New Theme: Manifesto

Karl Marx wrote his principles of Communism. The United States' founding fathers Declaration of Independence announced the separation of the thirteen colonies from the British Empire, and the rights of the people of the new United States of America. Even Ted Kaczynski penned "Industrial Society and Its Future" -- the Unabomber Manifesto -- in which he chronicled what he saw as the disastrous effects of the industrial revolution.

We at The Proofread don't exactly want to take after Ted Kaczynski, but we have opinions -- lots of them. So, we'll bring you our manifesto-themed essays, some outright declarations and others requiring some between-the-lines reading. And because manifesto contains the word "fest," we expect reading our coming works will be like a party. Rock on.

Roma, Roma Ma(nifesto)

The article cuts off half way through (whaat? we have to pay for online content?).. but you'll get the gist. Poor Gaga's wig must be singeing...

Lady Gaga and the Death of Sex

Camille Paglia for the Sunday Times

Old is New

For our Rewind set, I am turning to this 2007 essay about the Gnarls Barkley album St. Elsewhere. A couple of reasons: I continue to adore this record, and the specifics of this essay still, I think, reflect my thoughts. And, the lead singer is enjoying another well-deserved moment in the pop music sun, so this seemed like a good time to return to some of his earlier jams.

So anyway, hopefully you enjoy. Excuse the slightly academic tone; this was, indeed, written for a class...

...Just Like Me

We pay psychiatrists hundreds of dollars an hour. We shovel-feed our children anti-depressant drugs by the mouthful. Mental problems sit at the forefront of our minds (no pun intended). Gnarls Barkley’s 2006 album St. Elsewhere dives into the depths of our thought process, emerging with a striking look at how our minds work and the up-and-down nature of our personalities. The album’s ever-changing mood and sound remind us that our consciousness is in a constant state of flux, while the album’s lyrics explore a broad range of mental issues. A catchy beat may have made the second song, “Crazy,” one of the most popular songs of the year, but when one scratches the surface a bit he finds more than a made-for-radio album.

The Happy-Go-Lucky Flirt

After exploring his college computer, Matt finally rediscovers an old essay worth publishing on the Proofread. It is about flirting. Or more precisely, how he justifies his obliviousness to flirting. It was written four years ago, but besides who he was dating at the time, not too much has changed.

Check it out here

Enjoy.

Proofread Throwback

I was rummaging through my old essays on my college computer when I happened to find the old logo from the past incarnation of The Proofread. And then instead of actually finding an essay, I decided to update our look. It is kind of like Mountain Dew Throwback, except without sugar and less references to hillbillies.

A new Rewind essay will be up later this week.

Enjoy.

P.S. Comments and suggestions about the new layout are appreciated.