Satire Does Matter

Lost in the wave of protest and commentary that followed the massacre at Charlie Hebdo is an adequate understanding of the social function of satire says Justin E.H. Smith and reminds us that

Freedom of speech, I have been working toward saying, needs to be defended. But we also need to be careful not to lose the sort of critical sophistication that enables us to appreciate the very different functions of different moods of speech. The satirical mood is not the declarative mood. Mockery of an imam in Charlie Hebdo is not the Islamophobia of the National Front. Vovochka, another stock figure of Soviet jokes, who explains to his teacher when asked why he is hurling spit-wads in class that he is a "class enemy," is not really a class enemy (emphasis mine).

Living in a dominantly Muslim country, I hate to hear people saying murder of people in CH is terrible but... There is no but, there should not be.

The Day World Changed

Twelve years ago, the world changed today.

In memoriam. May all rest in peace!

Riot Police in Action

Dogs protesting death of a demonstrator in Hatay could not escape the wrath of Turkish Police on the streets of Istanbul.

via Pet Skandal

It was Never About the Park

No, it wasn't. Yet, it caused to much stress, discomfort and pain. Add a pinch of war, the recipe is complete. While the country is rocking like a cradle, a riot here, a protest there, a trip seems to be in order: Beechwood Park by The Zombies from the album "Odyssey and Oracle."

Start Creating Yourself

Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. #artproject
— Alison Tetrick (@AMTetrick) September 3, 2013

It is the road, not the destination...