Sea Monkeys Are Still in Consumerist Bondage

In 2013, I wrote a post about the tragic plight of Sea Monkeys: the way western consumerism has exploited these living organism has sickened and offended those of us with social consciousnesses and despite our unsuccessful protest in the spring of 2014, we are still acting in solidarity with Sea Monkey representatives across the world.

And this action is necessary. I was sent, just today, a horrific photo proving that there is still cause for us to stand up for the rights of Sea Monkeys everywhere. I attach it only to show the seriousness of this situation, for the gross depravity represented by this bright packaging is nausiating to say the least:

Does it not send shivers of horror down your vertebrae? The picture of the Sea Monkeys (obviously fabricated) makes them seem content and even happy in their artificial environment. The catch-phrase "Instant Life!" is the worst part of this consumerist plot: it brings our attention to the commodification of these living creatures, and makes it seem exciting! How sick are we???

My friends, we cannot keep this a secret any longer. Sea Monkeys must be liberated. We must bang down the doors of the factories where these poor creatures are vacuum sealed. We must petition our governments to ban such processes that make life, any kind of life, into something that can be bought or sold. We must speak up for the Sea Monkeys, so that in the future, they will speak up for us. 

and now for a word from our sponsors...

ASK ME WHAT IT MEANS, ASK ME WHAT IT MEANS!!!

for the love of steampunk

Steampunk: the Victorian age fused with steam-powered or other anachronistic technology. Essentially, you have robots in top hats and crazy inventor chicks building clockwork machines; think Jules Verne, the 2011 film "Hugo", or this YouTube clip we like to sing:

This aesthetic has infiltrated the Sci-fi/ Fantasy world of video games, film, novels (Clockwork Heart by Dru Pagliassotti was a best-seller at the expo this year), and continues to influence costume dress, home decor, and DIY jewelry.

Despite the fact that we're similar to hipsters in that we don't like to be trendy, the Supina culture supports the creation and enjoyment of DIY Steampunk jewelry. Using bits of old clocks, pendants, cameos, coloured beads, lace, copper wire, and whatever else we can get our hands on, we glue some gears and fuse some metal to make lovely unique pieces that are then sold at craft sales, in a shop in southern Alberta, at theatre events, or else are just worn or gifted with much love and joy. There's a jewelry making party every once in a while, follow the Graffiti Mix blog for more information as they happen!

Vincent van Gogh: the art, the inspiration

The Supina culture is resplendent with art, and with people doing art, anytime of the day. And held in especial honour are the works of Vincent van Gogh.



Here we are, painting interpretations of some of his most famous works. But what is it about van Gogh that draws us as creative people, observers of not only his art but of his life?





Dawn Supina writes:

"One could write volumes on the merit of Vincent van Gogh's art. His passion, the fluidity of brushstrokes, simplicity of subject matter, the movement of his work, his humanity, etc. But how can you not love this person? :
“What am I in the eyes of most people — a nonentity, an eccentric, or an unpleasant person — somebody who has no position in society and will never have; in short, the lowest of the low. All right, then — even if that were absolutely true, then I should one day like to show by my work what such an eccentric, such a nobody, has in his heart. That is my ambition, based less on resentment than on love in spite of everything, based more on a feeling of serenity than on passion. Though I am often in the depths of misery, there is still calmness, pure harmony and music inside me.”  ~ Vincent van Gogh 1853-1890"


Vincent van Gogh has inspired many others with his art. Don McLean, for example, wrote an entire song based around the painting "Starry Night":

"Starry, starry night

Paint your palette blue and gray
Look out on a summer's day
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul
Shadows on the hills
Sketch the trees and the daffodils
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
In colors on the snowy linen land

Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
How you suffered for your sanity
How you tried to set them free
They did not listen, They did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now..."

Here's a link to the whole song. If you've never heard it, quite beautiful:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxHnRfhDmrk


Interesting historical note: there are alternate theories of how van Gogh's death actually came about:http://www.vangoghgallery.com/misc/death.html

the future of punks

"Old Brittni and Punk" - mixed media/ altered photo. Thanks, Zach Supina. 

Original photo from http://fuckyeahpunkguys.tumblr.com/post/50462598077

Sea Monkeys Are People Too!

"Brine shrimp have existed in the wild for ages, but they haven't always been sold as pets. In fact, they weren't popular in the household until 1960, when they were "invented" by a scientist named Harold von Braunhut. Von Braunhut did not actually create the species; he discovered that the eggs have a long shelf life out of water. He gave these brine shrimp the name "sea monkeys" and began selling packets of their eggs through the mail, along with powdered food. The marketing, which was targeted primarily to children by advertising in comic books, suggested that these were exotic, almost anthropomorphic creatures, and promised that they came to life almost instantly when placed in water." 

~ from "Are Sea Monkeys Real Animals?"

 (http://animals.pawnation.com/sea-monkeys-real-animals-1469.html)

"...Sea Monkeys are not evil. Sea Monkeys are not demons. However...they do have trouble reaching maturity because of the evil things people do to them, such as drinking, eating, or ignoring them. We neglect our Sea Monkeys when we go on holiday, leaving them all alone without additional food or oxygen. We treat them poorly, flushing them down toilets when we get bored with them, or when our brothers want to exact a little sibling revenge. We are cruel to Sea Monkeys, so can you blame them for possibly harboring some kind of malicious feelings towards a race of humans upon whom they depend but who constantly let them down? To be honest, I wouldn't be all that surprised if they did rise up and take over the world just to teach us a lesson...making us live without oxygen or food or interesting toys to play with. They could bang on our tanks and yell "Look at the little humans!" or drink us for fun...But I digress....

CONCLUSION: The idea of Sea Monkeys being part of a demonic plot to take over the world is false. But the fact that an idea like this might not reach fruition because we take care of them poorly is a possibility."

~ from "Sea Monkey Urban Legends" 

(http://www.seamonkeyworship.com/urbanlegends.html)

We had sea monkeys when I was a kid. They lived on the windowsill. They smelled funny. But I never truly realized what a strange and messed up Consumerist set-up it all was. I mean, you buy the whole set for 10 dollars, with a colourful plastic tank with a slide in background that gives the illusion of some exotic ocean environment, food, and instructions. You just add water, and BAM! Sea Monkeys.

Does anybody else think this is crazy? Why were Sea Monkeys so popular? Was it marketing - oh, they're so cute, they look like little humans - or a way to give children the illusion of having a pet, and if they ignore them and forget to feed them or cook them in a sunny window frame, it's okay? Just because they have primitive brain structure doesn't mean that poor treatment of them is allowable!

And at the same time, I am confused why people would eat or drink Sea Monkeys. True, they are brine shrimp, and are part of an ocean ecosystem, but really? And are they alive when you eat them?

Sea Monkeys should be free, because keeping them in tiny tanks and forgetting about them is ridiculous. Unless you are scientifically studying them for purposes of preventing global warming or something, this consumer-driven plot must end! And as we are the consumers, it's up to us to free this mistreated and misunderstood species!

Thank you. I will be petitioning the government about this issue shortly, and would appreciate your signatures.

Thanks for the photo, Pinterest!

In honour of Ed Wood, the greatest writer/ director/ producer of all time

"I'm sitting here in Malibu
looking out at the Pacific
with my pink angora sweater
my favourite pink angora sweater..."

bill bisset, after Rod Mckuen
appeared in "Post-Poetrey: A Roundtable Discussion on Contemporary Poetics"
from Rampike Vo. 21/No.2


http://cinemagumbo.squarespace.com/journal/tag/bela-lugosi