Sunday, September 28, 2014
Religion and Sex
Religion seems to be obsessed with two things: God and sex. God is the very basis of religion and that is what its teachings should deal with. Instead, religion seems to control the lives of its followers and is especially involved in sex. Catholic priests cannot be married and have sex; sex must only be had in a married couple; sex should only be used to reproduce; contraceptives are against God's will; sex between people of the same gender is sin. Religion seems to have made sex a taboo topic and shamed the participants. This sex-shaming society--a majority of the prejudice against females--has created more evil than good. Girls that choose to have sex at a young age are considered whores and are given less of a social worth than others. Hester Prynne has sex outside of marriage and faces punishment greater than could be imagined. When she tries to attend church to pray and forgive her sin, she becomes "the text of the discourse," (Hawthorne 82). Her self--and societal--worth has dropped because religion is obsessed with sex. This problem is mostly suffered by women, a double standard that is unacceptable; people should have the freedom to make choices that have no negative effects on others without judgement. Woman face being a prude or being a slut: two demeaning names for free sexual choice. Religion should stay out of the personal lives of its followers and those that happen to fall under the umbrella of its power. Separation of church and state already exists, so there might as well be a separation of church and bedroom.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Art and the Connection
On Friday, we discussed the article "Black Men and Public Spaces", analyzing the techniques the author used to help create a message. In fourth hour the same day, the whole Jazz Band listened to three pieces of music and made a similar analyzation. The way we discussed the message and the ways it was conveyed was alike; transitions, effects in sound, overall mood all were considered in both discussions. What does this mean? Varying forms of art are connected.
At 11:45 Thursday night, I looked up the week two vocab words and found that many of the definitions-- surrealism for example-- applied much beyond literature; a couple seemed to have the literary use as the second definition. Merriam-Webster defines it as "a 20th-century art form in which an artist or writer combines unrelated images or events in a very strange and dreamlike way," (merriam-webster.com). This, at least to mean, implies painting and sculpting. Even the example used on the vocab quiz was an example of a painting instead of an example found in writing. What does this mean? Varying forms of art are connected.
Right now, I am listening to Shofukan by Snarky Puppy. This song has many different parts, causing split up sections with different ways of portraying the same feeling. The way that these musicians chose to make this piece of music is similar to how I choose to write this; sections leading to a main point. What does this mean? Varying forms of art are connected.
Similar to a musical chorus, literature can have a repeated lines, and paintings may have a specific color scheme and details. The entire concept of all relation in art seems simple but many don't seem to see this; in fact, this realization struck me when I had two discussions on art work in two completely different classes Friday. "Something can be perfectly simple without being perfectly obvious" Mr. Aldinger says, and this is true for not only economics. What does this mean? Varying forms of art are connected.
At 11:45 Thursday night, I looked up the week two vocab words and found that many of the definitions-- surrealism for example-- applied much beyond literature; a couple seemed to have the literary use as the second definition. Merriam-Webster defines it as "a 20th-century art form in which an artist or writer combines unrelated images or events in a very strange and dreamlike way," (merriam-webster.com). This, at least to mean, implies painting and sculpting. Even the example used on the vocab quiz was an example of a painting instead of an example found in writing. What does this mean? Varying forms of art are connected.
Right now, I am listening to Shofukan by Snarky Puppy. This song has many different parts, causing split up sections with different ways of portraying the same feeling. The way that these musicians chose to make this piece of music is similar to how I choose to write this; sections leading to a main point. What does this mean? Varying forms of art are connected.
Similar to a musical chorus, literature can have a repeated lines, and paintings may have a specific color scheme and details. The entire concept of all relation in art seems simple but many don't seem to see this; in fact, this realization struck me when I had two discussions on art work in two completely different classes Friday. "Something can be perfectly simple without being perfectly obvious" Mr. Aldinger says, and this is true for not only economics. What does this mean? Varying forms of art are connected.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Perspective of Happiness and the Age Old Question: Is Ignorance Bliss?
Happiness is an individual achievement. Whatever makes one person happy may not do the same to another, and the reality of the situation is: that is okay. I enjoy skating, running, and playing music. Does that mean that everyone should enjoy those activities? Of course not. Does that mean that others should empathize and respect my right to self achievement and my pursuit of happiness? Yes. Even though someone may look at running and decide that it is a miserable activity and no one should ever run, realizing that differences exist in personality can help to understand the differences in lifestyle.
These same principles applies to sadness. Many would look into the life of Jeannette Walls and decide that her childhood was miserable and dark, and it may seem that way. But if instead we look at her own feelings toward her life, she was not sad at all. Walls "was happy in Battle Mountain" (50) even though the life she lived may seem to be miserable. This is where the book is realized to be not a sad story at all; the reader may see what happens and immediately decide that there is no way that anyone could still be cheerful in a situation like Walls faces. They are simply wrong. If Jeannette found happiness-- at least for the first years of her life-- in the crazy lifestyle she lived, then no one may say otherwise. In this way of thinking, happiness and sorrow are linked. As one looks deeper into the life of Walls, it is realized she is happy for two main reasons: ignorance of her abnormal life, and a positive outlook to outshine any outside influence. Her own ignorance causes her happiness and until Welch, she stays this way. Walls begins to understand the reality of her life as she sees "cute brick houses" (120) and other luxuries of the wealthy. She no longer has the veil of innocence to hide her happy, giddy child self behind and now strives for change. Ignorance is bliss and breeds happiness; the concept seems so backwards but is still true. But is ignorance still bad if it can make others happy? Even though Plato said "Ignorance, the root and stem of all evil," this may not always be true... A high schooler questioning a famous philosopher? Yup
In theme with individuality of happiness and sadness, the following video addresses two men who follow their dreams to ride-- on motorcycle-- from California to the Arctic Circle. Their own strive for self fulfillment may seem terrifying to others but still demands respect with the magnitude of their adventure.
These same principles applies to sadness. Many would look into the life of Jeannette Walls and decide that her childhood was miserable and dark, and it may seem that way. But if instead we look at her own feelings toward her life, she was not sad at all. Walls "was happy in Battle Mountain" (50) even though the life she lived may seem to be miserable. This is where the book is realized to be not a sad story at all; the reader may see what happens and immediately decide that there is no way that anyone could still be cheerful in a situation like Walls faces. They are simply wrong. If Jeannette found happiness-- at least for the first years of her life-- in the crazy lifestyle she lived, then no one may say otherwise. In this way of thinking, happiness and sorrow are linked. As one looks deeper into the life of Walls, it is realized she is happy for two main reasons: ignorance of her abnormal life, and a positive outlook to outshine any outside influence. Her own ignorance causes her happiness and until Welch, she stays this way. Walls begins to understand the reality of her life as she sees "cute brick houses" (120) and other luxuries of the wealthy. She no longer has the veil of innocence to hide her happy, giddy child self behind and now strives for change. Ignorance is bliss and breeds happiness; the concept seems so backwards but is still true. But is ignorance still bad if it can make others happy? Even though Plato said "Ignorance, the root and stem of all evil," this may not always be true... A high schooler questioning a famous philosopher? Yup
In theme with individuality of happiness and sadness, the following video addresses two men who follow their dreams to ride-- on motorcycle-- from California to the Arctic Circle. Their own strive for self fulfillment may seem terrifying to others but still demands respect with the magnitude of their adventure.
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