life's purpose is to be enjoyed, not to be programmed

            I believe in a reasonable rate of return. No, but I really believe that our society is backwards and the amount of effort put into our chosen lifestyles generally limits and hinders individuality and growth while taking up a large portion of our lives. Typically the only sure guarantees through schooling that involve monetary success require an intellect and years of training: primary, secondary, high school, college, grad school, or law school… This in turn, can take a lot of money should you not already be able to find or produce the funds on your own ensuring crippling debt and even slower progress. The tests and challenges that meet us our fleeting and merely seem catastrophic in their instance, while in the grand scheme they’re just as important as whether or not I had chocolate or vanilla cake for my 6^th birthday. Our system is built in an unoriginal and crippling manner. Before I seem anarchist, understand that no system breaches this realm and truly creates equality of chance and life. What I am saying is simply that life is fleeting and whether we’re concerned with good colleges, SAT scores, or whatever be it, we may end up at the same place and find it’s just as bodily and spiritually limiting as our most esteemed or lowly acquaintances. Birth grants advantages, but the money and ability to take advantage of these various systems merely makes our existence within them seem more accommodating and comfortable. There lacks the sense of adventure and lifelong pursuit in the general population once they are told to grow up and follow something that will grant them more tangible and “successful” results. 

Nukes, Diseases, Natural Disasters, and Organized Religion...

            There are two things that threaten this planet the most. Both are creations of man for certain purposes. In a way, they both maintain order through control and a fear/understanding of things that may come to pass. However, only one was created in the last one hundred years. The latter of the two is Project Manhattan, or more importantly, its product. The first is probably the most accepted and permeated having existed for thousands of years. It is any and all forms of organized religion. Through this have the greatest minds of our history been shunned, destroyed, or curbed by providing the “one and true answer.” In reality, there are many different forms of this one true, but they all threaten and inhibit the same things. They stand as moral teachings that eclipse the answers to deep questions in life. This not only severs any rational thought, but cauterizes it by scarring the idea of alternative answers as rebellious and a threat. It is this narrow minded focus throughout human history that has provided people after people the right and excuses to maim, enslave, and destroy one another. From Crusades to Spanish Inquisition to modern day Jihadists, the individual who allows their life’s questions to be answered so easily gives themselves up to these answers body and soul. It is in this that lies the true threat. Should anything compromise or challenge these answers, the individual’s life will be compromised and challenged. This is what leads the body and soul commitment to the destruction of the body, of either believer, blasphemer, or both, to the depths of whatever hell the persons see fit.

Too long have visitors abused the hospitality of the host...

            The finer points of playing grand theft auto IV. These all consist of playing the game through to its utmost potential. This means playing the story mode, side things, and challenges to have unlocked as much of the game as possible. At this point, you are allowed to use cheats. Now the best way to regulate having multiple to play is to use the money, weapons, and health cheat once. It is at this point that the player is to play until they die and if a felony hasn’t  been committed within 2 minutes the player faults. If this fault happens 3 times the player forfeits their turn. Using cheats is an automatic forfeit. Players are encouraged to hijack, loot, rob, and initiate mayhem just as if this were Fight Club. While using abilities gained through the cell phone are technically fair game, this is to be considered a weak way out where as targeting those abilities as hit and run subjects is endorsed. In the event of a dead end, players who have lost all of their ammo are required to make a dash for it. This can either be running enemy lines or vaulting and hoping you survive. Players who breach any of this etiquette may forfeit future turns upon review of the console owner who reigns supreme being.

i'm no vegetarian... make me a carcass not a vegetable

            I’m not entirely sure what you mean by desires, however, there are a few possibilities as to what it could be. My main thoughts are that it is his desire to live and to spread his message to the world. While it could very well be just a physical need for human interaction, I feel these bigger purposes are what truly motivated him and accommodated all of his necessities and urges as a being. He feels that he can serve others and the world by putting a face on violence and war. This could possibly halt the violence and unnecessary deaths all the while paying for his life and allowing him to interact with humans out  in the world. Even though he would be in a glass case and would terrify every being he came into contact with, for him it’s a purpose and a means of experiencing the world in his present state. This is all better than being cooped up mentally with no outlets to allow him to feel more human and to give his life any semblance of meaning. If I were in his situation, I would be insane and want to be offed. Unplug me should I be in his spot. Documentation of my existence alone would be sufficient to prove that war is awful. Those given the chance to survive violence may not always want to remain in their state with no chance of returning to their previous lives.

happy ending?

            The end of the book is completely depressing. It is probably the most depressing thing I’ve read in a very long time since I Am Legend (and I don’t mean the warped Will Smith cinematic take on it). What probably makes this book the most depressing and difficult to read is the fact that the conclusions reached by Johnny are completely accurate and most likely one hundred percent true. No one wants to talk to the utterly crippled human pulp of war and understand its humbled take on life. They just want to decorate it, make it a standard to rally the troops, and plunge forward all the while forgetting about it. The fact is that current soldiers and those hoping to gain more numbers do not want the maimed survivors to be able to speak or show the true face of violence. This encumbers and destroys the support. It doesn’t seem all too unlikely that the government or army would also bury this person if they attempted to raise hell. Johnny draws too much attention in their eyes by merely flopping on a bed with one person exposed to him at a time. This causes them to dope him up and silence him, but it’s clearly obvious that were he able to actually retain any one of his former limbs or senses they might have few qualms with quarantining him to a similar state to the one he actually exists in.

ummm... why is my blog locked

            This essay is essentially American colonization propaganda. It sites predictions and events that will turn out to be contradictory just as many controversial claims made in bold expansionist and military whims of American administrations. From the Philipines fighting back to Cuba hating us, these events could all very easily turn into their own miniature Vietnams. The only difference between this big shot calling for American dominion over the world and its actual happening is the fact that these cited examples are minor and didn’t cover as large populations for these long times. While many US troops were killed in the Philipines and Cuba hates us to this day, it is and always will be the voices in Washington that call for the troops to be sent every which way in the name of whatever cause the loudest voices can rally behind. The book on the other hand would go completely against this saying that there is no predestined glory of the United States and the only sure thing about these conflicts and actions is that their will be a loss of life and self in their completion. This is the only sure thing that the soldiers shall face.

did you lock your door? Islam is coming...

            This essay strikes me as being almost the polar opposite of Trumbo. While Trumbo argues for the needlessness of death and fighting when the individuals don’t even really get a choice in the matter, D’Souza says that they don’t need a choice. There actions in the military alone serve as the sign that our army and nation is unified. However, she used very odd examples in making her statement that single handedly caused me to pause and think. The first big glare was separation of church and state in the US. We are NOT the best example in the Western world of this, as you can see with individuals basing their votes off of religious doctrine or beliefs derived from it (abortion, gay marriage, etc…) We have the largest church going population out of these Western nations and it’s not plausible to say that this doesn’t have repercussions. Secondly, it’s a large jump to make both the comparisons of the Spanish Inquisition and that of Sparta. The Inquisition was severely limited in its spread and couldn’t reach world wide; it was what happens when a few looney religious kooks get in charge. Terrorism is not embraced and supported by a majority, in fact, by nature it must be minority. This example suggests that all of the people in the Middle East support or endorse terrorism and that those who didn’t would have already been silenced or killed by it. The Sparta point is unique in the sense that it relates terrorism to a militarily powerful and cunning Greek city-state. While it does fit in her vein of terrorism, or the “Islamic threat to the West,” Sparta also suggests that a larger more organized political entity or people is attempting to formally subjugate the West. Her essay is modeled to create a doctrine of war. It is in the hopes of unifying a nation or people, as it almost blames citizens for losing Vietnam since we failed to understand its gravity. Trumbo and D’Souza are polarizing ideologies that would publically condemn each other as the hoora for war/simon says and the cowardly force that’s making our nation vulnerable/ causing us to lose.

Trumbo # 5

            Thoreau is basically spitting in Trumbo’s face. If the two of them were to meet, Thoreau would thoroughly scold and mock Trumbo for his character’s participation in something meaningless that they did not understand without protest. While it’s true that Trumbo is technically just bashing the war, they do agree on the issues of the imagery of a true virtuous and strong soldier. Both tear this character down to being worse than the lowliest maggot or made of clay with no real substance to call their own creation. Thoreau can just bash Trumbo either as he does flee to a lake and refuse to pay taxes. This is his complete removal of government support, however, it’s not quite the activist attitude. This, in his own mind, is the most productive way to sway a majority or ruling group affectively in  a democracy. Trumbo may not necessarily disagree with him. In the novel, he does make the point to show that it’s “cowardly” and dangerous to attempt to desert or not report for action. However, he later makes the point that going just costs more than you’re willing to give and those mindless soldiers who obey the calls of “honor” just end up in shoe boxes. Thoreau would more likely tell Trumbo that he’ll be truly honorable to end up in jail for desertion. 

what the hell have i been reading...

            Johnny Got his Gun is probably the most uniquely written novel I have ever read. While this may not say a lot about my usual choice in books, it is a unique take on portraying a theme which I find engaging and slow at the same time. It is possible to be taken into any of the single accounts of the main character or to begin to work out the different metaphors and physical ailments being suffered. The only problem is the fact that there are so many in the point of a trade off of every other chapter. It’s completely possible that I may be missing something, but to me the book seems somewhat redundant only it is able to pull this off by using highly articulate ideas and themes. Each metaphor develops the points further as the novel progresses, however, this causes me to think about whether it could be done more concisely without taking one hundred pages to build the same points and bring them to light. While I’m only on page one hundred, even though we’re supposed to be around 120 for tomorrow…shhh, The book seems to be following a very strict theme that could turn dangerously bad for the book should it not branch out away from its own creativity and style.

american idiots for american idol

            American idol has become a senseless dribble of hacks and morons. It’s commercialized to the point where they have filler content of stupid skits or behind the scenes footage or bonus materials from the singers. This is pointless in retrospect to the competition as no one needs to see them acting like children or trying to give off certain public image vibes. The judges are another affliction that is slowly killing this program. Originally there were three judges, but apparently over time between the pissy Brit, the drunken maniac who thinks everyone’s got talent, and the chill personality that can “feel” when people are stars, the show supposedly needed another judge. This is where the new lady came in with relatively no purpose at all other than to balance out some negativity and some over positive behavior. Now we have the new singers. It’s become acceptable to allow a broadway singer to make it to the final four even though they’ve had formal parts and training. It’s even been allowed to let people with actual talent and passion to get kicked off. The show is commercial based off of personalities and who gets the most support. Of course, it is no surprise since America doesn’t have a musical PhD, however, the reliability of the country to make educated decisions in relation to the show is frighteningly sad.

Summer Blockbusters

This summer will be the release of numerous anticipated films. Amongst the typical smash and grab action films, where the sudden violent robbery on screen is no different than the point of this movie in stealing your money in its first few weeks, are the summers main foci. Between fillers the summer actually kicks off in theaters in May. From expansions and remakes of old concepts and story lines to the next in a long series with a bewitched following, the summer proves to be promising both in content and in sales revenues. Two films to keep an eye out for apart from whatever might catch your eye and be widely publicized are Public Enemies in July and Inglorious Bastards in August. The idea of the next Harry Potter is appealing to many, myself included, but it takes a persistent theater enthusiast to uncover the stories and trailers of under publicized movies. Public Enemies features a 40's Capone-esque mob boss (Depp) and his cop hound (Bale). With Christian Bale being shown wrestling robots and climbing threw apocalyptic dumpsters its no surprise that this more subtle film has slipped under the radar. The last movie is unsurprisingly somewhat of a secret and placed at the end of the summer. Two words: Quentin Tarantino... This Nazi film may carry recognizable stars, Pitt among them, but the concept of this early Italian film has gone way beyond its predecessor. Torture and maiming run rampant in this under the radar film as Tarantino threw on some final touches in Europe this year...

somalian pirates weeeeee!!!!

Last night i saw the funniest South Park i have seen in a long time. While they have been on an upward spiral in quality and social critique, this was the absolute pinnacle of their performance. By giving Cartman disney world pirate's of the carribean kid characteristics and then shipping him to somalia the two ideals of pirating completely collide cause the fairy tale version to crash and burn. While some racism and cultural slams do exist in the show, the up beat singing of a scarred and AK-47 wielding crew carrying a tune can cause even the most skeptical viewers to laugh their ass off. From a racial joke crowning the show regarding the american military to the timeless crack at French bravery, the show brings in and encompasses multiple cultural aspects. It breaks down and mocks numerous aspects to both modern piracy and cultural trends within the US. 

i doooo declare, i don't want to have to work the fiellllds where's my corset

            I believe what I have been raised to believe. Both through media perceptions and social standing I have been influenced and seen certain aspects of life typically associated with a gender and although this might not draw the thought that it’s a man vs a woman’s job or action to mind it is still associated with characteristics, and through this, the gender that society deems is to be associated with it. I believe that we are genetically and scientifically different that girls. While this from case by case may mean a given average male might be stronger than a random average girl, these are all still random cases that take individualism out of account. Characteristics and general exceptions to typical traits might be passed on within a group and while these will make the individual stand out, either positively or negatively, they exist none the less to show that there is no one definition or rule to genders. My family, the media, and my classmates have defined what gender means to me. Through this I believe that the world and its history has determined my perception. The girls at school hating to get dirty or play sports, although there were those who did enjoy these things, saw it or heard it from somewhere. The people they got it from saw it or heard it from somewhere and it goes all the way back to where women were expected to dislike manual labor and getting their hands dirty and sweaty. MY point being that our cultural perceptions today come from outdated and laughed at pieces of history, only ironically we indirectly never escaped their marks.

If Atlas and Wonder Woman had a child.... I would be that wonder....

            In Ortiz’s story the media plays the role of a standard. It’s a standard that she constantly holds herself too and compares herself against. Apart from the fact that she’s far too young to be setting herself up against full grown adults, her fellow classmates don’t even fully comprehend why they’re supposed to find certain characteristics appealing and others not. They merely respond to what they see as socially popular and this carries down into their school system. It’s through these events that you can begin to get such twisted scenarios as an elementary or middle school girl trying to beef up and get strong just like the “Atlas man.” Between this and Wonder Woman, her aspirations are high placed and ridiculously impossible. She looks for perfection and tries to achieve it, but realistically this is impossible, but she is too young to realize and understand this fact. The media serves as her social blue print. She and others are constantly comparing her to different things in different lights and never just taking in how she looks as merely being something unique. Any differences seen are frowned upon and tormented leading her to torment herself in a pursuit for unachievable perfection.

416

Yes, I support gay marriage rights. Even if I didn’t take into account the numerous people and family members that I know who are gay, I would still support gay marriage. I would think this on the fundamental level of human rights. Growing up in a democratic society where I’ve been taught to treat people the same as I want to be treated, it just seems logical and natural. The fact that it is a complicated issue almost seems absurd to me. I can follow the arguments and train of thought geared by religious belief, although I may disagree. It’s the people who are against it without religious cause that bother me the most. It’s homophobia and fear that keeps these people in this light. It is truly sad because it’s not their fault they think this way, but they must still be considered in the view of their own ways of thinking even if they were taught. This is why I believe in gay marriage rights. It’s a combination of a sense of equality and the fact that I see no good reason why me, or any other person for that matter, should tell gays otherwise. 

Members of the Jury.... you're being pigheaded homophobes

            Through both analyzing of the anecdotes and his neutral view of what was morally wrong with these emotionally straining situations his legal expertise emerged. Between that and the outright list of legal disadvantages to not being formally and civilly bound to another being. The title itself carries the tone of defining a term’s definition and legal implication. By this, it is easy to dissect points without the implication and weight of attaching it to any particular sexuality or group. This black and white view is a base for the author to build off of by breaking a claim down to the most basic level (much like a legal case). It is here where the emphasis is placed to rebuild a new image that supports Wolfon’s views. At this point it’s just hoping the jury, the readers, will not allow their own views into their judgement. It’s really it’s most effective and strongest against those who who are impartial or don’t have an opinion. Building up a case will not dissuade someone who already has decided to be against it as they’re too opinionated and will see every point as a broken point and might just ignore the valid ones altogether. Those who have a pro stance don’t really matter as they shouldn’t need much convincing.

shame shame sneaky conservative

            The plane metaphor seems very loose and disparate from the main points of the piece. The idea is that one plane has better odds than the other. The odds in this analogy are supposed to be relatively good for each plane, but the focus is that we would always pick the one that has slightly better odds if it were as black and white as a plane (which it is not). The other point I got out of this other than the fact that it seems very general is that it doesn’t take into account exactly what odds are: gambling. Even statistically if one is better on a more usual basis, theoretically that’s where we’d get our do good citizens and members of society. The less sure plane would crash every now and then, but it would also churn out more rewarding results than the first plane. We might randomly get the next Ghandi or philosopher. I think the analogy is simply trying to place the idea that it’s an easy decision to choose normal marriages over single parenting or same sex marriage and it even has the slight implication that it’s dangerous and unstable. The author does a good job of trying to seem balanced and neutral during this entire piece, but like this analogy, some sections of it betray a train of thought that is carried and argued by the author.

how does a bomber jacket and a bus stop make you gay...

            She waits a while to liken the story to any other image of gender discrimination the reader might know. It draws upon a scenario that the reader might not know personally, but has heard of. By doing this she opens the door to a new level of violence that is not to be expected. She discloses this to show that allowing homophobic tendencies to exist isn’t just a threat to everyone, but permeates extreme violence and hatred that is disgusting and a blemish on society. While this connection might make some straight people care merely because it endangers themselves or others they know who aren’t gay, to me, it just goes to show how ignorant, moronic, and sad most of those who abuse homophobes are. It shows you that this violence is like a drunken rage towards a group where the only intoxicating and blinding substance is the individuals own ignorance, limited personality and acceptance, and damaged intellect. Sadly this is affective for some who find the violence might strike them for no reason, but I believe it merely accents the fact that it isn’t so much the fact that it exists anymore, as to some extent blind ignorant hate always will, but it’s the fact that there are still cases of it going unimpeded and unreported by citizens observing it. 

not quite Eustace, not quite...

            Eustace Conway strives to be a transcendentalist, but fails to fully escape from societal standards physically. Mentally, he fully supports and glorifies nature and the forces behind it in his day to day life in the style of the Native Americans. However, he soon finds out how unrealistic it is to be able to transcend society’s characteristics, no matter how ugly they might seem, to achieve his own personal freedom. He finds himself being pulled back again and again to meet expectations provided to him by society so that he may further appreciate and understand his own dreams. Gilbert feels that Eustace was able to transcend the limitations of society and life placed before him. Through proving his own fortitude and endurance in his journeys to going beyond the norm of societal standards and achieving turtle island Eustace goes above himself, and the world he lives in, time and time again. I do not feel that he was a true transcendentalist. He may have transcended his physical limitations as a human, but emotionally and characteristically he was unable to move forward and adapt to the people around him. He was a product of his father and he was never able to beat that connection and remained chained to the same high standards that he once faced.

oh you and your silly childish petulance

“The misery of man appears like childish petulance,  when we explore the steady and prodigal provision that has been made  for his support and delight on this green ball which floats him through the heavens.” These lines speak to me because unless you’re born into slavery, destitute poverty, or a warzone, life offers a bounty of things from which to draw joy. Even the farmer who lacks material possessions may find pleasure and comfort in moving across fields and pasture lands under blue skies. The world is full of comforts and joys ranging from experiences shared with others to awe inspiring sights. The following statements after this quote even talk about the ease and power we have over experiencing the world as we choose by travel and technology, yet we all, at some point or another, choose to get swept up in the little things. It is not the fact that there are a million other girls in the world that strikes the broken guy, but the hard break up he went through. It’s not the pleasures of succeeding in six classes, but the sorrow of failing the seventh. To some extent, everyone experiences a shallow perception that focuses on the negative, but when taken into the bigger picture it seems irrelevant and minor. This is what that quote is all about and the fact that it is in very understandable terms makes it all the more true and deep.

Man of Destiny

I think Elizabeth Gilbert fell in love with him, and his idea of a man of destiny, to the point of attempting to further his outreach into the world to instigate some form of connection between this man and "normal people." She uses the last little story and testimony of Dave to bring this in. This is one of the most in depth and positive accounts in the book as far as taking things away from Eustace and applying them to the individual's life. It also serves as the end of the book to leave the reader with a positive feeling about Eustace, what he stands for, and the possibility of being able to learn and grow as an individual similarly to Dave. While the book does tend to bring out Eustace as a character and at times this can be raw and corrosive, this only serves to show that this man is aspiring to be a symbol for something greater than himself (which is not a task most people take on). The book serves as an ode to this man and his journey as he develops and tries to change the world in a way that he sees as practical. It tries to humanize his ideals and life in a way that someone looking from a city industrial life could understand and glean some of his message. Eustace made his journey traveling to talk to groups and taking on those he can educate over the summer. The book serves as a way to break down his message and goals in a way that we can understand them better in the way that they're embodied by this single person. It allows the reader to look past his faults to the bigger picture.

Bible Belt

            Richard Wright is taught morality through severe and sustained beatings during any act that broke moral standards. In a way he was left to himself all the way up until Grammar school and had largely existed in the world on his own. From going to bars and interacting in town life on his own, he had developed his own consciousness long before he went to school. His family taught him through church and the violence it enacted upon him whenever he acted out of line. In this case, it was once again fundamentally bible thumping southern religion that educated his family. This and societal pressures of being black in the South strongly controlled what material and upbringing he was exposed to. He predominantly learned through social interactions, but many of these interactions were through ethical god fearing people. All of his reactions and interactions were dictated in some way by people who were taught by the bible or church. Those who were not taught by the church were self educated. It was these people who went to great lengths to obtain material and expand themselves on a more basic social level rather than turning to the spiritual. 

i'm not really sure...

            At the end of the novel, Wright realizes something about American culture as a whole and the people within it. He realizes that even in their attempts at unity and understanding they cannot embrace what they do not understand and there is a restless complacency within the culture. Even whites in control who run the country are not happy and living their lives completely. To this extent, the blacks have no hopes or direction to aspire to be in which they can possess and enjoy full and meaningful lives when there is no one who can show the masses their own as an example. Even in the attempts of the communists to form their just and theoretically sound society, they cast members aside and force those they do not understand or care about to fall beneath them. He once again seeks to find meaning in a world where everything is upset and meaningless. I do believe that there is a general shallowness to societies as a whole and an imperfection amongst and between various groups within the world. I agree that with those who do not know how to achieve the hypothetical goals they desire it is difficult and dangerous to pursue them without hurting and injuring many. The world is still developing itself and attempting to move forward in its pursuit of a truly utopian and equal society where nothing is unexplained and unjust.

politicians vs artists

            I agree with Wright’s theory to an extent. In a situation, like Russia pre USSR or segregated US, early political movements are in need of numbers, public eye, and action. Politicians pursue these ends and seek numbers of people who will not only pledge support, but be active members that can instigate change. They need a majority of the unthinking masses to upset the system. Artists, who may be attracted by the idealism behind it, will seek to express their take on the glory or horrors of the theories through imagery. This can only serve to rally the support of other intellectuals or artists who can grasp the deeper meaning of the pieces. This does not serve the politicians purposes and while they are semi grateful for the support of a different group, they do not particularly care about them. The leaders desire a manifestation in the streets, not an isolated theorist with paper. What can change this, however, is in the even that the movement has established a large enough base and is kicking off as a major faction. Should this take place, artists and other groups of the given party will be used to spread the ideals to new and less understanding parties in an attempt to bolster ranks and make their thoughts supported and intricately stated. The politician has no need for the artist to begin his movement, but should it succeed or last he needs the artist in order to maintain control and spread ideology. The cast down artist is also the easiest and most dangerous form of dissent against the faction.

building a base 101

A single voice has the complete capability of moving a crowd. Various conditions must be met in order for this to happen and these can all change case by case depending on the common ground of the crowd, their goals, and what emotive or intellectual tools are used. A crowd that is feeling targeted or slighted for example, can be whipped up into a fervor very simply by a passionate clamor for justice and action. This on its own might even kick the group into motion depending on the individual’s terms. Whipping up an objectively distant and purely intrigued crowd can be quite different. Finding common ground is necessary. Without the fervor, there may be those in the crowd who can call out and dispute whatever the voice has to say. It takes a well spoken and informed individual to persuade a neutral crowd, and in the event that they are persuaded action will not be possible. It takes time for ideas to set in, opinions made, and convictions developed. Building up a neutral crowd will generally take repeated exposure and persuasion. If cards are not played correctly, a single voice can just as easily drive people away with their fervor or thoughts if they seem radical or irrational to the masses.

waitresses

            Wright extensively comments on the women who wait at his diner. He doesn’t exactly spare them any scorn, but he doesn’t do anything over the top either. His comments are a kind of reserved pitying that they can’t help themselves. What his comments do reveal is that  he has very unique qualities typically found with the “lost generation” ideals. His thoughts all carry the trademark of disapproving and being disgusted with the consumerism that the US has descended to. His judgments of their reserved shallow emotions seem a little harsh. I’m not sure it’s true that they will  live their lives void of emotions, but his passive diagnosis of their careless simplicity does suit them for the time. Their lowly station and stature at the time is a chief reason to their obliviousness towards complexities and facing real issues. While many of the blacks Wright knew turned to religion or communal/familial relations, the whites tended to focus on the same material possessions that the culture dictates, but they specifically could do very little do to their lack of money. While they could afford to spend little of their money they tossed it aside none the less in attempts to make their lives the societal norm and blind themselves to the difficulties and stark ugliness of life.

progress

            While I’m not exactly sure what the question refers to, I do believe that all of the actions, minus the boxing, that Wright takes to get him where he needs to be are good and necessary. He takes his own rebellion and education into his own hands and strikes out mentally against the South. He also is ending his era of southern oppression. His finishing up the job at the Optical Factory marks the end of his saga in the South. His last exchange with Shorty epitomizes Wright’s thoughts. His fears and dread of the South is the idea of never being able to escape and the death that comes with that. The death would be that of bondage and stuck in a rut that you can never escape or waiting for the swift and violent fury to randomly descend on you one day. While Wright does put all of his hopes into the North this also sets him up for possible emotional let down should it not turn out to be particularly better. While this is true, it is still a much safer and more open environment with less likely hood of him being beaten to do. Overall it’s difficult to state if his decisions are productive, because it’s impossible to tell what pursuits of his turn out to be constructive. The only thing that makes it undisputably a good decision is the fact that it is his pushing away from the systems he hates even if it leads to more low places, it’s still progress.

Societal Subservience - Lack of Individuality

            Subservience is a necessary part to living. Without subservience there would be no social order and the world would be chaotic. The actual definition of subservience implies unquestionable following, but this is the downside of subservience. This is giving up yourself to powers greater than you. What is important is the ability to retain yourself in subjugating circumstances in an effort to get by or improve your lot. The only system that lacks theoretical subservience is communism. Here you are still a slave to your fellow workers and those who are placed above you and deem that you must give yourself up for the communal good. Other forms of government or societal layering also require subservience, which in turn is how we have ordered structure and boundaries. What is ideal in this effort is using your retained personable ideals to deem when it is necessary to break away from the power in which you follow to something you assume is better. This is what Wright pursues in his forced working in the South. He builds up until he can move north. On a larger scale it may seem whimsically anarchist to say that any upset individual wronged by the system can upturn society, but this cannot be done by oneself. In a world where a large group is wrongfully subjugated or has supporters can change be initiated on a large scale.

coping with the south

            He had begun interacting with the White world after years of standing up for himself, his beliefs, and fighting authority. After his years of doing this with whites in the back of his mind, he was finally cast out into the real world without ever having actually experienced the harsh realities or violence first hand. It was then that he went into shock and pulled back into himself unable to interact at all. His way of life that he had been raised on had been shattered. He could no longer react, talk, and act the way he normally would without serious repercussions on his life. This manifests itself in nearly all of his jobs. It begins the most obviously with the factory optician’s job where he learns that blacks have a place and boundaries that he never learned. His constant push up breaches these boundaries and goes beyond the lowly levels that whites want blacks to stay in. The next most obvious reaction is that as a hotel bellman. He wants to fight and stand up to the night guard who gropes a girl, but gets a hold of himself just before pushing the guard into shooting him. The final point when he begins to give up and force himself to take risks in this dark world in order to escape is when he takes part of the movie theatre operation. This coupled with the stealing is his last ditch effort to cope and escape a world he didn’t belong in.

read my own words

I believe Wright is justified. The only thing that makes me hesitate is whether I, or anyone else for that matter, would be able to follow suit. I think societal life threatening pressures are a difficult thing to over come even as far as moral values that are ingrained in your being go. It speaks a great deal about him that he was able to face authority and the domineering system and go against it. Even the ability to speak out against a crowd consisting of Whites says a lot about him and his character. He sacrificed a safe future in the South, bribes, and personal safety merely to secure his own personal beliefs. This is justifiable, but foolish. His actions clearly send him on a path of isolation and rebellion. I’m honestly surprised he bended his will to hold the optics factory job. The main reason I think it was necessary for him was its use as a marker for how he would be unable to advance in the Southern world on his own while still resisting the influence of that system unscathed. This lesson would become paralleled with that of his bending his will in the ‘factory’ and still meeting unfair treatment and cruelty. I think by choosing both paths he was able to reach the conclusion that there was no guarantee of survival and well being under any circumstances in the community in which he lived.

i'll shank you uncle tom

Wright became angry with his uncle because that was yet another example of an unjustifiable beating. His uncle represents the way of life that typical blacks lead. He had a lowly profession and was forced to live in crowded conditions with his family. He senselessly beat younger relatives who spoke out of turn or didn’t fit with his cultured familial standards. What Wright has reached, is a point where it is no longer acceptable to him to be beaten or mistreated by his family. Wright developed socially and mentally on his own outside normal societal rules and his ideals towards self righteousness, defense, and justice make him shocked on a daily basis with the short tempers and normal lifestyles of his own family and community. What really sent him over the edge with his uncle was the fact that he was not someone Wright aspired to or respected. He was a poor black man who had no place disciplining Wright and knew absolutely nothing about the boy. This sort of unjust presumption sent Wright over the edge and into an hysterical fear that he has fallen back on in last ditch efforts many times. What Wright doesn’t necessarily understand is that his uncle was merely trying to condition him for the world he lives in and by doing this and taking away his free spirit and ideals he would ensure more safety and ease with which to live. Wright was upset because these ideals were not something he was willing to sacrifice for anyone.

indian lady walks into the lake... the end

Wright’s writing was the first piece of self expression he was ever able to produce. Wright’s environment, be it his family or just the South in the 1900’s, had strict moral and social codes that Wright struggled to live in. Any attempt to speak or act out based off of what he felt was right or natural was treated with quick and violent retribution and damnation. Wright’s writing was the first piece of creativity and personality that he was able to create. By writing his story, he was marking a testament to his ability and differences. He was a literate young black with a different set of values and ambitions in life. The story was his badge of resilience and resistance to the world that he was placed in. The lady’s reaction was merely evidence of the general idea that others could not understand him and would not appreciate or get his passion. Wright had to fight for his education and that story was the proof that he had achieved success on some level. He had been ousted from multiple schools and forbidden to read novels, but he allows his imagination to develop something of its own and apply itself to his skill set. Other than his final stance against his grandma about working on Saturday, which was only appreciated by his mother, this was the beginning of his mental self development and independence which would soon be followed by his physical development and independence. 

sonofabitch bucket

            Wright’s initial response to his mother’s paralysis was one of fear and anxiety. Up until this point in the book when he was “coming of age,” Wright viewed his mother as a figure of power, authority, reason, and invulnerability. Other than his Uncle dying, he never really experienced a first hand loss in the family. His uncle didn’t even necessarily count as his mother and brother were probably the two closest people to him. At this point his sole provider that he trusted and counted on throughout his entire life could no longer fend for herself let alone her children. This was an earth shattering experience for Wright and he had no other close relative to turn to. It was around now that he began to internalize his reactions and emotions. This is the first time in the book where he responds diligently and obediently without a burst or act of rebellion. His longing changes from one of food, justice, and fleeing North to the more realistic goals of making his own living, becoming independent, and being to provide for his mother. His behavior at this point in the book settles down and matures to more of an adult role, as he admits in his reactions with his aunts and uncles. His age betrays his experiences and the loss of his mother as a provider is just one more notch on the warped path that is his life. 

fight racism with racism

            Growing up as a black in the south marks use as the bottom rung of the social order and society. This on its own is difficult to understand and deal with on a day to day basis. As a small child, it can be particularly difficult to grasp and fully comprehend. By providing a group, particularly much smaller and able to be blamed by a religious institution that many people, not just blacks turned to especially in rural areas, they can feel above at least one more class or group. It’s building yourself up to at least provide yourself with the assurance that you are not as bad as “those others.” This can be something mental for all who were treated as second class citizens, but as a small child it is especially hard to understand why things are the way they are. He was never explained to why whites and blacks were treated differently, but he grows up with an innate fear. This fear carries over into every interaction he has with a white. By having a group of people you fear interactions with and aspire to go down fighting against as with the case of the woman and her dead husband, it pays to have a group you can vent your frustrations and hatred against. As a group who understand and knows racism so well, it is forced into their culture and, unfortunately, gets carried over into interactions with groups they think they’re above. 

i'm hungry too!

He was hungry for something different and separate than the normal life that he was facing. In moments before he attempted to change his direction in life or his surroundings he would complain of hunger. I think his hunger was all centered around his desire for improving his own lot. He yearned to learn and be someplace different where he wasn’t oppressed or put down. It was all his own self determination and goals to go somewhere else. The hunger appears when his father first leaves them, at the orphanage when he tries to run, and when he meets his father again. It’s his own stubborn refusal to bend to the will of Ms. Simone and his father.  He maintains his own self control and destiny by refusing to bend to the will of others no matter what the rewards might be. In the orphanages the other kids also had the same hunger, but he was the only kid who fled the building and tried to find his way on his own. Although he was dragged back by the police, it was still his actions and attempt to find his own way that set him apart.

down with the institution

            As far as it goes, schooling would only be unnecessary in a world where one or both parents could stay home to educate their children up to an 8^th grade level. At this point basic knowledge is acquired and a general interest of what field or place in society they might fill has been narrowed down. Since parents can’t do this fundamental schooling is essential. When a high school level education follows I do not find it practical or necessary to fulfill an entire curriculum that is not relevant to your life. While I personally think US history is knowledge we should all possess in the United States, it is in fact, and sadly enough, irrelevant and unknown to a large portion of our population. High school is where specialization begins to occur, but not on a precise enough level. To this extent schooling is unnecessary beyond developing social interactions and relationships with peers. It gives you a general dose of real life while pushing your knowledge. I think our educative system is designed to narrow down and focus progressively, but it might not move fast enough. Some students may find themselves progressively more and more bored the higher up they go. I think this is an early sign of where they might end up socially in society, but it does not necessarily mean it will happen. School isn’t vital; you can learn basic skills and values at home. What becomes important is the specification of the set of skills you decided to take beyond a fundamental level.

yay uhs

I think my non academic education is the most valuable education available. It isn’t black or white. It isn’t all objective, but pulls in matters that go beyond a classroom. You are taught to apply reasoning to the world around you and develop your own opinions. Simply being educated sets you up with a general knowledge or ability to go into a field. It still leaves you as a worker monkey that only knows how to do things. Being able to interpret your world and develop social skills is a key way to function and build off of this knowledge. Fundamental academics are only the building blocks. Non academic courses allow you to grow off of what you know and follow your own path as you see it. Academic courses can be vital for a group of individuals who want to go into very select and difficult fields, but beyond the thought that the whole country wants to become physicists it won’t be an issue. I don’t think voting or functioning in society can be applied with general academic knowledge either. I believe strongly in learning from experiences of your own and of others. Going beyond the basic categories allows you to build this pool of experiences to carry into your own life. It’s more fulfilling and appealing to draw from a variety of sources to understand where you want to focus. 

rhhhhheeetoric

Well other than the fact that I found out that both Steve and Erin completely failed on giving me pictures that they wouldn’t use, I enjoyed most of the pictures and presentations. Our class generally focused on carmel landscapes, buildings, and themes all of which could carry over into one another’s presentations. Some pictures carried over into clothing or random things, but some of the pictures were particularly visually appealing. Some of the things pointed out weren’t necessarily as stereotypical or unique as I would’ve taken them on my own. Nothing against Tina, but I would’ve said she dressed in that way to present the image of being unique and originality. This is semi true, but what I wouldn’t have known is her enjoyment of hippie culture which I wouldn’t have gotten out of the clothes she was in. For the most part, all of the buildings were generally similar or the same being themed as homey or an accepting artsy community. The variety of pictures wasn’t all that great, which I can’t say I didn’t contribute to since two of my pictures had to be borrowed. It also makes sense since everyone lives in Carmel for the most part. I was surprised at how willing everyone was to ream there own community and homes.

the media influence told me to mug those people and rob a store

 

            I agree with Kendall’s assertion in that the media does not mirror society. Media fills a void. Society wants something and based off of any pattern it can develop it provides it. This can be seen by every portrayal and theme of seeming and viewing the wealthy and elite. While this may seem as a societal desire to be wealthy it is merely a commercially driven occurrence set into motion out of an attempt to understand and experience the things that society cannot understand. It isn’t necessarily a cultural desire to be rich, but maybe an indignance that those who don’t work hard are given pleasures beyond our dreams. The media shows what is comforting to us, middle class consumer America. We want to feel reassured that those beneath us are bumbling fools and it isn’t our fault or problem to look back behind us. We want to feel the possibilities before us. These whole desires were given by the media in an attempt to market and now its as guilty a pleasure as any. Our social perceptions may also be semi affected. WE don’t necessarily base all our opinions off of media input, but stereo types are picked up, even in a mocking way, and parroted by society. This eventually permeates all levels of culture. The one point I do disagree with is the idea that TV inclines us to run up credit card debts. Theoretically, the media inspires us all to amass wealth and whatever our whim of the day may be. That doesn’t inhibit common sense and make you go out and use whatever means necessary to shop your self into a fanciful coma. 

yeay pictures

            Well, my camera is having issues so between my picture and the help of the cameras of others I managed to get a few things. The first is a typical nondescript Carmel home. I think this is typical of what you’d see around 116^th, but this is a more affluent neighborhood with slightly larger homes. It seems to give off the freedom and independence of a more wealthy neighborhood, but it still has the look, feel, and vibe of any old Carmel home. The second picture is of a shop in Clay Terrace. Now this on its own is enough to give a distinct image and nauseous feeling in my stomach. I think the stores in Carmel are a lot more clean and restrictive comparatively to their counterparts. They mirror the style and affluence of their location. They exude an aura of ‘Pleasantville.’ Really as far as it goes I don’t think it’s the home or the store American Eagle that have a lot to say on their own, but the combined image they try to provide in a strict prison guard-esque enforced fashion. To me they want to seem uniform, orderly, professional, and distinct. This endeavor, in my opinion, sacrifices the homey feel and normalcy of any other town. It’s one thing to live in a city with distinct neighborhoods with an underlying theme or similarity. It’s completely different to live in a city that looks like a giant neighborhood.

yeah imperialism

To be honest, I’m not exactly sure what he’s saying about them. It seems that our formulas for success at home applying to entertainment are so simple and accessible that they are able to be sent abroad or copied. It’s almost equivalent to a virus that it’s a relaxed atmosphere which allows certain trends to breed and develop. With these developments come circulation and through this circulation no takes are added until a final product exists. This product is repeated due to its success. Throughout its growth it was able to spread and be accessible to multiple groups building up its audience. Our language is widespread and Hollywood is based off of very easy and applicable models. Trends are repeated and the ideas are able to be reciprocated and understood in other countries. Our laid back and uncomplicated way of providing entertainment is easy for other countries to understand. They are able to become another audience. Even if their industries don’t pick up on these trends, our own markets will expand into its new domains where it knows it has followers. I agree with his general sentiments. I also think a lot of products tend to appear abroad simply because they go hand in hand with other major corporations as big business. I don’t think you’d necessarily see lots of Nautica jeans everywhere abroad, but certain styles and products may be taken and tweaked according to their new homes within different branches of businesses. What products we do make can be tailored to fit whatever mold presented

nuuuuts

Apart from generally agreeing with the overall ideas of the essay I was struck by three things. The first is the commentary on the pictures, the second is the overall opinions on switching gender roles, and the third was the multiple examples of modern sexual harassment in elementary to middle school. To begin with, although it is true that some of the pictures were flat out creepy and twisted I’m not sure they were entirely enterpreted appropriately. I’ll be the first to agree that an ad to sell women’s jeans featuring her being hauled off by three men is frightening. Between that and the gun ads I find that all disturbing. I do however think that the couch ad, the woman in the door, and the make up ad were a little out of proportion. The couch ad was simply strange. The “pre-pubescent” girl being spied on looked old enough to be a young mother (27-9). The other “punched in the eyes” suggestion was completely nuts. The girl just had on make up... She didn’t look battered. I think the gender role swapping was pretty offbased. As far as it goes a peeping tom kid in half the examples is still wrong and creepy. I’m not so sure some of those ads for women showing scantily clad men are that targeting and wrong. For the most part they’re just like the boy ads. The last and most disturbing part was about the reports of assault. Although the small children cases are particularly creepy, I guess in some sick sense they’re just troubled kids with messed up lives. What isn’t tolerable or understandable to me is the cases of middle or highschool assault. If guys did half the stuff that were reported in the essay anywhere near half the boys I know they’d get their asses kicked. I’m not saying a lot of people I know don’t do very shallow, objective things towards girls, but the extent at which they were happening in the book seem ridiculous.

all of the creative marketers must be unemployed....

Overall I was completely disappointed by the commercials this year. The same stupid horse ads. If anything, I saw one mildly amusing commercial and another that flat out made me laugh. Beyond that, the others could distinguish themselves from the comical thoughts and imagination of a 10 year old. From dancing men in leotards with lizards to Doritos commercials with nothing relating to their product I was bored out of my mind.  Nothing reached its normal standards. Of the two I did like, one was the Jason Statham Audi. This was only funny because it portrayed in 30 seconds the bulk of every Statham movie in the past 5 years. Him seriously driving cars to get away from the bad guys, but nothing seemed just right until he got his beautiful Audi. Maybe, this is just a guess, that’s because Audis are the cars he drives in 99% of his movies. The second legitimately funny commercial lasted one second. That was the Miller Highlife ad. The man appeared for one second to scream Highlife. I didn’t even have time to tell the background. This was random, sudden, shocking, and above all hilarious. This was something different. It didn’t drag out and play on the same old, “you aren’t deserving of the High Life because you’re not the good old working class people.” It was just a new funny marketing scheme. 

that damned news cast

It makes me think back of using the right language for the audience. In any news story I’ve ever seen, there’s always been a certain vocabulary in circulation. Even with their “experts,” there never really has been a sophisticated enough vocabulary to make comprehension a problem even when the subject might be something purely scientific. On the same note, they don’t use simple minded kindergarten sentences. Each phrase is meant to carry some depressing, tragic, or cute and comical tone with it. Most of these slants are difficult to pick up if you’re below a certain age.  This is all generalizing, but with especially biased sources the language may especially change from an obscure bump of the knuckles to a terrorist fist jab depending on the audience. What I found the most interesting in this article, which was also brought to my attention in a class last year that focused on the mass media, is the usage of previously filed information from past events. When we first entered Iraq some of the most recurrent pictures shown were from the Gulf War. Many of the clips on the news have minute labels claiming to be on file taping from whatever footage the casters gleaned. It’s all a show of images and pessimistic events that don’t actually inform you of anything more than every single rape, murder, and natural disaster going on in your backyard. Generally speaking, it’s the boring tails of the boyscout who saved the old lady from the on coming bus that get stuck on the back burner, because realistically if you run a tv slot from 5-6 and don’t have footage of the boy in action who cares?

How We React

I think there are two levels of reaction to disaster. Both of which could be seen in Katrina and 9/11, but only one surprisingly back in 1906. Perhaps this is due to the lapse in time, but back then there was an overwhelming coming together of the nation. After the earthquake there wasn't a covering of tails to blame what limited resources were sent and how much time had passed. All did what they could as quickly as they could to aid those who had been affected. After Katrina, there was a bickering and drawn out relief. Even private citizens and corporations who wanted to aid those in distress had no means of getting money and people down in the areas where it was needed the most. At that time a country within our country developed and they were heavily left on their own. This also happened during the Earthquake to some extent, but in this case authority took power into its own hands through similar means to martial law. All the way up until reconstruction, troops regulated and controlled the growth of the city. After 9/11 the country came together to provide relief and sent caravans similar to the earthquake, but in this case they were of firefighters flooding into NYC to stem the fires and provide aid. There was also a banding together on multiple levels of both government authority and citizens. The disasters had their differences, but in the past there was seemingly less blame and more of an active and quick response to the problems at hand without allowing any of the politics to get in the way. One thing that aren't quite the same, but at the same time similar is the isolation of different races between 9/11 and 1906. After the earthquake the Chinese were excluded in camps due to racial segregation, but after the attack muslims(particularly people from the Middle East in general) began to face discrimination. Disasters bring out the best and the worst.