Ashes to Ashes

"And how can man die better

Than facing fearful odds,

For the ashes of his fathers,

And the temples of his gods."

~Doctor Who, Second Season, "The Impossible Planet"

from "Horatius" by Thomas Babbington Macaulay

Kindle Me This

Going Digital

The theory class I'm a GA for had a guest speaker today--a professor who spoke on the topic of "digital theory." Imagine that. Digital theory. She's building a project around how the English language is changing in relation to technology. How we use language and our perception of the "Book" is changing rapidly due to our use of text messages, email, and online media. An interesting point, though, is that even though our perception of these things change, these older forms are still with us. The scroll did not go away with the invention of the codex; the hardbound book did not go away with the invention of the dimestore paperback. And the codex will not go away with the invention of the computer. In a way, we've come full circle: how often do we think of how our ancestors may have read scrolls when we're scrolling down a webpage?

To me, there will always be a tactile pleasure from curling up with a good book that simply could not be replaced by a computer (or even one of those little electronic book readers). But the digital world is here, and there's no going back now.

Baptism by Sand and Fire

It's been about two months since Isabel and I went to Burning Man. Sorry it's taken me so long to post pictures. Just to give you a little taste...

This is what happens outside of a tent during a sandstorm...

This is what the inside of a tent looks like after a sandstorm...

This is what happens outside of a tent after a sandstorm...

This is what happens at night...

More later...

Keep my mind from constant turning...

Darkness, Darkness
~Robert Plant
(songwriter: Jesse Colin Young)

Darkness, Darkness, be my pillow,

Take my head and let me sleep
In the coolness of your shadow,

In the silence of your deep
Darkness, darkness, hide my yearning,

For the things I cannot see
Keep my mind from constant turning,

To the things I cannot be
Darkness, darkness, be my blanket,

cover me with the endless night
Take away the pain of knowing,

fill the emptiness with light
Emptiness with light now

Darkness, darkness, long and lonesome,

Is the day that brings me here
I have felt the edge of sadness,

I have known the depths of fear
Darkness, darkness, be my blanket,

Cover me with the endless night
Take away this pain of knowing,

Fill this emptiness with light now
Emptiness with light now

Darkness, darkness, be my blanket,

cover me with the endless night
Take away this pain of knowing,

fill this emptiness with light now
Oh with light now.
Darkness, Darkness, be my pillow,

Take my head and let me sleep
In the coolness of your shadow,

In the silence of your deep
In the silence of your deep
In the - oh oh yeah
In the summer baby
come on come on come on baby...

I can't take that 9-to-5 life...

The Wanderer

~Donna Summer

Woke up this morning
Dragged myself across the bed
Alice went to wonderland
But I stayed home instead
I started feeling bad
’cause I was left behind
’cause I’m a wanderer
Oh yes, I’m a wanderer

She climbed right through the mirror
Oh that really blew my mind
I think I’ll follow through her rhythm
And her rhyme
I know I’m ready now
It’s just a little time
’cause I’m a wanderer
I’m a wanderer

’cause I’m a wanderer
I travel every place
’cause I’m a wanderer
From here to outer space
’cause I’m a wanderer
Got no time
’cause I’m a wanderer
Just a wanderer

Slipped down the back stair
On my toes
Then out the door
They didn’t hear
Now they won’t
See me anymore
’cause I’m can’t take
That nine-to-five life
It’s a bore
’cause I’m a wanderer
Just a wanderer

And so it’s up and out
And on and off the road
Won’t have no troubles
’cause the whole world
Is my home
No need to worry
’cause I seldom am alone
’cause I’m wanderer
I’m a wanderer

’cause I’m a wanderer
I travel every place
’cause I’m a wanderer
From here to outer space
’cause I’m wanderer
Got no time
Cause I’m a wanderer
Just a wanderer

Now you may see me
Any time and any place
And you may know me
From the same look
On your face
And I don’t know if I could
Change your frame of mind
’cause I’m a wanderer
Just a wanderer

’cause I’m a wanderer
I travel every place
’cause I’m a wanderer
From here to outer space
’cause I’m a wanderer
Got no time
’cause I’m a wanderer
’cause I’m a wanderer
’cause I’m a wanderer
’cause I’m a wanderer...

Art vs. "Product"

Someone said something in class tonight that got me thinking. And the man who said this is mature, a junior high school teacher, and to all appearances reasonably intelligent. So I was mildly surprised and amused by what he said.

What he said was, "Music by Britney Spears really isn't that bad. In fact, it's rather good." For which he got some good-natured ribbing and comments that Britney Spears does not actually "make" her music. To which he replied, "No, she doesn't. What she is is a brand name. She is part of a product, and just like any other product, it can be good or bad. Yes, it's the engineers and technicians and song writers and choreographers and image makers behind her that do all the work, but they slap her name on the end product and that's what sells the records. It's no different than Madonna, or Paris Hilton, or even the Monkees."

Now Madonna I've got a grudging respect for. She wasn't much more than a Britney, perhaps, in the beginning of her career, but I think just by sheer longevity she has gone on to prove that not only can she create, she is also capable of reinventing herself as well as making some pretty canny business decisions. Paris Hilton. Pffh. I don't really know. I haven't bothered to listen. But I have my doubts about someone who gets on a label just because she's rich.

But the Monkees? My adorable Monkees? How dare he make such a comparison? Okay, so they were a "studio" band. So they never actually played their instruments. So they didn't write the songs. So what? They could sing. And they were cute and funny and made me laugh. In a good way. So *not* like Britney Spears.

His comment revealed one of my own prejudices: I have more respect for the Jewels and Sarahs and Toris of the world--musicians who truly create, live and breathe their own music-- than I do for these megastar "faces" on an industry product. Why should the struggling unknown musician, singing and playing in the corner of some cafe somewhere, seem more authentic to me than a Britney Spears? Because I do agree with him on one point. The product itself is an authentic creation through the group effort of creative people. Why do I give them less credit? Why do the works by these other musicians seem more "real"?

I think what it comes down to is what these "brand name" people have to bring to the table. I don't see Britney really working for her product. All she does is show up. If she were contributing something worthwhile-- hours of practice before she appears on national television, for example-- that might be something. If she took voice lessons, or songwriting, and contributed something to the creation of her product other than whining about her tabloid lifestyle, that might be something else entirely.

And then there's the fact that this "product" is so industry driven. They are playing to the Lowest Common Denominator, to the bottom line. They will produce whatever their market research says will make the most sales and rake in the most dough. I don't think that's coming from that "truly creative backwater" that Gibson was talking about.

Anyway, I'm going to go listen to the Monkees and meditate on "Another Pleasant Valley Sunday" and "Daydream Believer."