Girls are Not for Sale

This isn't necessarily a media post, but this isn't necessarily a media blog. Necessarily.

I just got done watching a sobering documentary on (child) prostitution in the states. I put (child) in parentheses because the truth is, most prostitutes fall into that position before they turn 18.

Very Young Girls-
Produced by Showtime, 2008


The filmakers didn't have to squeeze fake emotion into it, the subject matter itself is powerful enough. Watching these older men completely control these girls is gut wrenching, but even complaining about the effects a film had on me, feels privileged, and foolish, when just these several minutes of footage are not enough for me to even BEGIN to feel what these girls feel.

All I can say is,

This is one of the most disgusting things that happens, and unlike so many global humanitarian crises, this is just a subway stop or a freeway ride away from your seat.

The world is full of disgusting things. Some things just shouldn't happen, and exploring these subjects, one feels a deep well of injustice that goes on forever beneath your feet...piquing curiosity along with the outrage...

A Prayer for Forgiveness

Lord of Journalism, Forgive me, for I have Sinned, in Not reading the New York Times today as I have promised myself I would, Every day, but let it be known, that if there were WiFi on the Subway, I would have Perused during my Insanely Long Commute, but that Alas! I am Broke as Shit today and do not want to spend the mere $1.25 (and More expensive Hassle of Carrying it around) on such a thing, and let my homework Sneak up and Bite my Timing in the Ass, and Lord,

Forgive me, do not curse me with

24 hours of being out

of
s
tep

with the fastpaced coolness of daily readings.

Amen.


(Normal nonfreak English version: I planned on updating this every day with some comment on something I read there, but will start that project TOMORROW. Promise, K? I PROMISE. PINKY SWEAR.)

Masturbating the Eye

I am so psyched, my media class is taught by this dude Stuart Ewen who is using his own self-written textbook, but it's a great one so far, he's a total pattern-addict. Either that or all of media studies is that fun to read, McLuhan not being the last to think in such fun, crazy, airy ways.

In the introduction there is a quote, that makes me giggle and love this academic bullshit so much.

"In 1930, the French surrealist writer Georges Duhamel described the visual media of the United States as defined by 'flashes, repetitions, and explosions...conceived to excite the reflexes...a kind of masturbation of the eye.'"
-Ewen, "All Consuming Images"


Ahahah. Try to get that quote out of your head next time you watch Fox News or a music video. It makes my eye hurt, actually, imagining rubbing it so hard.