Okay, I have a bit of time to myself here, so I'm going to post a few bits and pieces I have been mulling over for course topics.
1.) Unit: Identity
- Virtual vs. Reality = Who are you on AOL, Facebook, and Myspace vs. Who you are in class, in life, in the park
- Masking = Is there such a thing as an identity? Or is it a collection of masks? Is identity just your particular theme choice in masks?
- Factors = In shaping our identities, where do we draw our ideas, our concepts about who we should be and why?
2.) Unit: High School
- How the teens in high schools look to reate their image for four years and usually end up questioning it before leaving
- The system we learn in high school of social standards and gossip and how it is a lifelong plague
- Grading and sheep
3.) Beauty
- Physical or Emotional? = Which one truly wins? Is there a gender dispute at the core of this idea?
- Vanity (Dorian Gray) and Modesty (No example yet)
Monday, August 3, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
The sky is beautiful today
So I'm here at work and risking being fired in order to just remark on how beautiful the sky is and how no matter what the day brings, the sky is signal for hope and calmness in an otherwise hectic atmosphere.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
A Fresh Start
Okay, so I understand I was late with the first blog. sorry about that. Work tired me out, but now I'm posting up.
1. What ideas or feelings do you find yourself focusing on these days?
Identity is a big one, something that has come up for me a lot. I see that highschool is a lot about identifying yourself, who you are, what you are, and I see that it is a very impressionable time for adolescents. This means that I see many different guiding factors attempting to shape my mind into what they believe I should be. Teachers, parents, and peers all have their ideas about how we should be, and so all choose to convince the others that their own view is correct. This is where I value having a summer job, something to take me away from these influences and lets me get a perspective from outside this school bullshit. I know now better than I ever could exaclty who I am. Ask me in person, though, It may get lengthy and tangential.
2. 2. Its weird that school deeply structures your life for 9.5 months - from 7am-3:10pm you're dealing with school and beyond that, with homework and projects. Then all of a sudden you're in summer vacation and have no institutional structure. How does the contrast feel to you? Does family/capitalist-labor/etc conquer the area that the school has temporarily abdicated, leaving you no freer than before or do you have more freedom? Have you been enjoying your time? Are there aspects of school that you miss? Are there aspects of school that you're particularly glad to have a break from? How are you filling/wasting/enjoying the extra time you now have?
To be honest, although I am trapped in the capitalist machine as a slave, erm, rather, a "laborer", things are ok for me. I'm at the point in my life where I do not yet have to pay rent or bills, so any money I earn is strictly for my own recreational use. Fucked up part is, I work 12 hours a day or more 6 days a week to get it. Also, I get treated like a dog. Or not even, because dogs are pet and stroked and coddled. I get treated like a NYC rat. I'm 17 so I get no respect from coworkers or employers, and I'm a laborer so I get no respect from clients. I hate that part so very much. There are a few workers who I actually look forward to working with, though, people who make the job bearable. I miss seeing some friends everyday, but I like independence to make plans whenever I really want.
3. How many hours a week would you be willing to put towards reading an easyish novel that we were all reading? How many hours a week would you be willing to put towards reading a hardish essay that we were all reading? How many combined?
6:5: 11
4. What is a small - 2-7 hour long - adventure that you'd enjoy doing with the rest of us? For instance - make a short film, go to Rockaway Beach, walk on the Appalachian Trail. see a strange movie?
Short film, i already have a script. Beach day, though coney island, strange movie, yes. Also, visit the freedom tunnel and sit around in a circle or a bonfire sharing stories + making memories.
5. Will you be able to meet in the City for the whole summer or do you have a planned excursion for part of the summer - if so, when?
I'm working all summer for now, though i may go to ireland for a couple weeks late august, haven't decided yet.
6.6. What else would you be interested to address or read other peoples' thoughts on?
Everyones stories, small or large. Also, deep insightful group heart to hearts where we grow connected as individuals.
1. What ideas or feelings do you find yourself focusing on these days?
Identity is a big one, something that has come up for me a lot. I see that highschool is a lot about identifying yourself, who you are, what you are, and I see that it is a very impressionable time for adolescents. This means that I see many different guiding factors attempting to shape my mind into what they believe I should be. Teachers, parents, and peers all have their ideas about how we should be, and so all choose to convince the others that their own view is correct. This is where I value having a summer job, something to take me away from these influences and lets me get a perspective from outside this school bullshit. I know now better than I ever could exaclty who I am. Ask me in person, though, It may get lengthy and tangential.
2. 2. Its weird that school deeply structures your life for 9.5 months - from 7am-3:10pm you're dealing with school and beyond that, with homework and projects. Then all of a sudden you're in summer vacation and have no institutional structure. How does the contrast feel to you? Does family/capitalist-labor/etc conquer the area that the school has temporarily abdicated, leaving you no freer than before or do you have more freedom? Have you been enjoying your time? Are there aspects of school that you miss? Are there aspects of school that you're particularly glad to have a break from? How are you filling/wasting/enjoying the extra time you now have?
To be honest, although I am trapped in the capitalist machine as a slave, erm, rather, a "laborer", things are ok for me. I'm at the point in my life where I do not yet have to pay rent or bills, so any money I earn is strictly for my own recreational use. Fucked up part is, I work 12 hours a day or more 6 days a week to get it. Also, I get treated like a dog. Or not even, because dogs are pet and stroked and coddled. I get treated like a NYC rat. I'm 17 so I get no respect from coworkers or employers, and I'm a laborer so I get no respect from clients. I hate that part so very much. There are a few workers who I actually look forward to working with, though, people who make the job bearable. I miss seeing some friends everyday, but I like independence to make plans whenever I really want.
3. How many hours a week would you be willing to put towards reading an easyish novel that we were all reading? How many hours a week would you be willing to put towards reading a hardish essay that we were all reading? How many combined?
6:5: 11
4. What is a small - 2-7 hour long - adventure that you'd enjoy doing with the rest of us? For instance - make a short film, go to Rockaway Beach, walk on the Appalachian Trail. see a strange movie?
Short film, i already have a script. Beach day, though coney island, strange movie, yes. Also, visit the freedom tunnel and sit around in a circle or a bonfire sharing stories + making memories.
5. Will you be able to meet in the City for the whole summer or do you have a planned excursion for part of the summer - if so, when?
I'm working all summer for now, though i may go to ireland for a couple weeks late august, haven't decided yet.
6.6. What else would you be interested to address or read other peoples' thoughts on?
Everyones stories, small or large. Also, deep insightful group heart to hearts where we grow connected as individuals.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Final Wrap Up Thoughts.
It's past the time grades were due, and I anticipate I won't use this same blog again next year.
So on the off chance that anyone will still read this, I just wanted to post up a few thoughts. They are still kind of relevant.
Okay, so right now, it's 3:44 and after a walk around outside, I remembered some amazing nights in my childhood. When I was younger, I had a group of friends. In this group were Nikko, Gabe, Robert, Sam, Jay, Philip, and as I remember Matt Smith was in there sometimes. We were a pretty solid group, and now that I can remember without grimacing, we weren’t the coolest kids in the grade. (They may argue that, but at least, thats how I saw things.) It was 7th grade and our group usually hung out our Nikko’s place. I remembered recently (Now, actually) that there were a couple of nights that we would turn out all the lights at 2-3 am and run around the apartment with those old light-up lightsabers. Man, those were the days. I remember having these super intense, gut-clenching lightsaber battles that would occupy our whole scope of life. There were never any simpler times than these. I think that as long as I live, I’ll treasure these nights at Nikko’s place, duking it out jedi-style while the city slept, unaware of the intensity of our imaginations, and the endless boundaries of our simple fun.
I'm not sure why, but I felt like sharing it. And I don't feel like pointing it out, but I feel it is relevant to the course.
Also, I would honestly like to thank everyone who ever looked at my blog, who ever thought something good or bad about anything I wrote here, and finally, for bringing some charisma to the class.
So on the off chance that anyone will still read this, I just wanted to post up a few thoughts. They are still kind of relevant.
Okay, so right now, it's 3:44 and after a walk around outside, I remembered some amazing nights in my childhood. When I was younger, I had a group of friends. In this group were Nikko, Gabe, Robert, Sam, Jay, Philip, and as I remember Matt Smith was in there sometimes. We were a pretty solid group, and now that I can remember without grimacing, we weren’t the coolest kids in the grade. (They may argue that, but at least, thats how I saw things.) It was 7th grade and our group usually hung out our Nikko’s place. I remembered recently (Now, actually) that there were a couple of nights that we would turn out all the lights at 2-3 am and run around the apartment with those old light-up lightsabers. Man, those were the days. I remember having these super intense, gut-clenching lightsaber battles that would occupy our whole scope of life. There were never any simpler times than these. I think that as long as I live, I’ll treasure these nights at Nikko’s place, duking it out jedi-style while the city slept, unaware of the intensity of our imaginations, and the endless boundaries of our simple fun.
I'm not sure why, but I felt like sharing it. And I don't feel like pointing it out, but I feel it is relevant to the course.
Also, I would honestly like to thank everyone who ever looked at my blog, who ever thought something good or bad about anything I wrote here, and finally, for bringing some charisma to the class.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
How To avoid a Meaningless life - Final Paper draft 2
Earlier on in the year, I posted a video that focused primarily on being outside and riding my longboard. To me there was no greater meaning in my life. I could condense that Idea to simply doing what I wanted to do, without worry of societal pressure. Or something similar. From then, we have gone through several units, largest of which I would say is the Animal unit. I think that specifically this unit was the most applicable to my standing principles on living a good and meaningful life, second being the health unit, which also applies if you think about it. Anywho, What I was trying to say was this; in connecting the Animal unit and the ideas we presented in it, those ideas of being outside with nature and recognizing our primal need to be surrounded by sunlight and pleasant activity only bolsters my original ideas about the meaning of life. It may not be particularly insightful, but I feel that by touching back to my natural roots as a human animal, I can appreciate the world more for the beauty inherent.
As for the health unit, well that is also applicable. Longboarding is helpful to health and well being both physically from the exercise of the action and emotionally/mentally from the endorphins released and the space to clear my head of everything but the linear: what's in front of me, slow down, speed up, etc. I get the rush of wind through my hair and the burn of exercise, so it's like I'm tackling two fronts in the meaningful aspect. Also, considering that I burn no fossil fuels in the process, I am safely within some parameters of a good life, because I am not detracting from the environment or other people's happiness with my activity.
Now, We have come to see from our analysis of corporate culture that to be happy is the main Idea that companies broadcast as a meaningful and good life. There exist so so so many ads on tv that tell us to put a smile on, be happy, do what feels right, etc. Does the fact that these are corporate sponsored ads mean that the messages are inherently false? I would say not, though to a certain extent this is the easy way out. To be happy is a truly noble pursuit that so few people ever achieve. Being happy is a pleasant emotion for things to feel, and leads to a more productive and less stressful existence. However, the corporate message of happiness seems to be that you can only find happiness with their products, their way of life. This is where the nice sunny, peaceful meadow-esque image of happiness meets the grinding metal and fiery brimstone of industry. Corporations would have Us believe that to be happy is to have expensive clothes and goods, that to be satisfied is to eat at a five star restaurant every night and shop at places like Wal-Mart and Target. I would say that we should take this message as a warning. That yes, we should be happy. Most people deserve happiness. But people should also know that you can be happy without a name-brand wardrobe. You should be informed in your happiness. The best things in life are free. I never understood that phrase until recently, but it is true. A walk in the park will probably leave you more happy than a Whopper ever could.
If you want to live your life with some meaning, you must also do your best to be aware of the things that try to mold and shape you, to turn you into a puppet. We didn't delve particularly deeply into it, but the educational system is just one of the many guiding factors that try to change us from what we want to be into what they believe we should be. If I had the brain and thoughts I do now back when i was a kindergardener, I would certainly put a stop to all this crap they feed us when we are young. I'll use a perfectly fitting personal example. When i was in kindergarden, for our graduating ceremony we had to announce what we wanted to be when we grew up. Like a perfectly sane creative kid, I said I wanted to be an artist. My teacher, and I quote, told me "that job isn't in the book so I have to pick a new one". Whaaaaaaat kind of shit is that? I'm 6, bitch, if I want to be an artist. So when it came time to actually say it aloud on stage in front of everyone, what did I say? that I wanted to be an artist. Now, this is fitting two ways; it shows that from the earliest age, my natural instinct was to live my life happily, doing what pleases me most. Who knows, maybe if I had had that support back then, I would be a phenomenal artist now, but I didn't. i would argue that in order to have a fufilling life, am meaningful life, i would say that you should go with what you are naturally inclined to be. From early on we should have an educational system focused to the kids' interests. Not everyone will need to know complicated math and sciences for their lives, and then some others will not need to know how to structure paragraphs and proper grammar. For humaity in general to reach a more meaningful state of being, drastically altering the educational system will be one of the first crucial steps.
As for the health unit, well that is also applicable. Longboarding is helpful to health and well being both physically from the exercise of the action and emotionally/mentally from the endorphins released and the space to clear my head of everything but the linear: what's in front of me, slow down, speed up, etc. I get the rush of wind through my hair and the burn of exercise, so it's like I'm tackling two fronts in the meaningful aspect. Also, considering that I burn no fossil fuels in the process, I am safely within some parameters of a good life, because I am not detracting from the environment or other people's happiness with my activity.
Now, We have come to see from our analysis of corporate culture that to be happy is the main Idea that companies broadcast as a meaningful and good life. There exist so so so many ads on tv that tell us to put a smile on, be happy, do what feels right, etc. Does the fact that these are corporate sponsored ads mean that the messages are inherently false? I would say not, though to a certain extent this is the easy way out. To be happy is a truly noble pursuit that so few people ever achieve. Being happy is a pleasant emotion for things to feel, and leads to a more productive and less stressful existence. However, the corporate message of happiness seems to be that you can only find happiness with their products, their way of life. This is where the nice sunny, peaceful meadow-esque image of happiness meets the grinding metal and fiery brimstone of industry. Corporations would have Us believe that to be happy is to have expensive clothes and goods, that to be satisfied is to eat at a five star restaurant every night and shop at places like Wal-Mart and Target. I would say that we should take this message as a warning. That yes, we should be happy. Most people deserve happiness. But people should also know that you can be happy without a name-brand wardrobe. You should be informed in your happiness. The best things in life are free. I never understood that phrase until recently, but it is true. A walk in the park will probably leave you more happy than a Whopper ever could.
If you want to live your life with some meaning, you must also do your best to be aware of the things that try to mold and shape you, to turn you into a puppet. We didn't delve particularly deeply into it, but the educational system is just one of the many guiding factors that try to change us from what we want to be into what they believe we should be. If I had the brain and thoughts I do now back when i was a kindergardener, I would certainly put a stop to all this crap they feed us when we are young. I'll use a perfectly fitting personal example. When i was in kindergarden, for our graduating ceremony we had to announce what we wanted to be when we grew up. Like a perfectly sane creative kid, I said I wanted to be an artist. My teacher, and I quote, told me "that job isn't in the book so I have to pick a new one". Whaaaaaaat kind of shit is that? I'm 6, bitch, if I want to be an artist. So when it came time to actually say it aloud on stage in front of everyone, what did I say? that I wanted to be an artist. Now, this is fitting two ways; it shows that from the earliest age, my natural instinct was to live my life happily, doing what pleases me most. Who knows, maybe if I had had that support back then, I would be a phenomenal artist now, but I didn't. i would argue that in order to have a fufilling life, am meaningful life, i would say that you should go with what you are naturally inclined to be. From early on we should have an educational system focused to the kids' interests. Not everyone will need to know complicated math and sciences for their lives, and then some others will not need to know how to structure paragraphs and proper grammar. For humaity in general to reach a more meaningful state of being, drastically altering the educational system will be one of the first crucial steps.
Monday, June 8, 2009
How to Avoid a Meaningless life - Final Paper
Earlier on in the year, I posted a video that focused primarily on being outside and riding my longboard. To me there was no greater meaning in my life. I could condense that Idea to simply doing what I wanted to do, without worry of societal pressure. Or something similar. From then, we have gone through several units, largest of which I would say is the Animal unit. I think that specifically this unit was the most applicable to my standing principles on living a good and meaningful life, second being the health unit, which also applies if you think about it. Anywho, What I was trying to say was this; in connecting the Animal unit and the ideas we presented in it, those ideas of being outside with nature and recognizing our primal need to be surrounded by sunlight and pleasant activity only bolsters my original ideas about the meaning of life. It may not be particularly insightful, but I feel that by touching back to my natural roots as a human animal, I can appreciate the world more for the beauty inherent.
As for the health unit, well that is also applicable. Longboarding is helpful to health and well being both physically from the exercise of the action and emotionally/mentally from the endorphins released and the space to clear my head of everything but the linear: what's in front of me, slow down, speed up, etc. I get the rush of wind through my hair and the burn of exercise, so it's like I'm tackling two fronts in the meaningful aspect. Also, considering that I burn no fossil fuels in the process, I am safely within some parameters of a good life, because I am not detracting from the environment or other people's happiness with my activity.
Now, We have come to see from our analysis of corporate culture that to be happy is the main Idea that companies broadcast as a meaningful and good life. There exist so so so many ads on tv that tell us to put a smile on, be happy, do what feels right, etc. Does the fact that these are corporate sponsored ads mean that the messages are inherently false? I would say not, though to a certain extent this is the easy way out. To be happy is a truly noble pursuit that so few people ever achieve. Being happy is a pleasant emotion for things to feel, and leads to a more productive and less stressful existence. However, the corporate message of happiness seems to be that you can only find happiness with their products, their way of life. This is where the nice sunny, peaceful meadow-esque image of happiness meets the grinding metal and fiery brimstone of industry. Corporations would have Us believe that to be happy is to have expensive clothes and goods, that to be satisfied is to eat at a five star restaurant every night and shop at places like Wal-Mart and Target. I would say that we should take this message as a warning. That yes, we should be happy. Most people deserve happiness. But people should also know that you can be happy without a name-brand wardrobe. You should be informed in your happiness. The best things in life are free. I never understood that phrase until recently, but it is true. A walk in the park will probably leave you more happy than a Whopper ever could.
If you want to live your life with some meaning, you must also do your best to be aware of the things that try to mold and shape you, to turn you into a puppet.
As for the health unit, well that is also applicable. Longboarding is helpful to health and well being both physically from the exercise of the action and emotionally/mentally from the endorphins released and the space to clear my head of everything but the linear: what's in front of me, slow down, speed up, etc. I get the rush of wind through my hair and the burn of exercise, so it's like I'm tackling two fronts in the meaningful aspect. Also, considering that I burn no fossil fuels in the process, I am safely within some parameters of a good life, because I am not detracting from the environment or other people's happiness with my activity.
Now, We have come to see from our analysis of corporate culture that to be happy is the main Idea that companies broadcast as a meaningful and good life. There exist so so so many ads on tv that tell us to put a smile on, be happy, do what feels right, etc. Does the fact that these are corporate sponsored ads mean that the messages are inherently false? I would say not, though to a certain extent this is the easy way out. To be happy is a truly noble pursuit that so few people ever achieve. Being happy is a pleasant emotion for things to feel, and leads to a more productive and less stressful existence. However, the corporate message of happiness seems to be that you can only find happiness with their products, their way of life. This is where the nice sunny, peaceful meadow-esque image of happiness meets the grinding metal and fiery brimstone of industry. Corporations would have Us believe that to be happy is to have expensive clothes and goods, that to be satisfied is to eat at a five star restaurant every night and shop at places like Wal-Mart and Target. I would say that we should take this message as a warning. That yes, we should be happy. Most people deserve happiness. But people should also know that you can be happy without a name-brand wardrobe. You should be informed in your happiness. The best things in life are free. I never understood that phrase until recently, but it is true. A walk in the park will probably leave you more happy than a Whopper ever could.
If you want to live your life with some meaning, you must also do your best to be aware of the things that try to mold and shape you, to turn you into a puppet.
Response to Jared Diamond's Collapse
In Jared Diamond's essay on the collapse of the Easter islanders, we see that these people ran out of their natural resources in an ego-driven contest to be the biggest, richest person around. Right off the bat we see that connection to the American society that is all about ripping off your peers in order that you outshine your neighbor. We also follow in a similar path to that of the Easter islanders because of our dependency on oil and our continued depletion of it. We als
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