The Ham Sandwich 2000

"They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself"

~Andy Warhol

The Ham Sandwich Volume 4 #9 (March, 2024)

 Every now and then I come across a bit of media that I believe has a message that goes beyond the distraction that most entertainment provides us. In movies, music, books, comics, or any art form, some messages in what was created go far beyond the simple diversion that we inundate ourselves with every day. I ask you, for one moment, just look at how the media influences us in every decision we make. I know most of you think the media has no real influence on your life. I tell you, my friend, you are kidding yourself. Even if you are somehow immune to the vast network of social media, television, radio, news, advertisements, etc., etc., etc., that consumes everything in the modern world, there is no way it does not influence the environment around you, and yes, many of those messages are to make you buy things, and obey authority... but what if some of the messages were aimed a little differently. Perhaps for a greater good.

I believe that some artists started into their medium with a simple, yet irrefutably impossible idea, "change the world." Some want to try to make this change in the world for the better. At least that is their hope, and even, sometimes, their goal. 

This article is dedicated to the times I saw such media that dared to take steps in those directions. These are pieces of art with a real message. A message, that I believe, if we all just took it seriously, could change the world for a better direction than the messages that we listen to every day that tells us a simple, yet redundant, message: Consume, Obey. 

Letter From The Writer, Creator, Ham Sandwich

Profound Messages

Before We Vanish

This is one film where the trailer doesn't do it justice. There is a much deeper message within this film. Essentially 3 aliens arrive on earth and inhabit the bodies of three people in Japan and they must come together once they have discovered what it is to be human so that they can take over the population more easily. The hard part of their task is getting people to truly express an understanding of what it is to be human. To truly understand what "family" means, what "work" means, and why we do it. Once the person can demonstrate an understanding of such a thing, these aliens then take that thought and capture it for themselves, and the person demonstrating the understanding forgets everything they know about that subject. Once you tell the alien what "family" or "work" is then they take your understanding of that and then you do not know what "family" or "work" is anymore. This becomes tragic when one of the aliens asks it's human guide to describe something as powerful as love.

All Quiet on the Western Front

Based on the book of the same name, All Quiet on the Western Front tells the tale...what a minute. You have the internet. You can look up what the movies about. 


*The original has been banned in countries in times of war, as it has had an effect on dropping the number of people enlisting in the military.*

*The Original is also available on YouTube for free.*

Come and See

Few fills are this dark as this one. 

Threads

I know I was pretty dark with Come and See, but now we dive down a rabbit hole. Here is a drama about what could happen if nuclear war started and the aftermath of England at least. 

Fight Club

Not what you think it is...well maybe it is. What were you thinking? No, you first. Find then. Nevermind

Pull Me Under

"This world is spinning around me - This world is spinning without me and - Every day sends future to past - Every breath leaves me one less to my last"

Beds Are Burning

This Is America

I have seen many takes on the perception of this song and this music video. 

This is the story of  Tony Reynolds and his rise to stardom. 

Dear God

Dear God. I am sorry I stuck a pickle in your pooper the other day. 

I was drunk. 

Sincerely,

The Ham Sandwich of Lore

Land of Confusion

"this is the world we live in - And these are the hands we're given - Use them and let's start trying - To make it a place worth living in"

Gaaahhh! Muppets. 

Runaway Train

This was a pretty traumatic music video when I first saw it in the 90s (yes I am that old). A few of these runaways from the music video were found and returned to their families for better or worse. 

Anyway, Soul Asylum wasn't the most uplifting band from the songs of theirs I have listened to. 

They

"Who made up all the rules - We follow them like fools - Believe them to be true - Don't care to think them through

It kind of makes you think about all these ridiculous laws we fool. I understand rules like no killing, stealing, raping, etc., but don't smoke this plant, don't cross a road in this area. Don't sleep here or there. Put down that hatchback. Stop teasing the monkeys. Let go of my sideburns. What bullshit is this? Fuck those rules. I will break any rule that I don't agree with just for the sake of my entertainment as long as I don't get in trouble and receive no repercussions for my actions. 

"And who are they? - And where are they? - And how can they - Know all this?" 

Numb

Depending on when you read this, this video may be new to you. At least it was for me. I like this song, so I'm just going to put it right here for now. 

Conclusion

Now go back to your lives of buying stuff you don't need to impress people you don't like with money you don't have. Could you keep this in mind? If you don't change anything, then nothing will ever change. Deep stuff huh, Hamsandwich-ers...if that's a thing? 

I will probably do another of these someday as there is a tremendous amount of media with messages embedded in the content.

 Now go. Sleep. Baker. Charlie. Bravo. Delta. Cheeseburger. Extra HAM!

~The Everlasting Ham Sandwich.

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