A Culture of Fear.

At this current moment I am watching CNN Live. Why? Because I walked in the room and saw "Economic Doomsday" on my TV. If this didn't seem depressing enough, "Fire Rages Near Los Alamos Nuclear Lab" promptly followed. So in the following weeks we may be living in a jobless world that is set on fire...and everyone has cancer. Uplifting, isn't it?

I find this greatly ironic considering I had just come from reading Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. I'm sure you all have read this in your Freshman English class, but I decided to reread it. I was looking for "Their Eyes Were Watching God" when I stumbled upon this dusty paperback among my collection of books. I forgot just how great it was. The characters in this novel, as well as our society, live in a culture of fear. This fear manifests itself within our very souls, causing us to consume everything, not unlike the fire that burns the books we have banned. The information we forbid to pass on to the younger generations, rendering them ignorant of art and culture. The flames of fear and ignorance consume our humanity, leaving us as lifeless robots. But even some robots are more clever than the average American citizen.

We are a culture of convenience and consumerism. Are you going bald? No problem, just spray some mystery liquid on your head in order to insure your wife stays faithful. At least until she discovers how boring you are. Overweight? Obviously taking poisonous pills while still eating your greasy McDonalds (also poison) is a much easier solution than quitting processed and pre-packaged food. Congratulations. You are digesting a deadly cocktail of chemicals and fat. Of course America's longing for unattainable perfection drives our consumerism. We are afraid to appear less than what I we want to be, so we spend and we spend until we fit. Television commercials, advertisements, and the news are feeding us all of our insecurities. 

If we were only literate enough to look back at the teachings of the Romantic poets. We would then see perfection is a creation of the industrial age. An invention of mass-produced items which are cheaply sold for convenience. We do not comprehend that imperfection is a gift from nature and from God. That we are not God and can never be. We need to learn not to submit to this culture of fear around us. To stand brave and admit we are beautiful.

The Patio Theater

The Patio Theater. A place you need to visit in Chicago. This theater is located near Irving Park and Austin, in the neighborhood of Portage Park. I used to frequent this theater as a child with my good friends who are pictured above. It has been closed for the past 10 years, but recently reopened after renovation. The inside of the theater beats any Showplace 8. When you walk in, there is a single person attending a ticket booth. The walls are made of marble and stone, with beautiful decorations everywhere. It smells like cleaning supplies, which is the same way it smelled when I was kid. It's oddly comforting. Instead of hearing commercials upon entering the theatre, you will hear 30's-esq piano music while the ceiling glows with stars and passing clouds. This theatre is straight out of the past and holds a great amount of history.

Although they only play one film at a time, I highly suggest The Patio Theater. If you are nostalgic, into vintage or old things, or a ghost hunter, this is perfect for you.

pin-up fashion.

My latest outfit choice.