The first blog I read was the iMedia "The Persistence of Memory" written by Nicole. Her blog talks about the importance of time and how it can be thought of as either a fixed concept, or a relative one. She also talked about seeing something new and having a different perspective each time someone looks at the painting.
Here is what I wrote her:
"Nicole, I really liked how you took a step back in order to analyze the painting. You didn't just point out the obvious, like "the clocks are bent and distorted," or "the painting is dark in color." You looked at it from 360 degrees. The way you dissected the concept of time, asking whether it was meant to be a rigid system of ticking, or whether it could fluid and free-form like the clocks in the painting show. Your insight to this painting made me think about the true meaning behind this work of art, and honestly, I don't even know if I can interpret its meaning. I also liked how you pointed out that every time you look at the painting, you see something you didn't notice before. That was true for me. I had to look at it about four times before I realized that there was a giant spider on the orange pocket watch. Your insight to this work of art really made me take a step back and analyze the thoughts that went in to creating this painting, and what it really means."
The second blog post I read and commented on was Chris's titled, "iMedia: Haiti." He posted a riveting picture of a man in Haiti trapped in a pile of rubble shortly after the earthquake. This photo made me see the two sides of the human mindset: "it's all about me," and "it's all about everyone else."
This is what I had to say:
"Chris, as much as I'd like to agree with you, I must say that I somewhat disagree. I can see how you might look at this picture and think, "Did the photographer only take this picture to make some quick cash?" But I saw this photo and thought "Did he/she take this picture to raise awareness?" By that I mean: is this picture meant to show that terrible things happen to innocent people? Maybe this picture is being used to raise money for those people in Haiti who are in the situations like the one the man in the photo is in, instead of the purpose of te photo being: "I took a good photo, now I can make some money." Of course, there is no way for us to know, so the argument could go either way, but I appreciate your insight into this ongoing issue. And you are right; often times the human mindset is "it's all about me," but other times, it can be all about what is best for everyone else around me."
December 5, 2010
November 28, 2010
Metacognition: My Bedroom
I tend to think of myself as a fairly organized person. My ways of keeping things in order may seem completely arbitrary to someone else who walks into my bedroom and sees papers, books, pens and pencils, and other random objects scattered on my desk and floor. If Aristotle were to walk into my room without prior knowledge of what he was going to see, he might think some sort of horrific natural disaster had terrorized my bedroom. But I happen to know where everything is in my bedroom. I might have a stack of old papers piled two feet high, but I will know that my math homework is the piece of crumpled notebook paper squished in the very middle of the pile, and I will be able to find it easily. But when my mother walks into my room, she simply sighs and tells me to clean it up because she can't stand to have an unorganized room in her house. So finally, I admitted to myself that it might do me some good to clean up a little bit. I spent the last hour filtering through all of the old papers that invaded my desk, putting all the stray pens and pencils into cups, and putting the abandoned books back on the shelves. Then, after I had finished cleaning, I literally took a step back and was able to see the carpet and an open desk for the first time in about four months. I was relieved.
Before I began the grueling task of ridding my room of all the unnecessary "garbage," for lack of a batter word, I felt like my room was just a place to pile all of the items I didn't need or was hesitant to throw away. If you had walked into my room an hour ago, this description would speak for itself. But as I began to slowly sort my way through the things I was going to keep, throw away, or put somewhere else in my house, I felt as if my mind was able to clear itself as well. If you have ever had a massive load of homework, or a large task you had to accomplish in a short amount of time, and you get some or most of that task done, you feel a huge weight come off your shoulders. That is exactly how my mind felt when I was done organizing my bedroom.
Now that my room has been cleared of its mountains of junk, I can walk on the carpeting without having to carefully place my footing so I don't step on a book or a pencil. I tried organizing my belongings in a way that I wasn't used to; actually putting things away and not just stuffing it in drawers or tossing it in the corner and forgetting about it. Not only did my room look cleaner and more in order, but my mind also felt a lot more organized. I don't spend ten minutes looking for my textbooks anymore because they are back in their rightful places on my bookshelf where I can grab them in ten seconds if I need them. I learned that although some methods of organization, like my old habits, might work for certain people, other ways of organizing, like the one I tried, work much better for others. I didn't know how simple it was to just throw some objects away and put other items where they belong. It made my mind open up and I felt so relieved to have a clean, organized space to live in. If only Aristotle could see me now.
Before I began the grueling task of ridding my room of all the unnecessary "garbage," for lack of a batter word, I felt like my room was just a place to pile all of the items I didn't need or was hesitant to throw away. If you had walked into my room an hour ago, this description would speak for itself. But as I began to slowly sort my way through the things I was going to keep, throw away, or put somewhere else in my house, I felt as if my mind was able to clear itself as well. If you have ever had a massive load of homework, or a large task you had to accomplish in a short amount of time, and you get some or most of that task done, you feel a huge weight come off your shoulders. That is exactly how my mind felt when I was done organizing my bedroom.
Now that my room has been cleared of its mountains of junk, I can walk on the carpeting without having to carefully place my footing so I don't step on a book or a pencil. I tried organizing my belongings in a way that I wasn't used to; actually putting things away and not just stuffing it in drawers or tossing it in the corner and forgetting about it. Not only did my room look cleaner and more in order, but my mind also felt a lot more organized. I don't spend ten minutes looking for my textbooks anymore because they are back in their rightful places on my bookshelf where I can grab them in ten seconds if I need them. I learned that although some methods of organization, like my old habits, might work for certain people, other ways of organizing, like the one I tried, work much better for others. I didn't know how simple it was to just throw some objects away and put other items where they belong. It made my mind open up and I felt so relieved to have a clean, organized space to live in. If only Aristotle could see me now.
November 13, 2010
iMedia: "Numb" by Linkin Park
"Numb by Linkin Park-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXYiU_JCYtU
This song, when interpreted, can have many meanings. I read the lyrics and saw this song as a way to promote self-confidence and individualism. To me, the main focus of the song was to epress how the pressures of trying to act like another person often make you feel "numb." Don't get me wrong, having a person you look up to or aspire to be is great, but turning your whole life around just so you can try to be like them may be more harmful than beneficial. An example of this in modern times is the societal pressures on women to look and act a certain way. Beauty has become one of the main concerns of women, and now more than ever, women are craving the need to look "perfect." The evolution of our culture over time eventually brought us makeup, new clothing styles, and cosmetic surgery. All of these things have changed the way other people view women, and even how women view themselves.
"I'm tired of being what you want me to be,
feeling so faithless, lost under the surface.
I don't know what you're expecting of me,
put under the pressure of walking in your shoes.
Every step that I take is just another mistake to you."
I think these lyrics show the true pressures put on women. The last line of the verse shows that when women don't make an effort to be the "perfect" woman, they are failures, or outcasts in society.
Typically, all of these pressures on women lead to low self esteem, demeaning views, and negativity towards women. I feel as if many women see themselves as described in the third and fourth lines of the verse. It makes me frustrated to see women change their entire lives just to look good. Who's to say what a "perfect" woman should look and act like?
"I've become so numb, I can't feel you there,
become so numb, so much more aware.
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
is be more like me and be less like you."
I hope to always live by the third and fourth lines of that verse. I believe all people are unique for a reason. Personally, I've always been a bit of a tomboy. I never played with dolls, wore dresses, or had tea parties with my stuffed animals. Instead, I preferred playing with toy cars, dressing in t-shirts and jeans, and playing ice hockey. Although even I have been influenced by the pressures of being the "perfect" woman, I have not let it take over my entire life. I pride myself in having the freedom to express my individuality. Anyone that knows me well can attest to the fact that I love to wear very colorful socks and shoes. And although I have been ridiculed for being "weird" or too "outgoing" with my fashion, I embrace the fact that I like being different, and nobody can change that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXYiU_JCYtU
This song, when interpreted, can have many meanings. I read the lyrics and saw this song as a way to promote self-confidence and individualism. To me, the main focus of the song was to epress how the pressures of trying to act like another person often make you feel "numb." Don't get me wrong, having a person you look up to or aspire to be is great, but turning your whole life around just so you can try to be like them may be more harmful than beneficial. An example of this in modern times is the societal pressures on women to look and act a certain way. Beauty has become one of the main concerns of women, and now more than ever, women are craving the need to look "perfect." The evolution of our culture over time eventually brought us makeup, new clothing styles, and cosmetic surgery. All of these things have changed the way other people view women, and even how women view themselves.
"I'm tired of being what you want me to be,
feeling so faithless, lost under the surface.
I don't know what you're expecting of me,
put under the pressure of walking in your shoes.
Every step that I take is just another mistake to you."
I think these lyrics show the true pressures put on women. The last line of the verse shows that when women don't make an effort to be the "perfect" woman, they are failures, or outcasts in society.
Typically, all of these pressures on women lead to low self esteem, demeaning views, and negativity towards women. I feel as if many women see themselves as described in the third and fourth lines of the verse. It makes me frustrated to see women change their entire lives just to look good. Who's to say what a "perfect" woman should look and act like?
"I've become so numb, I can't feel you there,
become so numb, so much more aware.
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
is be more like me and be less like you."
I hope to always live by the third and fourth lines of that verse. I believe all people are unique for a reason. Personally, I've always been a bit of a tomboy. I never played with dolls, wore dresses, or had tea parties with my stuffed animals. Instead, I preferred playing with toy cars, dressing in t-shirts and jeans, and playing ice hockey. Although even I have been influenced by the pressures of being the "perfect" woman, I have not let it take over my entire life. I pride myself in having the freedom to express my individuality. Anyone that knows me well can attest to the fact that I love to wear very colorful socks and shoes. And although I have been ridiculed for being "weird" or too "outgoing" with my fashion, I embrace the fact that I like being different, and nobody can change that.
November 7, 2010
Connection: King Lear and Kite Runner
The play, King Lear and the novel, Kite Runner share many things in common. One important theme throughout both works is jealousy. In King Lear, Edmund, the bastard son of Gloucester, is envious of his step-brother Edgar. Even though Gloucester appears to love both of his sons equally, Edmund is fully convinced that he will always love his legitimate son more. Jealousy consumes Edmund and he eventually frames Edgar in an attempt to plot against Gloucester. Edmund only set up Edgar so he could have his share of the inheritance. He wants to feel equally important to Gloucester. Edmund's lie about framing Edgar eventually gets out and Gloucester is furious. Their father-son relationship is permanently damaged and will never be the same.
Similarly, in Kite Runner, Amir is often envious of Hassan. Amir's father shows more fatherly affection to Hassan than to his own son. Amir grows jealous of Hassan for feeling more loved than him, although by rank, Hassan is only their servant. Eventually when Hassan is raped, Amir does nothing about it and keeps it a secret. When asked about what happened, Amir denies the entire event. Amir continues to keep his secret in the dark for the next twenty five years. His relationship with Hassan was destroyed because of his denial.
In a way, both Edmund and Amir felt that they were not important enough their fathers. Both were taken over by jealousy and told lies to seem innocent. In the end, the only thing that came out of their scheming and lies was a broken relationship with the people they loved most. I can also relate both of these stories to my own life. I have a younger sister, so I know what it's like to feel jealous. Often times, I think my parents favor my sister over me. It makes me feel angry, and sometimes, I will do things to get my sister into trouble. But as we grow older, we both realize that revenge doesn't get you anything except for more consequences. In King Lear and Kite Runner, I think that Edmund and Amir, respectively, finally realize that revenge and secrets don't make your life any easier. In fact, in many cases it only creates more problems.
Similarly, in Kite Runner, Amir is often envious of Hassan. Amir's father shows more fatherly affection to Hassan than to his own son. Amir grows jealous of Hassan for feeling more loved than him, although by rank, Hassan is only their servant. Eventually when Hassan is raped, Amir does nothing about it and keeps it a secret. When asked about what happened, Amir denies the entire event. Amir continues to keep his secret in the dark for the next twenty five years. His relationship with Hassan was destroyed because of his denial.
In a way, both Edmund and Amir felt that they were not important enough their fathers. Both were taken over by jealousy and told lies to seem innocent. In the end, the only thing that came out of their scheming and lies was a broken relationship with the people they loved most. I can also relate both of these stories to my own life. I have a younger sister, so I know what it's like to feel jealous. Often times, I think my parents favor my sister over me. It makes me feel angry, and sometimes, I will do things to get my sister into trouble. But as we grow older, we both realize that revenge doesn't get you anything except for more consequences. In King Lear and Kite Runner, I think that Edmund and Amir, respectively, finally realize that revenge and secrets don't make your life any easier. In fact, in many cases it only creates more problems.
October 31, 2010
360 Degrees: Hands of Peace
Over the summer I took part in a program called Hands of Peace. This two-and-a-half week program works with teenagers from Israel, Palestine, and the United States. We spent most of our time talking about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Middle East. Each kid that came to this program came for different reasons. Some flew thousands of miles just so they could see America, others because they wanted to meet a Palestinian or an Israeli for the first time; some even came just to talk about their life behind a wall and how restricted they have become due to the war. Everybody had a different perspective of the conflict. As an American, I joined this program to hear both sides of the story becuase I wanted a 360 degree view on the conflict in the Middle East.
The Israelis and Palestinians each had their stories to tell about how they thought the other "side" was so evil and how they did such bad things to one another. I was fascinated by their viewpoints of the conflict. Israelis thought the Palestinians were the bad guys while the Palestinians thought the same thing of the Israelis. While first listening to the Middle East participants speak I thought, "How can these kids be so ignorant of one another? Why is this conflict happening? Who's really to blame in all of this? Which side is right and which is wrong? Is there even a right and wrong? Should I risk getting caught in the middle of this?" So many of these questions were running through my head as I listened to them talk. These talks continued everyday for the two-and-a-half-weeks of the program. As each day progressed, I became more comfortable being in the same room as the frustrated and angered Middle Easterners. Eventually, the talks became less focused on generalizations and stereotypes about the other side and became more focused on personal experience. One participant's story in particular really made me change my perspective of the conflict.
The participant was sitting at home with his family watching television when a missile landed in their family room, killing two of the family members instantly. He told us that the missile had been launched by Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist organization. He said the incident made him believe that he would hate all Palestinians for the rest of his life. When he came to Hands of Peace, he truly believed that his opinions of the Palestinians would never change, and at first, he was hesitant to even talk to one of them. I came to this program with the firm stance of remaining neutral and not taking anyone's side, but when I heard this boy's story, I almost broke that promise to myself. I wanted so badly to believe that all Palestinians were bad because I really felt his pain. Then I heard another story, this one being from the Palestinian perspective. One of the participants, who lived in Tulkarm, Palestine, was trying to cross into West Jerusalem (which is the Israeli controlled portion of Jerusalem) and he was forced to take off all of his clothes at one of the checkpoints. He told us the soldiers at the checkpoint made him jump around and humiliate himself in fromt of his entire family. This made me feel angry towards to Israelis and I wanted to think that the Israelis were the bad guys. I heard story after story and could not make up my mind about which side was better or which one was to blame. Then I realized that neither side was better than the other.
After the final dialogue session, the boy whose family had been killed by the rocket turned to one of the Palestinians and apologized for the things Israel did to hurt the Palestinians. The Palestinian boy also apologized for all of the horrible things the Palestinians had done to the Israelis. This moment made me realize how incredible it is to witness something you thought would never happen: forgivness. During the two-and-a-half weeks of this program I saw bitter enemies become the best of friends. My experiences with this program made me believe even more strongly that the only way to get a true understanding of a situation is to have a 360 degree view of it.
The Israelis and Palestinians each had their stories to tell about how they thought the other "side" was so evil and how they did such bad things to one another. I was fascinated by their viewpoints of the conflict. Israelis thought the Palestinians were the bad guys while the Palestinians thought the same thing of the Israelis. While first listening to the Middle East participants speak I thought, "How can these kids be so ignorant of one another? Why is this conflict happening? Who's really to blame in all of this? Which side is right and which is wrong? Is there even a right and wrong? Should I risk getting caught in the middle of this?" So many of these questions were running through my head as I listened to them talk. These talks continued everyday for the two-and-a-half-weeks of the program. As each day progressed, I became more comfortable being in the same room as the frustrated and angered Middle Easterners. Eventually, the talks became less focused on generalizations and stereotypes about the other side and became more focused on personal experience. One participant's story in particular really made me change my perspective of the conflict.
The participant was sitting at home with his family watching television when a missile landed in their family room, killing two of the family members instantly. He told us that the missile had been launched by Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist organization. He said the incident made him believe that he would hate all Palestinians for the rest of his life. When he came to Hands of Peace, he truly believed that his opinions of the Palestinians would never change, and at first, he was hesitant to even talk to one of them. I came to this program with the firm stance of remaining neutral and not taking anyone's side, but when I heard this boy's story, I almost broke that promise to myself. I wanted so badly to believe that all Palestinians were bad because I really felt his pain. Then I heard another story, this one being from the Palestinian perspective. One of the participants, who lived in Tulkarm, Palestine, was trying to cross into West Jerusalem (which is the Israeli controlled portion of Jerusalem) and he was forced to take off all of his clothes at one of the checkpoints. He told us the soldiers at the checkpoint made him jump around and humiliate himself in fromt of his entire family. This made me feel angry towards to Israelis and I wanted to think that the Israelis were the bad guys. I heard story after story and could not make up my mind about which side was better or which one was to blame. Then I realized that neither side was better than the other.
After the final dialogue session, the boy whose family had been killed by the rocket turned to one of the Palestinians and apologized for the things Israel did to hurt the Palestinians. The Palestinian boy also apologized for all of the horrible things the Palestinians had done to the Israelis. This moment made me realize how incredible it is to witness something you thought would never happen: forgivness. During the two-and-a-half weeks of this program I saw bitter enemies become the best of friends. My experiences with this program made me believe even more strongly that the only way to get a true understanding of a situation is to have a 360 degree view of it.
October 12, 2010
Metacognition: Kite Runner Eassay
How does the human mind work? Will anyone ever truly know? The human brain is such a complicated and intricate network of passageways. Millions of signals pass through the brain each second and command us in our everyday lives. How do we manage to get just one or two thoughts down on paper when there are millions of them rushing through our minds all at once?
Well, for me, when writing a paper I can't just focus on a few thoughts or ideas, I have to let it all out. Sometimes I will have five or six great ideas and the only way to organize them is to scribble them all down. For the Kite Runner essay in particular, there were numerous feelings, thoughts, ideas, and opinions I had about the book. Things such as character relationships, plot twists, sensory language and detail, and metaphors all came into my mind. It was difficult for me to pick only one to write about. In the end I chose to write about the significance of the kite, the simple toy that the author, Khaled Hosseini, uses to connect events in Amir's past and present life. I chose to write about something I thought most people would not consider for their essay. I decided to use the kite as the main focus of my essay because, although the kite seems to be only a simple plaything for many people, it became the axis around which Amir's life revolved.
What surprises me most about my way of thinking is the wide variety of topics that come to my mind when asked to write about something. It is always a challenge for me to pick one specific thing to write about, but I always find a way to support my thoughts and make them into well- written and detailed works. But not only that, I also like the fact that I can process so many different ideas at once. This gives me the chance to see how well one idea might work in an essay and how badly another might turn out, in other words, a "dead end" thought. My thought process is very similar to a math problem: I start by getting an idea of how I am going to do the work, then I start to plug in different thoughts (numbers). Then I work out the problem with the number I hope will give me the correct answer. If it doesn't, I go back to the drawing board and plug in a new number. I continue to do this until I find a number that satisfies the equation. In other words, my thought process is very similar to a guess-and-check math problem. I plug in one idea and if it brings me to a dead end, I plug in a new thought. I keep doing this until I get an idea that leads me somewhere, which hopefully satisfies the problem and makes for a good essay.
One thing I would like to change about my thought process that not only pertains to writing, but is also relevant to just about everything I am required to think about, is depth. Often times when I am forced to think about something, I merely skim the surface, giving answers or explanations with as little detail as possible, just so I can get by with the bare minimum. Sometimes, however, I do think with great depth and I am satisfied with other thoughts that arise as a result. But I don't want to change the way I think, I want to enhance my ability to think with more depth all the time, not just sometimes.
A brain is one of the most vital organs in our bodies. It keeps us alive; more than that, it keeps our thoughts flowing from our head, down to our fingertips, through the pen, and onto the paper. Writers utilize their thought process, and their brains thank them by creating great works.
Well, for me, when writing a paper I can't just focus on a few thoughts or ideas, I have to let it all out. Sometimes I will have five or six great ideas and the only way to organize them is to scribble them all down. For the Kite Runner essay in particular, there were numerous feelings, thoughts, ideas, and opinions I had about the book. Things such as character relationships, plot twists, sensory language and detail, and metaphors all came into my mind. It was difficult for me to pick only one to write about. In the end I chose to write about the significance of the kite, the simple toy that the author, Khaled Hosseini, uses to connect events in Amir's past and present life. I chose to write about something I thought most people would not consider for their essay. I decided to use the kite as the main focus of my essay because, although the kite seems to be only a simple plaything for many people, it became the axis around which Amir's life revolved.
What surprises me most about my way of thinking is the wide variety of topics that come to my mind when asked to write about something. It is always a challenge for me to pick one specific thing to write about, but I always find a way to support my thoughts and make them into well- written and detailed works. But not only that, I also like the fact that I can process so many different ideas at once. This gives me the chance to see how well one idea might work in an essay and how badly another might turn out, in other words, a "dead end" thought. My thought process is very similar to a math problem: I start by getting an idea of how I am going to do the work, then I start to plug in different thoughts (numbers). Then I work out the problem with the number I hope will give me the correct answer. If it doesn't, I go back to the drawing board and plug in a new number. I continue to do this until I find a number that satisfies the equation. In other words, my thought process is very similar to a guess-and-check math problem. I plug in one idea and if it brings me to a dead end, I plug in a new thought. I keep doing this until I get an idea that leads me somewhere, which hopefully satisfies the problem and makes for a good essay.
One thing I would like to change about my thought process that not only pertains to writing, but is also relevant to just about everything I am required to think about, is depth. Often times when I am forced to think about something, I merely skim the surface, giving answers or explanations with as little detail as possible, just so I can get by with the bare minimum. Sometimes, however, I do think with great depth and I am satisfied with other thoughts that arise as a result. But I don't want to change the way I think, I want to enhance my ability to think with more depth all the time, not just sometimes.
A brain is one of the most vital organs in our bodies. It keeps us alive; more than that, it keeps our thoughts flowing from our head, down to our fingertips, through the pen, and onto the paper. Writers utilize their thought process, and their brains thank them by creating great works.
September 28, 2010
Blogging Around
I really appreciate Nour's insight to post-modernism. Her explanation and opinions about the concept really got me thinking. As I was reading her post, this question arose in my mind: How does post-modernism not only affect us personally as individuals, but how does it influence us as a society? Post-modernism impacts our individual daily lives in many aspects. This includes media, whether it be newspapers, magazines, television, internet, etc.
"Nour, I thougt your ideas, views, and opinions about post-modernism were very well thought out. You really had me thinking of ways to look at both sides of this concept, and not very many people can make me do that.
Media, one could argue, is the puppet master in our lives, while we individuals are the puppet slaves. The men and women who preach information about the world to us through 24 inch televisions are practically spoon-feeding us our knowledge of the rest of the world. We want to believe whatever they say, becuase they are the experts on everything having to do with media, or so we would like to think. But just think, not even 100 years ago people were surviving without all of this technology. Computers and televisions were unheard of at this time. Radios and telephones were in their primitive youth. Newspapers and magazines were the main sources of world happenings. There were no newscasters to convince people of what they should and shouldn't believe. Most people were able to read the news and know exactly what was going on in the world.
Nowadays, media has taken over our lives. There are dozens of news channels on t.v. and on the radio, and no one story is exactly the same. A newscaster on CNN might provide their audience with a different view of the healthcare reform than a person on FOX news. With our media today, it is almost impossible to get the full story from a single source.
The concept of post-modernism has influenced today's world in many ways. When it comes to media there is no right or wrong answer, there is only what the viewer or reader chooses to believe."
The second post I commented on was Elizabeth's post titled "Connection: The Use of Kites and Cycle of Power." I really enjoyed reading her post because she explains the important relationship, not only between characters, but also between a toy and the story that results because of it.
"Elizabeth, your thoughts and ideas relating the kite to the vicious Cycle of Power was brilliant. I was very intrigued and interested to read more about your idea. I felt as if I was reading your exact thoughts as I read your blog post. I especially liked that you were able to show how one simple object unfolded the rest of the novel.
I too believe that the use of the kite was a symbolic measure of power; the one who captures the kite captures the power. Amir relished his power so his father would be proud to call him his son, but Amir also abused his power by betraying his best friend. Again, as you pointed out in your post, the kite symbolizes both Amir's breaking point and his moment of acceptance/ realization."
"Nour, I thougt your ideas, views, and opinions about post-modernism were very well thought out. You really had me thinking of ways to look at both sides of this concept, and not very many people can make me do that.
Media, one could argue, is the puppet master in our lives, while we individuals are the puppet slaves. The men and women who preach information about the world to us through 24 inch televisions are practically spoon-feeding us our knowledge of the rest of the world. We want to believe whatever they say, becuase they are the experts on everything having to do with media, or so we would like to think. But just think, not even 100 years ago people were surviving without all of this technology. Computers and televisions were unheard of at this time. Radios and telephones were in their primitive youth. Newspapers and magazines were the main sources of world happenings. There were no newscasters to convince people of what they should and shouldn't believe. Most people were able to read the news and know exactly what was going on in the world.
Nowadays, media has taken over our lives. There are dozens of news channels on t.v. and on the radio, and no one story is exactly the same. A newscaster on CNN might provide their audience with a different view of the healthcare reform than a person on FOX news. With our media today, it is almost impossible to get the full story from a single source.
The concept of post-modernism has influenced today's world in many ways. When it comes to media there is no right or wrong answer, there is only what the viewer or reader chooses to believe."
The second post I commented on was Elizabeth's post titled "Connection: The Use of Kites and Cycle of Power." I really enjoyed reading her post because she explains the important relationship, not only between characters, but also between a toy and the story that results because of it.
"Elizabeth, your thoughts and ideas relating the kite to the vicious Cycle of Power was brilliant. I was very intrigued and interested to read more about your idea. I felt as if I was reading your exact thoughts as I read your blog post. I especially liked that you were able to show how one simple object unfolded the rest of the novel.
I too believe that the use of the kite was a symbolic measure of power; the one who captures the kite captures the power. Amir relished his power so his father would be proud to call him his son, but Amir also abused his power by betraying his best friend. Again, as you pointed out in your post, the kite symbolizes both Amir's breaking point and his moment of acceptance/ realization."
September 25, 2010
Connection: Broken
In the book The Kite Runner, the main character, Amir, is forced to face a lot of different situations (i.e. death, torture, poverty, fear, guilt, etc.). Over the course of the novel, Amir becomes more and more emotionally and physically broken. The song "Broken" by Seether portrays the similar feelings that Amir is also experiencing.
"Because I'm broken when I'm open,
and I don't feel like I am strong enough.
'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome,
And I don't feel right when you're gone away.
You've gone away, you don't feel me here anymore."
These lyrics show a clear understanding of how hard it is to be alone. It shows insecurity and the need to hold back. Amir expresses similar emotions when he is reminded of his past, lives in the present, and thinks about the future. His past encounters with death, trauma, poverty, and fear influence him for the rest of his life. But Amir's true breaking point was when he lost his best friend and his father. Amir wasn't prepared to live on his own, "broken when I'm lonesome," and Amir's life changed after the people he loved were gone forever, "and I don't feel right when you're gone away."
"Because I'm broken when I'm open,
and I don't feel like I am strong enough.
'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome,
And I don't feel right when you're gone away.
You've gone away, you don't feel me here anymore."
These lyrics show a clear understanding of how hard it is to be alone. It shows insecurity and the need to hold back. Amir expresses similar emotions when he is reminded of his past, lives in the present, and thinks about the future. His past encounters with death, trauma, poverty, and fear influence him for the rest of his life. But Amir's true breaking point was when he lost his best friend and his father. Amir wasn't prepared to live on his own, "broken when I'm lonesome," and Amir's life changed after the people he loved were gone forever, "and I don't feel right when you're gone away."
September 19, 2010
Best of Week: Form is Content
This week in class we discussed the novel Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. We talked about the concept of "form is content," meaning that the author writes a certain way in order to evoke certain emotions and responses from the reader. The following excerpt from the book shows how the author uses the form of writing in second person to provide the reader with a more personal experience.
"You open your mouth. Open it so wide your jaws creak. You order you lungs to draw air, NOW, you need air, need it NOW. But your airways ignore you. They collapse, tighten, squeeze, and suddenly you're breathing through a drinking straw. Your mouth closes and your lips purse and all you can manage is a strangled croak. Your hands wriggle and shake. Somewhere a dam has cracked open and a flood of cold sweat spills, drenches your body. You want to scream. You would if you could. But you have to breathe to scream.
Panic."
In this specific passage, the author uses many different writing techniques in order to give his writing the exact feel he wants the reader to see. Hosseini includes fragments, which provide, in my opinion, the reader with a sense of urgency. Another thing the author includes is a very detailed use of sensory language. Through his use of sight, touch, smell, sound, and taste, we can get a clear sense of the situation and actually feel as if we are living in that moment. After reading this passage, I can clearly see how important the concept of "form is content" really is. This idea is what separates the good writers from the great writers.
"You open your mouth. Open it so wide your jaws creak. You order you lungs to draw air, NOW, you need air, need it NOW. But your airways ignore you. They collapse, tighten, squeeze, and suddenly you're breathing through a drinking straw. Your mouth closes and your lips purse and all you can manage is a strangled croak. Your hands wriggle and shake. Somewhere a dam has cracked open and a flood of cold sweat spills, drenches your body. You want to scream. You would if you could. But you have to breathe to scream.
Panic."
In this specific passage, the author uses many different writing techniques in order to give his writing the exact feel he wants the reader to see. Hosseini includes fragments, which provide, in my opinion, the reader with a sense of urgency. Another thing the author includes is a very detailed use of sensory language. Through his use of sight, touch, smell, sound, and taste, we can get a clear sense of the situation and actually feel as if we are living in that moment. After reading this passage, I can clearly see how important the concept of "form is content" really is. This idea is what separates the good writers from the great writers.
September 11, 2010
Captured Thought: Multi-tasking
Everyone, including myself tends to multitask at one point or another. We do it so we can finish the jobs faster and get on with the more important things in our lives. But is doing more than one thing at a time really effective? In the short term multi tasking might seem like the most convenient option, but in the long run, it could have negative consequences. For example, doing your homework and eating dinner might save you 20 minutes so that at 7:00 you can get to soccer practice on time. The immediate effects of this are quite positive; you are able to complete your homework, eat your dinner, and get to soccer without being late. But what about long term? You continue with your eating dinner and doing homework routine for several weeks and are exhausted from soccer. Since you are saving that extra 20 minutes by combining the two jobs, your homework is not being completed to the best of your ablilty. When it comes time to study for the test, you realize that the homework you had done was not effective in helping you prepare for the exam. You take the exam and recieve a poor grade.
This was an "aha" moment for me. I have learned through experience that multi tasking is, in many aspects, effective in the short term, but in the long run, it may not be the best way of getting things done.
This was an "aha" moment for me. I have learned through experience that multi tasking is, in many aspects, effective in the short term, but in the long run, it may not be the best way of getting things done.
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