25

25

Adele's new album will be released an hour after this blog post goes up.  25 is her junior album and will almost certainly be a multi-platinum hit.  Her two leading singles, "Hello" and "When We Were Young" are moving pieces that remind us why Adele is the greatest vocalist of our generation. Adele is only 25 years old, yet she has accomplished more than many people could hope to accomplish in their entire lifetimes.

At 19, she released her freshman album, 19.  By this point, Adele was known mostly for her Myspace posts.  In the mid-2000s, Myspace was one of the premier social networks.  She used this to her advantage by posting videos to her page.  These blew up, and she was soon recognized by XL Recordings, a United Kingdom-based label.  The most notable single off of 19 is "Chasing Pavements". It is a moving track that describes her inner conflict over a man that she is pursuing. "Should [she] give up, or should she just keep chasing pavements?"

At 21, she released her sophomore album, 21.  This is her critically-acclaimed album.  Every song on this album is a hit.  "Rolling in the Deep" shows her strength in forcing her cheating ex-boyfriend out of her life.  It makes you wonder why he would betray her.  "[They] could have had it all."  "Someone Like You" describes the opposite situation.  It is a reflection of a failed relationship with an ex-boyfriend.  She wants him back, but she must come to terms with the fact that he has settled down.  "Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead."

Since 21, Adele has gone through throat surgery and recovered, recorded the theme for the James Bond film Skyfall, and gave birth to a son.  She is a true inspiration, and her album will only add to her list of great accomplishments.  

Socks

Socks

Socks.  Everyone wears them, but nobody seems to care about the quality.  Most people cheap out on socks, and it is typical for consumers to buy multiple packs of them each year.  Why must we buy so many socks?  People complain about the evil machine that is capitalism, yet they spend hundreds of dollars on socks that won't last long.  How can someone argue that socialism is a superior economic system when they spend so much on socks?  Can we really trust our country with people that overspend on stockings?  The answer is no, and here's why:

Quality is more important than quantity when it comes to clothes.  Cheap purchases are easier on your wallet in the short run; however, the costs add up over time.  A $10 shirt that lasts you six months is not as economically efficient as a $50 shirt that lasts you three years.  By purchasing a higher quality shirt, you save 20% over the course of its lifetime.

This same principle applies to socks.  Now I'm not saying that you should buy these $1188 vicuña socks from Falke, but I am saying that you should spend $1 more per sock for higher quality and greater economic efficiency.

Take these Gold Toe athletic socks, for example.  For $12.60, you get three pairs of socks that are 78% cotton, 19% nylon, 2% spandex, and 1% polyester.  The high cotton-to-polyester ratio makes these socks breathable.  You don't need to worry about sweaty feet, because these socks allow for heat to diffuse from your feet to the surrounding environment, keeping them dry and odorless.  The nylon and spandex gives the socks great elasticity, allowing them to fit a large range of shoe sizes.  These socks make the perfect gift for a child with growing feet.  These socks have the potential to last someone from elementary school until the end of high school.

These Hanes socks, on the other hand, are an awful purchase.  For $2.60 less, you can buy yourself ten pairs of socks that will ruin your feet.  With their 16% polyester and 3% rubber content, these socks are sure to trap the heat in, causing a swamp to form in your shoes.  They are also less elastic, resulting in a slightly smaller range of sizes.  These are socks that are viable for winter wear, but they will be obsolete during the rest of the year due to their lack of breath-ability.

The difference in quality between these two socks is insane.  The Gold Toe socks come out to $2.10 per sock vs the $1 per Hanes sock, yet the pros greatly outnumber this con.  Compared to the Hanes socks, they seem to last a lifetime.  The Hanes socks can be worn for three months out of the year, whereas the Gold Toe socks can be worn year-round.  They offer breath-ability and comfort, while the Hanes socks offer moistness and general unpleasantness.

The evidence is clear; quality is much more important than quantity when it comes to socks.  Why buy cheap socks once per year when you can buy reasonably-priced, high quality socks that will last for multiple years?  The right choice is clear.  Next time you go socks shopping, make sure to make the right choice.  Over the span of your lifetime, you can save thousands of dollars and increase your quality of life by making this simple switch.

Postmodernism in 90's Films

Modernism is cool, but postmodernism is cooler.  Modernism takes itself too seriously.  Modernists in art, literature, and film are pretentious.  They think that they're all that, but they're not.  Postmodernism is like modernism, but without all of the high-and-mighty malarkey.  Postmodernism is self-aware modernism.  While modernists relish in their inventiveness and mystique, postmodernists do the opposite.  They take an ironic approach to the modernist principles that defined the art, literature, and movies of the early-to-mid 1900's.  Postmodernism is edgy.  It refutes the ideas and principles defined by modernism.  It represents the new generation of art -- it criticizes the predecessors that gave birth to it.

Many popular films in the 1990's are considered part of the postmodernism movement, such as The Matrix, Fight Club, and Pulp Fiction.  These films are critically acclaimed, and were considered revolutionary at the time of their release.  In fact, most postmodernist films are now considered to be cinematic masterpieces.  

In contrast, many 1990's slasher films are also considered works of postmodernism.  This trend began with Wes Craven's New Nightmare.  This movie took a more ironic and sarcastic approach to comedic elements than previous films in the franchise, even criticizing how the series was declining.  Many more movies joined in this trend, such as Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, the critically-acclaimed Scream series, and I Know What You Did Last Summer.  These movies, despite being released after the peak of the slasher drama, were all smash box office hits and were well-received by audiences.  It goes to show that postmodernism is the best literary style.  Newer movies should adapt this style, because it is far superior to any other style.  

Goodbye Winesburg

Goodbye Winesburg

As the first quarter comes to an end, so does our reading of Winesburg, Ohio.  For some it was enjoyable.  For others it was stressful.  That doesn't matter, though, because it is all over now.  Unfortunately, we will never escape this first quarter, because what we have done over the course of this quarter is the first domino in a long chain of pieces that make up the rest of our lives.

Similarly, it is impossible for George Willard to escape Winesburg.  Despite physically leaving Winesburg, the events and people there shaped his manhood and life in a way that will always stay with him.  Winesburg will always be there in the background of his life.  He may be able to leave Winesburg, but Winesburg will never leave him.

I hope everyone had a good high school career, because how well they did will affect the rest of their lives.

Just kidding.

Or am I?

"There Are Times When A Cigar Is Only A Cigar"

"There Are Times When A Cigar Is Only A Cigar"

There have been numerous criticisms of Freud and his theories.  One of these criticisms is how Freud claims that any object that is phallic or yonic is symbolic in some way.  Freud loved smoking cigars, and many of his critics poked fun at him for this.  In response, Freud gave the famous quote: "Gentlemen, there are times when a cigar is only a cigar!"

This quote is comical, especially when you take into consideration how serious of a person Freud was.  Despite this, some people still choose to analyze the quote as a denial of the basis that Freud's theories stood on.  Freud's theories were controversial already, so his poking fun at them did not help to convince people of their authenticity.

As a follower of Freudian psychology, Sherwood Anderson was certainly aware of this quote.  In The Philosopher, Anderson makes his own subtle joke about this quote with the character of Doctor Percival.  He is a large man with numerous stogies protruding from his pockets.  Unlike every other mentioning of cigars in the novel, this has no symbolic meaning.  This just goes to show that sometimes, "a cigar is only a cigar."

George Willard and the Talking Cure

George Willard and the Talking Cure

According to Freudian psychology, there are only two ways to release repressed memories from the subconscious -- free association and dream analysis.  Free association is a psychoanalytic technique in which the patient is allowed to say whatever comes to mind in an effort to understand the problems that they are experiencing in their subconscious.  Dream analysis is another psychoanalytic technique where the patient talks about their dreams so that the psychologist can identify symbolic elements that represent problems within the subconscious.

Both of these methods require the patient to talk to the psychologist and reveal their personal thoughts and emotions.  Psychologists are able to draw out this information with their years of experience in dealing with people.  Much like psychologists, journalists also try to extract personal information from people.  In Winesburg, Ohio, George Willard acts as a psychologist by drawing out repressed feelings from people's subconsciouses. 

In Hands, Wing Biddlebaum is an outcast with something to hide.  He displays his inner conflict through dissociation.  His hands move uncontrollably, as if they have a mind of their own.  Nobody tries to get to know Wing until he meets George Willard.  George speaks to Wing in a way that forces him to recall his repressed thoughts.  He reveals his experience as a teacher in Pennsylvania and how he was accused of touching his students inappropriately.  By talking about these issues, he starts to become better.  He begins to regain control of his hands, but snaps out of it and begins to displace his trauma by hitting his hands against a fence post.

Despite his failure, George Willard helps Wing towards overcoming his problems.  In a seemingly simple interview, he is able to draw out the traumatic events that affect Wing and address them in a positive way.  George Willard acts as a psychologist and his interview is his way of using free association to treat Wing Biddlebaum.

Defense Mechanisms

Defense Mechanisms

This week in English class, we focused on various Freudian concepts, including defense mechanisms.  According to Freud, the body would completely shut down when faced with trauma and no way to deal with it.  To counteract this, the mind uses various defense mechanisms.  Freud came up with two mechanisms on his own, those being repression and sublimation.  These are considered to be the two most important defense mechanisms by Freudian psychologists, despite dozens of other mechanisms being discovered since then.

Repression is the when the mind pushes traumatic events into the subconscious.  An example of this is how children forget traumatic events, such as witnessing their parents creating their siblings.  This is considered to be an unhealthy way of dealing with traumatic events.  Repressed memories manifest themselves in different ways during daily life, yet can only be addressed through free association and analyzing dreams.

Sublimation is when negative emotions are channeled into positive outlets.  An example of this is how artists will use their emotions to dictate their creations.  This is the best way for people to deal with problems, as it acknowledges the source of stress and converts it into something meaningful with no emotional harm to the person.

The contrast of these two types of defense mechanisms is palpable.  It is obvious why Freudian psychology is considered to be outdated when you consider that he was only able to identify these two.  While they are important, they neglect an entire range of other mechanisms, both healthy and unhealthy.  It is amazing to think how a science as philosophical as psychology has completely changed over the course of a century.  Ideas from the 1900s are either built upon or refuted, which makes me wonder how it will change over the course of my own lifetime.