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Our Image and Likeness

by Audrey Lacuna

(Thanks, Merriam Webster!)

As you can see, there are many machines that can technically be given the name of robot – maybe you can think of a thing you own that fits descriptions 2 or 3.

But let’s be honest. When we think of robots, we don't really think about abstract-shaped claw-like mechanisms; the definition of robots in the popular consciousness is somewhere closer to the first definition, that is, the humanoid figure - the machine seemingly human, but somehow different...often even better.

After all, robots in fiction are typically extremely intelligent, often possessed of amazing physical capabilities, and often really make for memorable side characters.

But somehow, media doesn’t treat robots as cool in and of themselves; they are merely poor simulacra - mere inferior copies - of, well, us.

One common treatment of robots is as of help. Often, robots serve as soldiers (Transformers, Terminator) or, if you want to go all the way with science fiction, as support staff on spaceships (look up^) We acknowledge the obvious advantages of these machines, and exploit them - having them use their skills for our benefit.

Another common treatment of robots is as of tyrants. Movies like The Matrix, I, Robot, Terminator, and others feature the very common plot of "robots take over the world" (aka AI isn’t really a good idea guys), and in all of these, robot rule is horrible and humans are actively resisting it. These portray the advantages of being a robot as, well, bad. Sure they’re cool, but really, humans are the, well, bigger people in this scenario, morally speaking: we don’t use our natural intelligence to enslave other beings, and that makes us better.

Finally, another common portrayal of robots is of the robot journey to becoming more human. It's not a robot-specific character arc per se; any non-entirely human protagonist-even human protagonists with a messed-up past- can undergo this arc. This character arc entails the slow explanation to them by their human companions - ahem, their teammates - what friendship and love are. Expect a "I'm not programmed to have feelings" at some point - until, of course, they admit they do. Conversely, many already sympathetic robots are also portrayed as acting human-like already. Take for example Wall-E, who, although not quite humanoid in form, spends his free time being a hoarder obsessed with old movies (he sounds like my dad).

In conclusion, robots in fiction are maybe intellectually, perhaps physically, often just in coolness better than us. But where it counts, we say, in the most important ways - in our values and our culture, Homo sapiens is superior. Robots are but poor copies of us.

Well, as a human person myself, I won't be the first to contradict that. But what if - what if someday, (and we're getting there) robots do overtake the world? What if they come to the same realization that I did, that humanity tends to portray them as somehow subservient to us, and decide, besides trying to exterminate our disrespectful selves (note if any robots are reading this - I respect you, please don't kill me) that they have to launch a similar counter-attack, and release media that shows Homo sapiens as inferior to the robot?

Imagine that perhaps similar to the push for the increased portrayal of "strong female leads" robots begin to demand portrayals of robots as powerful protagonists. Imagine a robot ship captain with an endearingly clumsy and slow-witted human crewmember. Imagine an adventure film portraying evil humans who take over the world and insist on creating an entirely "green world", one that is quite hostile to a robot that needs to charge themself. Imagine a band of robots working with a human who is slowly learning to be more robotic, abandoning their weird quirks for the sake of increased efficiency...

Land of the Free, Home of the Brave

By Isabelle Atencia

Welcome everyone, to the United States of America: the land of the free, home of the brave—and birthplace of the one and only American Dream. We’ve all heard of the famed ideal, where people bask in materialism, wealth, and a life of ease and luxury. But exactly where did this come from?

#ATENCIA

Social Media Standards?

Hey there! It’s Ninna. I’m honestly not quite sure of how to go about this blog post, so I’m just going to impulsively write about whatever appeals to me as of the moment. “Simulacra” – to briefly explain the concept of Jean Baudrillard, I will relate it to my fascination with the word: façade.

The concept of the word “façade” fascinates me, because I am amazed with how people are able to portray a certain image of themselves to mask another part of them – which they may not exactly be proud of. Think of the stereotypical bully: they hide their fears and insecurities of being weak by acting tough and aggressive towards people they consider to be weaker than them.

Now, how can I relate this concept to social media? Have you ever come across a very personal Facebook post that made you cringe and question why they posted it? Did it ever occur to you that if you had encountered that same post on any other social media site, you might have reacted differently?

Why do we consider it more tolerable or acceptable when people tweet about their lives or frustrations on Twitter, but stigmatize similar posts on Facebook? Is it because of the 140-word limit that prevents us from getting into detail? Or are you guilty of having innate standards on what to post on specific social media platforms?

I won’t deny that I am guilty of this. By now, it should already be common knowledge that everything we see, hear, or read isn’t always completely true. Different social media platforms allow us to share parts of our lives with other people, but what people often overlook is that what we post is not our entire lives – but only bits and pieces of it.

Personally, I make use of snapchat to share how enjoyable or amusing my life is. In my snap story, I try to limit myself to sharing only the happy or funny moments of my day. I want the people who view my story to think of me as a bright and cheerful person. In addition to that, I also aspire to brighten their day with whatever I post. In contrast to that, it is only on Twitter where I allow myself to openly express how broken I feel inside. I limit my tweets to personal thoughts which I consider relevant, and worthy of being shared. I avoid tweeting “how I feel”, but rather, express ideas which I think others may be able to relate to. My tweets are a reflection of my thoughts and how I view the world; but in regard to how I feel, or what I may be going through, that’s up to you to consider.

Facebook and Instagram are usually platforms for (if not sharing, then) long posts/statuses – which express gratitude, important announcements, or milestones. Facebook is usually seen as the general platform – where you’re connected to acquaintances, from relatives to people you’ve only met once. So this is considerably the best platform to advertise or “fish” for likes. Instagram may be considered as more personal or “private” – because you can manage who follows you, without having to follow them (or view their posts) back. Facebook is more of a family or “professional” setting, while Instagram caters more to “friends” than relatives. Which is why it’s amusing to note of the millennials that post certain photos on Instagram and not Facebook – or make use of Facebook as a “photo-dump”, while carefully choosing photos to add to their Instagram feed. #feedgoals

Without a doubt, we have our reasons for posting what we post, and where we post them – but it’s important to note that what people post is merely glimpse through a keyhole. What they post does not completely define who they are as a person; people post ONLY what their willing to post – there’s always something people keep hidden or “unseen” by the naked eye. It is up to us to be conscious of how we interpret other people’s posts, and how we allow this to affect the way we view them. Be careful not to mistake this portrayed image of themselves, as everything they are as a person.

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For additional information on Baudrillard’s concept of Simulacra and Simulation, you may visit the following site. If this post intrigues you, you may find me on Twitter with the handle: @karayagan

This is Ninna Azurin, signing off!

#simulacra #façade #stereotypes #socialmedia #DontJudge #SocialMediaStandards #Dramaturgy #snapchat #twitter #instagram #facebook #keyhole

so. Sylvanian Families. wow. frick. what a throwback. By: Yeda Porcalla

#porcalla #yeda porcalla

Romanticizing The Stars

By: Danny Valenzona

What if I told you, Ryan Gosling is a sociopath who is incapable of grasping basic social cues? Would you believe me? What if I told you, that your favorite K-pop idol was secretly a nymphomaniac who is unable to restrain himself amidst a group of women? Would you believe me? But the real question here rather is, do you believe them?

Wouldn’t you? I mean celebrities, after all, are the closest living specimens to perfection. What flaw, mistake, and blunder could they possible make that is not at the mercy of mankind (and their twitter followers)?

Presuming Justin Bieber said the world was flat, how reliable of a source would he be? Most reading this post right now would scoff at this theoretical jest. But you’d be surprised that at least 1/10th of his whopping 92.1 million followers might actually consider this to be true. Now the main reason why I’m writing this, is not to deride these household names for whatever unintelligent or irrelevant thing they did in the past or may do in the future. Instead, I want to talk about the skewed relationship between fans and their favorite icons. Perhaps, some might think I am patronizing them but, with utmost respect, I will lay down my pride to raise some concerns about the possible perils entailing such boundless devotion.

One, setting boundaries. We all have heard the tall tales about overzealous fans claiming ownership of their favorite Hollywood stars. Some even go to such great lengths, to invade their privacy by following their cars, breaking into their homes, and hacking into their private accounts. But, what makes them so special that people would feel so compelled to commit such disreputable actions? And more importantly, are their actions justifiable? Although the answer is quite clear, people have easily dismissed this issue time and time again. But why? Is it because we have accepted this as their reality? That, perhaps, this is simply the price of fame? If so, fame essentially is public slavery. And that makes the world its penitentiary. What kind of apology do they owe for falling in love, speaking their mind, and perpetrating the foolish things that an average man would do if they were constantly at the beck and call of another? Celebrities are a spectacle, less human and closer to objects. We constantly chastised those who make sexist remarks, who objectify women but isn’t celebrity ownership essentially the same thing?

We want to see what we want to see. Hear what we want to hear.

And sometimes, celebrities flee from such obligations to fulfill their own rights. So, are we going to continue making this reality, a work of fiction than the bona fide stigma that it is?

Two, displacement of influence. If Kylie Jenner decided to get a skullet and wear a full-body latex suit in some Gaultier fin-heels, it’s not surprising how much of an impact she would make, just by simply doing something as peripheral as that. Perhaps, these are the reasons people continue to scorn the 19 year old socialite. But again, is it her fault for being as famous and influential as she is, when we, ourselves, put her in that position? If things like that are so irrelevant to us, then how was she able to garner a massive amount of attention without us, in some way, contributing to her popularity? Indirectly, we are consenting her as an influential figure. So, you can’t blame the girl for taking advantage of this types of circumstances. This goes for the rest of the celebrity population.

We are the match that continues to light them up.

And it will continue to be this way, if we rely heavily on these stars to determine what is indispensable and conscientious.

As a subtle reminder, here is a GIF of Justin Bieber fans who were asked if it was okay if Justin’s new Ferrari had tires made out of baby seals.

Source: http://imgur.com/gallery/xa8rX

Three, feigned connections. Maybe once or twice (or thrice) in your lifetime, you have experienced the heartbreak of finding out your celebrity crush has been romantically linked with a co-star (or, particularly anyone who happens not to be you.) It’s natural to feel disappointed however, there are some zealots out there, like mentioned, who claim these stars as their own property. And as you can all predict, in no way will they condone such viable “threats”. Although celebrities, nonetheless, have continued fueling these sorts of fan service, there should be a distinction between intimate and ostensible relationships. If one cannot identify between those variables, that’s when things start to be a bit concerning. Since society yield these responsibilities to celebrities, innately, they feel obliged to cater to our demands. And, sometimes, to fulfill such demands, they must conceal some truths from public view. Yes, it is deception. But I suppose, you can say it is a necessary evil. But the directive is, the end justifies the means. The end goal being, as artificial as it sounds, is simply to make fans happy even if it meant to discarding their true selves. We are so quick to believe these stars that we end up throwing away fortunes to support them. And at the end of the day, the truth is, we have no inkling of who they actually are.

But that’s the point, we don’t want to; at least, a part of ourselves don’t.

We romanticize these strangers because in some way, they fulfill some sort of satisfaction that reality can never conceivably conjure. They brighten the dull realities of this world through lies. And, some go to such extent to give up their lives in service to these idols, in order to maintain whatever fantasy they might have, alive.

They can be perverts, fascists, sadists and cold-blooded murderers. But there’s so much evil in the world, so why can’t we believe, in the benefit of the doubt, that in some twisted reality, they don’t exist at all?

Because in no way is Ryan Gosling, a sociopath.

If he is, I can live with it.

It’s a copy of a copy of a copy

By: Ann Josue

“The things you own end up owning you.” -Tyler Durden

You scroll through this post and think—wait. What does Tyler Durden, a fictional character from the acclaimed Drama film Fight Club, have anything to do with this?

Fight club, you say? I am aware I broke the rule.

source: ripndipcl

The 1996 film by David Fincher introduces a series of evidences from Baudrillard’s Module on Simulacra and simulation—where representations around us seem to slowly become our idea of what is real when in fact, such representations are of the opposite. The word speaks for itself. We find at the beginning of the said movie, the protagonist-also-narrator (Edward Norton) who is at first unnamed, sifting his way through the life he finds so much as equally dull as he is unhappy. Possibly part of his lack of enthusiasm is reasoned with the diagnosis that he suffers from a case of insomnia. I’m not a psychiatrist, nor am I an expert at the brain’s entire prefrontal cortex, but I do know that a side effect of a prolonged time of lack of sleep is a drastic chain of hallucinations.

source: lonelycigs

The narrator sees images of what is not really there, although he believes they are. If insomnia isn’t enough to prove the narrator’s struggle to focus on what is real vs. what is only artificial, then the next few sentences might be of further proof. Throughout the plot of the film, we witness the bond formed between the narrator and Tyler Durden (played by Brad Pitt), whom he meets at a flight on the way home. In time, the two build a friendship and form an underground fight club wherein men on men violence are promoted.

source: icons80s

source: thnkfilm

What comes as a shock to most viewers is that eep spoiler alert! Tyler Durden is actually the narrator himself. Slight indications of this have been seen earlier on in the film, where millisecond flashes of Tyler’s character are shown before he is actually introduced. Even on a train ride back with the both of them, only one ticket was seen paid for. The narrator loses touch of reality from the beginning of the film, as he only chooses to believe the superficiality of his life and turns oblivious towards the actual physical realm he is facing—the tug between the world around him and himself.

source: shesnake

Jean Baudrillard’s theory gives us a thorough explanation of reality versus the mere simulation of it. In a world wherein we find ourselves highly inclined towards external forces that supersede our actual possessions—values, materials, and beliefs—we grow ignorant to how it begins to take a toll on the way we live out our lives. For instance, one critical focus of the film masks consumer culture in our society. The narrator, who is known to us now as Tyler Durden, habitually splurges money to purchase Ikea products, perhaps to fill the emptiness inside of him. Ironically, his split personality played by Brad Pitt constructs Project Mayhem—formerly known as Fight Club—that uses aggression to defeat existing contemporary consumerist behaviour. We mask our realities because we choose not to face them.

If there is one thing you can learn from this post it is that the things around us aren’t what they always seem. What is real is not always what is true and quite possibly, what is true is not always what we bound to think is real. Weird, huh?

source: tyrantts

Well what’s life if not the least bit strange?

source: jack-twist

References: telegraph , cla, wikipedia

#josue

Breakout Manila

By: Kricket Kahulugan

After watching a thriller horror film, have you ever wondered how you would react if you were in the character’s shoes? Your likely (or unlikely) possibility of surviving? Although horror films are not my cup of tea, I’ve always been interested of what would I do. Would I live? Would I be able to escape? Would I be the last human standing? Would I be the first one to go?

(Picture taken from: http://www.breakout.com.ph/)

With the help of Breakout Manila, there is an opportunity to put yourself in these situations. There are rooms with different story prompts where you can choose, from escaping room 13 to escaping from an inspired walking dead room. Breakout Manila is an experience where everyone is free to take a part in, from age one to one hundred (Breakout Manila said so). No wonder that Breakout Manila has grown in popularity. Aside from this experience, It also encourages people to communicate and be a team player.

(Picture Taken: http://primer.com.ph/business/2015/05/06/breakout-philippines/)

Although Breakout Manila gives opportunity to experience these situations with (thankfully) no harm. It may desensitize people from what could happen. In real situations, there is no certainty of leaving the room after the forty five minute mark. In real situations, there are not always teammates to have support from. In real situations, you don’t immediately understand what’s happening to you.

Baudrillard’s Simulcra and Simulation is what we are seeing here. It is the inability to distinguish reality to what is fiction. In Breakout Manila, we have to keep in mind the reality. The reality is that breakout manila is a simulation. It may seem close to reality but it’s still controlled. It gives us the a possible idea of what could happen in this situation. It gives us the freedom to act in controlled elements. However, don’t let this stop you from enjoying Breakout Manila. Breakout Manila is still an experience that’s different and unique. It gives us the opportunity to learn more about ourselves. So, would you like to book a room and see if you could escape?

The (Questionably) Golden Age of Hollywood

By: Sofia Guanzon

Originally posted on Tumblr

Ah, hollywood. Haven’t we all been pulled into the glamour and romance of Hollywood at some point in our lives? I know I have. Particularly, I have always been a fan of films from an era that we’ve now come to know as the Golden Age of Hollywood. This period encompassed the 20s up to the 60s. The most notable films from this era have also become some of the most iconic films of all time such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Rebel Without A Cause, Casablanca, Some Like It Hot and more. Of course where would this age be without the stars of the time, stars we’ve come to venerate as icons of fashion, art and culture like Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe and Marlon Brando. The peak of this Golden Age were the 50s and 60s, modern cinema was evolving and Hollywood spearheaded the trends to which we owe our films today.

Photo from the Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection

For the sake of specifics, I will be focusing on popular films released in 50s and 60s. In retrospect one may may wonder: what is Hollywood’s secret? How did they produce such great films during a time of social, political and economic change, when entertainment would usually be the least of people’s priorities? The answer is the commonality of these films: the spectacular ignorance present in all of them.

Photo by UPI/Brettman/Corbis Newsphotos

In order to fully make sense of what I mean, let’s take a little history lesson! America has had a long history of racial divide between white and black people. The Civil Rights Movement motioning for equality started in 1954 and ended in 1968. The main goals of the movement were to end racial discrimination and segregation and to protect the rights of African-Americans. Before that, African-Americans were slaves and constantly mistreated by their white peers. The most mind-blowing thing probably is the historical parallels this momentous point in history had with cultural milestones in the film industry. While caucasians were flourishing in la la land, black people all over the country were fighting for their right to go to school and use the toilet. Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have A Dream speech was delivered in 1963, the same year the most expensive film ever to be made at that point - Cleopatra, with Elizabeth Taylor, one of the highest earning (white) actresses of the time starring as an (definitely not white) Egyptian queen was released.

Original photo by Margaret Bourke-White

People today love to reminisce on the “simpler times” when looking back on old films from this era. The romance of it all and dramatization of the 50s and 60s are mostly based on films preserved from this time. When the world watches these movies, they do not look beyond the entertainment being flashed before them. We only see the beauty of the actress, the dreaminess of the leading man and the love affair they get themselves into with catchy music to accompany it all. It is so easy to get sucked into the insipid void of shallow entertainment which we deem as escape, when in the long run it is almost historical revision. No one watches Audrey Hepburn singing Moon River in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and thinks: where are the black people? Every single film from this era starred white people. The only film that even tried to include them in the narrative was To Kill A Mockingbird and they were simply a plot device then, a problem for the white knight in shining armor to defend them and still be proclaimed hero of the story. Aside from the African-American voice being excluded, other historical events of the time are overshadowed by the glamour of these films such as the Cold War and Korean War. In these two events, America displays its military presence and solidifies itself as a superpower of the world with its fast economic growth and recovery from World War II. They gain profit from exploiting other countries and their citizen reap the rewards. Still, we overlook everything and still celebrate America for... their movies. Isn’t that astounding?

Originally posted by primogif

Nostalgia is a trend ironically amongst millennials, the grandchildren of the generation who actually lived it. Due to the photos, films and fashion of old hollywood glamour it comes as no surprise that people see this time as the “good old days”. The lack of social media also leads people today to believe that life was generally better back then. The impact the films of that time on the audience is an example of Baudrillard’s simulacrum. We are taught to believe that what is popular and celebrated is right. It is perceived that these famous representations of the 50s and 60s are the only significant sides of the story, that they are accurate representations of reality. The overwhelming impact it’s had on society and culture blurs the lines between what is true and what is simply fiction. Realizing all this now one must ponder, was the golden age of Hollywood really golden at all?

#guanzon

365

by Sydney Recio

Ever heard of a 365 account? Does it ring a bell? Well, if you haven’t heard of such, it’s an account usually made on Instagram that’s used to document your whole life for 1 whole year or 365 days.

Source thekardashiangifs.tumblr.com

Having a 365 account has been a trend for the past few years now especially to the youth. People make a 365 account for various reasons, to improve photography or editing skills or to see everyday differently, to take everyday day by day or to just document your life to be able to look back at it. How 365s usually work is you post one photo everyday and in the caption you talk about your day and what happened. Some people give up mid-way or even just a few days after because they get lazy or they just can’t keep up. While others are able to get through all 365 days and even decide to do it again for the next year!

Photo taken from instagram.com via hohohotwentyfifteen (Pilar Angliongto)

Following different 365s can become quite entertaining because you are able to hear about someone’s day without even having to ask and sometimes what’s put in their captions are just so good that you always look forward to their posts and can’t stop reading them. (Shoutout to Pilar Angliongto)

Photo taken from instagram.com via hohoho365 (Pilar Angliongto)

^ I love her writing!!!

365s are usually used to document a person's daily life and usually what you would see or read makes the person’s life seem quite exciting or eventful. But I guess what some don’t realize is that sometimes people choose to leave out the bad things that could come with their day. People always choose to focus on the good and that is what is usually done. It makes it seem like they have their lives together and that everything is going well for them. It is usually only the highlights that are pointed out. Social media has become our reality.

*DISCLAIMER: NOT ALL 365 ACCOUNTS ARE LIKE THIS!! It also depends on the person and how much they want to open up about their lives to their followers!!!

Well, that’s all for now friends!!!! ‘Til next time!

FEEL FREE TO FOLLOW MY 365 ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR 2017!! _sydney2017

The Sim(ulacra)s

by Ashley Valera

Photo by me

The Sims is a popular life simulation video game. In this game, the player can create her own version of herself, manipulate her appearance and characteristics, build houses and a career to her own liking, and basically create a whole new life with a click of a button. Over the past 17 years, there have been different versions of the video game released - The Sims Pets, The Sims Showtime, The Sims University Life, The Sims Supernatural, and many more other versions that cater to different interests and a wider market. It seems inevitable that people would want to play a game where they can reinvent themselves and have a whole other life besides the one they are given.

Photo by me

In all honesty, I am addicted to playing The Sims. I play it around three times, for more than an hour, each week (at least, before summer comes). It serves as an outlet for me to distract myself for a while and get away from all the things happening in my actual life. I am aware that I should be cautious about distractions and addictions because they could prevent me from living in the actual world and doing something in life. However, in the long run, the game allows me to envision the life I want to have in the future, and that motivates me to work hard right now and achieve my goals in order to have that life someday.

Photo by me

The idea of playing Sims sims seems to be really fun because the players get to escape the actual world of many rules and limitations, and become a part of a world that she is in control of, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. As an active player of the game itself, Sims has its limitations. It is not a game where there is freedom everywhere. There are still rules; there is still a bureaucracy. A Sim cannot become a Journalist without first being a newspaper distributor. A Sim can be the mayor of the city but she does not necessarily control what happens in the city. A Sim cannot choose to starve herself because the Sim will inevitably do anything to search for food when she is starving. A Sim cannot be homeless because it is a requirement to own a home to continue playing. The player can choose what and how to do certain things, but there are still limits and rules. In fact, The Sims “has an illusion of free will that is limited by the rules and the gameplay of the game” (Konstantinidis, G., n.d.). The players of the game are so hooked on the idea of being able to have the freedom to control who they are in a separate world through The Sims that they fail to realize that they are still, in fact, limited by the rules and processes of the game.

References:

Felluga, D. (n.d.). Modules on Baudrillard: On simulation. Retrieved from https://www.cla.purdue.edu/english/theory/postmodernism/modules/baudlldsimulTnmainframe.html

Ratcliff, C. (n.d.). The Sims 3 expansion packs list. Retrieved from http://www.carls-sims-3-guide.com/expansionpacks.php

Konstantinidis, G. (n.d.). The simulacrum according to Gilles Deleuze. Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu/4312621/The_Simulacrum_according_to_Gilles_Deleuze

Food Trip

by AJ San Buenaventura

The Yard at Xavierville ig: theyardatxavierville

Pioneer Street Market ig: eatswhatido

Who doesn’t love to eat? Because if you don’t :-----) You’re missing out on half of your life. Life’s too short to eat the same thing or eat what you’re used to eating. Your life is an adventure, so make it count! In this post, you’ll be able to find out the food markets you, your family and friends could go to!

The Yard at Xavierville ig: theyardatxavierville

Recently, food markets are known to people here in the Philippines. Bakit nga ba patok na patok ang mga ito? Because Filipinos love to eat a lot! May term pa ngang “POPOL” which stands for “Pig Out Pig Out Lang”. A food market is a place that consists of different types of food. Japanese, Korean, American, Filipino, even food that we never knew could taste good together. In places like this, you could see the amazing and new ideas people in the food business create. Food markets are heaven to those who love to food trip. It’s very convenient since it’s all in one area and you have a lot to choose from. It’s not like a usual restaurant that only offers Japanese food. In a food market, if you feel like having some bagoong rice, a burger, ice cream with cotton candy…go get it!

Salcedo Market ig: salcedomarket

Baudrillard’s Simulacra and Simulation is found in food markets. People eat in these places to get a taste of not just Filipino food but a taste of food from other countries, and this confuses people. For example, eating Korean food doesn’t mean that the food in Korea tastes the same. Food from different countries that are presented in the Philippines are basically models of what they have. We tend to think that we know their culture. But in reality, it is just a representation of the original.

Pioneer Street Market ig: eatswhatido

Although, it is not easy to travel around the world and explore what other nationalities eat. Kahit papaano, makakatikim ng mga kakaiba, bago at iba’t ibang pagkain sa food market…hindi na kailangang lumipad pa sa ibang bansa para kumain. Exploring food, especially eating with family and friends is something everyone enjoys! So what are you waiting for? Plan your food trips already, to add to the memories you have in life.

It’s Not What You Think It Is

By: Sandy Calimlim

Most of us, if not all of us, have seen films or TV shows that somehow influenced our lives. I mean with the prevalence of online streaming websites and applications like Netflix, it’s kind of a difficult thing to ignore am I right? Countless shows portray different genres. Personally I have a knack for TV shows like Suits, How To Get Away With Murder, White Collar, and House of Cards. And what do these shows have in common? They all depict the fun and exciting world of law and order. But is it really? I took the liberty to research on one of these shows to see if what they portray on TV is the actual thing that happens in real life.

Suits. A show about a guy named Mike Ross who fell under the wing of big-shot lawyer, Harvey Specter. But here’s the catch; Mike does not have a law degree. No worries though he’s got his photographic memory to keep him in check and Harvey seems to like that enough to take a risk on him. And spectacularly, Mike does not disappoint. The two become a power couple of sorts, taking on case after case like a stroll in the park. Though with a few bumps along the road, each setback almost always equates to a bigger comeback. As a viewer, I have to admit I was mesmerized. To be someone like Harvey, who had the wit, guts, and brains to serve justice (well, most of the time) and look good while doing it is a pretty great life to have. But in the midst of it all, what is true and what is not?

There are a number of things the show did get right. An example would be the perks Harvey enjoys; dining in expensive restaurants and living in a Manhattan penthouse apartment are things partners in big law firms may enjoy in real life. The hefty $160,000 per year starting salary for Mike Ross is also a reality that first year law associates indulge in when working in a big firm. It is no joke that being a lawyer is a high-paying job.

Another example would be the evident politics in the law firm. The battle for majority firm management ownership between Jessica Pearson and Daniel Hardman highlighted this factor that has turned into a trend among big law firms. Disagreements are inevitable and quite frankly to say that the field of law is highly competitive would still be an understatement.

Honestly, that’s about it. Aside from partially showing the stress and pressure a lawyer actually goes through, Suits doesn’t exactly grasp the reality of the world of law and order.

So what are the unrealistic points that make the show so entertaining? ‘Cause no one wants to see a lawyer actually grovelling to close a case; dark under eye circles and all.

Realistically speaking, lawyers, similar to doctors, specialize in various fields; Mergers and acquisitions, patents, commercial litigation, labor law, criminal defense and many more legal fields. Lawyers in the real world don’t get to practice all of these at once! Harvey and Mike make it look effortless to be the best in every single field of law. News flash people! It is not like that. Real life lawyers only specialize in one field, they also don’t fly solo while dealing with cases. Notice how Harvey almost never consults with others when practicing? As well as how he is always assigned with the biggest cases the firm gets? Yeah in real firms, the work is divided among ALL the partners.

Also the fact that Mike never went to law school yet he is still able to practice is something that will never happen in real life. His work load as a first year law associate is also unfeasible. Most first year law associates literally stay glued in their desks researching for cases and negotiating through phone calls. No one gets that much responsibility right away.

The reality of practicing law is not always easy. It mostly consists of sleepless nights, full schedules, and endless hours in front of a desk. BUT, what viewers can learn from the show is that confidence goes a long way and faking it til you make it almost always gets you where you want to be.

But all inaccuracy aside, Suits is a great show. I enjoy it immensely especially with the ingenious dialogues between the characters. It gives you a glimpse of a career that thrives in a high-pressure environment. It may not show the dull side of law but that won’t make for good TV won’t it?

So, the next time you get inspired to do something, ask yourself; do I really want to do it or do I just think I do?

#CALIMLIM

it’s a small world

by: Patrice Somera

image sources: [1] and [2]

As a child, visiting Disneyland was (and sometimes still is) one of the things I look forward to the most whenever I travel with my family. There was always something so excitable about walking through the amusement park doors and sliding your ticket under the machine, being greeted by Donald Duck and Pluto, and catching a whiff of freshly made corndogs and cotton candy as soon as you step into the park. Disneyland was every child’s dream, compressed and compacted into a hundred acres of blissful fun.

Though it’s been a while since I’ve visited the “Happiest Place on Earth”, I can recount every time I dropped by for a day or two and noticed all the changes and updated features that the park had made. Being one of the most sought out travel destinations in certain countries, it was inevitable that Disneyland had to churn out new themed areas and attractions every year to keep up with the brand’s releases. There are now parks solely dedicated to Toy Story, Tomorrowland, Animal Kingdom, and currently in the making, Frozen.

Yet, if there was any attraction that has remained unchanging despite the decades that have passed, it would be one of Disneyland’s most classic rides: “It’s A Small World”, located by the borders of Fantasyland. The name itself is self-explanatory – it’s a small world. But, is it really?

#somera

Highlights

By: Patricia Narvasa

There are times when you are just scrolling through your feed in Instagram and you’re just like “damn, that girl/guy’s life must be so great.” Instagram like many other social networks give you a glimpse of a person’s life, a peek in what a person wants you to think her life is like and Instagram does that in just one photo.

source: louise.delage

Recently I read an article from The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/06/shell-drink-to-that-fake-instagram-louise-delage-profile-highlights-alcoholism) where in a group in France named BETIC decided to make an account for a fake socialite woman named Louise Delage. “Delage” would post pictures of herself around the world. On 2 months she gained over 50,000 followers, amused and amazed with the life she lived; her photos would get at least 1000 likes each and comments from some followers who are amazed with her ‘wonderful’ life. But what the followers didn’t know realize, all her photos featured an alcoholic beverage, to raise awareness on alcoholism. The people were so amused with how much she was traveling and how much and how luxurious that she was living, that they overlooked how in every picture she had a bottle or glass of alcohol with her, they didn’t realize that she was an alcoholic whose real life may be spiraling out of control.

source: essena.oneiil

Then there are those instagramers who would get addicted to getting likes on Instagram. They would do so much just to get that ‘perfect’ photo. From going on diets to get the ‘perfect’ body to putting too much make up to cover their ‘imperfections’ then they also take dozens of shots for one picture and of course you shouldn’t forget that they still edit their pictures. They do all of these just to get likes and hopefully to become ‘instagram famous.’ One girl who became ‘instagram famous’ shared how it is to be Instagram famous and how unhappy she became because she was doing everything to get likes (https://www.buzzfeed.com/stephaniemcneal/a-teen-instagram-star-is-editing-her-photo-captions-to-show?utm_term=.mt51BzbYn#.yvmrN6Mpm). 18 year old Essena O’Neill seemed like she had the perfect life based on her posts. She became famous when she was just 16 year old and soon was consumed with it and at some point in time she had over half a million followers. Her followers believed that she was happy and confident in real life as she looked in her photos, although in reality she felt horrible, lonely and insecure. Her insecurity was fed on how many likes she would get on her picture and she correlated it to how much she is liked. Instagram became her whole life, she posted beautiful and happy pictures to make people want to be like her, to get approval from compelte strangers. At some point she broke down and shared the real stories behind the pictures she posted. In one picture she said “Please like this photo, I put on makeup, curled my hair, tight dress, big uncomfortable jewellery… took over 50 shots until I got one I thought you might like, then I edited this selfie for ages on several apps – just so I could feel some social approval from you. THERE IS NOTHING REAL ABOUT THIS”

If you still don’t understand where I am going, the phenomenon going on in Instagram is called simulacra, where people cannot distinguish what is real life and what is a copy of it. These posts on instagram are just a imitate what people’s perspective of a perfect life. The pictures posted on Instagram are glimpses into the life of a person, glimpses that have been edited to show only the beauty of their lives. But there is more to their lives than just the picture they posted, there are still challenges and bad times that they go through. Instagram isn’t real life; it is only an edited glimpse.

#narvasa

No Middle Ground in the Middle East

By: Robyn Sason

source: dailymail

It takes only a few flips in the newspaper, some clicks online, or turning on the news channel to see that global terrorism has gotten worse. It’s now spreading beyond the borders of western countries, and spilling into neighboring nations. On France’s National Day, referred to as Bastille Day, a large truck deliberately plowed into a large celebration in Nice City, killing 84 people. Last March, three blasts shook Brussels, 34 people were killed and 300 injured by suicide bombers (Jenkins, 2016). According to UNHCR (2016), more than 5,000 refugees drowned in the Mediterranean in 2016. These are just three of the many manifestations of terrorism, but there are more, and they get worse each passing day.

source: newyorker

There are many warring insights as to the factors driving this trend. According to the former director of U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, “Terror attacks are spreading in part because the enemies of the Islamic State group are playing defense rather than offense.” Whereas, Europol, Europes’s central police group, noted that the rise in nationalist (xenophobic), racist and anti-Semitic sentiments was responsible for the increased acts of right-wing attacks. But despite the multi-faceted approach, there is no denying that the rise of terrorism is heavily influenced by middle eastern conflicts, and that major superpowers are polluting it with their own agendas. One instance is Turkey’s decision to make its fight with the Kurds a priority; because of this, they needed better relations with Russia thus being obligated to turn the other way when Aleppo was charged by Russian troops. Another, more brutal, example is Yemen. Every war is bloody, but Yemen’s is made worse by the fact that its oppressors are helped by vast amounts of weaponry sold by the US and Britain to Saudi and coalition allies (bbc.com, 2016). The fact of the matter is this: a previously local conflict has now turned into an international war because of other countries’ involvement, and everyday it continues, more and more casualties are endured by all parties.

source: the guardian

source: the global citizen

I picked this topic because it can apply to anyone, and at any time. If there’s anything we can gleam from the attacks, it’s that they are spontaneous, random, and aggressive. Furthermore, violence is an increasing problem that’s not only toeing the border but crossing it among nations. It will not take long before its knocking on our doors, and we are struck silent by the barrel of a gun pointed at our head. In fact, it’s already happening in other countries. Last August, a suicide bomber killed more than 70 people in the emergency ward of Quetta’s Civil Hospital. One month after, another suicide bomber killed at least 28 people and wounded dozens in a Pakistani tribal area (dunyanews.tv, 2016). Thousands of kids flee Nigeria every year and travel across the African continent to seek safety in Europe. According to UNHCR, more than 5,000 refugees have drowned last 2016 trying to cross the Mediterranean sea en route to Europe.

source: unite for refugees

It is a problem that desperately needs a solution. Unfortunately, the solution is a lot more complicated than the problem itself. As previously mentioned, this violence is driven by a deeply-rooted enmity against each other, fueled by hate and guided by discrimination. The first step to bridging differences is through clearing misunderstandings, but as easy as it sounds, it’s a lot harder to actually do.

Terrorism. ISIS. 9/11. Refugee crisis. All these are popular topics on social media, with videos, images, memes, and infographics supporting them. According to Jean Baudrillard’s simulacra and simulation, these serve more as a representation of something, than the actual object itself. But as is with most representations, they cannot account for all the dimensions of this situation. Therefore, people tend to be superficially aware of the issue at hand but uncomprehending of the actual gravity. They know that there is a war, but all they see are photographs of dead people, simulacra of the tragedy shown through digital representations. Death has become a statistic for them. What they fail to see is the individuality of every case. They don’t see that one dead man has a family mourning him, that 10 dead civilians can fill out an entire funeral home, that traveling even just a thousand miles on foot with no provisions is like a death march to hell.

source: american mirror

source: common dreams

In writing this post, I hope to target civilians. I chose this demographic because they have the heaviest influence on culture, and right now we have a toxic culture of violence and intolerance. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that. Which is why, we need to not only sympathize with our suffering brothers and sisters, but also understand. Understanding opens perspectives, and with new perspectives, we can demolish long-standing stereotypes to make way for a more accepting society where, hopefully, people can live in pluralism instead of fighting for consensus. So that, finally, we can end this horrible trend.

Reference:

Arnett, G. (2014, November). Religious extremism main cause of terrorism, according to report. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/

DiCristopher, T. (2016, June). Why terror attacks are increasing and how to stop them. Retrieved from http://www.cnbc.com/

Frilling, Y. (2017, January). 2016 was the deadliest year on record for suicide attacks, analysts say. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/

Harding, L. (2016, October). Nato and Russia playing dangerous game with military build-up. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/

Jenkins, N. (2016, December). A Timeline of Recent Terrorist Attacks in Europe. Retrieved from http://time.com/

Kreickenbaum, M. (2016, December). More than 5,000 refugees drowned in the Mediterranean in 2016 - World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved from https://www.wsws.org/

#Sason

The Bachelor/Bachelorette Franchise by Alexa Roxas

Hey Hey Hey,

it’s your gurl Alexa and I’m here to talk about the cons of finding love on “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” but before I start, I just wanna ask you guys this question.

CAN YOU REALLY FIND LOVE ON A REALITY TV SHOW?

I believe that it is impossible and wrong to find love on a reality tv show simply because :

1. The guy/girl have to go on different solo/group dates in order to know who they are compatible with and if they have some sort of strong connection between them.

2. The guy/girl (bachelor/bachelorette) has to give roses to the people that are still part of the show and to the people that have some sort of strong connection with them. (The guys/girls that didn’t receive a rose must pack their bags and leave the competition // so humiliating & heartbreaking naman, do they really want people to think that they’re easy and foolish?)

3. Some of the couples that fell in love on the show are either engaged and happy with kids or are no longer together simply because of their differences. (Not all bachelors/bachelorettes found love on the show)

4. They go on several casting calls to see if there are eligible women/men to date the chosen bachelor/bachelorette which makes the show very unrealistic and insincere (They would choose either 25 to 30 women/men to meet & date the bachelor/bachelorette)

5. Everything that they say and do are scripted and everything that these men/women go through is a process in order for the bachelor/bachelorette to find love

6. Drama and regrets are always part of the show

7. The feelings that these contestants get towards the bachelor/bachelorette may/may not be genuine because there are always things that go on off camera.

Since you guys know the cons of finding Love in a reality TV show, I am pleased to say that everyone in this world should find love in the right way which is dating one person at a time and keeping your love life lowkey simply because you’ll just get hurt at the end and people will judge you based on your actions if you find love on the bachelor/bachelorette. Finding love in the real is way better simply because that person that you find is loyal to you and he/she would do anything just to make you happy and feel loved.

*You can never find love on a reality tv show & always make the right decisions*

Xoxo

Alexa

What Makes You A Simulacra? (One Direction/Boybands)

By Missy Zavala (@MissyZavala3)

Boybands as defined by the ever so reliable Wikipedia (sense the sarcasm?), is a vocal group consisting of young male singers that are mostly marketed for younger female audiences. An example of that can be a group that I and a lot of other teens can identify with, the British/Irish boyband, One Direction. Though, still on hiatus are seen to still be trending on social media sites such as Facebook, twitter, Instagram, etc. From the start of the band at 2011 to the present times, we can see the importance of change, especially for popularity purposes. Their song, though still keeping with their trend of being directed to a female love interest, now begins to hold more mature (rated r if you prefer) meanings; Rock Me, Stolkholm Syndrome, and No Control being just a few example of some raunchy songs One Direction has recently produced.

(Originally posted on One Direction VEVO)

(hmm very spicy)

We can interpret Jean Baudrillard view on Simulacra, which blurs the distinction on what is real and what is a representation, when viewing One Direction as a whole. Throughout their 5 years as a group, their looks, songs, and actions have shifted and changed to fit their audience, the development of the band changing according to the fans needs and demands. It has been noted on how the fans and the media tend to dwell on the image that they try to portray on stage, with many parents protesting against the group because of how news articles showcase them in a bad light.

The boys themselves had started to change and blend in so well with the image, both their management and the media had painted for them that we had all forgotten of their normal an private lives, it can be seen in recent news of Louis Tomlinson getting arrested from protecting his girlfriend from fan harassment, the fans of which still believed their relationship to be a hoax due to the trending conspiracy of the two members, Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles to be in a secret relationship and quietly dating on the side. Talk about crazy amirte? (Who knows?)

With all these conspiracies coming out about the group, fans grow confused on what is real and what can be considered fake. With this conspiracy becoming so large, a tweet Louis Tomlinson had tweeted relating to it had become the second most retweeted tweet in Twitter, garnering 2.1 million retweets. WHAT IS EVEN HAPPENIN?

One Direction is a great example when talking about Simulacra due to the images they portray both on and off stage, which affects the beliefs and perspectives of fans towards the group. HONESTLY, this band is just a roller coaster of confusion.

In conclusion, just like a kinder egg we must not always let what we see affect the reality of the situation.... and as Harry once said..

(Twitter: @Harry_Styles)

SIMULACRA!!!

*Disclaimer: I dont own One Direction, they own themselves or something like that*

#im tired #hi sir teej #simulacra #one direction #harry styles #louis tomlinson #im so done

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