The Distractions of Abstraction

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, I have been stumped today. Not stumped by someone or something I've observed but perhaps by my own thoughtless meanderings. For, you see, I went to an exhibit about modern art today with one of my good friends, my brother, and my headmaster. The Art Museum has an interesting exhibition available and my friend is writing a thesis paper on this sort of art so she found it all very interesting. I, however, took a much more side-winding way to get to an appreciation of this art. 

For those historical artists out there, the major players of this exhibit were Pollock, De Kooning, and many other famous Abstract painters. These are the ones where you see just gobs of paint spread over a canvas and no real line of thought ends up being represented. So, to me, I had no real point of reference when coming to terms with this kind of media form so it invariably led to early headaches for me. 

My resolution was to find what motivated these artists to paint as they did. Primarily, they were a reaction and breaking away from the form and truth of Modernism. Please forgive me if you are confused with the difference between modern art and Modernism. Modernism is more of a political and social mindset that was shaped mainly by Nationalistic views towards government (that unfortunately brought about the likes of Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini) and also influenced America by bringing it into the Golden Age of the 50s. Modern art is a trend towards a Postmodern interpretation of truth claims in which they believe there should be none and that art is merely the production of the artist, not one that is bound to a movement or an artistic period. Of course, the hole in this frame of mind is that this belief in it of itself is a claim to a trend or movement (one that resides in it's independence from what they perceive as prior restraint).

My own quibbles in coming to terms with this art is when I'm taking the position of the audience. When analyzing art from the position of the artist, it's easy to come to conclusions about him whether you analzye the brush strokes, his choice of color, or even the fact when you see that he has stopped his work and ceased to add more paint. However, here I am, in an art gallery, trying to analyze this art as it relates to me as an audience. How do you do it? I haven't the foggiest. What I'm left with is my analysis of what the artist represented and what he felt in that moment of painting for the most part. It all makes me feel kind of helpless, artistically wise. 

Perhaps my biggest problem is that feeling of helplessness. If these artists wanted their art to pretain to only their internal feelings, they ought to not have them published, or at least not till after their deaths because so much of what they're doing is for personal catharsis. This whole concept of painting to get emotion out onto a canvas with little to no consideration as to the perceptions of their current audience seems very selfish to me. Half of what makes this genre great is the culture created and now subsequently associated with this art, and I can appreciate that. But when they [the artists] create a society that is devoid of relating to the world and reality around itself, it loses all credibility in my eyes. I don't know, maybe in all of this I've merely shown my ignorance of their artistic style but I can't help but wonder why some people truly attest to these men as great thinkers of their time when they can't even relate all that well to life and the world around themselves.

Musings on Rockferry

I. Preface

                My first semester of college finished, I felt it necessary for me to muse on how it went, that through this I may improve how I deal with those of the future. Now, I think that something like this ought to be not merely constructed in a “dos” and “don’ts” combination for I assume who will seek to read this will not deal with the same issues nor deal with them exactly the way I do. So in my construction of this entry, I feel I must simply speak on what I feel I personally succeeded or failed in and leave others to deal with their conclusions for this semester of Fall ’08 on their own terms. Also, though I hesitate to include this, there will be aberrations in how people feel the semester went and if didn’t you either enjoy or deal with the problems I’ve had, I’m sincerely sorry and you may send all complaints to Michael Stern in Schurz, room 505.

               

II. Outgoing

                I wanted to start this chapter by pointing out what to me is its title’s ironic double meaning. In the onset of this year I came out of the recesses of the St. Louis private school system bracing myself for the invasion of my life by literally thousands of interactions a day with an institution 2500 times larger than the one I attended previously. Suffice to say I was happy with how this particular aspect of college turned out. I must say that I thoroughly appreciated the interactions I enjoyed in my FIG and through THE Fifth Floor Schurz. In many senses the separation between those of the FIG and those not involved in its activities was little to none and all in all I’ve never seen a tighter floor. I’ve always assumed that there would be bumps and wrinkles in the road, all relationships deal with that. While I’m also going to hesitate to delve into this argument, to ignore the existence of problems in a relationship means you’re not very close to that person or group in the first place. Because to be close means to know flaws that we all deal with and it’s the charge of all parties in a relationship to come to terms with this blatant fact.

                My other meaning to relate in the title of this chapter outside of the outgoing social life I benefited from is a more personal aspect of the semester in most every new college student when dealing with personal identity. I hope and am fairly certain that every collegiate feels this need to come to terms with who they are and how they come across to others they interact with on a daily basis. Well, I feel I’m not special in what I have to deal with in this regard. However, the fact is that some way or another we feel compelled to tailor our personal outgoing message to everyone else we meet. When weighing how I’ve dealt with this I’ve resolved that this topic is more a Jeckel and Hyde dichotomy than most other issues I’ve yet to relate.

                Effectively, I like to play off my own ability to be an open individual and relate that sense to others because it truly is difficult to conduct true friendships without some measure of transparency. One thing though that I’ve concluded differently is where transparency hits a major road block. Permit me to describe this semi-complicated issue as it seems to me for I draw on many other lines of thought and will attempt to combine them into one cohesive stream of consciousness. May I start with C.S. Lewis’ conclusions on the tendency of postmodernist thinkers to explain away everything they see as establishing a set of truth claims from Mere Christianity. He shows this pattern of explaining everything away as attempting to prove that what they are seeing is only a window and that there is something behind it that we truly need to see. However, their problem exists in when they disprove all they see, including that which they see beyond their window. For them, to see through everything is not to truly see at all.

                To tie this philosophical argument into my own situation I must also employ another analogy and that is of one of my favorite television characters in the title character of House. One of his catchphrases and one with which he assembles his own conclusions on life is that; “Everybody lies.” To him the issue is not merely what we lie about or even that we do but what truly motivates those around him to live like they do.

                I attest to both of these arguments by Lewis and House in that they are in complimentary disagreement. Everyone wears masks and it is through this that society functions. To be completely transparent to everyone you meet is to be a huge downer. It just is. That’s not as much of a big deal to me because I learned that lesson of whether I’m tight enough with that person to talk about who I am and what I’m dealing with. The other is really my PSA to those who think we aren’t calling their bluff. It’s mostly because I was so bad at hiding who I was from everyone that it kills me when I see people trying to do the same for whatever reason, and sometimes very badly. Compassion is a funny thing like that when it borders on your irritation for that attitude you see in someone and then are resolved to help that person out of what at first irritated you. Well to me, I’ve found to be irritated by people in this predicament and then feel some sort of need to help; so I do. And it's considered a virtue. Sweet

(More to come as I'm still typing, this was just the fruits of a sleepy afternoon in FL; oh, and if you didn't notice, I did not once mention Rockferry in this post, i just thought it was a cool title) 

Tired

I have not been this sincerely tired since, uh, maybe the end of finals. What is wrong with me? I should be using this break to get more rest, not to burn myself out by enjoying the time I have. On the plus side, I got to run (something I've not done in much too long a time) and probably pushed myself too hard but I lived, so I'll take it as a victory. On the minus side, it was at like 5:30 in the morning which was cool but I would have much rather sleep in so I got more than 5 hours plus spare change amount of sleep. Ah well, we live on.

In other news, I'm apparently a huge flirt. Not sure when I developed that ability. I guess I can see where I've been one, just not sure when I broke out of my sorely abused ADHD mentality and was able to conduct a conversation with a girl that I looked good in the end. I'm not gonna lie, I like the label, a bit too much if you know me at all, but eh, there are worse things to be good at. On the plus side, I'm more afraid of disappointing my Lord and Savior than a pretty face. Gosh if that encompassed every aspect of my life. Like I've said, life goes on.

Self pity is kind of like a rocking chair, it gets you going, but you never really get anywhere.

Loves

Faith (For a God who loves me eternally), Family (whom I miss with my entirety), and Food (don't really need an explanation for this one).

Mission Possible

                My mission was to overhear a conversation. My target…anyone really. Why do it? An assignment handed down to me by the highest authority. I would tell you who I ultimately worked for, if I honestly knew myself. Either way, I’ve been told to conduct my espionage concerning the conversation of individuals I encounter during my daily routine.

                For my part, I will honestly say it’s not that big of a deal for me to listen to what’s going on around me. Now, to remember what I heard is a completely different experience but to be honest you can overhear conversations and grasp what’s being heard fairly easily. Of course it’s always tough to not be too big of a creep and listen to intently to the point of wanting to interject your own opinion, but honestly, in our interconnected world, is it too far of a stretch to be aware of someone’s conversation with websites like Facebook or MySpace advocating nearly the same concept? With all of this in mind, I set out on my quest, for a quest is what it truly was.

                The idea actually fell to me in more of an accident than anything else. Tuesday of this week was spent almost exclusively on my work towards my various papers and other assignments leading up to finals week. Finding myself in a study room connected to my floor’s lounge, I had been working since nearly three that afternoon. Finding myself in a lull in my work, a conversation of moderate interest caught my ears as I sat at my computer.

                Most of the conversation centered on the way two of my friends felt towards each other, a subject I’ve been sure to elucidate with both of them. Social comments aside, if two people don’t mesh that well, I usually chalk it up to mutual disagreement and thus ending the conversation. However, for some reason, the issue must feel like it’s escalated because where I would let something go became more of an insult argument. Obviously for me, this just meant neither felt that much animosity towards each other, both just wanted an object to take their frustrations out on.

                In short, the conversation wasn’t that interesting, but I guess I fulfilled my goal of covertly observing the speech patterns of my fellow students. While I never question an order, I must say I wondered as to the application of this mission. However, I must say that though the objective may seem tertiary to the greater good, the skills that I have acquired through the completion of my goal will surely pay off in the long run.

Events of Note

                Begun in the early 1900s, Mizzou was the first college to start the institute of homecoming. Now, it is commonplace for colleges and high schools across the country. Why is it such a big deal for Mizzou? Well, I wish I could tell you exactly why outside of it being tradition and a sense of pride for Mizzouians [new word] everywhere, but I don’t have much evidence being a freshman. Honestly, I’ve been involved with alumni that have come back every week for football.  So to me, homecoming isn’t as much a cool experience to see old Tigers coming back to their old stomping grounds as it is an opportunity for the students to show their immense pride for their school. Being involved with some of the activities that makes homecoming what it is, I got to see for the first time the side of homecoming that makes it great by being able to show off my own involvement by helping decorate the downtown district and go to the football game that caps the weekend.

                So, instead of explaining something like homecoming, I’d like to spend a paragraph or so to explain what is a bigger deal for me and that is the senior day football game. Effectively, this game is to commemorate the last game that the senior players will participate in. Going into the game last Saturday, it was against a conference rival Kansas State. Known for their success in the 90s, the program has hit on hard times with a few bright spots centering around their dual threat quarterback. The opening ceremonies were very touching, with an homage to Aaron O’Neal, a Mizzou linebacker who died and would have graduated this year.  Along with this salute, it was also great to see the other seniors who walked onto Faurot Field for their last game as Tigers. Among them were players I’ve watched since they were freshman, including Chase Daniel, Chase Coffman, and Tommy Saunders to name a few. This senior class has done more for MU’s football program in not merely individual achievement but also in the success of the team as a whole than any other class in recent memory. While they will be sorely missed on the field on future chilly Saturdays, I will always remember the great teams of the 2009 graduating class. 

Girl Talk

I've gotta give it to Girl Talk, I wasn't expecting a whole lot. I was expecting a few remixes of the run-of-the-mill rap songs. I will also say that I wasn't expecting the complete wide array of music that he takes from when combining his music. One thing that didn't exactly ring true for me was the complete abuse of pop rap because it simply isn't my style. However, I did catch myself laughing when I started hearing real rap (in my opinion) like Jay-Z and Eminem (yes, I know he's just a white Tupac) combined with Foreigner or Journey. The ability that Girl Talk employs to mix the variety of music that he does demonstrates an obviously extensive knowledge of music. Also, this knowledge to me demonstrates not merely an ability to know what sounds good together but also how to fit different genres together and how to truly meld the decades of music.

However, when I was considering the entire concept of how Girl Talk presents his compositions, I was curious as to almost the integrity of his work. Is it right for him to present music this way, or should he include a five page copyright section so that he doesn’t get sued. For me, his repetition and the way he presented his music only served for me to listen to it a few times. In the right context I see Girl Talk’s music to have a place. In lacks depth that original writers seek to attain by writing new music.

In conclusion, I believe that Girl Talk should just as much considered music in this day and age as most pop artists. In previous generations, I don’t see Girl Talk being given any credibility but because of the other music that I see hitting the top of the charts, he must at least be considered akin to the music of Akon or Kanye West.