Survival Research Laboratory

I  was fascinated by the work of SRL we saw last class. I love the irony of the name, Survival Research Laboratories. The group creates the elaborate monsters that destroy each other in a mechanical ballet. Why do they deem themselves the Survival Research Laboratory? The creatures they create are violent, scary and exist only to destroy each other. Perhaps they are saying that what they are showing us is our future, and the only way to survive is to adjust our tactics. The machines have a program, but are only somewhat controlled, much like our lives. Our small, seemingly controllable wars, robots, or research may easily get out of our hands. And like the audience and the employees of SRL we might be much closer to danger than we realize. 

SRL puts its audience in eminent danger, and its quite brilliant. They are violent themselves, but in the incredible massacre that is their art, they show us the violence in each of us. I absolutely couldn't look away during their show. When the clip ended, I wanted to see it to the end. This is an apocalyptic mindset that lies within many of us. As disturbing as this is, SRL is forcing us to deal with it directly with their artwork. Are they revealing to us our demise?  All of the people in the audience are willing to risk their lives to see this battle of autonomous robots. What does that say about us? Perhaps we have not evolved much beyond the days of the Colosseum. We still love death and destruction as much as our "primitive" predecessors did. But until recently, we did not have the means to destroy the world eight times over. It may be that these ferocious anarchists at SLR have the best propaganda for the prevention of our self destruction. Isn't that ironic? =)

Existential Conundrum

I am trying to figure out what to do with my life.  I just (miraculously) got into the 5th year program....(the second time is a charm). This is letting me put off joining the real world for another year, with a better degree. However I'm sure not sure what I want to do when I grow up. I'm afraid I will be miserable for the rest of my life. Then I tell myself that I would never let myself do that, and I hope that I'm telling the truth. haha. I know this is just rambling. I wish I could take a test that would analyze my personality and spit out what I could actually handle doing for the rest of my life. I just don't want to get stuck doing something I hate just because I can't say no. It would be ridiculous to quit now, and it would be ridiculous to turn down a Masters in Architecture, wouldn't it? I tell myself that everything happens for a reason and read the desiderata again, and decide that whether or not it is clear to me, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Lets hope it all works out. Thanks for letting me vent. =)

Catholic Extinction

This weekend I decided that the Catholic religion is nearing extinction. As I was growing up, without fail, every week, every sunday, my family and I would go to church. When I took my first communion it was with about 50 other children dressed in white veils and little black suits. Little girls had to line up just to be an angel in the nativity play. Now there are more funerals than baptisms and each week there are less and less people in the pews. The church I have attended for 21 years is now being closed. I'm not going to say that I agree with everything the Catholic church has to say, and I won't even say that I like my priest. But there is something beautiful about 60 people you have known for your entire life coming together on sunday morning to sing the same songs you've always sung.

I just wrote my final paper about the possibility that God is Dead in our modern society, and now I'm worrying that He actually is. We constantly talk about Evolution, and the Catholic church refuses to evolve with the times. How do you expect men to come flooding into the priesthood by enticing them with life long chastity and solitude. Marriage and children are two of the most beautiful experiences our lives can offer. To take that away from a holy person renders them completely isolated from our society. How can I ask a priest for advice about my life, when he has barely experienced it? The Catholic church is so slow to evolve that it is almost completely obsolete. Other Christian religions have gotten the memo, and geared their services toward an actual member of society. But the Catholic church still ignores or shuns so many issues that confront it today. It is actually pushing parishioners away. I am frustrated because at its core it has good morals and potential for a wonderful community. But closing your eyes to the half of the world you do not agree with will not solve any problems. If the Catholic church could begin to accept the society it inhabits, with all of its imperfections and sins, it might have a chance at survival.