Beauty and the Body

Through out the ages of mankind and across the diverse and varied forms of culture the image of perfection shape shifts through extremes of the many spectrums surrounding the human body. Since the earliest of cultures images of man and woman have been sketched, carved, described and created over and over. A thousand differing concepts to which we should aspire, often concepts that are either immensely difficult to achieve or in some cases impossible. From the larger than life fertility dolls of ancient civilisations to the stick thin models of modern catwalks, the feminine yet powerful beauties of the renaissance to the rugged muscled men of today’s action films.
This strange obsession with image is something that has haunted humanity for a long time and will undoubtedly haunt it further changing with the trends, sometimes several times within relatively short periods of time. For some this focus on looks dominates our lives and for all of us it plays at least some part. Far be it from me to question those minds that create and shape these images, from the artists who portray them to those that follow them. However the ugly other side to this view for beauty is the effect it has on us and our perspectives of those that will no or cannot keep up with the ever-changing visions of right. Too not follow is sacrilege and is responded to with bullying and disgust from outside and from the inside. Often the strains of reaching for the concepts of beauty lead to self-doubt and hate. And what is there that might stop? Over hopeful is the view that we might topple those agents that push pictures of perfection into our lives, though chance that we might dissuade them from one sole image or from the extremes they might reach to. Simpler though is part of the solution as it lies in a simple choice that must be made by all of us. To judge a little less. It is near unfeasible that we could stop judging others as we do moment from moment, partly because some of our judgements occur without our knowledge, however it is possible to judge and question ourselves. To make an acceptance of others, and of ourselves, by accepting that a different way is not a wrong or necessarily a worse way.
The more we come to realise that one image is not the perfect image and that more over it may be an impossible dream, the more we will find happiness in ourselves and others. If we were blind would we care so much that someone’s nose was out of place? Or that a feature was missing? If we were deaf would a peculiarity of voice concern us? Is it not the person that is important? We are incredible, complicated creatures and those things that make us amazing are not our features. Some might argue should we not strive to be healthy in our lives and in this argument there may lie truths and wise words, but the photo-shopped image of the “perfect” people in the glossy pages of magazines and the ever multiplying advertisements that surround us are not always healthy. We live in a world were so much is taken at face value stopping us from looking beneath the surface even just a little. So guided are we by vanity that we all follow rituals in a desperate attempt to fit in somewhere. It does not matter whom your friends are, or what someone might say, nor does the images we see so often hold truth. What matters is who you are and what you are like. Fat, thin, tall or short the many aspects of the physical image, these should not be the prime concerns of our lives. The body in all its forms is beautiful. Everyone has an aspect of beauty within him or her. We must grow to appreciate each other as each other.
Perhaps with a view to a better view of everyone, a focus on personality over physical person the images artists and others carve will become not images of body but of abstract concepts of better humanity.

Unsociable Society

I will admit that of the posts I make in which I may seem to damn some actions I am not myself always innocent, and when it calls will happily admit my guilt. Of this post and the things I shall discuss of many of them I am extremely guilty with. Some might ask if I am so guilty what is my right to preach, my right lies in the acceptance of my guilt and my honest whole hearted desire and action to make right my wrongs.

It is said that the things that made humans the successful creatures (because we are just animals and don’t you forget) is that we interacted with each other in a way sublimely unique. Communication. Though some will point to the menagerie of the world an exclaim “but they have communication!” it is true to an extent, and part of me even wishes to believe that secretly they are in far advance of us, however their communication pails in the face of our abilities. Some might argue that we are at a level of communication never known before with tools once unimaginable at our disposal. So why is it that we seem so incapable of being sociable? It seems more and more as we become fixated with the latest inventions and versions of old technologies the less we care about each other. So happy to sit and watch a computer screen waiting for some one to update rather that going to that person and asking the what they’re up to. This technology almost steals the pleasure of real converse and crudely attempts to replicate it. Texts and tweets lead to abhorrent abuse of language, chopping and changing wherever possible. Face to face is replaced by facebook to facebook and discussion is replaced with chat. With these imposing possibilities to further our online selves our real life selves die and as we develop computer skills we forget the skills of human interaction. I am not going to condemn these technologies because in many ways they are a gift, and they have an amazing potential to help us become more it is merely with misuse (or at least misguided use) that they limit us. The internet and mobile phones and all the other gadgets that force their way into our lives are there to make our lives easier and they can, it is just trying to make them part of our lives than ruling over them. However my concern lies in the evident problems arising in people.

I would like to blame technology for all the issues that are present with communication and social interaction but it is impossible and irresponsible for me to do so. This is because no matter what it is people who are choosing to not interact face to face, to not greet strangers, to not talk. A question of why comes to mind and the only answer I can muster is that there is an infection of today’s society and culture. This infection is the irrational distrust and dislike of anyone you don’t know. It varies in its reasons but it is basically the same in that: I won’t talk to someone because they will undoubtedly react in some way I don’t know. We don’t trust them to react well and we don’t like them for it. And how do we deal with this dilemma? But the simple acceptance that it might not go so badly, in the hope that something good might come from it, and from the simple decision to leave your computer and not answer you phone for fifteen minutes whilst you enjoy a conversation.

This is a topic I am fascinated with and would greatly appreciate comments back on this, or should you see me on the street feel free to just talk to me as I will be endeavouring to talk to more people myself. I also intend to write further on this topic and other similar topics so keep an eye out.

Rights and Riots

The riots have come to an end, what started with a peaceful protest over the questionable shooting of a man in a poor area of London lead to wide spread rioting and Luton in a number of cities within England. It seems that finally nights of burning buildings and violence have come to an end and courts are pushing on through day and night to get convictions with police raiding houses and making arrests. As we look back over the last few days the papers and politicians and those of the general public cry out in disgust at the offenders, words bandy about of their “mindless” and “opportunistic” ways. Few look to the reasons behind them or for the best solution, all most care of is that youths were violent and retribution is required. I do not intend to deny that the violence, rioting, looting and arson are crimes worthy of punishment, I do not intend to wish any less sympathy upon those who have been affected directly or indirectly. I do, however, intend to argue that these incidents arise from situation not mere chance, I do intend to argue that the solutions are complicated and require understanding, and I do intend to argue that these rioters are far from the criminal masterminds or sources of evil as they have been made out to be.

It would very easy to claim as many have that all that has happened has been for gain and the thrill of violence, but I won’t. Though I doubt the majority of the rioters had socio-political and theoretical perspectives burning in their hearts as they burnt down Lidl, I also doubt that there aren’t undercurrents that drive these things, because if the riots were for purely non-political and social reasoning, or at least uninfluenced, then why have they not happened before? When we look at the areas where the rioting flared up they were the poorest of places, when we look at those being filed through courts some are homeless, drug addicts, previous offenders or from generally unenviable backgrounds. We are living in a society where even though there are benefits they don’t necessarily get to the right people, the education system is in a poor manner and the support for those who need is non-existent. Commercialism seems to rule our lives and you cannot help but see an advertisement for that thing that you really need or you life is worthless. Papers are full of stories of celebrities and high flyers and even more advertisements. When actual news is reported it often demonises and ostracises the youth and those who are poorer. The war on the poor remains it’s just a lot more underhanded than when Thatcher was on the attack. People are claiming that these youths have destroyed communities but for them there never was a community. I do not condone their acts but the fact remains we are in a sorry state of affairs that is not their fault.

So how do we react to these thugs and villains? Many call for their imprisonments, a naïve view as prisons only breed criminality, especially as they are currently crowded as it is and won’t get better for the extra hundreds of frustrated youths. There are even calls to cut the life lines that they have, one council is looking to oust any who were involved from their council flats and housing. Because forcing them onto the streets will improve things. And what about these new laws the politicians want to push through. I can understand I guess that police might want to be able to tell potential criminals to pull down their hoods or face masks, but to ban them out right? New restraints to be put on social networking because the minority used them to organise themselves a little, the permanent allowance of the police to use greater force and riot bullets. Those involved must be punished, in cases prison will be the most viable but in many would it not make more sense to have them work unpaid for the government, to rebuild the damaged areas?

Maybe some of you are questioning my liberal perspective, angry with what you have seen. You see the issue here is the crimes are easily seen, the damage real and physical. But if these criminals deserve all that some would have them face what about the bankers who led to the economic crisis and cost more than these riots ever could? What about the many MPs who took money from the tax man to fund their lifestyle? What about the huge amount of tax evasion by the rich? True these people have done damage and hurt people, but they are people themselves.

STRUMPETS!!!!

Sluts in streets not just in Canada and America or London but now in Delhi. Feminism continues it’s relentless push for equality and the abolishment of sexism. Yay and hooray. But quite frankly some of it seems to be pushing for inequality and the encouragement of sexism. Now before one of you psycho bitches tries to take my balls as a trophy I am all in favour of equality of rights and to some extent the abolishment of sexism. I say to some extent because quite frankly sexist comedy is hilarious and in truth at the moment it’s more touted by women against men. So back to the issue at hand, these slut walks are interesting to me on a number of levels. One thing I noted about a number of pictures were the placards claiming the men are apparently all rapists and need to be taught different and that bad fathering will also lead sons to the only inevitable conclusion of rape. Now all this started when a police officer from Toronto said that the provocative clothing worn by some women encourages rape. He was not saying it made rape ok just more likely, and I will firmly say now rape is under no circumstances acceptable or good unless you have a magical cock and to exorcise a demon you need to rape that projectile vomiting 12 year old to send it straight to hell. A large number of people marching though were parading against the more common crime of molesting or making unwanted advances. Also again things I do not condone though on occasion I may be guilty of.

 But I have to take a stand here against the burgeoning power sex feminism (or as it’s some times called sexy feminism or feminism 200) in that it has become the thing it hates just from a different point of view. That’s right, I’m calling you out ladies, and you are becoming as sexist as the Victorian upper classes. I hate to be the one to brake this to you but quit frankly some of you are guilty of molesting and the such, some of you comments are down right discriminatory and quite frankly I’ve had enough of you retarded blame game. Yes you know the one I’m talking about. Men are neither guilty nor responsible for everything bad that’s ever happened to you ever. Now some men certainly are, but I’ve never raped anyone, I’ve never denied a woman what I’ve allowed a man, I am not a sexist, MEN are not sexists, there are individuals who are sexist. More to the point there are men and women who are sexist. And so we come to the bigger point, now I don’t want to attack you, I believe in equality, for all people, and that’s how it should be, not feminism but gender equality. In the modern western society a large number of things are equal and I truly believe we are getting to the stage of tweaking, there are still some things that need changing and the future generations can still advance further than us but there are no longer the huge gaps there once where.

But wait, there are still areas for feminism, just more in Delhi, so to those I say more to their power, just don’t forget men aren’t all bad. I also want to take a minute and make a far more dangerous comment to my personal health. Aren’t provocative items of clothing supposed to provoke interest?

Happiness is Childs Play

Today having seen Beginners I was put in a somewhat contemplative mood. Mainly about what is happiness, and how do we get. Also today I read an interesting report on what countries have the highest ratings of happiness. What came as no big surprise to me was that in many cases poorer countries had higher levels of happiness. But why? There could be many possible reasons, with out the stress and strain of heavy commercialisation it may be easier to appreciate the simple things, maybe there are greater pressure to do well within these societies.

 

During the film it seemed to me that some of the things that made me smiled where simple and silly. Through this I have come to one conclusion about a certain saying: ignorance is bliss. I personally believe this to be a fallacy, ignorance can be painful for you and others, so perhaps a better phrase would be innocence is bliss. Now many might argue that to be innocent is to be ignorant. This isn’t true, nor is it necessary to look at the world through rose tinted glasses. But to take joy in the little and the silly, in truth childish would be a better word but quiet frankly it doesn’t work so well as a phrase.

 

So the next time you’re out and you see something silly, or fancy something fun, do it. There is nothing wrong with being happy despite what impression some people might give you.

Hmmm I am Thinking

The things that I think, my interests and wonderings. Eclectic considerations is where I hope to post daily on the things I have thought or seen and where I hope to post many a link to things I like and news that grabbed my attention and pictures of kittens dyed to look like pikachu. Enjoy the ramblings of a mad horny easily distracted man in his early twenties.