not yer momma's berkeley

subverting the dominant paradigm

So what's the most subversive thing I could bring into my environmentally-friendly, laid-back home in this bucolic, progressive utopia of Berkeley, CA? THE most subversive thing I can bring into my house here? An object that caused seriously concerned looks and nervous acceptance?

A television.

One flatmate looked at me like I had set up a crystal meth lab in the
living room.

Another told me to make sure I take it with me when I leave. Okay, so leave the ethnic print fabrics with wax stains, but take the tv / vcr / dvd combo?

I find myself defensively saying things like: 'weeeeeell, I have to screen a lot of videos for my class.' or 'I can't teach a media class without engaging in the, er, media, can I?' To which I get those supportive nods with long faces, but the kind you get when you might be sharing the detail of an upcoming medical treatment. Sympathetic but so glad it's not them. I just couldn't bring myself to admit that I'll also be taking in a little Lost and The OC while I'm here. Baby steps.

Sunday night, I clandestinely turned the volume on low and sat myself so close to the screen that my mom would have said I need glasses except that I already have glasses. The 19" beast gets crap reception without an aerial, so it was a fuzzy Desperate Housewives I watched alone. Ashamed. Desperate.

When did KILL YOUR TV stickers replace STOP THE WAR as the message for the liberal masses?

Televisions don't kill people. People kill people.

Active audience theory 101. Der!

posted by Kate Coyer @ 11:57 PM 0 comments

umlaut attack

I took the bus to Ikea tonight.

Not only that, but when I got on the bus to go home I had to ask three people if they had change for a fiver because I just moved here from London and have pounds in my pocket but can never remember the correct change for the bus. And to top it all off, I don't even like Ikea. I think it is a scary place that represents everything (well if not everything certainly some things) about consumer culture and sweatshop labour and
mass produced hipster design, but damn, I really needed a cheap duvet cos it's cold here at night!

I may as well have stopped by a Starbucks on my way home to complete the thirty-something lifestyle profile.

And buying a comforter at Ikea is about as confusing as ordering a beverage at that hell house of half n half.

posted by Kate Coyer @ 1:11 AM 0 comments

scary things in trees

I decided to name this blog as I did after a startling image struck me the other day on campus. Of all the student organisations who'd set up booths on the main walkway trying to recruit new members, it became strikingly apparent that the biggest visual display was an anti-abortion memorial to all the 'unborn fetuses' featuring 1000 white streamers hanging in trees. Blimey. Though it looked a bit like Campus Crusade for Christ went tee-peeing, the message was clear - this is NOT your mom's Berkeley. Especially if your mom was at Kent State in 1970.

While there were a few random tables with cardboard cutout signs upon which were written marginally legible words like vegan blah blah blah, the second biggest banner was from campus Young Republicans.

Next thing you know, they'll be putting up a Jack in the Box in People's Park.

posted by Kate Coyer @ 10:45 PM 0 comments