Vision And Volume
Brad Boatwright, Copy Editor
bboatwright@csumb.edu
“You know, it’s kinda like... Success is subjective, you know. It could be an opinion.”- Blake
Last Days
The 2005 final installment of Gus Van Sant’s “Death Trilogy”, Last Days is a fictionalized interpretation of the few days before the death of Kurt Cobain. Blake is an isolated musician who constantly tries to elude record companies, friends and a P.I. He hides out in a detachment behind his house, sneaking in and out to sometimes play music or walk in the forest. Scenes with Blake have almost no dialogue, give some muttering and indistinct wording. His downward spiral is shown through subtle misplacements and spaced out actions, which do not even faze him. Similar to true events, the ending is somewhat ambiguous and unclear.
The Stranger
French Algerian Albert Camus’ first novel, published in 1942, is seen thematically as existentialist, absurdist, nihilist and stoic. In part 1, Meursault unreasonably kills an Arab man who he seems to recognize. He gives no reason to his actions except for discomfort from the heat and bright sunlight. Part 2 details Meursault’s time in jail and court, where he shows no remorse for his doing. Through the trial, the reader sees Meursault move from unperceptive to aware of his own actions. This comes not through murder of the man, but from the introspective view he takes, imprisoned waiting for death.
Best Coast “Where the Boys Are”
Los Angeles based, Best Coast, is what happens when you mix shoegazer, the Beach Boys and a 50’s girls group. Phased-out lyrics are accompanied by background harmonies; droning layered guitar is hinted with doo-wop. And it’s highly infectious. Best Coast is like the morning too much whiskey at an Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon beach party.
Oi! After two semester of this column, it is time to come to an end. Au Revoir…
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