...still opinions...
2 G i r l s 1 Cu p : Towa rd A D e fe n s e
a n d L a m e nt o f Cu l t u ra l S t u d i e s
opinion by | tom topping
presumably farcical essay, (http://farm3.
There is a video on the internet, static.flickr.com/2118/2086073362_
doubtless, that the majority of our campus b9ca71a07e_o.jpg) that argues that the
is aware of entitled “2Girls1Cup.” (SP?) video in question is, in reality, an empow-
Indeed, this pornographic film has bal- ering, feminist manifesto.
looned into a veritable internet cult sensa- Naturally, I found the essay to
tion. For the sake of some readers’ stom- be a rather funny jab at the expense of
achs, I shall forgo the particulars and give academia, but then I began to think more
an overarching summary of the film— about the issue at hand. While this essay
“film” being used here in the loosest sense is obviously a joke, what if the video had
of the word. originally been screened in the Guggen-
Essentially what it breaks down heim museum? Given that the museum is
to is two girls appear on screen, they then notorious for its avant-garde expositions,
engage in relatively conventional erotic perhaps this would have been displayed in
acts until one of the partners produces a the selfsame fashion the essay presented
cup and proceeds to shit into it. From then the video.
on, they engage in various sexual activi- Therefore, what I conclude from
ties involving the excrement, everything this line of thought is that what is and what
from smearing it on themselves to eat- is not art is highly contextual—nothing
ing it. Giving in to my baser curiosities, I special there, any critic worth her Marxist-
watched the video in full not quite know- Reader-Response salt could tell you that. if anything, is the role of artistic studies? a richer understanding the human con-
ing what to make of it. It certainly did not But the more salient point is this: with the Is there a “higher” nature to certain hu- dition, right? On the other hand, if the
arouse me in any shape or form, I felt more advent of the internet academia especially manities? Is “high” literature or art even humanities are necessarily passive and
like I was watching an exceptionally vio- should be troubled by the brewing crisis in worth studying anymore? Does “high” art standardless, is there anything that the
lent film that disturbs the viewer, but she the arts: the availability of mass-media to, and thought simply boil down to bour- humanities can comment on, or argue for
cannot look away simply for morbid curi- crassly put, the masses. This phenomenon geois pretension? I certainly can not an- or against? Shall the humanities simply
osity. Naturally, after that experience, I set foists a crisis upon the academy because it swer them in this essay. boil down to journalism?
out to study, for myself, what I thought I will force us to radically redefine what we Nevertheless, I think that this It seems that this composition
had just experienced. term “Art.” internet sensation should give us pause. only presents more questions than an-
Now, to summarize how I came to Of course, our definitions of Furthermore, I think that this nagging swers, but I think the gauntlet for the acad-
my current line of thinking, I should estab- what are and what are not literature, art, prospect, especially in the humanities, emy has been thrown down—nevermind
lish what I was interested in. I was inter- films, poetry etc. have been under a de- possesses possibly exciting, possibly dark whether or not the faculties at Oxbridge or
ested in why 1) anyone would participate constructive lens for some time now: conclusions. For example, presuming that Princeton recognize it.
in something like this, and 2) why people witness the birth of the radical contextu- the humanities moves in the direction of “2Girls1Cup: Toward A Defense
are so fascinated by it. This essay does not alization of Cultural Studies. Neverthe- Cultural Studies and contextualizes and and Lament of Cultural Studies” origini-
intend to explicate those questions; how- less, at least for my part, this conundrum deconstructs the boundaries between all ally appeared in Volume 14, Issue 2 of The
ever, during my research I uncovered a evokes feelings of intense anxiety. What, forms of expression, that should lead to Monitor, published April 28, 2008.
J a y M a r i o t t i : To o B i g F o r H i s B r i t c h e s
opinion by | robert samuelson
Speedos get wet really isn’t my idea of a grand first place at the same time--something that just
time. The same can be said about sports like fenc- does not happen--and when the Bears are trying
For those of you who know me, you ing, weight lifting, and rowing. Seriously, row- to get an offense in place that can complement
understand that I am hopelessly obsessed with ing? We’re supposed to be an enlightened world their now-healthy defense in the hopes of return-
one thing above just about everything else: the and we’re celebrating men and women who are ing to the Superbowl they lost a mere year and
Chicago Cubs. It may be difficult to hear consid- performing tasks once reserved for slaves. a half ago. What Mariotti is saying, essentially,
ering most of you here at Truman hate that team The bigger issue to deal with is that is to drop all the interest he himself has helped
with such vehemence but I can’t (and won’t) help of the hyperbole that Mariotti is known to use as build up over the past several months to focus
myself. I bring this up because, a few days ago, a crutch. This is a quality I normally enjoy while on sports that the general public only cares about
I was reading up on my beloved Cubbies when reading his articles because he displays the same two weeks out of every four years.
I saw a video post of Chicago Sun-Times sports fair weather fan glee and frustrations we all feel, It’s nice to say I saw history being
columnist Jay Mariotti telling of his encounter whether Alfonso Soriano is hitting 6 home runs a made watching Phelps, but in a year in which
with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley at the Bei- week or straining a calf muscle while catching a fly is not 714 career home runs, changing the course the Cubs have a legitimate shot at a World Se-
jing Olympic Games in which Daley asked him ball. Jay spends the majority of the video in ques- of an entire sport. In short, what Phelps lacks is the ries title for the first time in 100 years, noth-
what he thought of the “other” team from the tion, though, proclaiming Phelps to be one of the day-to-day consistency those three achieved. He ing compares to the excitement they instill in
Second City: the White Sox. all-time great sports stars, comparing him to Mi- may be the Michael Jordan of swimming, but he me. I’ll take Woody, Fonzy, and The Riot over
Mariotti proceeds into a tirade about chael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Babe Ruth. That will never be able to perform at such superhuman a Phelpsian feat any day. “The Cubs and the
how Chicagoans care only about how “their simply is not the case. What this young man does levels each year like Jordan, nor match his cultural Sox will ALWAYS be there,” says Mariotti, but
teams” are doing and wants us all to consider over the course of a week every 4 years is admi- impact. There are going to be no Looney Toons not like this they won’t. But, in a way, that’s
Michael Phelps and his staggering feats at the rable, even astonishing, but what those three super- feature films starring a half-naked merman; I just just the point. They are always there for me
Games. Yes, what Phelps did in winning 8 gold stars did throughout their long and storied careers don’t think Warner Brothers would go for it. and I am going to enjoy this special ride while
medals was unprecedented and amazing, but do cannot be touched. This is not 6 NBA champion- Mariotti’s comments come in a sum- it lasts, even if it means spurning sports I’ve
I care? Not really. Watching muscular men in ships in 8 years; it is not 14 Majors victories; and it mer when both Chicago baseball teams are in never cared about in the first place.
volume 15 | issue 1
the monitor | 5
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