Well, as I stated before, I am now in Zanesville, OH, at my grandmother’s house. I believe this is a statement that should be met with a response somewhere along the lines of, “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.” Love my Grandmother though I do, her house and the town in which it exists have to be among the two most boring places on the face of the Earth. This isn’t the kind of place where it’s easy to say “oh, there’s nothing to do” because you don’t happen to find yourself with the gumption to get out of the house and actually go to where the fun is. This is the kind of place that exists as a cultural, intellectual, and diversionary black hole. There really isn’t anything to do. It doesn’t just seem that way – it is that way.
But in light of the fact that I’m somewhat (note I said somewhat, and not completely) determined to not go thoroughly braindead as I waste away in this town for the next couple days. Or next day and a half, really. If nothing else, this place does have a reliable internet connection (albeit dialup), which means I can do things like write emails and update my blog, and in doing so express the general distaste with which I regard my current location.
But enough whining. The reality of the fact that I have actually completed my undergraduate degree continues to settle in. Not that it’s really all that jarring of a transition, but there are certain things that continue to occupy my mind. Such as how to occupy myself until I leave for the AmeriCorps (still assuming they take me – they’d be morons not to), what to do after the end of said engagement, etc. The plan of action that appeals to me most is still the one I described a few entries ago. Specifically, this entails going to Japan to teach English for a year or so after I get out of the AmeriCorps, applying (and hopefully being accepted) to the masters in media arts program at Tokyo Polytechnic, attending that program, and in the mean time completing a few photo projects like a documentary project on traditional makers of woodworking tools (ie chisels, saws, etc). If I could pull it off, it would be sweet. I see no reason not to try. Well, ok, so I see a bunch of reasons not to try, but they’re all stupid, sissy little reasons that I shall not pay attention to. So there.
I made some more flash cards today to help me learn some Kanji. I need to know somewhere in the range of 2,000-2,200 to satisfy the requirements of basic Japanese literacy. That’s a definite kick in the intellectual junk, though I believe not so impossible as it sounds. Just a matter of persistence and establishing some manner of pattern in studying. I’ve got to figure out some kind of good method of going about it and keep up with that particular method. If I go at it in a random way, I’ll never learn the things I need to learn. Do it in a logical way, though, and I may still never learn the things I need to learn. Difference is, though, that with the second (orderly) method I’d definitely be stacking the deck in my favor.
I still haven’t really expressed my desire to study in Japan to my parents. I’m assuming it’ll be met with some amount of resistance, but given that my sister is now in Mongolia with the Peace Corps (and was previously in Kyrgyzstan), and given that I am the only member of my family to not have traveled to a minimum of three continents, I really don’t see how they can logically object to my wanting to pursue a masters degree at a highly-regarded university in what is arguably the most modern city in the world. It would be silliness, I tell you.
In other news, I’m really feeling the desire to try my hand at documentary photography. Granted, I just spent half a day at my grandparents’ house yesterday going through a whole big stack of National Geographic books and magazines, and that will pretty much always instill an urge to do documentary photography in any sentient photographer, but the interest was there to begin with. The urge has always been there. It’s really one of the few things in photography that I haven’t yet tried my hand at. I’ve done still life, product, editorial, portrait, wedding, production stills, and even photojournalism and spot news (thank you AOC in Washington, DC). But I haven’t done documentary photography. This is for several reasons. For one thing, the opportunity just hasn’t presented itself as of yet. OK, so I haven’t really sought it out, but I’ve been busy with school. Also, I’ve been occupied experimenting with other types of photography. And I guess until now I haven’t really had the maturity I think you need in order to approach a long-term documentary project.
But enough with that. Now I’m going to tell you that you need to go out and see the movie Pecker. If you’re a photographer and have seen the movie, then you may well already find yourself a part of the cult following that it has developed. Some movies develop cult followings for reasons I either don’t get or don’t agree with. Others develop cult followings simply because they rock so friggin’ hard. For me, Pecker rock the damn house, but I’m sure it does so to a much greater degree for photographers than it does for any othe demographic. But with lines like “I love you more than Kodak” and “You’re not supposed to have sex with the people you are trying to help” I really don’t see how you can go wrong with it. It’s not for everyone, no, but then nothing is. Anyone interested in photography, anyone who does photography, anyone who has had any exposure to the pretentious bullshit of the art world in general – really just about anyone should enjoy Pecker, I believe. Good stuff. Go watch it.
I’m still trying to find some information regarding a Japanese film I saw over at my friend Dimitri’s house a couple weeks ago. It was a Japanese film that I believe was called Monday. What was it about? Well, I suppose you could say it’s about the single worst blackout ever conceived of. It includes an exploding corpse, freakish demon-looking things, the devil, a shotgun, gangsters, beautiful women, and the kind of bizarre plot progressions and storytelling devices that only Japanese cinema can give you. In a realistic description, I suppose you could say it’s about gun control in some abstract way. Or maybe it’s about how you shouldn’t go through your life never speaking up for yourself. Or maybe it’s about how drinking too much and blacking out is bad. In any case, it was amazing. Seriously, it was AMAZING. I still have no idea who directed it, what it’s title was (assuming that I’m a little off), or (most importantly) where the hell to get a copy. If anyone knows ANYTHING about this movie, please please please please please PLEASE tell me.
