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2007.05.29
[Year_Zero_for_Wee_Ones]
A great woman once said, "I believe the children are our future." And that statement was never more applicable than now, when the very existence of humankind is on the line a mere 15 years from now. It shocks me that the AIR movement has never sought to address the children of today. After all, who is it who will be at the forefront of the resistance movement 15 years from now? Why, the three-, four-, five- and six-year-olds of today! We have to grab their supple little minds NOW. We have to educate them NOW.
Although Year Zero may not be the most comforting of bedtime stories, our lives and theirs depend on their understanding concepts like Parepin and the Presence and Red Horse Vector. Of course, we want to introduce these ideas to them in a way that is developmentally appropriate and appealing. That's why I've created "Year Zero for Wee Ones," a children's poem and coloring book. Enjoy and share it with a child you know.
Posted by maise in art_is_resistance, maise_bites | Permalink
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Comments
Oh, and yes I know my drawings are shitty, but how many five-year-olds are going to draw better than that? Please.
Posted by: maise | May 29, 2007 7:54:32 PM
HA! The drawings are great! Although I think The Presence hand is only supposed to have 4 fingers.
This is totally a story I could read to my kids, you know, if I could bear to bring any into such world so hell bent on its own destruction.
Posted by: Iris | May 29, 2007 8:08:57 PM
Oh Maise, Your art isn't all that bad, but The "Uncle Trent Loves You" shirt had me in STITCHES.
Posted by: KittyKins | May 29, 2007 10:33:52 PM
Currently Absorbing:
The New American Militarism: How Americans are Seduced by War
by Andrew J. Bacevich.
Iris - will get you those recipes ny this weekend...
Posted by: Angelman | May 29, 2007 11:21:52 PM
that's such a cool story!! and also handily encapsulates the whole YZ thing for thise of us who don't go trawling after websites coz we've broken the binary code on the cd etc :)
btw, is it just me or does anyone else get a teeny bit reminded of David Bowie's Outside album which was also set in the future and 'sung' from various points of view?
Posted by: Giftedsbytch | May 30, 2007 4:12:00 AM
Yeah, but that totally blew, and was boring.
Posted by: Muskles | May 30, 2007 8:22:21 AM
Maise, what would Sigmund Freud have to say about your drawings? There were cigars EVERYWHERE! Not really appropriate for the "wee ones" is it?...oh...I get it now. Right.
I do, however, adore your angry sun. That was pretty awesome.
Posted by: JR | May 30, 2007 8:24:15 AM
What, no props for my homage to Edvard Munch?
Posted by: maise | May 30, 2007 9:29:35 AM
I think I can comfortably say that I don't know a single song off of Bowie's "Outside" album. Should I?
Posted by: maise | May 30, 2007 9:31:06 AM
I like that it's in verse, Maise, and I like the way it points out how cheesey and stupid the ARG (ARG!) is.
Yeah, that's what I said.
Good thing the actual MUSIC is very nice.
Posted by: Dierdre | May 30, 2007 9:41:48 AM
Dierdre - the music is utterly forgettable. The best thing about YZ was/is Maise's children's book.
Posted by: Angelman | May 30, 2007 10:26:57 AM
Why, thanks, Angelman! So flattered.
For the record, I still love the record and the ARG. (I tease what I love!) It would be nice if something were actually going on with the ARG, but as I said before, the ARG is only active when I am ridiculously busy at work. Seeing as I'm ridiculously unoccupied at the moment, all is quiet.
Posted by: maise | May 30, 2007 10:39:24 AM
No one loves the record. They think they love it in lieu of anything new of NIN that is good. This is watered down Trent but since there is nothing else all the fans say it is good.
Posted by: Angelman | May 30, 2007 11:19:55 AM
You kidding me? This is a solid album, and what's more, it's ambitious and, characteristic of Trent, unlike what's come before. The lyrics are sometimes wry, sometimes sobering, sometimes baffling, and sometimes downright heartbreaking. For my money, "Capital G" and "God Given" are among Trent's best work--dark, yet arresting and strangely infectious. "In This Twilight" features some of the best singing Trent's ever done, and "Zero Sum" is both subtle and devastating.
I know you're just trying to rile up the fans, Angelman, but come on now.
Posted by: maise | May 30, 2007 12:11:41 PM
I really am not - well, I am - but I mean what I say. Even Gabriel admitted to me yesterday that most of the record hadn't "stuck with him" - it's a mediocre NIN record at best, certainly nowhere near his best. It feels slapdash and monotone, the lyrics have no depth (and I really think time will support that assertion). Trent seems more concerned with what comes after NIN - be it films, screenplays, etc. that the music at hand. The album, and the ARG show little long term planning and little depth. I maintain NIN fans are so hungry for that fix of the old days they will make excuses for substandard work. I've seen lots of fans do it, even myself with bands I love, so I can recognize it in all of you. YZ makes WT look like a masterpiece (and WT was bashed pretty heavily as well). He either needs to committ on a level like he did before or expect to have his output be less than average.
Posted by: Angelman | May 30, 2007 12:28:51 PM
Well, you're certainly entitled to that opinion, but I still believe that Year Zero is a strong album that was created by an artist with a lot of focus and confidence. It's a bit insulting that you accuse me of some mindless zombie-like cheerleading, but I am being honest. Year Zero certainly would not be to everyone's tastes, but I appreciate the refreshing fictional approach to this album and am happy to see that the songs are not devoid of hooks. I mean, if every song were like "The Greater Good," I'd say you have a point, but I LOVE the sexy foreboding of "The Warning," the exhileration of "My Violent Heart," and the smart, dark humor of "Capital G" and "God Given." And the GENIUS of the whispering in God Given! That was the most delightful surprise of the entire album.
There are tracks that I like better than others on Year Zero, but there's not a ton of filler. I'm sure here's where you'll object and proclaim the entire album to be filler, but I can't really debate that with you. Either you like it or you don't.
Posted by: maise | May 30, 2007 12:53:17 PM
You are a mindless zombie.
I don't dislike the album, but it is mediocre. I don't think you are a zombie but I do think you are elevating it in your own mind out of a fondness for the man and his previous works rather than based on a pure evaluation of the album as a stand alone effort (I do this all the time with bands I like before one day saying - "hey this album is just OK").
Posted by: Angelman | May 30, 2007 12:59:57 PM
Its not everyday you see a childrens picture book containg words like orifice, shit, besmirched, and superflous.
Posted by: Rubicon | May 30, 2007 1:07:18 PM
Rubicon, one thing I strongly believe in is not talking down to the children. At least I refrained from "fuck."
Posted by: maise | May 30, 2007 1:28:44 PM
maise, awesome. loved it.
Posted by: guru shabd | May 30, 2007 7:57:34 PM
brilliant take on the subject. I especially love the way you work the poems into it. and Uncle Trent just killed me, it really did. I adore the new album.
(btw: I sent an e-mail recently to the "contributions" address, for the folks at wtc. did I go about it wrongly, or should I resend it to another address?)
Posted by: Alexiel | May 30, 2007 9:07:40 PM
Thanks, Alexiel!
I did get your email, so no worries!
Posted by: maise | May 31, 2007 2:59:28 AM
I've been having a really smeggy time recently, but that made me smile like an ADD kiddie munching mummy's prozac.
Much love and many ascii hearts are sent your way, maise.
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
Posted by: RainbowVomit | May 31, 2007 8:31:13 AM
PS, Uncle Trent bears a passing resemblance to Snufkin, and that makes it even better.
Posted by: RainbowVomit | May 31, 2007 8:38:00 AM
I really miss the days of "Broken"/"Downward Spiral" hair because then I could kind of draw it. This short hair stuff is just beyond me.
Posted by: maise | May 31, 2007 8:50:20 AM