Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Questions???
In the movie Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead the game of questions is played by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. The reason that this game is so significant in this postmodern movie is that in postmodernism there is no real Truth. Therefore the game in which only questions can be asked fits right in with this belief since no definite True answers are required. Also this game is ironic since Rosencrantz and Guildernstern could not even answer the simple question of their name due to no former memory of their life.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Senior Quote
Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to an all-knowing God.
-Martin Luther King Jr.
-Martin Luther King Jr.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
What is Art?
What do you classify as art? Is art the same for everyone? Is there some standard that all "art" must meet to truely be considered art?
When asked this question today in class I honestly didn't really know how I classify things as art or not. I mean if you think about it, why is the Mona Lisa considered art? Is it because it is a painting? Is it because that is what you have been told in school? After thinking about it all day I decided that art is personal. You define what is art. Art is something that moves you or relates your feelings through a creative means. A great example used in class was when MJ threw the keys on a stool. Now would I consider that art?... No... but was it art?... Maybe to someone else it truely meant something to them and therefore it would be art to that specific person. A good quote brought up today in class was "the beauty is in the eyes of the beholder". So therefore I don't believe that there are standards that art must meet to be considered art. I believe that art is something created with intention and when presented moves you or "speaks" to you.
When asked this question today in class I honestly didn't really know how I classify things as art or not. I mean if you think about it, why is the Mona Lisa considered art? Is it because it is a painting? Is it because that is what you have been told in school? After thinking about it all day I decided that art is personal. You define what is art. Art is something that moves you or relates your feelings through a creative means. A great example used in class was when MJ threw the keys on a stool. Now would I consider that art?... No... but was it art?... Maybe to someone else it truely meant something to them and therefore it would be art to that specific person. A good quote brought up today in class was "the beauty is in the eyes of the beholder". So therefore I don't believe that there are standards that art must meet to be considered art. I believe that art is something created with intention and when presented moves you or "speaks" to you.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Eve unnames them
1.God and the Universe
"You and your father lent me this- gave it to me, actually. It's been really uselful, but it doesn't seem to fit very well lately"
While there is a God mentioned in this story, he does not seem to possess any power over creation. It seems as if Eve has the self given power to do as she wishes, which in this case is to unname everything.
2.Humanity and Identity
"...they understood that the issue was precisely one of individual choice, and that anybody who wanted to be called Rover, or Froufrou, or Polly, or even Birdie in the personal sense, was perfectly free to do so..."
Ultimately you make yourself out to be as you want to be seen. A name has no meaning and if you do call yourself by a name, you can determine your own meaning. Whatever you think is right, is right.
3.Conflict and Suffering
"They seemed far closer than when their names had stood between myself and them like a clear barrier..."
The conflict is trying to overcome the "barrier" that names set in place among every living thing. There is no mention of flaws.
4.Hope and Redemption
"It is hard giving back a gift without sounding peevish or ungrateful"
The answer to the human struggle is that we must rid ourselves of the world's given titles and names and simply be. After we eliminate the "barriers" we can find hope in simply living as we believe is right.
5.Values and Relationships
"One of my reasons for doing what I did was that talk was getting us nowhere..."
The words that are used in the world do not have a set meaning. Just like our names they are ultimately pointless. Therefore we cannot find a set way to live. We can only follow the path that we believe to be correct.
6.Truth and Reality
"I could not chatter away as I used to do, taking it all for granted"
Words and more specifically names have no real, absolute meaning. Whatever you want to believe is the truth and there is no need for names or words. They just get in the way of how we relate with one another.
Therefore, after answering the questions for the above topics, I believe that She unnames them expresses a postmodern worldview.
"You and your father lent me this- gave it to me, actually. It's been really uselful, but it doesn't seem to fit very well lately"
While there is a God mentioned in this story, he does not seem to possess any power over creation. It seems as if Eve has the self given power to do as she wishes, which in this case is to unname everything.
2.Humanity and Identity
"...they understood that the issue was precisely one of individual choice, and that anybody who wanted to be called Rover, or Froufrou, or Polly, or even Birdie in the personal sense, was perfectly free to do so..."
Ultimately you make yourself out to be as you want to be seen. A name has no meaning and if you do call yourself by a name, you can determine your own meaning. Whatever you think is right, is right.
3.Conflict and Suffering
"They seemed far closer than when their names had stood between myself and them like a clear barrier..."
The conflict is trying to overcome the "barrier" that names set in place among every living thing. There is no mention of flaws.
4.Hope and Redemption
"It is hard giving back a gift without sounding peevish or ungrateful"
The answer to the human struggle is that we must rid ourselves of the world's given titles and names and simply be. After we eliminate the "barriers" we can find hope in simply living as we believe is right.
5.Values and Relationships
"One of my reasons for doing what I did was that talk was getting us nowhere..."
The words that are used in the world do not have a set meaning. Just like our names they are ultimately pointless. Therefore we cannot find a set way to live. We can only follow the path that we believe to be correct.
6.Truth and Reality
"I could not chatter away as I used to do, taking it all for granted"
Words and more specifically names have no real, absolute meaning. Whatever you want to believe is the truth and there is no need for names or words. They just get in the way of how we relate with one another.
Therefore, after answering the questions for the above topics, I believe that She unnames them expresses a postmodern worldview.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
American Pie
1. God and the Universe
"the father, son, and holy ghost, They caught the last train for the coast"
"Oh, and while the king was looking down, The jester stole his thorny crown"
The power in control of the universe cannot be God because he left us and Satan is not described as having any control over the world in the song. Therefore the only option for a "god" would have to be found in ourselves.
2. Humanity and Identity
"A generation lost in space"
"Bad news on the doorstep"
The world is full of evil and bad news. Humanity has no control over the universe only over themselves to the point of choosing what they think is right. Man is nothing more than matter.
3. Conflict and Suffering
"the day the music died"
"this'll be the day that I die"
"I saw Satan laughing with delight the day the music died"
The conflict is the idea that the thing that gives people hope, music, has died and therefore so has their hope. When the music dies there is no point to life.
4. Hope and Redemption
"and do you have faith in God above...can music save your mortal soul"
"How that music used to make me smile"
The answer to the human struggle WAS music, however, once music died the answer has to be found in individuals. We are sadly failing in redeeming ourselves. Our hope for tomorrow must be found in yourself and the pleasures that the world has provided you with.
5. Values and Relationships
"I can't remember if I cried When I read about his widowed bride, But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died"
The ultimate value is found in music. These lines of the song agree with secular humanism accoring to the worldview chart for sociology when it says, "family, society, and culture are the source of man's failure" which explains why he is heartbroken over the loss of music yet the loss of a husband brings little sadness.
6. Truth and Relality
again... "...something touched me deep inside The day the music died"
Life holds no meaning without music.
Therefore, after answering the questions for the above topics, I think that the worldview is Secular Humanism.
"the father, son, and holy ghost, They caught the last train for the coast"
"Oh, and while the king was looking down, The jester stole his thorny crown"
The power in control of the universe cannot be God because he left us and Satan is not described as having any control over the world in the song. Therefore the only option for a "god" would have to be found in ourselves.
2. Humanity and Identity
"A generation lost in space"
"Bad news on the doorstep"
The world is full of evil and bad news. Humanity has no control over the universe only over themselves to the point of choosing what they think is right. Man is nothing more than matter.
3. Conflict and Suffering
"the day the music died"
"this'll be the day that I die"
"I saw Satan laughing with delight the day the music died"
The conflict is the idea that the thing that gives people hope, music, has died and therefore so has their hope. When the music dies there is no point to life.
4. Hope and Redemption
"and do you have faith in God above...can music save your mortal soul"
"How that music used to make me smile"
The answer to the human struggle WAS music, however, once music died the answer has to be found in individuals. We are sadly failing in redeeming ourselves. Our hope for tomorrow must be found in yourself and the pleasures that the world has provided you with.
5. Values and Relationships
"I can't remember if I cried When I read about his widowed bride, But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died"
The ultimate value is found in music. These lines of the song agree with secular humanism accoring to the worldview chart for sociology when it says, "family, society, and culture are the source of man's failure" which explains why he is heartbroken over the loss of music yet the loss of a husband brings little sadness.
6. Truth and Relality
again... "...something touched me deep inside The day the music died"
Life holds no meaning without music.
Therefore, after answering the questions for the above topics, I think that the worldview is Secular Humanism.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Paradise Forever Lost
Paradise Lost is written from a Judeo-Christian worldview. Out of the six topics to look for in literature to determine the worldview I am going to be explaining the topic of God and the universe. The questions that you must ask yourself include: What is the power in control of the universe? Was the universe created? and finally, what governs the universe?
First to answer the question, "was the universe created?" you can simply look at lines nine and ten which say, "In the Beginning how the Heav'ns and Earth Rose out of Chaos... Fast by the Oracle of God." This therefore shows that there is, in fact, a God and that God created both the heavens and the earth.
Next, to answer the other questions of "what power is in control in the universe?" and "what governs the universe?" you can look at several instances throughout Paradise Lost to understand the worldview. For example in lines 40 to 42 it says, "He [Satan] trusted to have equal'd the most high... and with ambitious aim Against the Throne and Monarchy of God." This shows that God is above all other things and by talking about the "Throne and Monarchy of God" it reveals that God is the one who has both power and control. Also, lines 70 to 71 say, "Such place Eternal Justice had prepar'd For those rebellious, here thir Prison ordain'd." This again shows that God is the one in control as he had to power to cast Satan and the other demons into hell.
First to answer the question, "was the universe created?" you can simply look at lines nine and ten which say, "In the Beginning how the Heav'ns and Earth Rose out of Chaos... Fast by the Oracle of God." This therefore shows that there is, in fact, a God and that God created both the heavens and the earth.
Next, to answer the other questions of "what power is in control in the universe?" and "what governs the universe?" you can look at several instances throughout Paradise Lost to understand the worldview. For example in lines 40 to 42 it says, "He [Satan] trusted to have equal'd the most high... and with ambitious aim Against the Throne and Monarchy of God." This shows that God is above all other things and by talking about the "Throne and Monarchy of God" it reveals that God is the one who has both power and control. Also, lines 70 to 71 say, "Such place Eternal Justice had prepar'd For those rebellious, here thir Prison ordain'd." This again shows that God is the one in control as he had to power to cast Satan and the other demons into hell.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
The Wizard of Oz
I believe that the worldview expressed in The Wizard of Oz is postmodernism. The best example of this centers around "the great Oz" and the influence he has over the other characters. The characters view the wizard as a type of powerful god however he is nothing more than a mere human. He has no special powers besides the fact that he was smart enough to create the image that made him appear a god not only to himself but to the lion, the scarecrow, the tin man, dorthy, and other characters in the story. So, according to The Wizard of Oz we can all be gods if we want to or we can create some sort of god to make us feel safe or help us out or to help explain the world... in other words according to postmodernism we can make a god to help us in any situation that may come up in life. Another idea of postmodernism is that there is no such thing as Truth. There are only truths. This can be seen because what many of the characters believed to be Truth (the wizard) was nothing more than a man. Postmodernism still believes that that man was in fact a wizard or god but that is only true for a select few or maybe even just one person. Therefore, I believe that The Wizard of Oz expresses a postmodern worldview primarily because of the role of the wizard and also the idea that whatever pleases you is right and you can do whatever you want without worrying about others because for YOU it is ok.
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