dani hosiosky: March 2013

BEFORE THE FIRST CLASS

A. BEST PIECE OF CREATIVE WORK BEFORE COMING TO THIS COURSE:

This creative piece of writing was my proudest work that I developed in HSC. I loved the concept; I found it incredibly stimulating & applicable to all elements of everyday life. I also loved playing with the structure of the text, by challenging traditional linear structures & following a more post-modern style. I loved writing it, & hope you love reading it..

Character Profile:

Mark Zuckerberg – creator of Facebook.

Steve Jobs – creator of Apple Macintosh.

Charlotte Richards – childhood friend. Stubbornly Atheist. South African descendent. Moved to china.

Bob Smith – coworker. Fed up with Desk Work. Escaped to India to see the other side of life.

What’s on my mind? My computer suddenly cares about me. It’s as if Mark Zuckerberg & Steve Jobs are unexpectedly sitting along side me on this suede bed, in my hotel suit, reading my consumed eyes. Well since you asked so solicitously...

I read it over twice – taking advantage of this virtual kingdom where you can be whoever you want to be; I make sure I formulated a sophisticated and cultured depiction of myself, dropping the right names and all - before scrolling my mouse, and pressing ‘post’.

Simultaneously I received ‘one new notification’. I click the little red flag that guides me to the message, and I’m pleasantly surprised to see ‘Charlotte Richards shared a link on your wall’. I know what you’re thinking, ‘what relationship did she divide among the structure that concurrently supports, divides and encloses a portion of your house?’ - no, not that kind of share, not that link, not that wall. Yes the year of 2003 certainly marked a monumental historic shift that largely occurred peacefully - with the exception of ownership rights. The development of ‘Facebook’, or rather what was once, ‘Facemash’ eroded traditional boundaries as it united the world into one single network. But let’s not get carried away…

I make my way to my wall to see a youtube clip. Suddenly I’m part of the American realm of Fox News, in an out-of-my-league discussion about ‘Christianity Growing in China’. The disembodied synthetic voice talks.

“One rapidly emerging influence on Chinese society is Christianity. That might be surprising given Chinese Communist System – but Fox religion correspondent Lauren Green reports, the numbers don’t lie...”

This Capitalist driven technological innovation brings both the East and West into this bland room that waits to be painted. The chamber metamorphoses from a US studio to overpopulated Chinese churches.

“This is the face of China in transformation. The officially Atheist country of more than a billion souls are experiencing an explosive (one hundred fold) increase in the growth in Christianity.

It's the result of a spiritual vacuum that occurred in the country because everyone got fed up with Marxism, Leninism and Mao thought.”

I go back in time as images of aggressive yet defensive tanks pervade my screen. Civilians frantically scour the wreckage, their terror and confusion compounded by the nauseating mobile camera shot jerking from side to side.

“The greatest growth came after the Tiannemen Square crackdown. Of the student leaders arrested, 20% became Christians.”

The explanation of the Journalist sheds light on the pandemonium – a political demonstration to encourage liberalization. I imagine the generational gap forming; the heartbroken elderly, as their grandchildren become emotionally estranged from their Confucian heritage whilst accepting the more globally inclusive, Christianity.

“Based on registered churches…”

A flicker of the assumed institution is displayed – yet the undecipherable Chinese symbols leave my mind wondering what was actually shown.

“…The Chinese Government claims it has 28.6 million Christians. But off the record…”

An image of the Chinese flag emerges to the council.

“…Communist Party members admit, the real number is somewhere between 80-150 million.

First generation Christians are very willing to share their faith. This generation of Chinese Christian Growth will reach anywhere from 200-500 million.”

Swiftly, I’m back in the US. More specifically, what I simulate to be the streets of New York; based on the popular depictions of busy streets and high skyscrapers.

“Unlike the US which has scores of Christians ranging from the far right to the far left politically. In china, while Protestants far out-weight Catholics. They are of one theological mind and represent the worlds largest homogenous group; a block that could have a profound effect within China and on the world’s stage.

If you have 25-30% of people of a major power that accepts Christianity as a guide to life; that's going to change the worlds view of the leaders of China.”

To conclude this rendition of the conforming society; Fox News takes me back to China. Images of skyscrapers and an English titled ‘Chinese Merchant Bank’ align to the previous American Picture that splashed across the screen. Of course, closing with the synecdoche of local culture, the five star red flag.

“With China’s emergence as an economic superpower, it could also soon take over the United States as the nation with the largest Christian population. “

Write a comment? Why, I’d love to.

Satisfied with my words, I hit ‘enter’.

That trivial yet outrageously provocative red pennant is blushing my blue & white screen. ‘Bob Smith has added a new photo to the album ‘India’’.

Bob Smith – good old, stick up his ass, Bob Smith. I smile as I briefly reminisce over his perfectly organized desk, forward defense attitude, and complete reliance on our friend Steve Jobs to instantly gratify his every wish. I still wonder what drove him out so quickly; one day cows are walking hamburgers, the next, the Nandi Bull is a sacrosanct symbol of mother earth. I decide to have a look at the album – eager to see how this commercialized Ivy League graduate functions in the eastern environment. I cough out a fatigued laugh at his outlier effect within the first photo; a pasty, platinum blonde, suited up with cheesy Ray-ban glasses among a congregation of darkened, beaded Indians. The digitalized pictures have a spicy colour to them. I wonder if it is the effect of chai mixed with the various hues of chili or the clever effects of Photoshop. It amazes me how technology can modify authenticity, let alone capture reality & function as a time machine. As I passively pass through the snapshots, Bob converts. My mouth begins to drop. I’m flabbergasted at the transformation – his clothes lighten, his smile looks natural, his skin begins to glow. I begin reliving his experiences.

I’m now in India. Walking through the spice markets. Kids fly their kites. Women sew rainbow Saris in hope to sell them to tourists, like myself. I’m wearing a Kurta. I pass a storm of curry puffs - a breeze of paprika and bay leaf diffuses though the long white sheets of cloth. The gentle u.v. rays tickle my skin. I feel rejuvenated, revived.

Unfortunately, this is but a mere façade. Not only am I delirious in my exhaustion, but I realize that my perception of this local world is shaped by what Bob subjectively decides to illuminate. I ponder if in actuality it is an urban-centrism, technological totalitarianism and commercial commodification, or if this culture has genuinely abandoned Capitalist culture due to the social costs that potentially outweigh the technological and medicinal innovations; if Bob is genuinely satisfied in this rudimentary world, or if this rudimentary world even exists. Is it possible for a local culture to prosper in contemporary times if it is not gaining something from the global world? If so – that’s brilliant.

This self-debate encourages my melatonin to kick in. Yet such a heated deliberation requires a status update.

Antoni Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia

B. A GREAT PIECE OF ARCHITECTURE

Gaudi is an inspiration. In my eyes he developed the practice of Architecture into an art form. Unfortunately, the construction of the Cathedral outlived Gaudi. Although we are led to believe that Gaudi intended that the Cathedral be influenced by other architects & consequently to incorporate alternate architectural & artistic styles. Fittingly, the design is based on the teachings of Catholicism. For example, at the top of the Glory Portico, he represents the Seven Heavenly Virtues, and at the base, the Seven Deadly Sins.

C. SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

What's more beautiful then a typical sunrise? I have a soft spot for this photo. It was taken the morning after a freezing cold night under the stars in Morroco's Sahara Desert. I love that it is not perfectly centred as it indicates my not so centred situation - bouncing on the humps of the clumsy Camels - praying they wouldn't fall down those dunes. This photo reminds me of the small things; the peak of the sand that divided two different set of textures created by the wind, the sound of the camel chewing it's cud - hoping they wouldn't spit it on me, & the hilarious cries of ladies in utter horror of the possibility that they may fall off!

NOUN, VERB, ADJECTIVE

SHINYA KIMURA's 'Zero-Style Bike'; urban, release, daring