"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.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, March 24, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
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 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."
Monday, March 17, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, March 3, 2008
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.
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.
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.
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