Heroics and Anti-Heroics

I like heroes.  You probably like heroes.  Anti-Heroes have even become an iconic fad of late.  Somehow their flaws make them much more appealing to us, but I have to ask, is that such a good thing?

We all have an idea in our head of what makes a someone heroic.  It's the person running into the burning building while everyone else is running out.  The man who stands alone as the enemy horde attacks at full force allowing his companions to leave.

So what's the core of Heroics?  Well the man who rushes into the burning building, the knight lunging forward at the tyrant dragon, the woman who shields a child with her on body -- all have a commonality that makes them heroes to us.

What are these people all doing?  They are sacrificing themselves for another.

"True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic.  It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost."  - Arthur Ashe

Is there an air of something else that makes a hero?  Of course.  An occasion must present itself that requires a person to take a stand, but that occasion can be something simple as helping a transient person outside Wal-Mart.

"Start where you are.  Use what you have.  Do what you can." - Arthur Ashe

So back to the anti-heroes to finish off this little note.  Should we look to anti-heroes as role models? Should we accept evil if the ends are good?  We're no longer looking at a core of sacrifice, but a core of selfishness, lust, violence.  Dexter kills bad people because he enjoys the killing, but his father's code is why he selects bad people (of course bad could still be argued as relative).  What is truly gained by accepting evil even if the outcome is good?

Pilfered from USAToday, with a rather nifty
presentation on antiheroes found at:
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/graphics/2011/anti-hero/anti-hero.htm

One of my favorite anti-heroes is Han Solo, also likely the first anti-hero I encountered in my youth.  Han Solo was made a cinematic icon due to his rakish charm and, I'd be willing to bet, his willingness to shoot first.  Though, I wondered, as I got older, why Han became a bit more tame in the movies.  Of course, he was exposed to heroes and he was trying to win the affections of a princess, though he would never admit it even when she has willingly admitted her feelings, so it could be argued that his character found comfort and insight.  Though, I did become curious if maybe Lucas chose to make the nerf-herder less of a BA to keep from creating a following that might be negatively influenced by a smuggler.  I, honestly, never much liked Luke, he seemed too naive and too bent on his father to be a solid hero.

But what does Han teach us as a role model?

Or, perhaps, consider James Bond.  A hard-drinking, womanizing, unstable secret agent.  All characteristics we now know have thick binders on as dissociative and destructive behaviors.  Still, there is that "pathetic love of country" (Skyfall), patriotism, a hamartia?  Yet, men want to be him.  Is it for the adventure or the sheer lack of emotional attachment and destruction?

Hmm, points for a deeper and greater conversation, no doubt.  What do you think?

Cover Art!

So, a long time coming, and I can finally hold my head up high and say --  "I have cover art!"

It's a big day.  It's one more step toward getting published. So--without further adieu, I present to you--

The face of my cover art.  This image is based off of the description of one of the core characters named Yali.

It's hard to sum up a character I've invented, easier when I'm attempting to analyze one for an essay or a lecture, but when it's one of my own -- not so simple.

However, to sum up Yali, you'll have to read about her and wonder, until then why does she have amber eyes?

The mysterious figure.

The Streets of Tasakaal is my attempt at creating a fantasy style who-done-it novel.  Murder, mystery, mayhem, conspiracy?  So who may this man be?  One of the Wardens?  One of the murderers?

I cannot praise the abilities of my artist enough.  She has done an amazing job, far, far greater than I had expected.

So once again, thank you Kadri Umbleja.  I greatly appreaciate your help bringing this dream to life.

Comedy -- and Its Misuses

picture borrowed from Bull and Cross
free Ebooks

An important note about media literacy, all media is meant to be experienced, shared, and even discussed and analyzed.  If this sort of trend is broken, problems tend to arise.

Sort of an unfortunate situation today is the fruition of the maxim "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" when it comes to much of the media.  At this point, it might be safe to say that life is imitating art, in that while I wander about from class to class, I see so many people imitating rather blue comedies and then using their media reference to argue the validity of their behavior.

For those who have read the classics (and understand why Aristotle's Poetics is to the right) are also aware that mimicking the bluer comedies on tv is sort of a concern.  To understand why, we must do a little time travel.

Doodle-do! Doodle-do!  Doodle-do!

Way back in the days of when people were beginning to explore all sorts of writing, even travel journals throughout the Mediterranean Sea, like Philostephanus, the greeks looked deep into what people were creating and how it worked, why it worked, and catalogued it all while tinkering with epic tales, heroic tragedies, and comedic follies.

And that's what I want to focus on -- the comedies.  Aristotle, whose writing on the subject is still used and followed today, noted specific elements that define a comedy.

Little pic stol--borrowed without rights from
the incomparable Mel Brooks and his
History of the World: Part I (1981)

The Catharsis:  the emotional experience, though Aristotle considered it more of a purge allowing us to more moderately experience our lives, created from a good piece of literature.  A comedy, particularly, is designed to cause pleasure (though this is important to note that this is considered a sense of joy rather than what the term pleasure is typically tied to today) and a sense of bad-intention and error.

It is also important to note that the discussion of pleasure was of debate in Greek society as it was considered by those who followed Plato's writings as a pleasure mixed with pain as we find joy in the ignorance of our friends when they come to some sort of harm that doesn't harm us.  Like, slap-stick comedy or jokes at races and disabilities, though I'm curious how we would classify dark humor in this; because we laugh to keep away pain.

It's interesting to think that bad-intention and error are actual emotional sensations, but consider the song, "It's Good to be Bad" but this is only part of the catch.  The fact that people are experience the cathartic purge of such emotions, but no one is training them how to express those emotions in a socially acceptable manner -- thus, why I have had to explain why slurs are in poor taste even when a specific person isn't present.

But there is more, consider the character traits of a comedy and the treatment of natural laws.  Natural laws can be suspended - like cartoon figures walking off cliffs and being suspended.  Though luckily I haven't had to deal with this fact, I have had heard of ridiculous games played by riding on the hood of cars through the town or riding in a couch behind a truck on the highway.

Character traits are also important.  Characters within a comedy must behave worse than normal (drunkards, louts, egotists, strumpet-like behavior, etc.) and their behavior is an exaggeration of how a person would normally act (various staples of the sit com: confusing one's spouse, overly elaborate schemes to hide the truth, stereotypes).  Now this another catch to the problem of life imitating art -- people are forgetting or are unaware of the fact that many of the beloved movies and television comedies are meant to experience an emotion, but not mimic it.  We are meant to discuss and share with one another, but not roam about our institutions and societies mocking (and ultimately harming) other people -- which is, in essence, the very violation of a comedy.

"The Guardians of the Galaxy" A review part I

Taken from the nukethefridge.com website, Marvel, of course,
is the trademark holder, etc.

The Guardians of the Galaxy:

Okay, so before I begin this little piece, I would like to point out that I've known about the comic and graphic novels for a bit.  I'm also one of those people who knows that Rocket Racoon was a creation back in 1976.  Of course, that being said I am probably also going to show that I'm not as knowledgeable as I think I am, so haters, correct me kindly.

Early Rocket Racoon comic

Before I get to my review, I would like to start off by saying that we take a moment to remember Bill Mantlo and his unfortunate circumstances that have taken his craft from him.  I believe it is important to support those who inspire us and if you would like to support Mr. Mantlo, click over on the iconic drawing of Rocket to the left.

Also, donations to those who may yet still inspire us is something I believe in very much as well, so don't forget organizations such as St. Judes Children's Hospital and of course our four legged friends and the various Animal Humane Societies.  However, in this shameless plug for charities, I would like to state that supporting your local animal shelters is usually a lot more effective than supporting the national chapters.  Groups like Charity Navigator can help show how money is used by your favorite charities.  Now, back to the review.

Guardians of the Galaxy, cue dramatic music, I liked it -- almost to the point of wanting to turn around and go in a second time (which I haven't done since Crimson Tide--but that was mostly due to the soundtrack).  The characters have some good chaotic chemistry as a ragtag group bound by a myriad of motivations that happen to have the same means to that end.  Though, my little complaint is that some of the tying bonds seem flimsy to be united by Peter Quill's motivational speeches.

Rocket is motivated by money, given in his character's introduction early on his bounty hunting job and outlaw comments.  But he's not motivated by having a home or a family to defend.  Rocket even shows his scorn with all people while mocking people on Xander and again in a bar brawl with Drax.  Let that be a lesson to people, even bullying a racoon can get a very large weapon shoved in your face.

Groot's motivation is simple, loyalty to his friend Rocket.  However, knowing that Groot can regenerate from the smallest splinter draws away from the emotional connection we make with his character being in danger.  The animators, writers, and Bradley Cooper did a good job making a knot rise in our throats.  Though, if I recall correctly, Groot is the last of his kind (which is why the Collector wants him so) yet I was never clear why a forest of Groots can't be grown from a wood chipper accident costing one arm.

Okay, so Gamora and Drax - Revenge.  Pure, simple, undiluted, hatred seeking a bloody end.

But what about Peter Quill?  "Because I'm one of the idiots who lives in it [the Galaxy]".  Defend it [the Galaxy] to defend life (alluded to in the exposition).  But-- there's something I'm confused about.  In the exposition, Peter Quill has a black eye because he started a fight when a group of boys killed a frog with a stick.  He defended the helpless, I got, but then a moment later he's kicking and squeezing critters as he sings about the abandoned planet.

Okay, so this was a really quick review that I want to dig a bit deeper into the characters and plot.  Ta ta for now.

A Christmas Post...In July

A scene from the Florin Street Band's song
"My Favorite Time Of Year"

Around this time of year, when the back to school sales begin and heat of summer is twisting into the dog days of August, my mind has almost always turned to thinking of my favorite time of year -- The Season of Night and reaching its apex at Christmas.

I know a lot of people say they love Christmas, but I usually over hear them complaining about the snow or the costs or this or that.  Such complaints lead be to believe that they only love Christmas because people tend to profit from it -- Bah Humbug on them.

I say "Humbug" on them because they're missing such a greater and more amazing aspect o the season.  I believe that there is a magic of the season.  For those out there who like to poo on my party, the magic of the season can be created by how we establish it in our minds and hearts.  Though, in all honesty I do believe there is a bit more to it all than that.  The air definitely contains a crispness beyond the chill -- an anticipation if you would allow.

It's the season where compassion should be as palatable as the cookies and baked goods.  Love is as evident as the lights on a Christmas Tree.  Hope is a shining star high up in the sky and a smile is as prevalent as smoke on the wind.

borrowed from:
www.christcenteredmall.com/stores/art/barnes/the-spirit-of-christmas.htm

So what's the purpose of this post?  To discuss some random belief that seems to be expired in today's culture of "me-first" and "give-me"?

Well, to answer my own question it's because tonight I'm feeling a bit nostalgic.  Every year I seek this bit of magic that somehow eludes me in full but I'm able to catch just a glimpse of it in the eyes of my loved ones.  But this year, I'm already beginning to feel a bit of fear for how this season will turn out.