<![CDATA[Unrevealed · Storify]]>http://storify.com/PrinceofRazorsNodeJS RSS ModuleThu, 20 Jun 2013 00:06:05 GMT<![CDATA[Various tweets about Snowden. Enter at your own risk.]]>

A selection of questions, speculation, information, and a Glenn Beck Moment of WTFery.

Storified by Unrevealed · Sun, Jun 09 2013 15:45:42

Powered by Storify
]]>http://storify.com/PrinceofRazors/more-tweets-on-snowdenhttp://storify.com/PrinceofRazors/more-tweets-on-snowdenSun, 09 Jun 2013 22:45:42 GMT<![CDATA[Ghannouchi at Brookings.]]>

Storified by Unrevealed · Fri, May 31 2013 08:17:55

.@Martin_Indyk introduces @R_Ghannouchi to @BrookingsFP. Ghannouchi will give an address and do a Q&A. #FPTunisia pic.twitter.com/KUwCCHzdMx · Stephanie Dahle
Powered by Storify
]]>http://storify.com/PrinceofRazors/ghannouchi-at-brookings-1http://storify.com/PrinceofRazors/ghannouchi-at-brookings-1Fri, 31 May 2013 15:17:55 GMT<![CDATA[Identity. Humanity. Time.]]>

Another case study in things going wrong.

Storified by Unrevealed · Tue, Apr 30 2013 09:00:57

'Game-changing.' 'Victory.' Guess it depends on the game.
And as it turns out, they were mistaken.

Shit happens, I guess.
I think this 'story' (or side story, or debacle) has at least two aspects. It tells us about our identification with and uses of social media and specific platforms, and it speaks to the possible damage our obsessions and interests can cause.

Let's go back in time a bit.

First, let's look at how redditors gained credibility with social media users and some journalists throughout Thursday night and into Friday morning.
Reddit has found a much clearer photo of the second Boston Bomber suspect moments after the explosion (look left): i.imgur.com/I1dF69f.jpg · Oliver Cameron
Powered by Storify
]]>http://storify.com/PrinceofRazors/identity-humanity-timehttp://storify.com/PrinceofRazors/identity-humanity-timeTue, 30 Apr 2013 16:00:57 GMT<![CDATA[Revere. Overnight.]]>

Storified by Unrevealed · Tue, Apr 16 2013 02:53:50

I tried but there's about 20 other cop cars and all that good stuff outside my building instagram.com/p/YJduX4Bv6g/ · samara neves
Fed, State, Boston Police @ #Revere apartment building. UNCLEAR IF CONNECTED to #bostonmarathon bombings twitpic.com/cjo8r7 · WBZ Boston News
ATF goes back into #revere complex #bostonmarathon pic.twitter.com/H7ke538yiV · Adam Harding
Powered by Storify
]]>http://storify.com/PrinceofRazors/revere-overnighthttp://storify.com/PrinceofRazors/revere-overnightTue, 16 Apr 2013 09:53:50 GMT<![CDATA[Tear gas in April. Tear gas for all seasons.]]>

Storified by Unrevealed · Tue, Apr 09 2013 02:45:35

That second link doesn't seem to work on Storify. Here it is again. http://storify.com/PrinceofRazors/the-steenberg-mysteries-revealed
Powered by Storify
]]>http://storify.com/PrinceofRazors/tear-gas-in-april-tear-gas-for-all-seasonshttp://storify.com/PrinceofRazors/tear-gas-in-april-tear-gas-for-all-seasonsTue, 09 Apr 2013 09:45:35 GMT<![CDATA[Gusman Speaks. So Does the Record.]]>

These statements shouldn't be taken as absolving politicians, the public, anyone. We didn't suddenly arrive at this point...

Storified by Unrevealed · Thu, Apr 04 2013 14:47:22

Powered by Storify
]]>http://storify.com/PrinceofRazors/gusman-speaks-so-does-the-recordhttp://storify.com/PrinceofRazors/gusman-speaks-so-does-the-recordThu, 04 Apr 2013 21:47:22 GMT<![CDATA["My Neighbor Has a Gun." Maybe. Or not.]]>

Storified by Unrevealed · Thu, Dec 27 2012 15:59:02

Powered by Storify
]]>http://storify.com/PrinceofRazors/my-neighbor-has-a-gun-maybe-or-nothttp://storify.com/PrinceofRazors/my-neighbor-has-a-gun-maybe-or-notThu, 27 Dec 2012 23:59:02 GMT<![CDATA[Conversation with NPR's Andy Carvin (@acarvin) about media, social media, and Newtown.]]>

Saturday night, 15 December 2012.

Storified by Unrevealed · Tue, Dec 18 2012 13:55:45

Powered by Storify
]]>http://storify.com/PrinceofRazors/conversation-with-npr-s-andy-carvin-acarvin-abouthttp://storify.com/PrinceofRazors/conversation-with-npr-s-andy-carvin-acarvin-aboutTue, 18 Dec 2012 21:55:45 GMT<![CDATA[A Conversation and Some Thoughts About Zero Dark Thirty.]]>

Storified by Unrevealed · Fri, Dec 14 2012 09:41:46

I've seen several people call Zero Dark Thirty 'torture porn' but I'm not sure the description suits the film, if we think of 'torture porn' as it's commonly used. For a good part of the last decade, the phrase described a kind of film operating the way Saw, Hostel, etc. do. We could extend that and perhaps consider applying the label to certain 'extreme' films from Germany, Japan, etc. (They contain graphic depictions of torture and often feature simulated non-consensual sex, and they're designed to inspire sexual stimulation or a 'holy shit, that's fucked up' reaction or both from their target audience.)

Sometimes films unintentionally or 'unconsciously' function as torture porn, or they work that way for some audiences. Some viewers felt Gibson's The Passion of the Christ placed far too much emphasis on the scourging and crucifixion, but some people enjoyed the film because of the prolonged moments of cruelty. I don't think the filmmakers hoped people would savor excruciating scenes of battered and ripped flesh, but for some folks, those scenes provided the primary, maybe even the only reason for seeing it...

However we define or describe it, I think 'torture porn' suggests something about function and perhaps about intent (if we assume we can judge a creator's intent from a work) and maybe about desired impact on the audience, from the creator's perspective, from the audience itself, maybe from both. And of course, whatever enjoyment a given audience member derives from a film is relevant...

I don't want to seem pedantic on this point. I get the intended meaning, and I'm not defending Bigelow's film (I'll be honest; I'm not interested the movie in and of itself), but it seems to me that 'torture porn' would seek to provide viewers with some kind of pleasure at the sight of represented tortures. Shock offers consumers of certain kinds of violent paracinema a type of pleasure, but I don't think this movie exists as paracinema.

I suppose Zero Dark Thirty might work as torture porn, but given mainstream critical reaction to what's usually called 'torture porn', I imagine most critics would be outraged at the movie for doing so intentionally.

I'm not opposed to people using 'torture porn' casually, in a colloquial way, to describe something they dislike. But if we use the term too casually and too often, we might as well say all or most graphic scenes of torture are indicative of 'torture porn', and we might want to continue with an argument that all representations of fucking are pornographic to someone in some sense of the word. Whether or not we feel those statements are true, I'm not convinced they offer useful ways of examining specific works we find troubling or problematic or wrong-headed.
Powered by Storify
]]>http://storify.com/PrinceofRazors/a-conversation-about-zero-dark-thirtyhttp://storify.com/PrinceofRazors/a-conversation-about-zero-dark-thirtyFri, 14 Dec 2012 17:41:46 GMT<![CDATA[ Gaza, U.S. Livestreams, and Empire's Troubled Sleep.]]>

If the following comments are specific, the intended point is general. A tweet's presence here does not signify my endorsement of its content or claims or author. Etc. Etc.

Storified by Unrevealed · Sat, Nov 17 2012 07:05:01

Notice that William mentions the trips to Syria and Sudan as proof he can "pull it [what? livestreaming? distribution of tech? something else?] off."
Here we have a pretty specific, if harshly worded, criticism of the resumé offered by William.
William disregards the criticism. He emphasizes his willingness to die for 'the truth',  suggesting 'bravery' as indicator of moral superiority to the critic. It seems he thinks this invalidates the criticism...

(Let's note that the introduction of 'bravery' or 'courage' or 'willingness to pursue one's convictions even when confronted with danger' raises questions and possible criticisms about a project's value and its likelihood of success.)
....then William posits his 'passion' as somehow transcending other considerations (including qualifications), and he adds desire for social change (in a place not his own) to the equation...
... and, inevitably, William describes certain specific criticisms and questions as 'whining'... 

Later, he'll characterize them as 'trolling' and so on. Maybe this is a tone argument, a way of deflecting or dodging someone's underlying criticism of your assumptions, but it also reduces dialogue to a 'social justice' pissing contest while avoiding discussion of whether or not a given attempt succeeded or failed, whether or not certain activities do more harm than good for those who have to live in a place. 

Looking at the tweets, one might also read: "You're with or behind me, or you're against me, and if you're against me, you need to get the fuck out of my way." (That argument seems familiar...)
That's another concern raised. I know nothing about the particulars, but I think the matter's worth addressing. @Asher_Wolf expresses a similar criticism but phrases it a little more diplomatically:
Translation: "I get where you're coming from, but you're wrong." 

Observe the diction and phrasing. "My own safety." "I feel." "I'm entitled." "Choice." 
Powered by Storify
]]>http://storify.com/PrinceofRazors/t2http://storify.com/PrinceofRazors/t2Sat, 17 Nov 2012 15:05:01 GMT