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July 31, 2006

Today I was thinking about the qualities that constitute a true man. Unfortunately in the West manliness for the most part is defined in terms of physical appearance and power. I don’t deny that certain physical qualities help but to me manliness has more to do with personality. A true man is fearless, courageous, determinate, confident, responsible, and most importantly, selfless.

Posted by amin at 4:50 AM | Comments (0)

July 27, 2006

Such a dark day. Have been very depressed with horrible headaches. Vomited twice this morning.

Posted by amin at 2:29 AM | Comments (0)

July 24, 2006

The use of music in most films is very irritating. For the most part they use music in order to make up for the deficiencies of the script and acting. Also in most cases music dictates and expects a specific response from the viewer, and as a result creates fake emotions. Of course there are exceptions like Requiem For A Dream, Punch Drunk Love or Le Mepris. The key is that music should be used in a way that without it the film is incomplete. Music must sound as though it comes from within the story, and should not be something external to it.

Posted by amin at 4:50 PM | Comments (0)

July 23, 2006

Finished Thomas Mann’s Last Essays. What a fantastic writer he was! I especially liked his essay on Nietzsche. Mann’s criticism of Nietzsche’s philosophy is very insightful and profound. About Nietzsche himself Mann writes that “his life was inebriation and suffering-a highly artistic combination. In mythological terms, it was the union of Dionysus with the Crucified One.” He goes further to ask, “What was it that drove Nietzsche upward into the pathless wastes, lashed him on to the tortuous climb, and brought him to a martyr’s death on the cross of thought? It was his destiny-and his destiny was his genius.” He is surely right. Although I’ve always admired Nietzsche’s writings on art but for some intuitive reason his whole philosophy doesn’t appeal to me. After all Schopenhauer was the master, and Nietzsche the disciple. Although Nietzsche claims that he has surpassed his master’s place, but alas, that he has greatly failed.

Posted by amin at 4:59 PM | Comments (0)

July 17, 2006

Listened to Mozart for about an hour, and am unable to describe the feelings that it arose in me. Figaro is right when he says, “whatever we cannot sing, we speak.” To me music is the supreme form of art.

Art is about giving expression to your experience. All artists more or less talk about the same things. What distinguishes the great from ordinary artists is the intensity of their experiences, and their ability to give them form.

Miss the mischief in M’s eyes. Today I was haunted by the memories of our first trip to Montreal. Montreal has a special place in my heart. I’m sure those memories are always going to be with me.

Posted by amin at 3:56 PM | Comments (0)

July 9, 2006

Went to get a haircut today. Although it rarely happens that I think of a man as handsome but the hairdresser that I had today was exceptionally good-looking. What was interesting was that all the hairdressers without exception were high on drugs. I've noticed that people here smoke much more than Americans do. Opium and hash are very common. Although I've tried drugs a few times before but they don't cause any special feelings in me. They just make me feel better about myself but under their influence, I'm not my true self. I get more high on good music and poetry than on drugs. I'm myself the most when I'm peacefully alone or peacefully in love.

Posted by amin at 6:20 PM | Comments (0)

July 5, 2006

I'm in Iran, exhausted, and not looking forward to this trip...

Posted by amin at 6:22 PM | Comments (0)