Help End Harassment With Art

Strength and dignity are her clothing...

Proverbs 31:25

Author's Note: I have been enjoined from sharing the details of my true romance adventure until such time that the other party is prepared to present her perspective on the affair arrangement...

Lots of people go on road trips. Not everybody criss-crosses Europe in 46 days. Especially not with a complete stranger.

As an artist, from the beginning of my adult career, my work had been devoted to the problem of body acceptance, a goal that I would later learn was shared by a whole community of people called naturists, a humble portion of which I discovered residing in Poland, a country whose cultural conservatism does not lend itself readily to forward thinking. One of those forward-thinking Polish naturists happened to be Margo.

From America I brought with me the American can-do spirit. She saw the car that I had bought, the terrible camp stove I had borrowed, and my sundry canned goods and challenged me to make-do. In my optimism I assured her that if we lacked for anything I would make up the difference. She assured me that if she lacked for anything she would find her way to the nearest airport and fly home. Luckily that never happened.

There were times during our trip when I thought there might not be a happy ending. There were times when disaster was close and I wondered whether I hadn't made a mistake. I wondered whether fear, anger or sadness might triumph and one of us would have to finished the journey alone. Though I dangled from the cliffs of Normady I was saved. Though the lights went out I rode on. Though I ran the tires down to the wire I was okay. We drove home in one piece. We came home happy. We had started the process of learning how to listen and the sound of it was beautiful. We could be sure that we were ready to conquer the devils that abuse us no matter how long it would take.

One of Margo's pictures from our trip across Europe. — 6,000 miles across Europe with a complete stranger
**Day 32**
8/20/2011
⛹ 1༜♊²⁵/₂₄♀
Camping Omaha Beach
Vierville Sur Mer, France
THE DISAPPEARING WOMAN, THE DISAPPEARING MAN...
a collection of modern art prints and posters
During our trip across Europe, Margo very bravely opened up to me and to the camera. It was a difficult thing to do considering the scars that she carries. I wanted to share with the world her often joyful, often sad, often angry but always liberating experience except that the Internet is full of pictures of naked women and men and full of trolls who abuse them.
I realized that what I really need to point out is not the openness that Margo and I cultivated between ourselves, but the darkness that continues to surround us. When I censor nudity, I do so in a way that does not compromise the integrity of the human body. In censoring the photographs that Margo and I took during our trip, I was quick to notice that in those pictures where Margo was at her most open, at her most unguarded and most relaxed, in a word, when she was herself and basking in the sun I was forced to blacken her completely.
Why does our society drive people into darkness? Why can we not accept ourselves as we are? Why can we not accept our bodies? Have we truly become eunuchs? Or are we capable of defying the sickness that pits us against each other? Together we could conquer the devils that abuse us.
Whether you enjoy being nude or not, whether you've been photographed nude or not, but especially if, for you, like for Margo, it's something you never thought you would do, consider submitting your own photograph to be published in a censored manner as a form of protest against the ubiquitous presence of the human body on the internet, naked or not, that is published and duplicated ad infinitum without context and without regard for the identity or the needs of the individual being depicted.

Previous Image — 6,000 miles across Europe with a complete stranger
**Day 32**
8/20/2011
⛹ 1༜♊²⁵/₂₄♀
Camping Omaha Beach
Vierville Sur Mer, France
THE DISAPPEARING WOMAN, THE DISAPPEARING MAN...
a collection of modern art prints and posters
During our trip across Europe, Margo very bravely opened up to me and to the camera. It was a difficult thing to do considering the scars that she carries. I wanted to share with the world her often joyful, often sad, often angry but always liberating experience except that the Internet is full of pictures of naked women and men and full of trolls who abuse them.
I realized that what I really need to point out is not the openness that Margo and I cultivated between ourselves, but the darkness that continues to surround us. When I censor nudity, I do so in a way that does not compromise the integrity of the human body. In censoring the photographs that Margo and I took during our trip, I was quick to notice that in those pictures where Margo was at her most open, at her most unguarded and most relaxed, in a word, when she was herself and basking in the sun I was forced to blacken her completely.
Why does our society drive people into darkness? Why can we not accept ourselves as we are? Why can we not accept our bodies? Have we truly become eunuchs? Or are we capable of defying the sickness that pits us against each other? Together we could conquer the devils that abuse us.
Whether you enjoy being nude or not, whether you've been photographed nude or not, but especially if, for you, like for Margo, it's something you never thought you would do, consider submitting your own photograph to be published in a censored manner as a form of protest against the ubiquitous presence of the human body on the internet, naked or not, that is published and duplicated ad infinitum without context and without regard for the identity or the needs of the individual being depicted.

Use of Hope in Michal's FictionCorpus

Michal's Fiction Corpus of Acceptance Literature (FiCAL) is presented under the Bare Bottom imprint. It is currently comprised of six bodies of work, each representing a different pillar of culture and incorporating a wide variety of writhing styles.

If you're wondering...

How do I use this?

Just click on a title to see examples of "Hope" from a particular work. You'll stay on the same spot on the page, only the Table of Contents will disappear. To get back to the Table of Contents just click next to the image of the Bare Bottom imprint where it says "Back to Use of Hope: Table of Contents."“And...?”

In the case of common words, a Table of Frequency and a Table of Collocation provide numerical information about how many times a word appears in its original or modified form and with which words. It can help to give you an idea of how common words are used and in what contexts. Find them in the "Common Words of English" part of the Education section.“Ok.”

Why a Fiction Corpus?

The popular understanding of the word "fiction" and its complement "non-fiction" is a reflection of the cultural influence of a classification system. The Dewey Decimal System is responsible for separating "fiction" from all other work and categorizing it by author's name. This has influenced the popular idea of fiction as a narrative that tends to be "untrue" and the product of an individual's fantasy, a bias compounded by modern art's century-long obsession with abstraction, surrealism and self-expression.“So...?”

My idea of fiction rests on the idea that art doesn't have to be factual to be a true reflection of our existence. Adam and Eve didn't have to exist as two individuals 700 generations ago for them to be true portraits of two human beings trying to work together.“And...?”

The Bible is a Fiction Corpus. It is a body of writing that isn't overly concerned with facts and yet its words carry weight. It was written by many different authors living in different places with different audiences in mind, yet everyone gleans something from it.“Right...”

In preparing my fiction corpus, I have striven to see the world through the eyes of others. Through the eyes of my Adams and Eves I hope that you too will glean some truth about our existence. At the very least you will learn some more about how one man can use the English language.“Ok.”

Who are you, Michal?

I'm just a guy who makes art. And if you're interested in making a solid investment in an aesthetic that supports our present and future welfare, then I will help you look for something that you can buy.“How...?”

Everybody makes. Everybody sells. Some people know how to protect their interests. Some better than others. Few people know how to listen. Listening to somebody means considering their interests as if they were your own. Going out and doing something to satisfy another person's interest is how we build a strong economy. Without a strong economy, democracy collapses.“And...?”

Buying 4Occupy is buying for democracy. Don't give your money to somebody who's ruining it. There's no such thing as cheap democracy, quick democracy, or easy democracy. There's good, solid, complete democracy and the tyranny of feudalism. Let's not mix the two. Let's not buy everything on the cheap. Let's not create another tyrant and enslave ourselves because it was easier not to think about what we were doing. Let's protect our interests. Let's listen.“Ok.”

Who's really behind this site?

Have you ever been to one of those post-it-yourself retail websites where there's a really attractive top-seller ready to give you tips on how you can be a top-seller too?“Uh...”

Have you ever been to a "job" interview where you sit in a line, walk through one door, get hired as a contractor and walk out another door, so that the other applicants don't realize that everyone's getting "hired" to work in the same market?“Maybe...”

The internet is full of people who are ready to exploit your ignorance. They are people who want to make money at the expense of our economy. They are cheats.“And...?”

I, Michal, am behind this site. Not some fat plutocrat exploiting my image. I like to do things the right way. I like to work with people who take the time to do things right.“Why...?”

I used to work for a company that didn't do things the right way. My labor was exploited because of mismanagement. That company was the United States Postal Service, an independent agency of the United States Government that is ultimately controlled by Congress. I'm mad because if the Federal Government can exploit labor, who is going to stop every other cheat from doing it?“Labor Unions...?”

Don't say labor unions. I went to my labor union and they did nothing. They ignored me because labor unions aren't democracies. Holding a free and fair election for a "representative" once in a blue moon does not equal people ruling. Democracy means open government. It means we the public need to accept the hard work. It's the only way to secure liberty and equality.“Ok.”

What's the difference between use and usage?

Definition-wise, not much. But the -age suffix is ultimately French in origin and with most things French, at least in American eyes, the immediate thought is that of something precious and arcane whose value should be judged very carefully. This is in contrast to the word France, which is associated with a beautiful place. Thus people in France or from France are beautiful, warm, kind people. Generous even. Unlike French people who suck. Unless you're frenching, in which case you're only sometimes sucking.“And...?”

Along those lines, usage means you're in bed. Use means you're just heavy petting. Also notice that common people, like common words, get used...whereas "proper" things make "appearances." Whether or not you are being exploited is a different story. Exploitation is what happens when somebody uses you or your property without listening to you. Listening is what happens when you consider another person's needs as if they were your own. You don't have to satisfy those needs. All you need to do is consider them. So many of us can't even do that.“So...?”

Help stop exploitation. Buy 4occupy. Buy a better world. Whether or not you feel you can afford to buy art, consider joining my protest. I want to guarantee every working man and every working mother on this planet a 15-day universal holiday. But I can't. Only we can do that. We have to work together. We have to accept the idea that everyone deserves time for himself and we need to build that time into a new kind of calendar. We have to give peace it's own day. We have to make love something you can't avoid. We have to make even the most miserly cold-hearted capitalist among us say that he cashed his check on Love Your Neighbor Day. There won't be any other way to say it once the Acceptance Calendar is widely adopted.“Ok.”

Back to Use of Hope: Table of Contents

Use of Hope in Death to McDonalds

An aerial view of Dodger Stadium in the foreground, with an imaginary partially submerged Los Angeles behind — A story bible for a comic book series set in a post climate-change California narrated by eight characters who live through a natural disaster that sinks Los Angeles and triggers a war with an expansionist Mexican government covertly supported by China.

Frame #5464

im heading up the hill. i found some medical equipment to use as a siphon. i dont know what its meant to be used for but i hope its sterile.

Sprint "Iphone" Case

22 November, 7:20 PM

Frame #891

im at the office. no sign of sprint. i hope bieber can keep a secret. i totally busted their stakeout.

Chase Credit

5 August, 12:46 PM

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Use of Hope in The Gospel of Jesus H.

A picture of the planet Mars — An experimental science fiction Christology that makes Jesus the hard boiled narrator of his own early years on a bizarro earth made dark by volcanic ash and informally ruled by a man from Mars who sells bottled air.

Oh Bartolomeo! Maestro da canne! For whom the Republic of Venice gave thanks! You gave hope to the weak and weary! More strength to the strong! A lifeline for Freedom! A slicker noose for the wrong! You gave both cold and hot, forward and back; a wife to the tyrant, and life to the revolutionary son; fear to the many, and rule to the one. You were indifferent. As long as people paid, you made guns. If not for you, what would've happened? Somebody else would've taken your smoky rank in the annals of industry: grandfather of arms! You gave your descendents an unparalleled legacy: your long and hard barrels, shooting with unflinching consistency, ensured over the centuries that your plant would not be torn from your family's hands. Berettas live on! They still make their weapons! They sell them! So don't be surprised that Jesus tried the same.

– Verse 15 from the chapter called Arms

"Who knows?"

"I hope it's not before August."

– Verses 971-972 from the chapter called Bohemia

Jesus hoped that Stalin's position in the army and, more importantly, his famous association with the Confederation would convince the board of directors to let him do whatever he wanted. After all, the future of the ruling party was at stake. If knowledge of this bribery and arms smuggling were - God forbid - ever to become public, the party would die. Their hopes of slowly rebuilding trust with this new Prime Minister's 'government of experts' by the time the next parliamentary elections took place would be quashed.

– Verse 132 from the chapter called Security

"I would offer to sleep on the floor," he said, "but there isn't one - just cold ground. I hope you don't mind."

– Verse 621 from the chapter called Security

Silence prevailed.

"Let's hope they don't bomb the church."

– Verses 440-441 from the chapter called Arms

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Use of Hope in Sex for Children

A drawing of a man between a woman's legs in front of another man in a hospital bed — A literature book narrated by a pair of siblings on either side of the Atlantic whose profoundly weird sexual experiences pose a serious challenge to their traditional understanding of mathematicians, marriage, gay young men and God.

Grandmother told me that young maidens wanting to marry would place these cherry branches next to the fire, specifically on St. Barbara's Day, and if they bloomed on Christmas Eve, they would be married in the coming year. I, out of simple curiosity, was compelled to follow that tradition. But Grandmother's cherry tree was all but barren; I held very little hope for its blooming. Now, according to Mother, I specifically chose a dead branch, so that I could later have an excuse not to marry. On the other hand, Grandmother felt it was only appropriate, since marrying me would take a miracle. Now that is how they answered Indiana's question that night.

– Title 2, Regarding the Romaniac, Part 1, Section 20, The Role Of Religion, Paragraph 6

NIKE: No: I prefer marijuana - would you like some?

INDIE: Is that...marijuana...in there?

NIKE: I sure hope so.

INDIE: What do you call that thing?

NIKE: It's called a hookah.

INDIE: Are you going to smoke it?

NIKE: That's the idea.

INDIE: All right.

NIKE: Have you ever smoked before?

INDIE: Yes.

– Title 2, Regarding the Romaniac, Part 1, Section 28, Sharing a Post-Coital Smoke, Paragraphs 1-10

ANDY: My dear Macy, I know what you think. You think I'm fooling myself, don't you? You think I'm putting on a show for myself and for everyone else around me. And I know you think that because I know what you know. But I know a whole lot more: I know myself. And I know you're wrong. And that's why you are so pathetic to me. Based on one little incident, you think you know me. You think because you were privileged with a story that no one else knows: you have my secret. But you are foolish.

– Title 3, Regarding a Dream, Chapter 5, The Fifth Day, Part 1, Greenery & Land Reform, Section 1, Love, Hope, Desire and Suspicion, Paragraph 51

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Use of Hope in Tsiga Tsiga Tsiga

Bullets whizzing by a statue of Nikola Tesla — A collection of stories featuring a sexy Parisian ghost, a spooky Moon base full of vagina-faced aliens, a policeman with an Irish name, a truck full of watermelons, a flautist, and a man who has to see another man about a diseased horse.

Shephard stopped. He pushed the idling motorcycle towards the west. The humvee was four hundred yards away. It was moving out from behind the truck. It was gaining speed. The armed police wanted more. Shephard hoped they were foolish enough to follow. He leaned down. The petcock valve was already in the reserve position.

– from “Two Dudes and a Chinese Desert,” a friendship story featuring a kind of love

Nike closed the door. "Welcome to the back seat of my car. I hope you find it comfortable." He turned on the interior light. "Where would you like to go?" Silence. "How about the Reine? Driver, take us to the Alley of the Daisy Queen-the scenic route." Luka turned on the engine. He put the car in gear. They drove.

"What's your name?"

– from “Paris Is For Rapists, Too,” a ghost story featuring the streets of Paris

They talked differently amongst themselves. Gog's informers told him, "They say, 'Who is he to command us? He killed his entire family. If they had wanted to challenge Sargon, they would have come themselves. They sacrificed each other because they knew it would be hopeless. All they needed was a fool who wouldn't realize it.

"Gog needs to know, if we continue in this manner, we will lose everything. Are we expected to push our herds over every hill until we reach High Harrah? It is madness."

– from “In the Beginning, There was Gog,” a fantasy story set in ancient mesopotamia

"Thank God," she cried. "What's going on?"

"Armed police. They have Clark." Shephard went inside.

"What's he doing here?"

– from “Two Dudes and a Chinese Desert,” a friendship story featuring hopeless people

Bo closed her eyes. Those men were gone. The joy, the anguish, the hope and the sorrow they inspired had followed her through the cold dimensions of space. She had once thought she had no choice but to cling to them. Now she could sense them fading away.

Kwon arrived with happy news. Do was delivered of a baby boy. "Congratulations," said Bo. She smiled. There were now twelve again.

– from “How Tae & Bo Took Over the World and Kung & Fu Didn't,” an apocryphal bible story featuring a frank discussion of what government really is

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Use of Hope in Sorry Ms. Jackson

Chiseled letters from an ancient stone tablet hanging on a wall — A real play. With drama in it. Talk fast. It takes two hours. Set in a guest house. In a small community. After a murder. Lots of suspicion. The characters learn to listen to each other. It's funny.

(LUKE and ALICE exit.)

LESBIAN: Don't worry, dear. It'll turn up.

– ACT I, lines 222-222

LESBIAN: How would he feel if he saw us?

MS. JACKSON: What does it matter?

LESBIAN: It does.

MS. JACKSON: Why?

LESBIAN: I don't want hurt him either.

MS. JACKSON: Is that what you're afraid of? Are you afraid of what people might say?

LESBIAN: That's ridiculous.

MS. JACKSON: Are you afraid of having to stay here on Norfolk?

LESBIAN: I'm not afraid of anything.

MS. JACKSON: Neither am I. I'm not afraid anymore. I'm not afraid of arson or gossip or what people might say if they knew about us. I've been set free from all of those things. I'm no longer afraid of being hurt. Oh, Homo! Do you know what I suffered? It was worse than any prison. The walls were all around my heart. It was like being perpetually pinched. I am grateful to you for saving me from all of that pain. You showed me freedom.

– ACT I, lines 899-908

LESBIAN: Why?

MS. JACKSON: My lips are on fire.

LESBIAN: Let me douse them.

MS. JACKSON: Not here: somebody could see us.

LESBIAN: Where?

MS. JACKSON: I know a place.

LESBIAN: What about the tea?

MS. JACKSON: Forget the tea.

LESBIAN: Adieu, sweet porcelain. I trade thee for a better cup.

MS. JACKSON: Come on!

– ACT I, lines 535-544

(There is a large gush of water from the kitchen.)

MS. JACKSON: Ah!

LESBIAN: Ooh!

KOKOMO: Oh!

ALICE: I'm lucky I'm still wearing my swimsuit.

GREY GOOSE: Shut it off!

FLETCHER: (off) What?

GREY GOOSE: Shut it off! Quickly!

– ACT I, lines 1185-1191

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Use of Hope in Miscellaneous Dingbats

The title of the book at the end of a string of miscellaneous dingbats — A story book full of short fiction stories. An interesting bedtime mystery. A fairy tale. Science fiction romance. Adult life. Uninspiring gay fiction. Horror.

"Tell me about it," said Blim^ah, a Sirian astrophysicist. "I know for a fact a crossing was scheduled for sometime this μas. Some kid on a ham radio was screwing with the entangler. They call it enemy chatter."

By the time the scientists reached the shelter the all clear was coming through. "It was Orbitz," said the operator at the entangler. "He's two away from the record."

– from “Titan's Reign,” a science fiction story that absorbs all hope even when it's traveling at light speed

The following day the man came back. He asked me what I was talking to myself about and I told him I was mulling over current events. Politics in Moscow. He wanted to discuss it with me but I refused to talk to him unless he came inside. So he came inside. He said his name was Putin. Which I told him was similar to my own name Bongani. I asked him where his friend was and he told me that his friend had a lover. I told him I hoped he wouldn't say the same thing about me. We laughed over that. He left in good spirits.

– from “A Black Man in Moscow,” an inspirational story inspired by events that in some places were reported, though the details are fictional

Meanwhile at the bottom of the hill the professor was waving his arms in frustration. Mark turned into Profile Road and asked, "What's going on?" The professor was embarrassed. He didn't want to explain what he was doing. He said he had been trying to photograph some wildlife until the truck scared it off. Mark apologized.

"What kind of wildlife?" he asked.

– from “Wrong Again,” a success story that describes life as we know it, though hopefully it can change

"Congratulations," moaned Pfizer. He headed back into the lift. "Stupid wormhole jockey." Sara Lee patted his shoulder.

– from “Titan's Reign,” a science fiction story in which hope never appears even when it's traveling at light speed

Pfizer shuffled off to the cafeteria. "Nonsense," he thought. "Complete rubbish." For once he wasn't thinking about the food. His colleague Sara Lee came to cheer him up.

"Don't worry," Sara Lee said. "I'm sure your phosphane lions will be okay. There's nothing more important than life."

"Humanoid life," snorted Pfizer. "The only microbes the administrators care about are themselves."

The comment made Sara Lee giggle. "You're funny," she said. "You need to think about running for council. We'll never cut the defense budget if people like us don't speak out."

– from “Titan's Reign,” a science fiction story from which hope cannot emerge even when it's traveling at light speed