Monday, May 28, 2007

Love And Marriage

Recommended Reading: Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk

So two really good friends of mine from high school got married yesterday. Of course every time someone close to me ties the knot, especially two of 'em, I naturally get thinking about relationships and love and all that good stuff. It's a bit of a quandry, marriage. Here is something that has evolved from something very personal and spiritual into something that Western society has made into a circus. Just read the tabloids or watch “Entertainment Tonight” and you can find out all the juicy details about the latest celebrity marriage and six months later use the same channels to get dirt on that couple’s divorce. It never fails. In fact, I am surprised when I hear about a celebrity marriage that lasts longer than two years.

I used to think that marriage is something that I'd like to do some day. But there are many days where I find myself saying "Marriage? Fuck that noise." I do not want my life to be a circus. I think having a kid would be awesome, kids are great and I like playing “Uncle Toph” but parenting is just not my thing right now. Not only that, but then there is the whole committing my life to another person thing. It's a little worrisome to me when I think about waking up next to the same person for the rest of my life. Probably 'cause I haven't found someone I'd want to wake up next to every day for the rest of my life. I really want to marry my best friend and as of right now, I have not found that woman yet.

In addition to that I have other responsibilities, better things to worry about/stress out over/have fun with. Like art school. That does not mean I have given up hope, however. I am sure it is in the cards. I am sure when my life has some sort of stability I will find Mrs. Christopher Short. But until then, fuck that noise. I like being independent, I like being single, and I really think I need to get my shit together before I even think about wedding cakes and tuxedos.

Friday, May 25, 2007

The Wonderful World Of Porn

Soundtrack: “Red Sky” by Thrice

I am putting this out here in hopes that someone can help. For a few months now an associate of mine has been fighting to get one of her images removed from the cover of a porn video.

Yes, you read that right.

Lara Jade, a young and amazingly talented fashion photographer from the UK, has been fighting TVX Studios over their use of a self portrait she took in 2004 at the age of 14. This is not only a copyright violation, but a violation of United States decency laws which state that nobody under the age of 18 may be associated with anything pornographic. That includes porn DVD covers. Not to mention the ethical quagmire this puts her in... being a porn covergirl might be fine with some people, but for someone like Lara who is trying to be a legitimate fashion photographer, this could be a big smear on her reputation.

The unfortunate thing is that she has been unable to do much about it since she lives in the UK. Which is too bad, because something definitely needs to be done about this. So I am passing this along in hopes that someone can help her out. You can find contact information as well as a ton of her awesome photography here.

Monday, May 14, 2007

Growing Relevance

Soundtrack: ...And Justice For All by Metallica

Metallica’s progressive thrash metal masterpiece is nearly twenty years old, yet it is eerily relevant to today’s uncomfortable and bloated political climate. The album, as the name sarcastically implies, is about injustice. From the victim of war in “One” to the scathing criticism of the American justice system in the title track, the album talks about the injustices of war, politics, and the fucked up state of the world in general. I find it interesting how much of the album alludes to the current war in Iraq. “Harvester Of Sorrow” is practically a social commentary about suicide bombers.

What is most interesting are the feelings of paranoia that wash throughout the album. 1988 was a volatile year in the United States. There was plenty to be paranoid about. Not only was it an election year, but there was growing turmoil globally with the first stages of the demise of the Soviet Union. Upon becoming the Soviet Premiere in 1985, Gorbachev worked to institute a series of economic reforms that were known as “perestroika”. One of the most dynamic of these reforms was the Law On Cooperatives. This law permitted private ownership of businesses in the services, manufacturing, and foreign-trade sectors. This was a huge thing for the Soviet Union. It was the first time since Lenin’s New Economic Policy that private business had been allowed. Along with Glasnost, led to a winding down of the Cold War. Even so, people were still unsure about the Soviets. After living with fifty years of paranoia it is hard to shake that feeling off.

It was around this period of time that I was starting to become aware as a person, especially politically aware. These events were a big deal to me. I remember my mom breaking down in tears when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. I have no doubt in my mind Metallica were just as influenced by world events while writing ... And Justice For All. The album still has Metallica’s trademark apocalyptic bent, but it is more focused. The topics are less abstract and much more real. This was also the period of time that music was really starting to have a huge affect on me. In years previous what I knew of music came from my parents’ record collection and the radio. My parents have awesome taste in music so I got lucky there. But as I was starting to become my own individual, I began to move beyond what their seemingly vast collection of vinyl offered. I never really liked the hair bands of the era. Groups like Poison and Warrant were too flashy, too over the top for my taste. But then I discovered Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, and soon afterwards Metallica and Iron Maiden and Megadeath. This was angry, brutal music that reflected my current distress over how things in the world were going. And today I find myself in almost the same place as I was twenty years ago: confused, angry, distressed. There is injustice in the world and I am pissed off about it. I still listen to loud and angry music. Thankfully my choices expanded greatly when I discovered punk as a freshman in high school, and then hardcore during my senior year. Punk was a great discovery because it was so much more snide and cynical than metal. Instead of pure aggression here was something that was smart and angry. And hardcore was even better because it had the aggression of metal combined with the intelligence of punk. And there was slam dancing... now it was OK to flail around like a lunatic!

Back to Metallica, this is by far not only one of my favorite Metallica albums, but one of my favorite metal albums of all time. I think as long as there is corruption and injustice and a reason to be paranoid, this album will be relevant. It is bold and grandiose and even arrogant, just like the society people in the United States are subjected to daily. But most of all, it is angry. It wants change. And it wants change now.

Friday, May 04, 2007

Office Space Style

Required Reading: Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk

There is an ink jet printer currently strewn in various pieces around my back yard.

Here's the story. My brother and I inherited an Epson Stylus 777 ink jet printer from our parents. For the last three or four years we've been toting it around to the various places we've lived at. Around nine months ago it finally gave up the ghost. The thing was about six or seven years old so it was just a matter of time. It's been sitting around various places and tonight, while packing up, my brother and I decided to have some fun.

So he threw it off the roof.

We then proceeded to beat the living shit out of this printer รก la Office Space. The only thing missing was a baseball bat, but we got around that pretty quick. And now the printer looks like it was hit by a semi truck.

I'm going to love picking up all the little bits in the morning.

What A Guy Will Do For A Beer

Seriously.

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

No More War And No More Soldiers

Soundtrack: “With Every Light” by The Smashing Pumpkins.

I apologize for the long stretch of time between posts. I've had a lot stewing on my stove, so to speak. There is stuff I want to talk about, but for the last two or three weeks I just have not had any creative drive whatsoever.

I am going to get personal again for just a little bit. I am making a compromise of sorts. I am laying down my weapons because I am tired of fighting. Being right is not worth the trouble I have gone through. I am no longer going to agonize over what is “good” or “right” or “just”. I do not care about things that do not concern me. From this point on I am simply going to live like every day is my last day.

I have always been a very competitive person, but mostly with myself. And I am sick of beating myself up over everything. It is going to take some work, I know, but I cannot justify being miserable and agonizing over the little things. It is time to not just look at the big picture, but obliterate anything that gets in the way of the big picture. That means killing a lot of darlings, as they say in the literary world. It also means focusing on my needs for once. I have been putting everyone before me and sacrificing so much, and people do not give back. So fuck 'em.

But I still love. I still have a love for people who inspire and give just as much, and sometimes more, than I. I still love what I do, but I am going to find a new catalyst a new outlet. No more doing penny jobs for friends, I am going to aim high. And I am going to work hard to form lasting relationships with people who are tied to the graphic design world. I am going to make the most of these relationships. And I am going to spread the work of my friends and colleagues because they deserve it.

I will start with Pete Harrison. Based in the UK, Pete is the mastermind behind Aeiko.net and Funkrush Clothing. And I would have to say that Pete is my favorite designer right now. Maybe ever. His typography work is amazing. He is constantly finding new and exciting ways to represent those pesky 26 letters of the alphabet. So do yourself a favor and go check his work out. It blew me away and I am a cynical designer who’s seen just about everything.

Look ma, the sun is shining on me.