alienation...

[erdbeermund]

Since I loaded my Google Reader with film blogs I've noticed an astonishing degree of conformity. Sometimes it almost seems like every film blog I can find is produced by the same borg. I've also been exposing myself to more professional film criticism, which is to say I've been reading film reviews, which are actually quite seldom film criticism

Comments

[jonox]

Lately I feel like I need to be more forgiving with people and listen to their stupid asses talk for survival, in both dating and in the networking that is necessary for career and homemaking. I find it offensive, but I'm trying to think like my mother would. I have no problem identifying with Emily Dickinson, but when you don't have your family's money behind you in order to lock yourself in an attic... It's a jungle out there, anyhow. It really is.

I also noticed gay men are scarcely an exception to wondering/worrying about one what is jobbing with one's life. I find that revolting. On dates lately, a few seem to think I'm some sort of slacker because I lack an imposing career and possessions. I guess I'm just kind of sickened by the apparent notion that people think that hard work and being a successful human means seizing the most prestige, money, friends, and possessions for oneself.

You *should* lecture people on abandoning the machine and on being vegetarians. We all should. I'm too afraid, half the time. That seems to be the only thing that distubes me about this post...your increasing relucance to take on a PETA attitude because you feel it's not the right way to approach things in such a forceful way. If there is more success in coaxing people, hey, that's the way to go, but I'm not sure you're around particularly gentle people much of the time and I just don't see the harm you are afraid of doing. I just really don't think it's right to think it's idealistic to not dump ideals on people. Look at how the language works, in that last sentence. That's how I feel.

The hard part, of course, is that people shy away when you start getting all idealistic, rational, intelligent, and serious with them, and don't even get me started on anything that might break away from the machine! It's amazing how oppressive and restrictive the nightlife is in America, which is another reason I like American Psycho. Hanging out on a club is more full of oppressive politics than closing a deal on a mortgage is, I feel.

It's a tricky game to play if you want to keep and maintain friends. Most people just think idealistics are naive loons. Even if they share those ideals, they find it offensive when people want to serious make a life out of them. I used to waffle a bit on that, even, because you see idealists and nature freaks made fun of enough in mixed media, growing up. It's something life in this society just bakes into people... It's one hell of a machine, that's for sure.

I learned what Wisteria Lane is, for the sake of cultural literacy, last night. And having to know what movies Juliette Lewis is in, the names of Peaches albums...I don't know. I think a critical approach to films and the written word is really about the most important thing going on, lately, but maybe I'm wrong and missing something. ? What do you think? I wonder if there is something else more important I should be focusing on. ?

Love, Jason

[jonox]

wow, that's some bad writing, Jason. I must still be kind of drunk, or losing it. idealists, in.

i think my coinage, jobbing, is a really apt, disgusting word, though.

Careerism for the sake of careerism and for the money. That's how people think.