A ‘note’ on this blog’s title . . .
Welcome to my new blog! For those of you who may not know me, my name’s Brian Monroe. Yes, that’s right–the one and only Brian Monroe. The name is a Hibernian mixture of sorts, with Brian coming from the Irish king Brian Boru, who, if I recall correctly, helped unite Ireland during the 11th century against the Viking invasion. The name Monroe comes from Scotland. I’m not really sure what it’s derivation is, but I do know that my name in full–Brian Howard Monroe — loosely translated, means ‘The strong watchman of the marsh.’ Not all that glorious, but I guess it could have been worse, like ‘The dirty pervert outside the window,’ or ‘The foul dwarf of the cow pasture’ (not to put down dirty perverts or foul dwarfs). But anyways that’s my name and that’s what it means, if this counts for anything.
This blog is something I’ve been wanting to do for a while but never really got around to it. I have a keen interest in many topics which I like talking about and writing, but I’ve limited most of my musings to other people’s blogs. A lot of the time I write little comments that I know most people will disagree with. I don’t do it out of spite though, I just like to add something provocactive to get people thinking differently. Sometimes though I do the exact opposite and say things that everyone will agree with. Like on a blog about The Beatles I recall writing, “I think we can all agree that The Beatles were an excellent group.” Every once in a while I think people should take a break from all the arguing and just agree on the basics. But in this case, I did it to be weird and funny.
As to the name of this blog “Blogs from the Underground,” it comes from the Dostoyevsky book “Notes from the Underground.” It’s considered the first Existential work and has been very influential with many subsequent authors. It doesn’t have much of a plot but mainly deals with the neurotic self-obsessed thoughts and ideas of the main character (name escapes me) and his turbulent and hostile reactions to the most ordinary of social circumanstances. I enjoyed the book because it had an unordinary plot and the main character was disgruntled. I wasn’t necessarily riveted by the book, but enjoyed it nonetheless. I guess my main reason for choosing the title is that it sounded cool. But I also think that the whole thing with writing on people’s blogs stuff that I knew people would disagree with has a sort of “Notes from the Underground” flavor to it. It’s the whole non-conformist’s dissension towards society’s unexamined and sterile attitudes and ideas which I’m going for. I don’t really know if “Notes from the Underground” fits this description, but close enough.
So, without further ado I present “Blogs from the Underground”–my musings of the world of art, music, politics and anything that’s on my mind fitting into the aforementioned criterea. I’m glad I finally stopped procastinating and actually did it, and I just want to thank Tom Kershaw for giving me the idea and recommending this website to do it. I really hope that I keep up with it and put out some good stuff. As to my first real blog, I plan on giving my own spin on the TV series “The Sopranos” following the final episode, so come back to check it out. Overall, I hope this blog will provide top-notch critism of worldly topics and be a sort of guide to understanding this all to often smelly, foggy marsh we call the world. Hopefully, I’ll even be able to live up to my name and be that strong watchman of the marsh.
Rudy Carrera said,
June 10, 2007 at 1:15 am
Brian;
I look forward to reading what you have to say. I’ll check in frequently.
Tom Kershaw said,
June 11, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Hi Bri,
Good work setting up a blog. I told you it was easy… and it will come in useful for you.
Speak later!
T
puddlehead said,
June 12, 2007 at 9:55 pm
It’s a good call, the blog reference. “I am a sick man…” Thus starts, in my opinion, the highwater mark of Russian literature. It’s better than “Brothers,” and it’s better than “Crime and Punishment.” The narrator doesn’t have a name, so that’s why it escapes you. When I read that part in your blog, I couldn’t remember it either. So I looked. He’s nameless. I’d love to get your thoughts on Dostoevsky’s agendas and sympathies with the book. Oh, and I read the Sopranos post but have never seen the show. I disagree though that metaphor belongs to literature…more people would have to actually read for it to become so. Visual medias can create such vivid images for viewers with little to no effort for the viewer. And in the age of instant gratification, the visual is usually preferred to the imaginary. I might be cynical about that, but I think there’s some truth there. Anyway, sorry for the over-comment. I will certainly be swinging by again.
Puddlehead
puddlehead said,
June 13, 2007 at 12:38 am
Ugh. Sorry to hear about the computer glitch. Nothing’s easier when they’re working. Nothing worse than when they take their wills back or just plain hate us. I’m a chronic back-up file guy. A thumbdrive, CD-RWs, or hardcopies. It doesn’t matter. I just don’t have the faith for hard drives. Anyway, I hope you busted it up or least threatened it a bit.
Aaron Cohn said,
June 16, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Brian: This interpretation is really brilliant. I got that sense of recognition you get when any good thinker tells you what you already obscurely knew, but in a new, perspicacious way.
I’m especially impressed by the following:
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We don’t know all that much about Tony’s life growing up but we can only imagine. The tough kid who picks up the cute blond after beating up some other kid. The new upstart gangster in Jersey. Being “made” in the family tradition, taking the reins from pops. Heading to the top, all the while being thoroughly depressed: empty inside. But gradually within that utter emptiness, that feeling of nothingness, a pull towards something different, something new, the pull towards a new identity. And gradually finding himself balancing between two different worlds: one made from his past and a new, yet to be fulfilled one arising from his unconscious yearnings and pull to a new identity. And then the anxiety attacks and the therapy (who am I? what’s going on? Note the appearance of the Alzheimer’s disease at this point in the coma dream). And we watch as Tony reaches for that point to let go of his anxiety. Snuffs out Christopher. The dream is over. Not going in the Finnerty house. Dad wake up! It’s me your daughter, Meadow! And that final moment of reaching what’s been pulling him towards for eight years. That final moment at the Diner. Thus awakes Tony!
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Exactly! Exactly! Exactly! What a mind you have!
Howard Monroe said,
June 16, 2007 at 10:32 pm
Yes Brain you are brilliant. Did it occur to you that Chase’s ultimate motivation for including the metaphors etc was ratings and money
Howard Monroe said,
June 16, 2007 at 10:32 pm
Yes Brain you are brilliant. Did it occur to you that Chase’s ultimate motivation for including the metaphors etc was ratings and money
melinda said,
June 17, 2007 at 1:33 am
After reading your blog I do not know what to do with myself. I pace around my house all day with the words you wrote spinning around my brain. You need to write more.. Its imperative that you do or else i will have nothing to look forward to in my life. I am grateful that you could take time to my message.thankyoy melinda