It is important for me to admit here on #METASWAG that when
I am stressed I often look through photos of Marion Cotillard.
Thesis
Bicycling is the best thing to do during a stressful midterm week. Well, let's hope so. I was feeling overwhelmed by the study schedule I proposed for myself this week (a study schedule I've managed to stick to fairly well), but decided that it was bogging me down. To reward myself for making it through a rough day, I hopped on my bike and headed downtown.
There, I visited the Monroe County Public Library to check out some novels by KAWABATA Yasunari. I got Snow Country and The Sound Of The Mountain. I intend to read at least one of them over spring break. Homeboy wrote one of my all-time favorite novels, Beauty And Sadness. Here's hoping these two can match the delicate intensity of that masterpiece.
I then went across the road, under some cloudy pink skies that screamed thunderstorm, to TD's CDs & LPs. There, I purchased
This is a music blog
I know I keep saying it isn't. It mostly isn't. Anyway, I bought my first CD in two months (forgive me my trespasses, Music Gods).
This seemed like the perfect record to get me back into the physical-media-listening mood. For one, it's by a band signed to a local record label. For two, it's a band that I've not listened to all that much, but in which I have plenty of interest. For three, I hadn't come across a leak yet. So, it seems fitting that I re-enter the local record store patronage scene with this album. I'm glad I did - it's a fun record full of noisy and joyous anthems. Perfect for spring time. Just look at that album cover.
Also, to warn you, I plan on reviewing albums soon, fam. Like, as a summer project. Anyway.
This is a movie blog
I was lying before. I guess this is just an everything blog. Whatever. Allow me to briefly write about an anime I watched this weekend with some friends. Or rather, a cartoon.
New to the blogosphere (but already killing it), is Ted, who posits that referring to Japanese animation as "anime" and not as "cartoons" is totally senseless and vaguely racist. Homeboy has it right, if you ask me. Anyway, he was numbered among the four lucky souls who bore witness to the human miracle that is
A perfect film. It's a pretty basic coming-of-age story. Despite this, the simple tale (expertly written by Miyazaki) is made almost indescribable, because of the importance and gravity of every shift in the story's trajectory. It begins with Shizuku, a young bookworm, who finds that every book she checks out from the school library has been previously checked out by a certain Seiji Amasawa.
From this humble beginning, a most stunning and human examination of the nature of art, creation, and self is launched with total originality and confidence. The movie opens with Olivia Newton John's performance of "Country Roads, Take Me Home" full in the mix. It's a brash decision that jarringly contrasts with the presentation of urban Tokyo. The song takes on huge thematic and emotional resonance as the film progresses, but to introduce the song itself before any of this significance has been established is a bold move that pays off. The song provides a certain familiarity, but subjects you to an otherworldliness in its juxtaposition with the city.
However, the aestheticization of the city is important in this film. It deromanticizes the countryside, and suggests that the city (read: our actual surroundings) should be as highly-regarded as nature (read: what we retreat to). Let me quickly point out that the city and its suburbs are expertly animated, and demonstrate the true beauty inherent to some of human creation. Because of this attribution of beauty, the romance of city life can provide relief for the characters here, all of whom are balanced and feel totally real. Shizuku's parents are understanding and reasonable, her sister alternately cynical and helpful.
Without spoiling the plot, it should be pointed out that most importantly, the film takes its time. Thanks to the assured direction of Kondō, Whisper Of The Heart meditates on images that stir the memory and emblemize important ideas. Really, the movie does have an agenda. But I can't imagine anyone objecting to the values it supports. They are useful, universal, and simple. Enjoy experiencing Shizuku's growth, and discover important truths about yourself along the way.
Life-changing. The most a film has affected me since Sans Soleil. It inspired a late night bus ride and walk around campus in the rain. Unforgettable, big time.
Cool Thing
That's right fam, I found a cool thing! The cool thing is f.lux software. It's this nifty device that turns your computer screen orange! I know that doesn't sound very cool. Probably because there's more to it than that. The software gradually shifts the colors on your display throughout your day to mimic the path of the sun. That way, when it's dark outside, your laptop screen won't be shooting the same bright blue light in your face that it does during the rest of the day.
Trust me, the initial change from bright blue to a soft orange is a bit jarring. But it's spared my eyes hella strain. Also, it keeps me from that false "awake" feeling I'm prone to when surfing the net in the wee hours of the morn. Now, when it's 2:30 AM, it feels like it. I'm getting more sleep!
I need sleep
because, let's be honest, I haven't entirely kept to my previously-proposed one-hour limit on internet use. I was going strong for a few days, but things sorta fell apart as midterms mounted and I sought fodder for procrastination.
Conclusions
Thanks to this blog (which was hella important for my mentality, believe me you), I can now focus on studying for the next seven hours.
If the nod above wasn't blatant enough, let me here introduce:
Loud & Horrible by Ted
> Stellar blog that promises a weirdly cool mix of based and academic writing on life and culture. Who wouldn't wanna read that? It's like a better #METASWAG.
Get sleep, y'all. May Based God bless you in your studies!
This is a music blog
I know I keep saying it isn't. It mostly isn't. Anyway, I bought my first CD in two months (forgive me my trespasses, Music Gods).
Constant Future [Jagjaguwar, 2011]
by Parts & Labor
Also, to warn you, I plan on reviewing albums soon, fam. Like, as a summer project. Anyway.
This is a movie blog
I was lying before. I guess this is just an everything blog. Whatever. Allow me to briefly write about an anime I watched this weekend with some friends. Or rather, a cartoon.
New to the blogosphere (but already killing it), is Ted, who posits that referring to Japanese animation as "anime" and not as "cartoons" is totally senseless and vaguely racist. Homeboy has it right, if you ask me. Anyway, he was numbered among the four lucky souls who bore witness to the human miracle that is
Whisper Of The Heart [Studio Ghibli, 1995]
Directed by KONDŌ Yoshifumi
A perfect film. It's a pretty basic coming-of-age story. Despite this, the simple tale (expertly written by Miyazaki) is made almost indescribable, because of the importance and gravity of every shift in the story's trajectory. It begins with Shizuku, a young bookworm, who finds that every book she checks out from the school library has been previously checked out by a certain Seiji Amasawa.
From this humble beginning, a most stunning and human examination of the nature of art, creation, and self is launched with total originality and confidence. The movie opens with Olivia Newton John's performance of "Country Roads, Take Me Home" full in the mix. It's a brash decision that jarringly contrasts with the presentation of urban Tokyo. The song takes on huge thematic and emotional resonance as the film progresses, but to introduce the song itself before any of this significance has been established is a bold move that pays off. The song provides a certain familiarity, but subjects you to an otherworldliness in its juxtaposition with the city.
However, the aestheticization of the city is important in this film. It deromanticizes the countryside, and suggests that the city (read: our actual surroundings) should be as highly-regarded as nature (read: what we retreat to). Let me quickly point out that the city and its suburbs are expertly animated, and demonstrate the true beauty inherent to some of human creation. Because of this attribution of beauty, the romance of city life can provide relief for the characters here, all of whom are balanced and feel totally real. Shizuku's parents are understanding and reasonable, her sister alternately cynical and helpful.
Without spoiling the plot, it should be pointed out that most importantly, the film takes its time. Thanks to the assured direction of Kondō, Whisper Of The Heart meditates on images that stir the memory and emblemize important ideas. Really, the movie does have an agenda. But I can't imagine anyone objecting to the values it supports. They are useful, universal, and simple. Enjoy experiencing Shizuku's growth, and discover important truths about yourself along the way.
Life-changing. The most a film has affected me since Sans Soleil. It inspired a late night bus ride and walk around campus in the rain. Unforgettable, big time.
Cool Thing
That's right fam, I found a cool thing! The cool thing is f.lux software. It's this nifty device that turns your computer screen orange! I know that doesn't sound very cool. Probably because there's more to it than that. The software gradually shifts the colors on your display throughout your day to mimic the path of the sun. That way, when it's dark outside, your laptop screen won't be shooting the same bright blue light in your face that it does during the rest of the day.
Trust me, the initial change from bright blue to a soft orange is a bit jarring. But it's spared my eyes hella strain. Also, it keeps me from that false "awake" feeling I'm prone to when surfing the net in the wee hours of the morn. Now, when it's 2:30 AM, it feels like it. I'm getting more sleep!
I need sleep
because, let's be honest, I haven't entirely kept to my previously-proposed one-hour limit on internet use. I was going strong for a few days, but things sorta fell apart as midterms mounted and I sought fodder for procrastination.
Conclusions
Thanks to this blog (which was hella important for my mentality, believe me you), I can now focus on studying for the next seven hours.
If the nod above wasn't blatant enough, let me here introduce:
Loud & Horrible by Ted
> Stellar blog that promises a weirdly cool mix of based and academic writing on life and culture. Who wouldn't wanna read that? It's like a better #METASWAG.
Get sleep, y'all. May Based God bless you in your studies!
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