Welcome to this week’s 5BF: the absurdity of waiting or living; hope is of no good use in times of desparity and crisis; weight isn't a sign of bad health but a shame symbol; a conspiracy theory caused America's independence; a history of iPhones, and more...
1 – what I read/am reading
Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett – one of my most anticipated read, and thanks to CSS, I finally had the chance to read this play. Yet what was I thinking when anticipating to read this absurdist play? A revelatory insight? A pleasure of nonsensical kind? Amusement or joy? Well, whatever inarticulate expectations I had for this play, what I found in the play was totally underwhelming, frustrating, and forcibly plain; which is what anyone should expect out of a play where nothing, literally nothing, happens. Yet upon deeper inquiries would one find the hidden cues of the play about its meaning, or lack thereof, and its context.
The Caretaker by Harold Pinter – another play from the ‘Theatre of the Absurd’, which I had never heard about, but one I am quite enjoying. It’s about two young men who live together in depreciated shelter and an old man who’s looking for shelter and is offered the job of ‘caretaker’ by the young lads. Reading these short plays one after another has been a unique experience for me, yet it can also be quite taxing on your mood and general feeling towards reading.
2 – this week’s articles
Where is Pakistan’s economy headed? @dawn – a detailed article about the recent performance of Pakistan’s economy by the renowned Pakistani newspaper Dawn. It comprehensively breaks down the running government’s fiscal policies, budgets, and expenditure plans and sets out the red flags that are emerging.
Against hope @aeon – an essay on why Hannah Arendt was against passive hope and for the active natality at times when the world around us goes rogue. ‘Whereas hope is something we have, natality is something we do.’
Animals’ concept of death @aeon – a fascinating article about how animals, both the prey and the predator, are aware of death, and uses this awareness in evolutionary ways.
Fat but fit @aeon – an emancipating article about how our health isn’t directly related to our weight, and that weight is more a shame-symbol, and damaging therein.
3 – this week’s podcast
American shadows @throughline – a history of conspiracy
theories in America through a set of three defining events in US history.
The Moth @throughline – the rise of Putin from being a blending
observer to the ruler of Russia and his heralded dominion over Russia and the
world.
The Border @throughline – a history of US-Mexico border and
America’s symbolic and repeating push towards closing the border on terrorism
and drug-smuggling assaults.
4 – what I watched
Free Guy (2021) – a movie about a video game where an NPC
non-playing-character becomes conscious, the first case of AI, and the struggle
for saving the game from the evil company that runs the game. Enjoyable
throughout.
Rick and Morty (s01) – each episode packs a weird and exaggeratively
imaginative adventure of some alien world, on which the shy, unconfident, doubtful,
meek Morty and his explosively sarcastic, and a genius scientist grandpa,
venture on. Hilarious and insightfully enjoyable.
Every iPhone ever made @mkbhd – an excellent and feel-good
video essay on Apple’s manufacturing of iPhones, with charts, fun facts, and
insights.
5 – this week’s quote
‘There are years that ask questions and years that answer.’
Zora Neale Hurston