Post 4

For the project presentation, I talked about System of a Down's song 'Boom!' off their album Steal This Album. The song protests on how millions of dollars are spent on creating weapons of mass destruction while children are suffering of starvation and millions of people die as the bombs are dropped killing them. It also explains on how people rely on television to find out what's happening around the world. The song was made into a music video directed by Michael Moore (Bowling for Columbine) on February 15, 2003 in Hollywood, CA along with other countries around the world protesting in an Anti-War protest about the war that was about to begin involving the U.S and Iraq.

The song really shows how the government feels and takes care of their nation. I'm an anarchist myself and have believed that the government has just been playing with us inventing lies and telling them live in the t.v box while when no one sees them, they are plotting ways to take your money and life away so they can treat themselves to something better. It is like they are feeding themselves with us being their main dish. Knowing that your money is going to something that isn't in need of support is just wrong. I guess that is why I don't take interest in helping organizations which actually do care about their main topic. I would like to know more on why System of a Down participated in that march and the opinions of the people that were protesting. I would very much love to know why the band chose Michael Moore to direct this certain song. Is it because he very fondly loves directing movies on the corruption and lies about the government in the U.S? With these ideas in mind, I would write my report on the title track 'Boom!'

My Public Art Post

I would have love to post a particular picture of art but unfortunately my neighborhood has been strictly erasing a lot of art work from particular stores or places due to the gang grafitti posted on the walls.  I live in Astoria Queens where a lot of gangs were formed. I can remember back in the days in 2007, I used to write on walls the letters of my gang to let people know that we control that area. I always passed by the block seeing exactly where I wrote those letters. Now all I see are gray marks covering but letters but inside I already knew where I marked my spot.

Alot of people would get offended by what we write on the walls or even in their stores. It was like they say, "We have no life". Thinking about how I was, a rebelious child with a sharpie in my bookbag all the time and just thinking on where I was going to "tag up" next, I too, agreed that I had no life. In every street, a gang sign would be written telling you where you were and what you were getting yourself into. I would ignore all the signs and trespass and tag up my gang sign telling others that we own this part of Astoria now. There have been a lot of art works done by children in public schools but thanks to our acts, we killed a lot of great painting done by schools. We would only respect the barbershops tagging up and letting people know where we at.

Around 2009, I noticed a lot of streets were perfectly clean from graffitti and other types of tagging. It was also the year where many gangs died out and where most kids would either join another growing gang or catch up with their school work at the final minute. I left the gang life in 2008 and convincing others to leave and to think about their lives and continue being in school. I regret writing on the walls because now most places that had artwork are mostly plain. Monumental works have been painted over all due to our dumb selves. If Astoria still has some type of art design or painting in a wall, it would pretty much be a tattoo parlor.

Post Numero Uno from 9/28

     Before mentioning on who has the power or how is power given or held, I would like to say that I admire Richard Wright's courage and strength on how he observed and absorbed the damages that he went through during his childhood years on how black people are treated by the white people. This can relate to recent times of our era on how whites now treat illegal immigrants and have no pity on people other than themselves thinking that they deserve all the right and attention. But other than that, Richard Wright deserves a lot of respect for what he witnessed.

     After reading this essay, it is shown that white people have the power with doing what they feel is right in their minds and their demand of force. It is shown with detail that white people can attack a black person and get away with it. When Richard was mentioning a story, he said that he saw a white man and his son pass by merely kicking a black woman and then minutes later both of them washing their hands from the blood they had on them and chuckling. The Black woman was accused of being drunk by a police officer who recently before saw the woman walk past by him normal but due to the color of her skin, he "does the right thing" and takes her away in his patrol car. Richard knew he couldn't snitch for what happen to the woman could be his future fate, maybe worse. Another story could tell on how whites hold on to be the superior power. While working in an optical company, Richards boss told two workers (Pease & Morrie) to help out Richard learn new stuff about the company and they agreed knowing that the boss would keep a good eye on them. One month later, they started treating Richard harshly forcing him to walk away from his job due to not calling Peace Mr.Pease. He knew he couldn't do a thing about it due to the boss being also a fellow white man and maybe instantly taking the side of the two workers side of the story which can show on how smart they are to keep their power by not being caught doing something bad.

     People without the power (black people) have no other right than to be humiliated and harassed by the superior power (white people). Since mostly white people were the law (police), no one could ever help them or believe a black person's story. They would most likely reason and take the side of the white man.The workers told Richard that blacks shouldn't be as smart as whites and threatened him. A quote that I chose to describe merely the whole point of blacks not having the power, "but the color of a Negro's skin makes him easily recognizable, makes him suspect, converts him into a defenseless target." (pg 10). All the places Richard describes show that blacks were easily targeted. I personally believe that there couldn't have been a form of resistance to be put in effect for the system because there was somehow a way white people could counter attack and control the system.

Blog Idea's for S.O.A.D's song "Boom"

The Pop Life; MTV is Wary of Videos on War
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B01E3DE1330F935A15750C0A9659C8B63&pagewanted=1


The Making of Boom Youtube Video
Video was released the day the war in Iraq began. Filmed by Michael Moore.

Actual Protests were made to stop the invasion. Anarchy?

Other songs by the bands that relate to war protests. Meaning of the album the song came from? "Steal This Album"

Mississippi GODDAMN!

After projects and complications, I am finally here to post a blog and catch up with the work. Today, we talk about the analysis and main direction that the song "Mississippi Goddamn" is going to. The purpose that the song is giving is that its letting people know about all the crimes, hates, and discrimination's that are happening in the Southern States of the United States. During the 60's, the crime against Negros was a big problem which led to boycotts, marches, and protests against racism. "Mississippi Goddamn", along with other political songs that were written and performed during the early 50's and 60's were mostly talking about the untreatable and discrimination on Negros.

The song produces a superstition where it is mentions, "Black Cat crosses my path - I think every day's gonna be my last". It really didn't have to be the black cat to cause the curse but it is placed as a way to describe the white people ending a Negros day by brutalizing them or leading to death. It also causes a sad mood on the way most of the Negros (here relating to Nina Simone) lose their faith in God as Nina says "I've even stopped believing in prayer" as the fact that the Negro community aren't accepted anywhere which leads to a statement that God has left them. The song audience is mostly the Negros because it really concentrates on them and the song is mostly to be heard during this time period.