Date:	2004-08-09 02:56
Subject:	» here we go «
Security:	Public
Mood:	sleepy
Music:	midi music

A few links before we begin:

»www.glencarlson.com« The reason why I do not update much anymore.

&

An »abstract« I submitted to European Academy of Design. I would appreciate any comments. Mine is the last one on the list: "Emergent Aesthetics." Thank you.

________________________________________

First, a couple notes:

1> I am in California right now, going through all my stuff. I am here until Sunday.

2> I am scheduled to graduate with a BFA in Electronic Media Art and Design in June of 2005.

3> I proposed to my girlfriend, Ana, on March 16, 2004. *To see a picture, scroll down to: Date: 2003-08-03 18:13
Subject: ana & bailey

4> Ana and I are getting married on June 11, 2004 in Colorado.

5> I've been interning this summer making video games as art. Click »here« to learn more. *This link will become active hopefully in the next few weeks.

6> I've also been making books, and will begin selling a 64 page typographic experiment of the beginning of Genesis this fall. Handmade, leather-bound, nice.

7> I completed my physical a few days ago: Healthy, 5'8", 160lbs.

________________________________________

Second, a few questions:

Are we past the »post-modern«?

If so, then what does that mean in terms of where humanity, and specifically 1st-world culture, is headed?

Are we living in a world where the philosophical and conceptual exists completely devoid of the actual? Does this need to change (»1«, »2«) in order for culture to move forward instead of sideways?

Does any of this mean anything?

Now what?

________________________________________

I've been thinking a lot lately about where we are going as people in this age of terrorism and theory. What I mean by this is that in no other time in history has the absolutely physical, visceral experience and the absolutely virtual, conceptual experience been more separate. And the separation continues to widen. But, more important is that there is a feeling of discontent in the culture - among the people - and no one can seem to fully articulate this feeling. Many people put this energy into the upcoming Presidential election by blaming one candidate/political group or the other. Others put it into their blogs or livejournals, hoping that by publishing their feelings on the internet they will receive some kind of validation and comfort.

I, however, have been ruminating. Since the last presidential elections I have been noticing, only consciously for the last few months, this discontent and this feeling that reminds me of the paranoia that overtakes the protagonist in Don Dellilo's White Noise, or the slow degradation of humanity that happens in the first Sandman after Morpheus is captured - it is that feeling that no one can quite explain or fix. There has been much thinking and talking about the discontent felt in, specifically, America, but nothing seems to be solved. It seems like we are all looking around at each other, expecting someone else to take the lead, not willing to step forward.

Let no one be fooled to think that an election will solve this. If anything it will be a diagonal step in one way or the other.

I still do not know what will make things better, but I do know that the time for thinking and talking are past and the time for doing is now. Talking heads on T.V. have never solved anything. However, there are theories that are useful like the ones put forth in Women, Fire, and Dangerous Things by George Lakoff. Yet, the more useful path is the path of action and the physical act of doing. As a culture we terrorize ourselves into complacency much of the time. We say, "Oh, I can't do that. I might go to jail, or I might get in trouble." This is just another step sideways and is completely opposite to the acts of change that we idolize, such as the Civil Rights Movement and the Antiwar Protests of the Vietnam era. There are people who try to emulate these movements today, but it is just that - an emulation - it does not ring of authenticity.

True protest and action does not take place in designated "free speech zones" and is not carried out by "anarchists" who don't understand what anarchy is, or "artists" who can't effectively communicate their message.

True action is carried out by people who make their ideas real, and more important, relevant. A prime example of this is »OBEYGIANT.COM« This movement started without meaning, as just captivating image and text. Yet, the reason why it was so captivating was that it struck a chord - it was relevant to a lot of people. It expressed that feeling they could not quite put their finger on.

My appeal is not for people to stop thinking.

By all means, please, keep thinking.

Just try to think and act at the same time.


-glen!

Date:	2004-05-05 23:26
Subject:	pissed
Security:	Public
Mood:	pissed off
Music:	tito puente

Why is it, that the most deserving people get shafted in life?

...and why the hell is the "preppie-look" back? Put your fucking polo collar down!

I am now 21 ... rock.

Date:	2003-12-10 20:42
Subject:	Inspired
Security:	Public
Mood:	hopeful
Music:	j-live | satisfied

The State of the Nation

I’m going to talk about the current situation of the United States of America – after reading Richard’s journal and feeling much the same way as he, I was inspired. I’m not going to go heavily into the philosophy that influences my ideas...you can make the connections yourself. Also, I want to explain things simply and right to the point. I might go deeper later, and I hope I insire others as well.

What’s wrong with America today? No one quite knows the answer, but everyone’s asking the question. Many people blame the president, discrimination, education, media, and a host of other easy targets. However, what many people fail to realize is that all of these individual targets are manifestations of culture, specifically American culture.

Yet, American’s are so far removed from thinking about society and culture that American culture itself has become it’s own entity. For example, the average American would be appalled by someone from an Islamic nation (or any non-Christian, non-Western nation for that matter) calling the United States an imperialist nation or burning a U.S. flag or calling the U.S./the president evil. Yet, American’s have no problem at all calling non-Christian, non-Western nations “terrorist states” or “rogue nations” or calling their people terrorists and extremists or fervently supporting an unjustified war (go ahead if you want to convince me it was). Mind you, these are just examples, not the underlying problem.

The underlying problem is that America still retains isolationist thought. This may sound counterintuitive given our current foreign policy, but I’m not talking about policy. What I am talking about is the thought of individual people in America. Call it apathy, laziness, escapism, or whatever else you want, it all means the same. It means that individual Americans are more worried about having the biggest car on the block than what’s going on in the world around them. It means that people would rather talk about the latest celebrity scandal than the fact that the president lied to the nation, a lie that resulted in the continuing deaths of American soldiers not just semen on a dress (go ahead and try to convince me the former is better than the latter).

For one reason or another, America has been “dumbed-down.” A large percentage of people don’t even know where Iraq is on a map, even after two wars against them in 10 years! Even in school, a place where education is supposed to be encouraged and held up, people look down on and make fun of others who are deemed “too smart” (yes it even happens at the college level). To use this analogy, America is filled with schoolyard bullies that enforce a certain way of thinking, or ignorance, and effectively silence all other voices. For example, after the Sept. 11 attacks when the president declared the “War on Terror,” the overriding opinion in America was to “support our troops,” which effectively silenced anyone who had a different opinion. Personally, I think the best way to “support our troops” would at the least be to have an exit strategy, nonetheless fight a justified war. I digress, but again, these are just examples stemming from the underlying cause.

The solution is simple in theory – education and dissemination – basically, using the analogy from before, standing up to the bullies. Yet, the problem is also due to motivation, hence apathy. Although, I think a bit art of the lack of motivation stems from not knowing, or not articulating the answer to the question, “What’s wrong with America today?” I’ve tried to answer this question from my perspective, and I hope others try to as well.


Quotes for consideration:

“What luck for the rulers that men do not think.” – Adolf Hitler

“It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument." - William G. McAdoo

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

"It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong." - Thomas Sowell

“A nation that believes that it can live long, free and ignorant, believes what never was and never will be.” - Thomas Jefferson

Date:	2003-12-08 17:22
Subject:	Family Guy and Evil Penguin merch
Security:	Public
Mood:	excited
Music:	space ghost, brak | don't touch me

Which Family Guy Character are you? Take the Quiz!

Also, Evil Penguin Merchandise!!

Everything from t-shirts & trucker hats to mousepads & lunchboxes!

-glen!

Date:	2003-12-02 17:07
Subject:	more website stuff
Security:	Public
Mood:	hungry
Music:	j-live | school's in

www.du.edu/~glcarlso/art.html

Updated and now with a comment message board!!!

Also, I am going to be in the Bay Area around the 22nd of December. I am working in Denver from now until then.

- glen!

Date:	2003-11-15 17:44
Subject:	yes, I am an art geek
Security:	Public
Mood:	geeky
Music:	hank mobley tunes

www.du.edu/~glcarlso/art.html

Most of my new and improved art from this last quarter is now online! More to come...

Date:	2003-11-10 21:38
Subject:	website time...
Security:	Public
Mood:	sleepy
Music:	lowering of eyelids

www.du.edu/~glcarlso

Date:	2003-11-06 16:30
Subject:	oh boy...
Security:	Public
Mood:	anxious
Music:	atmosphere - sunshine

The quarter is almost over...but the real stress of finals has not quite hit yet. Next week will be hectic. I have a total of 22 images (5 8x10 and 17 postcards) due for photography, a professional-quality (to be shown in the Denver Art Museum) video due in site-specific design, 2 final prints in printmaking, and a 8-12 page paper and a final test for my human communications class. This is gonna be fun.

We haven't had sunshine for almost a week straight...this from the city that has 300 days of sunshine a year. I guess the other 65 days are all together.

"Well, I'll tell you something, this is no longer a vacation . . . it's a quest! It's a quest for fun! I'm gonna have fun, and you're gonna have fun! We're all gonna have so much fucking fun we'll need plastic surgery to remove our goddamn smiles! You'll be whistling Zip-a-dee-doo-da out of your assholes!"

- Clark Griswold, National Lampoon's Vacation

Date:	2003-10-31 17:04
Subject:	....so cold
Security:	Public
Mood:	cold
Music:	smith dobson tributes

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! ...too bad it's 27° (feels like 19°F) with "Light Snow and Freezing Rain." Two days ago it was in the 80's! The kids will be out tonight....right. To add to all of this, I get to go to Casper, Wyoming tomorrow to play hockey...where it's 16°F, feels like 3°F and snowing. At least they're paying us to come up there.

-glen!

Date:	2003-09-10 11:09
Subject:	it's been a while
Security:	Public
Mood:	anxious
Music:	freeway sounds

I haven't updated in a while. I've been applying for jobs, registering for school and everything in between. This year for me is going to be all about how I interact with people, because I've been lacking in that area. I'm shy and a little low on the self-esteem when I talk to other people...I know this. It makes me out to be impolite or weird or whatever. All my life I've been so worried about how people view me and percieve me as a person that it has made me feel awkward in society. At this point I'm realizing that I just need to be myself and all that good stuff. I was a really shy kid who didn't even start to be himself until I was comfortable in a situation, and now I'm just going to be genuinely me. So if you don't like me, then that's not my problem. I am sorry to the people who have percieved me as a asshole or a weird kid in the last couple years...it's been a discovery process.

I discover myself through relationships with other people, no matter how mundane. I've realized so much about myself in the past year alone because I'm in such great relationships, with my girlfriend and partner, my friends (the one's who have stuck with me even when I probably didn't deserve them), and the authority figures around me. I know this sounds like a "come-to-jesus" speech, but I've been trying to deal with this part of my life for basically my whole life without success, and now I feel like it's working because the people around me have made me realize to be Glen Carlson, nothing more nothing less.

Thank you.

Is anyone else as scared as I am about the California recall? Arnold Schwarzenegger already has over 45% approval rating....SOMETHING IS TERRIBLY WRONG WITH THIS.

Ana & Bailey, quite the couple.

Date:	2003-08-03 17:04
Subject:	it's been a while
Security:	Public
Mood:	lazy
Music:	dj spooky - optometry

Yeah, so's I haven't updated in a while. So yeah....I'm still alive and kickin'. Just been spending most of my summer in Denver BBQ-ing up a storm and teaching little kids how to play hockey. I'm back in the Bay Area for a few weeks until I go back to Denver for pre-season training. One of my favorite times from the last month or so was when Ana, Bailey, and I went hiking at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. I'll post pictures of the three of us soon. I can't wait for school to start...I have all art classes. Anyway, just wanted to let everyone know I was alive.

Date:	2003-06-23 14:44
Subject:	aw yeah
Security:	Public
Mood:	full
Music:	mmm...burrito

BURRITO SUMMER...that's all I have to say.

check out Jon Yi's Livejournal to see pictures of the infamous SUPER BURRITO.

Date:	2003-06-22 16:09
Subject:	Short Round / Sidekicks layout
Security:	Public
Mood:	artistic
Music:	90.1 kzsu - the drum, baby

Ok, since I couldn't reach everybody through email, here's a link to the final layout: click here

This is the version that Jon gave to Tyler, so check it word.

Date:	2003-06-09 22:50
Subject:	halfway done with college
Security:	Public
Mood:	loved
Music:	star wars theme

So's I'm back in the Bay Area...I dunno, it doesn't really feel like home to me. I basically had to throw everything in boxes at the last minute in order to check out on time, so I'm going through that right now. I didn't realize it until it was over, but this school year was a year of extremes - ending a super-stressful relationship and then finding my soul mate, getting screwed over completely by varsity hockey, going to Italy for 2 weeks, my grandmother being placed in a "home," taking 14 credits and then taking 19 credits and trying to start a business, not to mention all the mundane, day-to-day stuff.

In a way I'm glad because I found out who my real friends were and what was really important in life. I no longer play the immature high school games that create drama for no reason. And although I trudged through thick waters from time to time this last year (Fall Quarter exclusively), I emerged with a clear vision and as a better person altogether. Thank you Ana so much for being there to support me, and also for still being here ;) Also, thank all of you who are true friends. It's not like I've overcome some great battle in my life, but rather that I realized what was important and now I can start growing and building again.

Basically, a lot happened and I've grown up. ('cept I'm still pretty damn goofy now and then)

"There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."
- Anais Nin

Date:	2003-05-30 22:33
Subject:	so close...
Security:	Public
Mood:	geeky
Music:	more jazz

oh man....almost there. Only one more week to go. Gotta pull it all together. The weather is not exactly condusive to studying though - 80s and 90s...ugh. Oh well, back to the grind.

"When you go in for a job interview, I think a good thing to ask is if they ever press charges."
- Jack Handey

Date:	2003-05-08 22:25
Subject:	May Days!!
Security:	Public
Mood:	relaxed
Music:	jazz

Finally, things are not so stressful. I turned in my BFA portfolio application and it looked really good. Also, I got a PowerMac G4...which is without a doubt awesome. Now I can finally become a Mac snob, or not. I haven't started it up yet, but it looks pretty. In other news, DU May Days is goin' on along with the annual fraternity/sorority see-saw-a-thon, which goes for days straight....people are partying outside right now and will continue until the morning. It's all out craziness. I love Spring Quarter!

"Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!'"
- Robin Williams

Date:	2003-05-02 01:35
Subject:	OH MAN....
Security:	Public
Mood:	stressed
Music:	stupid people yelling at me for "oppressing" them

I'm freakin' out mannnnn....not really, but still stressed out. The main thing is my portfolio review for acceptance into the BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) program for Graphic Design on May 2nd (aka. TODAY!). I also have tons of projects due in all my classes, including an assignment to redesign MONEY. Ugh...ugh ugh ugh.

Not to mention the fiasco about this girl who submitted a comic series ('cause I'm the Comics Page editor). Her comic is multi-lingual, and one week she used a Spanish slang word that was offensive (according to another latino) so I couldn't print it because since DU is a private university we don't have any 1st Amendment protections. Because of that she starts calling me narrow-minded and ignorant and sends me all these scathing emails. So, I figure, whatever, and print another one of her comics. Then she sends me a comic that totally mocks me and the newspaper about the last incident...I guess she thought she was being clever, or that I was a complete moron and wouldn't catch her mockery. So I don't print it. THEN I get an email from this "random person" telling me how my comic "sucks ass", that there's no plot, that I take up too much room, and that Birdland (the other girls comic) was the greatest thing ever. I found out soon after that the Birdland girl had one of her friends who had never read the comic page write the email, as I had suspected. So I had my managing editor call the girl who wrote the email to clarify some things. Then the Birdland author emails me calling ME "rude" to have talked to a "third-party" (her friend).

WHAT THE CRAP?!?!?! This girl is the most obnoxious, self-centered, cowardly person I have EVER dealt with. Never once did she even thank me for printing her. It's all been about how I'm "oppressing" and "ignoring" her and being "rude" to her. WHY CAN'T SHE JUST GO AWAY!!!

"There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other."
- Desiderius Erasmus