Trick Or Treat

Surrealism and Halloween. On the right is a picture of British "supermodel" Naomi Campbell and Venezuelan Socialist (and/or Populist) President Hugo Chavez. She had a "private meeting" with Chavez, as have many other celebrities; Danny Glover, Kevin Spacey, Harry Belafonte and Sean Penn, to name a few. I'm not sure what is going on in these meetings. I know Harry Belafonte is a radical Lefty, as is Danny Glover. Methinks Spacey is, as well, but I'm not sure why I think that, except his previous inclination towards playing theatre roles written by Lefty playwrights. Then again, aren't most artists, especially writers, usually Lefties, if they're political?

It's Halloween, my favorite holiday, at least in the abstract. It's kind of lame when it lands in the middle of the week, but what can you do. Nothin'. Thanksgiving is my least favorite holiday, to the extent that I dislike any holiday. It's a forced dinner obligation with your family...what's to like? Every year I try in vain to duck out of the forced merriment. And there is something about that Macy's parade that really freaks me out. Yes, the giant balloons and floats and whatnot are bad enough, but what really has me clamoring for the exit is how it's all about consumerism. It's a big fucking parade celebrating consumption; a cavalcade of popular products. It's almost like they're making fun of us. Oh, you like cream corn? Here's a 200 foot tall dancing balloon that looks like a can of cream corn. Yay! U..S...A! U...S...A!

Halloween is great for corporate America, too. In fact, Halloween is second only to Christmas in the amount of business it stirs up. But I can't dislike a holiday that has kids dressing up like pirates, serial killers and superheroes and knocking on random doors in search of candy. And the threat, too, is unique. No other holiday has a threat like, "Trick or treat!" Give us candy or we will do something unpleasant to you, or more likely your house or car.

And the aesthetics of it appeal. Foliage and crisp, Autumn air, with the smell of leaves. And the whole nature, Wicca riff is profoundly enjoyable. Plus candy. I was just at Walgreen's getting some drugs and noticed that they already have the Christmas trees up, along side the plastic Jack o' lanterns. Christmas is encroaching on my holiday. This represents a war on Halloween. I'm upset.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm joining a posse and we're going after the wolf-man.