Blog 6: A Reluctant Enlightenment

Let me begin by saying that my decision to take this course was one motivated purely by convenience.  Admittedly, being the Luddite that I am, I was somewhat uneasy at the prospect of "writing in a digital context", but by the time I was registering the only alternative that would fulfil my GNED requirement had classes that began at 8 am, which was to be avoided at virtually any cost. On the first day I was quite relieved to hear that our class only met only once per week, but little did I know how much forethought and consideration would be needed in the coming weeks.

Though keeping a blog can be a draining practice, it can yield considerable benefits.  Writing has always been a struggle for me, and I found that having to write an entry every other week has really helped me with my approach. Generally I tend to write as little as possible, and the process of extending on ideas in order to reach 500+ words, when in my mind they could have been summarised in a few sentences, was quite invigorating. Additionally, when I was hesitant to get started on a post, I could use my classmates posts as inspiration or revisit my own previous entries as a comforting reassurance. Having said that, as many of us were writing on the same topics it was at times hard to avoid repeating the ideas of others, and ultimately the biggest goal of mine was to provide original commentary while remaining accessible and genuine. I also should address my falling short on my initial intention of doing a regular blog about local music. Part of the reason for this was the strenuous task of keeping up with other aspects of the course, but also I simply did not feel that much of the recent activity in local music that I know of was really worth documenting.

Google plus also came with its challenges. I was amazed at many of my classmates ability to find great articles on the Internet that were relevant to our class discussion. I had no such luck, so I focused mainly on commenting on others posts. Again with this I needed to find ways to be interesting and sincere, which really occured to me when Yaz pointed out early on "I encourage you to post an insightful or intelligent response without the use of sarcasm". Overall I was pleased with the efficiency of google plus, and relished the opportunity read the what my contemporaries were expressing. Another challenge presented with this course was simply the fact that all work was to be done at the computer; a medium of boundless distraction, never ceasing to beckon towards something else.
 

 

Above all, I can see now that prior to my involvement in this class, my comprehension of the Internet was very limited.  I had not been a member of any online community and aside from occasionally commenting on youtube, had not participated in anonymous interaction. More importantly,  I had simply had not considered  many of the implications of the Internet with regards to issues of identity, privacy, the law, and culture at large.

Blog 5: Internet Identity

One distinct feature of communicating on the internet is having the ability to conceal or shape one's identity. While this anonymity is often abused, serving as a barrier from personal accountability for those who spread ignorance and hatred, it can have many positive uses. By removing the disclosure of personal information, people can be judged solely on the validity of what they have to say, transcendent of connotations such as race, gender, religion, age, sexual proclivity, etc. Seemingly, this could be particularly useful in providing marginalized members of society a chance to voice their opinions without being victim of prejudice.  Personally, I have difficulty understanding the notion of minorities becoming empowered through anonymity. During a discussion of any kind, whether “anonymous” or not, information provided by each contributor will allow others to form opinions about them. In order to express issues related to societal perceptions of your identity, you cannot separate yourself from said identity.

While the internet does allow us to interact without reference to external features of identity, I believe that people will inevitably project their own assumptions on others until provided with information that would suggest otherwise.  As human beings, nay, living organisms, we simply cannot help but constantly survey and judge our surroundings. In an online context, reading someone’s words will invariably lead to the formation of sort of mental image of the author. Aspects of the authors identity that that may not be revealed explicitly such as the gender or race will likely be “guessed”  to some degree as to what is most likely based on what is being said, and where it is being said.  When I am on my “home community” of Reddit atheism, I generally recognize the people I converse with as being white males. Conversely, in research of my previous blog on the Dooce, I identified its community members as almost exclusively female. These assumptions are quite natural and usually go unmentioned, but one should consider the possibility of exception before acting accordingly. Ultimately, I think assumptions with regards to internet identity are common and vary considerably based on the context, and are necessarily harmful. Furthermore, in order for minorities to become empowered online, they must first acknowledge their identity, for enlightenment can only occur when perceptions are changed, not simply prevented.

 

 

A Clearer Look at..."Sudden Clarity Clarence"

"Sudden Clarity Clarence" depicts a young man appearing to be struck by an abrupt and unlikely epiphany, gazing into the unknown, all the while trapped in a sea of mindless party-goers. The picture itself is quite amazing, with its subject being exposed so vividly, glowing with a illumination exceeded only by the amazing realisation so brilliantly expressed on his face. This, coupled with the text that appears over top, can combine to form a truly effective meme.





Photo source as it appeared in 2009

On November 21st, 2009, the original stock photo was submitted to the Australia Associated Press as coverage of the Schoolies Festival in Queensland, Australia’s Gold Coast. Two years later, a reddit user by the name of NorthernSkeptic posted "Introducing Sudden Clarity Clarence”, with the caption “Oh my God / dubstep sucks" captioned over the image macro; and so the meme was born. After its initial success on reddit, reaching the front page of the /r/AdviceAnimals subreddit, the meme went on to spread like wildfire among Tumblr, FunnyJunk, QuickMeme and alike, under the tag “#sudden clarity clarence^."


NorthernSkeptic's post: November 23rd, 2011

 

 

Quite apparently, it is often the sheer triviality of Clarence's realisations that gives the meme its humorous appeal, i.e "Tomatoes are fruits/ That makes ketchup a smoothie." However, like a Shakespearean Fool, as Clarence delivers seemingly benign commentary, at times his statements contain subtle yet profound truths about life that may inspire prolonged cogitation in the viewer. Or at least that was this bloggers experience. 


The meme has been at times criticised for a perceived resemblance to "Consiracy Keanu", however to the keen observer the distinction is clear. "Clarence" experiences moments of unexpected enlightenment about things that deep into his subconscious he may have already known but failed to "connect the dots" as it were. Conversely, "Keanu" proposes elaborate and often absurd conspiracy theories, and does not become enlightened at all.

Conspiracy Keanu

 Presently, the ultimate challenge that "Clarence" faces is one shared by all memes, that is to stay true to the original sentiment of the meme. A task of great difficulty, considering each potential  instance can be attributed to a possibly infinite number of different authors. And so, it is the duty of the meme enthusiast to only promote those instances deemed worthy of its namesake, and to disregard those who use it for ill purpose. "Clarence", we hardly knew ye.



Waxing Nostalgic about WOMEN

It has now been two years since the break up of my favourite band, Calgary's own Women.

My introduction to Women was seeing them live at Artlife Gallery (now defunct) on July 23rd 2008. My friend and I had been there earlier in the day to see an art showing, so having already been stamped we were allowed re-rentry that night despite being obviously underaged. The entire line-up of that night is even more impressive in retrospect, with Indiensoci (Raphaelle Standell-Preston of Braids) opening and Abe Vigoda ending. But as Women played, I was simply awestruck. While their music was so original and foreign almost beyond comprehension, it was also eerily familiar at times. I had a hard time recongizing their pastiche, having no frame of reference for such music blissful guitar violence at the time except maybe Sonic Youth or The Velvets. Anyways, I proceeded to buy the debut album a few days later and it remains one of my most listened to LPs, along with Public Strain.

Over the next two years I was forchunate enough to meet the members of Women and see them play a handfull of times. Both of their albums recieved wide critical acclaim and they managed to carve a  decent following for themselves, however part of me feels as though they never really got their due. While often compared to the likes of Deerhunter, Crystal Stilts or countless other contemporaries who seemingly bridged the gap between "noise" and "pop", Women had more to offer in my opinion. Having honed their skills early and often, playing countless types of music growing up, from gypsy jazz to thrash metal and beyond, they are incredibly accomplished musicians. At some point they refined their music palates, and Women was born. Their skills were not entirely envolped however, they simply knew when to use restraint when playing, which is an incredibly neglected element of music. Furthermore, the songs they wrote were so different from eachother yet the contrast didnt seem at all unnatural or contrived. This, combined with the sheer quality of composition and arrangement, made every song memorable upon first listen. In an age when bands tend to repeat themselves at nauseam, this dinstinciveness may have been the most admirable facet of Womens music.


When I first heard the news of the infamous "Lucky Bar Brawl" incident two years ago, having caught glimpes into the keen sense of humour shared by the band,  I immidiately dismissed it as some sort of Andy Kaufman-esque stunt. After the tour cancellation, and months passing it dawned on me that they may never reform. With Chris Reimers tragic and untimely passing earlier this year, it began time to recognize the great legacy they have left and to cherish the memories I have of them.

YOU ARE MINEZ go Cinematic

Calgary prodigy Jean Sebastien-Audets latest offering is a collaboration with Boise Idaho director Tyler T. Williams. The short film / extended music video features a strikingly austere cinematic narrative blissfully juxtaposed with three irresistibly poppy, previously unreleased YAMZ tracks. The saga appears to follow a homicidal junky disposing of a corpse amidst the glorious scenery of the American western frontier. Ostensibly, its a slice of life. Don't miss the Mr. Blonde dance at 4:33!

The Dooce's Audience

The Dooce was created in early 2001 by web-designer Heather B Armstrong with the intention of having “a place to write about pop culture, music, and [her] life as a single woman”. The blog soon began to emphasize the autobiographical; Armstrong using it as an open diary to the world, an outlet for her to express her most intimate stories and opinions.  Unfortunately, this forthrightness cost her job. After a year, she was fired for revealing information about people she worked with. She landed on her feet however, and in subsequent years The Dooce began attracting wide audiences and garnering praise from the likes of Times and BBC News, allowing her to start her professional blogging career in 2005. This is all in debt to her unique style of prose; candid, insightful and often humorous in relentlessly chronicling her life from her Mormon upbringing, her battles with substance abuse and mental instability, the struggles and joys of motherhood and the boundless exploration of everyday existence. Quite simply, it is the quality of her content that has enabled her to connect with and maintain the extensive audience that she has. Armstrong also reinforces the blogger-audience connection by establishing familiarity through repetition.  At the top right of the sites layout are the headings “daily photo”, “daily chuck” and “daily style”. In “daily photo”, Armstrong will present a picture that captures of a particularly significant moment of her life, usually recent, that is accompanied by a descriptive caption below. “Daily Chuck is dedicated to her dog Coco, and will depict him in a series of situations and will provide an explanation. Lastly, in Daily Style, she will express her current fashion inclinations, accompanied by pictures and links of websites to obtain specific items. While the site may appeal to many demographics, judging by the feminine-oreitned content that the site provides, as well as the identities of active users, it appears that its audience is mostly female.

Interaction on The Dooce occurs in two basic forms. Firstly, in the comment thread of each blog entry, where users will weigh in their impressions of the entry and a discussion will often form. Armstrong herself will occasionally address notable comments and contribute to the dialogue.  While this is a vital aspect of the blogs sense of community, sometimes comments will be closed, somewhat inexplicably which is that case now as I write this. Furthermore, within the Dooce there exists Dooce Community, which is a forum where enthusiast of the blog will discuss a variety of topics within a set range of categories, i.e. “Family and Relationships” or “Home and Garden”.  Each thread within a category will start with a question posed by a single member, to which other will respond and generally some semblance of a conversation will develop. The person that started the thread will then have to option of assigning the “best answers” of their choice. Armstrong appears to have little presence on Dooce Community, although she will sometimes refer to its activity in her blog posts.

 

The Nation: Under Review

 

 

     The Nation, as one of America’s foremost opinion journals, is certainly not shy of making its political affiliations known. Commonly referred to as “the flagship of the left”, the magazine thrives on its reputation as a liberal news resource and any first time reader will be able to recognize its ideological carriage simply by scanning through the article titles.

     Or at least this was my experience; when first visiting the website I was immediately struck by the headline "Re-Elect the President". The article itself however, is perhaps not quite as blatant as the name might suggest.  While firm in their electoral stance, proposing that a victory for Romney and Ryan would “validate the reactionary extremists” and “represent the triumph of social Darwinism, the religious right, corporate power and the big money donors who thrive in a new Gilded Age of inequality”, the editors express their fair share of qualms with Obamas record, criticizing his reluctance to overhaul reform on immigration, the environment, Guantanamo, etcetera.  The negative focus effectively pivots back and forth between the two candidates, with Romney still ending up the much less desirable with the final verdict being “we can’t afford a Romney/Ryan victory”. Balanced perhaps, but is it fair? Within the article exists many assumptions, it prophesizes of what terror is surely to strike if Romney is voted in, and the authors on numerous occasions attempt to speak for all progressives, suggesting that they “have a profound interest in the popular rejection of the Romney/Ryan ticket” and that progress on any cause they care about would be unimaginable under Romney’s presidency.

       In another article I encountered, cleverly titled “The Enemy of My Enemy Is My President”, author Robert Scheer examines the turbulent relationship between Obama and the proverbial Wall Street “fat cats”, “swindlers” and “hucksters”, and submits that Goldman Sachs animosity toward the president indicates that “he must have done something right.” He then explains that the top five banks had once supported Obama heavily, contributing some 3.5 million to his 2008 campaign, now reduced to a mere $650,000, meanwhile giving Romney 3.3 million; clearly evidence of dissension.  What is also clear is Scheers disdain for the banks, attributing “‘The fat cats’ sense of betrayal at the hands of the Obama administration is obviously less a reflection of actual financial pain they endured these last three years than it is a mark of bankers’ uncontrollable greed”, visible in reviewing the annual earnings of Goldman CEO Lloyd C. Blankfein who got $12 million last year in stark contrast to 65.8 million in 2007 when “Goldman was happily constructing toxic security bundles.”

      Ultimately, The Nation is a leftist’s organization whose political agenda strongly informs what staff they hire, what content they publish, which determines who their subscribers are and who advertises with them.  By no means are they a neutral entity, but they also are not in the interest of fabrication. They merely present information, usually widely available, and spin it whichever way best supports their reputation and often the results are quite presuasive.