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Thursday, August 4, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
When Keeping it real goes really wrong
Well here we are 2011 and we're all about keeping it 100 and being real. But for some reason we've turned reality on its heels and had to distinguish between what’s real and what’s pretend real. Let’s begin by examining Real Housewives...none of these women are Real Housewives; most of their bodies aren’t even real. Why are you watching this? I'm just surprised people spend time watching people be fake and spend lavish amounts of money instead of going out and making their own. Every time I’ve sat down and tried to give these shows a chance i end up going and finding something better to do with my time like reading a book. The premise of this show is that these women are the housewives of the rich and famous...I haven’t seen any of these women be domestic yet, just loud obnoxious and embarrassing. Shouldn’t a rich housewife be more than drama in a set of stilettos at their age? Shouldn’t they be philanthropist or writers or good examples for their daughters?
Reality tv was cute when MTV was playing music videos for 18hours a day and then had a dating show or a show where people stopped being polite and started getting real, but then somewhere along the way cops and the news became the only real shows on television. I mean if you are looking for time wasting trash look no further then cops it’s got fights, drama, chase scenes and it’s not about a bunch of rich spoiled people; these people have stuff to fight for they’re angry trashy people wouldn’t you fight and run from the cops? What I’m really trying to say is that we spend our days glorifying ill behavior. We spend our hours waiting to see a bunch of people paid to act up, act up. Why? I personally think it’s because watching these people behave like fools makes us feel less foolish, but that’s like saying buying a ticket to Jerry Springer is classy because you’re not on stage. There is no reality in “reality tv” and we are all aware of this. People getting famous for doing nothing will have to be reserved for it’s own post because that’s a long list of confusion on my part. I guess what I’m trying to say is why not tune into a show where the drama is scripted, those writers put their hard time into these scripts for hilarious shows like The Office and drama filled tv like The Game and you throw it in their face by watching a bunch of amateurs create drama that they don’t really need to have. I mean if you’re rich why do you care that she said/he said this that and the third, find a different social circle, buy yourself some loyal friends. So in 2011 lets either be fiction or nonfiction, let’s not fake the funk, let’s stop giving ratings to a bunch of fake housewives and basketball baby mamas. Read a book.
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| I dont care if the scripts are 1/2 whack |
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| Seriously with so much money you could buy your way out of drama |
Sunday, January 16, 2011
The death of swagger
Today we come together to honor the essence of greatness. For many years it marked a certain level of self confidence and coolness. It didn't matter if a man wore a suit or jeans, if his hat was tilted to the front or side. We come together ladies and gentlemen to commemorate the life and glorious times of SWAGGER.
According to Merriam-Webster dictionary Swagger has been around since 1596. The general definition is to "walk with an air of overbearing self confidence."1 Even the urban dictionary knows the definition ,"Swagger is to to move with confidence, sophistication and to be cool. 2 Swagger is to conduct your self in a way that would automatically earn respect". Basically when a man or woman has a complete confidence in who they are it shows in the way they carry themselves. Now this can be best described as a chin up stride that makes you look like you know everything that's going on and exactly where you are headed. The opposite of swagger is someone with their head down, shoulder hunched, clothing out of place, and an air of false/lack of confidence...I basically described 3/4 of the rappers on top right now. NOT Every rapper though. I'm not picking on them but they are the reason we are here today to mourn the death of the true meaning of swagger.
In 2008 we elected President Barack Obama. Now Barack, he had true swagger. He is a man with the walk, the talk, the brain and the woman that makes people pay attention when he walks into a room. The only problem is that he's black (well kinda). Now African Americans were/are extremely proud of him for being the first black president, and came out in full support. The problem is that when describing him everyone new and therefore noted his overwhelming amount of pure swagger and the rap community noticed. Now when teaching a child to read its best to associated a word with a visual. In this case the word swagger was openly, and apparently overly, used with the visual of a black man and suddenly every black man thought it was okay to associate themselves with the word swagger. Not cool. Swag surfing, putting your swag on and so many more instances have lessened the true meaning of swagger making it something common. Urban dictionary best description of this is a Swag Rap 3 A popular style of rap characterized by its emphasis on swag, rather than lyrical creativity. It can usually be identified by its lack of talent and inspiration, awkward pauses during the verses, and excessive bragging. Every rapper has been guilty of this a few times but some have evolved past it. Jay Z, Kanye (depends), ....I can't think of any more, which is sad. The point is that they killed it. At least for me. I said they made it common, like when rappers started buying fur coats and diamonds making them nothing special and sometimes embarrassing.
Status symbols that were once reserved for the highest class to portray themselves as animal skinners and blood diamond purchasers, were now open and available for the hip hop community to do the same. Somethings can be made common and the special feeling that was once there ripped away and no one misses it. I mean really killing an animal just for the fur is grotesque and diamonds have much greater purposes and uses then to waste money on, so to me it's great that both became a joke as status symbols. But SWAGGER wasn't for the rich, the high class or the poor it was for the deserving. Stripping that word of its magic is a crime really. It was a great way to sum up a person in two syllables.
So here is to swagger. The word is dead but the essence still exist and is altogether distinguishable from any and all perpetrators. You can't fake or claim swagger. Swagger is earned, manifested, and a part of those who truly possess it.
According to Merriam-Webster dictionary Swagger has been around since 1596. The general definition is to "walk with an air of overbearing self confidence."1 Even the urban dictionary knows the definition ,"Swagger is to to move with confidence, sophistication and to be cool. 2 Swagger is to conduct your self in a way that would automatically earn respect". Basically when a man or woman has a complete confidence in who they are it shows in the way they carry themselves. Now this can be best described as a chin up stride that makes you look like you know everything that's going on and exactly where you are headed. The opposite of swagger is someone with their head down, shoulder hunched, clothing out of place, and an air of false/lack of confidence...I basically described 3/4 of the rappers on top right now. NOT Every rapper though. I'm not picking on them but they are the reason we are here today to mourn the death of the true meaning of swagger.
In 2008 we elected President Barack Obama. Now Barack, he had true swagger. He is a man with the walk, the talk, the brain and the woman that makes people pay attention when he walks into a room. The only problem is that he's black (well kinda). Now African Americans were/are extremely proud of him for being the first black president, and came out in full support. The problem is that when describing him everyone new and therefore noted his overwhelming amount of pure swagger and the rap community noticed. Now when teaching a child to read its best to associated a word with a visual. In this case the word swagger was openly, and apparently overly, used with the visual of a black man and suddenly every black man thought it was okay to associate themselves with the word swagger. Not cool. Swag surfing, putting your swag on and so many more instances have lessened the true meaning of swagger making it something common. Urban dictionary best description of this is a Swag Rap 3 A popular style of rap characterized by its emphasis on swag, rather than lyrical creativity. It can usually be identified by its lack of talent and inspiration, awkward pauses during the verses, and excessive bragging. Every rapper has been guilty of this a few times but some have evolved past it. Jay Z, Kanye (depends), ....I can't think of any more, which is sad. The point is that they killed it. At least for me. I said they made it common, like when rappers started buying fur coats and diamonds making them nothing special and sometimes embarrassing.
Status symbols that were once reserved for the highest class to portray themselves as animal skinners and blood diamond purchasers, were now open and available for the hip hop community to do the same. Somethings can be made common and the special feeling that was once there ripped away and no one misses it. I mean really killing an animal just for the fur is grotesque and diamonds have much greater purposes and uses then to waste money on, so to me it's great that both became a joke as status symbols. But SWAGGER wasn't for the rich, the high class or the poor it was for the deserving. Stripping that word of its magic is a crime really. It was a great way to sum up a person in two syllables.
So here is to swagger. The word is dead but the essence still exist and is altogether distinguishable from any and all perpetrators. You can't fake or claim swagger. Swagger is earned, manifested, and a part of those who truly possess it.
R.I.P.
Swagger
One day you will mean
something special again...
one day.
1596-2011
 |
| NO, just NO. |
"Art"......
What is art? That's a good question and a great place to start. Art is an outflow of a pent up energy really. Just think of it as rain. It builds and builds in the clouds and then pours out in a shower or a flood. But go further to the house it drenches and goes into the gutters of. Gutters filter and control the rain. In the end some gutters are pointed into gardens to help sheltered plants grow and some is diverted to the street where it goes directly down the drain sweeping up other unwanted things on the way. So art is a pouring out of energy the creative goes into the world and helps it grow while the crap goes down the drain...or at least it should.
Unfortunately sometimes the gutters get clogged or even detach and the water meant for the drain goes wherever it wants. And sometimes the rain is just acid to begin with and makes its way into the garden. The plants will survive but they wont blossom as they should.
Long metaphor right? Well the point, if you haven't gotten it yet, is that some art is good and some art is bad. Sometimes people think the bad art is good and vice versa. Other times the bad is so bad its good, think Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Also I've found that sometimes the bad art just desensitizes you due to prolonged exposure and doesn't seem so bad after while; but of course if you build a tolerance up to poison that doesn't make it not poison.
I'm using simple terms like "good art" and "bad art" because sometimes artist really are feeling themselves too much and try to make it more than it is. :-/
So whats the other point? That an artist has a choice. Art isn't something that must be shared, that's a human thing to show and tell art is kind of outside of that. Art is the sketch book, or the notepad, or the beat in your head, you can keep it to yourself if you really choose. So when it's put out for the public, an artist wants something from the art and are then held accountable for it. If the artist should have stayed in bed then I plan on saying so, if show and tell turned into something brilliant, i will give a standing ovation. I've got a life so i wont hit it all but I'll say what's real and if you ave something to say back, think of this blog as my art and I'm putting it in public and can take the heat.
Quote:
Very few people possess true artistic ability. It is therefore both unseemly and unproductive to irritate the situation by making an effort. If you have a burning, restless urge to write or paint, simply eat something sweet and the feeling will pass.
Fran Lebowitz
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5
Unfortunately sometimes the gutters get clogged or even detach and the water meant for the drain goes wherever it wants. And sometimes the rain is just acid to begin with and makes its way into the garden. The plants will survive but they wont blossom as they should.
Long metaphor right? Well the point, if you haven't gotten it yet, is that some art is good and some art is bad. Sometimes people think the bad art is good and vice versa. Other times the bad is so bad its good, think Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Also I've found that sometimes the bad art just desensitizes you due to prolonged exposure and doesn't seem so bad after while; but of course if you build a tolerance up to poison that doesn't make it not poison.
I'm using simple terms like "good art" and "bad art" because sometimes artist really are feeling themselves too much and try to make it more than it is. :-/
So whats the other point? That an artist has a choice. Art isn't something that must be shared, that's a human thing to show and tell art is kind of outside of that. Art is the sketch book, or the notepad, or the beat in your head, you can keep it to yourself if you really choose. So when it's put out for the public, an artist wants something from the art and are then held accountable for it. If the artist should have stayed in bed then I plan on saying so, if show and tell turned into something brilliant, i will give a standing ovation. I've got a life so i wont hit it all but I'll say what's real and if you ave something to say back, think of this blog as my art and I'm putting it in public and can take the heat.
Quote:
Very few people possess true artistic ability. It is therefore both unseemly and unproductive to irritate the situation by making an effort. If you have a burning, restless urge to write or paint, simply eat something sweet and the feeling will pass.
Fran Lebowitz
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5
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