Heart to Heart

It’s kind of odd to press your hand against your side and feel your heart beating in your chest. I knew other people had hearts; I always assumed that I did too, but it still came as a slight surprise to feel a little thing thumping away in there.

I never really thought about my heart until it started beating out of rhythm. It first happened in high school. I was about to go to sleep when my heart started thumping harder than I’d ever felt it before, speeding up, then suddenly slowing. This irregular patter put me a little on edge, which only made my heart beat faster and exacerbated the issue. My doctor told me it was PVC, premature ventricular contractions. I found it ironic that a defect of the body’s natural piping system would share an acronym with one of the most widespread manmade piping materials, but I decided not to comment on it. Basically the heart adds an extra beat that’s more forceful than normal. Mayo Clinic claims it happens in most people at some point, and assures otherwise healthy readers not to grow concerned. That’s nice to hear but hard to believe when it feels like you’re about to enter cardiac arrest.

My doctor also told me that PVCs are brought on by stress, but I’m not sure if I believe that. The first time I felt one I had just figured out what to write for an important essay, though I still had a few major exams. It wasn’t like I was reclining on a pool chair with a banana smoothie and a stack of Tintin comics, but it wasn’t that stressful. The subsequent times I felt PVCs were similar: stressful, but not too stressful. I might have felt it at some point last term when I took Physiology and we studied the circulatory system. I did suddenly become self-conscious of my breath rate when we talked about respiration, and renal excretion did make me want to pee. In a way, those moments were just as unsettling. It’s easy to think of yourself as this singular soul rather than just a complicated machine subject to the physical laws of the universe, one that can break with a simple malfunction. Sure, your back might ache some times, and when you get cut you bleed, but personally I’ve only really identified with what I can see when I look in a mirror. Although even when looking at bare skin, I guess it’s what’s underneath that matters.

Dissections are even worse. Actually I really enjoy dissections (not worms), but at a certain point when sawing through a rat’s sternum with a razor blade you have to ask yourself whether someone else would see something similar if they decided to take YOU apart. Underneath the surface are the same goopy organs, suspended in the same muscles and bone. I remember when I took apart that rat, I snipped the major arteries and veins and plucked out its heart with a pair of tweezers. It was the size of my thumb’s fingernail, plump and reddish-violet. For a split second I considered popping it into my mouth and swallowing. Fortunately, the smell of formaldehyde is a powerful deterrent.

I stared at the heart and thought about how it had been working not long ago. Had the rat even been aware of it in there? Maybe the rat felt it beating harder with fear…possibly right before it got euthanized. That wasn’t a pleasant thought. I put down the heart and kept looking.

That’s sort of how it works isn’t it? You think about all the effort your body makes to keep you alive, marvel that it all manages to work without you telling it to, and then you forget about it five minutes later when the fajitas hit the lunch line. It’s only in the moments when you’re at your weakest, when you wake up in the middle of the night from a nightmare and feel your heart skipping two or three beats at once that you remember again what it means to be vulnerable.

Sometimes writing about it on a blog makes you feel better.

Sometimes not.

One Potato

One potato two potato

carving by the pot

Resting by the jar of mayo

sour cream and snot

Freshly ripened plum tomatoes

bursting as they rot

Apple crisp is only brisk

with carrot juice and metal whisk

the top that curls the lemon twist;

it’s not what we were taught.

If meaning were enforced by NATO

linguists could be shot

Beauty felled by callous say so

poetry would rot

Why find fault in honest whimsy

Seems the argument is flimsy

Apples, mayo, carrots, twisty

Better live than not.

From the Creator of Scribere…

…comes

an exciting new photo blog!

Here’s the link: https://sporophoto.wordpress.com/

 

 

Apples and Oranges

The Apple is a curious fellow. He’s a sweet old fruit who likes to hang in trees, but try to coax him down and he’ll clutch onto the branch with all his might. Come Thanksgiving he loves to befriend the children, treating them each with a kiss and a dollop of fluffy whipped cream. He’s bashful in the open. Take off his thin robe of scarlet or peridot green and he’ll soon flush an embarrassed shade of brown. They say that he met Mr. Newton once upon a time, but that it was a bumpy encounter. Mr. Magritte told him that he had a prettier face than the Son of Man, and apparently Mr. McCartney thought so too. Mr. Jobs even took a byte out of him for his son Mac. But the Apple has a darker side too. He doesn’t like doctors, and every day he tries to keep them away. He punished poor Tantalus by floating just out of reach. He tempted a fair maiden with his sweetness and then told her father about what she’d done to him. A little later dear Apple put another maiden into a deep slumber at the bequest of her evil stepmother. Be wary of the Apple. He looks nice and shiny, but sometimes cruelty worms its way into his heart.

The Orange has a tough exterior, but he’s a softie at heart. When you’re not feeling well, he’ll nurse you back to health. On the outside he provides the zest for life. When he comes knock knocking on your door, he’ll say “Orange you glad it’s me?” But peel back the layers to expose his inner self and he’ll fall into pieces. It happens every time, just like Clockwork. He’s a sucker for Pulp Fiction, and enjoys clubbing at the Tropicana. He’s a protective brother since everyone wants his little sister, Clementine. Sometimes things get Bloody. He’s gets along nicely with Chocolate, but other times he can be a pretty “Annoying Orange”. And in the mornings, after too much Tequila, he sometimes watches the Sunrise.

Who can really tell the better of the two? Both can be sweet and both can be sour. But anyone who gives them a gentle squeeze never fails to raise a glass in appreciation. “Peel me a grape!” what a foolish thought. How do you like them apples and oranges?

Dying to Compete

Bode Miller received a long list of tweets after a near interrogation with NBC

Bode Miller is not someone known for being emotional. Recognized for his six Olympic medals in skiing (including a gold in Vancouver’s Super Combined), Miller has been an American icon for roughly a decade. Yet, in a recent interview with NBC’s Christin Cooper, this symbol of endurance broke down into tears before his nation. Was it Miller’s failure to repeat his Olympic successes in Sochi? Perhaps in part. But the main catalyst was undeniably Cooper’s relentless interrogation about Miller’s brother Chelone “Chilly” Miller, who passed away a year ago at the age of 29 (http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/02/nbcs-bode-miller-interview-good-reporting-can-be-hard-to-watch/283923/).

Some have praised Cooper’s reporting for uncovering the real “human interest” story (http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/19/sochi-best-human-interest-stories), but the majority of responses have been decidedly negative (http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/story/nbc-defends-bode-miller-interview-christin-cooper-tears-furor-question-over-dead-brother-chelone-021914). While Jim Bell, NBC’s executive producer for the Winter Olympics argued that “You’d be irresponsible not to tell that part of the story,” (http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/story/nbc-defends-bode-miller-interview-christin-cooper-tears-furor-question-over-dead-brother-chelone-021914?related=219652ca-a97b-4c61-a017-e8db4c6af0e5) the incident raises questions about what really matters in sports storytelling.

While Miller’s interview is one of the more blatantly invasive reports for these Olympics, it is by no means the only one that focuses on a seemingly irrelevant personal detail. Another notable example is the Meredith Vieira interview with skeleton-racer Noelle Pikas-Pace, in which Millionaire host Vieira brought up Pikas-Pace’s miscarriage from about 20 months ago (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-sochi-olympics-noelle-pikus-pace-skeleton-medal-20140215,0,2473796.story#axzz2tsj5RlsQ). This trend does not apply exclusively to coverage of American athletes either. The Telegraph, a British newspaper, recently published a story about British curler David Murdoch (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/winter-olympics/10608274/Winter-Olympics-2014-Team-GB-mens-curling-captain-plots-medal-redemption-in-Sochi.html), which reminded readers of the horrific plane crash that occurred near Murdoch’s home town of Lockerbie…25 years ago. Russia: Beyond the Headlines (a branch of Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta) reported on how Russian hockey player Pavel Datsyuk lost his mother when he was only 15, and his father in 2005 (http://sochi2014.rbth.ru/pavel_datsyuk_intellectual_might_of_the_red_machine). The list continues.

In the past, American reporting has been openly criticized by the international community, labeled as biased and/or melodramatic. While the Olympics are known for being nation-centric and a source of both potential joy and heartbreak for the athletes, there may be a shred of truth to these claims. It’s no accident that most of NBC’s focus is given to American athletes (in Sochi, competitors like Ice Dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White, and of course skier Bode Miller) sometimes at the expense of other countries (in Bobsled last night, the commentators referred to the Bronze winning Americans by name, but when the silver went to Switzerland one noted “that Swiss athlete is really happy”). And both Christin Cooper and Meredith Vieira were reporting for NBC when they interviewed Miller and Pikus-Pace. It is important to note, however, that the Miller story was picked up by The Guardian, a British newspaper (http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/feb/16/bode-miller-history-sochi-brother), and that The Telegraph, Russia: Beyond the Headlines and The New-Zealand Times all printed their own personally invasive stories about their country’s athletes.

At the time that I write this article, my research indicates that the U.S. Olympic sports news is the most heavily influenced by this reporting style, NBC in particular. While it is possible that I am biased due to my location in the States, three things have become clear. First: the U.S., while perhaps the most fervent supporter, is certainly not the only country to place an emphasis on seemingly irrelevant back stories, most notably of deaths. Second: the U.S. does not only apply this type of reporting to coverage of American athletes. In fact, NBC recently released two heart-wrenching stories about Canadians. One was published on its website and described the meaningful relationship between figure skater Patrick Chan and his old coach, who passed away nine years ago (http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/patrick-chans-program-tribute-former-coach). The other was aired during the men’s moguls, and concerned Alex Bilodeau, whose brother lives with cerebral palsy. Both reports not only focused on personal stories for each athlete, but also dealt with the subjects in a positive manner. Thus, the third thing I have realized is that in some cases this reporting style could be beneficial to the athletes. Patrick Chan was able to honor his beloved coach, and Alex Bilodeau was able to honor his supportive brother. Even Bode Miller, whose interrogation by Christin Cooper could hardly have been pleasant (he sank to the ground, remaining in a near-fetal position until his wife came to comfort him) has benefited from the media frenzy. Suddenly a man who holds numerous skiing titles, and whose new wife is not the mother of his newborn child, seems almost human. Miller went on record saying that he had no qualms with Cooper following the interview. “I feel terrible that she is taking the heat for that because it really is just a heat of the moment kind of circumstance,” he said in an interview with NBC’s Matt Lauer, “and I don’t think there was any harm intended,” (http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/17/sports/olympics/nbc-pushes-too-far-in-bringing-bode-miller-to-tears.html?src=me&_r=0). Since the Lauer interview I’ve been wondering how Miller could make such a statement. It’s one thing to gloss over the topic during an interview with the network responsible for the original incident. But Miller actually defended Cooper prior to the second interview in a Twitter post, writing “I appreciate everyone sticking up for me. Please be gentle w christin cooper, it was crazy emotional and not all her fault. #heatofthemoment” (https://twitter.com/MillerBode/status/435289844190031872). Yet when you look at the comments, it all becomes clearer. Sawyer Pangborn wrote “Class act. Thanks for representing the US!” Kyle Weitz wrote “so much respect for you man, & that’s an understatement. It’s nice seeing that you’re human, just like us. USA!!” (https://twitter.com/MillerBode/status/435289844190031872). In a moment of weakness, Miller strengthened his overall reputation.

What if we are seeing this situation all wrong? What if it’s the athletes who subtly provide these nuggets of heartbreak who are really to blame? Of course, it should not be forgotten that the news sources still make a choice to use this material, but what if these sources are mere messengers rather than ruthless investigators? In any case, it is clear that there is manipulation taking place, whether it is the media baiting viewers, athletes baiting the media, or some combination thereof. Honestly, all I wanted to see were the sports.

Works Cited

Bailey, Sarah Pulliam. "NBC's Bode Miller Interview: Good Reporting Can Be Hard to Watch." The 
     Atlantic 19 Feb. 2014, Entertainment: n. pag. The Atlantic. Web. 22 Feb. 2014. 
     <http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/02/ 
     nbcs-bode-miller-interview-good-reporting-can-be-hard-to-watch/283923/>. 
Brockes, Emma. "Sochi's best human interest stories really will restore your faith in humanity." 
     Guardian 19 Feb. 2014: n. pag. The Guardian. Web. 22 Feb. 2014. 
     <http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/19/sochi-best-human-interest-stories>. 
Gibson, Owen. "Bode Miller makes history in Sochi but thoughts are with his late brother." 
     Guardian 16 Feb. 2014: n. pag. The Guardian. Web. 22 Feb. 2014. 
     <http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/feb/16/bode-miller-history-sochi-brother>. 
Hart, Simon. "Winter Olympics 2014: Team GB men's curling captain plots medal redemption in Sochi." 
     Telegraph 30 Jan. 2014: n. pag. The Telegraph. Web. 22 Feb. 2014. 
     <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/winter-olympics/10608274/ 
     Winter-Olympics-2014-Team-GB-mens-curling-captain-plots-medal-redemption-in-Sochi.html>. 
Miller, Bode. "I appreciate everyone sticking up for me. Please be gentle w christin cooper, it was 
     crazy emotional and not all her fault. #heatofthemoment." 16 Feb. 2014, 9:49 p.m. Tweet. 
     <https://twitter.com/MillerBode/status/435289844190031872>. 
"NBC on Bode Miller interview: 'We're fine with it.'" Fox Sports. Fox, 19 Feb. 2014. Web. 22 Feb. 
     2014. <http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/story/ 
     nbc-defends-bode-miller-interview-christin-cooper-tears-furor-question-over-dead-brother-chelone-0219 
     14>. 
Pangborn, Sawyer. "@MillerBode Class act. Thanks for representing the US!" 16 Feb. 2014, 10:29 p.m. 
     Tweet. <https://twitter.com/spangborn/status/435300038177083392>. 
"Patrick Chan's program a tribute to former coach." NBC Olympics. N.p., 30 Jan. 2014. Web. 22 Feb. 
     2014. <http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/patrick-chans-program-tribute-former-coach>. 
Sandomir, Richard. "NBC Pushes Too Far in Bringing Bode Miller to Tears." New York Times 17 Feb. 
     2014, TV Sports: Sochi: n. pag. The New York Times. Web. 22 Feb. 2014. 
     <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/17/sports/olympics/ 
     nbc-pushes-too-far-in-bringing-bode-miller-to-tears.html?src=me&_r=1>. 
Weitz, Kyle. "@MillerBode so much respect for you man, & that's an understatement. It's nice seeing 
     that you're human, just like us. USA!!" 16 Feb. 2014, 9:51 p.m. Tweet. <https://twitter.com/ 
     MillerBode/status/435289844190031872>. 
Zaytsev, Leo. "Pavel Datsyuk: Intellectual might of the Red Machine." Rossiyskaya Gazeta: n. pag. 
     Russia: Beyond the Headlines. Web. 22 Feb. 2014. <http://sochi2014.rbth.ru/ 
     pavel_datsyuk_intellectual_might_of_the_red_machine>. 
Zeitchik, Steven. "Sochi Olympics TV moment: Pikus-Pace and the too-personal problem." Los Angeles 
     Times 15 Feb. 2014: n. pag. Los Angeles Times. Web. 22 Feb. 2014. 
     <http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/ 
     la-et-st-sochi-olympics-noelle-pikus-pace-skeleton-medal-20140215,0,2473796.story#axzz2tsj5RlsQ>.

False Truths

News might once have been the playground of yellow journalism, but today such a notion is assumed to be a fantasy of the past. Perhaps this assumption is not entirely correct. Over the past week, The New York Times has published a number of articles that, upon closer inspection, appear to serve larger purposes than just informing the public. For example, take a look at the article titled “No ‘Mary Poppins,’ School Chief Honed Blunt Style Over 40 Years,” by Javier C. Hernández and Al Baker (http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/15/nyregion/no-mary-poppins-schools-chief-honed-blunt-style-over-40-years.html?hpw&rref=education&_r=0). The introduction is innocent enough, retelling an anecdote about a no nonsense educator and her steady rise to prominence. But then the reader finds this sentence:

“When Mayor Bill de Blasio introduced Ms. Fariña, 70, as head of the Education Department, he praised her record as a 40-year veteran of the school system, rising from a sprightly teacher in working-class Brooklyn to a top official. His choice represented a sharp departure from the education policies of former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who placed an emphasis on test scores and appointed leaders with corporate savvy.”

It would be one thing if the article was about Ms. Fariña’s promotion to head of the Education Department, but in fact the article seems to be more of a tribute to Fariña’s career in general. So why then does the reader need to know information like “[de Blasio’s] choice represented a sharp departure from the education policies of former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg…?”

Later in the article the authors write, “[Fariña] has  sharpened her critique of those years, vowing, along with Mr. de Blasio, to reduce the emphasis on standardized testing. ‘It’s taken us down the wrong road,’ the mayor said in introducing Ms. Fariña last month at a Brooklyn middle school. ‘We’re going to do all we can to roll that back to focus on the best quality teaching.'” Sure, this quote reflects positively on Fariña, implying that she understands what the best quality of teaching is. But when juxtaposed with the earlier quote about the new mayor’s work to deemphasize test scores, this entire section reads like a political speech from de Blasio! First the reader learns that Mr. de Blasio is on a better very different path from his predecessor (do I hear reelection?). Second, the reader is informed that de Blasio has vowed “to reduce the emphasis on standardized testing” because it has “‘taken us down the wrong road.'” Finally, we receive the mayor’s promise that he and his administration will “‘do all we can to roll that back to focus on the best quality teaching.'”

Another interesting article was “Cost of Cool in India? An iPhone,” by Saritha Rai (http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/13/business/international/cost-of-cool-in-india-an-iphone.html).This time, the endorsement wasn’t so subtle, first appearing directly in the title. Although said title does not specify whether the iPhone is the “cost” or the “cool,” neither epithet particularly detracts from the iPhone’s reputation. If the phone is cool, then the title represents direct advertising of the product. If the phone represents the cost (its use here implying that it’s a higher cost rather than a lower cost), then the phone represents something valuable, a status symbol.

http://newlaunches.com/archives/4th_generation_iphone_may_have_5mp_camera_more_on_apple_tablet.php

From one angle, the story is merely about the rapidly changing cellphone use in India. According to the article, cheaper goods like 75 cent pizzas have made India an impractical location for Apple to win buyers. But things are changing, the author assures us, because “a combination of falling prices, fast 3G speeds and a thriving app ecosystem is fueling the adoption [of apple products] at ripping speeds.” Next come a list of impressive actions that Apple has taken to usher in the “world’s fastest-growing smartphone market.” There’s the story of Chaithra Nayak, who convinced her father to let her get an iPhone after she told him about the great discount offered by Apple if she turned in her old Sony. Was it worth it? According to Ms. Nayak, “‘When I use my blue-colored iPhone, I draw attention.’”

In a third article, the bias lay not in what was written but in what remained unsaid. In “Syria Reports 2 Attacks on Chemical Arms Sites” by Nick Cumming-Bruce and Rick Gladstone (http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/09/world/middleeast/syria-chemical-arms.html), the authors repetitively stress the danger of the weapons and the success that the UN has had in removing them. Interestingly the prime piece of information, “insurgents had assaulted two storage sites for some of the deadly chemical weapons components it has pledged to eliminate,” was provided by the Syrian government, an organization which directly benefits from the UN’s involvement. How is anyone to know that the attack was actually genuine? The article even admits that “It was the first time the Syrian authorities had reported such attacks in the three months since an international effort began to sequester and purge the country of the banned munitions.”

Nevertheless, the article continues full speed ahead, saying that “The attacks, if confirmed, underscore the difficulties in securing and destroying the chemical weapons in the midst of a civil war…” Perhaps it was hoped that this assurance would pacify those who highlight the Western blunders in the Syrian conflict. It’s difficult to be certain, but what is clear is that the entire article is based upon a fairly shaky assumption of accuracy that the article itself admits could be fraudulent.

Ideally, news should be something inform the public reader without bias. At least in the case of these articles, it seems like the Times has failed in this mission over the past week.

Works Cited:

Cumming-Bruce, Nick, and Rick Gladstone. “Syria Reports 2 Attacks on Chemical
Arms Sites.” The New York Times [New York] 8 Jan. 2014: n. pag. Print.

Hernández, Javier C., and Al Baker. “No ‘Mary Poppins,’ School Chief Honed
Blunt Style over 40 Years.” The New York Times [New York] 14 Jan. 2014: n.
pag. Print.

Rai, Saritha. “Cost of Cool in India?” The New York Times [New York] 12 Jan.
2014: n. pag. Print.

Real Illusions

One day I entered my room to find that someone had placed an old photograph of me on my dresser. It depicted a fourth grade me standing by a tree, my hand resting awkwardly on the cragged brown trunk, a quiet smile sitting on my round face. I hadn’t thought about that day in a long time. It had been in early June, when the sun was neither forgetful nor angry, and when the gentle breeze rustled the overgrown grass in a nearby meadow. It had all been wasted. Instead of taking advantage of the weather, my class was lined up before the tree, fidgeting in place as we waited for our turn to be photographed. I found myself wondering what the inventor of the photograph would have thought of such a display. An invention to record reality, used to remember a lie.

But in the end none of that matters, because in the photograph I am smiling next to a large tree on a sunny day. That statement may sound sarcastic, but I assure you that I’m being sincere. The photograph was taken so long ago that I am more inclined to trust my eyes than my memory. When I see the picture now, I reminisce about the bright moments of my childhood, even though in truth the picture represents impatience, boredom and a need to go to the bathroom.

According to Susan Sontag “As photographs give people an imaginary possession of a past that is unreal, they also help people to take possession of space in which they are insecure.” (Sontag, 3).  Regarding the photo I mentioned, her first assertion seems to ring true. At the moment, I still recall the circumstances surrounding the creation of the photo, but in the future that may no longer be the case. What information will I have left, except the clues that the photo provides me? What about Sontag’s second assertion? The quote implies that the “space in which [one is] insecure” is the section of the past that the photograph lies about. I would argue that my photo does not fulfill this second objective, because it does not negate an insecurity. Perhaps one could claim that looking back on my younger self emphasizes how I’ve changed, physically and mentally, to increase my self-confidence in the present. But this empowerment is unrelated the lie that the photo projects, and thus such an argument seems like a bit of a stretch.

As I scroll through my photo library today, I can find many more pictures that defy Sontag’s requirements. In most of the photos that I’m in, I am smiling. Even if the smile is not covering up a negative emotion, such as impatience in the earlier example, it usually still represents a falsity. I did not just happen to be standing in the field of the camera, smiling at the exact location of the camera. While this is not necessarily a lie, considering I could be legitimately happy in the picture, it doesn’t seem to be the complete truth either. Yet, none of these smiling photographs help me “take possession of a space in which I am insecure.” They are only meant to serve as memories, or “souvenirs” as Sontag later puts it, of my past.

Allow me to pose a further question: are the oldest photos more truthful than newer photos? Around the time that photographs were invented, and even before then during the time of the daguerrotype, a number of images, like the one below, portrayed people with neutral or even unhappy facial expressions.

In fact in this photo, the boy on the far left appears to be glaring at the viewer. Could this then be a more truthful representation of reality? Aside from the true emotions of the boy, whatever they may be, he has likely been standing in the same place for a prolonged amount of time. And even if the setup did not occur naturally, the very act of posing for the photo has become the reality.

Sontag argues that the very act of taking a picture interferes with reality. But the faster the picture can be taken, the weaker its interference. Even the slowest digital camera today can capture images in a matter of seconds, fast enough to capture the spontaneity of a fleeting expression. Yet it is the older photos that more heavily interfere with reality that better represent reality. This idea leads to a startling conclusion: to truly capture reality, the camera must either not interfere with the subject whatsoever, or else it must interfere to the greatest extent possible. In other words, reality must either be untouched, or invented.

Setting aside still photos for a moment, what are the implications of this idea on film? Even if fictional films are not true, could they nevertheless be just as real as documentaries? This conclusion is confusing without a better distinction between the notion of truth and reality. Perhaps truth must always be real, but reality must not always be truthful. After all, a fictional film is really just an elaborate form of illusion. Although the actions of the characters many be real in the sense that they are occurring for the camera, they likely occur for different motives than those dictated by the story. Things get even more complicated when computer graphics are taken into account; the actions can exist but be neither real nor truthful.

What’s important to realize, however, is that whether photographs are real or truthful, they can portray the illusion of both. In addition, the level at which they portray these illusions depends heavily upon the context. As I mentioned earlier, the picture of me from fourth grade feels more legitimate now than it did when it was taken. On the other hand, people who are conditioned by the rapid shutter speed of today’s cameras may believe that the older photo above seems more staged. Perhaps the ultimate lesson of this confusing journey is that reality is a fickle friend.

Work Cited

Sontag, Susan. On Photography. N.p.: Macmillan, 1977. Print.

Answers for “A Martian Reports”

Walking

Drinking through a straw until the drink is all gone

Stain-glass windows

Carving sculptures out of stone

Using a video camera (or a regular camera)

(My favorite) laughing

COMING SOON!

You’ve read the blog. Now have it for your own. Coming soon is the book the world has been waiting for. The Best of SCRIBERE: A Writer’s Blog Volume 1 will soon be available through online order. A fresh new collection of the greatest writings from SCRIBERE’s vast archive of over one hundred fifteen works, hand picked by the author himself! Also includes a never before seen introduction and afterword. For a very reasonable price, you can purchase your very own high quality copy of the stories, musings, and poetry you love. Keep your eye out for updates in the near future.

A preliminary model of the new cover!

100 posts

This week, I accomplished a milestone I’d been eagerly anticipating for months. One hundred posts. It sounds so impressive when you say it aloud. One hundred times I pressed the little blue Publish button on the side panel. Over one hundred times I clicked the New Post, Edit, and Update buttons. And now here I sit, looking with a great deal of fondness on the project I raised from a fledgling little blog into my favorite website of the entire world-wide web. As I said in my ‘Welcome’ article, “a combination of inspiration, determination, luck and maybe even insanity will drive this carriage through the uncharted woods of the unknown. Never fear though, for I’m sure wherever we’ll find ourselves will be interesting.” It certainly has been a fun ride, with five full length serials, twenty-three works of poetry, and over thirty different “Musings.” There were people who doubted that I’d ever reach this point. It was a logical doubt. How could I, a pitiful amateur writer with nothing more than a so-called “dream” and a keyboard, make it this far? With all the distractions of modern society, there never seems to be time for just writing for pleasure. Still others said that while I might make it to one hundred posts, that would be all for me. That it would be too big a marker to push past. I’m here to prove them wrong as well. In fact I have already done so. What you are reading right now is an article, a reflection, an essay, and most importantly a published post. The one hundred and first post. I have already broken the barrier, and now I’m working to push into the future.

The carriage might have reached a sign post in the road, but the ride is far from over. As we speak – or rather I speak – or actually you speak as you read what I spoke for you to speak – (what?) – I am working on a variety of new and exciting pieces that I will publish as soon as I am able. But for now I just want to take a moment and thank you, the loyal reader, for listening to what I have to say. Your dedication is my inspiration.

– The Writer