Tag: pop culture

THE ANTI SOCIAL MEDIA. AND ALL THE BAD FRIENDSHIPS. You are…

THE ANTI SOCIAL MEDIA. AND ALL THE BAD FRIENDSHIPS.

You are being a bad friend!!

So says a new article posted in the NEW YORK POST, all about how our constant reliance on social media is creating a terrible person out of everyone.

And I believe it.
We are getting winded by the steady stream of 24/7 junk. This election had consequences, too.. we just delved deeper into a pile of excrement on a daily basis of politics..

Real friendships aren’t online. Real friendships can be aided by social media.. but just quicky skimming through a feed and casually liking things and forgetting ten seconds later what you saw is the most repugnant form of friendship one can find.. and it’s very ‘BLACK MIRROR’ish to be perfectly honest..

I went back to my 2015 year in review and 2016 predictions. I actually am going to toot a horn. One prediction was that social media would wane, and that we would all find real ways to connect to people again. I sense that is happening.

I think the quicker it happens, the better it will be..

November 20, 2016
Black Mirror Mania: I love this show

I love this show.. I have avidly watched it since the program’s inception onto NETFLIX.. The pigs.. The tech… The lessons of morality and the consequences of people’s dirty deeds online. The future is now. Evident in this program: The cautionary tales of horror that can happen when tech goes wrong and the virtue of an honest life..

The newest season of Black Mirror was loaded onto Netflix around Halloween. Due to a lack of time, I have yet to watch about 1 and a half more episodes. But the pure joy I have in doing so makes me actually want to take it slow.

I recall quickly moving through the entire series of STRANGER THINGS. By the time it was done, I wanted to go back and start from the beginning.

Black Mirror is a bit different. Each program makes you ponder more than the next.. Each show has twists and turns that throw your mind into a loop of madness. Each program makes you feel like it’s real and, equally so, feel a sense of dread for our collective Internet-driven future.

The far best episode in the entire series thus far (my opinion of course) is ‘Hated in the Nation.’ Some others only call this episode solid but ‘unremarkable’ but I think it is brilliant.

It takes into account a dwindling bee population and how our society may delve into tech to save the planet, and terrorism, hacking , assassination, murder, and espionage. Along with a lot of fun grammatical uses of the F and C word for emphasis. The show was pure joy.. It was over an hour long and could have easily been a successful box office hit. But thankfully because of Black Mirror and Netflix, we can have the show beamed right to our electronic devices.

In Hated in the Nation, a technology company invents a high tech drone bee to pollinate the planet. During a hack attack, someone gets the chance to control the bee population to use it for murder. A ‘hash tag’ battle begins on social media. And the person most hated in the nation becomes a victim. That is just the beginning. It weaves itself into a moral play and a final act of redemption during the post-modem and Mortem.

You just have to watch it to understand what I am talking about.. It has quickly become of the best shows/movies/things I have ever watched.

I have grown to despise so many vast portions of social media while… Of course… Using it as well. Hashtags and red flags abound … I just can’t stomach seeing the ‘trending’ words of the day. I hate myself for often looking.. But it’s how we get news. Opinions. Statements. Hell, it’s how we picked a president in 2016!

Social media.
And antisocial disorder. They go together so well.

Black Mirror’s HATED IN THE NATION is a must watch for those nervous about social media’s power, or for those who think they can act on devices without consequence.
There are consequences.
Perhaps in the future, the consequences will be fatal and final.

November 18, 2016
Kate McKinnon Opens ‘SNL’ As Hillary Clinton Singing “Hallelujah”

Kate McKinnon Opens ‘SNL’ As Hillary Clinton Singing “Hallelujah” :

It was somewhat a surreal moment.. when comedy stops and drama begins. It was also very melodramatic…

This entire week, a certain portion of the nation has felt like the world was ending.. like the end may have already actually happened on November 8 .. The other half is just keeping their heads down and waiting to see how their candidate will govern..

And the protests rage…
And now, SNL stops their comedy and treats the election more like 9/11 than 11/9..

It also shows that SNL’s political stance is solidly blue–we knew that–but that Lorne Micheals isn’t yet sure who will play Donald Trump on the progam. Alec Baldwin was famous for it over the past few weeks. So famous that even then NOT President-Elect Trump tweeted about him not being funny..

Not sure if the President-Elect will tweet about such mundane things now that he is receiving daily intelligence briefings… time will tell.

November 13, 2016
THE MASK THAT BINDS YOU

I recall after 9/11, that particular Halloween, how ultra-sensitive and weird things were.. I remember the political ramifications of what you wore–the outfit could put you in the wrong category.. Are you with ‘us’ or against us..?

This year may be about the same.
It was strange to watch the Al Smith dinner the other night and see Donald Trump being jeered by the crowd of media elites for his commentary about Hillary–it was not really as much funny as it was biting. Hillary was more routine, more common.. more traditional. But this year the election is not traditional at all.

There are friendships dying and marriages drying, all because the people within relationships are choosing different candidates. Facebook has become a hostile battleground of red vs blue acquaintances.. It is all really too much .. over the top.

And this year, at your door step, the next fight might occur .. . Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are going to be there.. not in the forms of ADs or flyers in the mail, but in plastic form. Halloween masks.

I have been reading my Twitterverse feed as of late about this very topic. There are indications, we are told by prognosticators of all that is political, that the mask sales are indicators of who will WIN the election. Some put about as much stock in that as people who say they see wooly little insects and that means a record setting year for snowfall was going to occur.

According to various reports from around the Halloween stores across America, people are buying up Trump masks over Hillary likenesses about 2 to 1.. Some locations even report a 3 to 1 advantage for the billionaire.. Clinton fans opine that it is not necessarily because the purchasers like Donald Trump .. but instead because recipients of the mask intend on mocking the Republican candidate for president across the fruited plain..

The HUFFINGTON POST just wrote up an article about very scary looking Trump mask production processes in mainland China.. –Maybe an import Trump would stop if he becomes president?

There are so many versions of his profile. And they are being bought up everywhere.

So … the polls.
Polls that show Hillary pulling ahead of Trump. Polls that indicate she is going to win the election, maybe not by a landslide but instead a razor close margin with the help of some swing states.

But history..
History of mask sales indicating who would win an election.

In 2008, TIME magazine had a story showing a 55-45 advantage of Obama over McCain in sales. It also spoke about How Reagan outsold Carter (despite polls in 80 showing Carter would win) … And look at the numbers And realize just how close the mask sale figures were to the final popular vote tally.. maybe there is something to this?

But a cautionary tale for Trump fans who think his mask sales indicate a victory on November 8: Richard Nixon. His face is still a top seller. He is one of the most highly disregarded presidents because of his criminal activity and mental illnesses.. But people wear his face–often even during bank robberies.

Either way get ready. Get the candy warmed up.
Donald Trump is about to ask for a hand in a town near you.

October 23, 2016
THE BOMBING OF BLAIR WITCH. SOME PROCLAIM THE END OF ‘FOUND FOOTAGE’ HORROR.. I SAY IT’S JUST YOUR USUAL GENERATIONAL SHIFT

IT’S OVER! Sorta…
The found horror movie crave is behind us.. So says Variety.. In an article celebrating the box office bomb that is the new BLAIR WITCH, the author, Owen Gleibermein, seems to celebrate the upcoming demise of the found horror movie. He also correctly points out that the demise may be far from happening–but the big profits of found movies may be over..

Horror is cyclical..
There may be some who have actually read postings of mine over the past many years. Thank you if you did. If you didn’t, this concept may be lost on you, so you let me explain my theory. A theory based off of observation and age..

I think horror movies and professional wrestling are allegories for the time that they originate.. the theme of any wrestling storyline or subject matter or popularity of a horror movie concept directly showcase the feelings, attitudes, and experiences of the generation that those said wrestling stories or horror movies come from.

The 1980s.. campy.. Ronald Reagan … The rise of the Christian right. The allegories abounded–Jason Vorhees from FRIDAY THE 13TH was as much a serial killer with a hockey mask as he was a Godlike figure who killed the sinners like a storyline from the Old Testament. Freddy Kreuger was a murderer in sleep, just as in the 80s what hurt us was behind covers. Wrestling? Hulkamania with the American flag and vitamins galore … Wrestling took on the campy feel and actually felt good. When Hulk Hogan beat the Iron Sheik, that fiction felt real .. as he dropped the leg on the Sheik and became champion, America had a feeling that reality just took place.

The 90s mocked the 80s. SCREAM made fun of the whole concept of 80s slashers… WES CRAVEN’S NEW NIGHTMARE attempted to kill off Freddy. Wish it would have. Stone Cold Steve Austin also chugged beer after body slamming authority on Monday Night RAW. The 80s kids grew up and moved into a new era…

In the 2000s, after 9/11 and torture policies, the SAW films became emblematic of torture porn… we accepted more blood and guts. Gore and torture.. Horror films showcased who we were—warfare and death on live TV, streaming online and on Facebook mobile. We see it all. Nothing more can be seen.. nothing more can be shocking.. We have become something from a horror movie itself…

So the death of found footage? Found footage is just a vehicle to deliver a theme. The theme of horror films..

And found footage is cheap. I don’t think it is going away, but certainly waning in popularity..

The good news: It seems like, as we move from torture into a new generation of desiring peace, we want storylines again. We want themes again that matter–big themes about life and death. Concepts that are move than just a few scares. The films IT FOLLOWS and BABADOOK are prime examples.. they portray women as victim and heroine, the ‘monsters’ are figureative and thematic.. and we get scared because the darkness of our minds is much more frightening than someone sawing their leg off to escape a demented killer.

We are maturing.. we are changing. And with it, so will wrestling and horror movies.

I end with a cautionary note… There is a chance that if Donald Trump wins, a remeregence of nationalism will come .. flags will wave.. and yes, the 1980s will be back in spirit. Expect a new Hulk Hogan. And slasher films.

Because just as much as horror and wrestling are thematic of the times we live in, life itself is cyclical.

October 1, 2016
The kids aren’t alright: Meth nation on Tumblr

Tumblr.. the mighty fine place of the modern age that replaced the mighty fine sites of the previous. Tumblr is a mixture of Geocities and Myspace. Moving GIFs, glitter all over pages.. Websites made to be ugly instead of professional. Bloggers–many teenagers have taken to the platform–repost photos all day..

GEEK reports that one of the biggest things on Tumblr right now: Meth rage. Not against the deadly effects of the drug, but to celebrate those who do it. There is a ‘tweaker girls’ dedicated blog.. there is a meth-smoking-mom who decries how difficult it is to be a meth-tweaker mom in the modern age.

Despite the fact that this drug and the use of it only contributes to the global drug trade and Mexican cartels, kids of the day can’t figure out just how their tiny spoke of a choice on the big wheel of life is prolonging agony for anyone involved..

As GEEK reports:

The best way to get a sample of Tumblr’s meth problem is the official Tweaker Nation account, which fastidiously reblogs pictures of the 100+ community members. You can also find helpful tips on preventing “Meth Mouth”, polling to find out how much ice costs where they all live, and requests to hook up all over the country.

Meth isn’t a glamorous drug. We’ve all seen pictures of rural meth-heads with sallow yellow faces and scraggly teeth. But these users are different. It’s Tumblr, after all. If you want the reblogs, you’ve gotta look good.

There are some who loudly ask: How can people reveal their entire family lives and location online, along with photos of them smoking meth, and get away with it?

….David Karp couldn’t even answer that.

In the mean time, instead of celebrating the slow death of human beings, take a quick look at a Netflix series called DRUGS INC. Perhaps your view of the beauty of tweaking addiction will alter back to reality..

July 14, 2016
UK GUARDIAN SPLASHES: Is it time for a horror movie about the evils of Donald Trump?

UK GUARDIAN SPLASHES: Is it time for a horror movie about the evils of Donald Trump?:

Chuck Bowen writes this for the world to read:

A much larger proportion of the electorate is terrified of a Donald Trumppresidency, of course. This alarm has led to protests of all kinds. One image circulated on Facebook depicts the “Make America great again” huckster as one of the mossy-colored, skull-exposed aliens from John Carpenter’s They Live. Below this monstrous caricature is a caption that will be familiar to fans of the horror film: OBEY.

This caricature, like Hillary Clinton’s address in San Diego, offers a small catharsis for those of us who find Trump’s running for office to be a prolonged and baffling ordeal – a serrated cornucopia of unchecked authoritarian aggression, most obviously embodied by his obsession with dictatorial regimes and attending hatred for non-white, non-male citizens as well as the press and judicial systems. (Imagine what the hypocritical Republican hate machine would say about a Democrat who praised Russian president Vladimir Putin.)

Debate away.. the political spectrum is filled with vibrant colors on both sides.

But one thing Bowen writes struck me:

They Live was released in 1988, following a couple of likeably macho salt of the earth types (played by Roddy Piper and Keith David) as they discover that the upper class of society are alien monsters lulling us into a stupor with pop culture, exploiting us and polluting our planet while living the high life. Change the size of the TV sets, gingerly sprinkle the phrase “1%” into the dialogue, digitally insert cell phones into the characters’ hands, have a few extras snapping selfies in the background and They Live could pass as a story of the present day.

They live was one of the best movies ever made..
There have been a lot of candidates for ‘they live’ cred long before Donald Trump emerged from the stairway in the same style the SIMPSONS predicted he would ..

Bowen goes on to name other films in recent horror memory, like THE PURGE..

Horror and pop culture.. they go together so well.

I have often written that horror movies encapsulate the moment in time they were created..
Perhaps a Trump movie is in order. To be fair, maybe Hillary should be in it too. And the victor in the end? Gary Johnson! Ok that can only happen in the movies.

July 5, 2016
TECH WANTS TO DEFEAT HATE ONLINE

…ON THE NET!?

Tech giants are swearing that their new war on hate will be won. In 24 hours–real time for online standards.

The promise comes after Google, Twitter, Facebook, and Microsoft began working with the European Union to fight terrorism.

This from BLOOMBERG:

U.S. Internet giants Facebook Inc., Twitter Inc., Google and Microsoft Corp. pledged to tackle online hate speech in less than 24 hours as part of a joint commitment with the European Union to combat the use of social media by terrorists.

Beyond national laws that criminalize hate speech, there is a need to ensure such activity by Internet users is “expeditiously reviewed by online intermediaries and social media platforms, upon receipt of a valid notification, in an appropriate time-frame,” the companies and the European Commission said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

The code of conduct arrives as Europe comes to terms with the bloody attacks in Paris and Brussels by Islamic State, which has used the Web and social media to spread its message of hate against its enemies. The companies said it remains a “challenge” to strike the right balance between freedom of expression and hate speech in the self-generated content on online platforms.

This plan may prove difficult in the United States, where hate speech is lambasted by permitted by free speech laws. For now.

May 31, 2016
THE CACKLE

Not trying to be too political, or even take sides, but I wanted to quickly share a truly amazing video someone cooked up and put on Youtube and other social media. It’s called Hillary Clinton EVIL REMIX.

IT gets stuck in your head.. the cackling laugh and the ‘we died’ repetition. True monumental political parody at work.
Take a look

And don’t watch in the dark!

May 29, 2016
The hot new fad: Showing your old McDonald’s food

And it is disgusting..

The Internet is suddenly alive with posts and images from people worldwide who are showcasing old McDonald’s food..

Some have had burgers for 10 years hat didn’t rot.. French fries that didn’t mold.. ‘Chicken’ nuggets that don’t look a day older than normal but they’re six years old..

Creepy food pictures for sure.
And suddenly the Internet is uniquely disgusted by images of corporate food..

McDonald’s may have s social media problem to combat of images keep getting circulated. The chain has already taken a recent profit hit with a lack of purchases of their food.

Old food.

April 27, 2016