The Curious Savage by John Patrick is a short, meaningful play about sanity, insanity, and what the two really are. It is the story of Mrs. Savage, a widow whose husband has left her millions of dollars, and her step-children, who are willing to do anything to get it from her. When Mrs. Savage uses the money for a ridiculous-sounding Memorial fund, her step-children have her instituted. What becomes evident throughout the play, however, is that although some may believe that a life-size doll is their son, and others may refuse to speak while compulsively taking apart radios, and still others may spend millions of dollars on foolish wishes of desperate people, it may be possible that the ones who are truly insane are not these, but senators, judges, and models, who will knock over chimneys, dig up lawns, and cut apart stuffed museum displays to gain superficial possessions.
Insanity is not a medical term, which is really a good thing, since no one knows what it is. For instance, I'm supposedly crazy because I don't want to have sex before I'm married. But aren't the truly crazy people the ones who have intercourse with partner after partner after partner, looking constantly for validation, thinking that this will bring it to them? If having casual sex is going to bring you self-contentment, it would have done it by the third or fourth time, yet people do this for years and years. I think that's insane.
It is my belief that society no longer understands 'insane' to mean 'lacking in sanity,' but as anything that isn't what everyone else does. If we were to really call people insane who behaved in ways that made little to no sense, especially repeatedly, the only sane ones would be the ones that are constantly called crazy for deviating from the norm.
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.
-Angel Monèt
What of the people who are undeniably crazy? People who hallucinate or talk to themselves? Surely we can label these 'insane' without argument? They certainly deviate from the norm, and they definately have no grasp on reality or how to face reality's challenges. I believe, though, that many of these people simply got lost on their way to finding satisfaction, as the all-too-sexually-active teenager and the workaholic adult have. Many adults compulsively work harder than is healthy in order to feel financially secure, when working only part as hard would probably suffice. This is not all that different from a student answering all Cs on a multiple-choice worksheet (despite knowing the correct answers) in fear that he'll die if he doesn't. The adult thinks he will fall into poverty if he doesn't continue to work harder, harder, harder, and the child thinks he will die if he doesn't put C. In many situations, both are wrong.
Well, regardless of whether or not you agree with me, I still encourage you to read The Curious Savage. :] It doesn't take long to read, and in addition to being meaningful, it's very humorous.
<3 o.
Showing posts with label culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label culture. Show all posts
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Saturday, April 5, 2008
How To Be Pretty
I see Pretty every day. I see it on tv, in magazines, and on ten-foot cardboard cut-outs in mall windows. I see it on billboards and manakin displays and photographs and paintings. I hear about it in conversations, jokes, and music. I see and hear Pretty every day. I know what Pretty is and I know what Pretty looks like and I know that Pretty doesn't look like me.
I also happen to know that there is not one thing I can do about it.
It's really a horrible to thing to live in the world as a female right now. Right now is when who-knows-how-much money is spent developing computer programs that can rank your appearance, someone or some group is always being judged on how they look, and whether you're 'hot' or not can actually affect how much you are payed--or not payed. But have you ever Googled 'How To Be Pretty'? Sure, a couple things come up, but let's face it--while you may be more attractive when drinking lots of water and sitting up straight, this is not the same as being Pretty. Some people may disagree, in fact, many people would. There are lots of people who would define Pretty as 'healthy and happy.' But let's take a look at the environment that we women are forced to deal with daily: Healthy, happy women are not nearly as idolized as busty women with sexy, smoky eyes, or scantily-clad women who know exactly how to shake their assets. You can tell us all you like that it's important to smile sincerely and take care of our skin and hair, but let's face the truth everyone: We don't put the people who smile sincerely and take care of their skin and hair on a pedastal. We put the ones who are willing to walk down a runway half naked on one.
Of course, all women and girls face insecurity with some part of their appearance, some more than others. And I have to say: No one can truly understand that feeling but the girls who face it more. There is no way to understand the feeling of worthlessness that is being thrust upon those until you've had everything that you don't have and never can have shoved in your face daily by nearly everyone around you.
Wouldn't one think that having someone tell you that you're beautiful repeatedly convince you that you are? Someone whom you know you can trust and that you know loves you? Surprisingly, for some of us, no. Isn't it sad to know that the effect that the commercials and the music videos have on us can't always be countered? It is sad. It is a sad, sad thing when a girl or woman is so convinced that they are ugly and unworthy of affection that not even the most important person in their life can convince them otherwise. That is something I would call the epitome of sad.
The most common error made in matters of appearance is the believe that one should disdain the superficial and let the true beauty of one's soul shine through. If there are places on your body where this is a possibility, you are not attractive--you are leaking.
-Franz Lebowitz
As melodramatic, whiny, and pessimistic as everything I have just written sounds, I hope that no one who reads it takes it for untruth. Please realize that even if a girl or many girls that you know doesn't agree or claims she doesn't agree--there is at least one girl out there who feels this way, and for certain, with the other 3 billion girls on the planet, she cannot be the only one.
<3>
I also happen to know that there is not one thing I can do about it.
It's really a horrible to thing to live in the world as a female right now. Right now is when who-knows-how-much money is spent developing computer programs that can rank your appearance, someone or some group is always being judged on how they look, and whether you're 'hot' or not can actually affect how much you are payed--or not payed. But have you ever Googled 'How To Be Pretty'? Sure, a couple things come up, but let's face it--while you may be more attractive when drinking lots of water and sitting up straight, this is not the same as being Pretty. Some people may disagree, in fact, many people would. There are lots of people who would define Pretty as 'healthy and happy.' But let's take a look at the environment that we women are forced to deal with daily: Healthy, happy women are not nearly as idolized as busty women with sexy, smoky eyes, or scantily-clad women who know exactly how to shake their assets. You can tell us all you like that it's important to smile sincerely and take care of our skin and hair, but let's face the truth everyone: We don't put the people who smile sincerely and take care of their skin and hair on a pedastal. We put the ones who are willing to walk down a runway half naked on one.
Of course, all women and girls face insecurity with some part of their appearance, some more than others. And I have to say: No one can truly understand that feeling but the girls who face it more. There is no way to understand the feeling of worthlessness that is being thrust upon those until you've had everything that you don't have and never can have shoved in your face daily by nearly everyone around you.
Wouldn't one think that having someone tell you that you're beautiful repeatedly convince you that you are? Someone whom you know you can trust and that you know loves you? Surprisingly, for some of us, no. Isn't it sad to know that the effect that the commercials and the music videos have on us can't always be countered? It is sad. It is a sad, sad thing when a girl or woman is so convinced that they are ugly and unworthy of affection that not even the most important person in their life can convince them otherwise. That is something I would call the epitome of sad.
The most common error made in matters of appearance is the believe that one should disdain the superficial and let the true beauty of one's soul shine through. If there are places on your body where this is a possibility, you are not attractive--you are leaking.
-Franz Lebowitz
As melodramatic, whiny, and pessimistic as everything I have just written sounds, I hope that no one who reads it takes it for untruth. Please realize that even if a girl or many girls that you know doesn't agree or claims she doesn't agree--there is at least one girl out there who feels this way, and for certain, with the other 3 billion girls on the planet, she cannot be the only one.
<3>
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