#1985 nihilism

[karasurasu]

Ok, don't ask, just look what I've done😭(if someone do this before, pls tell me)

#ghost terzo #ghost band #edit #1985 #bo burnham #peepaw nihil #IWANNABEMYDAD #dance dance dance

[rivetgoth]

r/industrialmusic’s “essential albums” list (user nominated and voted)

Thought this was fun/interesting. Right now the sub is doing a “volume 2,” but it’s fun to see the results for what the sub considers essential listening.

Skinny Puppy — Too Dark Park (1990) (1st place!)

Throbbing Gristle — 20 Jazz Funk Greats (1979)

Einstürzende Neubauten — Halber Mensch (1985)

Coil — Horse Rotorvator (1986)

Ministry — The Land of Rape and Honey (1988)

Nine Inch Nails — The Downward Spiral (1994)

Front Line Assembly — Tactical Neural Implant (1992)

Front 242 — Front by Front (1988)

KMFDM — Nihil (1995)

And for what it’s worth, a few frequent “runner ups” I saw (that I imagine will be popping up in volume 2):

Cabaret Voltaire — Red Mecca (1981) (this was NECK AND NECK with KMFDM in the last round up to the very end)

My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult — Confessions of a Knife… (1990)

Godflesh — Streetcleaner (1989)

Scraping Foetus Off the Wheel — Nail (1985)

Nitzer Ebb — That Total Age (1987)

SPK — Leichenschrei (1982)

Obviously this list is far from remotely complete, but I thought the results were really cool. It’s fun to see what an industrial community came together to determine “essential” within the scene, and while it’s not a perfect list nor necessarily exactly what I’d have said myself I do think it’s a pretty successful list of albums I’d more or less call required listening if you’re getting into the genre. Neat!

#industrial music

[anamelessfool]

Hello, I am A Nameless Fool.

30+. She/Her. I'm writing a massive Ghost AU because I'm insane.

They have no time to consider what the Void is. All they understand is that it is Hungry. And they are the only two previously human beings that can ensure the health of their charge. They are the single line of defense at the border of Void and Not Void.

Scenes from the Void (Eldritch Horror AU) AO3 Series Link

Feel free to read them in any order you like. I'm adding fics of each Papa, with a variety of emotional tones and subjects. They all revolve around a larger overarching plot.

Current Major Fic (Moodboard by @ghuleh-recs):

WIP Violence & Gentleness

Primo x OC Papessa, Primo & Family| Family Drama, Young Primo, Whump, Protective Older Brother, Brotherly Affection, Action Adventure, Mystery, Noir, Late 1970s, OC Nameless Ghouls

LATE OCTOBER 1979 Primo has his work cut out for him as the bodyguard of the beautiful and fearsome Mater Emerita Jocasta. As mystery after mystery unfolds, it becomes harder to remain a honest man in this den of thieves called the Ministry.

Ghouls and Lore

Blackened Feathers OC | Horror, Lore

Resurrection Reader & Papa (Any) | Ritual Magic, Ghouls, Trippy Weirdness (done for the @petrifyingpapas challenge May '23)

The Garden Nameless Ghouls, Terzo/Omega | SFW (strong language), Family Bonding, Dark Magic, Trippy, Adventure, Family Drama, Secret Relationship, Nonbinary Ghouls

Ongoing WIP Bestiary Nameless Ghouls (Canon and OC) | Ficlets 18+, Dark Magic, Alternate History, Weird Lore, Historical References, Other OC Papa Emeritus/Mater Emerita

Ongoing WIP Domestics Entire "Emeritus" Family and Church | Ficlets 16+, Domestic Fluff, Angst and Fluff, Humor, Slice of Life

Terzo x Omega

The First and The Last Terzo/Omega | Dark Romance, Ritual Magic, Trippy Weirdness

Reciprocity Terzo/Omega | Artist Model, Photography, Tender Moments, Body Worship, Oral Fixation, Cardiophilia

Ribbons & Ties Terzo/Omega | Domestic Fluff, Established relationship, Weddings Bring Out Your Fear of Commitment

Copia x Cardinal Marian (OC)

Sweeter Red Copia/OC | Fluffy Romance, bdsm, demi Copia, Bittersweet

All the Stops (Sweeter Red Sequel) Copia/OC | Fluffy Romance, bdsm, Bittersweet

Tilted Copia/OC, Terzo/Omega | Adventure, Dark Magic, Ghouls, Trippy Weirdness, Dark Past, Repressed Memories, Secret Relationships, Long-term Relationship

Wanna Bewitch You Copia/OC, Terzo/OC, Nameless Ghouls, Emeritus Family| Adventure, Dark Magic, Ghouls, Trippy Weirdness, Dark Past, Long-term Relationship, Fluff and Smut, Formalwear

Valentine's Day 1985 Young Copia & Primo | Brotherly Affection, Domestic Fluff, Valentine's Day, Hurt/Comfort, My Art

Primo x OC Papessa, Primo & Family

For One Creature's Sake Primo & Copia | Phobias, Family Drama,Young Cardinal Copia, Young Primo, Whump, Protective Older Brother, Brotherly Affection, Hurt/Comfort, Terminal Illness

WIP Violence & Gentleness Primo x OC Papessa, Primo & Family| Family Drama, Young Primo, Whump, Protective Older Brother, Brotherly Affection, Action Adventure, Mystery, Noir, Late 1970s, OC Nameless Ghouls

Interlude: In Orbit Always Primo x OC Nameless Ghoul (Edelweiss Ghoul | FWB, One Bed Trope, Psychic Ties, Dreams, Somniphilia, First Time, Friends BUT MORE

Secondo & Family

Maestro Sister Imperator & Young Secondo, Young Terzo | Ritual Magic, Sibling Rivalry (done for the @petrifyingpapas challenge May '23)

WIP Crossroads Secondo & Terzo, Secondo & Family | Ritual Magic, Horror, Trippy Weirdness, Brother Angst, Father & Son, Family Drama

Extra (Outside of The Scenes from the Void AU)

Call Me Papa IV & Reader | SFW, Hurt/Comfort, Hugs, Cardiophilia, Comfy Read, Papa IV Reassures You Everything Will Be Okay

One Shot Papa IV & Reader | Silly Fic, PG-13 Fun, Overly Dramatic, Concert Experience

Tights Papa IV x Gen Reader | Fishnets, Body Worship, Massage, Sensual Play, Foot Play, Foot Job, Light D/s, Established Relationship, Emotional Hurt/Comfort

No Deal Papa Nihil x Fem! Reader | 1970s, Music References, Recreational Drug Use, Oral, Shotgunning, Nihil Being Father of the Decade, Surprise Ending

VIII Strength Papa IV x Gen Reader | Dom Sub Dynamic, Established Relationshop, Power Play, Body Worship, Bondage

Housekeeping Notes

I sometimes announce I'm doing fic requests. They are PG-13. I do not post NSFW works on tumblr, please read them through AO3 and keep them on AO3. I DO really love talking about writing and meeting other writers, so please don't be shy. NEMA

About Me 👇👇👇

I love: Clive Barker, John Bellairs, Mervyn Peake, Shirley Jackson, Terry Prachett, David Lynch, David Cronenberg

Other Hobbies: Larping, Sewing, BJD, witchcraft, wandering around the woods

Current Favorite Albums to Write to:

#ghost fandom #ghost band fic #ao3 author #the band ghost #ao3 fanfic #authorinro #ghost scenes from the void #ao3 link #terzo/omega #cardinal copia #copia x oc #papa emeritus ii #papa emertius iii #papa emeritus iv #papa emeritus i

[metalsongoftheday]

Friday, October 13: Testament, "The Haunting"

A sizable portion of Testament’s fanbase still considers The Legacy among the best things they’ve ever recorded, if not actually the best.  No doubt a lot of that is based on nostalgia, but perhaps another reason is that relative to the other thrash records released during that 1985-1988 golden stretch, their debut had a darkness to it that went well beyond the snarky nihilism of Death Angel and Overkill towards something more malevolent and extreme.  “The Haunting” had the same level of frenzy and aggression that was common to mid ‘80s thrash, but Alex Skolnick and Eric Peterson wrote nastier riffs and arrangements, and while Steve Souza’s words were typical thrash fare, Chuck Billy helped invent death metal with growling that, although not without coherence and traces of melody, was much more bellicose than the nasally snarling of a Blitz, Zetro or Mark Osegueda.  This was meaner and just plain evil, though to be sure Testament hadn’t fully locked in as a band- it wouldn’t take them long to mature as writers, arrangers and players, but they weren’t there yet.

#heavy metal #metal #heavy metal rules #heavy metal music #listen to metal #metal song of the day #metal song #song of the day #song #testament #chuck billy #alex skolnick #eric peterson #steve zetro souza #steve souza #atlantic records #megaforce #thrash #thrash metal #80s music #80s metal #80s thrash #bay area thrash #heavy music #heavy rock #metal rock #metal music #listen to music #long live rock #Youtube

[n1fonseca-global-cinema-blog]

One Of His Last: Ran

Serving as the last major film he’d make before going on to make smaller ones until his death, Akira Kurosawa’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s King Lear is the grim, yet poetic, capstone to his filmmaking career.

It follows an elderly lord by the name of Hidetora, who wishes to divide up power amongst his three sons: Taro, Jiro, and Saburo. While the other two accept they’ll be able to handle it, Saburo disagrees in a way that gets himself banished for disrespect. However, it’s these two eldest sons who then wage war for power, both manipulated by Taro’s wife, Lady Kaede.

It’s an incredibly tragic and bleak story, even the name is able to be roughly translated to “chaos”, which is what follows this messy transition of power. However, there are many poetic contrasts to be seen in this film. It begins with calm on this beautiful hill of greenery, and later a burning red flame engulfs Hidetora’s castle. Then, there’s the stillness of the camera as the violence rages on. For the film, Kurosawa had enlisted the help of three cinematographers and used three cameras to film scenes of importance to capture a variety of angles. With this, there’s no need for camera movement in the film, so as the battles rage on with soldiers charging, the camera remains still in contrast.

Considering the subject matter and how it comes at a time towards the end of Kurosawa’s life, there’s this sense that perhaps when making it he had put himself in the character of Hidetora. Rather than dividing up a proper kingdom, Kurosawa gave filmmakers of the future the techniques he had learned. However, I’m sure he was more hopeful than the film’s bleakness.

When asked by American author Donald Richie about what his best movie was, he had only stated,  “Ran.”

Sources:

#akira kurosawa #cinema #criterion #japanese film #ran #Youtube

[throughsilver]

I'm going to use Tumblr the way it should be used - a way of documenting thoughts and ideas that aren't fully fledged enough for a traditional blog post.

So I read Less Than Zero, the #1985 debut novel from Bret Easton Ellis, known mainly for writing American Psycho.

Yes, I should have read it when I was 18. Such immature reading tastes etc. But you do things when you do them, don't you. I am fine with it. Plus, I'm not sure what a 40-something bloke should be reading.

I love California, especially the dark side. And this novel infamously embodies that. If you don't know the book, it's about Clay, who returns home to LA for Christmas on a break from university. He sees people - friends and non-friends - in a story awash with drugs, parties, ennui, nihilism (or is it really just apathy) and MTV.

What happens? Well,I assumed there was a murder, but there isn't. He just has an increasingly bleak time until he decides it's time to go back to school.

So there's no massive event. At least not that Clay is directly involved in. He sees the odd (very odd) VHS tape. Sees some people shooting up, and the results of people shooting up. He's involved in the hit and run of a hyena. But nothing earth shattering.

It's despite that, or perhaps because of it, that this book was a hit in the 80s. Seems just the documentation of wealthy Californian teens' existence was enough to shake the fiction loving audience of the time.

I loved it even now. Both as a document of a place and a time, and as a portent of what was to come: the public's fascination with aimless but beautiful LA youth. Hilton, the Kardashians, the Hills etc. And as those archetypes get older, both reflected in the likes of the Selling Sunset cast and I assume the people who now write and produce today's shows about aimlessly wealthy teens.

In 2010, Easton Ellis published Imperial Bedrooms, the sequel to Less Than Zero, the characters all growed up. I want to read it. But, given BEE's love of intertextuality, I need to read his other books first. And maybe those of Jay McInerney, Donna Tartt et al, Bret's peers and alleged partners in crime. I've a lot of reading ahead of me...

#books #california #bret easton ellis #brat pack #less than zero

[suppenzeit]

my stex white whales, the ones that got away, etc so on and so forth

-the 1985 boot; pretty sure this is lost to time, unless by some insane miracle the person who was trading it still keeps around ~37yr old vhs boots

-jack hinton bv footage; nonexistent, if there was some, it wouldve turned up already

-tom nihill bv footage; could exist, and a future boot is possible, but at this point ill just have to get by with a few audios

-stex on ice footage; i am just insanely curious about this. but again, if it exists, it wouldve turned up already

#:v #stex

[endbuzz]

>RUN END.EXE_

> Fear is so passé. Who needs to worry about the flames of a civil war when you've got Jane Fonda tapes to work out to? The age of unfettered yuppie capitalism shakes up even the cobblestones of Diagon Alley. A world away from the quaint hand-painted signs of the former centre of the magical world, skyscrapers teetering and slick rise in Manchester and Glasgow, challenging middle England in a vicious game of who can become the richest the fastest. <

We are excited to announce the site buzz for >END_, a new Marauders alternate universe role play combining the nihilism and brutal corporate supremacy of cyberpunk with the libertarian sensibilities of the witching world. Set in an alternate timeline 1985, the prophecy has been delivered - and thanks to a new law mandating all prophecies be shared to the Ticker network, only a few hours from being broadcast to everyone in magical Britain simultaneously. Explore the hottest and most untested new magic, technomancy, and what it means for your character's bodily integrity; do away with old-fashioned quill pens in favour of instant communication through their Ticker; explore the murky depths of what it is to be human in a rapidly changing world, all against the backdrop of a raging civil war.

Follow us for more lore reveals, character dev posts and general mayhem in the coming days - and introduce yourself in our #ENDBUZZ tag with our form below.

Name: Age: Timezone: Favourite tropes and/or canons: What do you want to see in a cyberpunk setting?: Most used emojis:

#ENDBUZZ #hp rp #hp rp promo #cyberpunk rp #marauders rp #harry potter rp #marauders era rp #jcink rp #harry potter roleplay #marauders era roleplay #jcink premium #site buzz #jcink site

[rpings]

>RUN END.EXE AU 21+ Neon Noir Marauders Era RP

Reserves open 06/08!

> Fear is so passé. Who needs to worry about the flames of a civil war when you've got Jane Fonda tapes to work out to? The age of unfettered yuppie capitalism shakes up even the cobblestones of Diagon Alley. A world away from the quaint hand-painted signs of the former centre of the magical world, skyscrapers teetering and slick rise in Manchester and Glasgow, challenging middle England in a vicious game of who can become the richest the fastest. <

We are excited to announce the site buzz for >END, a new Marauders alternate universe role play combining the nihilism and brutal corporate supremacy of cyberpunk with the libertarian sensibilities of the witching world. Set in an alternate timeline 1985, the prophecy has been delivered - and thanks to a new law mandating all prophecies be shared to the Ticker network, only a few hours from being broadcast to everyone in magical Britain simultaneously.

FOLLOW US!

#jcink rp #jcink premium #site buzz #scifi rp #harry potter rp #based on rp

[jcinktinder]

>RUN END.EXE AU 21+ Neon Noir Marauders Era RP

Reserves open 06/08!

> Fear is so passé. Who needs to worry about the flames of a civil war when you've got Jane Fonda tapes to work out to? The age of unfettered yuppie capitalism shakes up even the cobblestones of Diagon Alley. A world away from the quaint hand-painted signs of the former centre of the magical world, skyscrapers teetering and slick rise in Manchester and Glasgow, challenging middle England in a vicious game of who can become the richest the fastest. <

We are excited to announce the site buzz for >END, a new Marauders alternate universe role play combining the nihilism and brutal corporate supremacy of cyberpunk with the libertarian sensibilities of the witching world. Set in an alternate timeline 1985, the prophecy has been delivered - and thanks to a new law mandating all prophecies be shared to the Ticker network, only a few hours from being broadcast to everyone in magical Britain simultaneously.

FOLLOW US!

#jcink #jcink premium #site buzz #harry potter rp #fandom rp

[synreads444]

Plath, S. (1985). Selected Poems. London: Faber and Faber.

"When Sylvia Plath's Ariel was published posthumously, A. Alvarez in the Observer wrote: 'If the poems are despairing, vengeful and destructive, they are at the same time tender, open to things, and also unusually clever, sardonic, hard minded... They are works of great artistic purity and, despite all the nihilism, great generosity... the book is a major literary event.' This selection made by Ted Hughes from all her work shows that Sylvia Plath is clearly a major poet of the twentieth century, a rare example of the egotistical sublime."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read: 03/09/23

#sylvia plath #selected poems #poetry #september

[rockhyrax]

Spectacle Radio ep.102 :: 06.22.23 :: I’m Nick Cave, I love you, and I wanna tell you about a girl

Wang Chung - To Live & Die In LA (from To Live & Die In LA, 1985) Gary Newman - Films (from the album Pleasure Principle, 1979) Balaton - Nem sajat nevem (band of Bela Tarr collaborator Mihaly Vig, 1985 recording) Unto Mononen - Satumaa (used in Aki Kaurismaki’s The Match Factory Girl, 1990) Banda Muleka 100 Calcinha - Mato Seco em Chamas (used in Dry Ground Burning, 2022) Legendary K.O. - George Bush Don’t Like Black People (for Miss Me Yet?) Bed: Graeme Revell - music from Hard Target (1997) … From Vadim Kostrov's Loft-Underground (2019) Nick Cave (Road to God Knows Where, Uli M. Schueppel, 1990) Ideal - Red Love (Rosa von Praunheim's Rote Liebe, 1982) Jeanette - Blood of a Poet (Lemebel, Joanna Reposi, 2019) California Girls (Grapesteak, Garden Reflexxx, 2023) Red Love  Alexander Hacke - End Titles from (Nihil or All the Time in the World, Uli M. Schueppel, 1987) Loft-Underground Final Marks (Peter O'Neill & Frank Muhly, 1979) Loft-Underground Nick Cave (Road to God Knows Where) Macy Rodman - Landslide (Grapesteak) Nick Cave - Road to God Knows Where Alaska Orchestra - The Oloid (Grapesteak) … Peter Thomas / theme to The Big Boss (1971) C-Pillos / No te olvidaré (from El Pico, 1983) Nick Cave / Oh Deanna (Tender Prey-era Cave for The Road to God Knows Where) Meatus Murder / El Garfield (c. mid 2000s) from On-Gaku: Our Sound / Kimi no Yokogao (2019) Nadia / music from Blissfully Yours (Apichatpong Weerasethakul, 2002) Gyllene Tider / Nar vi tva blir en (used in Fucking Amal) King Stitt / The Ugly One (1969) Bed: Mihaly Vig / music from Satantango … Trabant - Ragaszthatatlan sziv (Eskimo Women Feel Cold, János Xantus, 1984) Jill Fraser - Stanley and Stella in Breaking the Ice Tomislav Babic - Amnesiac on the Beach (Dalibor Barić, 2013) Orson Welles - The Prophecies of Nostradamus Beak> - Kosmik Music (Ben Wheatley comic soundtrack) Nick Cave - The Mercy Seat (Road to God Knows Where) Alaska Orchestra - The Oloid (Grapesteak)

#spectacle radio #spectacle #radio #mixtape #newtown radio #soundtrack #film score

[metalshockfinland]

MANIAK to Release "Speed Metal Terrorist" EP on June 18th

Swedish MANIAK will be releasing their new EP, “Speed Metal Terrorist”, on June 18th 2023 via Dawnbreed and De Nihil Records. Stream the single “Nocturnal Hellfire” at THIS LOCATION. These young lunatics bring back the sound of Belo Horizonte 1985 mixed with the legendary German mid 80’s violent speed metal sound. Mastered by DanSwanö. The very future of metal is always brought into question by…

View On WordPress

#MANIAK

[mi4014craigare]

The mysterious stranger

i watched a large amount of this movie called “ The Adventures of Mark Twain “1985 and is was blown away by the expertise and elite level of claymation that this movie showed.  This is my favourite part of the film and I believe has one  the best animated sequences showing just the emotion that claymation can bring forth.

when claymation is concerned people believe that its mainly used for children, shows and feature films. However this clip shows how versatile the medium can be at presenting any kind of narrative, the emotion that it brought out of me was fear and conveyed a horrific scene of nihilism and evil somehow despite the lack of consequences within the context of the clip.

[influencermagazineuk]

Lori Anne Allison: Things to Know About Johnny Depp's Ex-Wife

Lori Anne Allison and Johnny Depp Lori Anne Allison may not be a household name, but she has played a significant role in the life and career of one of Hollywood's biggest stars, Johnny Depp. From their early days as struggling artists to Depp's rise to stardom, Allison has been a constant source of support and inspiration for the actor. Here's a closer look at the woman behind Johnny Depp's success. Allison and Depp first met in the early 1980s when she was working as a makeup artist in Los Angeles. They fell in love and got married in 1983. While Depp was trying to make it as an actor, Allison was working as a makeup artist on music videos and films. She even did the makeup for some of Depp's early movies, including "Edward Scissorhands" and "Cry-Baby." As Depp's career began to take off, Allison played an essential role in managing his finances and helping him navigate the often-tricky waters of Hollywood. She was instrumental in helping him make some of his most significant career decisions, such as choosing roles and signing contracts. She also helped him start his own production company, Infinitum Nihil. Despite their divorce in 1985, Allison and Depp remained close friends, and she continued to be a vital part of his life. She introduced him to some of his closest collaborators, including director Tim Burton and actor Paul Bettany. She also helped him through some of his most challenging times, including his high-profile divorce from Amber Heard. Today, Allison is a successful fashion designer and runs her own jewelry line, too. She has continued to be an essential part of Depp's life and career, and the actor has spoken publicly about his admiration and gratitude for her over the years. In many ways, Lori Anne Allison has been the unsung hero behind Johnny Depp's success. She has been a constant source of support and inspiration for the actor, helping him navigate the often-tricky waters of Hollywood and manage his career. As Depp continues to face personal and professional challenges, it's clear that Allison will continue to be an essential presence in his life. Read the full article

[glenrocklibraryteens]

BOOK REVIEW: WATCHMEN

Watchmen by Alan Moore Graphic Novel Number of Pages: 413 Rating: 4/5 - a great story with beautiful art, although a difficult read Reviewed by: LL

Watchmen is a Graphic Novel written by Alan Moore and Illustrated by Dave Gibbons. It takes place in a fictional, satirical version of the United States, where we won the Vietnam War thanks to two superheroes named The Comedian and Dr. Manhattan. In the year 1985, costumed vigilantes have been outlawed, and the United States is edging closer and closer to World War Three with the Soviet Union. Our story kicks off when The Comedian, aka Edward Blake, is murdered in his apartment. Vigilante Rorschach, who was once on the same superhero team as him, discovers Blake’s body. Rorschach, being an extremely paranoid detective, suspects that the murder spells bad news for all the retired superheroes. Including his former teammates The Nite Owl, Silk Spectre, Ozymandias, and Dr. Manhattan. As Rorschach investigates the murder, we learn of the unique personal struggles that each of our characters face from being superheroes, as well as uncover a giant conspiracy that could result in the deaths of millions.

Don’t be fooled by Watchmen being about superheroes. It is a very adult book. Not just for adult content, but as well for adult themes. Watchmen discusses American Nationalism, Nihilism, Utilitarianism, and Moralism, to name a few. This is what makes Watchmen so great to many, however it also creates its biggest problem for me; It’s not easy to understand on the first read. On top of interpreting themes and messages, the dialogue and writing is very advanced, and I had to reread pages many times throughout the book. Watchmen also isn’t very linear, as there are many flashbacks to the past to give exposition and context to moments between characters in the book. The biggest obstacle in reading comprehension is definitely Dr. Manhattan. While he is definitely a very cool character, as well as the only superhero in the book to actually have powers, his god-like status and powers involving quantum mechanics make his dialogue very confusing, as he does not experience time linearly like we do, seeing the past, present, and future all at the same time. Although to be fair, the rest of the characters probably find him just as hard to understand.

Aside from being a difficult read for me, I can’t say I have any other gripes with Watchmen. My favorite aspect of it has to be the characters. Every character in this book is incredibly interesting and brings their own unique conflict to the table. The previously mentioned Dr. Manhattan, due to his god-like status and unique perception of time, has lost his ability to connect to humanity. Other interesting characters include Rorschach, the incredibly morally gray detective, who sees the world in black and white, refusing to compromise. This is reflected in his moniker and amazing character design. He wears a white mask with constantly changing black blobs and shapes, which resemble a Rorschach test, hence his name. Nite Owl, Silk Spectre, and Ozymandias also bring their own unique conflicts, such as identity and empowerment, and serious moral choices. What’s great about this book is its main conflict of Utilitarianism vs Moralism, the question of if the ends justify the means. Each reader will have their own opinion on what the better side of the conflict is, as both have their benefits as well as their shortcomings, and that’s the key sign of a good book. It makes you think.

Another praise I have for Watchmen is its art. Dave Gibbons and his colorist, John Higgins, did an excellent job of making this bleak, alternate history america pop on the page. The colors are very contrasting and moody, and the illustrations of the city as well as other set pieces, such as Mars and the Arctic, really bring good variety to the book. And as I’ve mentioned I’m a big fan of the character designs.

If you’re an adult who's into comics or superheroes, I would definitely recommend this book. (assuming you haven’t read it already, as it’s a classic) Even if you hate superheroes and are sick of seeing them everywhere, You will definitely find value in this book, as the superhero elements take a step back to make room for the more mature themes this book has to offer. It should be noted that there are some graphic images, profanity, and specific scenarios depicted which may be distressing to even some adults. However I think anyone who’s really into comics should at least read this book. I myself almost never buy superhero comics as I personally prefer seeing them brought to life on the big screen, but I still own this book.

Watchmen Playlist:

Paint it Black by The Rolling Stones - This song feels like it could resemble Rorschach, as his mask has black splotches of paint on it, and he has a very bleak view of the world. This song is also associated with the Vietnam War from its use in Full Metal Jacket, and the Vietnam War is depicted in the book

Metal by Gary Numan - This song has a very alien feel with its synth instruments. It’s also from the perspective of a nonhuman, likely a robot, expressing ideas of wanting to be like a human. This resembles Dr. Manhattans conflict of his godhood interfering with his ability to form emotional connections, and how he’s lost his humanity because of it

Life During Wartime by Talking Heads - This song, as you can probably guess, is about war, however it’s much more upbeat sounding than Paint it Black. This resembles the Comedian, as he took joy in war and violence while he was employed by the government.

Holding Out for a Hero by Bonnie Tyler - This one is a little on the nose, the song is about needing a hero, and in Watchmen, the world needs a hero to stop a major conspiracy but they are all outlawed

Major Tom Coming Home by Peter Schilling - The song is about Major Tom being launched into space but not coming back as he finds the light of space mesmerizing. This resembles how Manhattan throws away his humanity when he gains his powers. The events playing out in the song also resemble an accident, which is how Manhattan gained his powers. Both Dr. Manhattan and Major Tom are thought to be dead at first until the scientists realize they’re alive. The song also has similar synth instruments just like Metal.

It’s The End Of The World As We Know It by R.E.M. - Another on the nose song, but the ending conflict of Watchmen has some serious implications of mass death and destruction

Heroes by David Bowie - Another song about heroes, however what stuck with me is the lyric “We could be heroes, just for one day”. Throughout most of Watchmen, our vigilantes don’t get a lot of time to actually be heroes, as they are outlawed and retired. But with this new conflict they get a chance to save the day again. The song is also about two lovers, and Nite Owl and Silver Spectre form a relationship throughout the book.

Private Eyes by Hall & Oates - This song is for Rorschach, as the lyrics talk about private investigators watching someone. Rorschach is a detective type and stalks and investigates multiple people in the book.

Epitaph by King Crimson - This song is particularly long, but is another that reminds me of Dr. Manhattan, as well as Rorschach. The song talks about prophets and seeing the future, which Dr. Manhattan can literally do, and Rorschach is the first to suspect something deeper is going on when the Comedian is murdered.

Dirty Work by Steely Dan - This song was recently used in the new Suicide Squad movie, but the lyrics “ I don’t wanna do your dirty work” fits for Watchmen as they were all once government sponsored superheroes, but now they are outlawed don’t work for the government anymore. It particularly fits with Dr. Manhattan as he isolates himself on Mars because he grows tired of humanity, not wanting to do their “dirty work” such as he did when winning the Vietnam war for America.

#book review #fiction #glen rock teens #glen rock nj #submission