I write stories which happen to be short.
I don't feel a need to tell more than needed. It would be like adding water to wine.
To me, format is not a key issue. It's just like painting : when you're mentioning the size of a frame, you're into advertizing or home improvement.
(20071014) answer to the question "do you write short stories ?"
Showing posts with label culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label culture. Show all posts
Friday
On the future of globalization
20070613
(answer to the question "What is the future of globalization?")
We have come to the point time and space cannot be shrunk any more significantly. Our instant societies allow people to seize opportunities at the other end of the planet in a blink. Reaching the cutting edge requires tools that are now almost commoditized. Differenciation becomes difficult.
To me, the financial system is on the verge of a turning point, things will have to change. A consensus on the diagnostic should emerge as surely as it did on our environment. I'm not sure transitions will be smooth. Globalization demands a global approach, a comprehensive approach. People fear for their identities, their culture, their independence, but they also feel things have to change.
Alter-globalization is not very mature nowadays, mostly reactionary or conservative in a sense it proposes XIXth century alternatives, as radical as the ones it condemns.
(answer to the question "What is the future of globalization?")
We have come to the point time and space cannot be shrunk any more significantly. Our instant societies allow people to seize opportunities at the other end of the planet in a blink. Reaching the cutting edge requires tools that are now almost commoditized. Differenciation becomes difficult.
To me, the financial system is on the verge of a turning point, things will have to change. A consensus on the diagnostic should emerge as surely as it did on our environment. I'm not sure transitions will be smooth. Globalization demands a global approach, a comprehensive approach. People fear for their identities, their culture, their independence, but they also feel things have to change.
Alter-globalization is not very mature nowadays, mostly reactionary or conservative in a sense it proposes XIXth century alternatives, as radical as the ones it condemns.
On DC and Marvel
20070610
(answer to the question are you "DC or Marvel?")
Marvel, definitely. At least at the turn of the 70s-80s, when I would read them. I can hardly tell the difference between a Superman from the 30s and a clone from the 80s. When I re-read the Marvel comics from the 60s to the early 80s, I see the cultural changes in the US society.
DC heroes were never-doubting, monolithic superheroes and supervilains meant for a good vs evil era. Each of Stan Lee's characters had more subtle weaknesses than an aversion for green meteorites. Good old Big Apple replaced Gotham and Metropolis, and the younger generation could eventually read about poverty, drugs, racism, sects, religious fundamentalism, social and political unrests...
But Marvel pushed too far the marketing, launched too many products, and turned into some kind of a boring sitcom factory during the eighties (except a few masterpieces by Chris Claremont, Frank Miller...).
DC top execs eventually did the right thing : they fired Superman and hired Marvel's Frank Miller to get at last something exciting out of Batman.
Precisions added :
- Beyond DC/Marvel, the ultimate masterpiece came from the UK (Alan Moore's "Watchmen").
- Come to think of it : DC could make something out of Batman because he was the most human character (no superpowers). And I liked the mention of MLB : I'm both Marvel and NL, the Yanks do have something of a DC league of superheroes, and I feel closer to more human losers (Peter Parker, Paul Auster, the Mets).
(answer to the question are you "DC or Marvel?")
Marvel, definitely. At least at the turn of the 70s-80s, when I would read them. I can hardly tell the difference between a Superman from the 30s and a clone from the 80s. When I re-read the Marvel comics from the 60s to the early 80s, I see the cultural changes in the US society.
DC heroes were never-doubting, monolithic superheroes and supervilains meant for a good vs evil era. Each of Stan Lee's characters had more subtle weaknesses than an aversion for green meteorites. Good old Big Apple replaced Gotham and Metropolis, and the younger generation could eventually read about poverty, drugs, racism, sects, religious fundamentalism, social and political unrests...
But Marvel pushed too far the marketing, launched too many products, and turned into some kind of a boring sitcom factory during the eighties (except a few masterpieces by Chris Claremont, Frank Miller...).
DC top execs eventually did the right thing : they fired Superman and hired Marvel's Frank Miller to get at last something exciting out of Batman.
Precisions added :
- Beyond DC/Marvel, the ultimate masterpiece came from the UK (Alan Moore's "Watchmen").
- Come to think of it : DC could make something out of Batman because he was the most human character (no superpowers). And I liked the mention of MLB : I'm both Marvel and NL, the Yanks do have something of a DC league of superheroes, and I feel closer to more human losers (Peter Parker, Paul Auster, the Mets).
My favorite / least favorite brands
20070612
(answer to the question "What is your favorite brand?" by Interbrand)
Funny. All my top of mind brands are media (France Football, The Economist, BBC) Then I realize there isn't a brand I could put in such a list as yours. I respect many companies and naturally I do have favorites (ie models, authors, designers, cars...), but I'm more interested in the content than the shell, and I don't feel affection for a brand or a label. Even if it does happen (hard to avoid), I don't like the idea of having something writen (nor some logo) on me. I reckon it may have something to do with my being an author. As Roy Disney brilliantly reminded us, brand is for cattle. Being loyal to a brand is being as dumb as a cow. You are loyal to people or things you trust.
PS : be careful : picking faves could be dangerous when working for Interbrand !
20070612
(answer to the question "What is your least favorite brand?" by Interbrand)
That one I can answer a little bit more easily.
Since we're on LinkedIn, I'll start with a shared connection : Hummer.
My hall of shame : Microsoft, Halliburton, Bud, Wal-Mart, Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, Billy Graham, The Sun (a UK toilet paper brand passing for a newspaper brand), World Wrestling Entertainment, The New York Yankees, The Carlyle Group and the Discovery Institute.
At the risk of infuriating a few contacts, I'll put a slice of Dunkin' Donuts, Taco Bell, A&W Root Beer, Jif et al on top of it (barf bag, anyone ?)
(answer to the question "What is your favorite brand?" by Interbrand)
Funny. All my top of mind brands are media (France Football, The Economist, BBC) Then I realize there isn't a brand I could put in such a list as yours. I respect many companies and naturally I do have favorites (ie models, authors, designers, cars...), but I'm more interested in the content than the shell, and I don't feel affection for a brand or a label. Even if it does happen (hard to avoid), I don't like the idea of having something writen (nor some logo) on me. I reckon it may have something to do with my being an author. As Roy Disney brilliantly reminded us, brand is for cattle. Being loyal to a brand is being as dumb as a cow. You are loyal to people or things you trust.
PS : be careful : picking faves could be dangerous when working for Interbrand !
20070612
(answer to the question "What is your least favorite brand?" by Interbrand)
That one I can answer a little bit more easily.
Since we're on LinkedIn, I'll start with a shared connection : Hummer.
My hall of shame : Microsoft, Halliburton, Bud, Wal-Mart, Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, Billy Graham, The Sun (a UK toilet paper brand passing for a newspaper brand), World Wrestling Entertainment, The New York Yankees, The Carlyle Group and the Discovery Institute.
At the risk of infuriating a few contacts, I'll put a slice of Dunkin' Donuts, Taco Bell, A&W Root Beer, Jif et al on top of it (barf bag, anyone ?)
The most significant concept in human history
20070529
(answer to the question "What has been the single most significant concept, idea or notion in human history?")
Humor.
Beyond intelligence and the awareness of death, humor requires the ability of self-depreciation.
(answer to the question "What has been the single most significant concept, idea or notion in human history?")
Humor.
Beyond intelligence and the awareness of death, humor requires the ability of self-depreciation.
On the success of reality shows
200705
(answer to the question "Why do you believe Reality Shows have grown in numbers regarding various subjects, along with the television viewers ?")
It is basically the same trend as on the internet : reality shows have this consumer generated content flavor and give the illusion something is really happening on the screen, something you could be involved in, something you could even be doing yourself. The illusion that at last TV is somehow about me, somehow as interactive as the internet.
The internet positioned TV as a monolithic media for the masses, TV answered with real life real time individuals. People get hooked to it for fear of missing an event, something happening, some naughty movement in front of these fake webcams. Of course everything is set, staged, programmed, scenarized, but it doesn't feel like broadcasting (or better : I'd dare say "downcasting") anymore. Rather like bottomupcasting / grassrootcasting. And it tastes like s..t.
(answer to the question "Why do you believe Reality Shows have grown in numbers regarding various subjects, along with the television viewers ?")
It is basically the same trend as on the internet : reality shows have this consumer generated content flavor and give the illusion something is really happening on the screen, something you could be involved in, something you could even be doing yourself. The illusion that at last TV is somehow about me, somehow as interactive as the internet.
The internet positioned TV as a monolithic media for the masses, TV answered with real life real time individuals. People get hooked to it for fear of missing an event, something happening, some naughty movement in front of these fake webcams. Of course everything is set, staged, programmed, scenarized, but it doesn't feel like broadcasting (or better : I'd dare say "downcasting") anymore. Rather like bottomupcasting / grassrootcasting. And it tastes like s..t.
Entrepreneurial culture and market valuations
200706
(answer to the question "Do you believe that large companies with more entrepreneurial cultures have higher stock market valuations than their more traditional counterparts ?")
To my humble opinion, the stock exchange is not the place where actual business is being done, except for stock traders. If you don't accept that fact, if you don't realize that you are in a different level of reality, you may wake up in the middle of a Twilight Zone episode.
That said, take two companies from the same field and with the same assets. In a rational market, the company with the higher value should be the one with the higher potential to grow beyond its current position.
But the market is not rational, there is no such thing as two similar companies, and communication / propaganda plays too big a role out there, especially where "culture" is involved. Remember the late nineties ?
(answer to the question "Do you believe that large companies with more entrepreneurial cultures have higher stock market valuations than their more traditional counterparts ?")
To my humble opinion, the stock exchange is not the place where actual business is being done, except for stock traders. If you don't accept that fact, if you don't realize that you are in a different level of reality, you may wake up in the middle of a Twilight Zone episode.
That said, take two companies from the same field and with the same assets. In a rational market, the company with the higher value should be the one with the higher potential to grow beyond its current position.
But the market is not rational, there is no such thing as two similar companies, and communication / propaganda plays too big a role out there, especially where "culture" is involved. Remember the late nineties ?
On the impacts of new technologies
200704
(answer to the question "With all this great technology - computers, email, cellphones, IM, YouTube, MySpace, wireless Internet, etc. - where is it taking us? How is it impacting society?")
(answer to the question "With all this great technology - computers, email, cellphones, IM, YouTube, MySpace, wireless Internet, etc. - where is it taking us? How is it impacting society?")
This question has been answered by countless books and essays. As I feel it, the very texture of society has changed (society as a whole as well as society as a puzzle of societies) and identity crisis is not over yet. The tissue can look much more elaborate, yet it can easily be torn. Societies either lock out to protect themselves, or collapse - the fittest survive, their frontiers blurred and everchanging. No wonder identity became a more complex concept and challenge for individuals as well as for societies...
The technology boom you mentioned is neither good nor bad in itself. It changed our perception of time and space, it changed the way we interact with our environment and with each other It contributes to diversity (ie revival of languages) and speeds up evolutions, but also facilitates globalization and uniformization. It contributes to knowledge, but also threatens intelligence. The sexier virtual worlds become, the duller real ones appear and the more people try to escape. ... and so on....
All this is at least disruptive and upsetting for any society. Gaps and divides are formed and not everybody will adapt, not everybody will follow the same path nor the same pace. More than ever, education is key. Beyond the learning of the tools you mentioned, of course.
Thursday
White Blogule to US GO METRIC
Archives 20040715 (see blogules 2004)
(vital discussion about the need for America to switch to the metric system)
To me (a poor lad living under the metric system), contemplating stones, fahrenheit, inches, yards, feet, gallons or miles is like watching a cricket game: exotic terms (wickets), old fashioned clothes, strange scores, crazy rules... but everyone looks normal and even the audience seems to understand what's going on. I stay undercover, wishing hard no one ever notices me and sends me back to planet Zorg.
Each time I visit the US I bless you for using the same time system. At least I don't have to bring my clepsydre.
SM on a forum
(vital discussion about the need for America to switch to the metric system)
To me (a poor lad living under the metric system), contemplating stones, fahrenheit, inches, yards, feet, gallons or miles is like watching a cricket game: exotic terms (wickets), old fashioned clothes, strange scores, crazy rules... but everyone looks normal and even the audience seems to understand what's going on. I stay undercover, wishing hard no one ever notices me and sends me back to planet Zorg.
Each time I visit the US I bless you for using the same time system. At least I don't have to bring my clepsydre.
SM on a forum
Wednesday
Red Blogule to the US plan to abandon the Iraqi flag
20040428 (see blogules 2004)
When it comes to making mistakes, they won't satisfy with a home run but go for the grand slam !When occupation forces change the flag, it does mean a lot. A flag is about the identity, culture and history of a nation.
Mass Destruction of anything that could restore unity in Iraq?
SM on a forum
When it comes to making mistakes, they won't satisfy with a home run but go for the grand slam !When occupation forces change the flag, it does mean a lot. A flag is about the identity, culture and history of a nation.
Mass Destruction of anything that could restore unity in Iraq?
SM on a forum
Red Blogule to The Academy Awards (found Nemo but lost the Triplets)
Archives 20040306 (see blogules 2004)
"The Triplets of Belleville" are animation as it ought to be : moving.
Shame on the Academy for rewarding "Finding Nemo" : it takes a hour and a half to enjoy this "easy watching" production - as much as it takes to forget all about it and obviously as much as it took an army of screenwriters to build the scenario. Without Pixar's technical power and without Disney's ability to format any creative attempt into some politically correct soup, Chomet managed to give birth to the best movie of the year, and one of the best animation movies ever.
I enjoyed every moment of this jewel because I felt the audience was respected and the author really gave everything he had in it. It's charming, beautiful, moving, funny, but without the usual Hollywood tricks. Pure pleasure. A timeless masterpiece animated by an intelligent mind, not the production of some studio exec trying to animate you.
SM on a forum
NB : PAL version in the Amazon link
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