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Friday, June 17, 2005

Stephenson, Star Wars I did manage to see the latest Star Wars installment last week in Pierre.  My feelings were mixed; I was not disappointed but neither could it have the effect it would have had when I was 15 years old.  Now I can't resist posting this Op-Ed by Neal Stephenson from the NY Times. In short he describes a disparity between the first series (Episodes IV - VI) and this one (Episodes I - III) that is described well in the terms "veg out" and "geek out": "Modern English has given us two terms we need to explain this phenomenon: "geeking out" and "vegging out." To geek out on something means to immerse yourself in its details to an extent that is distinctly abnormal - and to have a good time doing it. To veg out, by contrast, means to enter a passive state and allow sounds and images to wash over you without troubling yourself too much about what it all means. " While the first series offered an opportunity for a balance between the two, the last three installments have been all veg - the geek out content is in suplementary materials like the Star Wars novels and other mini-series.  Stephenson has it right, and he's put words into the reaction I didn't think too deeply about. I have to confess here that I haven't "geeked out" on Star Wars of late and finishing the series was more of a formality (seen the first 5, may as well).  But I did watch it during a stressful week and it was good to sink into my chair at the local Pierre movie theatre, with a handful of people (perhaps 10) scattered across the theatre and check out of "real life" for a while. posted in [home], [snippets] 9:46:56 PM    comment [] Space The problem with space is that we don't know what to do with it.  High points prompt us to look down towards lower ground, oceans and lakes incline us towards the water.  We know how to orient ourselves from these vantage points.  But what do we do from the middle of the ocean if the water is calm and we can't see anything else from any direction we turn?  One thing I know I'll never succeed in while taking photos is capturing how big of a vista the prairie gives you.  Those of us that didn't grow up with it find it unsettling as we look for a focal point in our field of vision unsuccessfully.  People driving through can't take all the openness and space; they turn up their music and zone out. High points give a false sense of power and vision.  Everywhere I go people want a high point; I remember seeing homes being built on top of hills that overlooked the 91 Freeway in Colton, CA.  The apartments on the top floors of a downtown condominium complex are more expensive because of "the view."  Ocean views are quaint but they seem to give a false sense of ownership.  David Geffen, of Geffen Recordings fame, and others have tried unsuccessfully to prevent people from coming near what he would like to consider his private beach. I still struggle with how open and unending things are in the prairie, especially in the western part of South Dakota.  In a sense the prairie is more honest than ocean views and hilltop homes.  Windswept trees and empty space tell you that not just anyone can live there to enjoy the view.  But look a bit closer and you find that there is life in the grass and the big sky behind it. posted in [home], [prattle] 7:56:15 AM    comment []

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