Montage OST

The sound varies, but the core is identical.

The Low End Theory

First off, let me preface my comments by saying that the following sentences might seem a bit offensive for they are as forthright and honest as possible. On numerous occasions, I have encountered with utterly negative and deprecatory statements about the genre of hip-hop. Or at least with a shrug accompanied by exalted, pompous grimaces. These reactions are not restricted only to people experiencing a midlife crisis, however. No, this phenomenon is not limited by age. The reserved attitude towards this musical form stems greatly from a mix of disinterest, contempt, and a fortiori sheer ignorance. This general conjecture is of course generally misguided. But what is more ironic and iconic at the same time - the general surmise that this sort of music is flat out bad is usually ventured by people that to some extent appreciate blues and jazz forms notwithstanding the fact that all these genres, hip-hop included, come from the same cultural centre and thus share stark similarities - the core of the music has remained pretty much the same.

A Tribe Called Quest - Excursions

The Low End Theory, a premier album of the 20th century, reflects on the indelible connection of the aforementioned genres with hip-hop. The initial song of the album called "Excursions" is one of the most elaborated and decorated tunes ever recorded. The staccato rhythm entrenched by Ali Shaheed Muhammad and the first-class neoplatonic poetry of Q-tip were altogether instrumental in intellectual flowering in the field of lyrics writing as well as musical composition at the peak of the 20th century. Another fascinating thing about this song is that it is played in 4/4 time that is typical for the repetitive twelve bar blues progression.  The most evident sample in the song is the bass part by Blakey's Jazz Messengers that is originally played in highly improvisational be-bop 7/8 time. Furthermore, this continual change, transition is amply noted by Q-tip himself as he starts off the song:

Back in the days when I was a teenager
Before I had status and before I had a pager
You could find the Abstract listening to hip hop
My pops used to say, it reminded him of Bebop
I said, well daddy don't you know that things go in cycles

So yeah, to conclude that the second and last revolutionary musical form since the 1920s is negligible is wrong, asinine, off the mark, positively stupid and absolutely blasphemous. Because Tribe is "prominent like Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe or Langston Hughes." 

Philosophizing With a Flower, or, the Battle Against Tyrannizing Unity

FROM THE ARCHIVE: INFLUENCE (2014)

Nature is the most influential piece of literature within the confines of the hive. The inference is drawn from the fact that the best things are those one can maximally relate to and agree with. In order to fully corroborate the prefatory note of this article, it is important to briefly scrutinize the work's strident impact.

Nature is a non-fiction philosophical essay from 1836, the fundamental cornerstone of the transcendentalist movement and the first work written by Ralph Waldo Emerson. It is divided into an introduction and eight chapters: Nature, Commodity, Beauty, Language, Discipline, Idealism, Spirit, and Prospects in chronological order. Each chapter reflects on weaknesses of human being and serves as a guide to living a meaningful, independent life. 

Emerson laments the fact that the world and all mankind tend to be misguidedly retrospective, tradition oriented and conservative. He finds this approach frivolous and demands a change by becoming an independent, self-reliant human being. He emphasizes the importance of living in the present and directly experiencing what nature has to offer. 

Nature is a pivotal and essential work that led to the foundation of Transcendentalism, a literary, political, religious, and philosophical movement of the early nineteenth century. (FINSETH 1995) 

In comparison with Henry David Thoreau's Walden, another significant work of the Trascendentalist movement, Emerson's Nature stresses more nature's philosophical aspect instead of nature itself. Walden is mostly about appreciation of nature's tangible and corporeal benefits. Nature, on the other hand, elevates an insight into human nature. Both works value personal and character traits such as self-sufficiency, independence, and solitude. They both focus on one goal: Immersing oneself into nature. 

The Prelude, a philosophical conversation poem by the English Romantic poet William Wordsworth, is also very similar to Emerson's Nature. The Prelude as well as Nature celebrates the human mind and both works share its strong abstract aspect. 

As opposed to Nature, a man is not outright a part of nature. He admires and appreciates nature, but his whole relation to it is based on distance. From Emerson's point of view, man harmonizes with nature and is an integral part of it. (FINSETH 1995) 

Drawing on Platonic philosophy and the leading figures of the Neoplatonist movement (notably authors like Iamblichus, Plotinus, and Proclus), Emerson altered and created an ethics of self-improvement in his own image. Emerson was also to some extent influenced by European Romanticism, especially by major English Romantic poets like William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and an Irish empirical idealist George Berkeley. Equally important for his work were German Romantic authors as well as Hindu philosophers. It is worth mentioning that Emerson was an avid reader of Indian literature and a strong sympathizer of the philosophical teachings of Confucius. (ALCOTT 1882)

Emerson's Nature was also partly influenced by German philosophy and Biblical criticism, which both disputed supernatural and divine origins of the bible. (PACKER 2007)

Considered as the heart and soul of the American Transcendental movement and as a champion of individualism, Emerson served as an inspiration for not only his fellow trascendentalists including Henry David Thoreau and Walt Whitman, but he also influenced a highly praised and illustrious German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Emersonian themes as power, fate, and the critique of Christianity can be found in Nietzsche's widely recognized works such as Übermensch or Thus Spoke Zarathustra. (ALCOTT 1882)

The spiritual role of nature's beauty and its effect on a human individual might be the finest and the most intriguing aspect that needs to be highlighted. By nature's beauty the author means everything that surrounds an individual and his mind, even his own appearance. According to Emerson's words, a man can fully understand the beauty of nature only when he is in his solitude and that society is the biggest distraction in individual development of man: "A man needs to retire as much from his chamber as from society." (EMERSON 2009) Emerson is of the view that we take nature for granted, which he illustrates with an example with the stars: "The stars awaken a certain reverence, because though always present, they are inaccesible; but all natural objects make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to their influence." (EMERSON 2009) We take them for granted even though they are inaccesible and out of reach for us. 

We may not neccesarilly be able to touch nature but we do not have to be in awe of it, we just need to strive to get a grasp of it. Due to the impact and strong influence of society, we are not able to absorb nature at full blast. In order to create a bond with nature and to be properly attached to it, it is crucial to look at it as a child. Because it is only a child that can seize the moment rather than being content with what he is accustomed to. 

In Beauty, the third chapter of Nature, Emerson generally demonstrates the positive impact of nature on the human body and mind. He believes that nature provides physical and mental enrichment, and that its effects are outright conducive to health and well-being: “To the body and mind which have been cramped by noxious work or company, nature is medicinal and restores their tone. The tradesman, the attorney comes out of the din and craft of the street and sees the sky and the woods, and is a man again. In their eternal calm, he finds himself.” (EMERSON 2009)

Emerson concisely explains that this enchantment is caused by man's perception of time and environment rather than by nature's tangibles. "But in other hours, Nature satisfies by its loveliness, and without any mixure of corporeal benefit. I see the spectacle of morning from the hill-top over against my house, from day-break to sun-rise, with emotions only an angel might share." (EMERSON 2009)

Every moment in life is unique and so is nature. A man's inspiration is unlimited due to nature's diversity and infinity. Each moment has its own distinction and rarity which ultimately influences the mind of human being mentally, physically and spiritually. "To the attentive eye, each moment of the year has its own beauty, and in the same field, it beholds, every hour, which was never seen before, and which shall never be seen again." (EMERSON 2009) 

Emerson celebrates any act of nature with great excitement and appreciation. He interpretes each and every single process of nature as a perpetual intervention of divine power. "Beauty is the mark Gods sets upon virtue. Every natural action is graceful." or "A man is a god in ruins." (EMERSON 2009) 

If I was polled to pick a single historic period or a movement, I would probably choose Transcendentalism. Its philosophical thoughts correspond and resonate with my beliefs and convictions to a degree where others just fail to serve this purpose. It is hard to determine Nature's literary significance and importance because of the work's philosophical magnitude. But I believe that the vast majority of Emerson's thoughts orchestrated in Nature are current and relevant even nowadays. I opted for Emerson's Nature for these following reasons: Given the fact that Emerson happened to be the unanimous leading figure of Transcendentalism and his essay Nature is still notoriously considered as the center of the movement, my decision making process was not really a drawn-out one. Emerson's profound fervor and vigour for nature are beyond comprehension. His writing style is often depicted as too complex and scarcely apprehensible, albeit highly sophisticated. 

I find Emerson's compelling reasoning and philosophical thinking in this work as very enchanting, especially his celebrating of nature's spiritual gifts. I can easily relate to Emerson's thoughts and his close relation to nature. Despite the fact that the Transcendental movement was comprised solely by Emerson at the time prior to Nature's public release, this essay is truly the magnum opus and arguably the most important work of the entire Transcendentalist movement.

References:

FINSETH, Ian Frederick. Liquid Fire Within Me:  Language, Self and Society in Transcendentalism and Early Evangelicalism, 1820-1860, 1995

 [cit. 2014-01-06]. URL: <http://thoreau.eserver.org/amertran.html>.

ALCOTT, Amos Bronson, Ralph Waldo Emerson: An Estimate of His Character and Genius: In Prose and in Verse, 1882 [cit. 2014-01-06].

URL: <http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/emerson/>.

PACKER, Barbara L. (2007). The Transcendentalists[cit. 2014-01-06].

URL: <http://transcendentalism-legacy.tamu.edu/ideas/club.html>.

EMERSON, Ralph Waldo. Project Gutenberg - the first producer of e-books, Nature, by Ralph Waldo Emerson, 2009 [cit. 2014-01-06].

^{URL: <http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile?fk_files=3277960>.}

Where I'll Live, and What I'll Live For

FROM THE ARCHIVE: PAST TO FUTURE (2013)

The Sun newspaper recently released a pessimistic estimation that says Great Britain will have to face its disintegration within 25 years. However, this initial apprehension is going to be soon overcome by my active presence and reigning in the Throne Room of Buckingham Palace.

Queen Elizabeth II will be forced to submit her resignation by public vote after being caught speeding at 150 km/h in the middle of Piccadilly Circus. This event will be commonly known as the Lonsdale scandal and will ultimately lead to publicly highly anticipated dissolution of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. All of these above mentioned events will occur on the 3rd of July, 2023.

"Lonsdale Scandal" as documented by www.royal.gov.uk

Due to these circumstances, every seat in the House of Commons will become vacant. As a result of this British inability to preserve its sovereign nation status, the European International Committee will send me, the leader of the European Parliament, to this country to restore order as a new head of the British Parliament. On my way to the disintegrated British Monarchy, I will be sailing for three days. Considering the fact that I have been prone to become seasick at sea for most of my life, I'll be drinking scotch to relieve myself a bit during the adventurous journey to the promised land.

As I get to Great Britain, I will be immediately celebrated by the British national orchestra and it will be playing "Pomp and Circumstance No.1 in D Major" on the occasion of my arrival.

As a temporal Prime Minister of Great Britain, I will personally name my youngest sister to form a new administration and afterwards I'll voluntarily abdicate my job and duties to enter the first time election to the British throne. Having all the accolades and public support of the British people, I will be unanimously elected to rule the British Monarchy. I am serving a notice that I'll become king of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the 4th of March 2024.

By 2025, the British Parliament as well as the House of Commons will have been filled by my close and distant relatives. As a new head of the British Monarchy with no direct successor, I will come back to the Czech Republic to find myself a queen. I will not be able to choose just one so by the year of 2028, I will have had 22 children with 7 different wives and no queen by my side.

Bearing in mind that scotch helped me from the painful suffering and agony on my boat, I will, based on this lifesaving experience, promote Glasgow to become the capital of Great Britain. Tea will no longer be regarded as a national drink of the United Kingdom and the Johnnie Walker distilleries will be vastly spreading all over Great Britain within 6 years after my accession to the British throne.

As a result of my increasing power, I'll be trying for 3 consecutive years to invade the United States of America and get back the Plymouth colony that once belonged to the British Empire. The area of New England will have been known since the beginning of my reign as the biggest ally of Great Britain and the biggest congregation of my followers. But my public protest in Boston for separation of Massachusetts from the United States will fall on deaf ears and eventually come to naught on the 4th of July, 2032.

I will be captured right after my speech in Boston by the Central Intelligence Agency and brought before the court of justice. I'll be accused of being a public nuisance, but no criminal liability will be the verdict. Dazed and disgusted by the strict Constitution of the United States, I'll sail after one day of imprisonment back to my beloved Britain. 

As I step out of the boat, some drunk member of the British artillery and a former influential member of the British aristocracy named José Incognito will pull the trigger on me. Severely wounded and with no chance to retaliate, I will crawl back to the stern of my boat. Meanwhile, the traitor will be captured by my loyal subordinates and then interrogated by me personally. The attempt of my assasination will be harshly punished. In front of 200,000 of my servants and over 150 million watching worldwide, Incognito will be exemplarily deported to the Chukchi Peninsula... and all British graveyard colognes too.

Once You Go Black, Never Turn Back

If you keep asking the question "WHAT IF?", it basically means that your life is driven by regret and instead of focusing on the new, you are preoccupied with the past. Holding grudges and living backwards juggle a meaningless life with no rational values. If you hold on to your past, in all likelihood, you'll only devalue your new experiences. We all stumble over the truth from time to time. The only way to put our past behind is to look one way: forward and never look back. It may seem cynical, but we should be content in the present. For instance, I met a really wonderful person yesterday, but I won't meet this individual again. Life is a ride with no fixed destination. That's what I firmly believe in and that is what drives me every day of my life. We should always try to be above reproach, no matter what.

Sometimes I project myself playing football. Does it mean that I lean on the past? I do not consider my departure from football much of a loss, as I never quite lived up to my potential here in the Czech Republic. With my high school years thumping in the rear-view mirror, I have grown weary of the endless acccolades directed at my gridiron years, which were, let's face it, nothing but poor in every sense of the word. To conclude, those years played such a small part in my life and didn't enrich me the way some people believe they did. I started to blossom after football. Haha.

If there is one thing I partly regret, it is definitely my departure from track & field. One of the most qualified trainers and simply the best coach I have ever had almost begged me to return on the field multiple times. My cockiness and youthful indiscretion took its toll and created a hole I now need to prop up regularly. I have always been a bit frisky and have never astutely followed through on a task. The ability to spark off the edge each day, I partly owe to him. One thing remains certain: If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd have Easter every day.

When The Levee Breaks

Yop, my blotter runneth over. It took me a week to find out what the place where magic happens is. Since the time of my first grade in Elementary school, that place has been a rug. The absolute best part about being at school was the time spent on a rug. I don't have to be Aladdin to understand that the place surrounded by the most magic happens to be a rug. Why so? During a recess, we could wrestle and fight on this rug with fervor only boys have. Fine breaks like these demonstrably cut down on misbehavior and make you focus while studying a little bit more. True magic.

That is not the place I'd like to expatiate on, of course. Though I'd love to have my own rug in the place I am going to depict.

For active readers of this blog, my factors determining the choice of a site are more or less obvious. Mississippi, the home of the Delta Bee, is a southern state of the USA. The Magnolia state is bordered on the west by Louisiana and Arkansas, on the north by Tennessee and on the east by Alabama. As usual, southern states are predominantly socially conservative, and Mississippi ain't no exception. This place is with wonder often neglected by tourists which stems partly from the fact that the state is the poorest in the nation. On the other hand, the place is notoriously known for exceptionally alluring viridity woodlands that create a feeling of cosiness, magnolia flower with the unique creamy sweet scent with a light citrus nuance, and the largest river in the nation with trees planted by the water - I shall not be moved. What a harmonic blend for living.

There ain't no place for the Wicked

If you ask me what is my "magical" or favourite place, I definitely need some time to contemplate about an appropriate answer. Simply put, I don't think like that. I am no longer a 5 year old kid playing at a playground, which might justify my initial tepid reaction. Don't get me wrong, I have grown up in a quite controversial neighborhood and haven't had the opportunity to meet bevy of wonders of the world so far.

While there are several places I really like, only a few are truly worthy of the "favorite" designation. As for now, I think that it is safe to say that I prefer mountains to flat lowlands and waterfalls to seas. Fresh air along with dangerous but equally beautiful untouched nature. That is an ideal picture that has remained ingrained in my mind since the time of my early childhood. Though I will once more say that I don't like long–drawn–out lying on the beach, I don't necessarily condemn such travel destinations. Spending time on the beach may be fine for a few hours, unfortunately, not for days.

For instance, Poprad in Slovakia matches all of the above mentioned expectations. This city is surrounded by beautiful mountains, nature and it is also a place I'd love to come back to.