People of this time were concerned with educating and bettering themselves. A Journal from the Plague Year is written in a way that shows how people reacted wrongly to the ideas surrounding the bubonic plague, as well as showing the horrors it caused in a analyzing type format to help explain the bubonic plague to people of his time. A Modest Proposal satires the problem with overpopulation by giving a proposal to breed our children for food rather than having to live in poverty to support them, and by writing this he helps bring up the growing population problem.
The events that happened during the Glorious Revolution such as removing King James II to ensure the advancement of British society.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
From A Journal of the Plague Year
A journal of the plague year accounts the scenes of someone in London during one of the bubonic plague epidemics. He first explains one of the scariest aspects of the infection, the fact that they had no-clue how they could get it as explained in the first paragraph: "One man who may have really received the infection and knows it not, but goes abroad and about as a sound person, may give the plague to a thousand people, and they to great numbers in proportion, and neither the person giving the infection or the persons receiving it know anything of it, and perhaps not feel the effects of it for several days after." Many believed it was the fury of God and people would continue to look towards religion for help. He also says that the only time anyone was even aware that they had the infection was when they started seeing the rings and swelling in their skin. He also describes many of the horrific scenes people had to deal with, often being able to walk outside to find someone fall to the ground dead in the middle of the street or be awoken by the shriek of horror coming from the lady next door finding her husband or master had hung themselves: "O Lord, my old master has hanged himself!." The death caused by the plague was said to be so bad that when people realized they had the plague, they had no other choice but to give up "sit down, grow faint, and die." Death was also common enough that sometimes people were mistaken to already be dead when they were actually passed out from drinking as what happened to the poor piper in the story.
Many people would try to rid themselves with various cures that for one person involved stripping down immediatly and running into the river where he swam violently to the other side, ran all around the town, and swam back, which apparently cured him by wearing away the swelling and rings by physical activity and using the cold water to get rid of the fever in his blood.
The story ends with a stanza celebrating that he has survived the epidemic in "which swept an hundred thousand souls."
The story gives a very descriptive account on what it might have felt like to have to experience a situation like this over an extended period of time.
Many people would try to rid themselves with various cures that for one person involved stripping down immediatly and running into the river where he swam violently to the other side, ran all around the town, and swam back, which apparently cured him by wearing away the swelling and rings by physical activity and using the cold water to get rid of the fever in his blood.
The story ends with a stanza celebrating that he has survived the epidemic in "which swept an hundred thousand souls."
The story gives a very descriptive account on what it might have felt like to have to experience a situation like this over an extended period of time.
Monday, October 20, 2008
A Modest Proposal
A Modest Proposal is apparently a proposal on how to solve the growing population problem. With the ammount of poor having to take care of the growing number of poor-born infants, Jonothan Swift encourages the idea that children start being bred for food. By doing this he thinks that not only would they not have to worry about caring for the growing population, but would also end up having a surplus of food and the economy would grow rapidly. He also believes that not only would it help economic problems but it would help social problems as well, where husband and wives would care much more for their child because of the chance of it being for or be willing to breed their children to sell off to the masses. He thinks this would become a great practice everywhere.
This is a satire because rather than trying to support the growing population, Swift thinks we should use the growing population to support themselves. He also seems to be very enthusiastic about the idea, and that it would in no way be morally wrong to do so.
This is a satire because rather than trying to support the growing population, Swift thinks we should use the growing population to support themselves. He also seems to be very enthusiastic about the idea, and that it would in no way be morally wrong to do so.
Satire
A satire is piece of literature or visual art that usually addresses some type of problem or situation going on in the world or in a certain area. It addresses the problem by making fun of it, so it is usually seen as a humorous thing, but often has a deeper meaning behind it to show a certain truth to the situation.
South Park would be one of the biggest satires in television. Almost every single episode is directed towards making fun of political ideas, racism, celebrities, and social groups. They often make fun of the events in such a way that is so rediculous that it shows you how stupid the person or situation really is.
Shows like Family guy could be considered satires as well since their main jokes are usually based off current events.
South Park would be one of the biggest satires in television. Almost every single episode is directed towards making fun of political ideas, racism, celebrities, and social groups. They often make fun of the events in such a way that is so rediculous that it shows you how stupid the person or situation really is.
Shows like Family guy could be considered satires as well since their main jokes are usually based off current events.
Ther Glorious Revolution
King James II was having problems agreeing with parliament and religious tolerance. Many of the political parties weren't catholic so King James II started filling in important positions with people who were Catholic to help make sure he could keep control. A group of people met and planned to overthrow this "tyrant race of stuarts." They wanted to replace King James II with his daughter and husband, who were both protestant, rather than the Kings son, who would have been able to help continue the Catholic rule. James the II eventually had to escape which made it easy for William the III to take over, creating a new order for the nation.
This was really important because it was the last catholic ruler. Being under Catholic rule for so long, the Glorious revolution probably made way for a new way of government. Rather than giving the king and his family so much power, William had agreed to not have absolute power and worked with parliament to make decisions. This must have been very important because it was the begining of England's modern day government.
This was really important because it was the last catholic ruler. Being under Catholic rule for so long, the Glorious revolution probably made way for a new way of government. Rather than giving the king and his family so much power, William had agreed to not have absolute power and worked with parliament to make decisions. This must have been very important because it was the begining of England's modern day government.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Reflection of the Middle Ages
The stories relfect the middle ages by acknowledging certain beliefs and ideas carried on during those time.
People were not suprised at death in a few of situations in these stories, seen in the line "this world is now ticklish in truth: I saw a corpse being borne to church today, and just last monday I saw the man going about his business." Death became a common thing during these times because of things like the black plague, people were dieing all the time and when someone could not be found it was often reasonable to think they were sick or dead.
The characters in the Canterbury Tales show the distinction of class and nobility amongst different occupations. Every character in the story has a different occupupation and some have certain respect amongst communities, The reeve for example, although a servent to his own lord, had authority over other servants and was more noble because of this.
Religion is also a huge part of the middle ages. Wars were often waged because of religious ideas and would explain how people were so gullible to ideas revolving around them. In the Miller's Tale, Nicholas is able to tell the carpenter that a flood similar to Noah's Flood was coming and that God was giving them the chance to live by surving it. Along with this, keeping your faith was seen as important and in one point in the same tale, Allison explains that if her husband knew she broke her faith she would surely be killed.
People were not suprised at death in a few of situations in these stories, seen in the line "this world is now ticklish in truth: I saw a corpse being borne to church today, and just last monday I saw the man going about his business." Death became a common thing during these times because of things like the black plague, people were dieing all the time and when someone could not be found it was often reasonable to think they were sick or dead.
The characters in the Canterbury Tales show the distinction of class and nobility amongst different occupations. Every character in the story has a different occupupation and some have certain respect amongst communities, The reeve for example, although a servent to his own lord, had authority over other servants and was more noble because of this.
Religion is also a huge part of the middle ages. Wars were often waged because of religious ideas and would explain how people were so gullible to ideas revolving around them. In the Miller's Tale, Nicholas is able to tell the carpenter that a flood similar to Noah's Flood was coming and that God was giving them the chance to live by surving it. Along with this, keeping your faith was seen as important and in one point in the same tale, Allison explains that if her husband knew she broke her faith she would surely be killed.
Response to The Miller's Tale
The Miller's tale is about a carpenter, his wife, and the two guys who are in love with his wife. The carpenter lets a scholar, Nicholas, live in his house, who has a growing desire for the carpenter's wife. The carpenter had a wife, Allison, who was very young, who he kept around because he was jealous of her for her youth and beauty while he was old and ugly. Nicholas began to have feelings for the carpenter's young wife and decided to confront her in his desires. She at first wouldn't co-operate, but after pleading his love he was able to win her over. She knew she would be killed if her husband found out she was not faithful and so they came up with a plan to get rid of him. Another man has also fallen in love with Allison, Absalom, and he tries to gain her love by singing under her window, which Allison handled as a joke, only having love for Nicholas and having to appear faithful to her husband.
Allison and Nicholas come up with a plan to humiliate the carpenter enough so he will be seen as crazy and not have a chance with Allison anymore. Nicholas locks himself in his room to arouse suspicion of his where abouts. After a day or so, the carpenter confronts Nicholas, where he explains to his master that a flood is coming and that they would need a plan to make sure that he and his wife survive along with him. Nicholas tells him to get tubs and tie them to the roof to prepare for the flood, where they would sneak into them at night and wait till morning for the flood. That night they get into the tubs, and during the silence, Allison and Nicholas sneak out of the tubs and go back to the bed that Allison and the carpenter shared. Once again Absalom tries to win Allisons love by going to her window and begging her for a kiss. Rather than a kiss on the mouth she puts her arse outside the window and he kisses that and senses a beard and realizes the joke being played on him. He leaves the house and goes to the smiths house where he asked to borrow a hot colter and that he would explain himself the next day. Absalom returns to the house where he calls for Allison, asking again for another kiss. This time Nicholas hears him and instead of Allison, puts his own arse out the window, in which Absalom stuck the hot colter and burned Nicholas. Nicholas starts sceaming for water because of the pain, and is heard by the carpenter still lieing in a barrel above the house, who takes it as a sign of the flood. He cuts the rope the tubs are held up by and the tubs fall to the ground. Finding that there is no flood, the carpenter tries to explain himself, but is now forever seen as completely mad.
Allison and Nicholas come up with a plan to humiliate the carpenter enough so he will be seen as crazy and not have a chance with Allison anymore. Nicholas locks himself in his room to arouse suspicion of his where abouts. After a day or so, the carpenter confronts Nicholas, where he explains to his master that a flood is coming and that they would need a plan to make sure that he and his wife survive along with him. Nicholas tells him to get tubs and tie them to the roof to prepare for the flood, where they would sneak into them at night and wait till morning for the flood. That night they get into the tubs, and during the silence, Allison and Nicholas sneak out of the tubs and go back to the bed that Allison and the carpenter shared. Once again Absalom tries to win Allisons love by going to her window and begging her for a kiss. Rather than a kiss on the mouth she puts her arse outside the window and he kisses that and senses a beard and realizes the joke being played on him. He leaves the house and goes to the smiths house where he asked to borrow a hot colter and that he would explain himself the next day. Absalom returns to the house where he calls for Allison, asking again for another kiss. This time Nicholas hears him and instead of Allison, puts his own arse out the window, in which Absalom stuck the hot colter and burned Nicholas. Nicholas starts sceaming for water because of the pain, and is heard by the carpenter still lieing in a barrel above the house, who takes it as a sign of the flood. He cuts the rope the tubs are held up by and the tubs fall to the ground. Finding that there is no flood, the carpenter tries to explain himself, but is now forever seen as completely mad.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Characters of the Canterbury Tales
A Knight
The knight is a man who lives by a code a chivalry and is very proud to be a warrior and prides himself in being a good person. He has also proven himself to be worthy of honor from many countries having fought many battles and being very wise. The only odd thing about the knight are his clothes are old and worn.
The Squire
The Squire is the son of the Knight who was very fit and active. He was also a lover who would make songs and art. He also was a very humble, willing and able to get things done.
The Yeoman
The Yeoman is very proud person, wearing his medal on his chest for people to see. He dressed in green and carried several weapons and was a real forester.
The Prioress
The Prioress is a well dressed and well mannered but is nice and will pity things and feel as though she must take care of them.
The Second Nun and Three Priests
They are exactly what it says they are.
The Monk
The Monk is a hunter, who has many horses and gray hounds to help him with this. The monk's beliefs are old ones that he has slowly been using with new beliefs, which made him admit that a hunter is not a holy man and that his beliefs may seem wrong but he raises the question as to why should you hold yourself to beliefs that make your talents useless.
The Friar
The Friar is seen as a very noble, merry, and helpful person. He was the type of person who tries to go through life easy mannered. He was also able to sing in order to please people and was always the one to win the prize at festivals. Rather than seeming like a poor beggar, he tried to be a beggar the rich and noble wanted to help.
The Merchant
The Merchant was a man of business. He knew how to deal with all types of business with intelligence, knowing foreign currencies, and knowing how to manage his trade and loads properly. This talent was something he prided and would only boast about the good times and not talk of bad times.
The Clerk
The Clerk was a man who used to study philosophy and valued learning over all things. Not having much money, his appearance may not have been to great, but he used what he had and borrowed to get books.
The Sergeant of the Law
This was a man who everyone saw as wise and knowledgeable and knew how to manage the laws expressed to the people without ever seeming to be wrong.
The Franklin
The Franklin was a noble man who seemed to have everything that could bring him luxury. He always had the finest of foods and drink and had people to prepare services for him.
A HABERDASHER and a CARPENTER, An ARRAS-MAKER, DYER, and WEAVER
These were your typical common people. They all had decent clothing and supplies and is basically the working man.
The Cook
The cook is able to cook all sorts of things and knows how to tell when food or ale has gone bad. The only problem he had was a sore on his shin.
The Ship man
This man was a sailor who knew his way through many routes and was a fine person but was likely to take advantage of people or take something to gain the upper hand.
The Physician
The physician was a man who knew his job very well, and used astrology to tell him the reasons and remedies for illnesses. He was always able to do this very well and make decent money because he worked with people who would send him the drugs for the illness. With this efficiency the physician was able to save reasonable amounts of money, which he loved.
The Wife of Bath
This was a lady who knew who how to make fine clothes and many experiences she could talk of, having been married several times and traveled to many places.
The Parson
The Parson was a very religious man who tried to use the rules given to him from the bible to be a good person, and would try to compensate for people who could not help themselves. Although nice to most people, if someone were to be unreasonable with him he wouldn't stand for it. As a religious man he mainly focused on the rules of the bible and was not a fan of ceremonies celebrating them.
The Plowman
The plowman was the brother of the parson and is a very hard worker who tried to live in peace and charity by loving god and accepting the good and bad times.
The Miller
The Miller was a really big and strong guy. He had the strength to tear doors from their hinges or to head butt them down. He knew how to take advantage of oppertunities to make money having a "thumb of gold" and how to humor people, knowing many poems that consisted mostly of obscene jokes.
The Manciple
The Manciple was a man who was able to get what he wanted and was treated as a noble. He had many masters teach him about market and how to get ahead of things which made it possible for him to live according to his own standards.
The Reeve
The Reeve was like a manager for his lord's servants and tasks. He knew how to make sure crops were planted at the right time by figuring out if there will be a drought or rain, and knew how to take care of all the animals his lord own. He knew all the tricks to his job as well, knowing how to not let any of the servants take advantage of him.
The Summoner
The Summoner is a guy who is unlucky when it comes to his appearance being covered in boils and pimples. Sometimes he would get to drunk and start speaking a couple phrases of latin. Despite those ideas, he is seen as a good comrade.
The Pardoner
The Pardoner is a friend of the summoner. The pardoner also looks a bit better than the summoner, and carries his appearance in an untraditional fashion, one trait being he doesn't wear a hood although he has long hair. He was also the best at his job, and liked to sing to get money.
The knight is a man who lives by a code a chivalry and is very proud to be a warrior and prides himself in being a good person. He has also proven himself to be worthy of honor from many countries having fought many battles and being very wise. The only odd thing about the knight are his clothes are old and worn.
The Squire
The Squire is the son of the Knight who was very fit and active. He was also a lover who would make songs and art. He also was a very humble, willing and able to get things done.
The Yeoman
The Yeoman is very proud person, wearing his medal on his chest for people to see. He dressed in green and carried several weapons and was a real forester.
The Prioress
The Prioress is a well dressed and well mannered but is nice and will pity things and feel as though she must take care of them.
The Second Nun and Three Priests
They are exactly what it says they are.
The Monk
The Monk is a hunter, who has many horses and gray hounds to help him with this. The monk's beliefs are old ones that he has slowly been using with new beliefs, which made him admit that a hunter is not a holy man and that his beliefs may seem wrong but he raises the question as to why should you hold yourself to beliefs that make your talents useless.
The Friar
The Friar is seen as a very noble, merry, and helpful person. He was the type of person who tries to go through life easy mannered. He was also able to sing in order to please people and was always the one to win the prize at festivals. Rather than seeming like a poor beggar, he tried to be a beggar the rich and noble wanted to help.
The Merchant
The Merchant was a man of business. He knew how to deal with all types of business with intelligence, knowing foreign currencies, and knowing how to manage his trade and loads properly. This talent was something he prided and would only boast about the good times and not talk of bad times.
The Clerk
The Clerk was a man who used to study philosophy and valued learning over all things. Not having much money, his appearance may not have been to great, but he used what he had and borrowed to get books.
The Sergeant of the Law
This was a man who everyone saw as wise and knowledgeable and knew how to manage the laws expressed to the people without ever seeming to be wrong.
The Franklin
The Franklin was a noble man who seemed to have everything that could bring him luxury. He always had the finest of foods and drink and had people to prepare services for him.
A HABERDASHER and a CARPENTER, An ARRAS-MAKER, DYER, and WEAVER
These were your typical common people. They all had decent clothing and supplies and is basically the working man.
The Cook
The cook is able to cook all sorts of things and knows how to tell when food or ale has gone bad. The only problem he had was a sore on his shin.
The Ship man
This man was a sailor who knew his way through many routes and was a fine person but was likely to take advantage of people or take something to gain the upper hand.
The Physician
The physician was a man who knew his job very well, and used astrology to tell him the reasons and remedies for illnesses. He was always able to do this very well and make decent money because he worked with people who would send him the drugs for the illness. With this efficiency the physician was able to save reasonable amounts of money, which he loved.
The Wife of Bath
This was a lady who knew who how to make fine clothes and many experiences she could talk of, having been married several times and traveled to many places.
The Parson
The Parson was a very religious man who tried to use the rules given to him from the bible to be a good person, and would try to compensate for people who could not help themselves. Although nice to most people, if someone were to be unreasonable with him he wouldn't stand for it. As a religious man he mainly focused on the rules of the bible and was not a fan of ceremonies celebrating them.
The Plowman
The plowman was the brother of the parson and is a very hard worker who tried to live in peace and charity by loving god and accepting the good and bad times.
The Miller
The Miller was a really big and strong guy. He had the strength to tear doors from their hinges or to head butt them down. He knew how to take advantage of oppertunities to make money having a "thumb of gold" and how to humor people, knowing many poems that consisted mostly of obscene jokes.
The Manciple
The Manciple was a man who was able to get what he wanted and was treated as a noble. He had many masters teach him about market and how to get ahead of things which made it possible for him to live according to his own standards.
The Reeve
The Reeve was like a manager for his lord's servants and tasks. He knew how to make sure crops were planted at the right time by figuring out if there will be a drought or rain, and knew how to take care of all the animals his lord own. He knew all the tricks to his job as well, knowing how to not let any of the servants take advantage of him.
The Summoner
The Summoner is a guy who is unlucky when it comes to his appearance being covered in boils and pimples. Sometimes he would get to drunk and start speaking a couple phrases of latin. Despite those ideas, he is seen as a good comrade.
The Pardoner
The Pardoner is a friend of the summoner. The pardoner also looks a bit better than the summoner, and carries his appearance in an untraditional fashion, one trait being he doesn't wear a hood although he has long hair. He was also the best at his job, and liked to sing to get money.
Important Events of the Middle Ages
The Crusades
Many battles and wars were fought during the middle ages that were referred to as the "Crusades", and these were fought by most of Christian Europe against many of the races and religions in the surrounding areas that had been excommunicated from the Christian Community because of all the religious controversy. The original plan for the Crusades was to take back their Holy Land and Jerusalem that had been taken over by Muslims. It was supported highly by a excess of soldiers that had been recently used to Christianize their new areas in Europe that needed an outlet for their skills. The church encouraged people to fight for their war by telling them things like their sins would be forgotten and after Jerusalem is taken by soldiers who participated would go to heaven after death.
The Murder of Thomas a Becket
Becket was archbishop of Canterbury who gained a bad name with King Henry II. Becket was incorporable with the King and didn't sign a document that would have stopped a war. Becket fled to France where Louis VII offered him protection. Becket began to overuse his powers excommunicating any of his opponents, three of which fled to Normandy where Henry heard of these problems. So when ranting one day Henry gave an apparent order to murder Becket, which was carried out by four knights who first, went into inside the cathedral and talked to Becket first, and when he refused to comply, they slaughtered him in front of a room full of monks reciting vespers.
The Magna Carta
The Magna Carta is a charter that basically told the King that his position does not give him any benefits that are above the law. This was created to protect the subjects of the kings and give them rights to acts like Habeas corpus. During the time it was introduced it didn't prove very helpful but as it has built up over time it has become the basis of many ideas that our Constitution rules today.
The Black Death
The black death was a deadly plague that was around the world during the middle ages and wiped out communities and forced horrible sacrifices and decisions to try to control the spreading epidemic. People who caught the black death, shown by signs of sickness and rashes, would be immediately quarantined and banished or boarded up in their homes which were sometimes burned down to the ground to make sure the disease wouldn't spread anymore. The plague caused a dramatic drop in world population from about 450 million to about 350 million during the times of the plague.
Many battles and wars were fought during the middle ages that were referred to as the "Crusades", and these were fought by most of Christian Europe against many of the races and religions in the surrounding areas that had been excommunicated from the Christian Community because of all the religious controversy. The original plan for the Crusades was to take back their Holy Land and Jerusalem that had been taken over by Muslims. It was supported highly by a excess of soldiers that had been recently used to Christianize their new areas in Europe that needed an outlet for their skills. The church encouraged people to fight for their war by telling them things like their sins would be forgotten and after Jerusalem is taken by soldiers who participated would go to heaven after death.
The Murder of Thomas a Becket
Becket was archbishop of Canterbury who gained a bad name with King Henry II. Becket was incorporable with the King and didn't sign a document that would have stopped a war. Becket fled to France where Louis VII offered him protection. Becket began to overuse his powers excommunicating any of his opponents, three of which fled to Normandy where Henry heard of these problems. So when ranting one day Henry gave an apparent order to murder Becket, which was carried out by four knights who first, went into inside the cathedral and talked to Becket first, and when he refused to comply, they slaughtered him in front of a room full of monks reciting vespers.
The Magna Carta
The Magna Carta is a charter that basically told the King that his position does not give him any benefits that are above the law. This was created to protect the subjects of the kings and give them rights to acts like Habeas corpus. During the time it was introduced it didn't prove very helpful but as it has built up over time it has become the basis of many ideas that our Constitution rules today.
The Black Death
The black death was a deadly plague that was around the world during the middle ages and wiped out communities and forced horrible sacrifices and decisions to try to control the spreading epidemic. People who caught the black death, shown by signs of sickness and rashes, would be immediately quarantined and banished or boarded up in their homes which were sometimes burned down to the ground to make sure the disease wouldn't spread anymore. The plague caused a dramatic drop in world population from about 450 million to about 350 million during the times of the plague.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Lit 12 Anglo Saxons
Beowulf
Beowulf, the story of one of the greatest warriors ever, is a very interesting story. The fact that it is a poem has you read it more epically and the old language helps you understand the beliefs and meaning of something as such to a warrior. Beowulf is amazing, while although he is boastful of the things he has done, he always manages to back up his words and amaze everyone with the strength and bravery a man could posses, and not taking one demon, but two, the first being killed almost instantly by Beowulf's grip ripping his arm off and the second an almost unbelievable fight underwater ending with a blow that sent her to her grave.
The story shows many of the belief structures that warriors or Anglo-Saxons had during their time. To be a warrior was a very proud thing and many of the good warriors seem to hold a courageous attitude and always want to do good for a selfless cause and only wanting to be remembered for it, Beowulf being a great example when he says "Bid my warriors raise a splendid moundon the shore-cliffsafter my funeral firethat a remembrance shalltower high on Hronesness." Warriors deal with eachother in odd ways, not being afraid to boast, rather boasting is very popular to gain respect and friendship amongst people and is shown through out the text and especially shown when Beowulf is confronted by one of the King's warriors who tries to test Beowulf on how great he is and Beowulf gladly reminds him of his amazing deeds shown in the chapter 'Beowulf comes to Herot.'
Beowulf is a hero that can be recognized in almost every culture especially our own in the U.S. Super Hero's often possess the attitude Beowulf portrays to make people have trust and confidence in him such as Superman an example being "Perhaps in kindness I may advise Hrothgar how he, wise and famous,may overcome this enemy" a phrase spoken by Beowulf to ensure that the King will want his help. He also possesses an extreme ammount of strength, demonstrated where he ripped the arm off of Grendal and is somehow a significantly better warrior than others in his world. One of the only aspects I can think of that doesn't help him relate as a super hero would be he can't fly, other than that, he is basically your medi-evil superman.
The way Beowulf dies is although in a way cliche, since many heroes die for causes that are above them, but it is very epic and lets you know how proud warriors could feel to have fought along side their king they looked up too or having the will to continue to fight despite the fact you will probably die. The only problem I had with the ending was Beowulf's desire to have the treasures he fought for around him, although you see the character trait throughout the book, this part really shows how stuck up and narcisistic a proud warrior like Beowulf really is.
Beowulf, the story of one of the greatest warriors ever, is a very interesting story. The fact that it is a poem has you read it more epically and the old language helps you understand the beliefs and meaning of something as such to a warrior. Beowulf is amazing, while although he is boastful of the things he has done, he always manages to back up his words and amaze everyone with the strength and bravery a man could posses, and not taking one demon, but two, the first being killed almost instantly by Beowulf's grip ripping his arm off and the second an almost unbelievable fight underwater ending with a blow that sent her to her grave.
The story shows many of the belief structures that warriors or Anglo-Saxons had during their time. To be a warrior was a very proud thing and many of the good warriors seem to hold a courageous attitude and always want to do good for a selfless cause and only wanting to be remembered for it, Beowulf being a great example when he says "Bid my warriors raise a splendid moundon the shore-cliffsafter my funeral firethat a remembrance shalltower high on Hronesness." Warriors deal with eachother in odd ways, not being afraid to boast, rather boasting is very popular to gain respect and friendship amongst people and is shown through out the text and especially shown when Beowulf is confronted by one of the King's warriors who tries to test Beowulf on how great he is and Beowulf gladly reminds him of his amazing deeds shown in the chapter 'Beowulf comes to Herot.'
Beowulf is a hero that can be recognized in almost every culture especially our own in the U.S. Super Hero's often possess the attitude Beowulf portrays to make people have trust and confidence in him such as Superman an example being "Perhaps in kindness I may advise Hrothgar how he, wise and famous,may overcome this enemy" a phrase spoken by Beowulf to ensure that the King will want his help. He also possesses an extreme ammount of strength, demonstrated where he ripped the arm off of Grendal and is somehow a significantly better warrior than others in his world. One of the only aspects I can think of that doesn't help him relate as a super hero would be he can't fly, other than that, he is basically your medi-evil superman.
The way Beowulf dies is although in a way cliche, since many heroes die for causes that are above them, but it is very epic and lets you know how proud warriors could feel to have fought along side their king they looked up too or having the will to continue to fight despite the fact you will probably die. The only problem I had with the ending was Beowulf's desire to have the treasures he fought for around him, although you see the character trait throughout the book, this part really shows how stuck up and narcisistic a proud warrior like Beowulf really is.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Mending Wall
Mending Wall raises the question "Why do good walls make good neighbors?" and gives hints to several reasons why. When the neighbor is asked Why fences make good neighbors, he exclaimed that it was the way his father went about it, never really giving a reason to continue this when it seems really unecessary saying that"My apple trees will never get across
And eat the cones under his pines" because those are the only things there.
The writer is dissillusioned into helping build this wall thinking he is being nice which makes him a good neighbor when actually he is helping someone who wants to make sure that the writer doesn't bother him. This could possibly be a hint towards racial discrimination, because he still follows the ways of his father, who during that time, probably didn't look upon blacks as respectfully as they would now, so the neighbor continues to build this wall coincidentally with the help of the neighbor because he is following his father's racist ideals.
And eat the cones under his pines" because those are the only things there.
The writer is dissillusioned into helping build this wall thinking he is being nice which makes him a good neighbor when actually he is helping someone who wants to make sure that the writer doesn't bother him. This could possibly be a hint towards racial discrimination, because he still follows the ways of his father, who during that time, probably didn't look upon blacks as respectfully as they would now, so the neighbor continues to build this wall coincidentally with the help of the neighbor because he is following his father's racist ideals.
A Dream Deferred
The poem first asks "What happens to a dream deferred?" referring to what can be described as the American dream. It then describes what happens while your putting that dream off asking: "Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?" which is asking if its just going to die and never come around to amounting to what you wanted it to be. Then it talks of how it eventually becomes a heavy load that you put off until it explodes and never happens.
This poem was addressed to African Americans of the Harlem Renaissance in the aspect that many of them had lost focus on trying to make the American Dream become a reality. The writer believed that they kept putting off to try to just get by rather than work hard and rise above which eventually led to the dream never coming through.
This poem was addressed to African Americans of the Harlem Renaissance in the aspect that many of them had lost focus on trying to make the American Dream become a reality. The writer believed that they kept putting off to try to just get by rather than work hard and rise above which eventually led to the dream never coming through.
The Negro Speaks of Rivers
This poem speaks of African-American history. The rivers are something his ancestors have all been by from the time they were in the congo. He describes his soul "has grown deep like the rivers" in reference to his deep ancestry that goes back to "Euphrates when dawns were young"
to hearing the "singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans."
The goes along with the Harlem Renaissance and was written to explain how deep black culture goes back into the world. It describes how African American's race has been apart of things that people at the time weren't aware that African Americans were apart of the big picture that is "ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins."
to hearing the "singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans."
The goes along with the Harlem Renaissance and was written to explain how deep black culture goes back into the world. It describes how African American's race has been apart of things that people at the time weren't aware that African Americans were apart of the big picture that is "ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins."
Incident
In the Incident,what is described is a young black boy's ride in to town on his bicycle. He encounters another boy, who didn't look much older than him. The poem makes you assume that the boy thinks he might be nice: "Now I was eight and very small, And he was no whit bigger,And so I smiled," but then the boy sadly realizes the other boy does not want to associate with him when he poked out "His tongue, and called me, 'Nigger.'"
This is an aspect of dissillusionment. The boys ride into town began a happy one, not caring about what color he was, or where he was, so it never crossed his mind that someone might be prejudice towards him. So when he smiles at the boy he is in the illusion that the boy might be nice back to him. The Incident was probably named to describe the suprising aspect of realizing that you are seperated because of race.
This is an aspect of dissillusionment. The boys ride into town began a happy one, not caring about what color he was, or where he was, so it never crossed his mind that someone might be prejudice towards him. So when he smiles at the boy he is in the illusion that the boy might be nice back to him. The Incident was probably named to describe the suprising aspect of realizing that you are seperated because of race.
Richard Corey
According to the poem, people think Richard Corey is cool guy. He seems to have everything he wants and needs, meaning he "was rich—yes, richer than a king, And admirably schooled in every grace". With all this everybody looked upon him as something they wanted to be, somewhat like the American Dream, and also like Dissilusionment when you get to the end and find out the man "put a bullet through his head." People looked at him thinking he must be so happy because his life seemed so perfect, but the reality was I assume, that there was something missing from this perfect world people saw him in.
Psychoanalysis
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is written to help you feel like you are the character while reading it. The character, Walter Mitty, has a creative mind and seems like "he hated these weekly trips" and would often go into a very intense day dream often focused around him in several situations that he probably has only found himself in due to whats just happened to him springs him into thinking of some type of relation.
His first day dream is ended with his his wife telling him to slow down, ironically in his day dream he was trying to go fast, in a plane, his whole crew hoping that they would survive his crazy antics. Although it doesn't say his name in the first day dream, you end up recognizing it because of the last sentence where he continues to think of the event after his wife broke his thought: "Walter Mitty drove on toward Waterbury in silence, the roaring of the SN202 through the worst storm in twenty years of Navy flying fading in the remote, intimate airways of his mind."
Most of the day dreams also have repeated aspects like the "pocketa-pocketa" sounds that are much like the sounds you get stuck in your head and end up adding into different day dreams you have.
Its Psychoanalysis because you are taken into most of the characters perspective and put into a train of thought where you are reading how they are thinking and what caused them to think that way. It makes it interesting and easy to read because you can recognize the actions by the characters as something you might do in real life.
The story is seperated so you can experience the day dream he is having, and then have the feeling of being cut off in the middle of your own day dream when it switches to the next paragraph, usually with someone talking to you. At one point they show this when Mitty claims Ms Mitty through off his train of thought, first muttering something to her about something associated with his day dream and then telling her " 'I was thinking,' said Walter Mitty. 'Does it ever occur to you that I am sometimes thinking?' "
His first day dream is ended with his his wife telling him to slow down, ironically in his day dream he was trying to go fast, in a plane, his whole crew hoping that they would survive his crazy antics. Although it doesn't say his name in the first day dream, you end up recognizing it because of the last sentence where he continues to think of the event after his wife broke his thought: "Walter Mitty drove on toward Waterbury in silence, the roaring of the SN202 through the worst storm in twenty years of Navy flying fading in the remote, intimate airways of his mind."
Most of the day dreams also have repeated aspects like the "pocketa-pocketa" sounds that are much like the sounds you get stuck in your head and end up adding into different day dreams you have.
Its Psychoanalysis because you are taken into most of the characters perspective and put into a train of thought where you are reading how they are thinking and what caused them to think that way. It makes it interesting and easy to read because you can recognize the actions by the characters as something you might do in real life.
The story is seperated so you can experience the day dream he is having, and then have the feeling of being cut off in the middle of your own day dream when it switches to the next paragraph, usually with someone talking to you. At one point they show this when Mitty claims Ms Mitty through off his train of thought, first muttering something to her about something associated with his day dream and then telling her " 'I was thinking,' said Walter Mitty. 'Does it ever occur to you that I am sometimes thinking?' "
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
South Central
South Central is a film that depicts the reality of what living in an area like South Central, Los Angelos, is like. The film introduces a character, Bobby, who is involved in a gang called Duece. Bobby, having been involved in gang activity most of his life, gets out of prison and begins to have mixed feelings about the way of life upon the birth of his son. He begins to change his way of life until he is sent to prison again while still being involved in gang activity.
Years pass and his little boy has grown up, and is being brought into the drug game by one of Bobby's old friends. Bobby reforms his way of life while in prison, wanting to get out and start anew with his son, only to find he is stilling car radios and slowly becoming more and more bad. Bobby must show his son the lessons he learned while in prison that will save his son from continuing in a life that will only mean downfall.
This depicts realism very well because its depicting how life goes wrong when involved in crime. It also shows how a parent's experiences and lessons are very important in the growing up of your child, since they will follow what they believe is right, which is supposedly what you do as a parent. The movie's events are also based on real stories to reflect the life style of the people living in South Central and how some are forced to get by the easy way, doing crime, or be above all that and try to set yourself straight so you can make sure you and the people you care about will be ok.
Years pass and his little boy has grown up, and is being brought into the drug game by one of Bobby's old friends. Bobby reforms his way of life while in prison, wanting to get out and start anew with his son, only to find he is stilling car radios and slowly becoming more and more bad. Bobby must show his son the lessons he learned while in prison that will save his son from continuing in a life that will only mean downfall.
This depicts realism very well because its depicting how life goes wrong when involved in crime. It also shows how a parent's experiences and lessons are very important in the growing up of your child, since they will follow what they believe is right, which is supposedly what you do as a parent. The movie's events are also based on real stories to reflect the life style of the people living in South Central and how some are forced to get by the easy way, doing crime, or be above all that and try to set yourself straight so you can make sure you and the people you care about will be ok.
Monday, May 19, 2008
African American Voices
A. The story talks of a slave, who has been broken by one of his masters, who models the bad experiences that slaves go through. Frederick Douglass describes working in a field to he is basically a brute, no longer caring for what happens to him, continuing to work despite his body strength giving out, and ready to die as soon as god wills it. One day, losing strength and needing to take a break, he falls beneath the fence to find some shade, and is approached by a very unhappy "negro-breaker". Claiming he needs help, the negro breaker couldn't care less and kicks him to tell him to get back to work; Frederick tries to get up and is unable too, which leads to another kick for not following orders due despite being incapable of doing so. The overseer then gives a blow to the back of Frederick's head leaving a bloody wound that trickled down his head. He was still asked to get up but made no effort to this time, being broken once again and ready for the worst. After his overseer left him to his fate, Douglass thought talking to his master about this beating to see if he can get protection, or a new overseer. He managed to get off the field and walk the seven miles to get to his masters house, though it "was truly a severe undertaking" having to gow through the forest through brush and thorns while having little strength left over from being beaten and sick. By the end of the five hour journey he arrived at his master's house and "presented an appearance enough to affect any but a heart of iron," being covered head to toe in blood, thorns and twigs. His master explains that Frederick had probably deserved the beating for not cooperating with his master, and claims the overseer to be a good man and he could not even think of removing douglass from his power to a new home or anything of the sort. He goes back to only be scared to hear the "negro-breaker" ready to chase him down in the corn fields for a whipping, making Frederick run off again. Running into a fellow slave who was on his way to his wife it being saturday night and having sunday off, invites Frederick to come eat and be housed for a night. The slave tells him of a way to avoid getting whipped which lies in the carrying of a root found in the woods. He returns to his masters field to find that the negro-breaker, although not happy with him, just tells him to get to work, which he does. While doing work though Frederick is joined by the whip holding negro breaker who tries to tye Frederick down, which Frederick reacts in putting the man in a choke hold. This quarrel carried on for hours, Frederick knowing his possible fate could be to be beaten or maybe even killed. In the end though, the slave owner never sent him to the whipping post, wanting to keep his repuation as a "first rate over-seer and negro breaker", he didn't want to admit that a slave had caused him that much trouble that he had to fight with him.
B.Frederick Douglass is trying to express the social issue of racism and slavery. He describes master's who show no mercy despite the appearance of a man who is practically using his last breath to tell you his problems. The harsh conditions a slave had to go through could almost break any man, and this story was probably written to make people feel the pain and sorrow they could experience from not only the aspects from this story but harsher aspects and the continuous cycle of having to do it everyday untill you have no choice but to let life go.
B.Frederick Douglass is trying to express the social issue of racism and slavery. He describes master's who show no mercy despite the appearance of a man who is practically using his last breath to tell you his problems. The harsh conditions a slave had to go through could almost break any man, and this story was probably written to make people feel the pain and sorrow they could experience from not only the aspects from this story but harsher aspects and the continuous cycle of having to do it everyday untill you have no choice but to let life go.
The Story of an Hour
A. Mrs. Mallard had a heart disease that could prove fatal if startled to much, her husband has supposedly died and no one knows how she will respond to except that they think she might die. Upon telling her she leaves the room to focus on her own thoughts alone. She sank into a chair and thought deeply while staring into the "patches of blue sky" while awaiting what she felt was something coming to her, something she thought she could feel reaching towards her "through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air." It then suddenly hit her, that, she was rather happy that her husband was dead. Fearing the fact the she might have to spend her long life for her husband, when she heard of his death she was more than happy to respond with the feeling that she can take over and do things for her life now. Now excited enough to be over the whole ordeal she leaves the room and heads down stairs to continue the rest of her life, untill she sees her husband and drops dead because he is still alive, not because she is happy to see him, but because she is so disappointed to have to carry on the rest of HIS life.
B. Chopin is trying to point out that many married couples, especially ones that are old, feel more like they are stuck to another person unable to pursue their own personal goals in life, rather than happy they get to spend the rest of their life with someone. Although people get married and apparently enjoy it most of the time, Chopin is trying to show, marriage cuts off alot of your own ideas and goals in life, especially in a society where male is seen as the dominating sex that usually leads to a married life that focuses on his goals and cuts of the oppertunity for the other. So, what Choplin points out is, people sometimes are very happy when their loved ones die, because it gives them sort of another chance at what they had lost one time.
B. Chopin is trying to point out that many married couples, especially ones that are old, feel more like they are stuck to another person unable to pursue their own personal goals in life, rather than happy they get to spend the rest of their life with someone. Although people get married and apparently enjoy it most of the time, Chopin is trying to show, marriage cuts off alot of your own ideas and goals in life, especially in a society where male is seen as the dominating sex that usually leads to a married life that focuses on his goals and cuts of the oppertunity for the other. So, what Choplin points out is, people sometimes are very happy when their loved ones die, because it gives them sort of another chance at what they had lost one time.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Edgar Allen Poe
Poe's life is full of bad events that could only end in personal disgust for life and especially the idea transcendentalist tried to pull off in a not so perfect world. One of his first bad experiences was the loss his father, who abandoned his family a year or so after he was born, and the death of his mother a year after that from consumption. Attending the University of Virginia he got involved in gambling and eventually gained debt that he had to ask his foster father to pay off claiming he had not given him enough money to survive while in school. He decided to drop out of the University, not feeling welcome in Richmond after learning his sweetheart Royster had married someone else. Eventually trying to survive on just writing alone, life proved a very tough task to survive furthering him into hardships. He married his cousin, who died two years after they had been together, bringing another tragic event.
Along with alcholism, I would say a number of events like these could make you kind of loopy and hateful towards society. For him, his intuition is something he feels he must fear rather than embrace therefore denying the philosphies of the transcendentalists.
Along with alcholism, I would say a number of events like these could make you kind of loopy and hateful towards society. For him, his intuition is something he feels he must fear rather than embrace therefore denying the philosphies of the transcendentalists.
The Raven
In the Raven, Poe describes what seems to be him going insane and being tormented by a bird about the loss of a girl named Lenore. The phrase "Nevermore" kept being repeated because it was showing the impact of the girls death upon Poe, not being able to ever see her again and is left with only thoughts and memories that torment his mind. At first I think he thinks good of the Raven, hoping it to ease him, but his insanity causes him to interpret the sounds of the raven and movements to be mocking him and cause him lead thoughts into one another.
He uses alot of description to describe dark atmospheres and characters to give off a feeling of fear, sadness and loneliness. While reading the poem you find yourself reading it faster and faster as if you are going crazy. I think Poe purposely wrote this to show the insanity so-called transcendentalist might experience at the loss of a loved one.
He uses alot of description to describe dark atmospheres and characters to give off a feeling of fear, sadness and loneliness. While reading the poem you find yourself reading it faster and faster as if you are going crazy. I think Poe purposely wrote this to show the insanity so-called transcendentalist might experience at the loss of a loved one.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
The Black Cat
Poe describes an event with his cat. First he talks about aquiring the cat and how much happinies it brought him and how it was one of his bestfriends to the point of following him around town forcing Poe to make him stay sometimes. During the course of this, Poe's alchoholism is growing more and more making him more and more insane. He became more irratible which began to make the cat exprience the growing temper.
One night poe stumbled home drunk and upon finding the cat avoiding him he grabbed it violently and was responded with a bite by the cat. Being drunk, the pain in his hand made him grow very angry as if "the fury of a demon" has possessed him. So he took his pen-knife and stabbed the cats eye out. Upon waking up in the morning he found himself in turmoil about the incident, beggining to drink again. This started throwing thoughts all around his head of explanation for why the act he had committed was ok, saying that all beings do something specifically because they know they aren't supposed to do it.
With this new thought in process he took the cat and hung it from a noose explaining to himself that he hung it "because" it was he knew he was committing a sin that would jeapordize his placement in the after life if it turned out it was real. A fire occured that day aswell burning down his house leaving him to think of a cause and effect situation.
The loss of the cat still got to him, so he got a new one, and tried not to maltreat it like he had done the other one. As time went on though, he began to "utterly loath" the cat. Always wanting to strike it when it got on his nerves he kept himself from doing so because of the guilt from killing his last cat. It started to scare him like it was a ghost of his last cat.
Going down into the basement oneday, accompanied by his wife, the cat followed them down the stairs tripping up Poe. Poe in rage grabbed an axe and tried to strike the cat and instead was halted by his wife, which led to him burrying the axe into her brain. Upon this he pondered how to get rid of the body. He put the body inside the wall of his celler and then began to look for the cat to end its life.
Not being able to find it he went to sleep and thought about how the deeds he had commited only slightly bothered him and he was still waiting for the police to arrive if they ever would. Eventually they did, and searched the house, and were unable to find anything which poe took pride in. Afterwards he began to hear the cry of the beast that had caused all of this, and while searching the cellar, realized he had walled up the cat in the tomb as well.
The events in this story show that Poe was well aware of the evil acts he was commiting and felt that he even somewhat enjoyed them, showing that he was definatly not a believer of trancendentalism.
One night poe stumbled home drunk and upon finding the cat avoiding him he grabbed it violently and was responded with a bite by the cat. Being drunk, the pain in his hand made him grow very angry as if "the fury of a demon" has possessed him. So he took his pen-knife and stabbed the cats eye out. Upon waking up in the morning he found himself in turmoil about the incident, beggining to drink again. This started throwing thoughts all around his head of explanation for why the act he had committed was ok, saying that all beings do something specifically because they know they aren't supposed to do it.
With this new thought in process he took the cat and hung it from a noose explaining to himself that he hung it "because" it was he knew he was committing a sin that would jeapordize his placement in the after life if it turned out it was real. A fire occured that day aswell burning down his house leaving him to think of a cause and effect situation.
The loss of the cat still got to him, so he got a new one, and tried not to maltreat it like he had done the other one. As time went on though, he began to "utterly loath" the cat. Always wanting to strike it when it got on his nerves he kept himself from doing so because of the guilt from killing his last cat. It started to scare him like it was a ghost of his last cat.
Going down into the basement oneday, accompanied by his wife, the cat followed them down the stairs tripping up Poe. Poe in rage grabbed an axe and tried to strike the cat and instead was halted by his wife, which led to him burrying the axe into her brain. Upon this he pondered how to get rid of the body. He put the body inside the wall of his celler and then began to look for the cat to end its life.
Not being able to find it he went to sleep and thought about how the deeds he had commited only slightly bothered him and he was still waiting for the police to arrive if they ever would. Eventually they did, and searched the house, and were unable to find anything which poe took pride in. Afterwards he began to hear the cry of the beast that had caused all of this, and while searching the cellar, realized he had walled up the cat in the tomb as well.
The events in this story show that Poe was well aware of the evil acts he was commiting and felt that he even somewhat enjoyed them, showing that he was definatly not a believer of trancendentalism.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Where do I fall?
I am definatly more of a dark romantic and like to see the world for what it really is and what moves it, good and evil. I'd like the idea of transcending and providing for myself and feeling like nothing matters but, its a really hard thing to accomplish and is almost impractical to survive in todays world. Transcending seems like a very lonely life as well considering you have less influence on what others may have to bestow upon you. To think more like a dark romantic I think is to be able to see a that is easier to understand and more feasable.
Edgar Allen Poe
Edgar Allen Poe was already a screwed up person as it was who could not find peace with himself because of all the evil that had been put down onto him in life. He would definatly not believe the trancendentalist philosphy always showing with his characters that people are first off evil and that that evil will take over to create the world that denies the ability to transcend into happiness.
Herman Melville
Herman Melville was immediatly thrown into a life he had to obide by not being able to fulfil his dream as a writer first off due to "the financial breakdown of his family" which left him in troubled times. As a sailor he witnessed first hand how evil that trancendentalists deny was there as he saw cannibals while going around the world. He later also wrote a book that describes a man who is troubled by the task of killing a whale that took his leg and has no meaning for life or care for anybody else's life just to pursue the whale. He also understood that trancendentalists little happy world of doing it yourself was not possible by all and that problems should be shown a bit more realisticly.
Nathanial Hawthorne
Nathanial Hawthorne was opposed to the transcentalist philosphy because he was well aware of the evil in the world and the decisions that can be made. His grandfather had killed people in a senseless fashion which he was "embarressed" by showing that he knew that original sin existed in some form or another since people were able to commit evil like this so needlessly.
Video Transcend Philospophy
The man in this video demonstrates trancendentalism by first, going out into nature by himself to better appreciate his surroundings which he shows with random video clips of wildlife and plants within nature. He also shows self reliance as he builds his own log cabin, provides his own food(although he did cross the lake to go get more supplies), cuts his own firewood, and even films the whole thing himself. By moving out into the wild and providing for himself, he is also demonstrating somewhat of a "resistance to civil government" by living off the land away from civilization. You can also tell that this person seems happy with the choices he has made showing he is content with the choices he has made and is going within his own influence rather than worrying about others judgement.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Scenario 2 Transcend
In this situation would definatly go with what I wanted to do and become a highschool teacher. Although becoming a lawyer would make a lot of money, I wouldn't be able to enjoy it therefore my wife probably wouldn't be able to enjoy me so it would be the best route for a better life. I think a Transcendalist would agree because they would rather go with their intuition and what feels to be the right thing to better their life and by realizing "that he would rather be a high school teacher than be a lawyer" shows that he is trying to think for himself and transcend into a better person rather than descend into unhappiness as a lawyer.
Monday, April 21, 2008
From "RESISTANCE TO CIVIL GOVERNMENT"
"Government is best which governs least" is the statement that Thoreau elaborates on. The government is often "abused and perverted" and can prove to be ineffeciant when trying to do justice and a "better" government needs to be put in place. He thinks that peoples conscience should control the government rather than the government be ruled by law because it makes us try to find ways around the laws rather than find ways to be good according to our own being.
This is a good example of Trancendentalism because it is telling you to trust yourself and make your actions right rather than let the government let the majority of people decide who I see as being able to go off on the wrong ideas very often. So to Transcend you must realize more what you think is right and make a stand for it if you really believe so.
This is a good example of Trancendentalism because it is telling you to trust yourself and make your actions right rather than let the government let the majority of people decide who I see as being able to go off on the wrong ideas very often. So to Transcend you must realize more what you think is right and make a stand for it if you really believe so.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
From "SELF-RELIANCE"
The idea of self-reliance seems to be to make decisions for yourself and not feel insecure about what people think of you. You must not conform and decide what you think is best for you so that you may represent your diviness in your life because it is your life and is not controlled by an overall religion. "With concistency a great soul has simply nothing to do," meaning when you keep carrying on the same old thing its boring and gives you less and less meaning to what your life could be.
I think this is a could example of trancendentalism because it teaches you that conforming is bad and that accepting an overall religion is sort of lieing to yourself because your to afraid of what others will think of your own ideas on life and reality. "To be great is to be misunderstood," this shows how you will transcend farther than others if no one understands you since you are doing something individually and ignoring the fact people don't get you.
I think this is a could example of trancendentalism because it teaches you that conforming is bad and that accepting an overall religion is sort of lieing to yourself because your to afraid of what others will think of your own ideas on life and reality. "To be great is to be misunderstood," this shows how you will transcend farther than others if no one understands you since you are doing something individually and ignoring the fact people don't get you.
From "NATURE"
From Nature tells you how to become "one" with nature and appreciate its aspects that give you a sense of God within you. The metaphores used are like ones that would explain religious significance in everyday things, such as the stars forming the streets of the cities of heaven. Here though, phenomina are not seen as an overall spiritul force that everybody must respect, but a force within yourself making you interpret what appeals to you to give you a sence of direction that feels rather than is thought. Being able to enjoy the landscape and become one with nature helps get rid of the idea of being a part of a world that offers confusion and sadness and limits you from realizing yourself as an entity connected with all aspects of life not just, your life.
This is a good example of Transendentalism because it explains how to put an aspect of life that is seen everyday into a thought that helps you focus more on what your natural desires and harmony within yourself and the enviroment rather than worrying about what other's might percieve as their own life. By going out into the the forest and getting away from civilization, you are better able to connect with nature and see what you don't normally see and since you aren't around anybody you are able to make more of your own personal judgements.
This is a good example of Transendentalism because it explains how to put an aspect of life that is seen everyday into a thought that helps you focus more on what your natural desires and harmony within yourself and the enviroment rather than worrying about what other's might percieve as their own life. By going out into the the forest and getting away from civilization, you are better able to connect with nature and see what you don't normally see and since you aren't around anybody you are able to make more of your own personal judgements.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Writing 4
The dress code policy that is presented for the Clarke County School District is almost like cruel and unusual punishment. School is a place where kids spend basically their entire childhood life and they deserve the freedom to express themselves throughout their daily life. When else are they going to do it? After school at home with people who already know all about them? Not only that but despite the guidelines that would provide safety, the rest of it is complete nonsense and would not make anything better at all. People are going to continue to drop out, and at a faster rate, it will make kids absolutely loath school.
School is a place where students spend eight hours of their day, 5 days a week, just about every week from the time they are four or five. They must express themselves or else it will force them to be stripped of their identity, causing more introverted emotions which would cause more depression, hate for society, especially hate for a school, and worst of all hate for people. Their identity is one of the only things they have to look forward to in life, and it provides their comfort to feel socially expectable to other people and most importantly feel socially expectable to them. When all the kids are wearing uniforms, they'll all be robots by the end of their lives.
Disruption in the classroom is absolutely not caused by the appearances people present. If anything, disruption is carried out by the attitude of the person wearing the offensive clothing which often has nothing to do with the disruption in the class room. It has more to do with a student refusing to pay attention or not talk to others during assignments and disrupting others through speech. High school students are well aware of offensive language, drugs, and most especially anything sexual, and it is all so apart of their life already. It’s not something that dazzles and amazes their personality while trying to write a paper, they have accepted these ideas already. They're young adults preparing for life, they know what they are doing, not a subjectible infant influenced by the simplest evil deed. I can wear something that expresses violence or gore and have my attitude back it up completely being one of the nicest and least distracting people you might ever meet unless your ignorant side walker sneering at me for having a little fun with my looks while I'm not at school. If anything, school is THE place to express yourself for it is wear you meet most of your companions and is far less distracting than representation of clothing actually OUTSIDE of school. Today is a different era, our culture deals and responds to things completely different from the parent’s or School districts culture in high school. Adults don’t feel comfortable dressing in a way that they feel inappropriate, so obviously students don’t feel comfortable dressing in a way they feel is inappropriate for their day and their age.
A dress code should only be enforced for safety measures not a deprivation of ones personality. A dress code wouldn’t help anything, do you honestly expect kids to behave better and have a better school environment? It will make them drop out the second they are able to so they can find a better alternative that represents them more. You’re trying to prepare these kids for their life, not your life, or their parents life, its theirs, and they deserve their rights, similar to freedom of speech, to dress they way they feel appropriate amongst others. Especially students at Classic City High School who come to the school because they want to be able to express themselves more freely and learn in an environment that excepts them for who they are and what they are trying to do.
Besides, we’re too busy trying to finish high school to worry about what the back of someone’s shirt says.
School is a place where students spend eight hours of their day, 5 days a week, just about every week from the time they are four or five. They must express themselves or else it will force them to be stripped of their identity, causing more introverted emotions which would cause more depression, hate for society, especially hate for a school, and worst of all hate for people. Their identity is one of the only things they have to look forward to in life, and it provides their comfort to feel socially expectable to other people and most importantly feel socially expectable to them. When all the kids are wearing uniforms, they'll all be robots by the end of their lives.
Disruption in the classroom is absolutely not caused by the appearances people present. If anything, disruption is carried out by the attitude of the person wearing the offensive clothing which often has nothing to do with the disruption in the class room. It has more to do with a student refusing to pay attention or not talk to others during assignments and disrupting others through speech. High school students are well aware of offensive language, drugs, and most especially anything sexual, and it is all so apart of their life already. It’s not something that dazzles and amazes their personality while trying to write a paper, they have accepted these ideas already. They're young adults preparing for life, they know what they are doing, not a subjectible infant influenced by the simplest evil deed. I can wear something that expresses violence or gore and have my attitude back it up completely being one of the nicest and least distracting people you might ever meet unless your ignorant side walker sneering at me for having a little fun with my looks while I'm not at school. If anything, school is THE place to express yourself for it is wear you meet most of your companions and is far less distracting than representation of clothing actually OUTSIDE of school. Today is a different era, our culture deals and responds to things completely different from the parent’s or School districts culture in high school. Adults don’t feel comfortable dressing in a way that they feel inappropriate, so obviously students don’t feel comfortable dressing in a way they feel is inappropriate for their day and their age.
A dress code should only be enforced for safety measures not a deprivation of ones personality. A dress code wouldn’t help anything, do you honestly expect kids to behave better and have a better school environment? It will make them drop out the second they are able to so they can find a better alternative that represents them more. You’re trying to prepare these kids for their life, not your life, or their parents life, its theirs, and they deserve their rights, similar to freedom of speech, to dress they way they feel appropriate amongst others. Especially students at Classic City High School who come to the school because they want to be able to express themselves more freely and learn in an environment that excepts them for who they are and what they are trying to do.
Besides, we’re too busy trying to finish high school to worry about what the back of someone’s shirt says.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Painting
This painting is very romantic because it offers atleast three different climates in one setting, which is a very rare and awesome thing to find in nature. The light comes out of the clouds in a way that seperates the scene into a dark vs. light type setting the helps add a very "epic" feel to the picture. You could almost imagine yourself camping on the side of that lake watching the storm above the mountains or enjoy the dense forest with the light shining through the tree tops.
There are alot of things within the picture that make your mind adventure through to each part making it very romantic.
And so is this one!
Rambo is a character that represents romanticism through violence. He's that soldier seems to never go down and he spoils enemy's plans just like we wish we could do if we were in a battle situation. Kick some Arse! His ability to turn the intense gruesome violence into something that makes him a hero is what makes this romantic.
The Ropewalk
The point of the poem is him trying to find enjoyment out of his work as a ropemaker. Almost every part is very visual and he describes many situations where the rope he is making would be used describing how he would like it to be as if maidens were swinging in the air like doves while looking at their shadow clench the rope on the grass. Almost every single image stood out very hard and was very easy to understand. This makes it a very good piece of romantacism because it offers alot of things that you would want to escape to while your working.
Thanotopsis
This poem is talking about death. They want you to just except death and not worry about it, and he paints a picture of it being dark but then melds it into concepts of them earth. When you die your body will be burried in the ground and you shall return to the earth, joining all the others that have died before you and becoming a brother of all elements such as rocks or clods. You will also eventually be joined by more and so you should never feel alone in the sence of death and should rather die peacefully as if going "down to pleasant dreams."
Rip Van Winkle
Rip Van Winkle is the story of a man who is liked by everybody in town, despite this he has trouble at home from a nagging wife who gets on to him for being to lazy; he just wants to have fun. Much of this nagging causes him to leave the house with his dog Wolf, and do just that, going squirrel hunting in the Kaatskil Mountains.
One day he left to squirrel hunt one day and found some rather odd people. These people were short and strange looking, still human but more dwarven like. They were carrying kegs up the mountain and apparently having a party. Rip Van Winkle watched curiously on the weird party of strangers, eventually letting this get the best of him and took a sip of Gin they were drinking while they weren't looking and then passed out out in the wilderness. He awoke to find what he thought was a rusty gun someone had switched with his when they stole it, and he couldn't find his dog when he tried to whistle for him.
Unable to find his dog or the people he had seen the night before he ventured back to town to find that it was completly different. The people were new, with no site of anybody he had known the previous day and his house was abandon with no site of his family and a dog outside that, although resembled Wolf, did not remember Rip at all. He goes to what he thought were his usual spots and found them replaced with other things, such as a new star spangled flag. Unknowing to Rip, the American Revolution had occured and people were different now, more uppity and ready than the towns previous citizens. The people found rip odd and questioned him, finding that he was very confused and had no idea how old he was or even if he was himself after pointing out what was apparently Rip Van Winkle. They all realized he had been out for about 20 years and all of the people he knew were dead or had moved on to other things and his son was the new Rip Van Winkle. After these realizations passed, Rip was able to adapt and live fine in the town, telling his story to many people.
One day he left to squirrel hunt one day and found some rather odd people. These people were short and strange looking, still human but more dwarven like. They were carrying kegs up the mountain and apparently having a party. Rip Van Winkle watched curiously on the weird party of strangers, eventually letting this get the best of him and took a sip of Gin they were drinking while they weren't looking and then passed out out in the wilderness. He awoke to find what he thought was a rusty gun someone had switched with his when they stole it, and he couldn't find his dog when he tried to whistle for him.
Unable to find his dog or the people he had seen the night before he ventured back to town to find that it was completly different. The people were new, with no site of anybody he had known the previous day and his house was abandon with no site of his family and a dog outside that, although resembled Wolf, did not remember Rip at all. He goes to what he thought were his usual spots and found them replaced with other things, such as a new star spangled flag. Unknowing to Rip, the American Revolution had occured and people were different now, more uppity and ready than the towns previous citizens. The people found rip odd and questioned him, finding that he was very confused and had no idea how old he was or even if he was himself after pointing out what was apparently Rip Van Winkle. They all realized he had been out for about 20 years and all of the people he knew were dead or had moved on to other things and his son was the new Rip Van Winkle. After these realizations passed, Rip was able to adapt and live fine in the town, telling his story to many people.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Writing Three
Frank Zappa The Greatest Composer in American History Frank Zappa is one of greatest musical composers in the history of the United States, and can partly define the meaning of true self expression and hate for the normal mainstream way of life. Much of his music can be considered absurd, obscure, confusing, and very controversial and can take some getting used too, but also presents influences that make up an easy listening sound for everybody to enjoy. His career which lasted more than 30 years almost completely self produced more than 60 albums stretched music from hard rock to free-form jazz or even a country song or two. He was also involved in film, art work, and politics.
Zappa’s inspirations are a key part in his success as a composer. He started playing with percussion instruments at a young age; this is a talent that showed up in his career as Zappa’s bands are highly acclaimed for their percussion. Works written by Zappa such as “the Black Page” have been cited as one of the most complex rhythm structures ever and one of his own drummers Terry Bozzio is known as one of the greatest drummers in the world. Zappa also became known as one of the greatest guitarists of all time; upon receiving a guitar he developed his own personal style which he considered to be the equivalent of “air sculpting”. During the end of high school he was also composing and conducting works for his school orchestra. Because of these influences, Zappa had amazing knowledge and creative ability with rhythm structures and song framework. He also tried to be severely precise and in tune with almost any jam or show or recording, making it possible for him to record all these things and mix them together randomly to create a masterpiece.
Imagine walking into an empty room, but then a herd of animals, clowns, cars, and businessmen come strolling out of the wall making the most noise they can with a faint saxophone in the background, and then it’s all gone as soon as it was there with only a bassist and a xylophone player in the middle of the room playing up and down the notes at a steady pace which is soon joined by a drummers high hat and snare when you hear a deep voice that sounds like a mountain speaking within your head making you feel as if your spinning and loosing your mind once you realize the sound crept its way back into the herd of animals for a split second and everything goes silent to the sound of what you might think is a seal crying out for help in the background. That’s what a Zappa song sounds like.
Zappa was also involved in politics and freedom of speech rights as well. When the PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center) started slapping warning labels on what they considered to be offensive and mind altering music to kids, Zappa slapped his own disclaimer on his albums:
“WARNING! This album contains material which a truly free society would neither fear nor suppress. The language and concepts contained herein are guaranteed not to cause eternal torment in the place where the guy with the horns and pointed stick conducts his business. This guarantee is as real as the threats of the video fundamentalists who use attacks on rock music in their attempt to transform America into a nation of check-mailing nincompoops (in the name of Jesus Christ). If there is a hell, it’s fires wait for them, not us.”
He also made another attack comparing the PMRC to the situation of the Holocaust where they made Jews where big Js to show they were Jewish. These things were something Zappa strongly opposed and he deserves much credit for the progress and influence he has contributed to the rights to freedom of expression and speech.
Zappa's music has been inspirational not only to advante-garde experimental music, but to key artists in the history of music, the Beatles notably, were very influenced by Zappa's band's first album "Freak Out", helping them produce their album "Sargent Peppers Lonely Hearts Clubs Band". Through the inspirations he has given other bands, the skill, and imagination he has shown, not only through himself but through others as well, he is one of the only people who I can actually consider a Musical Genius and his masterpiece's are a must listen before you die.
Zappa’s inspirations are a key part in his success as a composer. He started playing with percussion instruments at a young age; this is a talent that showed up in his career as Zappa’s bands are highly acclaimed for their percussion. Works written by Zappa such as “the Black Page” have been cited as one of the most complex rhythm structures ever and one of his own drummers Terry Bozzio is known as one of the greatest drummers in the world. Zappa also became known as one of the greatest guitarists of all time; upon receiving a guitar he developed his own personal style which he considered to be the equivalent of “air sculpting”. During the end of high school he was also composing and conducting works for his school orchestra. Because of these influences, Zappa had amazing knowledge and creative ability with rhythm structures and song framework. He also tried to be severely precise and in tune with almost any jam or show or recording, making it possible for him to record all these things and mix them together randomly to create a masterpiece.
Imagine walking into an empty room, but then a herd of animals, clowns, cars, and businessmen come strolling out of the wall making the most noise they can with a faint saxophone in the background, and then it’s all gone as soon as it was there with only a bassist and a xylophone player in the middle of the room playing up and down the notes at a steady pace which is soon joined by a drummers high hat and snare when you hear a deep voice that sounds like a mountain speaking within your head making you feel as if your spinning and loosing your mind once you realize the sound crept its way back into the herd of animals for a split second and everything goes silent to the sound of what you might think is a seal crying out for help in the background. That’s what a Zappa song sounds like.
Zappa was also involved in politics and freedom of speech rights as well. When the PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center) started slapping warning labels on what they considered to be offensive and mind altering music to kids, Zappa slapped his own disclaimer on his albums:
“WARNING! This album contains material which a truly free society would neither fear nor suppress. The language and concepts contained herein are guaranteed not to cause eternal torment in the place where the guy with the horns and pointed stick conducts his business. This guarantee is as real as the threats of the video fundamentalists who use attacks on rock music in their attempt to transform America into a nation of check-mailing nincompoops (in the name of Jesus Christ). If there is a hell, it’s fires wait for them, not us.”
He also made another attack comparing the PMRC to the situation of the Holocaust where they made Jews where big Js to show they were Jewish. These things were something Zappa strongly opposed and he deserves much credit for the progress and influence he has contributed to the rights to freedom of expression and speech.
Zappa's music has been inspirational not only to advante-garde experimental music, but to key artists in the history of music, the Beatles notably, were very influenced by Zappa's band's first album "Freak Out", helping them produce their album "Sargent Peppers Lonely Hearts Clubs Band". Through the inspirations he has given other bands, the skill, and imagination he has shown, not only through himself but through others as well, he is one of the only people who I can actually consider a Musical Genius and his masterpiece's are a must listen before you die.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Exhibit F
This is a comic that I think is against stem cell research. An old angel sits on all bummed out about dieing, and brings it up to the much younger angel next to him, who claims he was the embryo killed in the process of trying to do stem cell research.
This comic is kind of sad and makes you look at stem cell research in a different way putting the character in a personal situation that causes guilt.
Exhibit E
The Truth about Stem Cells, for Catholics!
In this article, a member of the Catholic church explains the reasons why stem cell research is wrong. He also references Mel Gibson, a fellow supporter of the Catholic Church against stem cell research, who used the perspective that, at some point, we were all the same thing as those litttle cells in a petri dish, it would be wrong to kill them. They also explained that not only is it morally and ethically wrong to kill of what could be a potential human, but it is absolutly against god's laws to take it upon yourself to create beings.
Although I am a supporter of stem cell research, and not really a fan of the Catholic Church, I liked this point of view because the writer actually explains the good qualities that could come from stem cell research and explained the advances that could be made, but claims it still ultimatly goes against his religion and beliefs.
In this article, a member of the Catholic church explains the reasons why stem cell research is wrong. He also references Mel Gibson, a fellow supporter of the Catholic Church against stem cell research, who used the perspective that, at some point, we were all the same thing as those litttle cells in a petri dish, it would be wrong to kill them. They also explained that not only is it morally and ethically wrong to kill of what could be a potential human, but it is absolutly against god's laws to take it upon yourself to create beings.
Although I am a supporter of stem cell research, and not really a fan of the Catholic Church, I liked this point of view because the writer actually explains the good qualities that could come from stem cell research and explained the advances that could be made, but claims it still ultimatly goes against his religion and beliefs.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Final Discussion
Stem cell research is a big controversial topic concerning peoples morals and advancements in science. Stem cells, which can be used to cure diseases, cloning, and many other much needed advancements in technology, come from human embryos. Many people who support it, such as scientists and individuals, consider the practice to be very reasonable, whereas many religious figures and people basing their lives strongly around spiritual morals think it verges on the lines of corrupting human morals and ethics. A lot of it is similar to issues on abortion, people don't want to it to be OK to kill what could be a potential human being.
Puritans and Rationalists had a similar argument. The Puritans believed that everybody was born sinful, and only the few who were "chosen" would be sent to heaven, allowing those who are elected to gain great power and interpret the will of god freely and denying these people or not following the belief system would be seen as sinful and would be condemned to hell. The Rationalists although, believed the world was open to interpretation, thinking that if there is a god, he had made this world for us to explore and advance rather than to repeat history in one set of ideas.
The rationalists today would probably be in favor of stem cell research because of their beliefs to advance in life and discover new techniques. Puritans today would probably be very against stem cell research thinking that you shouldn't try to be the creator, rather your supposed to live how god has already put it before you, and trying to create what god has supposedly created would deeply go against their beliefs and in their minds would probably anger god to great extremes.
"Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this wilderness; but they cried unto the Lord, and He heard their voice and looked on their adversity," (History of Plymouth Plantation) Puritans believed that no matter what, if you confessed to god or begged for mercy, God would decide your ultimate fate, perhaps saving you, replacing the idea that humans had actually survived themselves. Although despite this, they have "a natural desire to do good", getting rid of the idea that you a predestined and you must earn your right to be saved.
The Puritans in a way were kind of hypocritical as are the stem cell research opposers. Much of the text from "Of Plymouth Plantation," shows that they were perfectly capable of having to discover new lands, meet new people and form a society, but they still had doubt that those desires were controlled by a natural need to survive physically and not morally. Squanto, a Native American, at one point was the reason for these men's survival, directing "them how to set their corn, where to take fish, and to procure other commodities, and was also their pilot to bring them to unknown places for their profit" (Plymouth Plantation). However, Puritans claimed that he was a special instrument from God sent to help them rather than being a person of survival and skill choosing to help.
Stem Cell opposers today carry somewhat of the same problem. Opposers for one think it's playing god, which is impossible and some opposers of it today probably think much like the puritans and that its not possible to do anything outside that will of god. Despite that, we already have made moral sacrifices that have benefited us today and has for sure benefited these opposers in one way or another much like the Puritans getting helped from the Natives but took it for granted by thinking it was help sent directly from God.
New studies shown by exhibit A , that the whole embryo does not have to be destroyed within the process of getting stem cells, "There is no rational reason left to oppose this research" as said by Dr. Robert Lanza. Not to menchon these cells could possibly be cloned(Clones Meets World)making even more research possibilities and possibly giving people who can't have kids the ability to have a baby thats related to them. Ethical issues should no longer be of much concern since the research is entirely pro-life.
The opposers possibly biggest leader, George Bush, has also caused some huge controversy over the idea of being pro-life and many people and this French Muppet from Exhibit C, can be qouted saying "Bush is Pro-life Til Birth," because of his carelessness towards the war and the troops that are dieing over there. Comics have also served a way to explain the controversy of Bush's opinions showing him in a tree-house with a sign "Embryo's Welcome" while a man in a wheelchair sits outside and Bush sadly explains "Some life stages are more sacred than others." So in a way, you could tell opposers that they are anti-life because they won't support the human being's already living and making this world today.
Men from the age of reason were able to realize that meaning could be found "everywhere in the natural world,"(Age of Reason) and that the world was not in fact controlled by some all powerful being that"morality is capable of demonstration," meaning that all you religious beliefs could be explained, as said by John Locke. "Know then thyself, presume not God to scan, the proper study of mankind is man."(Alexander Pope) This quote helps show more that Rationalists, apart from Puritans, believed they were able to help themselves rather than be in need of some God.
Puritans and Rationalists had a similar argument. The Puritans believed that everybody was born sinful, and only the few who were "chosen" would be sent to heaven, allowing those who are elected to gain great power and interpret the will of god freely and denying these people or not following the belief system would be seen as sinful and would be condemned to hell. The Rationalists although, believed the world was open to interpretation, thinking that if there is a god, he had made this world for us to explore and advance rather than to repeat history in one set of ideas.
The rationalists today would probably be in favor of stem cell research because of their beliefs to advance in life and discover new techniques. Puritans today would probably be very against stem cell research thinking that you shouldn't try to be the creator, rather your supposed to live how god has already put it before you, and trying to create what god has supposedly created would deeply go against their beliefs and in their minds would probably anger god to great extremes.
"Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this wilderness; but they cried unto the Lord, and He heard their voice and looked on their adversity," (History of Plymouth Plantation) Puritans believed that no matter what, if you confessed to god or begged for mercy, God would decide your ultimate fate, perhaps saving you, replacing the idea that humans had actually survived themselves. Although despite this, they have "a natural desire to do good", getting rid of the idea that you a predestined and you must earn your right to be saved.
The Puritans in a way were kind of hypocritical as are the stem cell research opposers. Much of the text from "Of Plymouth Plantation," shows that they were perfectly capable of having to discover new lands, meet new people and form a society, but they still had doubt that those desires were controlled by a natural need to survive physically and not morally. Squanto, a Native American, at one point was the reason for these men's survival, directing "them how to set their corn, where to take fish, and to procure other commodities, and was also their pilot to bring them to unknown places for their profit" (Plymouth Plantation). However, Puritans claimed that he was a special instrument from God sent to help them rather than being a person of survival and skill choosing to help.
Stem Cell opposers today carry somewhat of the same problem. Opposers for one think it's playing god, which is impossible and some opposers of it today probably think much like the puritans and that its not possible to do anything outside that will of god. Despite that, we already have made moral sacrifices that have benefited us today and has for sure benefited these opposers in one way or another much like the Puritans getting helped from the Natives but took it for granted by thinking it was help sent directly from God.
New studies shown by exhibit A , that the whole embryo does not have to be destroyed within the process of getting stem cells, "There is no rational reason left to oppose this research" as said by Dr. Robert Lanza. Not to menchon these cells could possibly be cloned(Clones Meets World)making even more research possibilities and possibly giving people who can't have kids the ability to have a baby thats related to them. Ethical issues should no longer be of much concern since the research is entirely pro-life.
The opposers possibly biggest leader, George Bush, has also caused some huge controversy over the idea of being pro-life and many people and this French Muppet from Exhibit C, can be qouted saying "Bush is Pro-life Til Birth," because of his carelessness towards the war and the troops that are dieing over there. Comics have also served a way to explain the controversy of Bush's opinions showing him in a tree-house with a sign "Embryo's Welcome" while a man in a wheelchair sits outside and Bush sadly explains "Some life stages are more sacred than others." So in a way, you could tell opposers that they are anti-life because they won't support the human being's already living and making this world today.
Men from the age of reason were able to realize that meaning could be found "everywhere in the natural world,"(Age of Reason) and that the world was not in fact controlled by some all powerful being that"morality is capable of demonstration," meaning that all you religious beliefs could be explained, as said by John Locke. "Know then thyself, presume not God to scan, the proper study of mankind is man."(Alexander Pope) This quote helps show more that Rationalists, apart from Puritans, believed they were able to help themselves rather than be in need of some God.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Exhibit D
This Comic shows George Bush messing with "Billy" a man in a wheelchair, saying he'll embryos in the club because he's pro-life, while letting someone who obviously has more immediate disabilities get something out of it is not important.
I think it presents a really true idea to show the hypocrisy behind the people not supporting Stem Cell Research.
I think it presents a really true idea to show the hypocrisy behind the people not supporting Stem Cell Research.
Exhibit C
French Muppet Against Bush
When Bush vetoed the bill to support stem cell research, some saw him as hypocritical. The Muppet in this video goes off about how Bush will save unborn lives but not the lives of those living today. He thinks his morals are offtrack and says "He thinks he talks about all spiritual and stuff and then goes and bombs other countries."
This muppet is right on target for another attack on the hypocrisy shown by the people not supporting stem cell research.
When Bush vetoed the bill to support stem cell research, some saw him as hypocritical. The Muppet in this video goes off about how Bush will save unborn lives but not the lives of those living today. He thinks his morals are offtrack and says "He thinks he talks about all spiritual and stuff and then goes and bombs other countries."
This muppet is right on target for another attack on the hypocrisy shown by the people not supporting stem cell research.
Exhibit B
Clone Meets World
These people show all the benefits that could be supported by stem cell research. They presented situations such as where gays or infertal mothers would be able to have childrent that are related to them. Other Pros were getting rid of diseases where they show a girl coughing and the doctor claims that what she has can only be helped by stem cell research, and also maybe even raising the dead or atleast cloning them.
They present alot of benefits that I liked especially because some of them were actually Pro-life aspects of stem-cell research where it involved cloning. All of the things presented in the video show what I think are very possible results that could come out of stem cell research.
These people show all the benefits that could be supported by stem cell research. They presented situations such as where gays or infertal mothers would be able to have childrent that are related to them. Other Pros were getting rid of diseases where they show a girl coughing and the doctor claims that what she has can only be helped by stem cell research, and also maybe even raising the dead or atleast cloning them.
They present alot of benefits that I liked especially because some of them were actually Pro-life aspects of stem-cell research where it involved cloning. All of the things presented in the video show what I think are very possible results that could come out of stem cell research.
Exhibit A
Embryonic Stem Cell Research Hypocrisy
Scientists have been looking for a way to continue with stem cell research while appealing to people with ethical problems concerning the study, and they found a way. Once the embyro aquires 8 cells, one is able to be taken away while not destroying the embryo altogether, allowing it to be reimplanted into the womb and continue to live. “There is no rational reason left to oppose this research,” as said by Dr. Robert Lanza, and despite this there is still strong protest against pursuing the research.
I think its awesome they've found a way to get past the ethical issues. The people who oppose it don't have much to stand up for now and it's going to die fast and stem cell research will probably take a huge leap.
Scientists have been looking for a way to continue with stem cell research while appealing to people with ethical problems concerning the study, and they found a way. Once the embyro aquires 8 cells, one is able to be taken away while not destroying the embryo altogether, allowing it to be reimplanted into the womb and continue to live. “There is no rational reason left to oppose this research,” as said by Dr. Robert Lanza, and despite this there is still strong protest against pursuing the research.
I think its awesome they've found a way to get past the ethical issues. The people who oppose it don't have much to stand up for now and it's going to die fast and stem cell research will probably take a huge leap.
Cotton Mather
Cotton Mather was an influential Puritan Minister who wrote many books and pamphlets. He was born February 12, 1663 and died February 13, 1728. He is also vonnected with the Salem Witch Trials, providing spectral evidence. He was also the son of the very influential minister, Increase Mather.
Named after his Grandfather, John Cotton, he went through school and managed to graduate at the age of 15. Afterwards he joined his father as an assistant, taking his place once he died. He helped the nation bring on its second and third generation of Puritans and influenced people who had come over from England to bring back the theological roots of Puritanism.
He wrote over 450 books many of them being very important literary works brought out of Puritan Beliefs. The "Magnalia Christi Americana," composed of 7 different books, would be looked at by several different American writers who would see the books as a huge cultural signifigance to people of New England following the American Revolution. He would write his works drawing from the bible to enterpret it for his audiences. He tried to compare stories from the bible and life situations to try to connect it to historical events to make their venture seem more significant.
Cotton Mather was also involved in the Salem Witch Trials, providing spectral evidence, although he also said that his evidence wasn't something you could decide a case on. Afterwards though, he wrote that he would be thankful to god for the outcome of the trial.
He also happened help out in science being one of the first people to discover hybridization. He one day observed that part of his field had different color corn. His friends Indian Corn had mixed with a good few rows of his own corn. He also tried to help with a small pox epidemic in Boston. One of his slaves explained to him that he had been inoculated as a child. It was unsuccsesful at first but when he urged one doctor to carry the procedure out on his own family, the family recovered in about a week. Many people believed that it was actually spreading the disease rather than getting rid of it and forbade him to ever do it again.
Mather's Slaves also happened to be a bit different than your average slaves. Believing it was his duty to introduce slaves to christianity, he opened up an evening school to try to teach Blacks and Indians but it was only open for about 3 years. He also did not offer instructions on how to write only wanting them to know how to read the scriptures of the bible.
Named after his Grandfather, John Cotton, he went through school and managed to graduate at the age of 15. Afterwards he joined his father as an assistant, taking his place once he died. He helped the nation bring on its second and third generation of Puritans and influenced people who had come over from England to bring back the theological roots of Puritanism.
He wrote over 450 books many of them being very important literary works brought out of Puritan Beliefs. The "Magnalia Christi Americana," composed of 7 different books, would be looked at by several different American writers who would see the books as a huge cultural signifigance to people of New England following the American Revolution. He would write his works drawing from the bible to enterpret it for his audiences. He tried to compare stories from the bible and life situations to try to connect it to historical events to make their venture seem more significant.
Cotton Mather was also involved in the Salem Witch Trials, providing spectral evidence, although he also said that his evidence wasn't something you could decide a case on. Afterwards though, he wrote that he would be thankful to god for the outcome of the trial.
He also happened help out in science being one of the first people to discover hybridization. He one day observed that part of his field had different color corn. His friends Indian Corn had mixed with a good few rows of his own corn. He also tried to help with a small pox epidemic in Boston. One of his slaves explained to him that he had been inoculated as a child. It was unsuccsesful at first but when he urged one doctor to carry the procedure out on his own family, the family recovered in about a week. Many people believed that it was actually spreading the disease rather than getting rid of it and forbade him to ever do it again.
Mather's Slaves also happened to be a bit different than your average slaves. Believing it was his duty to introduce slaves to christianity, he opened up an evening school to try to teach Blacks and Indians but it was only open for about 3 years. He also did not offer instructions on how to write only wanting them to know how to read the scriptures of the bible.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Mayhem Within Mayhem
Mayhem within Mayhem
Black Metal, a sub-genre of Heavy Metal focusing on Satanism, the Occult, and almost anything else that seems inhumane, has spawned some artists that have gone to extremes to make themselves seem more “real” to the fans who enjoyed the dark life, especially within the Norwegian Black Metal scene. Most fans of the genre
wanting to stand up for their roots against Christianity would probably never go to the extremes of actually performing sacrifices, arson, and murder that had been seen in Norway, but these few had goals to be the most powerful beings man has ever seen.
With the rise of very prominent Black Metal bands in Norway came one band, called Mayhem, involved with some of the biggest incidents, such as over fifty supposed church burnings, that have come out of the Black Metal industry. Euronymous, one of the founding members of Mayhem, started Deathlike Silence Productions, the first record label to only support Black Metal, and also opened up his own record shop called “Helvete”, which became a big outlet when it came to Black Metal records. The band was dead center in the middle of the scene and often would come up with ways to exaggerate the ideas people who took the whole Satanist thing seriously.
One member of the band, nicknamed “Dead”, has gained publicity through self mutilation and was heard saying things like “I Like the way people react when they see my blood spewing everywhere.” Dead shot himself with a shotgun Euronymous owned leaving a letter that only said, “Excuse all the Blood” which began one of the biggest stories in Mayhem’s history. Upon finding the body, the band members were said to have taken pictures and pieces of his skull to make into a necklace. The pictures were stolen and used as a cover for a bootleg Mayhem album. People have also heard that parts of his brain were used for a stew but that was denied by the band but admitted they had in fact made necklaces from his skull.
Another member, Varg Vikerness, bassist at the time, is one of the most extreme people of almost anybody known in the genre. Euronymous and Varg, although band mates, had somewhat of a rivalry. Varg openly claims he thought Euronymous was weak and pitiful, speaking as if he was unfit to be such a big name in Black Metal and that he himself was somehow better than everybody else. The murder of Euronymous was committed by Varg in what he claims was an act of self-defense, but when explaining the situation on his website, it doesn’t seem like he was that bothered by killing him at all, in fact you could even say he had fun. Varg’s story explains that Euronymous was unhappy with Varg and actually plotted to kill him; Varg overheard this from a friend and began to play along with Euronymous’ set up. Making a trip to meet Euronymous he arrived at the building and as he walked in Euronymous’ door Varg made him jump causing him to kick Varg in the chest, starting the fight, it ended with Euronymous running from Varg who had a pocket knife and stabbed him in the forehead when he caught him, killing him.
There are still some bands today that claim to support insane acts such as this, most of this can probably be brought down to a publicity stunt, and the only band with any real controversy right now is Gorgoroth. When one of their shows in Poland had sheep heads, pentagrams, crucified nude models, a an 80 liter bloodbath, which was seen as a religious offense, it was prosecutable under Polish law. Many Black Metal bands today actually support their folk roots, and will glorify the aspects of their religion and acts involved in folk mythology usually fueled by the wave of Christianity that took over their countries in the old days. Black metal, having lost most of the serious evil that swarmed about it is more enjoyed for its sound and influence rather than finding the ultimate life of evil to claim power over everybody else.
Black Metal, a sub-genre of Heavy Metal focusing on Satanism, the Occult, and almost anything else that seems inhumane, has spawned some artists that have gone to extremes to make themselves seem more “real” to the fans who enjoyed the dark life, especially within the Norwegian Black Metal scene. Most fans of the genre
wanting to stand up for their roots against Christianity would probably never go to the extremes of actually performing sacrifices, arson, and murder that had been seen in Norway, but these few had goals to be the most powerful beings man has ever seen.With the rise of very prominent Black Metal bands in Norway came one band, called Mayhem, involved with some of the biggest incidents, such as over fifty supposed church burnings, that have come out of the Black Metal industry. Euronymous, one of the founding members of Mayhem, started Deathlike Silence Productions, the first record label to only support Black Metal, and also opened up his own record shop called “Helvete”, which became a big outlet when it came to Black Metal records. The band was dead center in the middle of the scene and often would come up with ways to exaggerate the ideas people who took the whole Satanist thing seriously.
One member of the band, nicknamed “Dead”, has gained publicity through self mutilation and was heard saying things like “I Like the way people react when they see my blood spewing everywhere.” Dead shot himself with a shotgun Euronymous owned leaving a letter that only said, “Excuse all the Blood” which began one of the biggest stories in Mayhem’s history. Upon finding the body, the band members were said to have taken pictures and pieces of his skull to make into a necklace. The pictures were stolen and used as a cover for a bootleg Mayhem album. People have also heard that parts of his brain were used for a stew but that was denied by the band but admitted they had in fact made necklaces from his skull.
Another member, Varg Vikerness, bassist at the time, is one of the most extreme people of almost anybody known in the genre. Euronymous and Varg, although band mates, had somewhat of a rivalry. Varg openly claims he thought Euronymous was weak and pitiful, speaking as if he was unfit to be such a big name in Black Metal and that he himself was somehow better than everybody else. The murder of Euronymous was committed by Varg in what he claims was an act of self-defense, but when explaining the situation on his website, it doesn’t seem like he was that bothered by killing him at all, in fact you could even say he had fun. Varg’s story explains that Euronymous was unhappy with Varg and actually plotted to kill him; Varg overheard this from a friend and began to play along with Euronymous’ set up. Making a trip to meet Euronymous he arrived at the building and as he walked in Euronymous’ door Varg made him jump causing him to kick Varg in the chest, starting the fight, it ended with Euronymous running from Varg who had a pocket knife and stabbed him in the forehead when he caught him, killing him.
There are still some bands today that claim to support insane acts such as this, most of this can probably be brought down to a publicity stunt, and the only band with any real controversy right now is Gorgoroth. When one of their shows in Poland had sheep heads, pentagrams, crucified nude models, a an 80 liter bloodbath, which was seen as a religious offense, it was prosecutable under Polish law. Many Black Metal bands today actually support their folk roots, and will glorify the aspects of their religion and acts involved in folk mythology usually fueled by the wave of Christianity that took over their countries in the old days. Black metal, having lost most of the serious evil that swarmed about it is more enjoyed for its sound and influence rather than finding the ultimate life of evil to claim power over everybody else.
Monday, January 28, 2008
40 Watts from Nowhere
Sue Carpenter has decided to start her own pirate radio, in her home. Sue talks to many different people trying to find the equipment and knowledge to start her own radio station. After a couple weeks she actually has a couple djs, and has even had a guest on the show, but due to her boyfriend's heroin addiction and fear of being arrested in her home, she decides to start new in L.A.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
A little Thrash For you!
Writing one: Thrash Metal
Davis Stickney
Thrash Metal is a sub-genre of Heavy Metal and is categorized with Death Metal and Black Metal as the extreme metal genres. The aggressive and heavy sound and fast tempos influenced by metal and punk rock are what created Thrash metal. The genre has been split up more and more making it possible to say there are some thrash bands that have a more hardcore punk rock sound such as crossover bands Suicidal Tendencies and Dirty Rotten Imbeciles tend sing more about politics and partying. Other thrash bands like Slayer or Destruction will talk more of the occult and Satanism.
One of the most important things in Thrash metal is the tempo of the music. The genre is played constantly and very fast which makes just sitting there and watching no fun at all. The technique used to play that fast often makes a train chugging sound. This speed allows people to head bang and move around at a fast pace while going along with the song. An example could be Sepultura’s drummer Iggor Cavalera who created a new sound of drumming incorporating tribal elements involving double bass patterns.
Lyrical themes for thrash metal songs stretch from sitting at home trying to find something to do, to spilling the blood of a virgin sacrifice. Many thrash bands often make it a point to have very evil themes and talk of brutal murders or church burnings and sociopath ideas to mock the mainstream culture and popular religions that don’t except there sound, kind of like creating something you know someone will hate. An example are the lyrics of Black Thrash metal band Toxic Holocaust – Death Camp:
The confusion sets in and you're lost in the smoke
Pleading for freedom, let us all go
Trapped here in hell, and killed one by one
Death will be certain, your time has come
Many bands also use the evil to not promote evil but to show the cruel acts that might be happening today. Many thrash bands have actually been banned in certain countries due to lyrical themes, Slayer’s album "Christ Illusion" was forbidden to be sold in India. The more punk rock like thrash bands tend to talk about the same punk rock ideas including politics, being put down by the man, and having fun. Lyrical themes that oppose evil is not entirely unheard of but is usually a theme of other metal genres.
Metal musicians are some of the most talented musicians you will find anywhere. Many thrash guitarists can play at phenomenal speeds with exceptional technique and is what can be known as "shredding". Different styles and techniques used to play thrash metal help keep the tune up with tempo. Guitarists will use combinations of sweep picking, alternate picking, scales, arpeggios and other characteristics that can actually be found in classical music and orchestra music. Shred guitarist Marty Friedman, guitarist for Megadeth and founder of Neoclassical Shred metal band Cacophony, is one of the most technical guitar players of the genre making all those techniques look like nothing.
Bassists, who often play without picks, usually are forced to use picks in order to keep up because playing fast with the use of your fingers takes a lot of finger strength. Although some bassists will still shun the use of a pick like ex-Metallica bassist Cliff Burton. Drummers also have to step it up a bit, literally, double bass pedals will be used by metal drummers to fill in notes that one bass pedal can’t fill in to give a heavier sound and faster tempo. Sometimes at shows all you can hear is the loud thunder of the drummer’s bass.
Performance’s can either be really theatrical or just a plain show depending on the band. More evil sounding thrash bands will dress themselves in chains and leather, as well as face paint, fake blood, and other things usually relating to something morbid and dark. Crossover thrash bands will usually be dressed in what they normally wear and just look like punks. One of the most important things about thrash shows are not just the band themselves but the amount and types of fans at the show, as this is where all the action is being brought out of the music with people moshing, head banging, as well as starting circle pits and walls of death, an act where the crowd separates in the middle during the beginning or climax of a song and run full force at each other to smash in the middle. Stage diving and crowd surfing is also done a lot. Acts like this can often be dangerous and maybe even deadly. So types of people really matter when your in the pit. Some people will be stupid and rather than having fun will try to start fights and pick on people. Many of the people are actually very friendly and will look out each other, picking up the fallen so they don’t get trampled and pushing people out of the pit when they can’t take it anymore, or getting rid of some unwelcome guest.
Thrash Metal carries skill, loudness and a liking for things out of the ordinary and has some of the most diehard fans that practically create what Heavy Metal culture is seen as today. Without the influence from Thrash fans and the incredible musicians that play for them, Heavy Metal itself would not be what it is today.
Davis Stickney
Thrash Metal is a sub-genre of Heavy Metal and is categorized with Death Metal and Black Metal as the extreme metal genres. The aggressive and heavy sound and fast tempos influenced by metal and punk rock are what created Thrash metal. The genre has been split up more and more making it possible to say there are some thrash bands that have a more hardcore punk rock sound such as crossover bands Suicidal Tendencies and Dirty Rotten Imbeciles tend sing more about politics and partying. Other thrash bands like Slayer or Destruction will talk more of the occult and Satanism.
One of the most important things in Thrash metal is the tempo of the music. The genre is played constantly and very fast which makes just sitting there and watching no fun at all. The technique used to play that fast often makes a train chugging sound. This speed allows people to head bang and move around at a fast pace while going along with the song. An example could be Sepultura’s drummer Iggor Cavalera who created a new sound of drumming incorporating tribal elements involving double bass patterns.
Lyrical themes for thrash metal songs stretch from sitting at home trying to find something to do, to spilling the blood of a virgin sacrifice. Many thrash bands often make it a point to have very evil themes and talk of brutal murders or church burnings and sociopath ideas to mock the mainstream culture and popular religions that don’t except there sound, kind of like creating something you know someone will hate. An example are the lyrics of Black Thrash metal band Toxic Holocaust – Death Camp:
The confusion sets in and you're lost in the smoke
Pleading for freedom, let us all go
Trapped here in hell, and killed one by one
Death will be certain, your time has come
Many bands also use the evil to not promote evil but to show the cruel acts that might be happening today. Many thrash bands have actually been banned in certain countries due to lyrical themes, Slayer’s album "Christ Illusion" was forbidden to be sold in India. The more punk rock like thrash bands tend to talk about the same punk rock ideas including politics, being put down by the man, and having fun. Lyrical themes that oppose evil is not entirely unheard of but is usually a theme of other metal genres.
Metal musicians are some of the most talented musicians you will find anywhere. Many thrash guitarists can play at phenomenal speeds with exceptional technique and is what can be known as "shredding". Different styles and techniques used to play thrash metal help keep the tune up with tempo. Guitarists will use combinations of sweep picking, alternate picking, scales, arpeggios and other characteristics that can actually be found in classical music and orchestra music. Shred guitarist Marty Friedman, guitarist for Megadeth and founder of Neoclassical Shred metal band Cacophony, is one of the most technical guitar players of the genre making all those techniques look like nothing.
Bassists, who often play without picks, usually are forced to use picks in order to keep up because playing fast with the use of your fingers takes a lot of finger strength. Although some bassists will still shun the use of a pick like ex-Metallica bassist Cliff Burton. Drummers also have to step it up a bit, literally, double bass pedals will be used by metal drummers to fill in notes that one bass pedal can’t fill in to give a heavier sound and faster tempo. Sometimes at shows all you can hear is the loud thunder of the drummer’s bass.
Performance’s can either be really theatrical or just a plain show depending on the band. More evil sounding thrash bands will dress themselves in chains and leather, as well as face paint, fake blood, and other things usually relating to something morbid and dark. Crossover thrash bands will usually be dressed in what they normally wear and just look like punks. One of the most important things about thrash shows are not just the band themselves but the amount and types of fans at the show, as this is where all the action is being brought out of the music with people moshing, head banging, as well as starting circle pits and walls of death, an act where the crowd separates in the middle during the beginning or climax of a song and run full force at each other to smash in the middle. Stage diving and crowd surfing is also done a lot. Acts like this can often be dangerous and maybe even deadly. So types of people really matter when your in the pit. Some people will be stupid and rather than having fun will try to start fights and pick on people. Many of the people are actually very friendly and will look out each other, picking up the fallen so they don’t get trampled and pushing people out of the pit when they can’t take it anymore, or getting rid of some unwelcome guest.
Thrash Metal carries skill, loudness and a liking for things out of the ordinary and has some of the most diehard fans that practically create what Heavy Metal culture is seen as today. Without the influence from Thrash fans and the incredible musicians that play for them, Heavy Metal itself would not be what it is today.
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