Watching the Watchmen

Lastnight I went to see the Watchmen with a few friends. It was a 7:10 showing, so it was a bunch of people who really wanted to see the movie, but didn't want to be up until 3:00am to do so. Face it, these days there isn't much I'm going to wait in line for. I think these people all agreed with me.

The important thing for you to know is that I've only read the book once. Yup, once; and, while I liked the book, it left me feeling kind of let down. I could readily see why this book was so culturally important, but it was also confusing and not well written. Come on, tell the truth, did you read absolutely every word of Rorschach's journal? This is, I think the biggest weakness of the film. It relies to heavily on the comic book for script. When in the middle of watching the film it forces you out of the moment when you think, wait he just said what? Other than that, my only complaint was with the 300 style slow motion. It was cool when the Comedian gets thrown out the window, but after that the director need to learn the idea of "judicious" use. Oh, and he could do away with some gratuitous violence. I won't ruin it for anyone, but there are things I don't need to see. It's why I can't bring myself to watch OZ.

Here's the deal. I liked the film. I actually might have liked a shorter, less faithful, to the book version, but I'm not a fan-girl. What I actually want to say, is not so much about the film as it is about myself and the world. Me first, of course. This is not a criticism of the film, just something I found weird. It was strange for me to realize this film was making the majority of my life into a period piece. Yeah. It was strange to see the hair and the ray-bans and everything be so 70's. What's wrong with that? Nothing, but I think the reason Watchmen was such an influencial book was that at it's heart it's timeless. The threat and peril of the story are set at a certain time, but that threat and peril could easily be recast with more contemporary figures.

Threat and peril. Let's talk about that. In the years since 1991, our villanous landscape has changed. Moscow and Havana are not the centers for terror they once were. Even given the period piece ambiance of the film, it was weird to the the soviets as we did. I'm not sure how this will play with younger audiences, maybe it's the reason they made the film seem like such a period piece instead of trying to set it in some nebulous contemporary space.

What I cannot quite articulate are the cultural possibilities. World opinon about both the US and Russia has changed drastically over the last 18 years. (That makes me feel old.) I think there is something significant about our current willingness to accept the Soviets as such a threat. Of all the things that separate me from my students I think the biggest one is the Cold War. Most of my students have no concept of what it meant to live in a world where the premise behind Red Dawn seemed far-fetched, but plausible. It's not something I can adequately explain to them.
The Watchmen is such a product of the Cold War that I wonder if it's us-them mentality can survive, even as a period piece. The fear and angst of the time are reflected in all of the characters. Can you really understand the Comedian, Rorschach, Ozimandius (whatever) if you don't understand the Cold War that created them? Or, is there something about these characters that surpasses their time and place?

Bloggerific

This post has been rattling about my brain for a couple of days now, but usually I’m not at the computer when I think about it.

While I’m pretty sure I don’t use it to its full capacity (a feeling I have about all things technical) it’s probably a good thing because the google reader has made me a lazy blog reader. Yup, it’s true. When I signed up I figured I’d just put the folks I made sure to check every day (or, you know, multiple times a day). I thought I’d still check in on everyone else and who really wants LOLcats clogging up their reader. The problem is I don’t really check up on anyone else. In the morning I sit down with my coffee, pretend to write for a bit, and then open the google reader. I check in on everyone and then I’m done. The time that I used to waste clicking through my favorites is gone, because about half the list is no longer included in my daily routine. I barely remember to check my lj anymore, let alone to post there.

Why not just add blogs to my reader?

Well, because I do like the current configuration. I’m still reading the most important blogs, just not so many. And, honestly, I should be doing more productive things with my time.

Chores...

Since, I cleaned my room yesterday, I should probably attack our bedroom today. I just don't feel like it. There are some crochet projects I need to work on, but I don't feel like that.

In fact, I don't feel like much of anything. Cleaning my room was supposed to make me feel like working. No so much. Maybe I instinctually know that working will make my room messy again.

Today, I'm supposed to hang out with Poetpixie. I have no idea when or what we will do, which is par for the course. Before she gets here I'll see if I can muster up a post with some content.

Decor...

After a year of living here, I figured it was time to start decorating my office. It's not done yet. There are a couple more posters to put up. I'm also thinking of putting up some cork board and my Board from comps. I haven't figured out how yet, but I will make that useful.

The process...

Okay...clearly I need to learn more about adding pictures, but here is the after, halfway, and before of cleaning my office. Now, I just have to hang my posters.

Moving on...

It's been incredibly hard to get back to work this week. By back to work, I mean back to grading. I took a hiatus just before orals, but now my grading jail is looking pretty formidable. It is of course just the tip of the iceberg of "Things I Have to Do." And, as usual, because I have so many "Things I Have to Do" I am rapidly developing a list of "Things I Want to Do." The bad part of this process is that I usually fill the "TIWTD" list with items that are actually productive. They just aren't what needs to be done at this moment.

It doesn't help that I bought a new planner at Staples last night, which means all I really want to do is fill it with stuff. It's a 2008-2009 academic planner. Why do I need an extra planner when I love my QPB Calendar of Days? Well, during my hiatus from posting, I did this crazy thing and applied for an administrative position for next year. It is a position designed for a graduate student, but has quite a few responsibilities--hence, the need for its own planner. Next year the position has the potential to be even more responsibility because it is an "Assistant To" position and the person holding that position next year is brand new to our University. Changes will be made, feathers will be ruffled, and I will get to be in the middle of it all.

The thing is, I really wanted this position this year. It is a position that always looks good on a CV, but the ability to discuss being a part of this transition in an interview will also be very beneficial. The word from those, who have held this position in the past, and are currently on The Market is that everyone wants to know about this position. They feel like this position got them interviews.

Oh, I wont' be on the market for a while yet, but it is good to know I will look good on paper when I get there.