When tv is showing a steady decline...
One program comes out of nowhere and catches everyone by surprise.
In a recent post, I was talking about reality tv greats like MIC and Towie and I was starting to believe that was all we'd be stuck with. Yet, Ashley Walters decides that he will show the UK and inadvertently, the world, that he is capable of a lot more than just writing a 16 on 21 seconds or featuring as the comic relief crack head on Anuvahood.
Ashley Walters is a dangerous actor.
Why?
Why would I come out with such a "bold" statement?
Simple... He has proven himself to be a talented and gifted person of multi-facets. People like these are few and far between, as not only do they entertain us, they keep us asking for more of what they do. They push people to go to acting school and grow up to be as successful or more-so than themselves. They former child actors (like myself) remember the kind of benefits they would reap in the entertainment industry.
The one characteristic that shines outright in his persona is his charisma and I don't need to tell anyone with half a brain cell how important that trait is.
Top Boy is some of his most notable work.
You'll probably see that the title of this entry is about 4OD, but Top Boy is a show with an impact.
Being from Hackney myself, the show speaks to me and reminds me of the kind of life I was growing up around, the types of people and locations are all real and vivid in their own pseudo-surreal way.
I won't go too much in to Top Boy, as shows like Youngers, the documentary One Mile Away and much more all do similarly in their on way. Youngers also speaks to me as it brings me back to the days of being a young impressionable, upcoming musician and getting slandered (to this day) and constantly badgered to fall of track. My love for music kept me going. I strongly enjoy this show and it's truly a hit for E4.
A previous musical mentor of mine (S.K.I.T.Z. Beats) was responsible for producing for the show, he made some superior instrumentals and I have to give credit where it's due.
I'm gonna go outside of my realm and say that this overall type of programming is what millions of people have been waiting for. I don't think many would disagree and I will certainly be revisiting this topic.
UPDATE:I hadn't realisred this post was still a draft all this time, well better late than never I say. Enjoy regardless and remember to share with your people dem!
Saturday, 24 August 2013
Saturday, 17 August 2013
2 For The Price Of 1
If you have an addictive nature...
Then you're bound to be addicted to things of no real value.
Take me for example... Started a blog a f.ew months back. Was on it properly, had a break for a few months, then came back with a bang again recently, after the withdrawal symptoms hit me.
Yeah the shakes came about, the sleepless nights and all sorts; when you think about it though, what is it that makes social addiction that in which the name suggests?
Second bold paragraph prefix used as you can see...
Social addiction and social media addiction.
At this point I will refer to them as SA and SMA.
Do I know whether these are real and documented under another name? No.
Is this vital? Necessary? Or just a thinly veiled distraction to provide this meta joke? Maybe!
Please try to see that this is purely opinion based and is by no means solid fact, but I will admit to being apart of the mix in some cases, now; on with the analysis.
SA - We've all watched shows like Made In Chelsea and TOWIE, I'm socially addicted to shows like these. You know why? It's because they give me so many reasons to critique them. When you watch this kind of tv, the brain releases chemicals which work to subdue all rational thought... When I watch these shows, the chemicals in my brain take temporary vacations. I go in as a blank canvas, telling myself to be; and remain neutral mostly. It's difficult, extremely.... difficult! Why do I feel the need to critique MIC and TOWIE though?
I watch them and keep thinking... poorly acted, poorly scripted, repeated topics (relationships etc), lack of charisma in main characters. I watched 4OD the other day and MIC was playing; wherein these things kept on reeling from my mouth, the same critiques I try to stop myself from mentioning. The shows become addictive because they make us think; "How the hell can someone behave like this? How do they bring the ratings in? Why do people meme these people? Why can't I stop watching this?........"
This is when you read back a sentence and you ask yourself repeatedly... "Why can't I stop watching this?........" The addiction comes from the surreal atmosphere and the way the wooden characters drift ashore like a dead beached whale... or some driftwood, whatever works! All in all, it's entertaining because it misses the things which conventional tv provides, you don't get this level of entertainment from shows like Luther, or Dexter or even Budgie The Little Helicoper. (Going through the time warp at this point).
SMA is connected to SA; in that SMA is what I am going through now, the first paragraph prefix gives it away. SMA is the unjustified need to rely on social media to get through the day.
Ever wake up flick your phone awake and without thought load up the Facebook app and write that you've "just woken up" or "need more sleep", as if to say anyone gives a crap and had no idea that this is what you were experiencing, similar, if not the same as they are?
SMA is almost like drug dependance, except it does a bit less damage to you in a physical sense but it does damage your real social life to some degree, unless you aware of it most times.
Ever go to a bar which you've planned for weeks, (via FB of course) only to be tapping away at your phone all night when you're at the bar; saying how you wish you were at home or are "having fun with the mates at blah blah blah bar"? You, my friend are a victim of SMA.
Don't cry and don't be shy, just remember to fight the urge of both SA and SMA and your days will be long.
Then you're bound to be addicted to things of no real value.
Take me for example... Started a blog a f.ew months back. Was on it properly, had a break for a few months, then came back with a bang again recently, after the withdrawal symptoms hit me.
Yeah the shakes came about, the sleepless nights and all sorts; when you think about it though, what is it that makes social addiction that in which the name suggests?
Second bold paragraph prefix used as you can see...
Social addiction and social media addiction.
At this point I will refer to them as SA and SMA.
Do I know whether these are real and documented under another name? No.
Is this vital? Necessary? Or just a thinly veiled distraction to provide this meta joke? Maybe!
Please try to see that this is purely opinion based and is by no means solid fact, but I will admit to being apart of the mix in some cases, now; on with the analysis.
SA - We've all watched shows like Made In Chelsea and TOWIE, I'm socially addicted to shows like these. You know why? It's because they give me so many reasons to critique them. When you watch this kind of tv, the brain releases chemicals which work to subdue all rational thought... When I watch these shows, the chemicals in my brain take temporary vacations. I go in as a blank canvas, telling myself to be; and remain neutral mostly. It's difficult, extremely.... difficult! Why do I feel the need to critique MIC and TOWIE though?
I watch them and keep thinking... poorly acted, poorly scripted, repeated topics (relationships etc), lack of charisma in main characters. I watched 4OD the other day and MIC was playing; wherein these things kept on reeling from my mouth, the same critiques I try to stop myself from mentioning. The shows become addictive because they make us think; "How the hell can someone behave like this? How do they bring the ratings in? Why do people meme these people? Why can't I stop watching this?........"
This is when you read back a sentence and you ask yourself repeatedly... "Why can't I stop watching this?........" The addiction comes from the surreal atmosphere and the way the wooden characters drift ashore like a dead beached whale... or some driftwood, whatever works! All in all, it's entertaining because it misses the things which conventional tv provides, you don't get this level of entertainment from shows like Luther, or Dexter or even Budgie The Little Helicoper. (Going through the time warp at this point).
SMA is connected to SA; in that SMA is what I am going through now, the first paragraph prefix gives it away. SMA is the unjustified need to rely on social media to get through the day.
Ever wake up flick your phone awake and without thought load up the Facebook app and write that you've "just woken up" or "need more sleep", as if to say anyone gives a crap and had no idea that this is what you were experiencing, similar, if not the same as they are?
SMA is almost like drug dependance, except it does a bit less damage to you in a physical sense but it does damage your real social life to some degree, unless you aware of it most times.
Ever go to a bar which you've planned for weeks, (via FB of course) only to be tapping away at your phone all night when you're at the bar; saying how you wish you were at home or are "having fun with the mates at blah blah blah bar"? You, my friend are a victim of SMA.
Don't cry and don't be shy, just remember to fight the urge of both SA and SMA and your days will be long.
Considering Everything Beforehand
What Is Jealousy?
Over the past week, I've had constant thinking going on.
When they say... "I wish you all the best". That is seldom what a person intends to suggest.
,
We've all heard the songs. We've all seen the memes and tropes flood on the internet.
I think one of the biggest contributors to the popularization of the word hate is Kanye West.
I'm not his biggest fan, but his branding is top notch. The way he uses the "they're gonna hate me so much that they love me" approach. Now, he is the exception and not the rule, by all means.
He has acquired the right to be as braggadocios as he is, due to his major musical accomplishments.
If you're not a fan, you don't have to listen to; or be absorbed in to his ramblings or egocentric statements.
His claims are relatively harmless and although he may subliminally talk down to those who listen to his music by constantly shoving his love of money and gained wealth down the throat of thirsty fans; there is still a level of restraint, there is no direct pain caused by the things he puts on wax.
Try to look at it from a critical aspect now... become the crazed fan / pundit throwing unnecessary abuse at him. Attack him for belittling you. Giving you a constant reminder of the 9 to 5 that you work in, always leaving you short on that vital bill at the end of every month. When you've finished your tirade, reflect and remember that he is an entertainer, he is a performer by trade, his job is to incite emotion and have you pay him for it. Does he deserve anything more than criticism?
What about when it all gets too much for you... the crazed fan... and you start to resent your social circle as they all can afford the luxury style, the new car every year, walk in wardrobe and generally flashy lifestyle. But you're left sitting at home trying to rub two pieces of bread together with a garnish of gone off butter?
We as a society need to think outside of the box a bit more. Try to seek another's perspective before acting so harshly towards a person we perceive as an enemy just because their walk of life appears more attractive in comparison to our own. Sometimes, all that glitters is not gold.
More entries shortly.
Over the past week, I've had constant thinking going on.
When they say... "I wish you all the best". That is seldom what a person intends to suggest.
,
We've all heard the songs. We've all seen the memes and tropes flood on the internet.
I think one of the biggest contributors to the popularization of the word hate is Kanye West.
I'm not his biggest fan, but his branding is top notch. The way he uses the "they're gonna hate me so much that they love me" approach. Now, he is the exception and not the rule, by all means.
He has acquired the right to be as braggadocios as he is, due to his major musical accomplishments.
If you're not a fan, you don't have to listen to; or be absorbed in to his ramblings or egocentric statements.
His claims are relatively harmless and although he may subliminally talk down to those who listen to his music by constantly shoving his love of money and gained wealth down the throat of thirsty fans; there is still a level of restraint, there is no direct pain caused by the things he puts on wax.
Try to look at it from a critical aspect now... become the crazed fan / pundit throwing unnecessary abuse at him. Attack him for belittling you. Giving you a constant reminder of the 9 to 5 that you work in, always leaving you short on that vital bill at the end of every month. When you've finished your tirade, reflect and remember that he is an entertainer, he is a performer by trade, his job is to incite emotion and have you pay him for it. Does he deserve anything more than criticism?
What about when it all gets too much for you... the crazed fan... and you start to resent your social circle as they all can afford the luxury style, the new car every year, walk in wardrobe and generally flashy lifestyle. But you're left sitting at home trying to rub two pieces of bread together with a garnish of gone off butter?
We as a society need to think outside of the box a bit more. Try to seek another's perspective before acting so harshly towards a person we perceive as an enemy just because their walk of life appears more attractive in comparison to our own. Sometimes, all that glitters is not gold.
More entries shortly.
Monday, 12 August 2013
I Think We May Have Missed One Another
I do really enjoy a nice old blog....
Yeah I confess, I was a bit of a blog addict. But I seem to come off of my addiction as of late.
Looking at the date of my last entry and it seems that I've been on a bit of a one sided, "only call you when I need that late night hook up" kind of relationship with my blog.
That is truly terrible!
Truly...
So then, clearly we need to make up right? Sort out our differences, put our past behind us and keep fighting the good fight... Right?
Yeah, I'd say say so, it's that time again, gotta swallow my pride and get back with my partner.
She called and I had to answer so here we go again with our tempestuous ways! lol
To anyone that can see through the metaphors, happy reading!
Yeah I confess, I was a bit of a blog addict. But I seem to come off of my addiction as of late.
Looking at the date of my last entry and it seems that I've been on a bit of a one sided, "only call you when I need that late night hook up" kind of relationship with my blog.
That is truly terrible!
Truly...
So then, clearly we need to make up right? Sort out our differences, put our past behind us and keep fighting the good fight... Right?
Yeah, I'd say say so, it's that time again, gotta swallow my pride and get back with my partner.
She called and I had to answer so here we go again with our tempestuous ways! lol
To anyone that can see through the metaphors, happy reading!
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