Gorillaz videos; Pradox of life; hallucination

BTW, the videos shown on the last post were screened and discussed during last week's GP tutorials.

The meanings are supposed to be found on the Gorillaz Website , but i cant ind them =/

So i Wiki-ed it and the links are as followed : Feel Good Inc. & El Manana

Basically, the scene in the 1st video showing ow the people are locked in a prison ironically called "Feel Good Inc" shows how we are being locked in mass culture by us watching the same tv programmes, same news etc. 2-D (the name of the guy seen peering out of the window and Murdoc and Russell (the band members) , are the only ones who have woken up. Noodle, on the other hand, was living freely on her floating island, far from the sinful distractions, and to the envy of 2-D watching her island sail past the window.

The 2nd video shows the floating island being destroyed by helicopters, with noodle still inside shows how the mental freedom of not being part of the mass media was shot down by the media other corporations. Th scenes however can also be taken to mean how war can kill and destroyed all things peaceful and alike.

On the GP lecture last week, we are learned about language devices such as figurative language,emotive language, ironies and paradoxes, and how to identify them in comprehension passages etc. It was quite an interesting lesson, and quite a refreshing change to the previous topics on writing essays. On the back of the lecture notes, I found this "Paradox of life" article, which i hope to share with you people also ...=D

The Paradox of Life Today

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

-- Written by George Carlin, post-9/11 and his wife's death, as posted in Phil Konstantin's newsletter

And lastly, this hallucination found on the same site: http://secondsightresearch.tripod.com/cattales/id20.html