Artists you need to experience

I recently did a top ten list featuring the movies I thought you ought to see. This was quite popular and I got a lot of positive feedback from that article. My buddy Søren over at Enter Crawack told me, that he would do a similar thing, but with music. I liked the idea, but I did not want to simple do a top ten list again, this time it had to be different, and for various reasons, which I will explain in the next section of the article.

You can never just get to the point huh?

Music is very different from movies, especially when it comes to taste. People often describe their taste in music as what they are “into”, which generally means genre or thematic artists. This differs from the way we review movies, as we enjoy all genres of films, and we judge the product for what it is, rather than what it represents. You all have some genres of music, which you simply refuse to listen to, just because you have heard samples of music which you hated. And that’s fine, I do it too, I am just illustrating the difference in reviewing movies and music. So is there a point to this? You bet there is, and it’s a simple one, that really didn’t need all that build up. My taste in music is very different from yours, or it isn’t. This might be a factor in how much you will enjoy this piece, but I implore you to be open minded and leave your comfort zone. Because it’s when we venture into unknown waters, that we find the greatest treasures. Or something like that.

Treasure!

So now that’s out of the way, let me present to you, my eight artists, that I really think deserves your attention. I will embed a song from each artist at the end of each entry, that you should give a listen to.

#1: Damien Rice

Irish singer Damien Rice is probably best known for his hit single “Cannonball” or the mixed version of it. He’s a bit of hippie if you look at him personally, but if I cared about the artists personally, then certain artists wouldn’t get any airtime at all. He released his debut album called “O” and another one in 2006 called “9”. I don’t know what his fascination with short titles is about, but I really like his music so far. Music gets better depending on your mood, and Rice definitely falls in the “not so chirpy” category. The songs all start slow and then proceeds to build towards an emotional explosion, which really pokes at your heart in the good way. If you don’t mind a couple of tears in your coffee, then I suggest giving this guy a good listening to. My pick for your enjoyment is the song titled “Grey Rooms” and it’s my favorite song of his at the moment.

#2: Jonna Lee

Jonna Lee is a Swedish singer-songwriter and also the mind behind the project “Iamamiwhoami”. Her solo stuff is mostly guitar compositions with her singing ballads and covers. She gained a bit of notoriety when she did an acoustic cover version of the song “Human” by The Killers. It became an underground hit, but it’s not among my favorite tracks of hers. Her big project “Iamamiwhoami” is an electronic experiment, which draws influences from many electronic artists, and is very different from her solo material. There is something about soft voices and electronic music, which just tickles my music bone, so I totally dig this. I especially like the long intros to her songs and the calmness they project. She knows what she wants to say, and she’s in no hurry to do so. The embedded video is called “John” and is the perfect example of her style and energy, which I have grown to love.

#3: Dangermouse

I haven’t been listening to Danger Mouse for very long, but I really like it. The man behind Danger Mouse is Brian Joseph Burton and he has produced some really great stuff. He’s responsible for Gnarls Barkley and he has produced for Gorillaz and U2. Besides that, the main reason he is on this list, is due to his latest album called “Rome”. On the album he collaborates with Jack White and Norah Jones on some really funky tunes. It’s hard to describe the genre, but it’s really great stuff and I was immediately hooked. He’s been compared to a musical Woody Allen, and I partly agree, as they each have taken a field and made their style decidedly their own. Just as you instantly know when you’re watching a Woody Allen movie, you know when it’s a Danger Mouse song. The video I embed is of the song “The rose with the broken neck” featuring Jack White and…..just give it a listen!

#4: Death Cab for Cutie

Death Cab for Cutie is a veteran rock band from Washington, who has seven albums on their record and five EP’s. If I should label them, then I guess it would be a form of indie rock with a very special vocal. It’s really easy to listen to, and your mood will definitely improve, unless you already are on cloud nine, then I’ll start envying you instead. They aren’t well known in Denmark, their biggest hit came from providing background music to a commercial, but I really cannot recall which product they endorsed. All I know is the song, which will be embedded at the end of this segment, and it is called “I will follow you into the dark”. Give them a chance, some of their songs will make your heart smile.

#5: Antony & The Johnsons

Antony Hegarty is the man behind this band, and they have become sort of known here in Europe over the last couple of years. Their most popular piece is their second album called “I am a bird now” which features guest appearances from Lou Reed, Rufus Wainwright and Boy George. The music is really special I think, as it’s really indescribable beautiful. Hegarty’s voice is just amazing and I still cannot believe he can squeeze such vocals out, they are simply fantastic. This is also one of these bands where you either totally love what they do, or you really dislike it. This is the case with most “special” acts, as they force you to really consider the positives and negatives before judging it. By this I mean that it isn’t just another generic record, that you can toss into your preconceptions pile. The embedded video is a collaboration with Rufus Wainwright called “What can I do?” and the song is just hauntingly mesmerizing.

#6:  Nujabes

Jun Seba was a japanese Dj, who died in 2010. Luckily for us, he made a bunch of fantastic music before that happened. This is really perfect music for the summer, as it’s in the genre called House and with Nujabes’ touch it really just makes you want to swim, dance and chill with your friends. He also made the soundtrack for the Japanese anime called Samurai Shamploo, so people who are familiar with that will know the style. He works together with various rappers on his records, and he really is a versatile artist, and he will be missed a lot. The embedded video is called “Arurian Dance” and is the first track I heard of his, and it instantly hit home with me. I hope you will feel the same.

#7: LCD Soundsystem

LCD Soundsystem was something as special as a dance-punk band based in New York City. They split up last year, but they left behind three great albums, that I can highly recommend. In my mind they embody cool music, which means, that you just want to move some part of your body when their funky tracks start playing. As every artist on my list, they are definitely not for everybody, but it’s hard not to smile when they first start playing some of their really cool songs. Funny enough I’ve decided to not embed one of their fast paced songs, but a slow one instead. You can go find the coolest tracks yourself (Dance yourself clean) without my help. The embedded video is called “New York I love you, but you’re bringing me down” and my words can’t do it justice, so just give it a whirl.

#8: Nick Cave

My favorite living artist by far, his skills just cannot be matched. Being  musician, actor, writer and screenwriter he’s a busy man and he’s in both “The bad seeds” and “Grinderman”. He is known for writing emotional texts about violence, religion and death and in my mind, he is without a doubt the most underappreciated artist in the world. He is probably known by many of you for his work together with Kylie Minogue on the song “Where the wild roses grow”, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. He is what I would call an album artist, as it does him disservice to just pluck a track or two from certain albums, as they really come together if you hear the whole thing. He also wrote the screenplay for the Australian western “The proposition” which is a great movie that I want to recommend as well. I can write for days about his genius, but it’s much easier to just embed a video and let that speak for itself. The video is called “Love Letter” which is my favorite Nick Cave song. Check it out.

What a pile of…..!

Now that I’ve given you some insight into my musical world, I hope that you actually listened to the songs, because the quest for new music to enjoy is a fantastic one, so do not let prejudice and pride stop you from becoming a happier and well versed (musically) person. Sorry for the delay on this article, I’ve been ill and had to recuperate before I could write something that made sense. If you have some artists that you feel I should give a go, then feel free to write a comment, and if you haven’t, do it anyway! See you next time, and thank you for reading.

My way of saying thank you for reading.

Fear - my take on the phenomenon

Being afraid is something very personal and individual. What may paralyze one person might seem like nothing to you, so some of the things I’ll discuss in this article might seem irrational to you, but for me, they can be the cause of some really dark moments. My recent  articles have been leaning towards the neutral and more negative aspects of life, but the next one will be enjoying a sunnier disposition, that is a promise from me to you.

Fear is a reaction to a perceived threat, be it physical or mental. It’s survival at its basest form and you react to it via a fight or flight response, meaning you either confront that fear or you run from it. Do not confuse fear with anxiety, as anxiety can work as a catalyst of sorts; you are anxious about a certain challenge, so you either grow to fear it or you conquer that fear. A simple explanation would be, that it’s a coping mechanism designed to test your resolve. Fear is part of human nature, and scientists speculate, that the humans who learned to fear certain situations were the ones to survive and carry their genes on to us. So a part of your fear is primal, such as fearing certain predators and situations, but the more dominant ones are learned through experience. Have a spider crawl across you face as an infant, and you may develop a fear of said creature. Have a near death experience involving water and you might not like water anymore.

Or maybe you just kick the hell out of fear?

Having explained a little about the nature of the phenomenon means I can dive into the heart of this article. My fears. Keep in mind, that fears aren’t constant, not in most cases anyway. A constant fear would drive you mad and ultimately destroy you. My fears fluctuate, and sometimes they feel like old friends stopping by to remember me where I come from and what makes me tick as a person. I’ve decided to be a bit lyrical about it, so bear with me, as it’s a subject, that you don’t often get to talk about in earnest. And being less than that would be a disservice to all of you, and myself as well.

Success

Sometimes I’m afraid, that I care too little

Sometimes my efforts can be lackluster and brittle

Sometimes I think I might not succeed

Sometimes that makes me not want to proceed

Are low expectations my way to cope?

Should I allow myself to dream and hope?

What if my dreams are torn asunder?

Could I ever recover from such a blunder?

Sometimes I think it’s best to fail

Because no one will get to hear your wail

Fearing failure is quite common I think. But I fear success as well. Because success equals expectations and inevitably some bigger responsibilities in life, which might not suit me, you cannot know until you’ve given it your all. Sometimes I get really anxious about the prospect of teaching. So much can go wrong in a classroom, especially if the children can sense your insecurity. But it’s more than that. To be a professional means to have an absolute confidence in your abilities and I do not have that, not all the time at least. This feeling might change as the years progress, but that would not make for interesting reading material would it? Suffice to say, that my confidence is not as high as I feel it should be. So I do not fear failure that much, because nothing will change by failing, you just get stuck in an endless loop of disappointments, and somehow there’s comfort in that. A sad pitiful existence is still an existence one might argue. But for how long I wonder?

Yep, todays article is dark

Love

How can I function as a man

With no one to hold my hand?

When is it my turn to shine?

Exchanging my heart with thine

Courage is the real enemy here

Without it, I am paralyzed with fear

Can anyone ever be fine

With seeing the end of their line?

Will I ever get the chance

To experience true romance?

Wanting love and having love are obviously two quite different things. Wanting it, is a drive that dominates most people’s lives. You never stop searching for that special someone, just as you never stop asking yourself: “Is this as good as it gets?”. The quest for love is marred by its success I think. But these are just guesses, as they are based on observation and not experience. I’m not afraid of women, on the contrary actually, I really love having them in my life. Many of the women I see socially are fantastic creatures, and I will never grow tired of their company. We flirt a lot as well, which is normal I guess. My fear comes, when it’s about to go from flirtation to relation. Not the physical intimacy (boobs are awesome), but the implied responsibilities that comes with a relationship, and the thought of not being “free” anymore. Will I have to change who I am to savor love? You might stipulate, that I over think this, and that love just happens and all that, but if I could control my fears, then I would be on top of the world wouldn’t I?

See, when I try to chat a woman up, it pretty much goes smoothly until I perceive that she also has an interest in me.  Then doubt sets in, followed by fear and it usually results in a mental impotence of sorts. It’s frustrating, because I am nearing thirty, and I am feeling the urge to pass on my legacy, which is hard to do in a tissue paper. Two of my younger siblings have kids already, and when that realization hit me, I panicked a little. It would not be as severe, if I had a woman in my life, but at the moment I am swinging blindly. Women always ask me who I have feelings for at the moment, and instead of answering them, I usually just ignore the question, as the answer depresses me. There aren’t any. That scares the hell out of me, as the prospect of being alone, is even scarier than the thought of baring your inner self to someone. Nobody wants to grow old on their own.

Zombies? This here is the real living dead.

Numb

On a hot summer day

My emotions went away

I never wondered why

They always made me cry

But I see why they were great

When it’s impossible to relate

So now I have a cadre of masks

Suitable for all life’s tasks

So when you see me smile

You see a man in denial

I exaggerate a little in the poem, but I have been feeling a growing sense of dread lately. It’s a disturbing sense of isolation, as I no longer feel I can relate to people in my life. Sure, we laugh and have fun together, but it’s accompanied by emptiness, which is very hard to describe. I like to describe myself as an empathic person, but I fear it’s becoming less true as time goes by. I gradually stop caring it seems. The problem is, that in order to be happy, I need to hunt down the objects I desire, but if I can’t relate or find pleasure in most things anymore, then that quest becomes increasingly difficult. It sounds a little like a mid life crisis, but does that mean I’ll only live to be sixty?

 I wrote about a certain tendency in a previous article, that when people bore me, then I start daydreaming or ignore them without their knowledge. This has become even more frequent as of late, and it’s put me in a constant state of worry. Which is reinforcing my other fears and anxieties; it’s all a vicious circle I can’t seem to escape, unless something drastic happens. My own attempt at combating this emotional state has been through a diet, which is going well (more on that in a future article), as I speculated if I felt better about my physical appearance, then my mental health would improve as well. It’s a solid theory I think, and I’m very excited to see what will happen. You might wonder what the actual fear is in this section, but I honestly cannot tell you, except, that it feels important to include. Which brings us to my final point…

Oh God, what now?

Be cool

I write this blog as part of an experiment. A therapy of sorts, so you are bound to see some very personal things written here, they might even include you. I realize that this article makes me look like a suicidal shell of a man, but take heart dear reader, if you recall what I said earlier, the fears aren’t permanent, they fluctuate and some days are better than others. We are probably much alike I think, because you don’t often sit down and write out your doubts and fears. It can be very therapeutic, but it’s also a window into my life, that I open with some caution. All I ask is that you don’t make a big deal out of it, or feel sad, because pity is one of the worst things that can happen to a person. Thanks for reading my thoughts, it’s always nice to know that we share some of the same issues isn’t it? And if this is all foreign to you, then I envy you!

The ten movies you have just got to see. Right now.

As the next step of my enduring battle against doing anything productive, I thought it would be fun to write an article about one of my favorite things; movies! I spent a great deal of time (not really) compiling this list, because in my mind the taste you have in movies says a lot about you as a person. It’s an important factor when it comes to compatibility and harmony, as a couple who does not share a similar taste in movies, are in for some arguments when it comes to movie nights. That hypothesis is based on observation not experience.  Also when you talk to your friends about movies, it’s a great help to know what they like, so you (me) won’t get bored. People who think Transformers (the Bay movies) and Fast & Furious are simply awesome movies they are not in for a stimulating conversation with me, at least when it comes to movies. Ones taste in movies seems to fluctuate depending on your mood, and the context in which you want to see a movie. Sometimes you just need to experience some strong emotions, or maybe you just want to laugh for a while. This list is a mix of genres, but it is ultimately the ten movies I feel to be the best out there, right now. Please note that the movies are in random order, so don’t argue about the order, for me they are all “1’s”. Read the list and my comments on the movies themselves. Then watch said movies and talk to me about them at a later time. I can be a bit of a snob when it comes to movies, but I’m sure we’ll get along just fine.

This is me, in my mind, talking about movies.

#1: The lion king (1994)

I speculate that most of my readers have seen this one, which is why I figured I should start with it. Disney’s classic retelling of Hamlet was an instant hit when it was released in 1994. It tells the tale of young Simba, who is destined to rule Africa’s animals from atop Pride rock. He is ultimately betrayed by his uncle Scar, who murders his brother, the king, marries Simbas mother and joins forces with the fiendish Hyenas. Simba escapes and returns as an adult to reunite the kingdom and avenge his father. It’s a great story and it has that Disney “feeling” to it, but you all know this. I would recommend the English soundtrack, as the Danish one just doesn’t cut it. It’s also one of the last great drawn Disney movies, as the shift to computer animated movies started not long after, and the traditional Disney movie died then. This movie is special to me in another way as well. My mom took me to the cinema to watch it together with her. One of my fondest memories of my mother is when we watched this movie, and as Mufasa died, she took my hand and smiled at me, because she could see I was tearing up. That might factor in with my fond memories of this movie, but I dare anyone to watch the stampede scene and not have to fight back the tears.

What a prick.

#2: Scott Pilgrim vs. the world (2010)

This movie is a bit of a sleeper on my list, as it’s one of those movies you either love or hate. There is no middle ground here. The premise is simple: Scott falls in love with a girl. To win the right to be with this girl, he must fight her seven evil x’s.  X’s as in ex-boyfriends. The plot is really strange, but it’s done in such an awesome way, that you sort of just accept this to be the way things work. The acting and drama is over the top with a bunch of irony, it’s delicious. The movie makes fun of itself too, and if I had to label it, I would classify it as a “feel-good movie”. What really makes it great, is the homage it pays to the 8-bit era of gaming and the arcades. The whole movie has a definite video game vibe to it, and I was just blown away by the style. It’s really hard to say more about this movie, it’s one of those movies that you have to see to understand why it’s so great. Which is pretty much the case with every movie?

#3: Full metal jacket (1987)

I could talk about this movie for hours, but all I have to do is show you a picture from it, and you will nod your head and agree with me, that this is a frigging awesome movie. End of discussion.

I do have the courtesy to give a reacharound, sir.

#4: Rear window (1954)

I knew I wanted a Hitchcock movie on my list, but the problem was which one? In the end I settled on my favorite: Rear window, which really impressed me from a technical standpoint as well as delivering a magnificent story. James Stewart plays Jeff, who has broken his leg and is confined to a wheelchair in his apartment. He’s a photographer for a living and has some wide lenses lying around, which he uses to survey his neighborhood.  He is often visited by his girlfriend, played by Grace Kelly (lovely creature), who indulges him in his espionage. During one of his nightly peek-a-thons he hears a scream from across the way and from the next day, he starts to suspect his neighbor of murdering his wife. But is it delusion or not? That is the premise of the movie, and it’s done so well by the master of suspense. You are never quite sure of what to think, and that’s a testament to the movies quality. One of the most impressive things, is the way the movie is filmed. Hitchcock built a whole set in the image of an American big city neighborhood. The camera is then placed in a way, that we see everything from the viewpoint of Jeff. The effect is a form of intimacy between us and all the people who live in the apartments, it’s really sublime.

A master at work.

#5: Pulp Fiction (1994)

This is also one of those movies, where you have no problem justifying it’s place on a list of great movies. The story is so well knit together it haunts my dreams. You always discover something new, when you watch it, and watch it you will. Many times. I’m not a Travolta fan, but he does a great job in this movie, but the show stealer is Samuel L. Jackson as Jules. His “bible” quote was so popular when the movie came out, that it got a song based off of it, and a slew of merchandise. He really is the baddest mother in town. But it’s just insane how quotable this movie is, which is really something for a movie, and a testament to how well written the script is. I have always held Tarantino in high regard, and I was torn between Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs. What really sets him apart is not the plots or settings, it’s the sharp dialogue and the way he shoots his movies. I absolutely love movies, where they do not cut every freaking second. Tarantino loves long takes, so I love Tarantino. The actors are in focus, not the action, which I really like. Oh, and the soundtrack is second to none.

#6: Nobody’s fool (1994)

1994 was a good year for movies. As the third movie on my list from that year, I gotta say, this might arguably be the best. I have a thing for small town dramas and this one is the crème de la crème. Paul Newman in the best role he has ever played, and backed up by solid actors like Bruce Willis and Melanie Griffith. Newman plays local hothead Sully, who has a bum knee. He has no contact with his family and he does not enjoy considerable respect in the community. But when his estranged son moves back to town together with his family Sully begins to change. That is all I will say about the plot, but it’s one of those heartwarming tales, that speaks to the heart. The reason I really like it, is because of the acting and the authenticity of the environment it plays out in. And if you can watch this movie without feeling something for Newman’s character, then you are dead inside.

Just look at that cute face.

#7: 12 angry men (1957)

The greatest courtroom drama ever filmed. By far. 12 angry men puts us in a room with 13 jurors, who must decide whether to send a young man to jail or not. It stars Henry Fonda in the leading role, and he is always brilliant. The plot revolves around Fonda’s character, who tries to convince the rest of the jurors to agree with him. The methods used to do so are all well thought out and clever, but they are besides the point, as the movie is a study of character. All jurors are very different, as are their motivations for voting as they do, and it’s genuinely exciting to watch them fight (sometimes viciously) to be right. It’s in black and white, which might scare off some people. I once spoke to a young man, who honestly could not see the value in watching movies that were older than 1990. What a fool. But then again, I often speak with people, who do not want to watch a movie that is not in full color. As if the lack of color has a detrimental effect on the medium. It’s a silly statement to make, and it’s a damn shame to think, some people may be robbed of the joy of watching movies like this one, based on some stupid principle.

Give these men a chance.

#8: Blade Runner (1982)

The best science fiction director ever, with one of the coolest actors ever and a setting that is simply mind-blowing. That is what Blade Runner has to offer, and boy does it offer it well. Blade Runner is based off Philip K. Dick’s novel “Do androids dream of electric sheep?”, but I honestly prefer the movie. In the future mankind uses replicants (robots) to mine asteroids and fight wars. Replicants are superior to humans in every way, so to make sure that they do not take over, they are built with a short lifespan. The ethics behind this and the replicants desire to live is the centerpiece of this masterwork. I consider this to be the greatest science fiction movie ever made, and it’s a little difficult to explain why. One of the reasons is the visuals. Ridley Scott is a master of portraying stunning worlds and the future in Blade Runner is as ugly as it is beautiful. But what is even more important, is that you do not feel like this is some distant wasteland or unreachable utopia. This is a plausible future for us all. The ethical dilemma in the movie is handled really well, with heartbreaking dialogue and a desperation from the replicants, who initially are the bad guys, but you start to empathize with them. Rutger Hauer delivers a really powerful performance as the leader of the replicants, and the last ten minutes of the movie are among the greatest moments in movie history. Before I go on an even longer rant I would recommend you to just see it. It really is epic.

 #9: OldBoy (2003)

This movie is Korean and it’s explicit, so if you’re not inclined to watch foreign movies or some very graphical violence, then steer away. You’ll be incredibly sorry you did though. Oldboy is the 2^nd movie in Chan-Wook Parks trilogy of revenge. I can recommend the whole trilogy, but I picked this one, as it’s the best of the three. Dae-Su Oh is on his way home to meet his daughter when he is kidnapped and locked inside a room for 15 years. He is never told by whom or why. When he is released he goes on a quest to answer the very simple question: “Who locked me in a room for 15 years?”. It’s a simple plot, but it becomes complicated and the twist in the movie will destroy your mind, it’s that good. All actors and actresses are fantastic, but Min-Sik Choi steals the show, as the titular character. He is so rough and remorseless; you just can’t help being fascinated. The movie is being remade in English format, but please watch this version first, as I am certain the English one will butcher this masterpiece. I mean, watch it purely for the hallway-hammer fight scene. Trust me.

This scene will melt your brain.

#10: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966)

Tarantino once said, that the last 30min of this movie was the closest we would ever come to the perfect movie. And I wholeheartedly agree. This spaghetti western epic is mostly known for its music (Metallica uses a song from this movie as their opening act), which is a damn shame. Not to say the music is bad, it really isn’t, it’s one of the best soundtracks ever made. Ennio Morricone gave the movie an extra heart with his music, and it’s hard not to smile at times, when the iconic yell comes through your speakers. It’s hard to describe what makes this movie so great, but I will do my best. The three main characters; Tuco, Blondie and Angel-Eyes make the perfect trio, as Lee van Cleef is the embodiment of evil, Eastwood is the perfect anti-hero and Eli Wallach delivers an Oscar winning performance as the poor Tuco, who has no luck in the world. The plot is as follows: A dying man reveals two parts of a treasure location to two different men, and they are forced to work together, if they want to claim the treasure for themselves. During their hunt they get caught up in the civil war, and its horrors. The setting is fantastic, it truly is an epic sight the first time you see the trenches and fights between the north and the south. Some people perceive the movie as silly, but do not make that mistake, as this is one of the most serious and heartbreaking depictions of the “western” era of  American  history. Sergio Leone, the director, never got the glory he deserves, but anyone who watches this movie will agree, that he was something special alright.

Just watch the movie, you'll thank me later.

That was my list. I hope you enjoyed reading about my favorite movies, and if you disagree with anything I’ve said, feel free to comment, or you might even want to leave your own list for me to review? Until next time!

Regards

Kris

My five pet peeves

Welcome to another installation of the internet’s most underappreciated blog. Today the mood will be different from the last time, as I am listing five things, that drive me crazy, in that special kind of way. People who know me, know that I am quite calm and packed with tolerance, but when I see one of these five things I will often get very irritated and/or loose respect for the person doing it. That sounds a little harsh, but I’m allowed to be grumpy on my own blog damnit! Bear in mind, that some of the points on the list aren’t “personal” but rather an unfortunate development in our society as a whole. So, while giving you insight into my life and thoughts, please consider these issues as guides to acting like a cooler person!

Like this guy.

#1:  The death of creativity in entertainment

This first one is probably also the one, that most of you will agree with, as it concerns Hollywood and the games industry. Sequels and remakes are getting really out of hand, as pretty much every piece of literature or pop culture reference gets its own movie or game. Or both. Don’t get me wrong, I am not annoyed because of the industry uses the same template for most movies or games, it’s really just aggravating to see, that the next top movies and games are all either sequels or remakes. I looked at the coming attractions page of our local cinema and out of the 15 movies, 7 were sequels and 3 were reboots of franchises. That is disheartening. I won’t argue whether the movies are good or not, that’s not the point. The point is, that we are really narrowing the choices we can take as a viewer and ultimately as an industry, because when they see, that the most profit comes from safe sequels, then of course that is what they will keep making. Nolan’s Batman trilogy is concluded next month, but who’s to say another director won’t continue the franchise? Nolan doesn’t own it, the studio does. Even seemingly original projects are often ripped from lesser known ones. Avatar is Pocahontas in space, but in 3D! (wow) and Inception is pretty much lifted from an old Donald Duck cartoon, where they enter Scrooge’s head instead. I could go on forever about this, throw in a few jokes, but isn’t the industry doing that on its own?

Yeah i went there, laughing dog!

#2: Great people belittling themselves

This can be subtle, but it can also be used as a tool to completely destroy your self-esteem or the amount of work you have put in a project or an exam. To clarify this confusing statement I will use the classic example:

Guy1: “Schucks! My exam went really poorly, I only got a 4”

Guy2: “They are debating my exam right now, and I think I will barely pass, it was awful in there”

Guy1: “Aw man, that is too bad”

Teacher: “Guy2, you got a 10”

Guy2: “Not a 12? Darn…”

Guy1: “You will die by my hand Guy2”

That’s it. You have all experienced this behavior from a friend at some point, or perhaps you are “Guy2” yourself? Although the situation from my example was at an exam, this behavior translates to many different situations. I often hear girls say, that they are ugly, fat, stupid or whatever, even though they are all quite fantastic. I rarely say anything to those statements, I usually just sigh and wonder if they have heard of insight or something like that. It’s annoying and depressing to be around several people with that habits, as the mood will usually go towards the rest of us having to assuring them of their worth. Cool party huh? I think this behavior is not a conscious choice, but I don’t care it’s annoying as hell. I sometime wonder what would happen if you just took on the role of enabler, and confirmed those delusions they have? Alas, I do not have the heart to do so, but a meaner person might have experience with this. If so, leave a comment with your experiences. For science of course!

Science according to Google

#3:  Ignorance

“There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action”.  Goethe said that and he was absolutely right. Ignorance is embraced by some, and to me, that is as foreign as eating dogs, I won’t do it. Being unaware of certain facts can be forgiven, as the quest for knowledge is a nobel one, but the day you sit down and figure, that you more or less know the things you should, then you are doomed. Neil DeGrasse Tyson said in an interview, that only a true expert on a subject will show humility and that, it was ignorant to think you have mastered a field of knowledge. The expert will recognize the many things he can still learn, and I guarantee you, that that is a humbling experience. The best example of ignorance is when you toss something aside, or reject it without knowing anything about it. Homosexuality and racism being the prime examples here, as people do not even try to understand each other, but just blindly hate what they cannot grasp. It’s so sad, and the only remedy is knowledge and tolerance. 


I do not know what prompts these things, but sometimes I witness people turning to ignorance, because they are too stubborn to admit some truths, or too lazy to learn. It’s a shame. This is often tied in with religion and the oppression and bigotry it spawns, but I will dedicate a future article to that debate.  As a teacher you are often meet kids, who does not appreciate learning and knowledge as much as they should, but that’s different from true ignorance, as the kids need to learn how to learn before they can embrace ignorance. I could spew out several pages based on this subject and toss in racism and discrimination as well, but let’s just finish this off for now, as I seem to be picking really large discussions for bite-sized articles. That happens when your head is filled with crap and other great things.  Speaking of great things….

#4: Reality shows

Hate and love are two words, which have gone through a peculiar evolution these past years. Their meaning or implication today, are much less than what they used to be. It’s because we live in a society, where you either love or hate something. When you rate a movie or song, you either thought it was awesome or that it sucked. It’s a value system formed by two extremes. Two extreme opposites as well. Why am I mentioning this? Because when I tell you, that I HATE reality shows, I want you to know the full extent of the traditional, old fashioned meaning of the word. I really really hate the concept and that it has become as popular as it has. I have nothing but contempt for the people on those shows, who proudly display their ignorance and stupidity, and to make matters worse, they are celebrated for it, even revered. I was told by a fellow teacher, that one of their students had expressed a desire to be a contestant on one of those shows, and through that medium somehow gain fame and recognition. 


It’s baffling to me, that those people on those shows are allowed to influence our future leaders and scientists (probably not them) in such a way. “Wow did you see X, she totally stripped and shaved her pussy on tv last night? She’s my idol!” It’s a really unpleasant thought. But what can we do to stop that crap from ruining the minds of our kids? Stop watching it is the only solution, but that won’t ever happen, as many as my friends and readers of this article surely watch that crap as well. And that’s okay, because we can filter out the cesspools of human genes that wander the earth and try to sign up for shows like Paradise Hotel, as being stupid irresponsible media whores. But the kids can’t. Not in the same degree at least, and when they idolize the contestants, then it’s a problem, because you mimic your idols, it’s inevitable.

I do it too. Kris or Lady Gaga, can you tell?

#5: Passive aggression and other dumb crap on Facebook

The last entry for today is also my biggest gripe right now. I though it fitting to end on this, as Facebook’s pretty much your window to the social scene today. But some people overestimate its importance. I believe I have correctly identified its uses, as I use it to chat, post silly updates and arrange events. Remember that Facebook should only be a tool to enhance your social life, it should never substitute it. It will never replace a good phone call to a dear friend when something is troubling you. Never, unless it implements video chat. Maybe it already has, I am really not that tech savvy. When I see a status, where someone has written a vague line, that only serves to feed their need for attention, I just shake my head and wonder if they do not have any friends they can talk to instead. You’ve all seen examples of this: “Good to know who my friends are……” or “Wow did not see that backstab coming” (this might refer to a video game, I can never tell). All I think is why? Why don’t you pick up your phone or start a chat with a friend and type these words: “I am sad, will you comfort me?”


Comfort and help is a free commodity that your best friends provide for you. Don’t make them come to you and hold your hand and force you to ask for their help, because then it’s insincere and you just look a jackass for not respecting your friends enough to ask them directly. Another example is when you aren’t subtle at all and flat out (often in caps lock) type some very angry sentences, that often contain way too personal stuff for your PUBLIC wall to see. “I HATE THAT BITCH, SHE CAN BURN IN HELL FOR SCREWING ANOTHER GUY!” or “X YOU ARE A TRAITOR AND WE ARE NO LONGER FRIENDS”.  Like the previous examples, these are issues for your inner circle. If you feel like you have no friends to lean on to discuss these things, then that is a sad situation indeed. Pity is mandatory in that case. While these situations are annoying enough as they are now, they are often worsened by one little thing. If by some chance you decide to comment on that crap and you do not agree wholeheartedly with the status, then you are a monster. How dare you disagree with me, on my own wall, that is PUBLIC to all the people you acknowledge as your friends. An example is required. Let’s take the first example: “Good to know who your friends are…….” Dumb as you are, you summon up enough empathy to ask this idiot what is wrong. The worst reply in that case is the infuriating “it’s not for everyone to know”. THEN DO NOT POST IT ON YOUR PUBLIC WALL ON A SOCIAL SITE WHERE MANY HUNDREDS HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION. 

God, I really hate that crap.

Me too Kris. Me too...

My favorite things to do when I am bored.

A clever man is never bored. A witty guy once said this, probably with the sole intention of pissing his bored friend off. Unless you have an unfathomable exciting life, chances are that you will get bored. Boredom is a healthy thing in my mind, as it combats stress, and stress is the modern day equivalent of the black plague. That being said, I generally think boredom is something that is easily alleviated with some “guilty pleasures” which I know you all have. Be it romance novels, auctioning, online shopping or a computer game, the result is the same. You may tell yourself, that the only reason you’re searching the web for a video of a wild animal pooping into a jeep, is because you are bored, but are you really bored then? Can you actually be bored when watching animals pooping?

                                                            

                                            The answer is no.

If you are still confused and scared, then let me put you at ease. What follows here are my personal choices, when it comes to fighting boredom. These will share some similarities, in that most of them are done from your computer or home, but that’s just how I operate I guess. These things might seem foreign and perverse to you, but always keep in mind, that this is my list. Not yours.

#1: Switch off brain and look at 9GAG.

www.9gag.com is a great source of random stuff. Just don’t go there and expect to be enlightened or educated, as most stuff on there deliberately makes you dumber, once picture at a time. To the uninformed, 9gag is a collection of user-generated content, which for the most part is crap. Your mind can only take a limited amount of abuse, but luckily for it (and you) there are some rare gems among the filth. The pieces I really love are the ones that explore science, our planet and human nature. This site is definitely not for everyone, and if you get into it, I would not recommend mimicking the many memes that are on the site, as that is just a sad sad thing to do. I usually use this site if I have nothing going on and I don’t really feel like doing one of the other things on the list. Such as…

#2: Watch tons of retro videos produced by the world’s most awesome nerd

I worship James Rolfe. For me, he is the definition of a nerd, enthusiast and critic. He does a lot of silly stuff on his website www.cinemassacre.com, but it’s his passion and his drive that really keeps me coming back for more. The site is a collection of videos, which James Rolfe makes on his own, as he is a moviemaker, who also loves games. He is constantly doing new projects and he has regular segments on his site, which are both funny and informative. I grew up with the same games and movies as he did, so many of his reviews and small movies are really nostalgic to me, but it’s in no way a requirement to enjoy the site. If you are into gaming and movies (the medium, not just watching them once in a while) then this site is probably the best there is, for experiencing the pure joy of our fantastic hobby.

                                                  Do you agree?

#3: Read silly, informative articles on the internet.

This one is a given. With nothing to base this on at all, I dare say, that most idle time spent on the internet is used to read articles of interest. And it’s no mystery why! You can find some truly great stuff if you know where to go. I can spend most of my day reading articles from sites such as www.cracked.com or www.spike.com. Both sites are written in a funny way, which at the same time answers some political and scientific questions in the process. Especially Cracked does this, and it’s my favorite of the two. The articles are quite universal and Cracked has a large selection of original video content as well. They just seem to appeal to both my humor and my taste. I’m not going to list all of my favorite articles, as they are too numerous to count. All I can say is that if you find yourself with a million hours to spend, then give them a try. Just be careful, it’s addictive.  Speaking of addictions…

#4: Indulge yourself in your hobbies.

You pick up several hobbies during the course of your life, and the worthwhile ones stick around. When I get bored, then I know I can always boot up a game or paint some miniatures. And as of now, write on my blog! Hurray! I pity people who don’t have a hobby of some sort, as in my mind, it is one of the most calming experiences you can have. My two greatest hobbies are gaming and modeling and painting plastic figures. Now, you might think that these hobbies are a bit nerdy in their nature, and you would be absolutely right. Although gaming is pretty much a mainstream thing now, there is still some prejudice towards the people who enjoy it frequently. The other hobby, the plastic figures is something I will cover in a future article, as they are my great passion and they deserve an entry of their own. Gaming is a hobby for many men and it’s not about killing stuff or doing morally bankrupt things. Gaming is therapy. Gaming is relief. Gaming is fun. I am not going to get into that now, but suffice to say, a man who plays games AND paints figures in his spare time, he damn better be a real Casanova with the ladies.

                                    If by Casanova you meant serial rapist.

#5: Daydream

The final entry is also the most abstract one by far. I daydream a lot. It’s a way for my brain to vent all the crap I experience from day to day. Some of it gets stuck in my brains filter, and to exorcise it, I often need to build some fantasy or situation where I am in control, and I am the director. So when I get some quiet time, it often appears as if I am doing something else, but my mind is not there. This often happens when I am bored, or have a disinterest in what I am currently doing. It has often happened when I am having a conversation with a boring person, or somehow the person managed to pick the most uninteresting subject ever. If you’re ever talking to me and my responses turn into “mmhmm” and light nodding, then I guarantee you, I am already gone. I realize that many of the people who will read this are my friends (please) and they may get a little offended. Some of you are probably scouring your memory for instances where I’ve gone “mmhm” and nodded. Should you find such an occurrence, then I assure you, it’s nothing personal, it’s just in that instant, for me, my mind was the better choice. And there you have it! A little bit of insight to my private life. The boring parts atleast. Perhaps you were bored when you decided to read my blog? In that case, you’re welcome.

See you around

Kris

Welcome

It begins.

I recently decided, that I wanted to start a blog. The problem was finding a theme or topic, as I do not play an instrument or paint great works of art. It took me some time to realise, that I should write about what I do best. Idle talks and the guilty pleasures of life. I consider myself a bit of a slacker, which basically means i'm really skilled at being lazy and managing life at the same time. I will go into these things at a later time, but for now it is enough to know that I have somewhere to vent and go on long rants if needed. The nature of the blog means, that i could end up writing all this for myself, but the loss is not that great, as I happen to be one of my greatest admirers. But first a little about myself.

My name is Kris Sørensen. It is a danish name, which is handy, as I am danish. I choose to write in english, as I think the language sounds better than my own, and of course to reach a wider audience. Please note, that there may be minor grammatical and spelling errors here and there, but I try my hardest to keep it as awesome as possible. My spelling I mean. I live in a small town in Denmark called Haderslev. I think we are around twenty thousand people in the city, so stuff does happen here, but alas, we do not experience flash mobs or car chases. I attend the local university, where I am studying to become a teacher. It's a great school and I really like attending it, when I can be bothered (I'm lazy, did you forget?). I will be done in a couple of years, and then I will start molding the next batch of ungrateful bastards, who seem to be everywhere nowadays. I am the proud owner of seven siblings and roughly four parents, so things happen around me, but more of that in a future post.

This was just a small introduction to my blog and my person. i hope to update the blog atleast once a week from now on, so check in once in a while and I will try and entertain you with my thoughts about trivial as well as grand things. 

My best wishes

Kris