Thursday, March 08, 2007
Random Nation Part Two
So what do we call ourselves this time? "The YouTube Generation" sounds about right. WIRED, in it's current cover story, comes close to saying, "The Bite-Sized Generation." I am still holding onto calling these times, "The Random Generation" or use the term, "Random Nation."
From the mailbag, I got this recent post that I'll go ahead and quote from. It's in response to my post, "Open Toes, The Beauty of it All!":
Talk about overcomplicating. Indeed, it is a pop song of the Nelly type, who has a similar poppy song devoted to open toeds, targeted at the -just wanna have fun- teen to 30 something female, and anyone who likes feet really. It should be known by now after countless mentioning of feet surrounding Mcphee, she loves them. I saw her on Tyra Bank's show and Trya (Chingy's foot girl) took off her shoes for some reason and showed them to Mcphee, then she said "you have pretty feet". Right then I noticed her eyes alone immediately turned to the crowd as her head followed in the same way when someone says something and they are unsure how or if they will be judged or also when ego is checking if relation is apparent, kind of like when someone lies but thats just because the crowd was directly to her right side. Well her expression was cheekier than usual and to me thats enough proof. I hear Tyra is pregnant and due, also think its Chingy's, also think they only hooked up because of her feet, now isnt that a stupid reason to bring a kid into this world
Well, this won't be the first time we have a child born from excess.
We live in an ultra-narcissistic age.
Reality and fantasy collide at more rapid intervals.
Here is where I think a discussion of Hyperreality would prove useful. And, if you're going to go to Baudrillard, then you must go to McLuhan as well. I haven't gotten any takers on views regarding Marshall McLuhan yet. I'm just wondering if people are familiar with him at all given that he once was truly a household name.
Here is where I think the foot becomes a far more interesting symbol. It can represent excess. But it can also represent a coming back to reality in a spiritual and grounded sense. If you think of the '60s, for instance, you can clearly see the foot back then as a symbol of the age: excess commingling with spirituality.
Labels: Baudrillard, blogs, celebrity, feet, foot fetish, hyperreality, images, Marshall McLuhan, philosophy, pop culture, social studies, society, television, text, video, Writing
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I was deliberately holding off on my views of McLuhan partly because I haven't read him since college ('98 or so), and in some ways, his ideas are so influential (and not often acknolwedged enough), that I have a difficult time remembering which concepts he expressed in his classic texts (The Global Village and The Medium is the Message, in particular), and which ones were later developments: modifications by the likes of Frederic Jameson or Baudrillard (RIP, as of this week), or the Wired editors, or even futurist thinkers like Alvin Toffler and scholars of "post-Fordism". I'd hate to come across like the arrogant prof in Woody Allen's Annie Hall, waxing critical about McLuhan without proper basis. So once I've skimmed through excerpts of McLuhan's actual work, with the benefit of hindsight, I'll probably get back to you on that.
For now, I'd like to recommend this preview of Mobile Pornography, an upcoming comic book that deals with nearly ALL of the themes you've touched on, in these last two posts: technofetishism, being overwhelmed by bite-sized media, hyperreality, sexuality as spectacle. This seems to have it all. (I noticed that you have "comix" and "graphic novels" listed among the Interests in your Profile, so I trust you'll be open to checking it out. And just in case you think I may have vested interests in promoting it, I'm not actually friends with either of the creators.)
For now, I'd like to recommend this preview of Mobile Pornography, an upcoming comic book that deals with nearly ALL of the themes you've touched on, in these last two posts: technofetishism, being overwhelmed by bite-sized media, hyperreality, sexuality as spectacle. This seems to have it all. (I noticed that you have "comix" and "graphic novels" listed among the Interests in your Profile, so I trust you'll be open to checking it out. And just in case you think I may have vested interests in promoting it, I'm not actually friends with either of the creators.)
Very nice, Paolo. Yes, I am totally in comix. I believe that is an art form with much to say. I love that Woody Allen scene. Do you remember, when they all visit LA, there's this cocktail party scene...wait a minute, I think I'm thinking of "What's Up Doc?" There's a scene with a pyschedelic piece of art, a huge foot, and it comes loose and I think ends up kicking someone. But I digress.
Yeah, we all have a copy of The Medium is the Message (Actually, The Medium is the Massage) and I have a copy of Understanding Media staring me in the face which I should look back to. I understand that The Gutenberg Galaxy is considered his best work. I think he's a fascinating character. I don't want to come across as that prof either. I'd like to study this a lot more though.
Yeah, we all have a copy of The Medium is the Message (Actually, The Medium is the Massage) and I have a copy of Understanding Media staring me in the face which I should look back to. I understand that The Gutenberg Galaxy is considered his best work. I think he's a fascinating character. I don't want to come across as that prof either. I'd like to study this a lot more though.
Also, I really like that description you used, "excess commingling with spirituality". It's odd, because I only recently noticed from your Profile that you're also a Kills fan, and that phrase kinda reminds me of the lyrics to "Superstition": Superstition is/ Your modern eye/ With original skin/ And original lie/ Your modern shell/ Wants to feed itself/ You got elected now, honey so/ What the hell (okay, at least that's what it sounds like, to me -- I admit I could be waaay off). Anyway, it *seems* to have it all, in a few neat verses: irrational belief, pre-fabricated reality, self-consumption, and ultimately, randomness. A resigned shrug. So what the hell, indeed!
Incidentally, I must confess that I first thought it said The Killers in yout Profile (which would be consistent enough with your love for 80s New Wave bands, and their modern counterparts). Just curious -- how did you get "into" The Kills? (I started out as fan of V.V./Allison's earlier band, Discount.) Also, do you have a Last.FM account? If so, add me please.
Incidentally, I must confess that I first thought it said The Killers in yout Profile (which would be consistent enough with your love for 80s New Wave bands, and their modern counterparts). Just curious -- how did you get "into" The Kills? (I started out as fan of V.V./Allison's earlier band, Discount.) Also, do you have a Last.FM account? If so, add me please.
Wow, I just looked it up. That is sad:
PARIS (Reuters) - French philosopher Jean Baudrillard, whose provocative, paradoxical style was reflected in the title of his 1991 work "The Gulf War did not take place", has died, his publisher Galilee said on Wednesday. He was 77.
PARIS (Reuters) - French philosopher Jean Baudrillard, whose provocative, paradoxical style was reflected in the title of his 1991 work "The Gulf War did not take place", has died, his publisher Galilee said on Wednesday. He was 77.
Hmmm... This will probably sound weird, but honestly, the closest thing to a present-day Marshall McLuhan would be Jon Stewart.
Granted, his praxis and methodology is nowhere as intellectual or 'scientific' (for lack of a better word) as McLuhan's. But he enjoys the same celebrity status that McLuhan once had. And he's been responsible for a number of trenchant critiques of the shortcomings of televisual news media (particularly the memorable way he tore Crossfire on CNN a new proverbial asshole in 2004).
And in a way, he sort of "out-McLuhans" McLuhan by actually using the format of the media itself -- TV news; awards shows; history textbooks -- to self-reflexively draw attention to its own language of manipulation. But in a way, Stewart's approach runs the risk of just adding to the glut of the same 'infotainment' that he sets out to critique. It's not as explicitly pedagogical as McLuhan's. Is that necessarily a bad thing?
Granted, his praxis and methodology is nowhere as intellectual or 'scientific' (for lack of a better word) as McLuhan's. But he enjoys the same celebrity status that McLuhan once had. And he's been responsible for a number of trenchant critiques of the shortcomings of televisual news media (particularly the memorable way he tore Crossfire on CNN a new proverbial asshole in 2004).
And in a way, he sort of "out-McLuhans" McLuhan by actually using the format of the media itself -- TV news; awards shows; history textbooks -- to self-reflexively draw attention to its own language of manipulation. But in a way, Stewart's approach runs the risk of just adding to the glut of the same 'infotainment' that he sets out to critique. It's not as explicitly pedagogical as McLuhan's. Is that necessarily a bad thing?
The Gutenberg Galaxy hasn't been properly reprinted since the 70s, as far as I know. And I no longer have access to the university libraries that I did in college, unfortunately. So I doubt i'll be able to read it anytime soon. Although i'll be in between jobs towards the end of the month, so I will have a bit more time for leisure reading, as long as I can budget things right.
Oh, and I definitely haven't watched the scene involving the art piece with the giant foot -- that kind of thing, I would definitely remember. Wouldn't know which film it came from. However, Annie Hall *does* have the immortal line, "Touch my heart... with your foot."
Oh, and I definitely haven't watched the scene involving the art piece with the giant foot -- that kind of thing, I would definitely remember. Wouldn't know which film it came from. However, Annie Hall *does* have the immortal line, "Touch my heart... with your foot."
McLuhan and Toffler - they were so ahead of their times! I often wonder what McLuhan would think of the internet and how it has changed everything! Think back to the early sixties (I, unlike you, was alive then). Three major tv networks, a handful of wire services (AP, UPI, Reuters) and no cable. A pc in the home? Microwaves? Cell phones? All as unthinkable then as a man on the moon was in the 1920's.
Ah, but I digress - my point is we have come so far in so short a time. I took a job in the IT industry in 1979 thinking that since technology was always evolving there would always be something new to learn. I never expected to be so right! I'm still in the industry today and never cease to be amazed at the rate and pace of change and how it has effected our everyday lives.
Technology has allowed us to do heretofore unimaginable things - some godd, some not so good. What's in store? Who knows? That's what makes it so much fun!
Ah, but I digress - my point is we have come so far in so short a time. I took a job in the IT industry in 1979 thinking that since technology was always evolving there would always be something new to learn. I never expected to be so right! I'm still in the industry today and never cease to be amazed at the rate and pace of change and how it has effected our everyday lives.
Technology has allowed us to do heretofore unimaginable things - some godd, some not so good. What's in store? Who knows? That's what makes it so much fun!
# posted by 
: 7:20 PM
: 7:20 PM
Baresoles,
Thank you for your post. You remind me a little of a friend of mine who has a tech job but can think back to, hmm, "less hectic" time. But you don't sound like you really mind at all. That might be for the best.
Paolo,
I love the Kills! And the Killers too, although they are pretty mainstream. I'll look into Last.FM. I don't have an account. Perhaps a Kills influence but there are so many bands with a similar vibe.
Thank you for your post. You remind me a little of a friend of mine who has a tech job but can think back to, hmm, "less hectic" time. But you don't sound like you really mind at all. That might be for the best.
Paolo,
I love the Kills! And the Killers too, although they are pretty mainstream. I'll look into Last.FM. I don't have an account. Perhaps a Kills influence but there are so many bands with a similar vibe.
Paolo,
Brilliant. I have to agree with your choice of Jon Stewart given his particular brand of comedic commentary and his influence it does add to something. In his day, I think Marshall McLuhan could have had his own show if he cared to, which he wouldn't have. He was already on TV pretty much as often as he liked.
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Brilliant. I have to agree with your choice of Jon Stewart given his particular brand of comedic commentary and his influence it does add to something. In his day, I think Marshall McLuhan could have had his own show if he cared to, which he wouldn't have. He was already on TV pretty much as often as he liked.
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