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Month: January 2017
READ: Conrad, Heart of Darkness
Oh, this was good. I was in the strange position of having watched the film (SEEN: Apocalypse Now Redux) before the novella. So instead of finding the references from the film to the book, I was going the other way: “Oh! So the Russian is the Photo-Journalist! And the essay is the MA thesis!” But, […]
Why are Arab and Latin American countries so obsessed with Turkish TV shows?
I know that Greeks obsessed with Latin American telenovelas, and now obsess with Turkish soaps. My uninformed guess: Many countries’ romantic dramas feature overt sentimentality and melodrama. They spend a lot of time emphasising the romantic relationship between protagonists, and they do so overtly—music, longing gazes, dialogue. American soaps feature plenty of melodrama too. But […]
What will you never do in your whole life and why?
Mez, I am one who strives not to be judgemental, including on myself. (I fail a lot on the latter.) I associate that with not ruling things out; you don’t know what might happen, and what you might find yourself driven to. For Man is a Giddy Creature, as Shakespeare said somewhere. But I’ve got […]
The Quora Hekkaidethatheon
Nick Nicholas’ answer to If famous writers on Quora were Greek gods, who would they be? Wherein I enumerated my favourite Quorans as Greek Gods. Alfredo Perozo pointed out in comments: I feel this would make a nice cartoon… just saying. https://www.quora.com/If-famous-… Finally done. I was going to do a fancy cartoon with layers and […]
If Santa had Quora, what questions would he ask?
Didn’t I already answer this? Oh. I didn’t: Nick Nicholas’ answer to If Satan had Quora, what questions would he ask? Why is my name so close to Satan? Am I Satan? Does OP think I’m Satan? I mean, I’m dressed in red, and my reindeer have horns… Am I St Nicholas? Am I St […]
Which Indian states are well known in other countries?
https://www.quora.com/Are-American-states-well-known-in-other-countries I live in Australia, and I have not taken an especial interest in the states of India. So. Data point. States I’ve heard of. Assam. Because tea. (Also, in my case, because I know a linguist that worked on Assamese languages.) Goa. Because Portuguese colony. And something to do with hippies. Gujarat. Because, um, […]
If Satan had Quora, what questions would he ask?
Michael Masiello: what are your views on theodicy? (“Fuck you” is not an adequate answer) Am I also Shaytan? Am I also Kali? Am I also Angra Mainyu? Am I also the Demiurge? If God is Good is He also God? If God is God is He also Good? Should pronouns referring to Satan be […]
What are some stereotypes of the different Australian states?
Some stereotypes are to listed here: Aaron O’Connell’s answer to What are some cultural differences between the states of Australia? Here’s mine: South Australians: more prim, more English. Boringest state capital city ever. New South Welshmen: enemies to the Victorians. Sydneysiders: Uncouth, arrogant. Victorians: enemies to the New South Welshmen. Melburnians: Stuck-up hipsters, arrogant. Tasmanians: […]
Be honest: what do you think of when you hear “white people”?
Oh, zut, Habib le toubib: European-Americans Oh, and Europeans as well, I guess White Aussies? Ok, I’ll give you them too The bizarre American notion that white people are uncool and bland Hegemony Racial purity American demographics at war with each other White privilege Oppression Bingo Oppression Plantations One drop rules Melanin Social constructs “Surely […]
Be honest, what do you think of when you hear “black people”?
Ah, Michael, Michael, Michael… I see this has become a random word association task, and that it has spawned Be honest: what do you think of when you hear “white people”? OK. Let’s see where this takes me. African-Americans. Not Africans. Not Jamaicans. Not Australian Aboriginals. If I see a Somali in town (our second-last […]