I think lkelly6 and I probably hold the same viewpoint regarding IMDH. The one thing that I could appreciate the most was the art; the juxtaposition of the drawings with real photographs. I personally liked the Taxi Driver poster on Omar’s wall. Good movie. It sort of made for a very surrealist/expressionist environment, which I suppose was the whole point of this story. But other than that, the story line, the theme (if there is one; there probably is), the overall message, I just wasn’t feeling it. I get where the author is coming from, what with the jarring, disturbing images meant entirely to make you feel uncomfortable. The artwork in the story seems to encapsulate the images going on inside Omar’s head, showing an alternative perspective of reality, showing life as madness. We are introduced to a dark world with no meaning, where pleasures serve as temporary pick me ups but ultimately lead to more depression. To me, it was the story of a man’s search for meaning but coming up short.

Which leads me now into the question about the corporate logos. I absolutely think Santiago was criticizing these big corporations. They seemed to play a more general role in the overarching theme of life as madness. And if you look at the ‘Acknowledgements’ section of Santiago’s book, one of the people he lists is Jello Biafra. Jello Biafra was the former lead singer of the Dead Kennedy’s, a punk rock band from the ‘80’s. Most people probably know what I’m talking about. Today, Biafra is an adamant, direct action, political activist poet, very much in favor what we would call “far left” causes. One of the big things he attacks is corporate America. You can see this influence in IMDH, with the television programs, the political figures, and the corporate logos such as Mrs. Fields and “Faux.” The most vivid criticism of this is the page towards the end depicting the meat packing plant, with various corporate logos labeling each section of the meat packing plant. I think Santiago, from his own political views, is saying that corporate America contributes to the chaos that is life, influencing and controlling our lives through consumption, or something like that. I think this then plays into the overall theme of Omar’s situation, how politics and corporate America are in some ways an indirect influence on his life, contribution to his lack of control over himself, given that life is such a “madhouse” and all that. I think the images of the Bush Administration and the news feed about the Iraq war contribute immensely to this as well. It is interesting that the book ends with the prelude to the Iraq war, as if trying to say this whole game of madness is controlled by those in power.  I mean, I’ve seen stuff like this before. Disturbing images with a broader message about the life we live in and how its so bad and all that good stuff. Sure, yeah, I get it, just don’t expect me to agree with it.