Cultural separation

On several occasions I find myself disappointed when I can't share my enthusiasm for certain things with my parents. The biggest example of this throughout my life is Harry Potter. I've noticed it with other things as well.

Today, my mother said she doesn't like to watch movies that aren't practical. "The story isn't very practical, is it?" I think she means realistic. And then, strangely enough, Mom and Dad went on about how new movies that are accurately portraying "real" India are not enjoyable, either. Are those movies not realistic? This confuses me.

Once, I spent a few days learning how to play Taylor Swift's "The Best Day" on my guitar, and I re-wrote the lyrics so they described my parents, sisters, and childhood experiences. I practiced and sang it for my mom on Mother's Day. She said it was nice, but she "felt like she couldn't enjoy it." And told me to learn some Hindi songs on my guitar for next time.

We ended today's conversation with my mother concluding that she just doesn't like new movies at all. And I concluded that it's okay. I just hope that I continue to enjoy the new things that I'm seeing each day, and I never become stuck in one genre, taste, or style. It's too much fun to immerse myself in all of these media. I think I would miss it.

Confusion: letting go // giving up

So today was the series 7 premiere of Doctor Who, and I was pretty excited, as one would expect. But I really disliked it. The episode had its moments, sure, but overall, the plot was terrible (a promising set-up in the trailers, but it didn't deliver), the acting was bad, the witty dialogues were few and far between, the new character was stereotypical (flirty, self-proclaimed genius that we're expected to fall in love with), I didn't feel a single emotional connection (I was more confused than moved by Amy & Rory's interaction), and it just left me feeling really, really sad about how much I had loved the previous seasons.

Everyone knows how much I love David Tennant. The writer/producer during his seasons was very character-focused, so it was easier to excuse the silliness of the monsters and appreciate the dialogues and character development. I enjoyed almost every episode in those years, despite the fact that they were considered to be less "mature," or I guess less geared to a mainstream audience. 

And the thing is that Matt Smith's first two seasons were not terrible. I really liked series 5, and several episodes from series 6 were amazing ("The Doctor's Wife," "The Girl Who Waited"). However, with my declining appreciation for the show in the last two seasons, I guess I was expecting to be underwhelmed this time? So the expectation sort of fulfilled itself.

And the sadness I was feeling all day sort of dissolved into anger after a while. It's strange, because it's usually the other way around. I read a few critiques of the episode (which I agreed with, for the most part). And I guess I finally understand the extent to which some people will confusedly continue to follow something they are almost scared to let go of, and to which others will go to shoot those people down.

Lestrade, Mr. Weasley and Filch next week, however! I’ll watch just for their faces. And I’m actually somewhat looking forward to “The Angels Take Manhattan” because of New York City, but once the Ponds leave, I’m out.

Spaced

Lonely vs. alone: I'm usually good with the latter; I don't know why I'm feeling the former.

Re: Life
I don't want to talk about it.

Good things:

1. figuring out why I bother making videos
2. keeping that secret to myself
3. summer escape plans

I've reverted back to my unhealthy habits. Or rather, I've created some habits that had never existed before. Time to start the pantry cleanse.

Shambles = my hair at the moment.

Send me Europe, please.

---

My laptop is about to give up on me.

Serial

Quite often, when I come home for a break, I find that my life resembles the Hindi serial dramas my mother watches on Indian television. All of the essential elements come into play. Status, ego, misunderstandings, disrespect, fear, embarrassment, annoyance, overreactions. Even a thematic soundtrack may be playing in the background. Most certainly, there is never a proper solution to the metaphorical villains that wreak havoc on our lives. They just continue to pop up in new ways every so often. And then there are these moments of pure joy, such as special episodes in which the main characters are getting married. But something always threatens to ruin their happiness, and the saga continues.


Last film watched: Iron Man
Currently reading: Life of Pi Yann Martel

TEDx

I attended a TEDx event today on my university campus, and I not-so-cleverly decided not to take a pen with me, so I couldn't take notes during the various lectures. However, as I was listening to the speakers, I thought of phrases/quotations from my personal "world" that could resonate with the themes discussed today.

"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually -- from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint -- it's more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly... timey-wimey... stuff." - The Tenth Doctor, Doctor Who, Blink

A bunch of quotes from Paper Towns by John Green on

imagination (re: Michael Saler - History and Imaginary Worlds)

and imagining others complexly (re: Chimamanda Adichie - The Danger of a Single Story)

"If you don't imagine, nothing ever happens at all."
“It is easy to forget how full the world is of people, full to bursting, and each of them imaginable and consistently misimagined.”
and
"Isn't it also that on some fundamental level we find it difficult to understand that other people are human beings in the same way that we are?"

Oh, and I'm so glad that more people were exposed to the wonderfulness and pure awesome that is Ze Frank, even if it was through a video and not in-real-life.

Saturated

• Jacob: I just feel weird.
• Anna: Why do you feel weird?
• Jacob: I just feel kind of...
• Anna: You feel weird? I hate it when you say you feel weird.

Relationships are taxing. Lovely when right but so costly. Not just romantic, but any sort of relationship. Friendly, collaborative, familial, casual, strange, formal, familiar, personal. A relationship with music, film, books. Mood-effectors. It’s impossible not to be involved in some way, shape or form.

I just watched Like Crazy, and it was a gorgeous film, but I’ve been indulging myself in some strange addiction to thinking, reading, watching too many things. So much input; I’m starting to feel saturated with feelings.

I can’t always relate to the characters in the books I’ve read nor in the films I’ve watched. But while I’m watching them I do feel a need to connect. And I want to make things happen in my life so I can start to relate more. But then I step back and see how much I’m experiencing with the relationships I’m in and I don’t think I can handle anything else. I just really need a break from all of these thoughts.

Books

I've been reading way too much recently. It's not the worst way to spend my time, but when I should really be studying it seems like a bad idea. Especially since I'm on my sixth book in six days. Um. I have a midterm in two days, a ton of work for lab, and an endless number of tasks on my to-do list. But it's too easy to just pick up where I've left off in whatever book I'm reading, and the feeling of finishing a book is far more satisfying than the seemingly infinite stress of studying for an exam.

What I've read recently:

Anthem Ayn Rand ***

Sold Patricia McCormick ***

The Lover's Dictionary David Levithan ****

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight Jennifer E. Smith **

Wither Lauren DeStefano **.5

and I'm currently reading Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler, and I'm really liking it so far.

“If you are a student you should always get a good nights sleep unless you have come to the good part of your book, and then you should stay up all night and let your schoolwork fall by the wayside, a phrase which means 'flunk'.” - Lemony Snicket


Last film watched: X-Men: First Class