The Objective Collective

Your source for slant;

Early October, I was laying in bed trying to ignore my alarm clock. I was too tired to walk over and push the snooze button, so I continued to sleepily listen to Chom, Montreal's classic rock station.
This was when I first heard about Mcgill being named one of the top party schools in North America by Playboy.
Then I heard that Playboy was coming to Mcgill to recruit girls for the magazine.
This set me off.
I tried to get something together to stop them from coming to campus, but before anything could be done ..Playboy decided to hold auditions off campus.
In a hotel room.

How did they recruit girls? Went to all the Mcgill-filled bars on the busiest nights and approached several drunk girls. They had recruiters on facebook.

And now the issue is out, and there are three pictures of Mcgill girls. I haven't had the chance to see the pictures yet, but I'm not very pleased regardless.


I really don't care if people call me a "fucking crazy feminist" for saying what I say, because if that's what speaking against gender oppression makes me, then I'll gladly take the title. Give me a jester as well, please.


In the West, it has taken women decades to get the education rights that we have today. Although we are formally equal in education (by law), it's still hard for many women to be taken seriously in academia. Not by men, but by everyone. People complain that there are not enough women politicians, lawyers, etc in the public and professional realm and blame it on the notion that these sorts of things just doesn't interest females. How will it interest them when they're conditioned to think otherwise? In our society, such a strong emphasis is put upon vanity for women.
I'm a part of a support group made up of entirely random girls from all walks of life. We had never met before, nor were any of us friends before hand. But we decided to embark on this idea of having a "support group" ..to talk about everyday life. It shocked me how much of our conversation, well over 85% revolved around our body and image.

And then I thought about conversations with my close friends. Many conversations revolve around being attractive, wanting to be attractive, losing weight, oh no I've gained weight, breast size, hair removal, hair bleaching, make-up, etc.

And why do we bother ourselves with this? Why do we wax every area of the body? Why do we pluck each hair? Pay hundreds of dollars for makeup, clothing? Diet?

To appear attractive.

This is not to say many women don't diet to get healthy. However for the most part, women do all of this to be attractive. I find it really hard to deny or refute this. Maybe as a woman I can say I don't make myself to look attractive for the sake of men, which is perfectly fine and true--but that doesn't mean I'm not trying to make myself look attractive. I'm trying to appeal to eyes--regardless of gender.


What Playboy has done has really set women back. I know it sounds like a HUGE statement, but take it in a small dose. What this issue signifies is that even in academia and university, where academia reigns, the areas of knowledge and intellectual autonomy and growth ..a woman is no longer safe from the bounds of objectification. How seriously will these young women who've now posed in this magazine, be taken at the workplace? How many times has the "past" comeback to haunt us? How many people, because of their pasts, have faced ridicule and sometimes even termination at the workplace? A good example would be from the show Grey's Anatomy. A young, very attractive RN comes to work at the hospital. The men around the place find out that she had taken some vulnerable pictures during her college years--to help pay for college. She was not nude in the pictures, just wearing lingerie. She was sexually harrassed over and over again by her fellow workers. What respect did she have left? What's worse is that this example isn't even that far from fact. Once sexualized, a woman (and in some cases a man) loses a large part of who she is.

The following is a quote from one of the young women who posed in this month's playboy.
If my “scandalous” streak wasn’t a good enough representation of a signature Albertan spirit, let me invoke a more “politically-conservative” comparison: As I am indeed politically interested, may I point to the footsteps that mark my political path. Correct me if I’m wrong but our country’s most historically significant female political leader was in fact a Tory, an interim PM and no stranger to posing in her birthday suit (albeit tastefully shielded). “Shamelessly” Yours, Phylis.

From this site.



And, where is Kim Campbell today?




So, what progress have we made?
Gender equalization progress does not lie within equal pay or in quantities. If we want gender equality, it lies within the social reconstruction of our positions and perceptions of the opposite sex.

Sure a woman's body is beautiful, I'm not going to say it's not. And hey, a man's body is pretty solid as well ..except for that little area to which the treasure trail leads.

But I can't help but think we've got our priorities mixed up. We give more attention to the physical, than the intellectual and emotional. The latter two, which are related to the most integral part of us ..our minds ..are heavily distorted when we put too much emphasis on the former ..or even too little (HYGIENE IS IMPORTANT PEOPLE).
We need a healthy balance of all, and we certainly don't have a healthy, balanced emphasis on all three in our society.
And if we do, it varies between the genders.
Physical attributes are given more emphasis for females, for instance.
I'm not at all denying that men don't have physical pressures, but in comparison ..women definitely have more.

While I say that women have it far harder than men--it's not to undermine what men have to go through. For men, there's a social ideal that they must live up to. Which is freaking hard. this turns into psycological hardships as well.

For women, we face social, economic, emotional, psycological, physical hardships and pressures on a daily basis.


You dont need to read Adrienne Rich or Andrea Dworkin to know this.




Click here for more information regarding Mcgill and Playboy.

The Portage County Hazardous Materials Unit and Bomb Detection Unit were called in to downtown Ravenna on Friday morning after seventeen suspicious packages -- boxes wrapped in gold wrapping paper with question marks spray painted on them -- had alarmed residents.
Boxes were found at the Immaculate Conception Church on West Main Street, the Portage County Courthouse, Deluxe Pastries, the corner of Cherry Way and Main Street, Reed Memorial Library, Ravenna High School and a residence at Sanford and Main streets.

Five girls -- age 16 and 17 -- claimed responsibility for making and placing the packages. The girls said they found an Internet site that included step-by-step instructions for creating replicas of blocks featured in the game.

PS They are homemade Super Mario power-up bricks... so much for public displays of affection.

Take Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, Hitler and Nazism in WW2, the Iraqi war, The Bush Administration in general, Guy Fawkes, Zorro, and the Matrix movies, take out all the CORE, PROFOUND meanings, scenes, ideas etc from all of them, add a gorgeous bald Jew, and ..you get V for Vendetta.

I'm not bashing at all, just giving you the chemical make up of the movie. Many people say the movie is anagolous to the Bush Administration, but I'm really going to differ here. The story has largely taken ideas from Nineteen Eighty-Four, and added different contemporary historical concepts to it so we can relate things in the movie to different memories we have from the History Channel or CNN.

If it has ANY relation to the Bush administration, I think it's in terms of potential. How if what the Bush administration is doing now escalates further ..the world which exists in V for Vendetta is only inevitable. Which I wouldn't really doubt.

I thoroughly enjoyed the monologues throughout the film, a drama kid's dream. I'm not going to lie when I say I fell madly in love with Hugo Weaving's voice, the actor who plays V. However, I'm glad the Mask remains on the entire time. It became rather attractive after 15 minutes into the movie. Something about a masked man always gets my crank turning. Mystery is sexy, fellows.

Unless its your sexuality, then no.

The parallels with Nazism were groan-inducing at times. For instance, the Leader's position is "Chancellor". He is voted into power. When he gives speeches, he speaks with the utmost passion with those flailing arms ...while the military marches in front of him.

And when you watch the movie, you'll understand what I meant by including the Matrix in the mix.

What's funny is that after the film, the group I was with and I, started discussing the significance of Guy Fawkes day.

"So ..why do they celebrate that day? It was a failure."
"They love Guy Fawkes!"
"No they don't, douche"
"Look, guys, they celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes to weaken, let alone destroy, the English Government. GOOD GOVERNMENT PREVAILED, BOLLOCKS!"
"But they have fun, don't they? They have bonfires!"
"Yeah, and burn ephigies of the man while yelling obscenities"
"They're British ..what else will they celebrate?"

etc.

It was actually quite stimulating.

Visually, the movie is aesthetically delightful. Some very emphatic, amazing scenes.
There are several extremely memorable scenes as there are lines. The one which had be chuckling went something like .."He was in all the wars, Iraq, Kurdistan, Syria ..before and after". Another scene involved Detective Finch posing perhaps one of the most important questions to those living under a State (ie. everyone), which is that if you knew that the people in your government were the ones behind it all (lies, terrorism etc) ...would you want to believe it?
For me, that was one of the most memorable and climatic scenes in the movie. Because it's exactly what we all should be asking ourselves as citizens of nations. Do we want to believe that our own governments would kill us? Do we want to believe that our government would lie to us? Not want the better for us?


Within the movie there is also a very interesting romance brewing, which adds a human face to an idea so crude, real and passionate. It's the sort of romance based on a mutual understanding deeper than what words could ever convey, as cliche and corny as it sounds. They don't speak of it, they just live it. Through their love for one another they are able to stay committed to an idea beyond their own understanding, really. And if you're like me and like to look deeply into things, then what it seemed to say is that love is always the prevailing idea, concept, feeling. It's love which drives, in any context. I found this to be both too redundant but far too true.

Furthermore, does the movie promote terrorism as the critics and media say it does? No, not at all. What the movie advocates is the idea, as said in the movie, that people should not be afraid of their governments, governments should be afraid of their people. Power is within the people, not within the Government. We gave them power, we gave them the authority to do what is needed to satisfy OUR needs. Without us, they are useless. The movie asks the audience to have a look at the State. Is the State really working to meet and secure your needs? Or is it working to secure its power? V for Vendetta asks for a revolution through realization.

It's really a great movie for those who are usually apathetic towards politics. It's a movie which can make one question one's surroundings. No doubt there. It arises several questions regarding political authority, however I wonder if it does it enough. Something was just missing. And I think that that which is missing can be found in the graphic novel. The movie has forced me to go out and get the novel. I hope that when people watch this movie, they also read the book. It's only then can the real meaning of the story come out.
It seemed to be that there was a lot that needed to be said, but no one wants to sit in a theater for 6 hours straight. However, all those things can be found within the book. So, if you're reading this and plan on watching the movie, I implore you to also read the novel. If you truly want something out of the film, read the book as well.

I'd suggest the book before the movie, just because you go in understanding the movie already, what drives the story, the people, V, Evie, etc.

If you're going to watch any movie this year, THIS is the movie you should watch. Although the ideas are not new, they just can't be pressed into our minds enough. If these ideas had been embedded into our minds already, then the state of the world surely would not be as it is today.

It's worth the $10.75 at the IMAX on St. Catherines.

There's an incredible amount of music out there and we've barely even scratched the surface of it. So, here are some of the best musicians/bands/songs etc that no one seems to be listening to. Or at least not enough.

The Flaming Lips - One of the most ingenuitive, original and fun bands of the past 20 years. I don't understand why this band is so underrated. Seriously. And don't say "oh yeah, 'She don't use jelly' is a great song". We've all seen that Pop-up video episode. For a taste of these guys, check out the following songs: Do you realize, When you smile, Mrs. Robinson, Yoshimo Battles the Pink Robots pt. 1 ..and of course, pt. 2.

Clint Mansell - Requiem for a dream, the main theme. Yeah, enough said.

Colin James - Amaaaaaaaaazing blues artist. I absolutely adore this guy, with his incredibly smooth deep voice and great guitar riffs. Check out Far Away like a Radio ..seems to be a popular one at the moment.

Newton - These guys did the music to the Jimmy Fallon/Posey Parker Pepsi commercial. Song is called Streamline.

Chet Baker - The man is a Jazz legend. Plz listen to Imagination and Misty. Check out some of his stuff with Stan Getz as well.

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Dear god this man is amazing. Absolutely wonderful twist on the genre of blues. My obsession is the song Do you wanna get heavy? It's seriously good strip club music. You'll understand when you listen.

Jurassic 5 - COME ON PEOPLE. These guys are nothign short of lyrical and technical geniuses when it comes to hip hop. Quality Control is perhaps one of the best songs i've ever heard.

Liz Phair - HWC. You'll thank me later.

Afrikka Bambaata - Anything. Seriously.

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - This man is the originator of Black Betty. He's got that coffee and whiskey voice which you can't help but be attracted to. Check out Black Betty, Stagger Lee, Dead Man in my Bed, and Wonderful Life.


PJ Harvey - Ex-wife of Nick Cave and just what the feminist movement needs. Hahaha, kidding. Move over Patti Smyth! I've yet to hear a shitty song. Check out Rub it till it bleeds, The Life and Death of Mr. Badmouth, and Rid of Me.

The Quantic Soul Orchestra - Terrapin.

Apocalyptica - Band geeks gone metal with their cellos.


Yann Tiersen - Did the soundtracks to Amelie and Goodbye Lenin! Amazing composer.

Razorlight - Not sure how to place these guys ..but they're good during the right mood. I'd recommend Which way out and to the See.

Spearhead's Oh my God. ..the title explains it all.

Sufjan Stevens - ANYTHING BY THIS MAN. He's amazingly talented and delusional.

Zap Mama - Baba Hooker

Zero 7 - If you like Portishead, I think you'll like these guys. Waiting line is a great song.


Mike Oldfield - Because of his album Tubular Bells, I wake up to the Excorcist theme every morning. This guy is orgasmic.


Nick Drake - Before Jack Johnson, John Mayer ..there was Nick Drake. Pink Moon = Great album.

Theivery Corporation - They've got a lot of great stuff, but one of my faves is Lebanese Blonde from the Garden State soundtrack.

Frank Zappa - Seriously guys. This man was pure genius. My guitar wants to kill your mama.

Booker T and the MG's - Green Onions. As soon as you hear this song you'll kill yourself trying to remember where you first heard it.

Derek Trucks Band - Orgasm? Uh yeah. Check out anything by them.


Ben Folds Five - WHO REMEMBERS THEM? The Last Polka shoudl boad well with you all.

Sam Roberts - My love is freeing. I love it. Such an old school feel.




All for now.

Now, I'm not the one to be all "ra ra siss ABERCROMBIE AND FITCH boom bah", but for once ..I am.

And for one company which I hate.


Pepsi.

I hope to the dear,sweet lord above you've seen the recent Pepsi commercial with Jimmy Fallon and Posey Parker.

It's pretty much the greatest commercial in a long time. SMART MOVE PEPSI. YOU HIT ALL THE SPOTS WITH THIS ONE.
Hilarious, cute comedian. A pretty and well dressed actress. A nice city during the spring. Crazy, sporatic dancing. Yellow Taxi cabs. Catchy, move-inducing music.


you hit the marketing mark.


I've already made plans to re-enact this out once I'm back in Van.

Watch on repeat plz.

Here’s a post some of the regulars may be interested in commenting on over at my main blog, anomieandme, which for some time lately hasn’t been posted on. The point is to mostly get the news out that I’m posting again. It’s about existentialism, and there’s a great link to a post on another blog about a nihilistic cat.