My pampered brain who is so used to absorbing (via the neurological filter system I called the OIDR - Only Interested Details Registered) only the topics I'm interested in gets raw, unfamiliar theories forced into it.
I like communication theories, especially those on globalization, hegemony and political discourses. I like reading, though not necessarily absorbing (heez). But I don't like the process of squeezing my brain juice on an eleven-hour basis repetitively everyday because I have to complete eight assignments (6 Qs, 8 lovely sections) in 3 weeks while aiming for a D or HD. Yes, visualise a shriveled brain which is 98% dehydrated.
In the midst of it all, I resorted to filling my deprived stomach of only food that is bought from convenience stores like sandwiches and hot Milo two times a day. And I'm not even trying to go on a diet. Thank goodness feel-good films still exist! Shoving all these work aside, I sneaked out to watch 'Bride Wars' and, despite the bad reviews for it, I felt renewed after watching it. Banzai!
Life's too stressful to watch films that I labelled 'heavy'! And I know very well that I will feel depressed after watching it even though I'm not the protagonist and the plot isn't even a least bit related to me. I like 'Bride Wars' specifically because it is not your typical romance comedy but a story that focuses more of the sisterly friendship shared between two best friends. Hey xiang, where're you? I missed you gal!
Nonetheless, I find the some of these communication theories interesting and fun. One of them is about places that are a form of cultural text themselves - the White House that signifies America's politics like its presidents, government and its bureaucratic systems. The other one is Postmodernism. Think Gwen Stefani's music videos. Think Andy Warhol's iconic artpieces like the multiple replicas of the Campbell soup cans in different flavors. Yes, Postmodernism is Pop culture and everything satirical, fun and against the norms.
This is the whole set of the 32 Campbell soup cans paintings. I saw them once at Collectors Contemporary, a gallery specializing in Western contemporary art last year, and was amused and thoughtful as to why this has become an object of fascination for Warhol to paint them. They are placed in a chronological order based on the order of the time the flavors were introduced.
This is another one of my favorites from Warhol, titled 'Double Elvis'. Sadly, this was not exhibited in Singapore so I can only admire the photograph of it here in my lappy. To me, this is like a clever work of an artist to make a portrait film-like, as if you are watching a snippet of an action film of the role of Elvis Presley facing the villain in a gun showdown. And the beauty of it lies with Warhol's depiction of the different faces a superstar like Elvis portrays to the public - one in a film, one being his real self.
Hopefully the next intensive three weeks of the coming unit will at least be as fun as this if the lecturer decided that six to eight is a healthy number of assignments to be completed in such a short time, especially if the already panda-cum-zombie lookalike has to complete several incomprehensible readings just to do one assignment.
Never mind, just let me indulge in oblivion for now.
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