That’s my problem! I find myself being too focus on doing what i think is right… Like how Daniel aptly phrases it, too much focus on the “should”s and the “must”s that the “obvious”s can be neglected. So much for being a perfectionist.
I must learn to cut everyone some slack and that includes myself. Accept (and stop denying) the fact that people have different standards for what’s right.
I must learn…
“Check this out! It’s awesome…”
This was how things got started and eventually have me ending up here typing a post.
According to researches, left-brainers are more inclined to science and mathematics while the right brainers are more arty. I love visual arts and grew up drawing. I’ll scribble and sketch everything and on anything. I have always admired great masterpieces of work and always dreamt of creating one myself. However, as i grow up, my left part of the brain was put to more use. I took on a path that was more science than anyone. While “A” for was for “Art” but I gave up AEP for triple science. Didn’t do well, didn’t regret. But that is not to say that my arts are good considering that my language seldom out perform my sciences. So can conclude that I am a no brainer.
Shifting the focus away from the mentally-challenged me, let us take a glance at how our education system filters the subjects. As students, we are classified mainly into the SCIENCE stream and the ARTS stream. It is from here that we come to learn which are subjects for the arty-s and which are for the geeks. Students rant, “I can’t do science/arts for nuts! I belong to the other.” How true can this be? This mindset sticks with us as we grow older. “I am arty. I see things the arty-farty way.” “Nope, I am logical. Science rulez.” We come to a point that what you have chose to study makes what kind of person you are. For example, I have immediately concluded that I am working with two arty colleagues (one from LASSELLE while the other topped NYP’s mass comm). Being cultured from the dish of experiments and reasoning, I am in for a culture-shock.
Since i am drifting away from where we originally began from, let me route myself back to the start of my flowchart. What my phunky friend brought to our attention was another masterpiece of the hot faves now: LADY GAGA. Here we go… (WARNING: not suitable for minors and conservatives)
So, what do you think?
For me, I got to agree that there has been many deliberate attempts to portray and send certain messages about what the West has been well known for. Eat, drink, man, woman. I meant woman woman is the new in thing? Muscular policewomen who can arouse criminal women to the extend of losing control. Gorging yourself with fast food and eventually kill yourself (even your dog is not spared). Hip girls keep their legs WIDE apart, clan in the minimum and vibrate. And the worse part of all, proving people wrong the wrong way (if you don’t know what i meant, look for for fuzziness when you see our protagonist aptly stay locked behind the enclosure).
No offence. I found no awesomeness other than selfish insanity.
All these in the name of Art??? I think we need some help with the definition of Art. My personal simple definition will be Art is a form of expression. However, there is more to that it seems. The NEW Art is about being different, being unique and being something NEW! Hey, now that sounds familiar! Isn’t it simply making something that SELLs? It will be unfair to say that ALL work of art now are for dollars and cents but marketing now goes hand in hand with art. I have to admit that i lacks appreciation for New Arts. Abstract art? MTVs? Even for great art awards credited to the turning on and off of lights. And the comments from the winner? A song titled “I don’t know what i want”, stating that he has no idea what he wanted to do in his work but eventually won the prize! Err… what form of expression is that? Totally new.
I think the new focus is on this term ‘character’. People look up to artists who are daring enough to market their trademark moves. Oh ya. Speaking of which, what did my other colleague thought of the video? “Hmm… Interesting and new.” Ain’t I too young for culture shock? Amidst of all the disgust, am I too ‘old-fashion’ and conventional? I am at least glad that there are still decent number of comments stating that the video is not very awesome. I find this need for identity very worrying. Are we trying too hard to stand out as individuals? Are we going to the extremes? One reasoning that I still can’t swallow till now is that comment that such crazy movies are what bring about revolution to industries… Here we go again. It’s about industries. It’s about marketing a unique branding and trait. An example quoted was the king of pop Michael. Well, as quoted from my friend, he is not conventional and not very sane but he revolutionized the whole music industry with the birth of MTV! THAT IS EXACTLY MY POINT! He made great songs such as “heal the world” but what happened to him? Carrying baby out dangerously, over bleaching of skin, a dropping off nose… Is this the new Art? Have the artists gave birth to this new Art or as the new Art made artists go insane?
Worse. The debate eventually reached this point where such a question was brought up: why must we be in control of ourselves all the time? While we cannot guarantee that we are always in control of our mood, emotions and actions, isn’t it right to best manage our emotion and think as rationally as possible?
Some of the simplest questions have the toughest answers. The next question was “how to we determine what is sanity and what’s insanity?” That got me stumped. Stumped as in shocked. Oh my, isn’t it common sense! The answer will be “common sense”! We have this in build conscience to let us know what’s wrong and what’s right. This is what guide us and keep us sane. While I agree that not all issues are clear cut right or wrong, I trust that the mode is a good gauge of the issue (under the assumption that most have yet to abandon their sanity and common sense). So what are these crazy videos advocating? It’s negative education! It just make us less self-aware and encourage us to do as we like. Please don’t ask me what’s wrong with that. I think this will start a devolution. Perhaps in future, you will see people making love at the road side and you will think that it is fine? They did what they felt like doing. What differentiate us from other animals is our conscience and the ability to think critically. If we are to let go of our conscience, we are no different from any Ted, Dash or Homer.
Call me conservative, no brainer, or whatever you like… While I will try to understand your point of view, I am not oblige to and definitely not enticed to prove you wrong. Literally.
Live withinsanity… With insanity or within sanity? The latter is the obvious sane choice. But the prior seems to be the rule of life for our new artists.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
I like the way 2010 is called. Twenty ten. NICE. C=
First and foremost, got to send 2009 away. I am grateful for 2009. If I were to summarize my 2009 in a word, it will be “morph”. Taking a depressing certificate, stepping out of the warm and cosy school environment into the real world.. Met lots of different people. Made different friends, learnt how to be tactical (both in the field and the world of politics) and also, understand that end the very end of the day, what matters most is: YOURSELF.
This may be a crude way to put it, but this is life. You are right. I am no superman as much as I hope to be. Sadly, there’s a limit to how much I can keep on my plate. What you can control is indeed yourself. Especially so when it comes to the REAL world where every step matters. You can spend time helping others.. But will there be anyone to help you when you need it? The answer will be “Maybe” and definitely not a 100% yes. And more likely than not, it is then when you screw up and get all stressed. Definitely not good for health.
But it is also here that i learn how to take a step back and look at problems at a simpler light. Personally, I realized that whenever I encounter a problem, analytical processes set in and starts to over-focus on the details of the problem. It is also here when i tend to get too upset on the matter. By relooking into the issue and try to simplify the matter from multi-dimension to a simple sketch helps to allow adequate focus to the right areas.
So I am grateful for 2009 tough teachings. Sure learnt lotsa stuffs the hard way.
For 2010…
RESOLUTIONS:
1. Take things with as a pinch of salt: learn to expect less and give more
2. Spend more time helping and motivating sis to work
3. Dutifully read my magazines
4. Enjoy and smile
WISHES and HOPES:
1. Everyone will be in the best of health
2. Everyone will enjoy 2010 no matter how bad things can get
3. Sis will do well for O levels
4. Great friendship will not be eroded by time
THANK YOU all for taking care of me!
HAPPY 2010!! Smell the O-R-D!!
