http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/feed/atom/ 2011-04-06T21:25:15Z One Mormon boy's iconoclastic quest to remix and rectify his notions of truth, mind, myth, love, life, and transcendence. Copyright 2011 WordPress http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/?p=1140 2009-01-23T19:13:19Z 2009-01-23T19:13:19Z Jonathan jonathan@blakeclan.org http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/

A guilty pleasure for someone who had a schoolboy crush on Alyssa Milano during her Who’s the Boss? days, Embrace of the Vampire has only a couple of charms to recommend it. (NSFW)

]]> http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/?p=1135 2009-01-21T18:19:56Z 2009-01-21T18:19:56Z Jonathan jonathan@blakeclan.org http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/

Two movies, one review. Both remind me that if I pay close attention, ordinary things are beautiful.

]]> http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/?p=698 2008-09-05T20:47:45Z 2008-09-02T23:36:02Z Jonathan jonathan@blakeclan.org http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/

I read Yoshikawa’s Musashi when I was younger. The tale of the brash young samurai seeking to perfect his skill and himself influenced a lot of my thought. Am I a human or an animal? The movie Musashi Miyamoto reminded me of the book. I liked it.

]]> http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/?p=693 2008-09-02T21:31:25Z 2008-09-02T21:31:25Z Jonathan jonathan@blakeclan.org http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/

I don’t know what it is about the eponymous character of Fitzcarraldo, but I don’t like him and his operatic obsession. Is it because he’s ugly? Or do I think he’s ugly because he annoys me so much? Jung might have something to say about shadows or something.

]]> http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/?p=679 2008-08-27T23:18:08Z 2008-08-27T23:01:42Z Jonathan jonathan@blakeclan.org http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/

The Power of Myth changed how I viewed religion. Where I had thought religion was either true and good or false and bad, now I think religion can be consciously false and useful: now I see the transformative power of myth and symbol.

]]> http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/?p=668 2008-08-27T20:06:55Z 2008-08-25T21:08:46Z Jonathan jonathan@blakeclan.org http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/

Swing Kids has a promising premise: the struggles of kids in Nazi Germany who love American swing. It touches on a theme that I wonder about often: how much would I sacrifice for my principles? It is regrettably overacted which distracts from the power of the story. Sometimes, less is more.

]]> http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/?p=664 2008-08-25T20:59:15Z 2008-08-25T20:59:15Z Jonathan jonathan@blakeclan.org http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/

I’m a sucker for cultural fusion, so I had a lot of fun watching Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. Tarantino’s bloody goulash of favorite genres—revenge, kung fu, spaghetti western, blaxploitation—is entertaining to watch. His passion for these genres is obvious. The soundtrack is impeccable. Plus, PussyWagon = Hilarious.

]]> http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/?p=658 2008-08-25T20:39:03Z 2008-08-25T20:39:03Z Jonathan jonathan@blakeclan.org http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/

The Prestige performs a magic trick in three parts: the pledge, the turn, and the prestige. I had fun unraveling the mysteries behind this tale of ego, obsession, and sacrifice.

]]> http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/?p=655 2008-08-25T20:29:21Z 2008-08-25T20:29:21Z Jonathan jonathan@blakeclan.org http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/

As a newly minted atheist father, I worried about how to teach my children. Parenting Beyond Belief convinced me that teaching my children to be freethinkers was not only acceptable but preferable, even beautiful.

]]> http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/?p=647 2008-08-25T19:21:25Z 2008-08-25T19:21:25Z Jonathan jonathan@blakeclan.org http://www.blakeclan.org/jon/greenoasis/

I last read The Old Man and the Sea for seventh grade reading class. What a difference twenty years make! While I’m not yet old, some lessons come only with time: they can’t be rushed. The consciously futile struggle against mortality enriches our stark, youthful views into compassionate, full color vistas.

]]>