Survivor: Outwit Outplay Outlearn??

Postmodernism is something I have discussed on this blog a few times. Millions of people will speculate as to where the world will travel from here, and here's one for the pile. Currently many critics would argue that Postmodernism has created mass culture that is targeted towards the lowest common denominator with appeal that is as broad as possible. But where to from here? The only way forward as I see it, is up. I think that this mass culture will create a hunger for higher brow topics to be discussed within the masses. the lowest common denominator will eventually scale the heights of knowledge and cultural value.

Already reality TV which is often regarded as low brow mass entertainment, has drawn huge success from topics that are more culturally valuable. Dancing with the stars has taught children and ill educated housewives the intricacies of the foxtrot and you could often hear the comments on So you think you can dance refferring to the extension of the dancers plie.

Lifestyle shows have become less about prettying up you're patio and more involved with design elements that are motivated by forward thinking culture of design and architecture. (Grand designs on lifestyle is the bomb)

The thing that sparked this blog post was iTunes. They now have a section in iTunes dedicated to University lectures. You can attend classes from the world's best University lecturers. I watched a physics lecture from MIT and actually understood most of it, and it was actually really interesting! Wouldn't it be crazy if through this, these lecturers became famous and were the new celebrity! pretty cool stuff!

anyway here's a youtube I stole from Nic's facebook page a sign of the times perhaps?

Bricks and Mortar Boards

After 5 regularly sized years, I have finally completed my Univeristy education at Sydney Uni. Totally exciting isn't it!

It's times like graduation that make you appreciate going to Sydney Uni. Harry Potter-esque buildings,Harry Potter-esque lawns and a disproportionate level of blonde girls made for a top notch setting for wearing awkwardly fitting clothes and trying to remember that randoms name you took sociology with in first year.. (Seanpaul was it? no idea.)

Oddly enough they offer three guest tickets. I only have two parents so who to take! Bit of miscommunication and last minute invitations my sis got the spare one. Handy that she's also the one that can take photo's isn't it...

On arrival feeling a little uninformed wearing my suit I stroll into uni feeling like those people that have a job interview after a lecture so end up really overdressed. I was at sixes and sevens when I saw a guy in his academic dress, wearing trakkies and a polo underneath... Am I overdressed or is he just a massive battler? (can't believe that guy has a degree)

So I try on my academic dress, and it turns out dress is a good word to describe the colour scheme pale yellow and white. Couldn't it be something a bit tougher? Apparently that's what I get for being a big girl who majored in English and studied Gender studies!

Oddly enough the highlights of the experience were the people I got to sit with. A result of such a huge Uni is that I didn't feel connected to my graduation "class" and it was only by chance that I knew anybody at all! The pre-determined seatins arrangements worked to perfection. To my Right was Corinne who I have known for 22 of my 23 years or thereabouts, and thankfully brought her parents who did well entertaining mine! And to my left was Sean Paul who I began my tertiary journey with. As a pair we formed the least likely people to actually graduate out of our entire class from back in Orange days but there you go we made it!

The great hall lived up to it's name. It has a really high ceiling and big chairs for people to sit in. The academic procession strolled by including the crown on a stick (a massive sceptre I guess) couldn't help but notice none of them had a Liberal studies gown on :( haha!

Spoke to my mate Marie Bashir she seemed quite adept at congratulating people with which she has nothing in common with. "Interesting mix of majors, you have" was a comment made to Sean-Paul (so jealous I only got a congratulations....silence) Afterwards Mum and Corinne's mum Deb got sucked into the occasion and bought everything with Sydney uni on it. Including plaques, teddy bears with mortar boards, photos champagne and a trip to marble bar. After a nice dinner and a quick photo pretending to get in my graduation present Ferrari the culmination of my tertiary education was over. It's funny how throughout Uni, I was a mere number on a transcript (0430519) but to me Uni was a life changing experience. My degree has taught me skills that are helping me daily but it's impact on my view of the world that will resonate within me for years to come.

The Share house with no felafels

Hey guys sorry it's been awhile, I blame a combination of Easter laziness, and a guilt for not writing more important things. (notably my application for masters of business).

Anyway it dawned on me the other day that I live although I remain living in the Family home, the same one I've occupied for going on 15 years, I in fact now live in a share house.

1. My family has progressed from a Young Family (School age) to just a regular "Family" (Kids left school but don't have their own kids) our house is one entirely occupied by adults. This is a cornerstone of a share house. I don't know of any share houses that have kids in them.... If they are they are likely to be those 4 year olds on acid like in that book i read about the 60's in English. (Joan Didion's Live and Learn for those playing at home)

2. People seem to be doing their own thing, coming and going if they miss dinner they get some themselves but if you need a lift to the pub or a shopping buddy, there is usually a housemate there to help out.

3. Household errands are a point where my house strays from a strict share house definition since mum does most of the things that stop us from becoming homeless, but household errands are increasingly delegated to the person with spare time. hen I was at uni I did errands because uni doesn't take much time. It made me feel less like a burden, which was nice but how many times can I visit the Optometrist for contact lenses which aren't mine! Disclaimer: was that a whinge? I hoppe it wasn't too much of a whinge because I really try to avoid it. There's enough whingeing in the world. I think working is making me whinge more often then I would like to.. But I digress

4. House parties at my house typically involve people a combination of My friends and the friends of my housemates rather than exclusively the host's. I like it, You get to meet strangers who might be hot, and you can have you're friends over so you will have people to talk to. It's great!

So there's 4 reasons why I live in a share house. And before I get Flooded with emails..... I am well aware that mum and dad pay for everything and my house is nothing like a share house in that sense (There are still the same arguments over phone bills!)

I wonder if someone moves out if we should rent out their room! that'd be fun!

Bye!

References:

He Died with a felafel in his hands by John Birmingham
Live and Learn by Joan Didion

(Go back to Uni G-Train)

Stop collaborate and listen!

After a recent trip to the US and Billy Joel and Elton John's face to face concert, My brother regailed me with annecdotes of his experience, I couldn't help but notice the highlights tended to be when the two Piano men sang songs made famous by other people. Billy Joel doing a section of journey, and the beach boys were clear highlights and this year's Grammy's was the year of the collaboration. But what is it about collaborations and covers that are so engaging? For me they provide an insight into the person's musical personality. If the chosen cover or collaboration is with an artist you appreciate aswell it's automatically an intimate connection between the audience and the Artist. As most of these events occur live, it's also a unique connection. Audiences are well aware that bands play endless tour dates and end up playing the same songs night after night and want to make their experience a unique one. Covers and collaborations are a great way to do this. At Sound relief, Coldplay used a collaboration with a local legend John Farnham that instantly took their great festival set to a level above. The shared connection between the audience and Coldplay via a shared love of The voice, made for a more intimate relationship that created an atmosphere of uniqueness that is unrivalled. (Shane warne Cameo at the concert was an attempt but....) Other instances include Daft punk and Kanye at the Grammy's, Elton John and Eminem at the MTV award's doing Stan aren't collaborations fun! No Doubt you've heard T.I and jizzle tizzle 's Dead and gone being thrased on the radio is T.I stealing Jizzle Tizzle's coolness? Maybe but hey I had no idea who he was before this song.

ColdPlay Feat Jay-Z- Lost

Eminem Feat Elton John- Stan

That's what she said

That last one was pretty long so here's a website for you. Basically it's a summary of all the music blogs in the world and has all the remixes you hear when you go out. Shout out to Megan for this one



The Hype Machine

Roland Roland Roland Rawhide!

Now it's time for another installment of things I leraned at uni. This one was taught to me in an English Course on Postmodernism but is applicable to broader philosophies of society and culture.

During the height of modernism, popular literature was often seen to be written by well-educated literati, and was often associated as being only accesible to them. From an "Ivory" Tower, literature was used as a device for educated people to write with a degree of introspection that often caused a separation between the writer and the common people. This was extended as a result of most people being unable to read at all. Authors were seen with high regard and there was a distinct barrier between writers and their audience. (Think travel writing, and the Canterbury tales, Chaucer anyone?)

What is Post-modern about that? Well nothing, but it helps to know that to understand the next part.

Fastforward to the 1980s-2009 (learned the other day that the 80s isn't finished yet, i'll keep you psoted). Literacy is close to 100% in western nations, and through the wonders of youtube and reality TV, anyone (including yours truly) can be a writer. The barriers between writers and their audience has been broken down. Where previously it was the role of the author to direct a reader what to take away from their writing, the reader is now empowered to draw meaning from the vast catalogue of information available to them. This was thought up by a guy called Roland Barthes, and named the Death of the Author. Cool stuff.


So where does the death of the Author leave me?

While some would suggest that this has caused a society with a lack of a centre or direction since i'm privaledged enough to be well educated....

I'M FREE!!

Although many will despise the downfall of TV through the reality toilet, the cultural value of such programming is made by YOU! See if you sit there watching SO you think you can dance, and look at the pretty colours and say hey he's a good dancer, the cultural value of that show is still relatively low. If you sit there watching and are discussing the sexual politics between the male and female dancers, and commenting on the use of music and costuming to heighten the choreography's expressiveness, you are gaining significantly higher cultural value!

Now I have an excuse to watch Australian Idol so leave me alone!