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The Semiotics of Vulgarity: Part 1

Distortion signifies???

What makes a Laborghini tasteful or not?

Vulgarity is an interesting concept because its perception undoes the power of perceived wealth. I think it is more interesting that it’s rarely used by poor and lower middle classes to describe the wealthy – but by the wealthy to describe other wealthy people who flaunt their wealth, because, presumably they must have once been poor themselves to want to impress their wealth upon an average society, and are therefore a false upper class. But what is acceptable and why should it matter?  It seems that artists often openly rebel against upper class society to become openly embraced by it (or parts of it). The irony makes sense because poking fun at one’s self (high society) helps diffuse the threat of class differentiation – but doing so creates the need to embrace the antagonist (artist), and so – vulgarity becomes tasteful……..rebels seem to succeed without want while desirous imposters ultimately don’t stand a chance.

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My Hardy Cacti

Hardy Cacti (mostly Opuntia Humifusa)

Posted in Hobbies.

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Did you Know?

British research degrees are ‘unstructured’ and earned, mostly, on the thesis or dissertation alone. I’ve seen on forums, where someone is contemplating a thesis only degree, American academics (presumed) insist that coursework is necessary. I presume they are ignorant of the greater world… I say, you British produce fine scholars…Kudos

Anyhow, a British bachelor’s degree is generally a three-year degree - before pursuing a research degree (M.Phil or PhD) British academics must first earn a one year honors degree, which is based on coursework. British graduate students will work closely with an advisor in their research and learning – but course work is usually not part of the requirement (after the honor’s degree). In contrast a U.S. PhD student will likely complete another ninety credit hours (or more) of course work (3-4 years full time and then some). The important distinction is that learning doesn’t end with classes in the British system – it’s just unstructured. Of course, the nice thing about courses is that they go on your transcripts and validate that you at least participated in a seminar on a particular subject.

Australia and South Africa have similar systems…

Posted in Academic, Culture.

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Dominate the conversation and prevail….

I just read an interesting study published in the Journal of Nonverbal Behavior by Sally D Farely that presents experimental evidence that conversation interrupters are perceived as possessing higher status than the interrupted. Otherwise, if you interrupt somebody in conversation you will decrease their status and increase your own. Farely notes that this also results in the interrupted person liking the interpreter less and therefore there is a cost to pay for the status acquired. Farely’s research is published in volume 32, number 4 of the December, 2008 edition of the Journal of Nonverbal Behavior. This research is consistent with other research, which suggests status is attained by imposing oneself and dominating others.

What interests me is the implication that manners are for the weak. However, etiquette is a status symbol for the cultural and political elite. Manners in this context would indicate a sort of ascribed status whereas the dominant personality is an actualized status. My own thesis is that such ascribed status will dominate over the merely imposing personality when their (the ‘proper’ person) authority is explicitly asserted. However, when we talk about etiquette in behavior we are talking about the social fabric of society and the semiotics of cognition, so this is complex issue. At any rate, I think it would be interesting to conduct similar research that test status perceptions in association with manners and cultured behavior in contrast with the merely imposing.

Note: Farely does suggest that leaders who have perceived “legitimacy” will be liked more or tolerated in their interruptions than a less respected leader who will be disliked more. Farely does not define legitimacy for us and my own interest in this is in the perception of the cultured or mannered person…

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Night Terror Desire.

I am awake under the serpents gaze,

she had deceived me or was it – it,

it must be that under these covers – prey

devils, demons and hideous feelings.

 

A creature of skin and silk, Hedone,

I am motionless, my arms stretched out,

a scarecrow in an empty field – sorrows.

A breeze carries past, but not the vague doubt

 

What is this desolation? I am bliss

bliss, blistered - Walking on wretched desire,

dragging feet, bleeding, thirsty, and this

somehow delights me – we are eye to eye.

 

Martyrdom and the sacrificial dance

my mask – Theseus, the bull and the trance.

 

Note: I composed this poem last year and my wife was terrified by it – for her I sake, I must say that she had nothing to do with it. This poem was the condensation of sound bites and images from a much longer piece (I could barely call it a poem), written over ten years ago. It is appropriate to publish Night Terror Desire today because I am in the middle of a seminar on labyrinths.

Posted in Culture, Poetics, Uncategorized.

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It began instantly

Calliope, I give myself – this dream
 
Invoking – these most divine memories
 
 I am laughing, amused, hysterical
 
 I am laughing at these glistening hands.

  

The mad creator, thoughtless and crazy

A sculptor of psyche, molding these thoughts

Holding mallet and chisel he begot

something that we can’t comprehend… Really.

 

I’m looking into a swirl of colors

textures, gleams, glimpses of sparkles and streaks

Looking into myself – - – - see it? It’s there,

An infinite space that’s vast not empty

 

These words, these words, – echo across silence

This soul sails on a whisper – an instance

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Lost

Sometimes you have to get lost in order to discover what you’re looking for.

HAPPY NEW YEARS

                                                            2010

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