(no subject)
I don't know how I've missed this, but I've just realized that significant amounts of culture/art, quite possibly a majority (least of the narrative form), is propaganda for human reproduction (ok, romantic relationships, whatevs). I am doing my final public speaking speeeech (persuasive style) on consumerism (+ advertisement oversaturation) forty hours from now (gotta get started on that) (side note: awkwardly, one classmate is a graphic design major, a.k.a. 'the enemy') and read a Neil Postman essay on how advertisements fall into essentially myth (cultural narrative sense) patterns of salvation through technology and damned if culture isn't frequently salvation through passing on one's DNA. Closure through heterosexual coupling, indeed. I guess it could equally be argued a reflection of societal norms which roll that way, but, still, interesting. And apparently surveys prove that people most enjoy landscape images that appear fertile and suitable for living. DNA ruins everyone's party, really.
A local gas station chain has begun selling frozen carbonated beverage under the name "Koolees." I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that particular campaign is limited to America. Nearest previous example of racism via frozen sugary treats would be the "Moolattes" of a particular fast food chain.
Have read far too much Richard Dawkins recently. Makes a good case for the virus replication scheme as major pattern of, uh, pretty much everything. Genes and memes (the ideological equivalent, if anyone is somehow unfamiliar with that word), obviously, but he also has a futurist essay (surprisingly not dated, for being written in 1991) wherein he discusses the possibility of all software adapting the computer virus method. Self-replicating anti-virus software, notably, and furthermore sorta modular programs, where word processors no longer have spell-check built in so much as decide to work with Spell Check Virus v.1.0.3 or whatever. Which (individual process thingums banding together to make a stronger whole) sounds remarkably similar to particular evolutionary ideals (irreducible complexity - BAH!) . And, far as I know, hasn't especially come true at this point (though what I know of open source ideology seems similar), so could be entirely him projecting familiar DNA themes into computer issues, but seems valid enough to me. Should run that past my brother.
But, geez, he really doesn't like religion at all. Points out how great of a survival strategy it is to be true in the reflexive ways of "because it's old" or "because it can't be proven" (ah, faith). Agreed! Not that I'm any longer the petulant teenage atheist of yore, but I do think religion (/spirituality/etc) is uniformly silly. He quotes a Douglas Adams speech where Adams points out the unfair exclusive status of religion as deserving respect and not being subject to argument. One can say that X political belief as opposed to Y is ridiculous, while calling Sabbath elevator behavior in Orthodox Judaism silly is not a part of respected discourse. Being funny, he then pointed out that his first thought on saying that was, "gee, I hope I haven't offended anyone in the audience."
Anyway, first Major Major Major Summer Blockbuster opens this weekend. Kill me now.
A local gas station chain has begun selling frozen carbonated beverage under the name "Koolees." I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that particular campaign is limited to America. Nearest previous example of racism via frozen sugary treats would be the "Moolattes" of a particular fast food chain.
Have read far too much Richard Dawkins recently. Makes a good case for the virus replication scheme as major pattern of, uh, pretty much everything. Genes and memes (the ideological equivalent, if anyone is somehow unfamiliar with that word), obviously, but he also has a futurist essay (surprisingly not dated, for being written in 1991) wherein he discusses the possibility of all software adapting the computer virus method. Self-replicating anti-virus software, notably, and furthermore sorta modular programs, where word processors no longer have spell-check built in so much as decide to work with Spell Check Virus v.1.0.3 or whatever. Which (individual process thingums banding together to make a stronger whole) sounds remarkably similar to particular evolutionary ideals (irreducible complexity - BAH!) . And, far as I know, hasn't especially come true at this point (though what I know of open source ideology seems similar), so could be entirely him projecting familiar DNA themes into computer issues, but seems valid enough to me. Should run that past my brother.
But, geez, he really doesn't like religion at all. Points out how great of a survival strategy it is to be true in the reflexive ways of "because it's old" or "because it can't be proven" (ah, faith). Agreed! Not that I'm any longer the petulant teenage atheist of yore, but I do think religion (/spirituality/etc) is uniformly silly. He quotes a Douglas Adams speech where Adams points out the unfair exclusive status of religion as deserving respect and not being subject to argument. One can say that X political belief as opposed to Y is ridiculous, while calling Sabbath elevator behavior in Orthodox Judaism silly is not a part of respected discourse. Being funny, he then pointed out that his first thought on saying that was, "gee, I hope I haven't offended anyone in the audience."
Anyway, first Major Major Major Summer Blockbuster opens this weekend. Kill me now.