365 T-shirts - the reasoning

This blog should be sub-titled: a journal of my life in geek.

I get my geek on with things about which I am geeky: comic books, Baseball, Ultimate, science fiction, my favorite bands, books I have read and loved, and Jungian psychology to name some of the most frequently traversed subjects.

I began this project simply as a way to count my T-shirts. I own a lot of T-shirts. But how many do I have? Do I have 365? We shall find out.

When I started this blog, I thought about how each T-shirt means something to me. I bought it for a reason, after all. I set myself the task to post an entry about a new T-shirt every day as a way to simply write something every day, a warm up for writing fiction, which is my passion. Writing is like exercise. Warm ups are good for exercise. But after completing a month of blogging about T-shirts, I have learned that this blog serves as a journal; it documents my life in geek, sort of a tour of my interests in pop culture. The blog serves as a tool for self-inventory, for assessment and analysis of self and the origins of self, for stepping through the process of individuation in catalogues, lists, and ranks.

The blog also made me aware that I have some serious gaps in my T-shirt ownership, and I am in the process of collecting some new T-shirts for several of the great popular culture icons that I truly love. Stay tuned.

I was also a bit surprised that people checked out my blog and continue to check it, read it, and even comment on it. I am very appreciative of this readership. Please feel free to share your thoughts in my comments section. I will respond.

Also, please note that I have moved the original introductory text to the side bar. And now, I present to you the most recent entry of 365 T-shirts: a journal of my life in geek. Thank you for reading.
(Second Update - 1310.24. First Update - 1306.05 Originally Posted - 1304.25.)

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

T-shirt #48: New Order FACT. 50 1981 Movement

Oh, yes, I own the album, too.
T-shirt #48: New Order - FACT. 50 1981 - Movement

How do I follow up yesterday's post about the loving Boo-Boo?

I don't even try. What could be equivalent? I love New Order, but hardly with same ardor that I love my puppy.

I had considered doing theme weeks: a week of music shirts, a week of TV/film shirts, a week for just comic book themed materials. But I am enjoying the randomness. I often just grab a T-shirt. Okay, this is a good one. I'll go with this one.



I had wanted a T-shirt depicting the first New Order album for many years. When shopping for T-shirts for the kids last Christmas, I spotted this shirt and asked my wife to get it for me.

I did not discover this New Order from the moment of its release.

This album was out before I discovered either New Order or Joy Division, which did not happen until 1982 with the release of "Temptation" in May. I remember the EP coming into the college radio station where I served as programming manager.

LOVE. I fell completely in love with "Temptation" and its B-side "Hurt." The songs were light, fun, and repeatable. Plus they were DANCE music.

At this point, backtracking occurred as I discovered Movement and Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures and Closer (see T-shirt #35).

Even more than Joy Division, New Order was one of the many bands we New Wave kids insisted on playing at dances to the consternation of our classmates who liked more AOR, Top 40, American rock. As a DJ, especially at dances, I made sure we had a good rotation of New Order, Joy Division, Modern English, English Beat, Devo, Talking Heads, Martha and the Muffins, the Jam, the Police, Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, David Bowie, and assorted others.

The album's artwork, also featured on the T-shirt, is striking yet simple. It harks back to modern art, especially Futurism. Designed by Peter Saville, the design derives from the work of Fortunato Depero, an Italian futurist.

I like the design and its simplicity, which seems to evoke the electronic music of New Order.

Check it out.


New Order - Dreams Never End





- chris tower - feeling better - 1305.08 - 9:40
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