Blog Reflection

After reading through my blog posts from the second semester, I realized just how much I learned from formulating my thoughts into words. Adrienne Rich's idea of her poems being experiences seems applicable in the blogging world. Blogging has helped me come to conclusions and new understandings about texts through my writing. My core blog was an outlet for me to put my ideas into concrete sentences. It is almost sad to think how many thoughts go unnoticed or uncultivated when we aren't forced to verbalize them. My blog was a place for me to make connections between the texts themselves and between the texts and other aspects of my own life. I really think the blogs were an asset to the class; they had everyone think analytically about the text before class and definitely enhanced classroom discussion. Before Core, I don't think I ever would have considered myself a "blogger." The term seems so nerdy and technology savvy (both adjectives I would not use to describe myself). However, after this class I would hope to have the opportunity again to use blogs in the classroom. I have really enjoyed having that extra outlet to formulate my thoughts and make connections.

Education in Persepolis

"The educational system and what is written in school books, at all levels, are decadent, everything needs to be revised to ensure that our children are not led astray from the true path of Islam...That's why we're closing all the universities for a while. Better to have no students at all than to educate future imperialists" (73).

We have talked a lot about the importance of education and the standpoints of many educated scholars. In DuBois we talked about education for the white man versus the black man and the different opportunities that each man is provided in America. Ultimately, DuBois decides that 10% of men (regardless of his color but according to his mentality) is hard-wired for higher education and that 90% of men are hard-wired for tasks that can be learned in trade school or apprentenceship. The limitations on opportunities for black people in America compared to those for white people is a real problem being combated today. However, taking a look at Persepolis provides an even greater dilemma. What if education was denied of an entire nation? What if you have the capacity, endurance, and motivation to become a scientist but are denied the opportunity to even learn about the field? George Orwell's 1984 reminds me of the Islamic situation. History is rewritten and facts are produced according to Big Brother's wishes. It is said that he who controls the present controls the past and the future. I think that Americans take living in a free country for granted. Yes, there are limitations and injustices, but I could never imagine being denied an opportunity to seek the truth about an historical event or to find out how to go about solving an algebraic equation. Education is precious and so is freedom.

Persepolis

So, I have a lot to say about this one. First of all, I was not expecting a comic book as our last read of the year. I have never been one to read comic books; I guess I have always associated them with nerds and Seth Cohen from the OC. I was actually watching the OC this weekend, Season One of course, and Seth and Anna were talking about how comic books should actually be called graphic novels. This way, Anna said, they would be taken more seriously as an intellectual art form. I instantly thought about Persepolis and the major issues it raises as a graphic novel.

I have so many thoughts about Persepolis that I don't really no where to begin. First of all, the idea of the veil has me sort of stopped. Whenever I hear "veil" my mind darts to DuBois and his definition of the veil that covers the opportunities of the black people. I suppose the veil has a similar purpose in the lives of Iranians following the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The wearing of the veil became obligatory; they were symbols of the taking away of freedom. The veils marked the loss of opportunity for the Iranian people. Veils used to mean weddings to me. Now I think of censorship and inhibition.

I also noticed the comparison between Marx and God. What does this bold observation make? Was Marx as powerful as God? As just, loving, and forgiving? Were his principles good? We read Marx this year. I would definitely not say he was comparable to God. He had some good ideas, yes, but something is unnerving about comparing him to the most powerful archetype known to man.

Che Guevara. A reference to Che struck me as well. In my Spanish in Politics and Society Class we spent a lot of time talking about "el mito de Che." (the myth of Che) Che was a symbol for the people of Argentina. He was a Marxist revolutionary and a leader of Cuban and internationalist guerrillas. Che was an inspirational icon of leftist revolutionary movements worldwide, but it is debatable today as to whether he created more good or more violence during his extremist reign. The people of Argentina looked to Che as a God. Almost like the comparison of Marx to God. People are always looking for someone to follow and something to believe in. This is why dictatorships occur and why dictators are so loved.

Random post. But I guess my last thought is that I am proud to be an American.

Mirrors in Giovanni's Room

"The body in the mirror forces me to turn and face it. And I look at my body, which is under sentence of death. It is lean, hard, and cold, the incarnation of mystery. And I do not know what moves in this body, what this body is searching. It is trapped in my mirror as it is trapped in time and it hurries toward revelation" (168).

In the last chapter, as David describes Giovanni's execution, it almost seems as if David loses himself in Giovanni. It becomes confusing in David's language as to whether David is awaiting execution or Giovanni is. The use of mirrors has been a significant and symbolic tool in the novels we have read about identity this year. As in White Castle, mirrors help to raise awareness about identity and reveal the truth in their reflection. Perhaps David feels he is so deserving of Giovanni's punishment that he confuses Giovanni with himself. He feels that he is so deserving of Giovanni's pain that he himself can feel it. He feels so close to the man that he loves that he tries to interchange their lives in his final narration.

DuBois in the modern world

"I write this epilogue humbly knowing that our 'road' is still under construction. In 1903, W.E.B. DuBois wrote in the foreword to his classic text, The Souls of Black Folk, the oft-quoted line, 'The problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the color lone.' One hundred years later, his statement regrettably still rings true. It is incumbent upon all of us to engage in the dialogue and take the collective action needed to create a more just and equitable world for all. That is the task of this century. I hope you will join me in that effort" (Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, 219).

This is from an article we recently read in my psychology class called "Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?" The fact that DuBois made such an impact on conversations concerning race that they are still being used today is a huge deal in my mind. I know that in Core we read some books we like more than others, but some of the books we read really do enrich our understanding of the world around us. Had I not read DuBois, this article's arguments would not have been as poignant. The teachings and suggestions of DuBois are being critically assessed and followed through with as we speak.

Giovanni's Room: Moorings and Anchors

"I looked out at the narrow street...heavy with people-people I would never understand. I ached abruptly, intolerably, with a longing to go home...home across the ocean, to things and people I knew and understood; to those things, those places, those people which I would always, helplessly, and in whatever bitterness of spirit, love above all else. I had never realized such a sentiment in myself before and it frightened me. I saw myself, sharply, as a wanderer, and adventurer, rocking through the world, unanchored" (62).

In my last post I talked about moorings, the idea that humans try to anchor themselves down because they are afraid of really being free without rules or guidelines for their lives. David says that this is why he attached himself to Hella, for a mooring. However, once he realizes that he cannot emotionally anchor himself to her, or to any other woman for that matter, David feels this uncontrollable floating feeling. He has become unanchored; he is free from all other humans. This concept also reminds me of Sputnik Sweetheart. David has become that satellite, drifting through outer space, only coming across those he knows and doesn't know as he travels on his orbit alone. If he does not accept his love for Giovanni, he will be forever free floating, without a mooring.

Giovanni's Room

"And these nights were being acted out under a foreign sky, with no one to watch, no penalties attached-it was this last fact which was our undoing, for nothing is more unbearable, once one has it, than freedom. I suppose this was why I asked her to marry me: to give me something to be moored to...But people can't, unhappily, invent their mooring posts, their lovers and their friends, anymore than they can invent their parents. Life gives these and also takes them away and the great difficulty is to say Yes to life" (5).

This is a loaded observation. What does the narrator mean to say that nothing is more unbearable than freedom? Is it that people without guidelines and rigid rules don't know what to do with themselves? And what does it mean that we can't invent our own mooring posts? Is it that humans innately fight against freedom, but that they cannot control who or what comes into their lives to deny them of freedom? I think the greatest magnitude of this passage comes from the fact that it accepts the impossibility of controlling destiny. It seems to say that humans are naturally followers of rules and easily accept the people and situations that life throws at them. However, humans also detest change. When life changes the rules and situations without notice humans resist. I see some truth in these ideas. It is not always easy to say Yes to life. Humans strive for freedom yet they set up societies and governments filled with rules and guidelines for living. It is a paradoxical concept that I never quite thought about before.

Freud on Happiness

"...happiness in life is predominantly sought in the enjoyment of beauty, wherever beauty presents itself to our senses and our judgment-the beauty of human forms and gestures, of natural objects and landscapes and of artistic and even scientific creations....Beauty has no obvious use; nor is there any clear cultural necessity for it. Yet civilization could not do without it" (33).

I am currently in a positive psychology class that focuses on what makes people happy. The idea of positive psychology is fairly recent, but Freud seems to have thought a lot about the topic. Most recently, our class took a VIA assessment about our top five strengths. The assessment was done online and is based on the notion that each human exerts certain strengths more than others. My top five strengths are gratitude, generosity and kindness, curiosity about the world, perspective, and appreciation of beauty. I never really thought about what an impact beauty played in my life before taking the test, but after getting my assessment back I realized just how much emphasis I place on the beauty in the world around me. I really do tend to find happiness in a cloudless sky or a pretty flower. My friends sometimes make fun of me for my observations, but I definitely agree with Freud when he explains the importance of recognizing the beautiful things in life when trying to attain happiness.

Freud and the Unconscious

"There are cases in which parts of a person's own body, even portions of his own mental life-his perceptions, thoughts and feelings-, appear alien to him and as not belonging to his ego; there are other cases in which he ascribes to the external world things that clearly originate in his own ego and that ought to be acknowledged by it" (13).

Freud places a lot of emphasis on the unconscious mind. He believes that the mind is composed of three parts: the id, the ego, and the super-ego. The id is completely unconscious and holds repressed thoughts, the ego is only partly conscious and contains defense mechanisms and the ability to calculate, reason, and plan, and the super-ego is also only partly conscious and contains feelings of guilt (xxi). If the mind is really constructed in this way, the majority of the mind belongs to the unconscious. Freud describes in the quote above an application of the unconscious in man's life. I'm not sure if I agree with everything Freud has to say about the unconscious mind- I would hope that the majority of my thoughts are accessible for me to perceive and be aware of. However, I agree that sometimes man misjudges his own thoughts and feelings and attributes them to the wrong external forces. Even so, there is a clear difference between not knowing and misjudging.

The Age of Iron: Epiphany Moments

"I have held on to that story all my life. If each of us has a story we tell to ourself about who we are and where we come from, then that is my story. That is the story I choose, or the story that has chosen me. It is there that I come from, it is there that I begin" (120).

Mrs. Curren tells the story about her mother as a little girl numerous times in her letter to her daughter. This story, she expresses, is so important to her that it is a part of her. The idea of holding a story so close to one's identity reminds me of Augustine's Confessions and of our own digital life stories. In a way, the letter Mrs. Curren writes parallels Augustine's Confessions. Mrs. Curren says in her first confession, "I do not want to die in the state I am in, in a state of ugliness" (136). She says in her second confession,"I have been a good person, I freely confess to it. I am a good person still. What times these are when to be a good person is not enough!" (165). She expresses who she is, what is important to her, and what she learns about herself as she writes about her life. In this way, Mrs. Curren also reaches a new level of self-awareness in a way that parallels Adrienne Rich. This semester is packed with books that deal with identity and epiphany moments of self-awareness. Going back to the Mrs. Curren's mother's story, this story is to her what my digital life story is to me. We each hold in is stories that make us who we are. Without having to define ourselves, we can use life experiences to explain where we come from.

Charity

"Because the spirit of charity has perished in this country. Because those who accept charity despise it, while those who give give with a despairing heart. What is the point of charity hen it does not go from heart to heart?...It is as hard to receive as it is to give. It takes as much effort" (22).

Mrs. Curren makes a poignant reference to the loss of charity and gratitude in the world today. It is not only lost in South Africa and the United States either; in my Spanish in Politics and Society class today we talked about Argentina and the exile of all the "mendigas" or homeless people in 1977. The discussion was heated. Students quickly took both sides; some agreed with ignoring the homeless who often just turn to alcohol and drugs anyway, and others offered that the homeless need hope for a future from those capable of helping them. Giving and receiving. Should we abandon the ritual? Is our generation capable of giving without strings attached or capable of receiving without forgetting to express our gratitude? I certainly hope not.

The Souls of Black Folk and The Birth of a Nation

"Sometimes it is faith in life, sometimes a faith in death, sometimes assurance of boundless justice in some fair world beyond. But whichever it is, the meaning is always clear: that sometime, somewhere, men will judge men by their soul and not by their skins" (214).

The issue of slavery in America puts a brand on our ancestry. There was a time when black people were legally property. Today, although legally blacks and whites are equal, black people still fight to rise above "the veil." Prejudice exists, and Du Bois recognizes that men are still judged by their skin color in contemporary America.

In my melodrama class, we recently watched The Birth of a Nation, one of the most influential and important films ever made. Interestingly enough, the film was made in 1915, Du Bois published his book in 1903. The movie is a love story and a radical political piece; it shows the events leading up to, during, and following the civil war from a southern point of view. It promotes the disenfranchisement of the black people and glorifies the KKK as the organization appears to "restore order" after the blacks are freed. We are studying the film because it is revolutionary in the way it was made and one of the first movies to have a melodramatic narrative, but the blatant political aspect of the movie cannot be ignored. The NAACP banned the movie and it has been denounced by many organizations. The black people in America still struggle today to be seen as equals in schools, in the workplace, and in politics. We have come a long way from the days of slavery, but prejudice still exists and, sadly, so does "the veil."

The Souls of Black Folk: The Greatest Tragedy

"And herein lies the tragedy of the age; not that men are poor,-all men know something of poverty; not that men are wicked, -who is good? not that men are ignorant, -what is truth? Nay, but that men know so little of men" (185).

My group spent a lot of time analyzing this passage today. At first glance, Du Bois tricks the reader with his eloquence. What does he really mean though? Du Bois is not saying that men are rich, good, and wise, but that men do not know their true capacity. Everything is relative in life. There will always be richer, better, and wiser. It is important to know that there is always the possibility and capability to attain these qualities. The temptation of doubt seems to haunt Du Bois. He realizes that the greatest obstacle people can face is something self-constructed. By doubting your own abilities, you may lose the opportunity to find out any talents, skills, or thoughts you may have.

The Souls of Black Folk: Intrinsic Values

"And to make men, we must have ideals, broad, pure, and inspiring ends of living, -not sordid money-getting apples of gold. The worker must work for the glory of his handiwork, not simply for pay; the thinker must think for truth, not for fame" (72).

Du Bois makes a very important point applicable to all people, and certainly applicable to our class of college students. When deciding what we are going to major in and what jobs we will pursue, two things are considered. We contemplate what jobs we will enjoy and what jobs will make us the most money. It is important to remember, however, that life is too short to only worry about a paycheck. As students lucky enough to be in college, we must remember that we have the world at bay. While making money is imperative, picking a career that one enjoys is even more crucial to a lifetime of happiness and success. In my psychology class we talked about the importance of having intrinsic values and the role they play in happiness. Of course, when you do something intrinsically pleasing your happiness is increased. Du Bois has made a very valid point for all audiences.

The Souls of the Black Folk: Ignorance is Bliss

"...for the South believed an educated Negro to be a dangerous Negro. And the South was not wholly wrong; for education among all kinds of men always has had, and always will have, an element of danger and revolution, of dissatisfaction and discontent. Nevertheless, men strive to know" (28).

Ignorance is bliss. However cliche this statement may be, it has been proven true. It has not been proven true for all of mankind; however, but just the white man. Knowledge raises awareness and provokes the questioning of what is. Sadly enough, white people have historically used this to their advantage. By keeping black people uneducated, they also made black people unaware that they should even question the current way of life. Education, therefore, became a powerful tool used by the white people. How funny to think of education as something violent and capable of destruction, and how sad to think that there was a time when black people didn't know that they were being mistreated and abused.

Doppleganger

"Document 2: This one concerns the strange experiences Miu had fourteen years ago. She was stuck inside a Ferris wheel overnight in an amusement park in a small Swiss town, and looking through binoculars at her own room she saw a second self there. A doppelganger. And this experience destroyed Miu as a person...she was split in two" (164).

"In the world we live in, what we know and what we don't know are like Siamese twins, inseparable, existing in a state of confusion...to use the image of the Siamese twins again, it's not like they always get along. They don't always try to understand each other. In face the opposite is more often true...confusion reigns, we end up lost..." (134-135).

The idea of the double caught my eye right away. I am currently in a Gothic in literature and film class (with Janine, so I know she at least will follow me on this one) and the idea of the doppelganger (or double) is a Gothic element we have followed through multiple works in literature and in movies. The doppelganger has appeared in literature like Edgar Allen Poe and movies such as the Shining. The double creates and element of confusion. It can be an alternate identity of the main character or a biological twin or another demonic character representative of the main character's dark side. It is many time the projection of the main charcarter's inner evil on the outside world. Seeing the doppelganger referenced in Sputnik Sweetheart surprised me at first. Sputnik Sweetheart is definitely not a conventional Gothic novel. However, this idea of the double is definitely used efficiently as a Gothic element. Miu has lost herself to her double, and Sumire personifies the double as a state of confusion, loneliness, and loss.

Sputnik Sweetheart

"I drank some cheap wine I'd gotten on sale, mixed with Perrier, and watched a soccer match I'd videotaped. Everytime I saw a pass I thought I wouldn't have done myself, I shook my head and sighed. Judging the mistakes of stranges is an easy thing to do-and it feels pretty good" (76).

Doesn't the narrator just speak the truth here? I couldn't help but laugh knowingly when reading this line. It is so easy to judge another person's mistakes and hypothetically think that you could have done better in the same situation. I have never played soccer a day in my life, yet if I go to see a game I can easily critique someone' s bad pass or wrong move. Being judgmental is a huge hurdle to overcome in social scenes. People compare themselves to their friends, acquaintances, and even figures and standards of the media. It is easy to quickly judge someone else based on a first impression or even someone else's opinion. It is probably my greatest downfall, pre-judging people before I get to know them. I am beginning to find out that my first impression is usually always wrong. I am also starting to realize that the flaw I can usually find in others is a flaw I myself have. It is the whole "pot calling the kettle black" phenomenon. I guess I am learning that what bothers me most about friends and family members is what bothers me most about myself. However, as our narrator points out, it is easier to judge others before ourselves.

In Response to Christina

"My own luck was being born white and middle-class into a house full of books, with a father who encouraged me to read and write" (Rich, 170).

Christina made the observation in her blog based on our class discussion that the word "choice" shouldn't actually be used when describing most women and whether they stay at home with their children or work. In the 50's most women were expected to stay at home; they were not given a choice. Career choices were limited to teachers, nurses, and secretaries. Most women never dreamed of going to college. In 2008 most women still are not even given a choice; however, the tables have turned. Today most women must work to make money and support themselves and their children. Most families in America rely on two incomes; mothers who aren't married are often forced to work not one but two jobs to make ends meet. Adrienne Rich makes a valid point in her essay "When We Dead Awaken." I, too, am lucky enough to be born white and middle-class. I was encouraged to read, write, and spend my childhood believing I could be anything in the world I wanted to be. I think it is safe to say that the majority of students here at Richmond have similar backgrounds and have similar opportunites. Even though I may be priviledged enough to eventually have a choice between staying home with my children or pursuing a powerhouse career, I recognize that, for most women, choice does not exist. Maybe choice shouldn't have been the topic of discussion in our Monday's class. Maybe the focus should have been on opportunity and circumstance.

Split at the Root

"And I, who believed my life was intended to be so interesting and meaningful, was connected to those dead by something-not just mortality but a taboo name, a hated identity" (Adrienne Rich, 228).

This essay really made me connect with Adrienne Rich; I not only feel that I understand her or her poem's better, but I also feel that I understand myself better. Interestingly enough, my dad is Jewish and my mom is Christian. In this sense, Rich and I have a lot in common. I was actually raised Christian, but the fact that I am connected to Judaism and that my ancestors were plagued by the horrors of the Holocaust are things that I have to deal with. It is easy to forget this part of myself because I live in a majorally Christian world. Rich brings up the question of identity. We explored identity with White Castle and Nietzsche, but Rich provides a new outlook on the question. Who am I? How does my Jewish heritage contribute to who I am? I don't feel the same sort of struggle that Rich does when asking myself this question. I am Christian by faith, part Jewish by blood. I think that identity is a multi-dimensional complex concept. I am part German, part Austrian, and part English. I celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas. Identity shouldn't be a single word or idea; in fact, it shouldn't be.

Othello on Jealousy

Emilia: But jealous souls will not be answered so they are not ever jealous for the cause, but jealous for they're jealous. It is a monster begot upon itself, born on itself. (III.IV.180)

Jealousy is a very important theme in Othello and is a theme responsible for the destruction of each character. Iago is Jealous of Othello for taking a military position he had wanted. He is also jealous of Othello for marrying Desdemona, a woman he lusts after. Iago is jealous of Othello and Cassio because he thinks they both have had sexual relations with his wife. Othello's jealousy from watching Cassio with Desdemona leads him to believe his wife has been unfaithful. Jealousy fuels the action in the play; it is the reason for the downfall of Iago and Othello, the play's protagonist and antagonist. Jealousy is an innate trait of human nature that only ends in destruction. Jealousy motivates Iago to destroy Othello and gives Othello the tools needed to fall for Iago's master plans.

I think that Shakespeare is trying to teach his audience a lesson about the evils of jealousy. Jealousy is the most destructive human quality in existence; he refers to it as "a monster." Jealousy has the ability to completely consume the body, mind, and soul. Like a monster, it creeps up on its victim and slowly takes over each thought and emotion. Jealousy ruins romantic relationships and friendships. I think we could all learn from Shakespeare's message: beware of the green-eyed monster; avoid him at all costs. If we don't take heed, the result could be as tragic as Othello's fate.

CLOWN: Why masters, have your instruments been in Naples, that they speak i' th' nose thus?

MUSICIAN: How, sir? How?

CLOWN: Are these, I pray you, wind instruments?

MUSICIAN: Ay, marry, are they, sir.

CLOWN: Oh, thereby hangs a tail.

MUSICIAN: Whereby hangs a tale, sir?

CLOWN: Marry sir, by many a wind instrument that I know. But, masters, here's money for you, and the general so likes your music that he desires you, for love's sake, to make no more noise with it.

CLOWN:If you have any music that may not be heard, to 't again. But, as they say, to hear music the general does not greatly care.

(III.iii)

Shakespeare never fails to add comic relief to his plays; in this way, his plays appear beyond their time. I actually enjoy when the clown enters. He plays with words and experiments with language. The idea of comic relief is still used in movies and plays today. I know Shakespeare is responsible for the invention of hundreds of words, but is he responisble fo the use of comic relief as well?

The handkerchief

The handkerchief becomes an important tool in Iago's grand scheme to foil Othello. An Egyptian sorceress gave the handkerchief to Othello's mother and told her that it would make her desirable and keep Othello’s father loyal, but if she lost it or gave it away, Othello’s father would leave her. Othello’s mother gave him the magic handkerchief on her deathbed, instructing him to give it to the woman he desired to marry. The handkerchief represents Desdemona’s chastity, and her giving it away is a sign that she has given her body away. Because Cassio receives the handkerchief, it looks as if Desdemona has had an affair with him. Unfortunately, however, Desdemona is framed. Iago is a master manipulator, and he uses Othello's family heirloom to his advantage.

Othello: Iago on Women

"Come on, come on. You are pictures out of door, bells in your parlors, wild-cats in your kitchens, saints in your injuries, devils being offended, players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds."

In Act II.i, Iago argues with Desdemona and Emilia over the competence and worthiness of women. Iago hates women accuses his wife of sleeping around. Iago is a villian; very manipulative of every one around him. This particular passage is so straightforward, however, that it is shocking. Iagon blatantly degrades women to their faces. He verbally abuses his wife and Desdemona without thinking twice or second-guessing himself.

Hamm on Iago

Andrew Hamm came to speak to us today about Shakespeare. I thouroughly enjoyed his presentation; he introduced an entirely new way to look at Shakespeare. At first introducing the book as the enemy, he made Shakespeare come alive as a performance. It cannot be read, it must be enacted. He also opened my eyes to the character Iago. Iago is known is known Shakespeare's ultimate villain. His motivations are countless: resentment that Othello passed him over for a promotion in favor of Michael Cassio; jealousy because he heard a rumor that Othello slept with Iago's wife, Emilia; and suspicion that Cassio slept with Emilia too. Hamm introduced the idea that maybe Iago's true motivation is not any of excuses but the fact that that he is inherently evil.

"The Moor is of a free and open nature
That thinks men honest that but seem to be so,
And will as tenderly be led by th' nose
As asses are.
I have 't. It is engendered! Hell and night
Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light"
(31).

In his soliloquy, Iago brings to light his devilish plan to kill Othello. He really is a cruel person with no real reason for wanting to kill Othello. Hamm recognized that every other villain in Shakespeare had a legitimate motivation for doing their bad deeds. (For Example, Cassius's motivation is pure patriotism and fear of Caesar being a despotic ruler in Julius Caesar.) Hamm had a lot of interesting points and knowledge to share. I'm really glad he came to the class today.

Digital Life Story 2

I FINALLY put music to my words AND uploaded pictures onto jumpcut! I originally thought music would take away from my words, but after playing with a lot of music I realized that the music actually enhanced my words. Even though I am a technologically challenged person, I am very thankful we are learning how to do podcasts. I'm sure I will be able use this for a future presentation. Putting this project together has reinforced the epiphany I came to; I am so thankful for my family and realize that, even though my family is broken up, it is complete in the sense that we love one another.

Digital Life Story

I just recorded my story in the TLC lab! I must admit, I am pretty proud of myself for figuring out how to do it. I used garage band, which is so much more easy than I could have imagined. It was weird hearing my voice play back to me. Tomorrow I made an appointment to add music to my voice track. Just this morning I was convinced this project would be the death of me. I am not technologically inclined, but the guys in the TLC are so helpful and I actually think putting together this podcast will be a lot of fun! Now I just have to figure out where I am going to find all of my pictures...

Othello: Way before its time

I actually had to read Othello last year, so returning to the book isn't as much as a challenge as it was the first time around. I am not a fan of Shakespeare. His prose are hard to understand and his language is ancient. I admire him for his genius, but I have hated suffering through his work. However, reading Othello for a second time is a little easier. Instead of just trying to grasp at what Shakespeare iss trying to say, I am able to really envision what was going on and focus on the underlying issues. Othello is essentially a love story between a black man and a white woman. This topic seems as if it should be an anachronism. Even today, in 2008, interracial relationships and marriages are uncommon. In Shakespeare's time I would think they were unheard of. When Othello is accused of using witchcraft to win Desdemona's love, he explains how the unlikely romance occured:

"...She loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her that she did pity them. This only is the witchcraft I have used" (22).

Othello and Desdemona fell in love, regardless of their skin color. Martin Luther King day this year opened my eyes to racial issues and prejudices alive in America today. I attended Viktor Lewis's speech and film, The Color of Fear, for my Psychology class. I was shocked to hear the perils of minorities in America. I was also shocked to realize my own blindness, stereotypes, and prejudices that I never knew I exhibited. Shakespeare really was a master behind his time. He tackled complex issues that have yet to be resolved.

Augustine on Life

"Life is a poor thing, death may come at any time: if it were to come upon me suddenly, in what state should I depart this life? And where am I to learn the things I have neglected?" (109).

I truly believe in living life to its fullest potential at each given moment. Too many people spend their lives either dwelling on the past or planning for the future. Regrets are a waste of time; the past has already happened. Planning for the future is smart, but if you are always concerned with what is to come than you never live in the present. Augustine realizes that life is fleeting. He may be talking about the importance of uniting with God in order to meet with him in the afterlife, but this passage is also a reminder that the future is indefinite. It is important to be happy with yourself and the life you lead. My mom always tells me to do the best that I can every day. If you do what you believe is right at any given moment, regrets cannot be made, and each day will be lived in the "now."

Augustine on beauty

"'Do we love anything save what is beautiful? What then is beautiful? and what is beauty? What is it that allures us and delights us in the things we love? Unless there were grace and beauty in them they could not possible draw us to them'" (66).

What defines beauty? This passage caught my attention because it is almost identical to the conversation we had in my Spanish in Politics and Society class. On the first day of class, my professor asked the question "Cual es la belleza?" (or "What is beauty?") Instantly hands shot up around the room. Answers came from all different directions. People talked of flowers, smiles, nature, and celebrities (all in Spanish of course). I can't remember for the life of me why we were talking about the definition of beauty in a class on dictators, socialism, and revolutions, but, nevertheless, the discussion really got to me. How can you determine beauty? It is completely subjective. A person determines beauty based on his own perspective. Augustine talks about how beautiful things "draw" people to them. It is true. Beauty is something out of the ordinary. It catches a person's attention and sometimes makes him look twice or lose his breath. Beauty touches the heart. Beauty can be found in nature, people, actions, or even inanimate objects. Although cliche, most cliche statements are true. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It is a quality that evokes emotion or awe, one that can not be harnessed or defined.

Augustine on Friendship

"All kinds of things rejoiced my soul in their company-to talk and laugh and do each other kindnesses; read pleasant books together, pass from lightest jesting to talk of the deepest things and back again; differ without rancour, as a man might differ with himself, and when most rarely dissension arose find our normal agreement all the sweeter for it; teach each other or learn from each other; be impatient for the return of the absent, and welcome them with joy on their homecoming; these and such like things, proceeding from our hearts as we gave affection and received it back, and shown by face, by voice, by the eyes, and a thousand other pleasing ways, kindled a flame which fused our very soul and many made us one. This is what men value in friends..." (62-63).

After finishing our first semester at college and first time away from one another since kindergarten, my friends and I reunited for winter break a little apprehensively. We all wondered how college would change us. We anticipated that we would grow apart and make new friends; everyone says the friends you make in college are the friends you keep for life. So what does that mean for our hometown friends? After four months, my friends and I reunited like no time had passed. We actually laughed. Why would college change anything? Friendship is more than just circumstantial; it is a common bond and special gift.

Augustine recognizes the magnitude of friendship. At this point in my life I am realizing how much my friends from home mean to me and that I can make new friends in college as well. Life is about the relationships you make with the people around you. Friends are like family that you get to choose.