Infinite Content, Infinitely Content

I sat down with  Mumbo Jumbo , a pen, and notebook on my desk, and the entire internet at my disposal. Every cryptic image would become a specimen for examination, a good Atonist explanation. But what we called “Reed glasses” transformed into “Reed contacts” into “Reed lasik surgery”, and now I can’t unsee much of the thesis Reed presented us with. So let’s just get two birds stoned at once; why go down a time consuming rabbit hole of research when I could simply explain that the point of the images is contained within their awkwardness. Including citations, a bibliography, newspaper excerpts, and the images, all make Mumbo Jumbo at a surface level appear something more like an academic text. This could be a conversation in and of itself of course, but images especially add to this. Usually you see them in the middle part of a non-fiction book or a history textbook, with added captions explaining what is being shown. However, Mumbo Jumbo lacks any captions and really the connectio...

“There once was a country” are the mysterious ending words to Emir Kusturica’s 1995 film Underground (10/10 would recommend watching). Even without seeing it, a quick explanation of the main trope can lead to a pretty interesting discussion of postmodern ideas about the blending of history and fiction - ideas that relate to Ragtime and its portrayals of nationalism as well. Quick(ish) plot summary: Two friends, gangsters Marco and Blacky, are partisans (like sort-of communist-y nationalists, but specifically Yugoslav nationalists) in Belgrade during WII. They, along with their extended family and friends, spend much of the war in an underground bunker, and towards the end Blacky gets injured in a battle. Marco, and their mutual love interest Natalija, lie to both him and everyone else that the war is still going on for the next 45 years, while they become citizens of the communist Yugoslavia formed after the war. Marco tells everyone that Blacky was killed in a heroic battle against t...