Nirvana has been one of the most successful Grunge/Rock bands of all time. Within less than a decade they made three albums, two of which have some of the most recognizable covers of all time.
Nirvana was known not only for their music but also for their live performances. They did nearly 400 performances, some of their more famous ones being, Live at Paramount 1993, Live at Reading 1994, MTV Unplugged, Nirvana Live and Loud 1993, and the one I’ll be talking about, Nirvana Live in Paris, France, 1994.
Each of these performances had specific things that made them stand out from one another. Paramount was on Halloween. They added a small detail to the vinyl when it was released. They used their recognizable logo, the inebriated smiley face, but instead of its typical design, they made it in the shape of a pumpkin. MTV Unplugged was arguably their most widely known live performance, where most songs would be done acoustically, or “unplugged.”
Live at Reading was a really interesting performance, the crowd had thought the show was going to be canceled. There had been rumors spread about Kurt falling ill, and that the show would be delayed if not cancelled entirely. The band heard of this rumor and played along with it. Kurt had dressed in a hospital gown and long wig and rolled out in a wheelchair. He’s placed in front of the microphone, where he speaks to the audience. The crowd goes wild before he can even say anything. “Some say love, it is a real…” he begins to sing but then passes out on the floor. After a few seconds, he stands, picks up the guitar, and begins to play. The audience goes insane. The show goes on like normal. One of my favorite parts of the performance is when they begin to play “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” However, what sounds like Teen Spirit turns into “More than a Feeling” by Boston.
One specific performance I want to talk about in this article, and that would be “Nirvana - Live in Paris, France, 1994” This Live performance has to undoubtedly be my number one favorite performance by Nirvana of all time, and that’s because of a specific track. My favorite song by Nirvana is, Drain You.
Drain You is a pretty self-explanatory song, it depicts the relationship between two people, one being incredibly selfish, and “draining” the other of love, money, and time. In my opinion, I think the song uses the words opening lyrics “One baby to another said I’m lucky to have met you” because now it can “drain” it of its resources. Likewise to how twins could absorb one another in the womb. One of my favorite tracks off the album, and I think this performance made it so much better. What I hate is that this specific performance can’t be found on Spotify, so I had to download it off YouTube.
In this performance, the band goes through the song like normal, Dave on drums, Chris on Bass, and Kurt… sort of on guitar. And what I mean by that, is halfway through the song, before the drop, right before the vocals pick back up, Kurt’s guitar breaks. Kurt tries to fix it in the short time he has before the drop, but it’s a lost cause. So he drops the guitar. He takes the mic. It’s funny watching Chris’s face during this part because he looked utterly confused. Kurt waits till the drop, then released one of the best vocal screams I’ve ever heard in grunge. They go through the rest of the song like normal, Kurt’s guitar still broken.
What I love about this performance is how Kurt’s effort, if you watch the video, he doesn't really worry or care that his guitar is broken. He just goes, “Oh well” and does what he can. And I think it’s that effortless style that makes Nirvana one of the best bands of all time.
This month I’m speaking on the topic of music. Real original I know, but the more that I try to extend upon my taste, the more that I come to realize that no matter what I do, no matter how many bands I extend to, it always comes back to this man: Liam Mccay.
And I know that some of you might be asking “Who is this skinny white kid,” and to that I must say, the bane of my existence, this skinny white kid is the bane of my existence. He is a musician, a singer, the creator of many bands, and my number one Spotify artist for two years running.
One thing that many people don’t realize when I talk about his “many bands” I mean he has MANY BANDS, these bands include: sign crushes motorist, take care, birth day, moonwater, hold, make his ribs show, manta, miserable teens club. And while these might just sound like songs on a singular album, or albums from one band’s discography, I can assure you that each of these are individual bands spearheaded by Liam Mccay. While it seems as if this might be a niche band, or something that only certain people have heard, there are many clips of his music that have gone viral all across the internet, as a result garnering one of the most infamous names in the slowcore community.
When it comes to my personal experience with this band, I found it through other friends and such, I also found it in a time in my life in which it felt as if the things being performed from the confines of Mccay’s mind was the only thing that could speak to a sad younger version of me who only liked his music because “it seemed sad enough I could understand it. But after years of listening to this artist, his music and I, growing in simultaneous fashions. What makes Liam Mccay’s Discography so unique however is that many of his songs are created with the idealization and portrayal of emotion in mind much more than any finite sound.
Throughout my time as a listener to many of his different bands, there have been many songs that have met my infatuation and left me playing it over and over again. An example of this is a song titled “Manifesto”. What is unique about Manifesto is that it is much more similar to the name than any other song that he has ever created. Much of the song, if not all of the song, exclusively being a written manifesto being spoken out behind music, the most interesting aspects of this song are for sure the lyrics, on the surface superficial, but the longer that the song goes on the more that the ideologies being portrayed throughout the piece become apparent. I would show off specific lyrics but part of me just wants to leave it to the imagination until you find yourself interested enough to actually listen to the song. And I’m not anything if not a slave to my own intuition so I think that I’m going to take my own advice here. And listen to the godforsaken song.
While many if not almost all of his songs are pretty downbeat, there is one song that I feel like is different beyond all of these, it is actually the song that inspired me to write this blog in the first place, it is also the song that made me realize there is no way that I am ever going to escape Liam Mcaay. It is a song called bleed. I know it might not be the most honorable strategy of discovering new music, but I heard this song on tiktok, of course it was the chorus and the best part of the song that was being played so it immediately caught my eye, or I guess my ears or however you notice music. But it was a song that had a strong chorus and a voice that just itched the right part of my brain. So, as I began listening to that song over and over, I found myself looking into more songs from that band and that album specifically. I was obsessed, not to mention super proud of myself for discovering a new artist and getting to listen to a brand-new discography. I enjoy this feeling because I like feeling that I am opening up my horizons and creating a new environment for change in my artistic interests and the way that I listen to music. But nope! It turns out it was nothing more than just my favorite artist of all time in a different font and under a different name. Which is fine I guess, if I had to listen to one creator in different fonts, I would want it to be Liam Mccay.
The title pretty much says it all. Here’s a snippet from a draft that may as well be seen, because who knows when it’ll come to fruition?
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Shale’s hooves thump against the ground. The field is nothing. Dirt and roots break under every steady hoof for miles and miles on end. The snow rolls in ridges and craters from where it’s filled undone earth. It’s as if the cloudy sky crashed down in swathes of churned dead gray and fascia white, meaning what they’re walking on must not even be land at all. It’s a corpse. Hugo sees the same scenery no matter where she turns her head, and it’s all the same. She thinks that no humans could have done this. They are not possibly so powerful they can create this distortion; rend this land until it’s so out of reach. This must have been the battleground of dragons. This field is a setting in tales of draconic warlords.
Then Hugo sees little feathery tips sticking out of the snow, cast about as if they were the same as the twigs buried in the snow. But there’s no forest here. They’re iced over arrows. Some are so shattered and strewn they’re no better than splinters. Hugo flicks her eyes to Shale’s hooves, the bumps in the snow, and feels the way she jostles in the saddle. There could be anything in the snow. Rusted spears crafted for human hands; ripped off chest plates forged for human figures. Rot. Bones. Hugo’s mind flicks to Brutus.
Brutus.
Hugo could have done this with her. Hugo should have done this. But this isn’t the work of Derecho, it’s the work of humans, and Hugo feels pressure building behind her skull. She wants to run, she thinks, and she doesn’t know why. She keeps running to how this could have been her, but it wasn’t her, wasn’t even a dragon, should have been her, and all of it fills her lungs and makes her want to crumble to snow. Snow is a nothing of a thing, in her mind. She listens to the way it crunches beneath Shale’s hooves, and to her it sounds like final, choked breaths. Maybe she heard the same sound in the moments when Brutus died. Felt it in the lightning and the reverberation of the ground. Maybe this is what Hugo choked on that day. But then why didn’t Derecho choose her?
Why is she still here?
Because she could never be chosen. She isn’t enough— she’s destined for too little, and anyone who’s heard her sister’s tale knows. Derecho saw the destiny flowing through Hugo and saw it wasn’t incredible, nothing with luster nor impact, and showed the world just what a sorrow that is. Brutus was worth all her mother’s grief and more. Even her death was bright. Hugo can only follow her, like back when they were young.
“For the love of our sanity, be careful,” Ailith spits out the words as if they were bile, “There’s all sorts of sharp things in the snow here. Shale just nearly got speared and you didn’t even blink.”
Hugo curses, “I didn’t mean to— I’ll keep my eyes sharp.”
“Sharp,” Ailith huffs in passing, “I’m holding you to your word. Shale is, too.”
With a nod, Hugo’s guilt moves her hand to softly stroke Shale’s neck. Right. She wouldn’t forgive herself if Shale got hurt from her carelessness. She hopes whoever buys her after Hugo’s gone will give her all the luxuries Hugo can’t.
For now, though, Hugo needs to make sure they make it. Ailith rides a little ahead as to get a view that isn’t half Percheron flank, Hugo assumes, so she stays a bit back. If she were alone, she would run, but she has three lives around her she can’t go on without. She bears the burning in her eyes from scouting the shining snow. They can’t go fast because then they’ll up their chances of injury, but they can’t go slow because of the sun. Getting caught out here in the darkness would either give the horses frostbite or, again, impale them. Hugo pats Shale again in apology.
She begins to wonder how many horses died in the battle that took place here, but Hugo locks away the thought for Shale’s and Lumber’s sakes. It’s a disturbing thought and she has to focus. She notices now that some of the large lumps beneath the snow are darker than others, and she avoids them without mind of what may be underneath. They must be getting into the real thick of it. Hugo sees the way Lumber’s nostrils flare and Shale’s ears perk.
“Where’ddya think they were headed to?” Ailith cuts in. Hugo turns the question over in her brain.
Ok so basically I have been working on building the world for this like fantasy novel I want to write, and I have been doing this by writing prologue as a way to just get some of baseline lore of this world down. I decided it might be fun to put it out there and possibly get feedback on it.
A soft breeze blew through spring’s misty air whistling through the trees, rustling through Milo’s rich brown hair making it appear messy, something he couldn’t mind as it’d give Lorena an excuse to run her fingers through it later. It had been a while since he’d seen her, but he had written her everyday, each of her letters still laid on his desk, he thought of them higher than any jewel or any medal, their own special treasure.
He smiled to himself as he headed toward his stable where his stallion Barnabee stood strong and tall, just as he was.
“Hey there girl” Milo cooed at her running his hands through he main before he saddled her up to prepare for the day. He had many plans for later, he would try and get King Antonio to let him off early so he could go to the Midinite Forest and hunt for Borphis, that would allow him to make Borphida a dish used to show love or adoration.
It wouldn’t be easy to get the king’s approval, not because he was particularly strict in nature, in fact he and Milo were much more than just the roles they held within the castle. They were in fact best friends ever since they were school boys. Milo’s family had a long history of being loyal servants to the throne, his father had been Antonio’s tutor so they were able to built a friendship that survived till he followed in his fathers footsteps and decided to dedicate his life to protect the throne. Only recent tensions were driving a wedge between the two friends.
Antonio along with most of the village folk spoke down on Milo and Lorena’s relationship, Lorena took most of the harsher lashes. Rumors that she was merrily using Milo to exceed her certain status as a commoner. Milo knew better than to listen to these false narratives, Lorena’s love for the knight was the realest thing he had ever felt. There was no opinion in the world that could make him doubt that.
Soon Milo arrived at the castle where he stood in his post for the day until he was alerted by a servant that Queen Calliope had needed him.
“My Lady? You called?” Milo said entering her chambers bowing once he was in her presence.
“Sir Milo, I thank you so much for coming. I am in need of your assistance.” Calliope responded with a fragile voice Milo could tell she was distressed.
“Of course your highness, it is my pleasure.” he said bowing once again.
“Oh Milo, please give me a break with the pleasantries you know they’re quite unnecessary.” Calliope paused to allow Milo to stand tall once again.
“I am worried about Antonio, he seems to not be his usual self.” Calliope informed him twiddling with her fingers and motioning him to a seat.
“How so?” Milo queried, becoming increasing concerned by observing her mannerism.
“Locking him in his study for hours at a time, secretly sending letters back and forth.” she answered.
“How has he been delivering them?” Milo asked.
“By Harthwool Swallow” she answered looking down.
This caused Milo’s already growing worry to skyrocket as it was common knowledge that letters delivered by Harthwool Swallows were of not only dire importance but secrecy. He wondered how Calliope even managed to find out about them.
“I do not wish you to spy on him, I just want to know if he’s alright, I’m sure there’s reasons for his secrecy but I just must know if he’s ok…will you please do this for me?” Calliope begged tears welling in her gorgeous amber eyes.
“You have my word Madame” he said once again without a bow this time.
“I infinitely thank you Milo, you’re truly the best among me. I wish to excuse you from your post today. I know there’s a special lady you’d rather be seeing right now. I know Antonio has been quite disapproving of the two of you but I’m sure if you think highly of her she must be quite the lady.” Calliope said, looking at him sympathetically.
“Thank you my Lady, have a great night. I shall see you in the morrow.” Milo said, trying not to rush out back to Barnabee with excitement.
His feet carried him at a speed that can only be compared to light. He mounted his steed with great haste and carried himself off into the night. He cut through the forest of Niteshade.
There could be found the Brandile, a species comparable to that of a hog, known amongst the kingdom as a delicacy of great romance. Although it is deterred to seek them out as they inhabit the same forest as the night feeders. Inhumane creatures that resemble that of humans but lack the souls of the species they imitate. They’re known for feeding on the flesh and blood of those who are lucky, the others are left half-dead and infected.
This didn’t stop Milo, he was knight afterall. Bravery pumped through his veins like the women and men before him. He unsheathed his blade and walked into the forest with his head held high. He is hyper aware of his surroundings, a predator. His eyes hooded and blood hungry as he observes the terrain, the moonlight paints the green fauna a navy blue, it would be beautiful if one wasn’t aware of what lurked in the shadows.
He crept through the forest, steps soft as to not be detected by anything that lurked in those behind those trees.
What’s up everyone, it’s been a while hasn’t it. I think my last blog was a month ago, dang that was a long time ago. Wow that feels like a long time ago but anyways, this blog isn’t about how time, if I even start to think about that I legit might start crying while writing this so let’s move on.
So, I didn’t really know what to write for the blog so I’m just going to talk about this that I’m trying to get for Christmas. It’s called Under the Oak Tree by Suji Kim, who was also South Korean volleyball player. She is a former member of the South Korea women’s national volleyball team which placed fourth in the 2020 Summer Olympics and fifth in the 2016 Summer Olympics. Isn’t this lady amazing like image doing all this while completing a five-year, book series, which I think is awesome.
But this blog isn’t about how amazing Suji Kim is. This blog is about her most popular novel Under the Oak tree. I don’t really know where to start with this, who am I kidding yes, I do. So, I found out about this series on Webtoon, yes yes laugh it up I can hear some of y’all now. It doesn’t matter where I found the series just know that you really should check it out for yourself.
Ok enough of that I know the three people reading this are eager to know more about this story so let’s go.
TW: Mention of Abuse
Now image you’re the daughter of a duke and your being made by your father to marry a knight that works for him because your dad is a coward who didn’t want to get to war and fight a dragon that was killing hundreds of people, but he also didn’t want to disobey the king of your kingdom. So, what does he do he picks one of the low-born knights that worked for him and as him marry you so he can technically be a part of the family and go to war instead of your old, crusty, evil, good for nothing father could live another day. Well this might not really be happening to you but this is what happened to young Maximilian Calypse, or Maxi for short. She’s a young woman only 22 years old in the first novel. She is heavily abused by her father for a studder that she has had since she was really young.
The novel starts off with the day of Maxi’s wedding and quickly moves to the night before, which I going to skip over because even though it most definitely doesn’t get skip over in the book, I’m writing this blog for school and don’t want to get in trouble so. After a passionate first night as a married couple Maxi wakes up to find that her husband has went off to war and she is once again left alone. Then for the next three years Maxi stays with her evil father and continues to be mistreated by him and everyone around her. Then one day she is told that he is coming back but now he isn’t just some lowly knight, he’s a sword master who defeated the powerful dragon Sect. Because of her father and some of the people around her she is told that now that Riften, the man she married, has more power he is only coming back to divorce her. Maxi believes them and is so scared to be seen as useless to Riften that when he does show up, she tries to do everything she can so he would want to keep her. Riften tells Maxi that he’s taking her back to his home. She quickly agrees and they set off to Anatol, his home.
So, I’m going to leave off here because I don’t really want to spoil everything if somehow the two people still reading end up liking what’s happening so far and what to read more. So far only the first volume of the novel is out in English but the second one is coming out in May, so you still have a lot of time to catch up, and the manga is complete, so you don’t have to wait for updates with this one.
Anyway, I hope y’all enjoyed my final blog for the 2024 year. Its been a great year and I can’t wait to see what going to happen in our new year.
Some of my favorite shows were wrapped up for their final seasons (or so they say) in 2024.
So why not talk about some of them, especially the ones that left me crying at 4 a.m. during Thanksgiving break.
Only Murders in the Building
I’ve talked about this show before and about half a month ago, I finished the fourth season. Which they say is the last season, but if you watched the ending, then you know that has to be a lie. It has to be. I mean, they can’t just leave the dead doorman sitting in the fountain without any justice, right? Right?!
Anyway, the whole show, to me, had some of the best plots. And I genuinely loved all the characters and the cast who played them. That’s why I have to give them their flowers by adding them to my wrap up.
If you all haven’t checked this show out yet, I highly recommend that you do. This isn’t a regular whodunnit show.
Arcane
NO ONE SPOIL THIS FOR ME! I haven’t finished Season 2. I’m planning to, but I want to talk about what I’ve watched so far. I’ll try my best not to give any spoilers.
Seeing these characters again had me crying silently. I mean, any of you who watched Season 1 may understand my cause of distress. Personally, my favorite characters are Jinx and Kaitlyn. I don’t know much about that now. I think I’m leaning more towards Victor than Jinx because I’m liking Victor’s story more, currently. Again, I haven’t finished it, so that may change. Now with Kaitlyn, I’m kind of iffy here. See, because I don’t know if I’m loving where her character arc is going. She seems more reckless to me. But I do still see old Kaitlyn there. Also, after what she went through, she does deserve to shake things up a little.
Back to my point, I have heard that this is reportedly the last season. So, I’m going to add it to my wrap up. Arcane, you are the best show I’ve watched so far.
Death’s Game
Unless you watch K-Drama, most of you will not have any idea what this show is. But that’s okay, because I’m going to talk about it anyway. Death’s Game, y’all, y’all, this short show left my jaw on the floor. It was so serious that I emailed some Youtubers to watch this show. I’m totally not embarrassed. But anyway, Death’s Game is a South Korean fantasy anthology mystery thriller that is based on the many lives that’s taken over by the one life of a man who decided that his life wasn’t worth living anymore. Yes. This show was sad. But yes. This show kept my attention throughout. I mean the way they executed its theme, chef’s kiss. Listen, in the email to the Youtuber I said; It’s a beautiful story about redemption and the moral theme is executed neatly. It has a diverse mix of thriller, action, and romance. There are moments that make me cry and there’s moments that make me want to shake the main protagonist. I mean it too. That’s why it made my 2024 wrapped highlight.
Movies
If I’m going to talk about shows, then I have to talk about some of the movies I’ve watched in 2024. That may be a lot, I don’t know. I can’t even remember the beginning of 2024.
Moana 2
This automatically came to mind because I just watched this Saturday and felt that it was the best Disney movie that came out this year. I was like, no wonder Wish wasn’t as good. Disney had to make sure that all their elbow grease went towards Moana 2. This movie to me, was quite different from the first but in the best way possible. For example, the music was on a different level. The lyrics to all the songs were on point. And I’m not belittling the work of Lin-Manuel Miranda for working on the first Moana, it’s just the music in this one gave me more symphonies, and they weren’t just lyrical, but had more meaning. If that makes sense. I just think you need to watch it.
BERNIE (2011)
This is a movie based on an actual crime that happened, but the movie is a literal comedy. I mean I felt so bad when I was laughing, but the movie stars Jack Black. I mean, throughout the movie it was like these witness accounts told by these hillbilly people (I promise this was how it was being portrayed) from like the same neighborhood that was telling the most insane jokes and encounter statements. I mean, I don’t know. It was something. Any who, the reason this movie made it to my 2024 wrap is because it was quite interesting. I did do research on the actual case, and I don’t know, you’ll have to look at it yourself to understand. But without looking at the case, the movie was neat. I think the cinematic story was quite interesting. Also, Matthew McConaughey was in there and he played his lawyer role well too. But yea, this made it to the wrap also.
Podcasts
I’ll make this quick.
Rotten Mango and Murder with My Husband
These are true crime podcasts, but both styles are different. If you listen to these types of podcasts, then you should check it out.
React Cast
Quite lighthearted and funny. If you get tired of music for a moment and just want to chill, then this is the podcast.
John Merrick, known under another name, “The Elephant Man” is the starring protagonist in many a media today. As of now, there is a Broadway play (That David Bowie starred in??), a book, and a movie. In this post, I’ll be talking about the movie.
There are so many things I’d love to talk about in this movie. I only just watched it the other day but I’m already obsessed. It expands upon so many hidden issues. Hidden is an ironic word in this case, given John Merrick’s condition.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= A quick synopsis:
The Elephant Man is an unfortunate story about a man born with “Proteus syndrome” A rare condition that affects the growth of tissue, bones, organs, and skin. It enlarges them abnormally. It can cause extreme pain. It can also disfigure the face, like John Merrick’s
One man, The Circus man, takes interest in his appearance and uses him in his “Freak Show” for the circus. Not only was he not paid, but he was also forced to live in awful living conditions. A Doctor of Anatomy, Dr Fredrick Treeves, takes him away to the hospital. In the hospital, he’s given food, water, a warm bed, and much more.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
One thing that kept coming to mind as I watched the movie, was how… no matter what environment he was in, John Merrick was always being observed. From the circus to the ending scenes where he was being applauded, he was always the center of attention, which he most definitely did not want.
In the beginning, he was observed in the circus and onlookers who found his appearance strange and frightening.
Then he was displayed in front of scholars and doctors. Doctor Treeves, as hospitable as he might have been, was still only doing what the circus man did. Just in a different lighting. |
The security guard in the hospital would often sneak those who paid enough into the hospital to take a look at John. This eventually led to the circus man coming back and kidnapping John from his new home. In the picture below, he is being held against his will and displayed to people outside the window. This scene was very traumatic, It was hard to tell if John was limp from shock, or maybe, as a defense mechanism, he just tuned everything out, trying to wait for it to pass. The scene gets more graphic as they force John and one of the women to kiss.
(I hate this security guard with a burning hell fire passion.)
Near the end of the movie, John and his friends go to a play, he was absolutely in love with it. But at the end, his actor friend came out and claimed to dedicate the show to him. This did nothing but put him in front of the audience again. He was once again displayed in front of everyone. Only under different light.
What hurts, is that he only stood because the Doctor told him too. from the looks of it, he didn’t like being the center of attention, even positive attention. Throughout the movie, it seems like he has been nothing but a tool for attention. Whether to make money off of it or to put nobles in a better light for being in his company. And yes, they do treat him well, but It feels more like an exchange, rather than goodwill at times.
The Beautiful thing about John Merrick though, is that… throughout the movie, he found beauty all around him. He found so much beauty in the world and showed so much appreciation and wonder. When invited to the doctor’s house for tea, he saw the pictures over the mantle piece and was absolutely star-struck at the beauty of not only how it was arranged, but also of the pictures of the beautiful children and relatives.
In the beginning, Doctor Treeves tries to prepare John for an interview. He tries to get John to memorize a Psalm from the Bible. At this point in the movie, it was assumed that John Merrick was unintelligible and illerat. This was excruciatingly false. Doctor Treeves brought in his director, who would be the one conducting the interview. John had been very nervous and stumbled over his words that he already had trouble enunciating.
The Director politely leaves, talking to the Doctor outside. He had seen through the facade. However, John started reciting more than what he was taught from behind the door. It caught the attention of the Docter, “I hadn’t taught him that part” He said. When asked how he knew the rest of the Pslam, John said that it was his favorite and that he thought it was very beautiful.
Near the end of the movie, an actress comes to his room, giving him a framed photo of herself John takes it, saying he needs to set it in a place of honor. He places it right next to a framed photo of his missing mother that lies on his bedside.
The point of what I’m saying is… Even in a world that looks upon him as if he is a monster, John Merrick finds the beauty in everything, and appreciates everything. I think one scene in this movie could sum up every moral that it told throughout the two-hour film.
—–
Throughout the entire film, after he is brought to the hospital, we watch as John builds a cathedral out of boxes and other materials. He uses the cathedral out of his window as a reference. However, he can only see the very top, so he has to imagine the rest.
THIS PART DUDE!!!
HE CAN ONLY SEE THE SURFACE, THE VERY TIP OF THE ICEBERG IF YOU WILL, BUT HE DOESN’T STOP OR JUDGE IT, HE WANT’S TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT AND EXPLORE IT, AND GUHH!!!
This part sums up that we shouldn’t look at the tip of the iceberg and think we know everything. We shouldn’t call it quits and think we have the whole idea from just looking at the surface. We need to have an unbiased curiosity. A genuine intrest in people.
I love this movie so much, I would strongly encourage everyone to watch it. Yes it’s filmed in black and white, but I think that helps with the atmosphere and time of the film. The story is filled with such detail and so much depth that I can’t help but watch it again.
(p.s) I just wanted to add a small bit about my favorite scene. After being kidnapped by the circus man, he escapes and runs away with the help of his friends who had also been titled “Freaks.”
He rides a boat and eventually finds himself at a train station. Where a series of events leads to him being chased into the men’s bathroom. Where he is crowded and surrounded by everyone, where he is once again on display for everyone to see. In the most desperate voice, that almost made me cry, he shouted,
I don’t know why I write anymore. I don’t know why, if I can’t save the world by doing it; I don’t want to save the world. I don’t want to be Greta Thunberg, bless the work she does, but I was taking a career quiz, and it recommended humanitarian. And all I could think was: this is just because I care about people. They never tell you, but caring about people is the worst thing you can enter a line of work for. You don’t want to die emotionally because someone died physically, you can’t do that to your health. You should never enter a line of work because you care. You’ll just end up wishing you were dead.
But that made me think, am I just too picky? Am I supposed to save the world, or am I supposed to just do my part by recycling? That’s another thing they don’t tell you: recycling is a myth. Big Plastic emphasized the wrong part of the cycle on purpose because it disturbed the market the least. They won’t tell you to reduce, to reuse, but recycle… They can market that.
They don’t tell you how necessary it is to market. Recycling is just another mass marketing, and I wonder if I didn’t grow up in 2006-Now would I care about half of this? Would I be happier? Am I looking at a generation who’s given up because everyone told them “You’re supposed to save the world” and when they tried nobody…cared? Give me my money back, I didn’t vote for him, I didn’t ask for this, I didn’t ask for that
YOU’RE UNGRATEFUL.
That’s it. I’m ungrateful. I wanted to be a screenwriter. A screenwriter.
Not everyone wants to be one of those guys, but I did. I’d love to be a screenwriter, if I’m honest. But I can’t say with certainty it’s even a career in the future. It’s no more valuable than a McDonald’s or an Arby’s and those jobs are fine, but you can’t live off of them, and I would like to live. It’s depressing to look at an industry I would love, a ten-year plan that I could easily visualize…if it was feasible. But I don’t want to be a doordasher, and I guess I don’t want to be a screenwriter.
And eventually you just start thinking, does it matter? The world’s burning, and here I am. Wishing I could be a screenwriter? I’m supposed to be Greta Thunberg, you’re supposed to be Greta Thunberg, we’re all supposed to be Greta Thunberg, and aren’t you tired of looking out that window? Waiting for something to change? But every change that happens is something you didn’t ask for?
What are we doing here? Waiting for something to change?
Are you sitting there waiting for someone to call you special? Are you waiting to be entertained?
Funny thing is, right after I got through three hundred words of this, Hank Green released a video talking about how stupid guilt over the environment is. And he’s got a point. Maybe I’m just some lucky art kid from Mississippi. Maybe all my anxieties would just wash away if I took some prozac. (Can I say that?)
Look, he’s right. We can’t just sit here bellyaching about how doomed we are and how the world is gonna explode, and how we’re all gonna die. But man. Twenty thousand years of this, seven more to go. (Or maybe technically four or three, because Bo sang that in 2021 and now it’s almost 2025. Have you thought about that? It’s almost 2025.) And I hope, like Hank Green says, I don’t have to worry about the next hundred years. Maybe I can worry about the next ten.
Before I sit down and write, there’s one word on my mind: snow.
Beep!
“Chunks of snow and frost tumble down from the disturbed hillsides. They’re sloped like mountains and could just as well hatch one. Like an egg tooth bursting from the rounded peak of its shell. Egg teeth are probably white, like snow. So, there’s egg teeth and frost tumbling down from cracked nests that are convex instead of concave. Not a very good nest, mama bird. Unless you’re looking to have them soar. The hillsides, I mean. The mountains are dead with that. But the hillsides reach higher than dead mountains, likely because the dead mountains are dead. You think a hillside could fly as long as it kept breathing?”
Dr. Faraday opens her mouth to speak, but she’s quickly cut off by the beep of an input and an automated voice.
Beep!
“—Don’t answer that. These are my words, the thought of you speaking makes my mouth itch. Prickle. It’s not going away. It’s like a tickle with nails but soft like a buzz, like the feeling from a fly zipping across your ear minus the fly inside your mouth, and you don’t flinch so much as cringe, which could make frost and teeth fall off your shoulders, which would make your shoulders hillsides. I don’t want birds on my shoulders. Those are mine. These are mine. I’m gonna sprout mountains from my hillsides to punt them off. Choke on the teeth in the sky.”
“Shut off the audio both ways.”
Beep!
“The s-”
The laboratory goes silent as a collective, save for the shuffling of individuals subconsciously moving closer to one another. The shuffling brings them further away from their creation, and it would be laughable if not for the enormity of the subject. A human brain, lab grown, hooked up to walls of monitors and tubes, sits in a small, square, see-through containment unit upon a pedestal. It is labeled ‘The Terrarium,’ by a fancifully penned sticky note. Dr. Faraday wrote it, and placed it, herself.
Still, nobody speaks. Someone in the back brings up a transcript of the brain’s conversation onto a large monitor. It is read, clear as day, silently, by all present. All at once:
“That’s a bit aggressive, right?”
“It’s making up sensations for itself.”
“Absolutely none of that made sense.”
“That sure is some data.”
“We made that.”
“Interesting…”
“Oh, man.”
When I finally take the time to look up from my mind, I see a hundred different words alongside the simple starting point of ‘snow.’
Boy, did we drift off from snow. But I don’t dislike it. It’s raw, and might not make sense, but it was freeing to write, and likely influenced by the absolutely freezing air conditioner in front of me. It’s probably laden with other little bits like that. Little bits of me. In any case, it sparks ideas, and it was fun, and I think everyone needs to have some fun with their writing. There are the agonizing bits of writing, the joyous bits of writing, and what you get when you start off with the word ‘snow,’ then get paragraphs leading up to an ethical dilemma. Maybe the next time I simply want to write, I’ll sit down with the word ‘brain,’ and see where I’m taken.
Alright, so I love talking people’s ears off about shows I watched as a young lass so why not write a thousand-page blog about it? That sounds very interesting, right? This blog wasn’t inspired by any one conversation but a tweet I once saw that said something along the lines of: “You can just tell when someone watched Steven Universe/Adventure Time.” So here came this idea. Also cartoons really did a lot to build my strong love of storytelling though I didn’t realize that was happening at the time looking back it is very obvious with a lot of things I watched.
Regular Show
Regular show followed two best friends, A Blue Jay named Mordecai and a Racoon named Rigby. They worked for their boss, a strict gumball machine named Benson in their town’s park. The both of them were notoriously lazy and not the best employees. They would get themselves into supernatural world ending predicaments usually due to them being lazy or immature.
This show played a strong role in building my sense of humor. It’s quite juvenile but till this day I will giggle at aspects of this show and certain jokes no matter how ridiculous. I think the target age for the show is definitely teenagers.
Amazing World of Gumball
Amazing World of Gumball, follows the adventures of a blue cat named Gumball. Regularly featuring his fish brother and best friend Darwin. The audience watches them tread the awkwardness middle school brings them. We witness them be big brothers to their know it all sister Anais. And sons to Nicole and Richard.
This was truly one of my favorite shows when I was little and as I have gotten older I have only begun to appreciate this show more. The mixed media and different animation style makes for no dull moments while watching this show. This made me develop interest in cartoons and how they tell stories.
The way it was able to make connections to past moments in the show that one would have just glided past without knowing it’s important. For this show to bring those moments full circle has to be a staple of good television.
Gravity Falls
I believe Gravity Falls is one of the most widely loved cartoons among my generation.
The show follows Mabel and Dipper, two tween twins visiting their Great Uncle for summer in Gravity Falls. A small town in the middle of nowhere known for it’s strange creatures and secretive history. Mabel and Dipper go on adventures, Dipper finds journals and becomes obsessed with unraveling the mystery that surrounds this town.
I remember when the first episode of this show aired and from that point on I was hooked. The underlying story of this show is so strong, it’s hard to not want to follow it. This show really made me fall in love with animation. This show is the definition of “Kids deserve good television.” This shows influence can’t be ignored, almost a decade after it’s end it’s fanbase is still holding strong. The potential of the world Alex Hirsch created is undeniable. I am ecstatic that he is doing more with it.
Fish Hooks
These next two shows differ from the others on this list because while being adored by me, the larger audience were less than pleased with these shows resulting in both their cancellations much to my dismay.
Fish Hooks is about these three teenage fish who are best friends. They live in tanks within a pet store. The show would often give us insights on different tanks and let us see how the other animals in the pet store were living. We watch these fish go through their adolescence and follow them through the wacky world of high school.
This show also had aspects of mixed media which will always get my attention. I loved this show, I thought and still think it has a very creative concept. Though the storyline isn’t necessarily linear I don’t think it’s a bad thing. It’s easy to watch and doesn’t require a lot of intellectual thought. Its just fun.
Fun Fact: Alex Hirsch also had a hand in helping make this show.
Camp Lakebottom
Like Fish Hooks Camp Lakebottom wasn’t widely beloved. But you better believe I was tuned into every episode.
The show was about two opposing summer camps, one that was highly funded and fancy and another that was low funded and littered with monsters two of which were counselors.
Again another widely creative concept. I think the animation style was endearing.
Sanjay and Craig
Sanjay and Craig is just a show about a young boy who’s best friend is his pet snake who happens to be able to talk and they engage in whacky adventures together.
I believe watching this show was my first instance of brain rot. Truly just something to turn your brain off and watch for hours on end without thinking. Now this wasn’t exactly highbrow television, even for kids but it was fun and silly. I believe this show played a big role in building certain parts or aspects of my sense of humor.
Robot Chicken
Now I want to start off by saying THIS SHOW WAS NOT FOR KIDS. And I truly had no business watching it. It was inappropriate for pretty much every reason you could think of. It truly played a large part in traumatizing me before the internet ever could. The show didn’t follow a plot it was more of a stop-motion animated show of a variety of skits. I think the stop motion-esque style made it all the more frightening. It was my fault for staying up so late and not immediately switching channels after Cartoon Network became Adult Swim. Well you live and you learn.
If you ever needed an explanation as to why I am the way I am there you go. I hope it cleared a lot up for you all lol. I find this concept very interesting, I think I want to do another installment with youtubers.
