EGO DEATH
DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP
The theme through the end of last month and the beginning of this month has been nostalgia. Whether it be remembering childhood restaurants my dad would take me to or rekindling my love of baseball, it has come as somewhat of a surprise. It was hard to commit words to paper this week but next week I will have more to offer on nostalgia if these trends persist.
I’ve been waking up far earlier than usual the past few days, though I should take some time to enjoy my new sheets.
SEX AND THE CITY
I would really like to do a “mailbag” style dispatch soon where I answer any questions you have on your mind. I’ve always wanted to write a sex and dating style column – I’ll start looking into the details of fielding submissions, all anonymous of course.
LONG LIVE THE ONE CREATED BY THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE
Happy Victory Day, celebrate however you see fit. I’m watching the NBA playoffs and drinking beer.
THE WORLD DOESN’T SHRINK TO YOUR SIZE JUST BECAUSE YOU LACK THE DEPTH TO UNDERSTAND IT
Afghan war rugs are a unique form of textile art that emerged in Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation in the 1980s. These rugs feature intricate designs that incorporate elements of war and conflict, such as tanks, helicopters, and guns, alongside traditional Afghan motifs like flowers, animals, and geometric patterns.
The Afghan weavers initially produced war rugs as documentation and expression of the violence and turmoil they experienced during the Soviet invasion in the 1980s, serving as a means to convey their stories and experiences of war. In the early 2000s, during the American occupation of the country, war rugs regained popularity. They evolved into a sought-after commodity in the international market, where collectors and art enthusiasts purchase them still.
War rugs are hand-woven using traditional Afghan weaving techniques and made from high-quality wool and cotton, resulting in various sizes, designs, and colors. In the modern version of the rug, a program like MS Paint is used to create a design template, which the weaver then replicates by hand, pixel by pixel, making each rug unique. Some even start to possess small quirks like misspellings of English words or repurposed designs.
The images in war rugs include icons sometimes borrowed directly from US PsyOp leaflets, which in a few instances a few Afghan locals misconstrued as a coupon for free poultry or a meal provided by the Coalition. These icons change over time, with each generation of reproduction resulting in new forms and simplified designs. For example, weavers still target and taunt Russian customers, such as a depiction of what looks like the Avengers on a tank. The rug depicts a famous Afghan monument.
War rugs straddle the line between fine art and souvenir curio, with their iconography's meaning and the production process being their most intriguing feature. Despite this, they possess more artistic gravity than any of the art created by Americans to commemorate 9/11.
Despite their popularity, war rugs have been controversial in the art world. Some critics argue that they glorify violence and perpetuate stereotypes of Afghanistan as a war-torn and unstable country. However, supporters of war rugs argue that they serve as an important cultural and historical artifact that tells the story of the Afghan people and preserves their experiences of war and conflict.
HANG THE DJ