Expressive+Reflective


 * __Inspiration__**

Growing up I have always loved punk rock music. One of the most predominate punk bands of my generation is Green Day. From the moment I heard the first chord of their most popular hit “Basket Case” I knew I found the music that was for me. From that moment on I developed an insane love for punk music; I searched for old bands and always kept my ear out for new bands. I went to as many shows as I possibly could, and still do to this day (all though my style of dress has toned down somewhat from what it was in my high school punk days.) Through my punk rock years I continued to follow Green Day’s work with much enthusiasm. However, over the years their music changed and somewhat lost the raw punk rock sound I loved so much, this happened in my teen-angst years. With the release of the album //Warning// and //American Idiot// I became jaded and dubbed them with the label “sell out”. I absolutely refused to listen to any of their later work and also, out of spite, any of their early work which I used to love so much. Many years later a friend of mine gave call me a call. He told me he had an extra ticket to the Green Day concert. He and his wife bought the tickets months before, however she now was pregnant and didn’t want to go. I asked him how much he wanted for the ticket (saying the words “Green Day” still left a dirty taste in my mouth and I wouldn’t pay more than 20 bucks for a ticket.) He said no charge. “Ahh what the hell?” I thought, I had nothing going on that night so I said sure I’d go. After a few beers and a few laps around the stadium (looking for cute punk girls) Green Day was about to start so we got one more beer and found our seats. Watching this show not only reminded me of why I used to love Green Day but it made my love grow fonder. I quickly removed the “sell out” label and replaced it with innovative. During the show they performed a song from their concept album //21st Century Break Down// called “Viva La Gloria.” This song is just a small scene in the over all story of the album, but seeing and hearing it preformed live brought the characters Christian and Gloria alive for me. I had a sudden rush of inspiration to elaborate on the small story of the song. //Viva La Gloria// is also the title of my novella. It tells the story of how the countries political and social issues affect people on the most basic level…a young couple in love. Christian and Gloria met in high school and soon begin a long term relationship. Over the years there has been many government regulations implemented, and Christian joins a militia type group of government protesters against Gloria’s wishes. As he prepares for a march on the nations capitol with his organization he and Gloria get into a fight about him going. She doesn’t want him to go because she thinks it’s dangerous. He says it’s dangerous if he doesn’t go. The second part of the story is Christian talking to an old man in a cottage. At the rally all hell breaks loose and martial law is declared. Christian escapes without being arrested and finds refuge with this old man. What happened at the rally is told to the old man in the form of a flash back. When he reaches the present the old man tells him he must forget about this silly allegiance to the organization and realize what truly matters in his life…Gloria. Part three is Christian’s adventures back to his own city which he finds empty; everyone has been moved to an emergency zone. He eventually finds Gloria, they embrace and the story ends. My story if influenced by the theme of the whole record as well as the characters. The record tells the story of a couple named Christian and Gloria who want to start a revolution in post-Bust America. The song “Viva La Gloria” talks specifically about who Gloria is. At the begging of the song Christian first meets Gloria and falls in love her with mainly because she is innocent and is a counter point to his feelings of rage at “the system” Eventually however, Gloria becomes influenced by Christian and joins in the revolution. At first Christian is very pleased with this but then he soon regrets changing the girl he fell in love with. My story follows the line of though that Gloria never changes and begins to resent Christian for putting his political beliefs above their love. Christian eventually understands the fault in this. He abandons the revolution out of love for Gloria. I have been working on this story for almost two years, and all though it has been tough to write, it is a labor a love. These characters came alive to me the moment I heard that song preformed at the concert. I think both Christian and Gloria and made up from parts of myself, which is why they are so much dearer to me than any other characters I have ever written about. I also think that is why I struggle with writing this story so much, because I’m afraid I will screw them up. As I found out (slightly drunk at a punk concert) inspiration can sneak up on you anywhere and at any time. The worst thing a person could do is to ignore that inspiration, let it in, welcome it. It may be your Christian and Gloria.