natno

mind vomit

[natnothings-blog]

Margaret Atwood Wants you to Find a Sugar Grandaddy

Every girl at Northwestern is looking for a sugar daddy. They want to stand outside Kellogg and find their ticket to a lifetime of sponsored soul cycle and afternoon teas. This thinking is completely unacceptable. To all those girls, you need to reach higher, and expect more for yourself. Clearly, this means marring an ancient millionaire on the brink of death who will leave you his fortune. When you’re still young and beautiful don’t risk your future with an uncertainty still in college. You want to find stability - in other words - a sugar grandaddy.

This is obviously the message of this year’s One Book Selection, The Handmaid’s Tale. Margaret Atwood’s dystopian Gilead shows only men have power and old ones like the commander have the most of it. Men age like fine wine; they are worth more the wrinklier and uglier they get. But women age like bottles of vodka at a Bobb pre-game. The more it’s passed around and the more people drink from it, the less attractive it gets. So freshman girls listen up: university isn’t about getting an education but about finding a husband.

How can you trap a man? Stand beside the most expensive car off campus and marry whoever turns up. You, like the car, depreciates by the second. Yes most of the time these old men already have wives and you would be the other woman, but remember in the novel, Offred (aka handmaid aka side chick) is actually taking one for the team. She is easing the burden of childbirth off the commander’s main hoe. This is a prime example of women supporting women. Feminist icon Gretchen Wieners would agree.

When I told my high school university counsellor my life goal, he asked me “don’t you want to break the glass ceiling?” If this glass ceiling is keeping out the rain of financial burdens while letting in the sunlight of peace, relaxation, and the weekly ladies luncheons, I hope that ceiling is bulletproof.

Not long ago women were basically given to their husbands, but now I have the option to live my full potential as a trophy (debatable) wife. I call this progress. One Book, One Northwestern, One last chance before your ovaries expire and you’re sent to the colonies. Get to work ladies.

[natnothings-blog]

9 2009 Thoughts

Oil is used to destroy the machine. What gives them life kills them. (technology gave us new ways of living but it killed us)

“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” begins to play after they think they’ve killed the machine = art is what makes us human

Machines literally suck the soul out of you

Why are the color of the souls green?

The machines all resemble vermin/evil animals: vulture, hyena, snake, spider

At the end the freed souls travel to the sky and bring life back on earth 

Movies I’ve grown up watching (mostly American) always reward the curious, fearless individuals like 9. In reality are people like 9 always right? Or is it right to act like 1, conservative and cautious?

Miniature size of the rag dolls highlights the magnitude of technology’s destruction. Audience sees every cog, spring, wire up close. 

Why does the scientists soul need to be split into 9 different parts? What is the significance of this number? Maybe it was just for the thrill factor of it being released on 9/9/9.

The design of each rag-doll reflects their character and purpose in the film. e.g. 6 wears a key, which is what he is. 

[natnothings-blog]

The Shallows by Nicholas Carr

I picked up the book at Barns and Noble because I felt, like the title writes, my brain was becoming “The Shallows.” The fact that it took me 3 months to finish this book is a testament to the fact of the attention deficit I, and I’m sure many others, are afflicted by. 

When I was 10 I remember lying on the couch all morning absorbed in a book and I could hardly turn away from it. I didn’t have an iphone or laptop yet, so it was just me and my story. But recently I’ve been finding it difficult to achieve “deep reading” as author Nicholas Carr describes it. I’m constantly being distracted by my electronics, and when I’m not, I struggle to enjoy the content. 

Not only do I find this trend carrying on in my reading, but in how I consume music. Before I had a 2nd generation ipod shuffle that could hold a maximum of 150 songs. Everyone month I deleted the songs I replaced them with new ones, entire albums and a couple of the hits I was enjoying. I would always look forward pulling out my shuffle on the way to school, before bed. There was an thrill to this little device; it didn’t give you the luxury of choice, so you had listen to whatever it gave you, but it was exciting not knowing what was coming up next. Now I don’t think I would use the word “luxury” for choice but overload. After my dad killed my shuffle by trying to shove a broke charger into the headphone socket, I started using my iphone instead, and it completely changed the way I appreciated music. 

At first I was excited about spotify. I didn’t have to painstakingly download one song at a time with the pesky youtube to mp3 convertor, then drag them to itunes hoping I didn’t miss any. Being able to just click “download all” on the spotify seemed like a dream come true. But ever since, I’ve never enjoyed music as much as I did on my shuffle. Now I’m constantly checking my phone to see what song is playing, switching to another song, or browsing new playlists. I’ve lost the ability to savour every song. I think before, spending so much time transferring music made me value each song and actually discover artists I like. Now I just press top hits and it’s a mix of songs I would have never downloaded to my shuffle, so I just listen passively to merely keep my ears entertained. 

I guess I always thought that my habits were changing, but to actually read about it, and understand that technumbification is a real thing, consolidates the premonition. 

I’m pretty sure at least one other reader out there expected some kind of self-help at the end of the book, like “a list of things to do to make yourself less dumb” but there isn’t one. The author talks about how certain tech companies are creating apps to curb the information-overload, but I’ve tried a fair share of those apps, and it doesn’t stop me from hitting “quit” and returning to a youtube marathon. This is why, I then realised, the Carr doesn’t give us a list of things to do. He can make a beautiful, bullet pointed “save yourself” agenda, but that isn’t going to change anything. The might of tech companies isn’t lessening, nor is the over-indulgence of our feeble minds. What he has done is instilled the living fear in me, to finally have the incentive to change. Because the truth is we know what to do, it’s just a matter of whether we choose to follow it

Thank you Nicholas Carr for this book. I’m proud to say I did not click onto other tabs, opened other softwares, or even listened to music as I typed this blog post. Hopefully I can keep this up with my reading and music. I guess it’s just one drip at a time now. 

[natnothings-blog]

Stray kids: My Pace vs Past Content

Stray Kid’s music comes at just the right time. Rap is taking over the charts and SK has an incredible rap line. They create their own material instead of having a songwriter, which is perfect for SK, since their concept is all about being the rogue individual, carving their own path in the mechanic Kpop industry. 

Sometimes I felt their past, darker content was a bit “cringe”, like a high school film about teenage angst. However I think it’s just the initial shock of being confronted by the actual feelings of artists. I’ve become so accustomed to labels producing perfect formula for the video: basically a visual roller coaster with insanely catch song containing as little meaning as possible to satisfy the shallow palette of millenials. That’s why having to hear SK talk about their struggles with finding their identity, breaking the Kpop mold, is at first uncomfortable. However watching the video a second time I don’t find it “cringe” at all.

That being said I do think the brighter style of “My Pace” is better suited for SK. Here they were able to stay true to their identity but in a less “cringe” way. In such a tough business I’m sure the boys compare themselves to their predecessors got7, 2pm, as well as groups from other labels. There is just so much competition. In “My Pace” they are able to address these worries in a colorful, pop-rock styled song. They show us their vibrance and youthful energy. They are teenage boys full of passion, who know how to have fun, who haven’t had their souls sucked dry from the industry. With this group I can still feel their hopeful idealism, who aren’t struggling to stay relevant, chasing after their next hit. “My Pace” was a smart deviation from their darker concepts. The darker songs made SK seem too mature, too jaded, rendering away their strongest asset: their youthful optimism. “My Pace” is a refreshing comeback with wide appeal, while still stays authentic, stays in SK’s lane.

[natnothings-blog]

The Florida Project: How Mother and Daughter are a Metaphor for Florida and Disneyland

Hilarious and heartbreaking, The Florida Project tells the comedy and tragedy of America’s underprivileged, specifically main characters mother Halley and her daughter Moonee. I laughed, cried, bawled, and just fell in love with them.  Brooklyn Prince, who plays Moonee, was incredible. I laughed so hard seeing her expression of dread standing in front of the fire, or when she waves to Bobbie from the supermarket cart. The best part of the film was her relationship with Halley. Towards the end, when Moonee complains about being too tired to walk I thought Halley would finally snap, instead she bends over and lets Moonee crawl onto her back. The two are partners in crime: selling wholesale perfume, stealing Disney arm bands, free-loading on hotel breakfast buffet. Halley turns their desperation into adventures, and Moonee is happily goes along. So when DCF finally intervenes, I’m conflicted. If the headline was just “unemployed mom prostitutes with daughter in room” I’d say take the child away! But the film humanises those who we are so quick to judge. When DCF came what I really wondered was if Moonee would be better off in another family. 

However the eventual intervention from DCF is inevitable and director Sean Baker’s choice to have Moonee run away to Disneyland is the most fitting ending to the mother-daughter relationship. As their situation gets tougher, Moonnee and Halley begin to live separate realities. When Moonee is having an incredible feast, Halley is settling the deal with Ashley; when Moonee is playing in the bath tub, Halley is prostituting in the other room. Moonee’s lives in her own world, but it’s finally shattered when Scooty reveals she’s going to live with another family. Her imaginary happy land has been taken away so she goes to the physical utopia: Disneyland. However like Moonee’s adventures with her mother, Disneyland is not real. Just as the wealth of Disneyland exists in a backdrop of extreme poverty, Moonee’s blissful ignorance is set against Halley’s painful struggle. 

[natnothings-blog]

Analysis: Taylor Swift’s Delicate

Most theories I’ve seen say the MV shows Taylor Swift  being liberated from the all-consuming public eye. However the MV is more than just a one-sided critique. Rather, it explores the complicated nature of life as a celebrity. Yes, on one hand there are the obsessed fans and interviewers that she hates. However there are also moments where she appreciates and misses the attention. 

It’s obvious when Taylor is tired of the attention. She struggles to maintain a smile when bombarded by overly excited interviewers, she rolls her eyes at the bell man who tries to attack her, and sighs at her bodyguards matching her every step. Her “liberation” is given by a magical, sparkling paper, which grants her the gift of invisibility. Unseen, she begins to let loose, to dance. Her movements are awkward and disjointed, but that’s exactly what shows her authenticity. Humorous snippets, like jumping behind behind her bodyguards or stomping across the reception table, is the raw, unfiltered side of her. Just the change of space parallels Taylor’s move towards freedom. She begins in a fancy hotel crowded with people, a space where she’s constantly subject to attention and where people - like celebrity Taylor - dress to be seen. She then enters the elevator and subway, which matches her inner transition liberation. At the end where people would hide from the rain, Taylor boldly steps into the shower. 

Despite Taylor’s rejection of the public, there are times when she embraces the attention. She appears genuinely happy to take “selfie” with her teenage fans before being attacked by the bell man. She’s hurt when the woman in the elevator does not see her. Smiling at each other, Taylor and the women seem to be having an unspoken moment of understanding. Then Taylor is left disappointed and disoriented when she realises the woman is only looking at herself. In the following subway scene, she doesn’t have the same energy in her movement or excited grin on her face, especially as she sinks onto the floor of the train. Her disappointment suggests that although she may wish to be invisible, she still wants to connect with people. After all Taylor is an artist, and you can’t create art without relating to its audience. There are moments showing Taylor, not necessarily embracing, but being use to public scrutiny. When she does find a space for herself in the ballroom, she looks over her shoulder, worried someone may have seen her. She is accustomed to being watched. 

The ending is left ambiguous, like the nature of her life as a public figure. Her smile can have multiple interpretation: is it a smile reminiscing her time being invisible? Is she happy to be seen again? Is she glad to be noticed specifically on her own terms? Therefore, the MV depicts, as the title of the song suggests, the “delicate” balance between having a connection with and becoming an obsession for the public. 

[natnothings-blog]

7 Shallow Reasons to Get a Kindle

In the Christmas of 2010 my brother received the 2nd Generation Amazon Kindle from Santa. I thought it was incredible. Half a centimeter thick, flipped pages through clicks, and magical feature called eink, the Kindle was the most bouji contraption I’d seen in my life. The only problem? My brother didn’t read. But was that really a problem? Nope, because that meant christmas 2010 I got two presents! 

I loved it so much, I wasn’t even disappointed when my first order confirmation wrote “Dear Wang” - when I found out Santa was my mom and my entire childhood was a lie. 8 years later this little rectangular, black and white device remains close to my heart, not just for the conventional reasons, but for the 7 shallow ones too! 

1) Great for Meals

No I do not mean you should consume your Kindle. The device is too large to fit in one bite - be realistic. What I mean is eating while reading is so much easier. You know when you try to hold chopsticks in one hand and and your book in the other? Your thumb is wedged between the two pages and it hurts your heart a little that you’re stretching the spine? Then when you try to flip one page, your thumb gets whacked by a couple hundred pages and you end up on the last page and you wonder if you should just watch some TV? There are none of these problems with a Kindle! One hand can easily hold your kindle and click for the next page.

2) Stain/liquid/crease-resistant

Having shared many memorable meals with my Kindle, I can safely say the Kindle is surprisingly stain/liquid-resistant. You could easily wipe off any small spills like small drips of water or soy sauce stains while not creasing any of the pages. That being said, I do not recommend bringing the Kindle to the bath or for a swim - not that I’ve tried.

3) Accessorise

You know how people like to buy new cases for their iphone? Well you can do the same with a Kindle! I started off with an orange pouch from Santa, I then tried to knit one (bad idea) and finally I customized a case from M-edge. The options are really endless.

4) Travel-buddy

The period of time before vacations is so hectic that I never bother to find a book, but with a Kindle this isn’t a problem. I don’t need to find a book store or library - I can download a book anywhere while I’m on a trip. This is especially easy with the 3G version. On trips you’re constantly on the move and when you do find a place with wifi, you’re either there for only a short amount of time or the wifi is just utter crap. 

5) Freebies!

The best part about the Kindle is definitely all the free stuff you can get from the Amazon book store. I just type in “free books” and there are hundreds of titles to choose from. If you’re a prime member, you can download any book with a prime tick for free, or download certain books from the library. More than half the books on my Kindle aren’t paid for. No I’m not cheap - I’m just environmentally friendly. 

6) Games 

Is the reading too dense? Just open up bubble pop for some mindless time-killing. The interface is definitely not as fast as a smart phone or tablet, however the Kindle - even my ancient 2nd generation - does a pretty good job. I went to a “go out and smell the flowers” camps one summer, so all of our wifi-connected electronics were taken away. Little did they know that my Kindle had 3G, which I used to make one of the best decisions of my life: download bubble pop. Everyday for the next three weeks I just tried to connect as many same-colored bubbles as possible.

7) Millennial-friendly

Call me a millennial, but I’m so use to technology that I can’t stay focused reading a physical book anymore. I think I’ve become so accustomed to scrolling, and not knowing where an article finishes that I want that “endless” feeling with my books too. On a Kindle, I just click and read, click and read, click and read... Now when I read a physical book, I find myself constantly checking how many pages there are left. Sad but true. 

[natnothings-blog]

Fascination with the Morbidly Obese

My 600-lb Life has been airing on TLC since February 1st of 2012, and six years later episodes are still being released every week. We really don’t need six seasons worth of content to know what life is like being morbidly obese, yet people can’t stop watching one miserable story after another - clips on youtube have millions of views. People don’t sample these videos out of mere curiosity, they actively obsess in them - and what motivates our morbid fascination?

The extremes of human behaviour has always captivated us. For decades stories of murderers, psychopaths, pedophiles have been used for entertainment - we have always been intrigued by people who can go “all the way.” They shock us with behaviour we could never fathom. How can anyone possibly eat 8 burgers and 5 ice cream smoothies for breakfast? That’s outrageous! But, for some, it may be precisely to indulge in such radical behaviour. As one forum opinion writes: “it’s like an opportunity to eat vicariously through the fat people.” Whether to be shocked by or to wallow in the lifestyle of the morbidly obese, there is no doubt that people revel in watching the human extremes. 

We derive a sadistic pleasure from the 600 lb life - and almost anyone can. The bar set for standard of living is so low literally anybody crawl over it. Concerned about your weight? At least you can walk. Disappointed with your job? At least you have one. Struggling with a broken relationship? At least you’re alive to see them. Watch the show with mockery or with sympathy, you recognise you’re better. 

The show also plays on our deepest fears: failure - in other words - the morbidly obese. We like the fear because it both motivates and excites us. In the tumblr blog of 600 lb Life Confessions, an anonymous submission writes “I’m anorexic and the show helps me lose weight.” Gaining weight is pure horror for someone with anorexia, but that’s exactly the attraction. He/she, like hundreds of viewers, embraces the fear as both an incentive and a thrill. 

We are disgusted by how the he morbidly obese stuff their faces as they dig their own graves. Just look at the comments on youtube: “no point in keeping her in society,”  “I would just let her die.” After all, all we see is the weakness to indulge uncontrollably. But by watching their 600lb lives, what twisted part of ourselves are we indulging?

[natnothings-blog]

Review: iKon Love Scenario

There are some music videos you watch once and just listen to afterwards - or just never touch again. But with "Love Scenario" I find myself wanting to both listen and watch the music video. Although with a slow melody, "Love Scenario” has got a funky piano rhythm that gives the a swaggish feel. Not to mention the very clever film concept: films reels, television shop and the moving unbroken shots where members appear repeatedly - so cool. There are so many things to love in this music video (just read the comments on Youtube) so I'm just going to mention how it could be even better.

Line Distribution

Compared to previous songs the line distribution really is a huge step up. In any group some members will have more lines, but for iKon to really change their image as a "unequal" group - they can improve distribution even more. I think:

Jinhwan second verse give to Yunyeong

Jinhwan third verse give to Chanwoo

Yunyeong's verse give to Jinhwan

This way every vocalist appears once before any repeats. Juhoe and Jinhwan still get more lines, as they should since they are main vocalists - just not as much.

Cinematography

Although I really enjoyed the long unbroken shots, they could have been slightly slower. They moved so quickly the screen was blurred, I couldn't see the members and it was slightly dizzying. I understand the camera was trying to follow the members' walking, but if they slowed it down slightly, we could have more time to appreciate the unique sequence.

Direction 

I love this comeback, but it does make me question if iKon has found a direction: every comeback has had a different promotion strategy. Their debut was a combination of 8 “hype” and slow songs, New Kids was 2 “hype” songs, and now Return was just 1 slow song. I was hoping for two songs again: 1 “hype” song and one slow. This strategy seems to yield the most attention. Return’s comeback strategy makes me a little concerned about their direction - but hopefully “Love Scenario” will prove me wrong!

[natnothings-blog]

How Ongoing Problems Hurt iKon’s Popularity

Debut and Comeback Songs

On tens of K-pop forums, one reason for iKon’s inadequacy pops up consistently: their music is just not their taste. In fact I think the problem isn’t the quality of their songs, it’s how they promote their songs. Beginning with their debut, the first music video they released was “My Type” on Sep 14th 2015, a soft ballad accompanied with a cute, pastel concept. After WIN and Mix & Match, fans expected iKon to drop strong, hip hop beats. Instead they presented the complete opposite, a mellow tune - and albeit with reasonably good reviews - still sits at 35M views. The debut song sets the tone of the group’s style, capture first-time viewers’ attention, however “My Type” didn’t have the impact as a more “hype” song. Then in the following months iKon dropped another seven music videos: “Rhythm Ta”, “#WYD”, “What's Wrong?”, “Dumb & Dumber”, “Airplane, Apology”, and “Anthem”. Not only did these videos pull views from their main two tracks, “My Type” and “Rhythm Ta,” they were hardly noticed at all, most fare at about 10M views. My friend who went to an iKon’s first concert and keeps up to date with their activities, didn’t even know the other five music videos existed until I sent her the links. There were too many videos released in a short amount of time. For iKon’s debut YG should have released “Rhythm Ta” as their title track and “My Type” as their secondary title track. Then in mid-2016 iKon should then have dropped “Dumb & Dumber” and “What’s Wrong.” The more powerful songs should be promoted first and their should be enough times between comebacks to build excitement. This way their music videos can capture more views and earn them more attention. YG seems to have realised the dropping two title tracks is most effective, so iKon only released “Bling Bling” and “B-day” in 2017 and has garnered more than 20M views. That being said I do think there is room for change, specifically making “B-day” the main title track instead of “Bling Bling.” “B-day” has more of a pop element that is more popular in the mainstream and my K-pop friends agree that they prefer “B-day.” “Bling Bling” has more views, however only because it was released first, leading to a head start in views, and viewers naturally choose to watch videos with more views.

Divisions in the group

Another problem holding iKon back is the clear divisions in the group, not only in their “level of talent” but also their friendships. No doubt all K-pop groups have members who are “more talented” or certain members who are closer to one another, but none make the divisions as apparent as iKon. In WIN B.I., Bobby, and Jinhwan are the first to have their backstory shown, we learn they are the first original members in Team B, and they are clearly the favourites of YG (YG compares them to B.I. and Jinhwan to GD and Taeyang respectively). Then in Mix & Match the three members are given immunity while Junhoe, Yunyeong, and Donghyuk’s debuts are brutally decided by online voting. Throughout the two programs B.I., Bobby, Jinhwan and occasionally Junhoe, are consistently given compliments and the approval of YG, while little attention is paid to Yunyeong, Donghyuk and later Chanwoo. The obvious difference in their perceived talent is reflected in the line distribution of their songs. As evidence in the their latest comeback, “Bling Bling”, B.I. was given 37% , Bobby 19%, while the other five members shared the remaining 44% of the song. If the agency backing this group can’t even value every member, how can fans fully support iKon? How can we back a group where half of the members are seen as dispensable? The same hierarchies in “talent” are reflected in their friendships. B.I., Bobby, and Jinhwan always choose to room together during the two survival programs. The friendship “sub-units” in iKon are not as obvious as during the shows, but it was still enough to present them as a disconnected bunch rather than a cohesive unit.

[natnothings-blog]

How Survival Shows Hurt iKon’s Popularity

It’s been three years since iKon’s debut yet they still haven’t made a “Big Bang”. iKon has all the talent for creating 100 million view music videos, but the numbers are not reflecting their potential - most of their music videos sit at around 10 million views. On the K-pop playing field 10 million views is by no means little, but as the successors of the global-sensation Big Bang, and now Blackpink, iKon is not living up to everyone’s, and I’m sure their own, expectation. The root of the problem? Survival shows. Who is Next and Mix & Match were designed to promote iKon, but, ironically the survival programs did the exact opposite. 

Who is Next

The problem begins with YG’s decision to create Who is Next. The point of the program was to first, debut a group that could live up to reputation of Big Bang, and second, build a strong fanbase for the winning team. WIN failed on both ends. First, WIN ended up debuting Team A, thereby the more mellow, ballad group, and history shows (day6/2am) soft pop groups do not become global sensations. Second, WIN divided the fanbase between Team A and Team B, thereby removing a solid support for Winner - and iKon. Furthermore the entire premise of WIN was flawed. The show had two teams pitted against each other, instead of the traditional survival show where individuals are eliminated one by one. Effectively this meant YG couldn’t actually present its strongest boy group. I recognise this is an incredible controversial opinion, but if YG had debuted Jinhwan, Mino, Bobby, B.I., and Junhoe, I dare say iKon could match - even exceed - the popularity of Big Bang. The format of the show also removed the novelty of of a new idol group. JYP’s survival show Sixteen successfully promoted Twice because the final members was only announced in the last episode, which final lineup was never shown until Twice’s debut. On the other hand, the teams were already set in WIN, therefore there wasn’t the same novelty to iKon’s debut.

Mix & Match

The next mistake was then creating Mix & Match. Fans would have been perfectly happy if YG debuted the six members as the next male idol group. The reason why iKon lost on fan votes wasn’t because fans wanted different members. I truly believe it was primarily because Team B was younger, and voters recognised they would have a second chance but Team A would not. Therefore, since there was no need to “Mix & Match” the show wasn't necessary. You can argue that another reality program helped build iKon’s fan base but that would be if it showed the charisma of iKon. Instead all we saw were stressed out, exhausted young boys sucked into yet another pressure cooker. Mix & Match didn’t show the character of the members only their desperation to debut. It pitted the members against each other when fans really wanted to show teamwork. Finally another reality show just dragged out their debut. Idol groups should capitalise on the initial hype from when they are first released from the dungeon. Members of iKon were first revealed in WIN  on August 23, 2013 and they debuted more than two years later on September 15, 2015. By the time of their debut, viewers had already seen everything the boys could offer - there was no overwhelming excitement to their debut.