- Sep 22, 2013
- 4,956
- 250
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Americans appreciate outlandish fictional characters/ghouls such as Leatherface, but has terrorism altered our sense of civil chatter?
This yarn (my last one --- at least about terrorism) was inspired by American Beauty.
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Americans loved horror-films and the fashion industry (an odd pairing indeed!), so photojournalists recording the development of American culture made collages of classic horror-film ghouls/monsters and unusual fashions and clothing standards (e.g., hooded raincoats versus hoodless raincoats). These collages represented a very general 'American aesthetic' in terms of customs and norms in society. Hollywood (USA) film-maker Steven Spielberg noted that this anthropological observation reminded him of the aesthetics-meditation film American Beauty.
All members of the fashion industry were adept at understanding/evaluating economics and market trends. The world and America were in shock after 9/11 (when the World Trade Center was completely destroyed). Would institutions such as Wall Street and the World Bank recover/rebound and somehow salvage what was left of humanity's sense of 'safe commerce' and capitalism-flowery? That was the question of the age. No one wanted another Los Angeles Race Riot or Ku Klux Klan emerging from the maelstrom of anti-Western terrorism. However, terrorism always disrupts 'networking customs.'
As journalists noted how industrialization-related eco-pollution was generating its own brand of anti-civilization sentiment/rhetoric, D.C. politicians were concerned that homegrown American eco-terrorism would further confound the problem of anti-commerce related society destabilization (e.g., 9/11). Security forces and Homeland Security made sure important buildings such as the headquarters of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were safe from any threat of random pedestrian (or rogue-agent!) poison (e.g., chemical bombs).
American kids were busy purchasing water-guns and Garbage Pail Kids sarcasm-art trading-cards during the hot summer months in the USA. Consumerism was considered 'fun' to kids who loved getting toys for summer play (and for Christmas!). Meanwhile, adults were busy purchasing handguns and chainsaws and power-tools (all weapons in the mind of a psycho or terrorist) very very conveniently in this new consumerism 'system' (e.g., Home Depot). American celebrity/thespian Tom Cruise (star of American Made) suggested that all this 'social mobilization' was somehow (ironically) good for 'revolutionary dialogue' (e.g., Scientology free-speech). However, critics of American culture were wary that such 'liberal consumerism' advertise in media stages would hype the 'ease' of general mischief (e.g., Napster indulgences).
American media-idols and fictional characters signifying a modern meditation on networking and customs represented a new age social focus on the 'aesthetics' of commerce. American media-idols (e.g., Matthew McConaughey, Bill Gates) allowed themselves to be photographed while jogging/exercising, so their media status would 'hype' the notion of journalism-engaged social revelry towards media-fanfare and general 'consumerism-culture' (e.g., Facebook). Meanwhile, comedians suggested that classic characters from literature/cinema such as the Phantom of the Opera would suddenly be considered 'dinosaurs' in this new era of magazines, bubble-gum, and capitalism explosion. Was this all chaos?
As NFL fans prepared for an exciting matchup in Super Bowl 53 between defending-champs Philadelphia Eagles and challenging Pittsburgh Steelers. Meanwhile, a psycho posing as the Phantom of the Opera hijacked the Goodyear blimp which was scheduled to fly over the football stadium during the Super Bowl Halftime Show. The psycho claimed he was a big fan of the American horror-film The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the American espionage-film Spy Game and believed the Goodyear blimp would be the perfect 'vehicle' from which to drop chemical bombs onto the stadium as a gesture of 'consumerism frustration.' American celebrity Tom Cruise, who was attending the game, stated, "This self-proclaimed 'Phantom of the Opera' obviously believes terrorism is the cure to America's apathy problems!"
GOD: I'm relieved this 'Phantom of the Opera' was arrested!
SATAN: Yes, celebrity Matthew McConaughey was on the Goodyear blimp.
GOD: Oh, he was a 'celebrity guest/traveller' during the Super Bowl?
SATAN: Yeah, he wanted journalists to know celebrities loved sports.
GOD: So McConaughey wrestled this 'Phantom' to the ground?
SATAN: Precisely; the 'Phantom' was taken to prison for questioning.
GOD: Did he have any ties to Middle Eastern terrorists?
SATAN: Nope. He was like the Unabomber...
GOD: Well, what will become of him?
SATAN: I suppose they'll grant him horror-films in his private cell.
GOD: So he'll get to watch The Texas Chainsaw Massacre?
SATAN: Yes. That's part of his 'anti-consumerism therapy.'
GOD: What if he attacks the guards, thinking he's now 'Leatherface' himself?
SATAN: Nah. The 'Phantom' only wanted Americans to know that terrorism was 'real.'
GOD: Capitalism/consumerism breeds all kinds of cynicism/sarcasm.
SATAN: Sure. Just look at the Los Angeles Race Riots of 1992.
GOD: Right...that was in response to the televised Rodney King beating (by police).
SATAN: Media labyrinths have granted 'access' to all kinds of 'society critics.'
GOD: Fortunately, we have regulated criticism (e.g., Rush Limbaugh radio show)!
SATAN: I wonder if terrorism has scarred America's sense of etiquette(!).
GOD: I think it has; just look at the way celebrities talk about eco-pollution.
SATAN: Yes; everyone's much more conscious of hysteria...
====
This yarn (my last one --- at least about terrorism) was inspired by American Beauty.
====
Americans loved horror-films and the fashion industry (an odd pairing indeed!), so photojournalists recording the development of American culture made collages of classic horror-film ghouls/monsters and unusual fashions and clothing standards (e.g., hooded raincoats versus hoodless raincoats). These collages represented a very general 'American aesthetic' in terms of customs and norms in society. Hollywood (USA) film-maker Steven Spielberg noted that this anthropological observation reminded him of the aesthetics-meditation film American Beauty.
All members of the fashion industry were adept at understanding/evaluating economics and market trends. The world and America were in shock after 9/11 (when the World Trade Center was completely destroyed). Would institutions such as Wall Street and the World Bank recover/rebound and somehow salvage what was left of humanity's sense of 'safe commerce' and capitalism-flowery? That was the question of the age. No one wanted another Los Angeles Race Riot or Ku Klux Klan emerging from the maelstrom of anti-Western terrorism. However, terrorism always disrupts 'networking customs.'
As journalists noted how industrialization-related eco-pollution was generating its own brand of anti-civilization sentiment/rhetoric, D.C. politicians were concerned that homegrown American eco-terrorism would further confound the problem of anti-commerce related society destabilization (e.g., 9/11). Security forces and Homeland Security made sure important buildings such as the headquarters of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were safe from any threat of random pedestrian (or rogue-agent!) poison (e.g., chemical bombs).
American kids were busy purchasing water-guns and Garbage Pail Kids sarcasm-art trading-cards during the hot summer months in the USA. Consumerism was considered 'fun' to kids who loved getting toys for summer play (and for Christmas!). Meanwhile, adults were busy purchasing handguns and chainsaws and power-tools (all weapons in the mind of a psycho or terrorist) very very conveniently in this new consumerism 'system' (e.g., Home Depot). American celebrity/thespian Tom Cruise (star of American Made) suggested that all this 'social mobilization' was somehow (ironically) good for 'revolutionary dialogue' (e.g., Scientology free-speech). However, critics of American culture were wary that such 'liberal consumerism' advertise in media stages would hype the 'ease' of general mischief (e.g., Napster indulgences).
American media-idols and fictional characters signifying a modern meditation on networking and customs represented a new age social focus on the 'aesthetics' of commerce. American media-idols (e.g., Matthew McConaughey, Bill Gates) allowed themselves to be photographed while jogging/exercising, so their media status would 'hype' the notion of journalism-engaged social revelry towards media-fanfare and general 'consumerism-culture' (e.g., Facebook). Meanwhile, comedians suggested that classic characters from literature/cinema such as the Phantom of the Opera would suddenly be considered 'dinosaurs' in this new era of magazines, bubble-gum, and capitalism explosion. Was this all chaos?
As NFL fans prepared for an exciting matchup in Super Bowl 53 between defending-champs Philadelphia Eagles and challenging Pittsburgh Steelers. Meanwhile, a psycho posing as the Phantom of the Opera hijacked the Goodyear blimp which was scheduled to fly over the football stadium during the Super Bowl Halftime Show. The psycho claimed he was a big fan of the American horror-film The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the American espionage-film Spy Game and believed the Goodyear blimp would be the perfect 'vehicle' from which to drop chemical bombs onto the stadium as a gesture of 'consumerism frustration.' American celebrity Tom Cruise, who was attending the game, stated, "This self-proclaimed 'Phantom of the Opera' obviously believes terrorism is the cure to America's apathy problems!"
GOD: I'm relieved this 'Phantom of the Opera' was arrested!
SATAN: Yes, celebrity Matthew McConaughey was on the Goodyear blimp.
GOD: Oh, he was a 'celebrity guest/traveller' during the Super Bowl?
SATAN: Yeah, he wanted journalists to know celebrities loved sports.
GOD: So McConaughey wrestled this 'Phantom' to the ground?
SATAN: Precisely; the 'Phantom' was taken to prison for questioning.
GOD: Did he have any ties to Middle Eastern terrorists?
SATAN: Nope. He was like the Unabomber...
GOD: Well, what will become of him?
SATAN: I suppose they'll grant him horror-films in his private cell.
GOD: So he'll get to watch The Texas Chainsaw Massacre?
SATAN: Yes. That's part of his 'anti-consumerism therapy.'
GOD: What if he attacks the guards, thinking he's now 'Leatherface' himself?
SATAN: Nah. The 'Phantom' only wanted Americans to know that terrorism was 'real.'
GOD: Capitalism/consumerism breeds all kinds of cynicism/sarcasm.
SATAN: Sure. Just look at the Los Angeles Race Riots of 1992.
GOD: Right...that was in response to the televised Rodney King beating (by police).
SATAN: Media labyrinths have granted 'access' to all kinds of 'society critics.'
GOD: Fortunately, we have regulated criticism (e.g., Rush Limbaugh radio show)!
SATAN: I wonder if terrorism has scarred America's sense of etiquette(!).
GOD: I think it has; just look at the way celebrities talk about eco-pollution.
SATAN: Yes; everyone's much more conscious of hysteria...
====
