Wednesday, October 10, 2012

"Sleepwalk" and Stuff on my Mind

Wow, I finally saw "Sleepwalk with Me," only a month later...But I've been busy.
I liked it.
Very interesting content. I listened to the episode "Fear of Sleep" from "This American Life" sometime before. It features Mike Birbiglia and the audio from his stand-up  He talks about his REM disorder. The anecdotes are really funny, until you stop and realize that they're really serious. Like when he jumped through a closed window from the second floor of a hotel. ("La Quinta Inn, that's not fair...you can't force me to speak Spanish...")

I think the most important thing from this film is that it shines light on this really serious disorder. And it shines light on it through comic relief making it more comfortable for people watching who may sleepwalk, or have the disorder. This film hopefully spurred people who have REM sleep disorder to get help.

Mike Birbiglia is so likable. I didn't quite realize how heavy it was going to revolve around his relationship but that content too was realistic and truthful. All in all I am happy that I finally saw it. Although, Mike Birbiglia and Ira Glass are hosting a pizza party Friday, October 12,  to watch the film all together through the cyber world. The film can now be downloaded. Well, at least I got the student discount on the tickets at the movie theater...

I have been working on my Master's project. I have decided I want to work with utopias (or dystopias) found in Russian literature, specifically Fyodor Dostoevsky's Brothers Karamozov. Super exciting stuff.
So, here is the place where I will be fleshing out my ideas. Stay tuned.

And as promised here is a poem I read last night by W.H. Auden. I take it to be about reciprocity...are the stars his lover that doesn't reciprocate his love?

The More Loving One

Looking up at the stars, I know quite well
That, for all they care, I can go to hell,
But on earth indifference is the least
We have to dread from man or beast.

How well should we like it were stars to burn
With a passion for us we could not return?
If equal affection cannot be,
Let the more loving one be me.

Admirer as I think I am
Of stars that do not give a damn,
I cannot, now I see them, say
I missed one terribly all day.

Were all stars to disappear or die,
I should learn to look at an empty sky
And feel its total dark sublime,
Though this might take me a little time.