I truly ponder what the future literate me will be like. For one thing, as I've mentioned earlier, I really can't stand reading unless I'm really really into a book. If it can't hold my attention or keep me interested, what's the point? However, this year alone I've come across a plethora of authors I want to delve into. Let's take a step back for a second here and just think.
I would much rather play a video game or watch a movie to experience art, and I find literature to be the weakest outlet for telling a story, whereas in a movie or video game you see the characters or interact with them. However, even though it's school reading, books like Slaughterhouse Five completely blow my mind. I've never seen the movie, but I can't imagine how anybody could try to visualize what Vonnegut was thinking when he wrote that bizarre masterpiece, like how do you make Tralfamadore?
In addition, my mommy has a yearly tradition of reading Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, and though I know the story at this point (she made me watch the movie with her during Hurricane Irene), I'd still like to read the book. Likewise, I've always wanted to read The Shining and Carrie by Stephen King, since my mom is an avid fan and I've only heard great things about both books. It's actually funny in a way, since my mom is a HUGE bookworm and I barely enjoy reading, yet we reach a huge middle ground whenever I give her a book recommendation, since she knows that if I, of all people, enjoy a book she has to check it out. I love my mom.
So, right, back to the future literate me? We'll have to see! Even now as I sit here writing this, bass blasting out of my speakers as I listen to Gorillaz, I consider the stories or art that they try to portray through their music. I enjoy art, I love reading it, playing it, watching it, smelling it, you name it, but with books, reading never really resonated with me. I'm gonna look into the above books and read more Vonnegut, and I guess we'll see where it goes from there, right?
Friday, May 31, 2013
A MUSHY CHAPTER OF MY SWEET LIFE
It was summer when we met.
I had been sitting in her dorm room as I was waiting for one of her female compatriots to get her things she needed. We had both attended the same college program and I saw her watching Dance Moms. Dear God that is the worst show on the planet. Anyway, she noticed me staring until she asked what was up.
After a while of not-so-awkward conversation, I had to leave with a couple of friends for some ultimate frisbee (great sport, by the way) and we parted ways...for a day. The next day there had been a campus wide campfire party were s'mores were roasting around the campfire at sunset. Not a cloud in the sky was in attendance, only the blue and yellow gradient stretching over the seven o'clock sun. We made eye contact, and picked up where we had left off.
The sunset continued, as more and more friends (mostly my dorm-mates) got the clue, it was just her and I chilling, watching the sky over the Hudson River, and generally loving life, and then it happened. This thing between us, short lived as a two week summer program can be, turned into a reality when our lips locked.
We had about three days until we would leave campus and never see each other again...BUT, dear reader, RELAX! As melancholy as that scenario sounds, it really was the highlight of that summer! We just hung out under the starry sky every night, listened to a little Beatles, and, get this, she was the first girl who would ever watch Chappelle's Show with me -- and enjoy it! She was a beast, to put it bluntly.
Unfortunately, it is true that all good things must come to an end, and we did eventually leave, but that's not to say we didn't have a great time when we attended. Always go try something new if you have a chance, I guess is the moral of the story. I was originally reluctant to attend this pre-college program, but once I did it turned out to be a really, REALLY pleasant surprise. Go take a chance, right now.
I had been sitting in her dorm room as I was waiting for one of her female compatriots to get her things she needed. We had both attended the same college program and I saw her watching Dance Moms. Dear God that is the worst show on the planet. Anyway, she noticed me staring until she asked what was up.
After a while of not-so-awkward conversation, I had to leave with a couple of friends for some ultimate frisbee (great sport, by the way) and we parted ways...for a day. The next day there had been a campus wide campfire party were s'mores were roasting around the campfire at sunset. Not a cloud in the sky was in attendance, only the blue and yellow gradient stretching over the seven o'clock sun. We made eye contact, and picked up where we had left off.
The sunset continued, as more and more friends (mostly my dorm-mates) got the clue, it was just her and I chilling, watching the sky over the Hudson River, and generally loving life, and then it happened. This thing between us, short lived as a two week summer program can be, turned into a reality when our lips locked.
We had about three days until we would leave campus and never see each other again...BUT, dear reader, RELAX! As melancholy as that scenario sounds, it really was the highlight of that summer! We just hung out under the starry sky every night, listened to a little Beatles, and, get this, she was the first girl who would ever watch Chappelle's Show with me -- and enjoy it! She was a beast, to put it bluntly.
Unfortunately, it is true that all good things must come to an end, and we did eventually leave, but that's not to say we didn't have a great time when we attended. Always go try something new if you have a chance, I guess is the moral of the story. I was originally reluctant to attend this pre-college program, but once I did it turned out to be a really, REALLY pleasant surprise. Go take a chance, right now.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
My comfort, my love, my passion, Molly
DISCLAIMER: MOLLY IS THE NAME OF MY COMPUTER. YES, I NAMED MY COMPUTER, DON'T GIVE ME THAT LOOK, THERE IS AN EXHILARATING STORY BEHIND HER. I AM NOT REFERRING TO THE HALLUCINOGENIC DRUG MOLLY. ENJOY!
In September of 2012, I decided it was time for me to get a job. Granted, I was in dire need since I began to pay my own cell phone bill (which is weak) but I figured it'd be cool to have some extra spending money. It was then I discovered my laptop (which a year previous was my mom's for four years) was on it's way to the grave. Her performance was choppier, internet was slower, and games were an impossibility. That's when I knew: I had to build my own computer.
Did you know building a computer is not only cheaper than buying one, but is also incredibly fun? Think LEGOS but with wires and electricity. Irregardless, I saved my cash for a solid six months of teeth grinding, horrible, rather-be-mutilated-by-a-rabid-bear work as a cashier, until the day came when I ordered all the parts to my new machine and subsequently, she arrived at my door. In pieces.
No exaggeration, it took me six hours to build her. All I had to guide me was a YouTube tutorial on what parts go where, but rest assured Molly was born. Molly is, as the title states, my comfort, my love, and my passion. Every day I turn on that power button knowing I worked my posterior off to build her, she is my crowning achievement. If I have a horrible day at school (which is common, I mean whose bright idea was it to put five hundred teenagers in the same building), I come home to my computer and calm my nerves with making digital art, or playing games, or listening to music, or any other leisure. Molly is an extension of myself, any writing or art or thought I have is created in part by me, in part by her, she is where I feel the most comfortable making taboo comics or whatever.
My computer is my comfort zone, because my computer is me.
Oh, right, you wanna know how my computer became affiliated with the name of a hallucinogenic drug, right? I was obsessed with the Trinidad James song "All Gold Everything" when I was building my computer. Give it a listen, try not to laugh, and you'll get it immediately.
In September of 2012, I decided it was time for me to get a job. Granted, I was in dire need since I began to pay my own cell phone bill (which is weak) but I figured it'd be cool to have some extra spending money. It was then I discovered my laptop (which a year previous was my mom's for four years) was on it's way to the grave. Her performance was choppier, internet was slower, and games were an impossibility. That's when I knew: I had to build my own computer.
Did you know building a computer is not only cheaper than buying one, but is also incredibly fun? Think LEGOS but with wires and electricity. Irregardless, I saved my cash for a solid six months of teeth grinding, horrible, rather-be-mutilated-by-a-rabid-bear work as a cashier, until the day came when I ordered all the parts to my new machine and subsequently, she arrived at my door. In pieces.
No exaggeration, it took me six hours to build her. All I had to guide me was a YouTube tutorial on what parts go where, but rest assured Molly was born. Molly is, as the title states, my comfort, my love, and my passion. Every day I turn on that power button knowing I worked my posterior off to build her, she is my crowning achievement. If I have a horrible day at school (which is common, I mean whose bright idea was it to put five hundred teenagers in the same building), I come home to my computer and calm my nerves with making digital art, or playing games, or listening to music, or any other leisure. Molly is an extension of myself, any writing or art or thought I have is created in part by me, in part by her, she is where I feel the most comfortable making taboo comics or whatever.
My computer is my comfort zone, because my computer is me.
Oh, right, you wanna know how my computer became affiliated with the name of a hallucinogenic drug, right? I was obsessed with the Trinidad James song "All Gold Everything" when I was building my computer. Give it a listen, try not to laugh, and you'll get it immediately.
What is a "good" book?
A book, at least for me, takes a lot to be considered "good." There are many angles that you have to approach literacy with, as literacy is a form of art. Anybody can look at a book's story and critique it to death, minimizing it and drawing comparisons to other works of the same genre, or just say that the writing, the author's voice, is plain bad. A good book doesn't necessarily have to have the most compelling story or the greatest voice, to be truthful, a good book simply has to keep my attention.
In my trials and tribulations, I've read quite the plethora of books. Whether it be Mrs. Wishy Washy or the masterpiece that is Slaughterhouse Five, I think I can say with confidence I've delved into a spectrum of different books. Now some books, such as Harry Potter or the Hunger Games, truly are boring to me. The respective stories of each book, I'll admit, are truly deep and complex, but for the love of god every time I try to pick either up it never holds my attention. Harry is the greatest wizard ever and has to stop Voldermort? Awesome, I'm gonna go read a Barry Lyga book. Katniss is the greatest huntress ever to live? Sweet, let me get back to you after I finish Percy Jackson and the Olympians for the eightieth time. Again, I'm not trying to critique the greatly visible cliches of each respective novel, rather their inability to hold my attention. Neither book is just a fun experience, for me at least, to read!
Now I will say this: I've been surrounded by video games my entire life. It could be that I've fooled myself into thinking that an interactive medium is more fun than than a simple visual medium that is reading, hence why I don't enjoy most novels or reading books as a form of leisure (spoiler: video games probably are more entertaining). But honest to god, if I start a book and it can hold my attention or hold my interest, I will finish it the same day it's handed to me. However, interesting books to me are such a rare find these days that I'd rather tread where I'm most comfortable, in video games. Also, yes, video games are art, no debates.
In conclusion (haven't been able to use that phrase since eighth grade), I don't consider a book good unless it can truly hold my attention. When the different elements of a book come together in just such a way that caters to my respective taste for art at a given time, you can be sure it's a good one in my book. No pun intended.
In my trials and tribulations, I've read quite the plethora of books. Whether it be Mrs. Wishy Washy or the masterpiece that is Slaughterhouse Five, I think I can say with confidence I've delved into a spectrum of different books. Now some books, such as Harry Potter or the Hunger Games, truly are boring to me. The respective stories of each book, I'll admit, are truly deep and complex, but for the love of god every time I try to pick either up it never holds my attention. Harry is the greatest wizard ever and has to stop Voldermort? Awesome, I'm gonna go read a Barry Lyga book. Katniss is the greatest huntress ever to live? Sweet, let me get back to you after I finish Percy Jackson and the Olympians for the eightieth time. Again, I'm not trying to critique the greatly visible cliches of each respective novel, rather their inability to hold my attention. Neither book is just a fun experience, for me at least, to read!
Now I will say this: I've been surrounded by video games my entire life. It could be that I've fooled myself into thinking that an interactive medium is more fun than than a simple visual medium that is reading, hence why I don't enjoy most novels or reading books as a form of leisure (spoiler: video games probably are more entertaining). But honest to god, if I start a book and it can hold my attention or hold my interest, I will finish it the same day it's handed to me. However, interesting books to me are such a rare find these days that I'd rather tread where I'm most comfortable, in video games. Also, yes, video games are art, no debates.
In conclusion (haven't been able to use that phrase since eighth grade), I don't consider a book good unless it can truly hold my attention. When the different elements of a book come together in just such a way that caters to my respective taste for art at a given time, you can be sure it's a good one in my book. No pun intended.
Friday, May 17, 2013
MY FIRST LITERARY EXPERIENCE
Oh man do I detest actual novels. Don't get me wrong, books are alright, but without those explicitive and imaginative drawings I usually lose intrest. I don't know if this has to do with my upbringing, since I usually read picture books as a kid and novels were really a "once in a while" thing. This is probably attributed to my first literary experience, since I always thought as a kid (and still do) tha pictures make the book way better.
Alright, so my first literary experience was reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas with my father in the midst of November. We had recently watched the infamous cartoon adaptation, and it just so happened my dad had a copy of the source material, so naturally, we read it. Grinch probably isn't the absolute FIRST book I ever read, but it's the most prominent "literary experience" I can remember from when I was just starting to read. The many illustrations and rhymes followed by my father and I's respective reactions are still a clear image. It was the first time I had ever really understood the concept of an antagonist, granted I didn't know what antagonist meant at four years old, but initially the grinch is a "bad guy." Likeiwse, this was my first exposure to the bad guy becoming a good guy in the end. Plus, this was my first exposure to a story depicted through both pictures and text, which relates to who I am today since I make stupid comics and cartoons all the time.
Grinch doesn't really have much to do with my literacy today, I still very much prefer the cartoon over the book, but it was the first notable experience with literature I ever had. Being told a story through text and pictures and grasping different literary concepts, such as the antagonist, makes Grinch my first standout literary experience. Dr. Seuss as a whole still holds up today too, Oh The Places You'll Go is a book I think every living human should read in high school at least once. Ok, bye!
Alright, so my first literary experience was reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas with my father in the midst of November. We had recently watched the infamous cartoon adaptation, and it just so happened my dad had a copy of the source material, so naturally, we read it. Grinch probably isn't the absolute FIRST book I ever read, but it's the most prominent "literary experience" I can remember from when I was just starting to read. The many illustrations and rhymes followed by my father and I's respective reactions are still a clear image. It was the first time I had ever really understood the concept of an antagonist, granted I didn't know what antagonist meant at four years old, but initially the grinch is a "bad guy." Likeiwse, this was my first exposure to the bad guy becoming a good guy in the end. Plus, this was my first exposure to a story depicted through both pictures and text, which relates to who I am today since I make stupid comics and cartoons all the time.
Grinch doesn't really have much to do with my literacy today, I still very much prefer the cartoon over the book, but it was the first notable experience with literature I ever had. Being told a story through text and pictures and grasping different literary concepts, such as the antagonist, makes Grinch my first standout literary experience. Dr. Seuss as a whole still holds up today too, Oh The Places You'll Go is a book I think every living human should read in high school at least once. Ok, bye!
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