An open letter to people who fear the book will die

I read recently the line that "the novel needs to find its niche in the entertainment ecosystem." This baffled me, because the novel still IS the "entertainment ecosystem."

Story-telling dies only with the end of humanity. Someone suggested a video game form of the novel, which while frightening, is actually benign. Because these types of media evolutions are often merely revolutions of the artistic cycle.

It amazes me how we, as consumers, carousel. We watch reality TV, reject fiction, then complain that the reality has become unfulfilling. So, producers fabricate to suit our needs. We recognize the "reality" as superficial. We predict that the "characters" and "situations" (do not read as "The Situation," fist-pumping, beat beating 15 minute mega-star and fellow Jerseyian), are fabricated, but we fail to recognize that by consuming it anyway, often happily, we return to fiction. Welcome home American TV Viewer. Now watch Lost.

Just as boredom will reer its ugly head above the crest of unplayed Wii games and unopened Netflix enevelopes, so too will the American public ultimately return to stories over e-mail and Twitter during down-time. I have 800 Facebook friends, and they all bore me. Never in our history has an ex-boy/girlfriend held such little intrigue. What happens when the magic's gone. We'll turn to stories, and the best ones will be found in literature.

As sure as my boys, poised on a mountain top of freshly-purchased toys, will return to simply punching one another...so too will story-telling, our most primitive artform, remain as humanity's most instinctive choice. When things get too rough, I just separate the boys, sit them down and read them a story. I use a book

A sad day for words and truth

Two of my favorite writers died on the same day. Yesterday, January 27th, 2010. Both were controversial in their beliefs and for the truths inspired by their writing. Both wrote about topics that others tried to hide. Both discerned and disseminated truths that were dirty, unsavory, even horrific. Both exposed America, and in doing so, revered its potential. Both incensed throngs of critics. Both described the injustice of the world and removed the glean of superficiality off of knowledge. Both taught us how little we "know" about the stuff we "know." Both were considered Gods by some, hacks by others, but both left indelible marks.

One was known for his inspirational presence among progressive-minded people. Inspiring the inspirers. Feeding artists and poets with wisdom and facts to back their ideals. He was an inspiration to everyone from Matt Damon and Eddie Vedder to Barack Obama and Bill Moyers. His History Channel special, "The People Speak" will now stand as final testament to his influence.

The other was known for his lack of presence. Turning his back on literary fame and the promise of influence and affluence, he embraced a four-decade-long, Thoreauvian seclusion that turned his influence into myth. His character, Holden Caulfield, an American teenage anti-hero who set a gold standard for adolescent angst, is almost universally regarded as one of fiction's most prolific characters. Through Holden, he gave hope to the hopelessly disillusioned. Legions of teenagers, to this day, find solace in Holden's existentialism, and ultimately, can face teenage-dom without feeling quite so weird. 

RIP: Howard Zinn & JD Salinger (1/27/2010)

Rhetoric & Composition: Class 3 Assignments

READ & WRITE:

1. Read the second chapter of RF for Monday. Use the guide posted previously to help your reading. You do not need to answer these, just use them as a map to what is important in each chapter. Journal #2: Depending on your Learning Inventory, you will answer one of four possible questions about RF. Remember that journals may be typed or hand-written. They must be AT LEAST one full page written or 3/4 of a page typed. They must be kept together in an organized fashion, and may or may not be requested for submission. You should do your best to write in a clear, formal English, but they do not need to be edited with the care of a formal essay. For each one, elaborate where necessary.

Each question will be from the previously posted reading guide:

Brainstorming & Costal's Offspring: answer #17 from Chapter One
The Goonies &: answer #21 from Chapter One
Spenciel Jolinrut: answer #09 from Chapter Two
Team Q: answer #12 from Chapter Two

2. Revision of Essay #2 due Monday (do not forget to attach the rewrite to the original...latest papers in the front please)

Rumor For Your Thoughts: Tim Burton To Take On ‘Sleeping Beauty’ Villain Maleficent?

Rumor For Your Thoughts: Tim Burton To Take On ‘Sleeping Beauty’ Villain Maleficent?

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Avatarible

I hate Avatar. There, I said it. Whew!

I thought seeing it written would make me feel differently, but it hasn't. My sentiments are completely unfounded. I didn't see it. Nor have I seen or felt a special affinity toward any of the other films expected a nomination this year (the only one I saw was Julie and Julia... oh and New Moon of course). I wasn't blown away by the Hurt Locker (hahaha, get it?). I didn't soar over Up in the Air (too much? prob). I haven't even bothered to ON DEMAND Inglorious, but somehow I am utterly aggrevated that Avatar beat these films at the Globes.

Maybe it's that I could see this movie coming a mile away. All flash, no substance. All visual, no cerebral. Since the very first trailer, I felt as if I could relay the storyline to you almost verbatim. Everyone I know and respect, who has seen the film, including many of the loyal bloggers on this site o' ours, has justified my feelings.

Maybe I fear blue people. The characters look cross-bred, as if they were the unholy spawn of a tryst between the Blue Man Group and the cast of Cats.

Now I know Cameron innovated for this film big time! I know that industrial upgrades in cinema have not been so blatantly altered since Lucas (who incidentally also gets my goat lately), but I kind of, like, don't care. Is that fair?

I shutter to think that this film will provoke blurbs like, "now the rules have changed." I don't want Avatar and Cameron to change the rules of filmmaking this way. I like my movies the way they are, thank-you very much. I don't want CGI everything. I want Ellen Page as Juno. Matt Damon as Jason Bourne and Zach Galifinaka-whatchamacallit as any funny fat guy he so chooses to be...

If merit were judged on visual innovation, why didn't True Lies (1994) win an Oscar? Why didn't Terminator II: Judgment Day (1991) win? Oh yea, cause the storylines sucked. They were cool movies to watch in the theatre (and I saw them both in one), but they weren't Academy Award films, and you know what? Neither is Avatar. Guess what won Best Picture in 1994? A movie called Forrest Gump. A film that utilized CGI innovatively. A film with great effects, but also great acting and writing. Maybe I want too much. Maybe this is an off year for film.

If it is a slow year for film, why not nominate Paul Rudd for the comedic performance of the year (yes, I saw the Hangover) in I Love You, Man. Do it, Oscar. Totes McGotes!

Maybe I just don't like that Cameron showed up, copied Robert Downey's sentiment about the music and proceeded to preach to the room about "accepting CGI." To a room full of actors! That's like going to a chamber maid convention and pushing Rosie from The Jetsons on everyone. Like showing up with those mechanized baskets at a toll collector conference. Here's the future everyone...I hope you like crap.

Maybe it's just that Cameron looked like he was on leave from Hogwart's. Maybe it's that he looked like the crazy old guy from Six Feet Under and sounded like John Houseman. I don't know.

Also, Ricky Gervais was a disappointment. Mostly because he got less air time than Vanilla Ice did in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 (extra credit for anyone who can name the subline of that gem of a picture). One zinger? At the expense of Mel Gibson. By dog could make of Mel Gibson, and he has arthritisis and doesn't speak English.

Anyway, I hope the Academy gets right what the Hollywood foreign press screwed up. Maybe we just don't get them...they're foreign after all. Don't be racist, Clancey.

Oh, and I am not alone. Here.