The pill

Back from a somewhat long hiatus. Life was pretty routine while I was at work. There wasn't really time to think about interesting issues or events to talk about. Almost everyday it was all about waking up, travelling to the work place, working, eating and sleeping hahaha......

Presenting today's topic: The Red Pill or The Blue Pill

I used to think that "The Matrix" (the very first in the trilogy) was a cool movie because of the CG effects and the "cool" portrayal of the protagonists. It was only a few days ago when I realised that its quite a "sociology" movie too haha...

Morpheus tells Neo that if the blue pill is consumed: "You wake in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe." "You take the red pill and you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes."

Neo, of course, takes the red pill, and goes on a journey to discover the real deal behind the "Matrix". Then there's the bald guy who betrays Morpheus and wishes he could take the blue pill instead.

I liken the red pill to certain modules from FASS, especially Sociology haha.... because they make you realise that the world is not what it seems, and it makes you ponder about certain social issues (eg: income gap, social strata mobility etc.) I'm not a soci major, but I highly encourage everyone to take SC1101E if you have the chance. You'll want to throw your rose-tinted glasses away after attending the lectures hahaha.... but no obligations, you can take the blue pill if you want lol......

However, there are just some notions that too socialised and instilled upon you, which makes it hard for you to change your viewpoints with regards to certain issues. One can only say that he/she recognises and understands from both sides of the camp, but he/she would prefer the blue pill in some instances haha......

One such issue for me is with regards to members of the opposite sex (i.e: female in this case). I understand that the common notion that women should be "demure, gentle, soft-spoken blah blah blah" is just a socialised view which is propagated by mass media or pass down through tradition.

I seriously think this notion is very much deeply entrenched in the back of my mine wahaha... not so much the characteristic, but more of the appearance part. Not that I expect all women to wear skirts and have long, shiny hair, but I just feel that women should possess certain characteristics which sets them apart from the men. One doesn't need to be all girly and feminine, but looking like singer K.D Lang (http://www.cbc.ca/cp/entertainment/080131/e013172A.html) sure confuses the mind haha...

But of course some women must also be thinking about the same thing about men. Muscular/bulky? Tanned and tall?

Are women somewhat more open to the notion of what constitutes a "man"? Especially when uou look at the situation in Japan, with all its visual-kei rockers and bishonens. They certainly don't fit the notion of "man" as portrayed in mainstream mass media outside of Japan.

Well......at the end of the day, I think I can label myself as someone who has "taken the red pill" but who still lives for long periods in the "Matrix" wahaha...


Endnote:
Alright! Received the DL letter today. It's a nice feeling when you sorta know that you are studying and understanding what the lecturers are teaching, not just memorising/mugging.