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- Herausgeber: e-galáxia
- Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
- Sprache: Englisch
Published in 2011 and its first edition was sold out, "Strange Urban Humans", a book of short stories and free commentaries, was the literary debut of the writer Maria Prado de Oliveira, who is also an actress, a producer and a cultural manager whose academic background is in Philosophy. These short stories give critical and ironic views about the conditions of everyday lives, found in different situations of human behavior within urban life, and the writer's provocative comments about these short stories. However, the sarcastic humor of this work is seasoned with hopeful ideas about the urbanity and the becoming of humankind. Many singularities of human beings with their "weirdness" go through the pages of the book: sexuality and loneliness of a retired woman; a renowned doctor who is addicted to drugs, a notorious journalist whose wife is a senator both posing as impeccable interracial couple but secretly fulfill pedophiliac perversions, a philosopher betrayed by his wife, a famous singer who hides a son from his female fans, among other characters in the 13 short stories of this work, and their caricatures drawn by the illustrator Tielson Santos.
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Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015
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© 2011 - Maria Prado de Oliveira
Exclusive distribution of this work in digital form: e-galáxia
Editingand Cover design: Estúdio 9
www.estudio9design.com.br
Editioncoordinationbyauthor
(cover ideasand caricature layout)
Caricatures: Tielson Santos
2011
Authorownsallrightstothisedition
This book was published by e-galáxia
www.e-galaxia.com.br
For my parents, Manoel Edésio and Antonieta (in memory), for opening luminous paths of learning in my existence. For Celinha, my “love synthesis” (of “everything” concerning love), for having chosen me to continue on her magnificent walk of life. For all solidary and compassionate beings.
GRATITUDE
To God (Celestial Father-Mother, Infinite Presence...) and all spiritual lines of the dimensions of Light that work for the wellbeing of all humanity.
To all with whom I could share successes and mistakes: family (for the reunions, for sons, daughters, nieces and nephews, for the grandkids bestowed upon me), friends, teachers, self-knowledge groups, siblingsof Axé, positive vibrations, and professional pairs.
And more:
Celia Regina de Castro Giudice de Aquino, for her love and total companionship
Manuela Pierk (niece–dear goddaughter), for her loveand unconditional partnership
Tielson Santos
Flávio Andrade
Hélio Palmeira
Vânia Queirós Gonçalves
Paulo Silvério
Antonio Sávio
Hever Filho
Crysthina Campos
Syndaia Lago
Noah Aquino
Luana Monteiro
PREECEDING COMMENTARY
As long as we feed, in thought and action, predatory competition,
as long as our egos believe us to be the best of the human species (only myself and I),
the last preferred drink of the desert,
as long as daily atrocities no longer cause astonishment and incite useful reactions,
as long as we keep repeating doubtful patterns and adopting the values of the status quo, dictate
from parent to offspring, this inner history, as long as prejudices devastate even the so-called libertarian minds,
as long as the profits of businesses, banks and corporation, have more value than lives,
as long as petty fights, nastiness, mortal hate persist between
members of the same family,
between married people
people in love
friends
professional partners
public and anonymous people
academics and illiterates
nationals and foreigners
rich and poor, young and old,
as long as politicians, panelists, artists..., who defend their humanitarian causes, occupy themselves more with media exposure and the winning of awards than with
productive acts in favor of the collective,
as long as ferocious ethnic battles, disrespect for others’ religions, as long as unscrupulous “religious” individuals lead temples,
as long as opportunists’ NGOs proliferate more than NGOs of solidary persons,
as long as people experience hunger, homelessness, traffic and slavery of human beins,
as long as there exist firearms passing from hand to hand, animal abuse, trees chopped without reason, women raped, homo and trans persons murdered, the ignorance of racism, explored and abused children, all in the name of a culture thought up by cruel sadists, misogynists, misanthropes, homophobes, blackmailers, womanizing abusers, women allied to hypocrisy and malice, as long as elegance and ethics are mistaken for fashion and political correctness,
as long as public officials don’t prioritize education and don’t distribute,
with honesty and social justice, the taxes paid through the sweat of millions of working citizens...
(– And everyone knows there is enough money...)...
as long as bloodsucking projects continue robbing life energy,
as long as individuals, groups, and countries think themselves superior or inferior to others,
as long as materialists kill their father and mother in honor of “climbing life” in search of superficial social power,
as long as spiritualists concern themselves with extra terrestrials instead of instead of expanding love in their lives here and now, on Earth,
as long as we relativize good and evil, even while believing in the complexity of the human being, that subjective human abilities are infinite, and that everyone has the right to
“a second chance,”
as long as beings of “good will” are afraid of allowing their own lights and virtues to shine, of facing their own shadows and those of the established system (...being a pacifist is different than being passive...),
as long as hearts are inhabited by normalcy, the newer generations will be forced to
live with violent and sterile urbanities!
At this point in the history of humanity, all of this, I believe, reveals our incompetence to a more
peaceful and respectful cohabitation. All of this is bizarre, very bizarre…
A DELUDED CREATURE
– I no longer want to discuss anything! I will no longer give a single neuron, not even the sound of my voice, to feed the tradition of hypocrisy!
The stunned, flabbergasted audience stared at the experienced lecturer. Some, perhaps, still believing it to be a brilliant introduction by the famous PhD philosopher. But what could such unexpected declaration mean? The media, ever starving for a good tragedy, smelled in it a succulent meal. The fans’ faces, mostly young, naïve, astonished students, along with those of the fawning academes, tightened, as did the faces of students present merely to fulfill CV obligations, or simply following fashionable mandates. The organizers froze. The circus tent had been set.
Moments before the talk of the consecrated philosopher – an internationally recognized authority of the Humanities – the stressed-out event organizer who had welcomed her noticed something different in the eyes of the elegant, charming, erudite woman. However, considering her condition of eternal anxiety prevented her from making any deeper discernment, she limited herself to fulfilling her role: welcome the lecturer and walk her to the auditorium, delivering her to the distinguished audience.
God and the world, and the devil also, wanted to hear her speak. She hadn’t visited that city in so long. She lived out in the world, from conference to conference, sacrificing her personal life, her happiness, her joy. At 55 she had constructed a progressive image, that of an educated, serene, optimistic, compassionate, respectful individual. A brilliant orator who spoke of “Benign subjects.” Ethics for her were a living praxis, knowledge, an Aristotelian practice… The distinguished madam received standing ovations wherever she passed…
The organizer, naturally out of control in every situation, paced the auditorium considering disastrous consequences. Mental explosions and rapid breaths brought the poor woman tothe possibility of having to reimburse registration fees. And it was a pricy affair. After all, the sought-after speaker would be the one on stage. In her neurotic style, the organizer thought for a second that perhaps someone in her team had committed a faux pas with the woman, and therefore she no longer wished to go on with the conference. A common attitude for rock –star academics?... No way…
– What ideas and persons are passed on through the generations? What is an important person? What is an honor? I’m over it! You wasted your time coming here.
The celebrated philosopher continued. By now, audience members regarded each other. Their gazes expressed a bit of everything:
* Juvenile bliss – the young, rebellious youths loved it;
* Corporate Disapproval – her academic colleagues thought she had drank herself silly;
* Vulturistic Investigation – the press, omnipresent during scandals;
*Mysterious looks – who knows what thoughts they hid…
The creature was on her feet, on top of the table, screaming words into the microphone that had not been written for the occasion. Neither the words nor her actions, pacing up and down the table, as in a scene from “Hair.” A buzzing sound grew louder throughout the audience.
– Oligarchic addictions have prevailed! I will no longer leave my partner all alone at home so as to fight against morbid incoherences that assail institutions and individuals alike!
The young naïve students (and the dazzled ones of course) stood up and applauded her. The organizer, crazed and hyperventilating, couldn’t believe what was happening. Who would have the courage to stop that illustrious creature, owner of a nearly interplanetary curriculum, that erudite polyglot who seemed to be losing it? Who would sabotage that performance? Despite the buzz, no one dared leave the scene. The show was going on. For her, it was enough.
Suddenly, a journalist took advantage of the established mayhem and asked:
– Are you a lesbian?
A colleague of the journalist followed with:
– Don’t you find such enraged, senseless attitude to be disrespectful to audience members, who paid so much to be here?
The organizer returned to a state of ebullition, edging a stroke. The deluded illustrious lecturer descended from the table (microphone in hand), walked offstage, approached the journalists and said, in a loud and excellent tone:
– Don’t you ever tire of repeating: ‘Exclusively, exclusively, exclusively?’ The news belong to everyone!
Those who supported her cheered, by now delirious. The whole thing seemed headed towards collective fury. No one left, no one entered – the room full to capacity, for the event had sold-out months before that memorable date.
