So, I write casually...very casually and some of you have seen my other blog where this actually comes into play a bit. However, I was reading a blog of a friend, Ellen, and she made some interesting points that made me think about myself as a writer. The media I take in, influences what and how I write. If I'm listening to a piece of music that is particularly moving for me at that time, I'll end up writing in that tone and often with those same emotions. Or, I'll find music with those emotions prevalent in order to write them clearer. We were talking maybe a couple weeks ago? I'm not sure when anymore, and she asked me about my writing:
Ellen: whaddabout you, doin any writing outside of RBC lately? <.<
ashley: Just Abyss I'm not a -real- writer. I just write what comes to mind when it does.
Ellen: pfft, and "real" writers dont? >.>
She had a very valid point. Maybe I do need to work on cleaning up my writing and actually making something of it. I've worked in bookstores for seven years now, I know the market, but is it worth it?
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
.::. Socialization: The Dark Embrace .::.
The Dark Embrace: A Study in Virtual Socialization
Ashley Literski Fall 2009
Internet gaming has become a multi-billion dollar industry. The game World of Warcraft boasts over 10 million players worldwide (Blizzard, 2008). According to the literature on internet addictions, particularly those that are based upon MMORPG or MMOG(Massive Multi-player Online Game) communities, these sites tend to attract adolescents who are more inclined towards deviant and socially unacceptable behaviors (Choi & Kim, 2004). It makes sense that adolescents who do not feel they belong in the social circles available to them in their local communities would seek out peer attachments through other means.
Feelings of social acceptance and belonging to a group are vital to the self-esteem and identity formation of adolescents. (Coyne, 2009) We see this evident nationally as well as on a local level. Adolescents form peer groups of cliques and crowds in order to fulfill this need for personal affirmation and acceptance. Cliques are characterized by small groups of between 2-12 people. Crowds are characterized by large, loosely organized groups composed of several cliques (Coyne, 2009). In a time of their lives that is so devoted to developing a personal identity, peer groups become priceless to adolescents. There are many sources for forming these cliques or crowds such as school teams, clubs, organizations, religious affiliations, and personal interests that are held in common with one another.
Sociability was defined by Georg Simmel (1949) as “… the sheer pleasure of the company of others.”
In an effort to expand upon Simmel’s work regarding sociability, Ray Oldenburg(1989) analyzed the places where sociable interactions tend to take place. These places are referred to as “third places” by Oldenburg. “A third place is a mixer.’’ (Oldenburg, 1989, p. xvii).
Using these definitions for the terms one can see how MMORPG (Massive Multi-player Role Playing Game) communities can be considered the catalyst acting as a mixer for social interactions. MMORPGs create an anonymous third place that is designed for social interactions. Many virtual communities are based around those of common interest, such as “Anime’s” and “the Jocks” in schools, allowing for group identity formation within the online community context. The anonymity allows one to act however and be whoever they wish to be. This detached environment seems to be ideal for those who are seeking social acceptance and not receiving that sense of belonging from their peer groups within school environments or communities. This is particularly true of adolescents who are going through a time of major transition and identity formation, as this form of online interaction lends itself to a feeling of anonymity.
Ashley Literski Fall 2009
Internet gaming has become a multi-billion dollar industry. The game World of Warcraft boasts over 10 million players worldwide (Blizzard, 2008). According to the literature on internet addictions, particularly those that are based upon MMORPG or MMOG(Massive Multi-player Online Game) communities, these sites tend to attract adolescents who are more inclined towards deviant and socially unacceptable behaviors (Choi & Kim, 2004). It makes sense that adolescents who do not feel they belong in the social circles available to them in their local communities would seek out peer attachments through other means.
Feelings of social acceptance and belonging to a group are vital to the self-esteem and identity formation of adolescents. (Coyne, 2009) We see this evident nationally as well as on a local level. Adolescents form peer groups of cliques and crowds in order to fulfill this need for personal affirmation and acceptance. Cliques are characterized by small groups of between 2-12 people. Crowds are characterized by large, loosely organized groups composed of several cliques (Coyne, 2009). In a time of their lives that is so devoted to developing a personal identity, peer groups become priceless to adolescents. There are many sources for forming these cliques or crowds such as school teams, clubs, organizations, religious affiliations, and personal interests that are held in common with one another.
Sociability was defined by Georg Simmel (1949) as “… the sheer pleasure of the company of others.”
In an effort to expand upon Simmel’s work regarding sociability, Ray Oldenburg(1989) analyzed the places where sociable interactions tend to take place. These places are referred to as “third places” by Oldenburg. “A third place is a mixer.’’ (Oldenburg, 1989, p. xvii).
Using these definitions for the terms one can see how MMORPG (Massive Multi-player Role Playing Game) communities can be considered the catalyst acting as a mixer for social interactions. MMORPGs create an anonymous third place that is designed for social interactions. Many virtual communities are based around those of common interest, such as “Anime’s” and “the Jocks” in schools, allowing for group identity formation within the online community context. The anonymity allows one to act however and be whoever they wish to be. This detached environment seems to be ideal for those who are seeking social acceptance and not receiving that sense of belonging from their peer groups within school environments or communities. This is particularly true of adolescents who are going through a time of major transition and identity formation, as this form of online interaction lends itself to a feeling of anonymity.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
.::. Books .::.
So...since I forgot to post this last week...
My favorite book as a child is a bit of a hard question for me to answer. I tended to have obsessions over certain books for certain periods of time. I was quite fond of The Chamber by John Grisham, and the BFG by Roald Dahl, as well as anything by Edgar Allan Poe or H.P. Lovecraft. I think for the longest duration my favorite book was my collected works of Edgar Allan Poe, so I will describe this one. Edgar Allan Poe was considered the father of the American gothic genre. He, along with H.P. Lovecraft, who was considered to be another founding father of the American horror or gothic genre of writing, opened up a new world or psychological awareness. Through reading his work one began to think differently. You could not know what was lurking beneath the floor boards. You did not know whether the sound of the Tell Tale Heart was in your mind, originating from guilt, or if it truly did beat by the force of some otherworldly power.
My favorite book now, is not much different to be honest. I cannot say that I regularly reread books once I have read them. Unfortunately, with working in a bookstore I don’t have the time to reread old favorites as we are always getting in new books that need to be read and familiarized. However, the book that I will bring down to read when I am in need of enlightenment or to just feel good is still my Collected works of Edgar Allan Poe. There is just something about it that lifts my spirits. It makes me laugh, smile, and think. I love being able to analyze the personalities, how they tick, and why they work mentally. I think now it has become a passion for me because it is largely interactive even though the books, poems, letters and tales contained within were written far before my time.
For me this book is breath of fresh air when I am choking in the noxious fumes of reality. When worries or cares weigh too heavily upon me I can pull it down from the shelf and read a little bit that allows me to think about another way of living. It helps me escape from the present cares and even helps me to think of them in a different light. I have written many a paper with H.P Lovecraft or Edgar Allan Poe at my side, allowing me to better analyze whatever research I am working on or concepts I am trying to understand at any given time.
I remember reading these books as I went through hard times in my life, and the writings encouraging me to work through my own emotions through writing poetry. I wanted to write poems like Edgar Allan Poe. I wanted people to see many different meanings in my writing. It’s what drew me to writing lyrics for music, and to me becoming published with a few of my poems. These books gave me something to strive for, and felt like I got a look into the mind of a dear friend who would not disappear on me one day. I knew the books would always be there, and the emotions within would be there to console my own inner storms.
My favorite book as a child is a bit of a hard question for me to answer. I tended to have obsessions over certain books for certain periods of time. I was quite fond of The Chamber by John Grisham, and the BFG by Roald Dahl, as well as anything by Edgar Allan Poe or H.P. Lovecraft. I think for the longest duration my favorite book was my collected works of Edgar Allan Poe, so I will describe this one. Edgar Allan Poe was considered the father of the American gothic genre. He, along with H.P. Lovecraft, who was considered to be another founding father of the American horror or gothic genre of writing, opened up a new world or psychological awareness. Through reading his work one began to think differently. You could not know what was lurking beneath the floor boards. You did not know whether the sound of the Tell Tale Heart was in your mind, originating from guilt, or if it truly did beat by the force of some otherworldly power.
My favorite book now, is not much different to be honest. I cannot say that I regularly reread books once I have read them. Unfortunately, with working in a bookstore I don’t have the time to reread old favorites as we are always getting in new books that need to be read and familiarized. However, the book that I will bring down to read when I am in need of enlightenment or to just feel good is still my Collected works of Edgar Allan Poe. There is just something about it that lifts my spirits. It makes me laugh, smile, and think. I love being able to analyze the personalities, how they tick, and why they work mentally. I think now it has become a passion for me because it is largely interactive even though the books, poems, letters and tales contained within were written far before my time.
For me this book is breath of fresh air when I am choking in the noxious fumes of reality. When worries or cares weigh too heavily upon me I can pull it down from the shelf and read a little bit that allows me to think about another way of living. It helps me escape from the present cares and even helps me to think of them in a different light. I have written many a paper with H.P Lovecraft or Edgar Allan Poe at my side, allowing me to better analyze whatever research I am working on or concepts I am trying to understand at any given time.
I remember reading these books as I went through hard times in my life, and the writings encouraging me to work through my own emotions through writing poetry. I wanted to write poems like Edgar Allan Poe. I wanted people to see many different meanings in my writing. It’s what drew me to writing lyrics for music, and to me becoming published with a few of my poems. These books gave me something to strive for, and felt like I got a look into the mind of a dear friend who would not disappear on me one day. I knew the books would always be there, and the emotions within would be there to console my own inner storms.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
.::. Beautiful Thieves & Real Beauty .::.
Ok, I know this may seem monotonous, but this happens to be the media I am consuming at the present, most likely because it happens to be very poignant for me as a person right now. The majority of my friends drink, smoke, and do a vast variety of other things that aren't in conjunction with the standards I live and have given my word to obey via the Honor Code as a BYU student. However, I do have a group of friends who consider themselves to be Straight Edge. This is a pretty accurate description according to them on wiki, so I'm linking to it. A discussion on the new AFI music video brought this up. I really would show this video at like a Standards Night for YW. It's absolutely beautiful to me. I think it's a really good example and it speaks really strongly to me about keeping your standards and what you believe in. I think this is largely applicable to the media we consume. If you watch the band isn't partying, sexing it up, drinking, ect like the other people are. Each of the band members are taunted by something that is against their standards and they deny it choosing not to poison themselves with these things. And Davey (the lead singer) actually poisons the wine. To me, it's saying that though we are told
"My dear there is no danger" These things will poison our lives.
And as I heard people talking about it in class, that blogs were boring without pictures or videos, I'm including the video here for you to see yourself.
Lyrics:
My dear there is no danger
Can't you see they turn blind eyes
To we swift and spot lit strangers?
Oh before the rush is over
We will be revered again
While the victims still recover
Oh!
If we run this light
Take a little life
No one will care at all
Oh!
We can burn it and leave
For we are the beautiful thieves
No one suspects at all
No one suspects
Ah
Oh,
Are we running towards death?
I have met him times before
He adores us like the rest
Oh even if we're discovered
Just be sure to wear your best
We will surely make the covers
Oh!
If we run this light
Take a little life
No one will care at all
Oh!
We can burn it and leave
For we are the beautiful thieves
No one suspects at all
No one suspects
Who would run for cover?
Who would run from us?
Who would run for cover?
Who would run from us?
Oh!
If we run this light
Take a little life
No one will care at all
Oh!
We can burn it and leave
For we are the beautiful thieves
No one suspects at all
No one suspects at all
If we run this light
Take a little life
No one will care at all
Oh!
We can burn it and leave
For we are the beautiful thieves
No one suspects at all
No one suspects
"My dear there is no danger" These things will poison our lives.
And as I heard people talking about it in class, that blogs were boring without pictures or videos, I'm including the video here for you to see yourself.
Lyrics:
My dear there is no danger
Can't you see they turn blind eyes
To we swift and spot lit strangers?
Oh before the rush is over
We will be revered again
While the victims still recover
Oh!
If we run this light
Take a little life
No one will care at all
Oh!
We can burn it and leave
For we are the beautiful thieves
No one suspects at all
No one suspects
Ah
Oh,
Are we running towards death?
I have met him times before
He adores us like the rest
Oh even if we're discovered
Just be sure to wear your best
We will surely make the covers
Oh!
If we run this light
Take a little life
No one will care at all
Oh!
We can burn it and leave
For we are the beautiful thieves
No one suspects at all
No one suspects
Who would run for cover?
Who would run from us?
Who would run for cover?
Who would run from us?
Oh!
If we run this light
Take a little life
No one will care at all
Oh!
We can burn it and leave
For we are the beautiful thieves
No one suspects at all
No one suspects at all
If we run this light
Take a little life
No one will care at all
Oh!
We can burn it and leave
For we are the beautiful thieves
No one suspects at all
No one suspects
Saturday, February 6, 2010
.::. Music .::.
So after class, I've been thinking about how much I use music media in my life. I listen to music at work the whole time I am at work, though it's always LDS artists who we are featuring at the time. I listen to music on the way to and from work, and to and from class usually non-LDS artists though they do occasionally come up on my shuffle. I direct the ward choir, and sing in other choirs. Music is part of my life nearly every moment. Only when I'm in class am I not listening to music. Even while I sleep I often have music going to drown out the other noises that creep me out at night. I'm beginning to think I'm addicted to music.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
.::.Crash Love.::..
A bit of a continuance from what I was talking about before...I just came across this interview with the band AFI, who yes I do readily buy into their advertising and whatnot. Without a doubt, however with good reason.
http://totalassault.com/assets/?team_id=393
http://totalassault.com/assets/?team_id=393
AFI
CRASH LOVE
Davey Havok - Vocals
Jade Puget - Guitar
Hunter Burgan - Bass
Adam Carson - Drums
"Crash Love is certainly not a concept album or rock opera by any stretch, but the songs are generally connected by a greater theme... The album title itself can be construed as a command, as a destructive kind of love, or as a desire for a relationship that's heading inevitably toward disaster or flameout. The lyrics of some songs trace an arc from adoration to the desire to tear down the object of affection. These songs are written from perspectives both sympathetic and critical, as well from both the inside the relationship and outside."--Davey Havok
Crash Love, AFI's eighth full length studio album, due out September 29 on DGC/Interscope, is indeed informed not only by the ever-evolving chemistry between the musicians in the band but also by the members' personal lives and perhaps most of all by the always intense relationship between AFI and its fans. The latter has intensified considerably over the most recent of AFI's 18 years as a band, with 2006's decemberunderground entering the chart at #1 with first week sales of nearly 200,000 and subsequent sold out shows at the Long Beach Arena and Bill Graham Civic as well as appearances on Saturday Night Live and at Live Earth--not to mention 2003's Sing The Sorrow going platinum. These experiences were bound to have an impact on four kids from Ukiah, California who formed a rudimentary punk band in 1991 with aspirations of playing in the SF Bay Area and possibly releasing a few singles and an LP or two.
"The record is really more about how the great attraction to inappropriately shared intimacies, carefully constructed personas, and the loss of a sense of self can affect an entire world," Havok explains. "As well as how this loss of self is sought after rather than resisted... With today's media, we have such quick and pervasive access to the trivia of anyone's lives. Everything is intensified and indulged, this desire and ability to know everything you possibly can about anyone, from what thread-count bedsheets they sleep in to whether or not they believe in ghosts."
While Crash Love is the first AFI record to feature such prevalent sociopolitical and observational perspectives, the darkly personal AFI lyrical strain is distinctly present on standout tracks like "Medicate" and its stark portrait of a user/enabler relationship, as well as throughout the ill fated death ride scenario of "End Transmission." Elsewhere, the newer approach shines on the self-explanatory "Darling I Want To Destroy You," "Veronica Sawyer Smokes" with couples Jade Puget's Smiths-esque guitar signatures with a tale of heartbreak brought on by disappointment with a teen idol, "Beautiful Thieves" with its privileged characters whose actions carry no consequences, and "Too Shy To Scream" which sets yearning, distanced adorations against the backdrop of a drumline-inspired shuffle propelled by Hunter Burgan's bass and Adam Carson's drumming.
CRASH LOVE
Davey Havok - Vocals
Jade Puget - Guitar
Hunter Burgan - Bass
Adam Carson - Drums
"Crash Love is certainly not a concept album or rock opera by any stretch, but the songs are generally connected by a greater theme... The album title itself can be construed as a command, as a destructive kind of love, or as a desire for a relationship that's heading inevitably toward disaster or flameout. The lyrics of some songs trace an arc from adoration to the desire to tear down the object of affection. These songs are written from perspectives both sympathetic and critical, as well from both the inside the relationship and outside."--Davey Havok
Crash Love, AFI's eighth full length studio album, due out September 29 on DGC/Interscope, is indeed informed not only by the ever-evolving chemistry between the musicians in the band but also by the members' personal lives and perhaps most of all by the always intense relationship between AFI and its fans. The latter has intensified considerably over the most recent of AFI's 18 years as a band, with 2006's decemberunderground entering the chart at #1 with first week sales of nearly 200,000 and subsequent sold out shows at the Long Beach Arena and Bill Graham Civic as well as appearances on Saturday Night Live and at Live Earth--not to mention 2003's Sing The Sorrow going platinum. These experiences were bound to have an impact on four kids from Ukiah, California who formed a rudimentary punk band in 1991 with aspirations of playing in the SF Bay Area and possibly releasing a few singles and an LP or two.
"The record is really more about how the great attraction to inappropriately shared intimacies, carefully constructed personas, and the loss of a sense of self can affect an entire world," Havok explains. "As well as how this loss of self is sought after rather than resisted... With today's media, we have such quick and pervasive access to the trivia of anyone's lives. Everything is intensified and indulged, this desire and ability to know everything you possibly can about anyone, from what thread-count bedsheets they sleep in to whether or not they believe in ghosts."
While Crash Love is the first AFI record to feature such prevalent sociopolitical and observational perspectives, the darkly personal AFI lyrical strain is distinctly present on standout tracks like "Medicate" and its stark portrait of a user/enabler relationship, as well as throughout the ill fated death ride scenario of "End Transmission." Elsewhere, the newer approach shines on the self-explanatory "Darling I Want To Destroy You," "Veronica Sawyer Smokes" with couples Jade Puget's Smiths-esque guitar signatures with a tale of heartbreak brought on by disappointment with a teen idol, "Beautiful Thieves" with its privileged characters whose actions carry no consequences, and "Too Shy To Scream" which sets yearning, distanced adorations against the backdrop of a drumline-inspired shuffle propelled by Hunter Burgan's bass and Adam Carson's drumming.
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