“Which is the most universal human characteristic: fear, or laziness?” (Waking Life)
I personally love this quote. I think the quote really captures the essence of the human race. Laziness and fear are both two very complicated actions humans are cabable of. In my opinion, I think fear is the most universal human characteristic. After watching the film Walking Life I have come to realize that laziness in itself is a part of fear. I think a lot of the time laziness prevents people from obtaining something really desired. I know personally that a lot of the time I spend fearing a decision whether it’s getting into college or what my parents think of me, laziness prevents me from actually going for my dream. It was just a few days ago that I was talking with my mom and I was asking why my letter from Southern Connecticut State University hasn’t come yet. My mom simply replied I could check my application status online, but further proving my point, I was too lazy to go find a computer and check. This simple decision, either waiting longer for the letter to come by mail or checking online and finding out right away, is just one example of why fear is the universal human characteristic and laziness is a characteristic within fear. In the end, I find that the above quote really means humans are sometimes afraid to admit something they want or don’t want. Also, laziness is nothing but a road blocker that prevents people from seeing a clear picture of what he or she must do to reach a certain goal. While fear might be harder to overcome, fear is still the bigger issue for humans rather than laziness.
"Sanity is a madness put to good uses; waking life is a dream controlled." (Santayana)
Again, after reading the film Walking Life, this is another quote I admire a lot. I have always thought of dreams to be out of control. Sure I love that quality about dreams, however at the same time; I think there is something in particular about dreams that enable humans to have a “controlled dream” as life itself. When someone dreams, anything can happen. When someone is awake, anything can happen, but what happens cannot be erased nor ignored. Based upon my thoughts about dream I have to agree with waking life is just a dream that is controlled and has rules that have to be followed.
As regards to the other part of the quote, concerning sanity, I think Santayana is brilliant for saying this. Would world peace be great? My answer is of course it would be. However, what people don’t see is that it is the fact that there is sanity and madness in this world that makes the world go round. I know there is too much violence in the world today, which I would like to change, but ridding the whole world of all sanity and madness would just be madness itself. Personally, I like the meaning of sanity and madness because both add depth and value to our world. This discussion of the above quote is making me think about the discussion about the short story about the city of Omelas and how even without any conflict or madness, the world is still not a perfect place because there was still one child suffering. I really do believe sanity and madness are both put to good use in the world today, I just think it wouldn’t hurt to have a little less.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Angles of Vision
“Life is a mirror and will reflect back to the thinker what he thinks into it.”--E. Holmes
I personally believe truth is unique to each person. There really are many different lenses in which people see truth. One’s truth may be another person’s lie. Throughout the discussion of truth in philosophy, four readings have explored different author’s takes on their own personal idea of truth. A Vietnam Veteran, O’Brien’s story, explores the idea of truth being found through experiences one has seen, tasted, heard, touched, and smelled. Another lens observed, poet Emily Dickinson, views truth as being very personal and obsolete to what others may believe. Lastly, and maybe one of the least expected places to define truth were in two children books. The first book, about a variety of forest animals also deals with personal views of the truth; however, not everyone may see one’s particular view. For instance, the fox in the story thought of the moon to be a rabbit running away while the other forest animals strongly disagrees with the fox. Hence, every person’s perspective on truth may be different, but in the end, there is only one absolute truth. The last children’s book about a quirky girl that is convinced there are wolves living in the walls of her house. Truth, through this book, is more of a realistic sense. I think people are always saying something that people find hard to believe even though in the end, as scary as the truth may be, turns out to be true. One can see different out looks on truth through the Vietnam veteran, Dickinson the poet, and the children books.
Although all the above outlooks are very diverse and are shown through different ways, there are some similarities to be seen. First of all, I noticed that each authors point is based on what he or she views as truth. I agree one hundred percent. I think truth is one idea that is personal and unique to everyone, whether or not the idea is actually true or not, ones truth may be different than someone else’s. Also, another similarity I had to search for was that each author made it clear that the absolute truth may not exist. For instance when the forest animals go to the scientist for answers about the moon, the scientist does not provide the eager animals with one certain answer. I believe this to be true about every truth. The search for that one truth that stands candid for all provides people with many of the answers he or she is actually looking for. Looking back on all the pieces the class has observed about truth,I believe my insight on similarities is accurate.
With all the above being said, I must say my favorite piece of literature was the book about the moon. I found it intriguing that all the animals had different outlooks on the moon and yet the scientist couldn’t present the animals with one direct answer. This is true about all truths. I think people search for the real, absolute truth, but usually do not end up with knowing it. Through the journey for that one truth people may give up or find a different answer that still satisfies ones question. In the beginning of the semester, the class discussed how people may or may not question life or search for any answers to the questions they have, I have got to say that people should at least try to find their own personal definition of truth because like the authors above mentioned, truths are unique and different for all.
I personally believe truth is unique to each person. There really are many different lenses in which people see truth. One’s truth may be another person’s lie. Throughout the discussion of truth in philosophy, four readings have explored different author’s takes on their own personal idea of truth. A Vietnam Veteran, O’Brien’s story, explores the idea of truth being found through experiences one has seen, tasted, heard, touched, and smelled. Another lens observed, poet Emily Dickinson, views truth as being very personal and obsolete to what others may believe. Lastly, and maybe one of the least expected places to define truth were in two children books. The first book, about a variety of forest animals also deals with personal views of the truth; however, not everyone may see one’s particular view. For instance, the fox in the story thought of the moon to be a rabbit running away while the other forest animals strongly disagrees with the fox. Hence, every person’s perspective on truth may be different, but in the end, there is only one absolute truth. The last children’s book about a quirky girl that is convinced there are wolves living in the walls of her house. Truth, through this book, is more of a realistic sense. I think people are always saying something that people find hard to believe even though in the end, as scary as the truth may be, turns out to be true. One can see different out looks on truth through the Vietnam veteran, Dickinson the poet, and the children books.
Although all the above outlooks are very diverse and are shown through different ways, there are some similarities to be seen. First of all, I noticed that each authors point is based on what he or she views as truth. I agree one hundred percent. I think truth is one idea that is personal and unique to everyone, whether or not the idea is actually true or not, ones truth may be different than someone else’s. Also, another similarity I had to search for was that each author made it clear that the absolute truth may not exist. For instance when the forest animals go to the scientist for answers about the moon, the scientist does not provide the eager animals with one certain answer. I believe this to be true about every truth. The search for that one truth that stands candid for all provides people with many of the answers he or she is actually looking for. Looking back on all the pieces the class has observed about truth,I believe my insight on similarities is accurate.
With all the above being said, I must say my favorite piece of literature was the book about the moon. I found it intriguing that all the animals had different outlooks on the moon and yet the scientist couldn’t present the animals with one direct answer. This is true about all truths. I think people search for the real, absolute truth, but usually do not end up with knowing it. Through the journey for that one truth people may give up or find a different answer that still satisfies ones question. In the beginning of the semester, the class discussed how people may or may not question life or search for any answers to the questions they have, I have got to say that people should at least try to find their own personal definition of truth because like the authors above mentioned, truths are unique and different for all.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
Go Ask Alice is one of those books will pull the heart strings of people everywhere. All though the reader never knows the authors realy name, anonymous gets a whole new meaning. Since reading the dreadful story of anonymous' real life, life is obviously too precious to waste. When the reader first meets the main character, he or she will learn about how the author thinks and philosophizes about life. From the beginging of the book and the first drugs the author gets addicted to, the reader will instantly get dragged into the sad and lonely story. From marijuana to LSD, the author clearly has many problems in her life that really should have been adressed much earlyer. The first time I read the book was three years ago and now that I am older, rereading the book lead me to even more heart break. When I was younger i never really understood the concept of lonliness, making desicions that could potentially be dangerous, and striving to feel wanted, but now that I am older, I can feel the actual pain the author went through.
While reading Go Ask Alice, the reader must have strength to handel what the author goes through. The events described are in such vivid detail that some parts of the book will make the reader actually put the book down and have to step away. There are many lessons to be learned from the author. For instance not taking life for granted and try to always satisfy yourself befofre others are only two lessons I took from the book. One quote in particular still holds a spot in my mind, "thousands of other dead things and people were pushing me inside and forcing the lid down on me." (Anonymous-author)
Although Go Ask Alice is a rather serious book, the experiences and events are true and are excellent for teaching lessons. The morals the book teaches readers everywhere are lessons that can never be taken away from the reader. From the first time the reader picks up the book to finishing the book itself, Go Ask Alice will reside in any readers heart for a life time. Go Ask Alice is definatly a must read book for any kind of reader.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Dictionary:
Masochistic (A): the condition in which sexual gratification depends on suffering, physical pain, and humiliation.
Vampire (N): a person who preys ruthlessly upon others
Dazzling (A): to overpower or dim the vision of by intense light (Edward’s skin)
Love (V): a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.
Unconditional (A): not limited by conditions; absolute
Review:
Masochistic (A): the condition in which sexual gratification depends on suffering, physical pain, and humiliation.
Vampire (N): a person who preys ruthlessly upon others
Dazzling (A): to overpower or dim the vision of by intense light (Edward’s skin)
Love (V): a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.
Unconditional (A): not limited by conditions; absolute
Review:
Stephanie Meyer, new to the world of authors, writes an outstanding book about forbidden love. Twilight will grab any reader’s attention from the start. There is something about Bella’s infatuation with Edward Cullen that pulls the reader right into the dark and fascinating world of vampires. Meyer writes Twilight showing vampires in two completely different lights. There is the Cullen family who are vegetarians so to speak and then there are the bad vampires who are turning Forks upside down. I use the term vegetarian carefully because the Cullen’s only eat animal meat and not humans. The family contradicts what people have grown to believe about vampires. The Cullen’s are capable of love, compassion, and many other emotions the “normal” vampire is with out. Twilight is such a unique book it could really be considered its own genre.
Since Twilight is the first book of the thrilling Twilight series by Meyer, the book really sets up Edward and Bella’s roller-coaster of a relationship. Bella moves from sunny Arizona to cold, wet Forks. At first Bella doesn’t like Forks and is only in Forks so her mom and new husband can travel. As some time passes, and meeting Edward Cullen, Bella grows to really like Forks. Bella tells her mom that, “Forks is really growing on me.” The Swan’s long-time family friends Jacob and Billy, his father, inform Bella of their tribal legend regarding the Cullen’s. Struck by curiosity, Bella looks deeper into the legend and realizes Edward and his family is vampires. Twilight is just the beginning of several books in the series. The books confuse, baffle, and make the reader go insane with wondering what will happen next. There is no way to even guess what will happen on the next page let alone the next books.
As a reader, I really enjoyed Stephenie Meyer’s take on the vampire world and how Meyer made the Cullen family actually relatable in many ways. I never thought any author could paint a family of vampires in such an optimistic and relatable way. Any reader who reads Twilight can relate with love and just trying to fit in, especially during the tough high school years. The Cullen family, many years ahead of any human, have to keep relocating the family because the Cullen’s do not age as fast as any humans and so the family has to protect the secret. For instance, Edward has been seven teen since the end of World War II when Carlisle turned Edward into a vampire. One of the most fascinating aspects about the Cullen’s is that being a vampire is looked down upon as being a curse instead of enjoyed for the power.
The bad vampires in the book show no mercy in ruthlessly killing humans and in fact enjoy mayhem. We see the characters, the evil vampires, in the beginning of the book as only distant creatures that are indeed quiet different from the Cullen family. It isn’t until the end of Meyer’s best selling book that the evil vampires are actually a threat to Edward ad Bella’s relationship as well as the survival of the Cullen family. It is quiet fascinating to watch the same type of creature, in this case vampires, have such different points of view on life. For the Cullen’s being vampires comes with great responsibility and will only harm a human if the family is threatened in any way. Then on the other hand, the evil vampires pride themselves on having more power than any human could ever have. Meyer’s portrays the vampires to be extremely fast and strong, along with some other specific powers for each Cullen vampire.
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer can be read by any type of reader in the world. I never thought I would have fell in love with a book about such ruthless and complicated creatures. Then, much to my surprise, Meyer grabs any type of reader and pulls him or her right into the complicated yet beautiful world of vampires. Readers will have to see for themselves just how captivating Meyer’s writing really is. Twilight is definitely not the type of book that is subjected to one type of reader. If a reader enjoys escaping much despair the real world has to offer, then Stephenie Meyer’s book, Twilight, is the ideal book to read. Meyer’s is able to make every aspect about the book so believable that you might just find your selves wondering, could there really be such creatures like vampires?
Since Twilight is the first book of the thrilling Twilight series by Meyer, the book really sets up Edward and Bella’s roller-coaster of a relationship. Bella moves from sunny Arizona to cold, wet Forks. At first Bella doesn’t like Forks and is only in Forks so her mom and new husband can travel. As some time passes, and meeting Edward Cullen, Bella grows to really like Forks. Bella tells her mom that, “Forks is really growing on me.” The Swan’s long-time family friends Jacob and Billy, his father, inform Bella of their tribal legend regarding the Cullen’s. Struck by curiosity, Bella looks deeper into the legend and realizes Edward and his family is vampires. Twilight is just the beginning of several books in the series. The books confuse, baffle, and make the reader go insane with wondering what will happen next. There is no way to even guess what will happen on the next page let alone the next books.
As a reader, I really enjoyed Stephenie Meyer’s take on the vampire world and how Meyer made the Cullen family actually relatable in many ways. I never thought any author could paint a family of vampires in such an optimistic and relatable way. Any reader who reads Twilight can relate with love and just trying to fit in, especially during the tough high school years. The Cullen family, many years ahead of any human, have to keep relocating the family because the Cullen’s do not age as fast as any humans and so the family has to protect the secret. For instance, Edward has been seven teen since the end of World War II when Carlisle turned Edward into a vampire. One of the most fascinating aspects about the Cullen’s is that being a vampire is looked down upon as being a curse instead of enjoyed for the power.
The bad vampires in the book show no mercy in ruthlessly killing humans and in fact enjoy mayhem. We see the characters, the evil vampires, in the beginning of the book as only distant creatures that are indeed quiet different from the Cullen family. It isn’t until the end of Meyer’s best selling book that the evil vampires are actually a threat to Edward ad Bella’s relationship as well as the survival of the Cullen family. It is quiet fascinating to watch the same type of creature, in this case vampires, have such different points of view on life. For the Cullen’s being vampires comes with great responsibility and will only harm a human if the family is threatened in any way. Then on the other hand, the evil vampires pride themselves on having more power than any human could ever have. Meyer’s portrays the vampires to be extremely fast and strong, along with some other specific powers for each Cullen vampire.
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer can be read by any type of reader in the world. I never thought I would have fell in love with a book about such ruthless and complicated creatures. Then, much to my surprise, Meyer grabs any type of reader and pulls him or her right into the complicated yet beautiful world of vampires. Readers will have to see for themselves just how captivating Meyer’s writing really is. Twilight is definitely not the type of book that is subjected to one type of reader. If a reader enjoys escaping much despair the real world has to offer, then Stephenie Meyer’s book, Twilight, is the ideal book to read. Meyer’s is able to make every aspect about the book so believable that you might just find your selves wondering, could there really be such creatures like vampires?
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
This reminds me of... blog
This reminds me of...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhbzoltxZms
-Some Devil by Dave Matthews
Today I was listening to my music trying to relax before studying for midterms and when the above song played on my ipod, suddenly I connected the song with the relationship between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. In particular, the line, " some devil some angel has got me to the bones," symolizes the Macbeth's relationship. In the beginning, Lady Macbeth seems like a realy angel, however, towards the end near the murder of King Duncan, she resembles the devil's qualities. When the reader first meets Lady Macbeth she is pure, angel-like, even perfect, but near the end, she pressures her husband, Macbeth, to murder his king and loyal friend making Macbeth risk everything he has worked for in his life- respect, dignity, strength, etc. The second part of the above line stating," [...] has got me to the bones," is rather perfect to symbolize how Macbeth felt about the decision to kill Duncan. On one hand, Macbeth loves his king and is very loyal towards him, but on the other hand, Macbeth also loves his wife whom he knows deep in his heart that she is just looking out for his well being. I personally don't think Macbeth made the right choice to kill his king, but then again, I don't know much about Macbeth's relationship with his wife. Either the two belong together which then I would support anything my true love wanted also, or the two could be living a endless lie. After just listening to Some Devil, one song, by Dave Matthews, I realize how literature is very much so refflected in music even in todays culture and society. Just by two lines in the song alone, reminded me of the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and the struggles the two characters had to go through. To me, it is mindblowing to think that the play Macbeth, written by Shakespeare about four hundred years ago in 1606 and Dave Matthews, a popular musician in 2008 are infact very similar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhbzoltxZms
-Some Devil by Dave Matthews
Today I was listening to my music trying to relax before studying for midterms and when the above song played on my ipod, suddenly I connected the song with the relationship between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. In particular, the line, " some devil some angel has got me to the bones," symolizes the Macbeth's relationship. In the beginning, Lady Macbeth seems like a realy angel, however, towards the end near the murder of King Duncan, she resembles the devil's qualities. When the reader first meets Lady Macbeth she is pure, angel-like, even perfect, but near the end, she pressures her husband, Macbeth, to murder his king and loyal friend making Macbeth risk everything he has worked for in his life- respect, dignity, strength, etc. The second part of the above line stating," [...] has got me to the bones," is rather perfect to symbolize how Macbeth felt about the decision to kill Duncan. On one hand, Macbeth loves his king and is very loyal towards him, but on the other hand, Macbeth also loves his wife whom he knows deep in his heart that she is just looking out for his well being. I personally don't think Macbeth made the right choice to kill his king, but then again, I don't know much about Macbeth's relationship with his wife. Either the two belong together which then I would support anything my true love wanted also, or the two could be living a endless lie. After just listening to Some Devil, one song, by Dave Matthews, I realize how literature is very much so refflected in music even in todays culture and society. Just by two lines in the song alone, reminded me of the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and the struggles the two characters had to go through. To me, it is mindblowing to think that the play Macbeth, written by Shakespeare about four hundred years ago in 1606 and Dave Matthews, a popular musician in 2008 are infact very similar.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)