bagelriffic

What's up! (In a non-coolhomiegangsta way)

Honestly, I'm not even so sure I fully understood Steppenwolf. What really stood out for me was Harry Haller's disgust of the normal, everyday monotony and especially the desire to kill himself simply because of the fact that he just didn't care to trudge through this monotony. I was under the impression that there was a whole lot more going on in the story than that, but I didn't really get all of it, I think.

When I was really into novel reading, I read a whole lot of fantasy, like Redwall and Dragonflight and some Animorphs. As I got older, people insisted that I would love science fiction, but by that phase I was much more interested in philosophical novels (one in which the main focus was advancing a philosophy, like a typical philosophical text, but in a more narrative sense). Now I really only flip through novels for a couple of scenes to get a feel for the perspectives or the humor or the dynamic of the story. I mean, I could definitely pick up a novel and enjoy it, but I've found I enjoy the animation of film much better.

I think it has a lot to do with me stopping for a minute to follow tangential ideas the story brings up, then never really caring to get back to the story itself. With film, I feel much more invested in the characters I guess. I actually watched a French film called "I Loved You So Long" about family drama just yesterday, and I think so much of the emotional detail captured in film is difficult to convey in a novel interestingly until the reader has had lots of experience with that culture or that type of situation. Having spent so much time in books during my childhood, I think lots of those details don't go beyond reaching an intellectual level for me.

Cool.

Sounds like Lucky Star is really similar to Azumanga Daioh which was amazingly funny, but had very little that stays with me. I actually avoid starting an anime unless I have plenty of time to waste, because I'll usually go through a season all at once, like over a few days and at most a week. It's funny, I used to do the same thing with books, but for some reason I haven't been able to get into a novel for a while now.

Oh yeah, that video is way more ridiculous than the rest of the show. Loved it.

Anyway, I'd have to say that I really loved the focus on existence in Shakugan no Shana. It's not really prevalent for some of the episodes, but the latest I watched was a more poignant episode about Shana taking some girl's place who would soon be completely forgotten by her parents.

I've heard of naruto; it's pretty popular where I am from, but I haven't really watched much of it (just a few clips here and there as it came on T.V.). Some say it's good, others say it's overrated. I've just never gotten around to checking it out. Let me know what you think of Lucky Star when you check it out. I've not watched much of that eitehr, but it's promising.

Great avatar! (;
mr. music man

Thank you!

That depends on what you're into for regular shows. However, some ones I really enjoyed were Shakugan no Shana (centered around magic and is heavy on romance but in a silly way) and Azumanga Daioh (ridiculous humor). One that's really popular in the anime world (at least in the states) and also pretty good is Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Lucky Star's another that's popular and supposed to be good, but I haven't watched it.

Career, I don't know.. In terms of schools, I am going to apply to a couple of schools in Western Canada and one in Ontario. I wish I could move out-of-country, but that would be too expensive.

I think others have asked questions similar to yours.. so maybe it's something many of us feel at least every now and then, if not more often. I have definitely felt that way about my own experience on the forum. I have had interactions where I felt like I connected with someone, but I don't feel as though I have made steady connections. Are you concerned about how you come across?

I've heard of Syracuse. I've lived in south-eastern ontario, so we received the occasional tv or radio channel from the syracuse area. It's also true, I've lived in suburbia for most of my life, but I've seen some rural areas, so I'm not completely sheltered. Still, I'd love to see some pics from your weekend.

I think the suburbs have their advantages and disadvantages, and if I had kids maybe I would choose to settle on the edge of a suburb, but at this point in my life I really wish I lived in an urban area. The suburbs seem too empty and quiet, despite the high traffic volume and endless stretches of roads. I'd like something different. And yep, many homes in neighbourhood complexes are identical and from far away look like stacked boxes with pyramid tops... I find it a bit unsettling, actually. A bit too stepford-ish. I haven't lived in the country, but I once spent a year in a tiiiiiny town, almost bordering on rural (at least in my view, lol), so I had a chance to experience a much different reality from the ones I've known. I definitely feel that I haven't had the kinds of outdoorsy experiences that I know are a huge appeal to living in or near the country, but all in good time. =)

That was ludovico! I don't remember which... probably i giorni (that translates into, the days, right?). thanks.

I've made some progress on the school front. I had one prof agree to act as a reference for me for school apps, and I need to figure out which 2 others to ask. usually 3 letters of reference are a required part of the application. i also have some schools selected that i need to narrow down and choose between.. i do need to rev up my efforts though since it's already mid oct! yikes.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. And I can understand things staying the same. Most days my life's the same day after day as well. Whereabouts are you?
I'm okay, thanks.

Hey! Sorry I couldn't get back to the forums sooner, or I would've replied.
Go ahead and send me a PM, I'd love to hear what you know

I'm so sorry I missed replying to your last message. How have you been?

I want to send you a link to a piece[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUFB-BxxkoY&feature=related"][/ame] I think is stunning, I wonder if you've heard it:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUFB-BxxkoY&feature=related"]YouTube - La Nascita Delle Cose Segrete - Ludovico Einaudi[/ame]

Enjoy. =)

(Sorry, that's taking up so much space. I couldn't get it to embed(?) within a word.)

Honestly, I didn't even pay attention to the words on the shirt. To me, this photograph is about a woman who has had too much and doesn't want to have to go back out and face the world. I feel that she has hit a breaking point.

There's no one way to look at art, but to me the problem of conveying an expression lies with the artist, not the viewer. I think even for a good artist our interpretations will be different, but what really is the kicker is whether we can all reach the same emotional understanding of the art. At least for art like this, where I think the emotion is more important than the concept. Obviously art doesn't hold to very many rules (if any) and different artists have vastly different goals for their work.

Yeah... I went ahead and added a new album with that pic.

I do have a camera, but it is of questionable quality and I'm much more interested in drawing at the moment. In some ways photography scares me, because it seems so easy to take a junk photo and so difficult to take one worth jack. Photography's definitely on my list of things to study though.

Influences... *ahem*

Anime, anime, video games, and anime.

Really, I am drawn heavily to the modern anime style of character creation, specifically styles like the work of Tony Taka. Most inspirational to me, however, are some of the photographs I've seen by Lucia Holm. She has one particular shot of herself looking dejected and defeated, sitting in a shower. That's the kind of thing I want to capture, but I'm not sure whether I want to go the photography route.

Yeah, the violin has beginner frets (stickers) as you learn where the sounds are, but even then it depends on how your fingers rest on the violin as to whether they're located at the right place. I'm not sure if it's the same for guitar. But really once you've tuned in to the proper pitches, it's not much harder than most other instruments.

As far as art goes, I'm not sure which one as I'm not wedded to a particular medium yet. But I think for what I want to express that painting or photography would be best. Something like portraiture, only focused more on the expression of particular emotional states rather than just capturing someone's mug. Fortunately I've got all of the next 3 semesters to play around in the field (have nearly all my required electives and major reqs cleared out of the way at college).

Violin.

I picked it up this past spring, and it's the best instrument I've ever played (have played trumpet and piano too).

yeah, they are both awesome!

I love your songs!!
I listened to them on the website, and my favorites are Anyone Before and Killing me (its intro is very good )

Send me a link!
RIGHT NOW!