship? Oh, if I could only see my loves again." 

(Falcon holding his paper questions in hand, showing a facial expression of shock and disgust while Egaeus looks wistfully into space.) 

Falcon: "Well, yes, I have that feeling all of the time, especially when walking by a StarBucks and seeing all of those goodies and then looking down at my belly and wondering, why not stomach, brain, and mouth? Why can't I have just one treat today? Usually they acquiesce." 

Egaeus: "I-I-I don't think we are on the same page herrrrrre. (Reflecting now the same shocked as Falcon did and then a long pause as if a whole new idea dawned on him) You have beautiful teeth, you know." 

Falcon: "Why thank you a-an-and back off. They're staying right in my mouth, buuuuut thank you very much. So, let's talk about Mommy! How did Berenice fill this void of love for you?" 

Egaeus: "Mom wasn't around much.” (pause) “After birth, I mean. She was really gone!” (staring out into space ) “But Berenice, she gets me and understands my talents and heh mental shortcomings. She accepts me for who I am and what I contribute to society. But revealing to the world just how beautiful her teeth are, well, those lovely pearly white teeth of her's are stunning. I sometimes touch my teeth with my tongue, imagining that they are her teeth that I am touching."

(Total shock now from Falcon, as if Egaeus is contagious with madness. Egaeus is licking his teeth. Surely, he is imagining they are Berenice’s.)

Falcon: "You are one messed up little man! You and your fetish with teeth. I bet The American Dental Society has a lifetime ban on you! Sicko! What filth you are and what's up with the creepy teeth references? I mean we all know what happened you grave robber! I just don't get how you didn't remember what you did? I mean, come on! When you dropped the box, what were you expecting, Monopoly game pieces? You are one sick man!"

Egaeus: "It takes one to know one!"

Falcon: "Is that a threat or a observation? I don't know, my English teacher is always correcting me. Well, that's it folks. I'm Michael Falcon and this has been another edition of “Between Two Coffee Mugs”, Good Night!" 

(Egaeus looking straight into the camera, Falcon looking at him and shaking his head. Fade to black, intro music and credits) 

"The Furnished House Room" Question:

Drama is everywhere now a days. I'm sure the hustle and bustle of New York City life would make anyone a little bit fascinated and curious about what occurs behind all of those closed doors. What's happening with the newly married couple? What's going to happen to the lonely old man? Who is the new attractive lady living in that house? All of these questions and more are pondered while people are walking down Lexington Avenue. So, why not wonder and fantasize about what it must be like living in someone else's shoes? I know that the few times I have visited New York City, I thought the blind & curtain business must be a real bust. Pretty much everyone has his or her windows open to the outside world, and are allowing complete strangers a glimpse into the window of another person’s life, while the occupants of said windows look out onto the dirty streets. The only thing separating the two worlds is a thin piece of glass. This is very much unlike South Florida, where everyone has their houses and apartments covered up, and people never reveal what happens inside. South Floridians create a mystery for dog walkers and runners who ponder what really goes on behind closed doors and covered windows. 

"The Board Window" Question:

Where did the cougar come from? What a remarkable plot twist! I believe it is supernatural because the lady was already dead and then she came back to life to protect her lover. The bite marks and fur left behind are evidence of the great battle. She was called back to her body to do one more act or feat of love and protection. We hear about these types of things every once in a while: a mother comes back to life to save her children or just a strange coincidence of events after the fact of death. The spirit is more powerful than we give credit and the hand of action is like the samurai, even with the head cut off, it can still perform one more action with certainty. Ghost Dog! 

Viewing Blog 3: "The Signal".

        No Hope to No Where.

You are alone. Envision a road to nowhere, to no particular place with no hint of it ever ending. As far as you can see, there is just an endless road, surrounded by a red sand desert: lifeless and void of any familiar characteristics. It's just open space with a single road right in front of you, leading to nowhere. How does it make you feel? Do you feel hopeless when determining what to do next? Well, there is a vacuum of hope. What little you may have had, is gone. Just like that. Just you, starring down an endless road in the desert. 

I experienced these feelings after watching The Signal which was released at the Sundance Film Festival early in 2014 and was then shown nationwide earlier this year. This cinematic gem reaches the limits of "Interstellar" without the big budget a Hollywood backers. The contagious emotions of youth and their sense of adventure is richly layered like a homemade marble cake. I was surprised that the reception was lukewarm, as the plot twists and turns like a water snake on a placid lake on a hot summer day. 

We are introduced to three characters: youth at their prime and students of exclusive MIT. They are dropping one of their party at another school but are intrigued by and determined to find a hacker toying with them named Nomad. The opening scenery is lush and vivid. Open camera pans depict beautiful forests, open prairie lands and deep blue skies. Everything gives us the emotion of a summer adventure, with adolescent drama to mix it up. The main character, Nic is a runner who is now stricken by a disease or injury that cripples his ability to walk without aid. He is also highly intelligent and shares his knowledge with those that he knows; as well as, complete strangers. His sense for humanity is evident and showcases the depth of his character. His best friend, Jonah, follows him along with this journey of fishing out this mysterious MIT hacker. Nic's romantic interest takes form as Haley, a gorgeous brunette. Her facial features are uniquely warm and captivating. She's a California gem that any guy would want to bring home to meet the parents and hastily marry thereafter. A strong will and sense of self-preservation grips us in wanting more of her performance. She's begging these two guys to question their reasons for wanting to find this ghost behind the computer games. Her questions have an ominous foreshadowing of what is to come and their  immature invincibility wins out. 

The typically creepy haunted shack comes to mind when they finally track down the signal of Nomad to an abandon house out in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the night. There is the standard search with flashlights through the house and within moments, let the flood doors of adrenaline hit open! Nic and Jonah rush outside after hearing screams from Haley, just to see her defy all laws of physics and fly up into the air. Abduction! The lights flare in and out. Our characters lose consciousness. Remember, hope, because it's about to be strained. 

Nic wakes up in a clean room, void of color, lifeless and sterile. He is greeted by a man in a off-white hazmat suit named Dr. Wallace Damon. He questions him regarding why he has such protective clothing, his response is that Nic might be contaminated from an alien encounter. Nic is puzzled and frustrated, he can't understand what went wrong when him and his friends were trying to track down Nomad to this unknown facility. Dr. Damon's calm and calculating responses to Nic during  his questioning are unnaturally human. The facility itself is a labyrinth of doors and hallways. All lead to nowhere. Nic picks up on this rat maze of a hospital. He starts assuming that his friends are also being held within proximity, as he is able to have conservations with Jonah through the air vents. 

A plan of escape starts to form for Nic as certain questionable revelations occur. He is starting to really push the bounds of his now so-called imprisonment and actively seeks to challenge Dr. Damon and his staff. During one of his many interrogations, Nic sees Haley on a hospital bed in a possible state of a coma. He now fights this unknown system of shadows and sees through glass windows to free his girl and friend from certain doom. He tries several attempts to escape. On his final successful attempt at existing this now forbidden hell, he drags Haley out of the facility. During the attempt, he discovers that his once useless legs have been replaced by hybrid alien technology. He is shocked and Dr. Damon does little to comfort the confused Nic in understanding his predicament. Once they get outside, it is into a dry arid desert of nothingness. 

They struggle to find hope, seeking other humans in this unfamiliar desert. They find shelter only for a little while and until they are tracked down by Dr. Damon and his containment team. During a good chase, they team up with Jonah and his friend's new arms (much like Nic's new legs). They team up with their unique alien powers to overcome their captors. Jonah uses his alien technology arms to super slam soldiers into submission and Nic uses his legs to achieve inhuman speeds. Just as they are about to hit the road to freedom, they are stopped by Dr. Damon and his hazmat hit team. Haley is helicoptered away and Nic uses his super speed legs to run down that road to nowhere in an effort to catch her. 

His incredible speed breaks through a glass wall where he discovers that he has been in a cage the entire time. But oh wait, it gets better. His hope has gone from strained to utterly hopeless. As he looks around, he sees these huge windows; outside of them are the vacuum of space. Yes, space. He reflects on everything that he has been through. His life's experiences of him and Haley, his friendship with Jonah, all passing in a blink of an eye as his new harsh reality sinks in. He is on board an alien star ship. Being transported to a totally different planet. Dr. Damon was all along, Nomad and a mere robot to the collection of human specimens of further alien testing. Hope is gone. As in the vacuum of space, roads leading to nowhere and everything becoming pointless in a matter of moments; this entire movie is a nightmare similar to an ant being in a glass jar that is floating endlessly in an ocean, with no shore in sight. Hope is lost. 

Blog Set 10: "The Fall of the House of Usher" & "Afterward"

        What an exhilarating ride I just had and I didn't even have to wait in line at some cheesy theme park to enjoy it. Poe certainly had to draw up a battle plan when he developed this hair-standing short story: "The Fall of the House of Usher". There is so much great material to dissect and analyze regarding this chilling story of strange family occurrences and tragedy. As I finished this story, my mind eerily came across a subconscious comparison of another great story, The Great Gatsby. Now, I know what your probably thinking, "come on Mike, really, isn't this a little far off into left field?" Let me explain my reasoning (for those of you who play and or participate in any sports, that was my one and only sports reference for the entire year, so thank you). From my understanding of these two stories, they are told from the narrators' past experiences and perspectives: the unnamed friend of Roderick Usher and Jay Gatsby's neighbor Nick Carraway. They both tell us of their unfortunate journey with the main character. Both men try to help their doom-fated friends from either depression or obsession. Both stories involve love, either through the gothic style or modern materialisms. For Usher, his love for his twin sister brews doubt to her power and life after death. For Gatsby, he tries in vain to overcome the love of his past by trying to relive and rekindle the romance. One story is set in pure opulence and the other is the exact dictionary definition of a haunted house (in fact, this may be one of the earliest depiction of a haunted house in American literature). In the end, both are left to their fates: death. I just find the two stories so interesting because they have a unique literary connection similar to Yin and Yang. 

My interpretation of "The Fall of the House of Usher": This text takes a symbolistic approach over the realist opinion. This story is filled to the top with beautifully conveyed symbolism. The descriptions of the physical house and how it relates to the dying Usher lineage is paints of ghostly images to the reader's mind. I can understand the years of decay that has occurred on this ill fated family thanks to the detailed description of the house. Even when Usher's friend is describing his gangly appearance, it's like he is painting a portrait of foreseeable, quickly approaching death. The realist's mind might incorporate hope for a possibly positive outcome for this family, but nothing good happens for them in the end. It's horror folks! Hence, I believe that Poe wanted to paint such vivid imagery that would linger in the reader's soul long after the story was read. 

The psychological bricks of character description is also equally important to the symbolism of the text. Roderick Usher, displayed a myriad of emotion, led the readers to understanding the torments of his mental instability. When Usher is labeled as a hypercondriac  readers are given the sense that something is not right in the house just as it is not right with him. When readers meet his twin sister, Lady Madeline, when she walks by, they left with little to hint that she might just be as mad as her brother. It seems that Usher might just be bringing up all of these aliment himself. To understand that Poe was pioneering suspense when he created Roderick Usher's character is incredibly fascination. This just might be the first early foundation to the present day psychological thriller. Can we all say together, Black Swan? Any takers?

So, to remind you, I started off my post with an allusion of the haunted house ride at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. Is it a coincidence that every haunted house reflects the literary work of Poe's Usher mansion? I think not. But why has it become the staple of haunted houses for so many years? Why does this archetype fit the bill? Why does it continue to live on in our psyche? I want answers! "Where's the trigger?" Oops, that was Dark a Knight reference, sorry. The symbolism that has so hauntingly ingrained itself in our minds from Usher has become the prefixed foundation to everything that makes an old house into a haunted nightmarish experience. The way he personifies the windows as if they are eyes, creates an unsettling feeling that the house itself is a living, breathing being. Maybe it's a character as it plays a large role in the text.  The unnatural nature of the setting and characters leave the readers uneasy and makes a lasting impression on their psyche. The same chemistry of Poe's creepy house has been copied and recycled over and over again for all sorts of reasons. Some great reason are to scare young children from playing in abandoned homes or to keeping an audience on edge around a summer night camp fire and let's not forget our current film culture. Everything from "Friday the 13th" to "The Conjuring", have all utilized an uncanny, spine-chilling coincidence of description to this icon from "The Fall of the House of Usher"! 

Afterward.... An action will always have a reaction. 

I got chills after reading this story, by Edith Wharton. It was captivating how she enveloped us into this story. I can understand why this is one of many standard examples of American Gothic literature. We start off with a well-to-do couple seeking a get-away residence from their once hectic life of business dealings. Their luck struck them and they were afforded a chance to escape. Which isn't it a general American Dream to escape? It's kind of like our founding fathers once did crossing the ocean, right? 

Once in their new found Utopia, they had inquired about details of their new home, one of many was the concern of ghosts. A unique interest that they both shared, but nevertheless, not a major piece of information to seal the deal on their new house. As the character development continues and the plot thickens, we discover that like any American Dream, there is always a little bit of dirt and mud that might get in the way. Isn't this similar to people like Andrew Carnegie and John Peirpont Morgon's climb to success? They achieve the American Dream, but at what cost? The American Gothic reflects upon these dirty deals in order for there to be success. As if it never even happened. 

Mr. Boyne leaves unexpectedly with an unknown person. Never to be seen again. Mary is distraught and puzzled about her husband's disappearance. After months and years go by, a former partner of her husband visits Mary to clarify some past dealings. It is during this conversation that she realizes that the man her husband left with had a conflict with him years ago concerning the very business that had bought them their new-found wealth and privilege. This man tried suing her husband with no success. In his suffering, he attempted to end his life, only to agonize on another two more months before expiring. 

Just think for moment about the power of one's soul, one's self of being. Do you think that if someone wronged you and the pain was so immense that you would take your own life just to make it go away, but before the deed would be done, that you would exact your revenge against your enemy that placed you in this state? So let's take a guy like Andrew Carnegie. I wonder how many people, union guys and families of dead loved ones wanted to take out their anger, frustration, and hate against him? I wonder if he felt a guilty conscience and would accept his fate as a last "good will" to right a wrong. 

This story steps on the very stones of American Gothic. Boyne accepts his fate when he walks off with the ghost of his wronged partner. He knows what he has done to this suffering soul. The sad part is that his wife has no idea and that she is more in the dark than his heart. It is a chilling plot of the dead seeking vengeance on the living, with relatable concepts of suffrage and lingering doubts of wrongs that have been done, all in the name of achieving the American Dream.    

This text can stand as a social commentary on taking personal responsibility for one's own actions.  There are times when someone causes adversity in another person's life, and whether it be intentionally or accidentally performed, the wrongdoer should be held to some account. Now, I know we all make mistakes and I'm not saying there needs to be more lawsuits or incarcerations, rather more community service, more education programs, and more teachings of tolerance. Edward knew that he had to take some sort of personal responsibility in his actions towards Robert. He accepted his fate accordingly. 

Blog Set 9: Lord of the Rings, Ever After and Poe, Oh My!

Tolkien: One Ring

Think back to the earlier years in your life. They were carefree, with out doubt of being hurt or worse. The concept of fear and world realities did not exist. You knew the neighbors down the street, you could walk home without worry. Playing in the fields till dusk with fiends and watching fireflies dance on the light summer winds was an accepted norm. Doesn't this invoke your earliest childhood memory's? For me, such experiences occurred, and yes, I enjoyed playing with my friends outside in the fields past sunsets, watching fireflies and hearing the unique sounds from frogs & cicadas playing their dusk-songs. 

The Shire also evokes similar memories, too. In The Lord of The Rings, by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, the "recovery" aspect that he so elegantly captures is our minds warmth-memories of our collective childhood innocence. He brings us in by reminding us of our once-a-upon-a-time fantasy utopia. The emotions arise when we meet Bilbo Baggins in his golden year age of 111 years old. His character might remind us of our grandparents and how they spoiled us durning our early years. Tolkien brings us to this cherished and happy Shire as a springboard to the dark, evil and emotionally challenging concepts that lay ahead of the reader. That childhood memories are just that, a place & time that through experiencing life, we move on from. 

Another element to "recovery" is the friendship. During the Shire plot set-up, Gandalf starts pairing unlikely hero's for their request to destroy the ring. Friendship is a very important socialization trait that is vital to human happiness and mental wellbeing. It reminds us that friendships can help during the best and worst of times. We cherish them, like the Shire, deep in our hearts and souls. Acquaintances might come and go throughout our lives, but friends can stay for a lifetime. Tolkien knew this universal appeal and drew upon it to build a suspenseful plot of danger and testing of friendship bonds. 

Watching this film always brings up another feeling, too, escapisms. The emotions and thoughts that drive toward mentally running inward from present day realities. It's a brief escape for me and it allows me a sorta reset-process for my mind to this totally different world that Tolkien has conjured. Let's face it, this world sucks right now. Poverty is still noticeable, even down Davie Road. Faith in our government is shaky, like questioning the captain at the helm of a ship; "so where did you learn to sail again?" Cancer and other forms of diseases are killing our bodies and the environment is tittering on the brink of collapse. Families are being torn apart by substance abuse or even worse, infidelity. The list can go on, and on, but in a nutshell the size of a planet, I say "we," are losing the very thought that keeps us going, "hope." I know I've lost mine. It's a bitter pill as a college student struggling to either finish this course, complete a degree program, and hopefully find a meaningful career that brings fulfillment and it can be rather hard swallow without a drink of fantasy every now and then to lighten the emotion of hope. Easing the grip of reality that wraps its dirty hands daily around our throats. For me, this film and novel series are an enjoyable journey away from my world and into another that shines with hope and a foreseeable positive outcome. The escape is how we interrupt the art of the story and the outlandish; that one ring will rule them all, a fellowship of friends and battling against all odds towards success. It's beautiful. For the mind, just to get away. 

As my last part of my rant regarding Tolkien's work, "consolation" for me is achieving that feeling that "hope" can still be salvaged, resuscitated and re-packaged. The ring bearing group's genius is in the form of an empowering emotion from their audience. Similar to Peter Pan's Tinker Bell, the louder you clap your hands, the more likely she is to regain her strength and vitality. Towards the end, speaking on the overview of the entire trilogy, as the Eagles majestically swoop down and save Frodo and his friend, we are left with a sense of fulfillment. That light can be found, even when we are trapped in the darkest of places. Hope can be driven back into our lives. Isn't that what fantasy is all about? That we can recover and relate. The Shire and feelings of childhood goofiness and carefree days. That we can escape, through the work itself by surrounding our inner mind with thoughts of far off lands and magnificent tales of good v.s. evil, and that we can have some consolation. Fantasy is a reawakening of sorts for our mind and soul that reminds us even through the worst of times, there is hope. It might be small, but what, in our life experiences, hasn't started off small and grown into a redwood of a tale? The Lord of the Rings invokes all of these and so much more. It all depends on your perspective and how you digest the flood of possibilities that lay hidden in this timeless journey, that begins like all stories, with a Hobbit living in a Shire. 

Ever After: Oh Brother! 

First of all, I dislike the acting talents of Drew Barrymore. They aren't even really talents, but closely related survival skills necessary to barely keep a living from one movie to another. I believe her best and only work was done in the iconic movie, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. After her debut, she should have quit then shortly afterward and retired to a bar tending gig in Alaska, but I digress. 

Ever After is a movie adaptation from the classically old fairy tale Cinderella. It's either meant to be funny with realistic aspect from the original, or it just comes off as weak and cheesy.   The director took out the fantasy aspect of the story by removing the fairy god mother and the friendly animal companions. There is also not any singing which is what I loved about the Disney version from my childhood. In the end, sure she is rescued by the prince, but only after she rescues herself (yay for feminism) and lives happily Ever After with her new royal stature. I think the best part of the whole movie is when she doles out punishment to her stepmother and sisters. Don't we all wish we could do that to someone in our lives? That horrible boss. That awful ex who took you to the cleaners. 

The two tales are epic in their own right (cough LOTR is a million time better cough) each in their own way. One might possibly be realistic and the other one is a pure escape into the fantastical Middle Earth. I guess it's the audiences' call as to which is a better fantasy. 

The scope of fears that a child might interpret from the Cinderella fairy tale is loneliness, self confidence issues, and social stagnation. Different ages experience these fears at different levels of development. It's how a child conveys a presentation into their own realities of the world. The questions they ask their parents solidifies these fears into harsh realities. 

Yes, one can grow up being alone and not finding his or her Prince Charming or Princesses. Yes, one can develop a disposition that impedes self development from fully being  recognizing to his or her own limitless potential. And yes, one can live in fear that he or she will never do better than their parents, and that their children will never do better than them. All of these are real world possibilities that this fairy tale conjures up from the perspective of a child. All of this is manipulated into the premise of a well-organized plot with moral outcomes for one to take home. What a daunting form of entertainment. Especially for little girls, as if our society doesn't put enough pressure on them to dress a certain way or act like an airhead. 

In my opinion, a proverbial lifeboat should not be utilized as a saving grace in this story's fairy godmother. This only teaches an adolescent that through wishful thinking, that the unachievable will suddenly occur. Just like that. But we all know that self sacrifice, wealth, education, and a touch of luck are the real players in this universe. A child might grow up with this notion and only through failures, will they change their minds on those childhood fairy tale ending desires. I know, that when I have children, I will be paying special attention to what, if any television I show them. And Cinderella will probably be one that I will shelve indefinitely. 

Poe! Nevermore! 

Have we not felt sorrow for the loss of a loved one? Whether it be a girl that got away, a passing of a friend or family member, the sorrow we feel drowns out our perspective of reality to a certain degree. "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe vividly portrays this glimpse into sadness and madness. Nevermore. The feelings of helplessness, similar to watching a drowning man die from a sea shore, helpless, oh nevermore. To thy, I ask, have you not felt a feeling so gut turning, that it begs you to ask, why, why this feeling about Lenore? Either way, that was my lame attempt at replicating Poe. The poem is a little haunting, but merely a retrospective journey for me. I think about loved ones that have passed over and ex's that I wished never got away. The typical feelings of hope fleeting and despair washing over a once stunning mural of life, chalk drawn on a sidewalk for all those that don't know you to walk over, day after day. What an emotion oh, nevermore. 

  

Viewing Blog 2: Edge of Tomorrow-Groundhog!

Live, Die, Repeat & Groundhog! 

I wonder if Bill Murray ever saw Edge of Tomorrow? He probably thought to himself, "Didn't I do something similar to this in 1993?" Well, if he did ponder this question, he's surly right. Let's just take the concept, I mean the entire flipping movie plot of Groundhog Day and turn it into a science fiction story with action, romance, and don't forget the aliens. Yes, because every good Sci-Fi film needs the all impending doom-invasion evil-race aliens wanting to take over the world. Tom Cruise doesn't bring the slapstick humor that Murray brings so elegantly to the big screen, but Cruise strongly conveys big-budget action scenes masterfully. The story begins with Lt. Col. Bill Cage, played by our favorite our favorite action hero, Tom Cruise, is trying to get out of going to the front line of the alien battle. His superior officer didn't buy any of his arguments and had him arrested and then stripped of his rank. 

Long story short, Cage finds himself on the fateful front-lines, with scenes reminiscent of any film depicting D-Day. Cage is killed when he does the ultimate sacrifice by blowing himself up with a  bomb, right before an evil alien attacks him. The twist in the plot is when the alien's blood drenches Cage at the moment of explosion, he is sent back in time, exactly 24 hours back. Yes, I understand this goes against all laws of the known physics and theoretical time travel. Every time that Cage is killed in battle, he is instantly transported back to the exact time the day before. See? It's a plot similar to Groundhog Day, when Murray goes to sleep, he wakes up to the same song, "I got you Babe"! Thus, reliving his day over and over again. Cage utilizes his new found time loop to team up with the gorgeous Rita, played by Emily Blunt, who teaches his the art of fighting and war. Romance soon builds as Cage falls in love with his ill-fated partner. Over and over again, they both are killed; and Cage keeps waking up the day before the invasion with higher hopes of getting it right. They do, eventually.

The sci-fi connection to the human condition is that we all at one point of time wanted a do-over. When the universe plays a hand of trickery on us, we, hopefully, take the opportunity to positively develop one's character. Both movies hit the nail on the head with this concept. Murray must find compassion and humbleness. Cruise must find courage and wit. Both characters under go a massive change from their first appearances to becoming likable hero's of the day. The concept of character change and the do-over scenario is not new. It's just that Groundhog Day captured it in a wittily-funny type of way and Edge of Tomorrow build upon that in an action intense sci-fi aspect. Both films are highly recommended for watching. What situation in your life that you wish to have a do-over opportunity? As for me, my lips are sealed, or at least until I come up with just one really big thing I'd like to rectify. Keep the comments clean and G-rated. Peace! 

    

Blog Set 8: Je te Aime.

When was the last time you read a love story? I bet some people would think Fifty Shades of Grey, or even something classic like Romeo and Juliet. If there is one thing that I hope we can both share, is that love can be experienced through a story in many different ways. Your exceptions and definitions of love are surly different than mine. I'm positive that you can say the same when it comes to this thing we call love. Ah yes, love. It can even be called an act practiced throughout the ages. A human designed habit born from procreating and surviving. But is it only definable to our species and only on this world? 

The short story "Day Million", by Frederik Pohl so elegantly paints a picture of a different point-of-view on love. But first, let me make something clear, she is a he and he is an alien. Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let us begin. 

Dora is from a far far away planet that is billions of miles away from us. Through a highly advanced genetic structuring, he has been reclassified as a she. Think of it as a redesigned fail safe. I found it to be a really an interesting process. It defines someone before birth, so that they do not have to go through the agony of trying to find themselves in a highly discriminatory society; they are already sexed to their mind’s strongest preference. Therefore, Dora can live her life as she was chemically designed to be and contribute to her society in a positive way. 

As for her lover and his star-crossed fate, Don is a starship traveler. He’s more machine than flesh and blood because he's had to modify his body in order to withstand the strains of intergalactic space travel. 

When they meet, well, let's just say that things move pretty fast from greeting to let's get married (reminds me of some other star-crossed lovers, actually). They decided to exchange their digits of individuality on a Wednesday. Now you are probably saying to yourself, how is this typical of love stories? Well, that's the point. It's not a typical love story, but it conveys the "essence" of what love is and it also sheds light on what love shouldn't be. For Dora and Don, after getting married, they never physically see each other again. For their culture, this is perfectly acceptable. They do see their digital spouse everyday though. For our alien lovers, the minutiae of human love with its greeting, chasing and always trying to keep the other spouse happy is not relevant for them, or at least, not anymore. We express our love through touch, sex or other forms of mental stimulation. Love is an emotional experience. Dora enjoys Don at her request and desires, as the same goes for Don. They cherish the uniqueness of one another, without the physical realities like that Don, in his mechanical body could not offer in pleasuring a woman like Dora to her ultimate satisfaction. 

It's such an interesting story based on love, with descriptions of what beauty can look like and how sexual organs are not always the finite end-all to personal design. What a spin on this age old concept with a dash of alien to spice it up! 

Blog Set 7: Total Recall Or Not!?

"I'll be Back!" I mean, "If it bleeds. We Kill It!" Oops, I getting his quotes mixed up again, sorry. Arnold Schwarzenegger is a action movie icon. His many portrayals of the action hero, robotic messenger of doom, or the larger-than-life jock shall live for a very long time in cinematic history. While Schwarzenegger’s film career has varied greatly, his presence on the big screen always seems to be consistent. 

However, what if we decided to place Mr. Schwarzenegger in role that has him living a lie? Where he is in a futuristic world where the separation of the have's and have-nots couldn't be any more wider than the truth. Where lame lower-class workers of society save credits all year long just to have a fake mini vacation memory implanted into their cranium. What if one of these implantations was to go wrong for a man that is six feet two inches, weighs about 260 pounds and has a barrel-like chest sized 58”? What could possibly go wrong? Well, you'll get one unforgettable action ride of Sci-Fi suspense that will only last until the aliens are brought into the picture. Yes, aliens. Whenever a Sci-Fi movie needs help, like Professor Geerling so elegantly put it, "just put in aliens, that'll make it better!" 

The observations from the 1990 Total Recall movie compared to the original short story of "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale," by Philip K. Dick is the name changes of the main characters. Douglas Quail has a sort of lonely connotation of the below average male worker-bee of society. He’s the typical guy with an average life and with an average wife. However, much can be said about the wife and her condensing actions towards her loser-like husband from the short story. But that's a soapbox for another time and place. Mr. Quail is longing for more out of this world; he wants a trip to Mars! His finances won’t actually support an actual trip with his meager salary, so that's where the Rekal Incorporated comes into play. For only less than $1,140 Creds, he can enjoy a fully artificial vacation of his choosing all from the safety of his own mind. Where nothing can go wrong, right? However, in the movie, Hollywood decided to change Mr. Quail to Mr. Quid. This name conveys some sort of strength and power of fortitude behind it. A fitting name when you cast an icon like Arnold to play in this role. It is a name that is fitting for him, especially because of his physical attributes. He can invoke a stronger feeling of anger when McClane tries to offer him a different memory and he declines. He can show better brute force when fighting off the secret police who are out to capture him at any cost necessary. Arnold plays into his part well, but he does not quite capture the original essence of the story for me. 

Overall, the fight scenes from the movie are intense. Sharon Stone's appearance as Lori Quid is unforgettable, and the suspense is warranted for a big budget action film. But I missed the mind talking conversations with Mr. Quail and the police. I wanted to see or hear the thoughts that Mr. Quail has during the chase and leading up to his surrendering for another chance at another life. The memory artifacts and how McClane describes how each one will play into his new memory of alien mice and saving the world. We didn't get to experience that on the big screen when you have Arnold playing Mr. Quail, I mean Quid. What we would assume is that he probably would have stepped on the alien mice and not given much thought of surrendering, but fighting until his death. The whole movie is, in a way, a huge tree that grew from a little seed that was dreamt up by Philip Dick. Oh what a journey, but it could have been so much more if Hollywood executives would have left it be. Am I right?    

Literature of the Supernatural: SciFi, Fantasy, and Horror: Free Movie Nights!

Literature of the Supernatural: SciFi, Fantasy, and Horror: Free Movie Nights!: The A.S. in Film Production is hosting six movie nights this semester. All films are on Monday nights, from 6-8 p.m., in Building 3, room ...



Tonight's movie is "The Shining!" I hope to see my classmates there!

Blog Set 6: It Must Be Shut Down!

         Is this a story precluding to The Fifth Element, with a slice of Blade Runner like atmosphere and a Matrix Reloaded Plot of bring-down-a-corrupt-computer-system? "Burning Chrome" by William Gibson surely makes readers believe that some of the most iconic Sci-Fi films of all times took a little bit of something from this futuristic short story. The details of this wildly dramatized adventure of a group of guys trying to hack their way into a protected crime family server is so plausible and yet far-fetching from our current cultural realities. 

         The world of "Burning Chrome" is a bleak and dirty 20 year old gas station restroom of existence. People are suppressed to either do the questionable to survive or break the law to just maintain. Jack and Bobby are internet punk cowboys, or shall I say, outlaws. Their fix, in life, is breaking "ice" and stealing either digits with zeros behind them or information. Government order is out the door. The text mentioned a war and that Jack served in it. However, what is a little confusing is if Jack lost his arm during the war or trying to execute an attempt at smuggling; which was for his sake, an epic fail. This is a cold and dark world, and for me, the world seems like a mix of The Fifth Element and Blade Runner: always cold, raining, the sky is gloomy and the streets are busy with hustling and bustling, packed with people. They are dirty people with worn-out clothes; the clothes show their experiences of struggle just to get by and find enough sustenance. The city buildings, once shiny with newness and superiority, are now covered with a thickness of dirty, gritty ash, covering their once moral and solid foundations. An ironic image for those that now inhabit them. It's a world with corrupt individuals breaking the law through money laundering, illegal virtual-prostitution and a class system that only favors the top 1%! Oh, Gibson wanted his world not as a apocalyptic wasteland, but a drowned out country of struggle and strife. His imagery and details depict technology's advanced integration into the human world--a seamless relationship of wires and flesh. It's similar to Jack's robotic arm and the functionality of it during his hacking jobs. This is a place where tinkers are on a screaming edge of a half-pike, enjoying the ride until black-ice sharks wipe them out. 

        The power in this world is debatable. Chrome is a technology based system with a mean reputation. One that is not forgiving or forgetting. Her ice walls are notorious and the funds streaming through her circuits have people like Jack & Bobby salivating to score. The humans build the interfaces, systems and locks. But the technology has become entangled with human advancements. The techno brothel, as I like to put it, is the power of human weakness for desire. Chrome is the intellect of reason and funds. Break the bank, break the operations. For Jack and Bobby, the goal for them is simple. A big enough prize like Chrome is a big enough risk. Hence, the power struggle begins with ingenuity and luck. 

        Overall, I enjoyed reading this story and being transported to this futuristic Cowboys-and-Indians world. The plot was foreseeable, but the details of romanticism, human struggle and technology integration into biological interface was beyond captivating. Highly recommended for a second read! 

Viewing Blog 1: "Book of Eli"

"Lay that hand on me again, and your not going to get it back." If a cinematic tale could capture the grittiness and dilapidated state of just total apocalyptic destruction, the "Book of Eli" is it! As a movie goer, the plot is purely Freudian and moves fluidly to a foreseeable "all hope is not lost" ending. However, the ending might be debatable. Spoiler alert! As the main character Eli bites the dust, he finishes relaying the good Old Testament to the "preservers" of culture and art. The closing scene of Solara walking down the dusty never ending road foretells of several possible outcomes. A) She keeps Eli's legend alive by assisting when she can. B) She spreads the gospel of The Lord to all willing to listen. C) She returns to the town where she grew up and seeks revenge for Eli's death and proceeds to rescue her mother from Carnegie. All of them are plausible and really give little hope, in the short run, of humanity's betterment when it comes to the terms of an apocalyptic lifestyle.

The story, in a whole, also provides viewers an interesting hypothesis as to the cultural shift that would occur if America was setback to a time before currency debuted here. When Eli visits Carnegie's town, he barters with a tinker to restore power in his prized MP3 player. There is no form of currency exchanging hands, but merely goods needed for entertainment's sake or survival.

The movie is just enjoyable to watch. The hero, portrayed by Denzel Washington, is one of my favorite actors of all time. I really appreciate his ability to convey the sense of hopelessness that usually encompasses apocalyptic movies. His character's determination to fulfilling a predestined journey is a great example of how to overcome challenges and achieve one's life's goals. The morals of the movie center around the human condition and kindness in a world that seems to have none. Solara saw something more in Eli that even he didn't realize or sees until the tragic end. She saw that even though he was a natural killer and survivor, he was also compassionate and, at times, generous with his knowledge. He helped people that he didn't have to help and risked everything to do so. He probably did this to get his jollies off. There are studies that have been conducted that show true happiness is found in helping others. He was just trying to find his happy place! Selfish? Selfless?

He also shared his wisdom. That sharing of knowledge and past experiences is also a valuable lesson Solara needed to adapt in an apocalyptic world. This is a thematic lesson we need to incorporate into our own lives. Without having an open mind to seek out new information and one willing to share old information, a generational gap of knowledge might occur. Hence, the full circle of doom for the human race could become complete. But that didn't happen in the movie, therefore hope still remains.  

"So that's where I parked my car!" 

"Rush hour traffic anyone?" 

"Yeah, I told you that you weren't going to get that back."

Blog Set 5! Robots & Code, Oh My!

"Sizzling Saturn, we've got a lunatic robot on our hands!" Or do we? The old saying, "your perception is your reality" is brought to light in "Reason", an artfully written short story by Isaac Asimov. Cutie is the gold-standard definition of reason without a doubt. The logical formatting of the robot's actions conform to solidly known facts. This is the only path of intellect he knows. When Powell questions Cutie's telescopic observations outside the porthole, he receives a reply conducive to a child seeing a playground for the first time. How can a child know what to do with a swing or the function of a slide? Cutie tells Powell that space is a black sheet with lights on it, not realizing, through depth of educational exposure, that space is a rather vast and empty medium. I find Cutie's intelligence amusing as I imagine the frustration that Greg and Mike must have been feeling trying to reason with an expressionless and emotionless robot. I also like the religious references to Cutie and his unquestionable loyalty and to the Master. While Greg and Mike become ever more frustrated with the looming doom and destruction resulting from the electron storm, the climax of the story is resolved when Cutie produces the latest data from the previous day. The robot did exactly what it was meant to do; the Master was merely a concept of rule and implied direction for Cutie to continue to exists with function. I enjoyed reading this story and I wonder if one day, robots will be engineered to such a high level of efficiency that reason will doubt our very existence. I also can't help but compare how Cutie compares to robots from other famous science fiction tales. 

         Can love be transmitted through circuit boards and wires? The concept is a very interesting one to ponder. David's interaction with Teddy and comments such as, "are we real?" as well as his letters to Mummy saying, "I hope you're well just now. I love you..." bring to the surface a magnitude of questions as to how these reactions of emotion are being created in David's synthetic brain. The possibility that, in the near future, population controls and artificial intelligence can become a reality is scary to consider. Who would be in control of family decisions? Who would monitor the artificial intelligence? But the emotional toll that families would face with either the separation of a living human or an artificial one is perplexing to contemplate. Would the robot feel anxiety about leaving the only forms of interaction it has ever known? Would the humans feel sympathy for the destruction of the man-made psyche? This was an interesting read. I wonder if I could ever build a relationship with something that wasn't human and powered by artificial intelligence. My guess is that people would be brainwashed into believing their emotional interactions with artificially intelligent beings are authentic. Look at how we are so easily brainwashed into thinking the things that we think now? We must have a cell phone but no one had cell phones thirty years ago. They seemed to have survived without them.

Blood Set 4: The Star & Speech Sounds.

​"In many parts of the world that night a pallid halo encircled it about." Imagine a giant star getting bigger and bigger in the sky as it surges towards the Earth. This image best captures my perception of what millions of people must have seen as the star approached. The ominous presence of the star brightening the night's sky as it gets closer and closer. The beauty of such a natural phenomenon would captivate people with a sense of wonder and horror, all at the same time. Their collective observations crying out, "it's nearer, they said, nearer!" Oh how the panic would set in as everyone realizes the total destruction knocking at Earth's door. As the impending doom grows nearer, who of the majority of people would maintain their social norms of remaining calm and collected?

​ The descriptions of different points of view from across the world was interesting and, at the same time, relatable. If the world were ever dealt with a catastrophic calamity, I believe it would react somewhat the same way H. G. Wells depicted in his short story. Some people would probably brush it off, as an elaborate hoax while other would probably act like those intensely paranoid people on "Doomsday Preppers". Either way, the work is absolutely petrifying considering it was published toward the turn of the 19th century. To read such a work during that era, with the scope of knowledge that was available, must have been an experience similar to watching one’s first apocalyptic movie. Mine was "The Road" in 2009. After watching this movie, I was perplexed by mankind’s instincts of survival. The movie just stuck with me for some time; I would hypothesize about how I would react if I knew the world was potentially coming to an end. Speaking of endings, what was that about the Martian astronomers looking back at us? That was such a neat twist of events, showing advanced life on other worlds within our solar system. The notion of the story concluding with humans on Earth struggling because a missile was flung through our solar system brings up several questions. Who was the real target of the missile? Who fired the missile, if not the Martians? Why would anyone fire a missile at our planet? Bravo, Wells. Bravo.

Speech Sounds:

              Want a haunting glimpse to an apocalyptic scenario where people have been inflected with a strange virus that affects them through either loss of speech, neurological impairment or death? Speech Sounds is the story for you. Readers are introduced to Valerie Rye: a young woman, former mother, and wife that survived the plague that killed her three children and husband. The world population has been infected with a unique virus that takes away the "strength" most often used by the victim, such as speech, reading, or impaired judgment. What I find so interesting is that Valerie use to be a history professor at UCLA before the sickness occurred. She could read, write, and communicate fluently in her previous life, so to be struck down with this mass pandemic must have been devastating for her because she lost her ability to communicate. But at the end of the story, we find out that she can communicate even though she's lost her ability to read. She was just playing along with the majority in order to survive. 

              This short story has a magnitude of emotions and common life experiences. As a guy, I can relate to Obsidian and his choice to protect others selflessly rather than to wait at home for the inevitable. His interactions with Rye are characteristic of what any “good guy” would do when faced with such end-of-the-world circumstances. I also found it a bit humorous when Rye wanted to kill Obsidian in a fit of jealousy when she witnessed the fact that he could read. If I had my speech take away from me without choice, I would also feel incredibly jealous just like Rye. Even though the short story displayed sundry human emotional struggles and causes for reaction, I'm wondering who was the sick fuck that made up such a horrendously evil virus to unleash onto mankind? And why? Without communication and constructive cognitive thought, wouldn't any sort of peace bargaining become obsolete?

Blog Set 3: Only A Mother & We See Things Differently.

Sci-Fi Saturday Image! "SSI"

What description/narrative/explanation or commentary would you give this Sci-Fi image?

"A lonely man gazes upon his technological might and his inevitable destruction. With all of his power and knowledge, the very air will lead to his death." 

Your turn! Enjoy! 

Image Cited: http://www.themarysue.com/valve-scifi-mmo-rumor/

Blog Set 2: Passengers

        Technology is everywhere; this is a known fact in everyday life. It is used to ease life's chores or to enhance experiences. The current mindset of our culture is that we own the technology; it doesn't own us. But what if technology is silently taking away our control? For example, what if it is taking away our control over how we interact with one another? A human practice refined throughout the ages. What if technology had taken such a major leap in the past decade that we were given a cloak of belief that we still owned our socializing powers. In the short story "Passengers" by Robert Silverberg, a hypothetical situation in where "beings" transport themselves into humans and "ride" while their host, unknowingly, partakes in their abusive adventures. As these more powerful beings enjoy the use our human bodies, after the event is done, the human is left with little to no memory. But something occurred: one person was left with enough memory to try and save another from the repeated inevitable.  There was no chance of success.

​The story is foreshadowing technology taking away our control of social interaction. A hundred years ago, letter writing, social cocktails and family/friend gatherings were the social norm. Jumping ahead to the 21st century, Facebook, Twitter, Email and other computerized forms of communication have taken over. The technology is the "rider" and we are the empty vessels: endlessly slaving to keep our social status likable for the masses. The control is to some degree is lost. The art of face to face interaction has been diluted and when we take away our technology masks, we are left straining to save the one's we love from falling into the bottomless pit of "likes," followings, and trash articles that do not enhance our life in general. Similar to the "riders," technology is using us more and more. Technology is dictating how we should look due to the latest internet fashion trends, where we should live based on an internet poll of the happiest places to live or what should we eat from the research study of the best five fruits you should include in your diet everyday post. We have lost control of our social interaction. We allow the "rider" to ride us every day, every time we hit that "like" button.