Thoughts on the Movie "Watchmen"

In the Bible there is a verse, I believe in Ezekiel, that asks, "Watchman, what of the night?". It certainly came to mind while viewing the movie, "Watchmen". This movie is a social, satirical, and philosophical commentary that speaks to us in several layers of meaning. It speaks loudly about the fact that those in leadership embody evil as well as good. There were flashbacks to the rationalizations used to justify Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I'm sure that the name Dr. Mahattan and the concept of the few dying to save the many was no accident. It is pathetic that, as was evident, creating a mutual enemy forces those that were warring with each other to cooperate against a nemesis in the interest of survival. If they can get along then, why not now?

The Comedian, a representative of irony, dies first. What happens if irony dies first? Do we stop seeing the warning signs in our lives? Do we become apathetic? Indifference to what goes on around us serves to make evil spin out of control and become more difficult to contain. The government wished to put a stop to anyone other than themselves being "keepers of the night", so legislated against the mask, which conveniently was the distinguishing mark of the Watchmen. Does this not ring a warning bell that when the citizen allows the government to be the sole guardian of society, that chaos results? It is our responsibility, as citizens, to accept the role of Watchmen in order to prevent evil as well as government from overtaking our lives. Who, may we ask, watches the Watchmen, the leadership of the country, or the groups that strive to power?

Rejection

I have concluded that being hated is better than being rejected. Being rejected puts you out with the trash, devalues you, says that you are not a person of worth, and is generally more difficult to accept. Being hated draws a line that writes you out of that person's life--kind of a black and white event. Rejection, however, may vacillate between the rejection and acceptance. For example, today I reject you, but tomorrow if you do something that I want you to do, I will accept you until you do something that sends me back to the rejection board. So, if you get down to it, rejection can be used to control and manipulate.

I have been rejected more than once and lately being ostrasized by my family is a major part of the most recent. Evidentally, it is not acceptable to tell my parents that they need to prepare a will. I did not say anything about the reason being that I want something from them. I was just trying to make things easier down the road. For goodness sake, there are people in their 20's with wills. Don't you think that mid seventies it is a good idea so that their wishes could be carried out? I would think that wanting them to have a will would show that I care about them, not that I want them to die or that I want certain material possession from them.

The Amish, when a person leaves their community to live in the Englisher world, conduct a funeral and consider the leaving person to be dead to their family and community. Perhaps a funeral for me has occurred in my family without my knowledge since my family refuses to talk to me even though I have attempted communication. So, did I have a lot of flowers at my staged funeral?

There are a few benefits to being dead to your family. Think about it. You don't have to remember significant events like Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. It also cleans up your email list and help to cut back on the amount of minutes used on your cell phone.

It is so sad that your own family doesn't even know you. Interesting that the very family member that is spreading slander about you is the one that has in the past made it clear what they want when the parents die. I don't want or need any more stuff and besides what is the point in coveting something that is not yours? I have no interest in sitting around trying to come up with ways to spend money that is not mine and may never be mine. I am assuming that they think that money is my only goal in life. I've never had much of it and I personally think relationships and experiences are more valuable than stuff and money. The stuff and money is gone and most times there is not much to show for it, but experiences last a lifetime.

Therefore, even though I am figuratively dead, I will choose life and become better because of overcoming yet another phase of rejection. If I can get past a divorce, where I was used in order for the person to get what they wanted, not loved or cared for, and was merely a stepping stone to have a structure while they were philandering, I guess I can get past my family and their hurtfulness. They need to realize though, that, in my experience, what goes around, comes around. The key individuals, may down the road, be faced with similar circumstances.

The Judgment of Paris--Book Thoughts

I've just finished The Judgment of Paris, by Ross King. A great majority of the book was set around the U.S. Civil War time. Interesting to think about what some of the rest of the world was doing while we were fighting each other.

Perhaps the most mentioned artist is one we seldom, if ever, hear about. The most famous, of his time, receiving national awards for his work, Meissonier. Meissonier, a contemporary of Manet, Monet, Degas, Renoir and Cobert produced a tremendous amount of work. He particularly was fastidious about research when accomplishing his historical works. Unfortunately, unlike Manet, who produced the scandalous painting "Olympia" and was instrumental in inaugurating the Impressionist movement, (a term of derision when first passing the art critics lips), Meissonier even as late as the 1980's fell from favor quickly after his death. In fact, a statue of him was removed from the Louvre and ended up near his grave.

Granted, Meissonier was arrogant, critical, and generally not a very pleasant person, but then artists were frequently temperamental. My favorite story in the book was when he put together a scale model of a battle and since it occurred in winter, used sugar to represent snow. The bees, however, drove him to use a different item for the snow. He then used flour. The mice and rats were in heaven and Meissonier moved his model out to his garden. This full scale model included an attempt to use his son to represent Napoleon, but the hat kept falling off and the uniform didn't fit quite right, so Meissonier ended up posing himself. The poor servants had a great deal of work to do keeping the model the way he wanted. Finally, it snowed. Meissonier almost froze trying to paint outdoors in the snow, but the picture was as authentic as he could make it.

Manet, had in the meantime, seemed to be trying to use shock to get his art noticed. My favorite story involving him is his picture with blue angels and pink loincloth. I'm sure the church really appreciated his use of artistic license there.

It does seem unfair that with the accolades Meissonier received while alive, that he was villainized after death and Manet, whose art was criticized while alive, received his accolades after his death. I guess life can be unfair and the money Manet's art received after death could not be spent by him, yet Meissonier got to spend his money while alive. Meissonier lived to be 76, and Manet only 51.

The Impressionist Movement became a significant influence on the modern art scene and is in fact, one of my favorite styles. The Muse d' Orsay in Paris is the place to go if one desires to see some of the best of the best in Impressionism. The Met in New York City has a fair collection also.

Art tells the story of our time. It serves as a storyboard of the current culture and if a person studies it intently they can see/hear the development of where we have been as opposed to where we are now. Art only speaks to those who listen. Please. Stop. And Listen. You may not particularly like what it is saying, but it must be appreciated for the voice it uses.