Home / Quotes / Quote by Alexander Weinstein

Quote by Alexander Weinstein

“Parents are already telling their kids about falling in love online - there's nothing "frightening" or "dystopian" about this. So, the critique doesn't work, because we already consider our dystopic state of affairs normal.”

Quote by Alexander Weinstein

Author

Alexander Weinstein

Alexander Weinstein was a prominent figure in the field of [Occupation/Category]. Born on January 21, 1897, and passed away on November 6, 1979, he made significant contributions to his field. more

You May Also Like

“The environmental catastrophes we're presently seeing are considered "normal" though they're horrific. Fracking has made drinking water flammable, families are dying from planned lead poisoning in Flint, Michigan, mountaintop removal is killing families throughout Appalachia, and oil/mining companies continue to denigrate Native American and indigenous rights throughout the world (see North Dakota Pipeline presently). This is horrific - and yet we somehow consider it normal.”

“I'm a big fan of Chris Hedges and Joe Sacco's book Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt, where they visit what they call The Sacrifice Zones of America and report on the current state of our environmental calamity.”

Book States Bigs America Sacrifice Fans Destruction Environmental Currents Reports Zone Calamity Our Environment Revolt

Author:Alexander Weinstein

“However, in my fiction, I want to give an even further warning of where we're heading. And so, in "Heartland," you have people selling off their topsoil, and an underwater oil spill that has lasted over three-hundred days.”

People Want Giving Three Fiction Hundred Oil Selling Warning Headings Spills Underwater Oil Spill Topsoil

Author:Alexander Weinstein

“"Moksha" is really a satire of myself. I've always been interested in Eastern spirituality. I'm particularly interested in enlightenment and the spiritual pursuit to liberate ourselves (I'm a Buddhist at heart). During my teenage years, I imagined I'd end up going to India to become a yogi; study with the last living saints in a cave; give up all my worldly possessions; learn to levitate. And there's still part of me that can see myself "disappearing" for some years at an ashram somewhere.”

“I realize that I've had a very idyllic vision of what spirituality looks like. Honestly, most of Western culture has an idyllic and simplified idea of what enlightenment entails.”

Looks Ideas Culture Spirituality Realizing Vision Enlightenment Western Honestly Western Culture Idyllic

Author:Alexander Weinstein

“You find this watered-down enlightenment sold in mass quantity at yoga studios, high-priced shamanism retreats, DJ-fueled Ecstatic Dance parties, ayahuasca ceremonies, and self-empowerment seminars. There's a hope for a quick fix - if only we have the money and right drugs for it.”

Ifs Self Party Drug Mass Enlightenment Yoga Empowerment Studios Quantity Retreat Ceremony Self Empowerment Ecstatic Djs Shamanism Seminars Ayahuasca Quick Fixes Dance Party

Author:Alexander Weinstein

“While I've always been critical about this peddling of spiritual materialism, it wasn't until I went to Nepal that I came face-to-face with my own spiritual materialism. The thing is, Kathmandu is noisy, and dusty, and crowded, and everywhere you go you see these same Western yoga teachers, hashish-smoking backpackers, and fair-trade shop owners, all seeking the stalls filled with amazing Buddha statues, hand carved mirrors, beautiful yak scarves, and thangka paintings. And everyone is buying stuff!”

“In Nepal, I realized a certain part of my spiritual search had come to an end. I wasn't ever going to live in a Himalayan cave (I like electricity and a soft bed way too much), and I sure wasn't going to find enlightenment so easily.”

Way Ends Spiritual Certain Too Much Bed Enlightenment I Realized Electricity Caves Nepal

Author:Alexander Weinstein

“I'll take a [Pavel] Chekhov comparison any day! He's of course one of the great masters at the short story form, and has helped define traditional conflict as we understand it.”

Stories Form Courses Masters Conflict Traditional Comparison Short Story Chekhov

Author:Alexander Weinstein

“It's true, I do love the semi-epiphany. For example, in "Fall Line," the character's final decision is less epiphany than imbecility. He makes a choice, which the conflict hangs upon - whether to seek fame or actually change his life - and so, his decision is tied to the central conflict and his own hubris.”

Character Choices Fall Lines Decision Example Fame Conflict Finals Tied Epiphany Hubris Imbecility

Author:Alexander Weinstein