Reality TV: Game Playing as Entertainment

I love the two Burnett shows: Survivor and The Apprentice. These bookends serve as perfect metaphors so, I've been meaning to analyze them, and today watching the annual post-Thanksgiving materialism pump-up....well, it's the perfect day to do it.

I love nature. I've always felt closest to God when it was just me and her amazing creations, none of those pesky people around. I've spent many, many months... just me, Misty (the car) and mountains, rivers, desert, ocean, canyons, caverns... the beauty, in this country alone, is mind boggling.

That's when you get real. As David Crosby said, "It's kind of hard to bullshit the ocean, it's not listening, if you know what I mean". You can't lie to nature and you can't lie to yourself when you're stripped down to it.

So, when I first saw Survivor, I was first pulled in by the aspect of finding sustenance in nature, which I have done. But, Survivor is different. You are not really there to make peace with God, you're there to play the same old crappy game they play back in the burbs and cities, in every boardroom and back alley....the eternal external power play.

What these shows do (and when I saw Survivor, I knew it would be only a matter of time before they put it directly in the real jungle - NY), is highlight the game, so you can see it. You are allowed to watch the game without being in it yourself, which makes it far more pleasant.

They highlight the game by making the firings more frequent. In the real world, there is more investment in keeping people around cooperatively. When there are constant eliminations and cameras and producers, the claws come out and people have a hard time keeping it all under the facade. In Survivor, without privacy, sleep, food and shelter folks get really real. And, that's why these are two of the highest rated shows on TV today... we love to see good players play it. After all, we all need to learn, we all want the best job, best paycheck, most popularity, most appeal to suck-ups. What so few people seem to notice is the price they pay for all that... that is exactly what these shows demonstrate - the price. Still though, no one seems to see it. The people in these games get completely caught up in them, completely invested. Their decisions, their actions...it's almost all about the win. And the winners are often those who want it the most, those most focused on the prize, the brass ring. When you are centered in your own life and heart, you become more attentive to the quality of the moments of your life as you live them. You want your actual life to be happy as you live it.

What you really need to understand about the game, and this is why Jesus said "It is easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to get into heaven", is this: the game is usually subtle. I've been pulled in many, many times and I'm sure I'm among the most wary of it. It's out there, all around, in the corporate law offices, the PTA meetings, the bands, church, book group, family, you name it.

All you can really do is just be aware of when you're buying in too much, so you can get out, or make changes, when it stops working for you. As long as you're enjoying the game, getting something out of it and not hurting anyone, play on!

For me, the problem with the corporate game is the huge amount of time involved in getting anything back out. I simply had too many other things I wanted to do in life, like have kids & peace of mind. The other problem I have with the game is that it often does involve putting other people down, and being put down by other people. I think when you feel trapped, longing, on the treadmill you can't really step off, that's when you need to step off and take the hit. Ever see someone step off a moving treadmill.... it's a jolt, you're off balance for a while. But, at least you're then on solid ground.

The first time I ever saw Vegas, in the early 80's, I thought, wow, why would these developers plough billions into these places and then give away free room & food? The games are stacked in favor of the house, to the tune of billions. Yet folks in Vegas are the happiest people on earth, look at them, much happier than Disneyites. They're playing a losing game, the evidence is all around them, but they're on cloud nine. Each one of them thinks they will beat the odds, they will be a winner. People need to believe.

Start:Heart I

Start:Heart I
Originally uploaded by Intervisions.

Start:Heart II

Start:Heart
Originally uploaded by Intervisions.

Given that it's essentially a starter, it's a process piece. The process of making it is as much the art as the finished product. The essential forms that you see were there in its very early stages, but they got refined, defined, smushed, blended in golden, pearlescent, day-glo veneers then refined and defined more finely again... got that?
On the second defining process the lines were thinner and darker and certain things, like the big question mark in the middle, hadn't even appeared before... I think. There was still more stuff on the right of the brain/question mark shaped thing, even that seemed more distinct, there was some sort of double yin/yang thing, hearts within hearts, separate hearts, especially the two big ones to the left, who represent my kids, who opened me up to the world in a way only children can. All sorts of little hearts and lightbulbs, representing loves and lights of my life, became clearer as I painted this painting to music. Tonight it was my band's playlist...lots o' funk. Usually the ipod's set on shuffle and I just hope something pops up that moves me as I dance around the house, put on a few coats of paint, film the stage (of paint) & generally have a good time. Ultimately, it's all about process. I found this quote by Buffy St. Marie when I was young and although she's Native American, it's pure zen: ( I have a big collection of quotations, I'll post the "Best of" sometime)
Travel light and travel simple in your mind, through your world. I think that leaving spaces for things that you haven't planned is the real secret to life. You shouldn't lock yourself in too tightly. Always leave room for life to lock you into it, like being locked into a wave when you surf. Learn to live outside yourself, without planning where the wave will take you. Above all, you have to leave room in life to dream.
Funny, I keep thinking my next piece will be more detailed, more planned.... I look at the stuff in the galleries and most of it is far more detailed and precise. Some of these artists must spend years and go half blind on these things, you know, artists are not exactly known for their sanity, or their cheerful dispositions. Then again, when I took a photo of the painting it really had this Starry Night look to it, and I hadn't even planned that. So, who knows what the hell I'll do next? I may "finish" this or start the next, which I'm already conceptualizing. If you have any suggestions, please let me know, particularly if you have any interest in promoting the fun-inclined. Art as an enjoyable process, now that is an original thought. BTW, clicking on any picture in this blog will enlarge it and take you into flicker.. This feature is also available in real life

Rolling Stone's List of 500 Greatest Songs

Ah, the everlasting popularity of lists. We love to quantify and prioritize, and then measure ourselves against & argue about all of it. Me, I just wanted to make sure my library included all of it because a library of over 8k songs should include RS's top 500. Now, library size is not a competitive thing. Just because mine is bigger than that of any guy I know is no reason to brag about it. I basically think the list/library thing is sure a step up over albums. As does Bob Weir, who declared an end to the album era.

Here's my story.
Once upon a time I had a huge load of record albums (plastic orbs inside beautiful artwork). I used to take boxes (big boxes) of them across country with me in Misty, my rusted out '70 Cutlass Supreme on 4 month cross country treks. So, don't tell me I don't love fucking records, ok?

Mind you, I did not even have a stereo, on which to play them, in the car!! Only tapes of songs, playlists made by taping songs off the radio or by sticking my little portable tape deck next to my stereo. Now you see, ignorance sows the seeds of subversion. Anyway, I still have lots of those classic albums. When an artist can make a good album, god bless them, what an achievement that is.

And I do have great albums like Dark Side of the Moon, Woodstock, Tommy, Sgt. Pepper, Rumours, Jesus Christ Superstar, etc., in my library. But, come on, 99% of albums made have one, maybe two, good songs. Why do you think "Greatest Hits" & Now albums are so popular? Why do you think the labels refused to sell songs individually until Napster made them?

I have tons of CD's that I PAID for that I won't upload onto my music library because there's just too much flotsam. My 8k is almost all primo stuff, every major song in the history of rock/pop/R&B plus a little of every genre, always from the top down. I love the manageability of it, the power, the power to listen to the song you want to listen to, when you want to listen to it. When I 'm jamming with someone and we want to listen to something, it takes a second to call it up and listen to it. I'll never forget the first time I downloaded a song. The power!!!

Now, some guys are really into fidelity, and if they have the time & bread for it, great. For me, I can barely tell the difference unless it's just a bad file. And I sure as hell don't miss walking helplessly into Borders looking for a particular song before the Modern Age...PP...Pre Power.

Alright, the list, wasn't that my original topic here? First of all, where did they come up with these 172 voters? My guess is they did a mass mailing and these were the only ones with enough time on their hands to do it...and isn't it a coincidence that their top pick has "Rolling Stone" in the title. This list, as are VH1's many lists, is somewhat idiosyncratic (they had to really reach to represent the 80's), yet, I think they basically got it right.. If there is one thing I've learned about music, it is that taste in music is a very personal, subjective thing.

Who knows why some songs appeal to many, or why most songs never see the light of day? And, it's never just the song, it's the vocalist, the band, the production, time & place, lots of factors coming together. Clearly, the insider lists reward seminal music, originality, social relevance and the popular tastes tend to lean toward a simplicity and the lowest common denominator. It's not as simple as saying the public is a total sucker though because there have been heavily promoted songs that failed, as to which both MJ & Mariah can attest.

More importantly, real stuff, like Cobain, Norah Jones, punk & the Dead bubble up because the rock, & even pop, audience is fundamentally rebellious, or at least has some hidden need to hear or feel something real, and, once in a while something catches on. As we saw in film (see the Baddassss! post) sometimes the industry gets so arrogant they sow the seeds for their own destruction...eternal truth, yin/yang, remember. First the arrogance, then the change.

Most people, by definition, like popular songs, popular films, popular TV shows. There must be some factors that make things popular right? Well, I'll tell you this. In music, as in all arts, there is a huge difference between what insiders consider good and what the general public considers good. The band I am singing with now is made up of professional musicians and one asked the other a question, "why are we playing this?' answer: "because we have to if we want to get paid". That's what they want to hear at most parties, classic rock/r&b.

If you look at the sales, you know the biggest seller of the 70's? Now, remember the 70's saw songs like Imagine & What's Going On?, both of which did well in RS. You Light Up My Life by Debby Boone. Need I say more? I guess you could make all sorts of social comment like, well, in the turmoil of the 70's Americans (in the red states) needed her sweet, uplifting voice. So, let's take a look at the 80's.

OK, the 80's were the dark ages, but we had Prince, the Police & U2....top seller? Let's Get Physical by Olivia Newton John. Ah yes, the greedy yuppies were now in gear. The 90's have to get better than that, right? That's when Grunge made things real again. Just slightly... One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey & Boys II Men. Well, one sweet day is here. Music is getting good again & there's a ton of new, great stuff to add every day.

Next decade's list, if it includes downloads as well as sales, should be different, especially when all these little grass roots garage, bar & corporate party bands start moving their stuff online, getting creative, more serious & promotional. If all those useless, jobless label execs would bring their skills to bear all will be.... Happy Listing and Happy Listening!

AMA picks

Here are my AMA picks in the categories I care about. It's a bogus award, they're out of it. But, they've got a few good acts up there, so it's worth a look, Sunday:

Rock/Pop:
Usher - - Here's a good example of why it's bogus. With all the great rock that came out his year, they structure the nominees & fuck with the categories so that it'll go to an r&b/rapper, who's already getting it in R&B. To me, Lenny is still the superior, not to mention more appropriate, artist, all tolled, but you're supposed to vote on the past year's output, right? Lenny didn't do much of note this year, so why not pick someone who did, like Maroon 5, who they put out to the hinterlands? They could have used the stupid Breakthrough category to help bands like Keane, Chevelle or Los Lonely Boys. They prefer instead to support the bigger names, who are more profitable for them. Don't get me wrong, Usher had a great year. He's an amazing artist and deserves success. I appreciate Usher in ways can't even get into here, believe me. But, in the next few months, it's gonna be one award after the next. His reward for propping up a dying industry. 90% of industry profits are from the very few top-selling albums, who can come in around the four million mark. And BTW, 90% of the losses they take to file-sharing are off those same songs. They are very, very focused on those top acts. They think those acts are companies, and that they are the VC's. If there were a viable indie level, I wouldn't have so much of an issue. We really need these mezzanine levels...hello...business opportunity. I'm gonna start looping on that mezzanine in records and venues... it's that important.
Avril (check out Toby Lightman instead)
Outkast
Confessions (again, rock???)

Soul/ R&B:
Usher
Beyonce (check out Joss Stone)
Musicology

Rap/Hip Hop:
Kanye West
Outkast
Speakerboxx

Alternative:
Jet - omits; Franz Ferdinand, Scissor Sisters, Hoobastank, Velvet Revolver, Keane, Chevelle

Breakthrough:
Maroon 5 - omits: Switchfoot, Yellowcard, Modest Mouse, Los Lonely Boys

Text-in
Outkast

Anyway, it's November, people. I know ABC needs ratings (sweeps), but, I haven't even taken a real look at 2004 yet. It's not even over. I mean, what are your cut-offs here? Let's all try to stick to the same calendar, it's too confusing.

Suite:Heart Reprise

Suite:Heart
Originally uploaded by Intervisions.

My sweetheart right now is a suite of hearts representing the different phases of the heart...the full heart, the crescent heart, the new heart, the blue heart. The first stage finds two puzzle pieces fit together in fields of gold. In the second, the hearts are almost obscured by pretty stuff, but, underneath it all they are separating, not beating as one, but still joined. In the third, the fractured, serrated pieces, now looking more like teardrops, are hanging by a thread in darkness... a glowing orb is visible to both but separated from them in the darkness. In the fourth, there is complete separation as the two parts circle, each whole but not compatible, around the eternal ying/yang of growth and change.
These themes were fleshed out with the actors in the film of the same name. Eventually, the suite will emanate from a number of mediums. The film will show two very different couples and how they go through these changes. One couple, deeper into their phases, tackles life headlong and openly. It's messy, sometimes ugly. But real. And there is growth, change, ultimate fulfillment. The other couple looks, acts, seems so very happy and lovely (see Stepford wives, the movie and the post), they sure don't want to end up like the other couple. But something unnameable is missing.... and, as time goes on, the lack of growth and depth becomes more apparent when contrasted to the individuals who came through the fire.