Friday, May 4, 2007
End of Class
All in all I thought that this class was really fun. When I came into this class, I had expectations that were pretty low because I thought all we were going to do was write. It turns out that we did a lot more than just write. I really enjoyed how we were able to watch movies and tie them in with our writing. Although movies are not books, they were written as screen plays before they were shot. Therefore I think that movies are a lot like books. I really enjoyed coming to this class because of the discussions that we had. I also think that these blogs were a good idea because it gave me and my other classmates the ability to look at other peoples work as well as comment on some of their stuff. All in all i really enjoyed the class.
Final Paper
Everyone takes a journey back to their heritage at some point in their life. Whether it is as simple as eating a certain food that one used to eat or as drastic as changing ones current habits to old traditional rituals, everyone experiences it. In some cases this journey can be bad and in other cases it can be very good. After watching “Smoke Signals” and reading “The toughest Indian in the World”, I decided that there is a significant journey that takes place. The main character in each story takes a journey through their present life, searching for their old traditions and roots. Although it may not seem like they are taking a journey back to their roots on the outside, if you dig deeper you will find the true meaning in each of these stories.
In the short story, “The Toughest Indian in the World” by Sherman Alexie, the narrator is driving down the road thinking about the times when he was a young boy and how his dad used to pick up only the Indian hitch hikers and just pass right by the white hitch hikers. This little thought by the narrator, although subtle, is a small journey back in time. As the story moves on, the narrator sees a hitch hiker walking down the road. As he gets closer he realizes that it is an Indian. After some quick mental deliberation, the narrator decides to pull over and pick up the Indian. As soon as the Indian sits down into the car, the narrator can tell that he is a fighter. The fighter is huge and has scarred hands from all of the previous fights he had fought. During the car ride, the two Indians exchange some stories and carry on a casual conversation, learning a little bit about each other. As the trip comes to an end, the narrator invites the fighter to come stay with him in his hotel room so that the fighter doesn’t have to sleep outside. The fighter is very hesitant but finally decides to stay at the hotel. During the middle of the night the fighter crawls into bed with the narrator. The narrator is very confused about what is going on and can’t really comprehend what is about to happen. The two Indians have sex and then the narrator goes to the bathroom feeling very violated and very confused. The narrator asks the fighter to leave and then falls asleep. The next morning the narrator wakes up and begins walking towards his old home barefooted. Now this story may just seem like it’s a story about a homosexual encounter, when truly that is not the case. Although the sex scene was a bit graphic, there is a much deeper meaning. Throughout the narrator’s entire trip, he began to experience a journey that would eventually lead him to his roots. The gay sex scene simply represents the narrator finding himself and realizing what he wants. The narrator simply wants to take a journey back to his roots. This story symbolizes the narrator’s life. The first part of the story symbolizes the narrator’s youth, because he was driving in a car like he had done so many times with his dad. When the narrator picked up the fighter, that symbolized his teenage/young adult life, because he had grown up and wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to do. The last part of the story symbolizes his adulthood because he is so unsure about his life at this point. His wife is controlling and he isn’t sure what he wants to do, until the end when he finally starts walking towards home.
In the movie, “Smoke Signals” by Sherman Alexie, the main character Victor and his friend Thomas take a journey. When Victor was young, his dad left both him and his mom and moved down to Phoenix, Arizona. During the time that Victor’s dad was down there, Victor took care of his mom and acted as if he never even had a dad. It wasn’t until Victor was in high school, that his dad died. When the news came to Victor and his mom, they were both upset. Victor’s mom decides that Victor needs to go down to Phoenix to get his dad’s belongings. At first Victor does not want to go at all and says that he doesn’t have enough money, but then Thomas tells him that he will buy the bus tickets for Victor as long as Victor lets Thomas tag along. Throughout the entire trip down, Thomas is telling Victor story after story and Victor is growing tired of having Thomas’ company. When they finally arrive in Phoenix, Victor becomes very scared and wonders if he had made the right decision about taking this journey. After talking with Victor’s dad’s neighbor, Victor decides that he must go into his dad’s trailer. Once inside, Victor begins to have all sorts of flash backs and starts to remember things about his dad. This short scene about Victor reminiscing is a key point in the movie. On the outside it just looks like Victor is sad, but on the inside he is taking a journey back to his heritage. He is taking a journey back to his younger Indian days. Thomas and Victor leave very early the next morning, without even saying goodbye. The car ride home is filled with Thomas’s stories, but Victor doesn’t say a word, He only thinks to himself. During the night, Victor crashes his dad’s truck and has to run to a hospital to get help for a lady that was involved in a different wreck. During Victor’s run, he imagines himself running like a traditional Indian and he begins to think about his dad. During this entire journey, Victor experiences many mental journeys. These small mental journeys that Victor takes is how he tries to go back to his roots.
Perhaps both of these stories represent dreams, the types of dreams that people experience everyday. Dreams are supposed to symbolize meaning in ones life. Well perhaps these stories are just dreams and they are trying to show the characters what they need to look for in their life, which is heritage. These dreams may be symbolizing their true heritage, and showing the characters how to find their way back to their old ways.
Throughout both of these stories, many journeys were taken. Some of them were small mental journeys, like in “Smoke Signals”, and some of them were actual walking journeys, like in “The toughest Indian in the World.” No matter how these journeys were taken, they were both ways to get back to their heritage and old ways. Both of these stories symbolize heritage and old ways. These two things are the building blocks of who we are. No one would be who they were without their background and heritage. The reason everyone falls back on their old ways when they have nothing left to hold on too is because that is what they know best and it comes so natural. In both of these stories, the characters just want to find their old ways because at this point, they have nothing left to hold on too. Whether these stories are real, or merely dreams, the characters in both stories are searching for their heritage and old ways.
In the short story, “The Toughest Indian in the World” by Sherman Alexie, the narrator is driving down the road thinking about the times when he was a young boy and how his dad used to pick up only the Indian hitch hikers and just pass right by the white hitch hikers. This little thought by the narrator, although subtle, is a small journey back in time. As the story moves on, the narrator sees a hitch hiker walking down the road. As he gets closer he realizes that it is an Indian. After some quick mental deliberation, the narrator decides to pull over and pick up the Indian. As soon as the Indian sits down into the car, the narrator can tell that he is a fighter. The fighter is huge and has scarred hands from all of the previous fights he had fought. During the car ride, the two Indians exchange some stories and carry on a casual conversation, learning a little bit about each other. As the trip comes to an end, the narrator invites the fighter to come stay with him in his hotel room so that the fighter doesn’t have to sleep outside. The fighter is very hesitant but finally decides to stay at the hotel. During the middle of the night the fighter crawls into bed with the narrator. The narrator is very confused about what is going on and can’t really comprehend what is about to happen. The two Indians have sex and then the narrator goes to the bathroom feeling very violated and very confused. The narrator asks the fighter to leave and then falls asleep. The next morning the narrator wakes up and begins walking towards his old home barefooted. Now this story may just seem like it’s a story about a homosexual encounter, when truly that is not the case. Although the sex scene was a bit graphic, there is a much deeper meaning. Throughout the narrator’s entire trip, he began to experience a journey that would eventually lead him to his roots. The gay sex scene simply represents the narrator finding himself and realizing what he wants. The narrator simply wants to take a journey back to his roots. This story symbolizes the narrator’s life. The first part of the story symbolizes the narrator’s youth, because he was driving in a car like he had done so many times with his dad. When the narrator picked up the fighter, that symbolized his teenage/young adult life, because he had grown up and wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to do. The last part of the story symbolizes his adulthood because he is so unsure about his life at this point. His wife is controlling and he isn’t sure what he wants to do, until the end when he finally starts walking towards home.
In the movie, “Smoke Signals” by Sherman Alexie, the main character Victor and his friend Thomas take a journey. When Victor was young, his dad left both him and his mom and moved down to Phoenix, Arizona. During the time that Victor’s dad was down there, Victor took care of his mom and acted as if he never even had a dad. It wasn’t until Victor was in high school, that his dad died. When the news came to Victor and his mom, they were both upset. Victor’s mom decides that Victor needs to go down to Phoenix to get his dad’s belongings. At first Victor does not want to go at all and says that he doesn’t have enough money, but then Thomas tells him that he will buy the bus tickets for Victor as long as Victor lets Thomas tag along. Throughout the entire trip down, Thomas is telling Victor story after story and Victor is growing tired of having Thomas’ company. When they finally arrive in Phoenix, Victor becomes very scared and wonders if he had made the right decision about taking this journey. After talking with Victor’s dad’s neighbor, Victor decides that he must go into his dad’s trailer. Once inside, Victor begins to have all sorts of flash backs and starts to remember things about his dad. This short scene about Victor reminiscing is a key point in the movie. On the outside it just looks like Victor is sad, but on the inside he is taking a journey back to his heritage. He is taking a journey back to his younger Indian days. Thomas and Victor leave very early the next morning, without even saying goodbye. The car ride home is filled with Thomas’s stories, but Victor doesn’t say a word, He only thinks to himself. During the night, Victor crashes his dad’s truck and has to run to a hospital to get help for a lady that was involved in a different wreck. During Victor’s run, he imagines himself running like a traditional Indian and he begins to think about his dad. During this entire journey, Victor experiences many mental journeys. These small mental journeys that Victor takes is how he tries to go back to his roots.
Perhaps both of these stories represent dreams, the types of dreams that people experience everyday. Dreams are supposed to symbolize meaning in ones life. Well perhaps these stories are just dreams and they are trying to show the characters what they need to look for in their life, which is heritage. These dreams may be symbolizing their true heritage, and showing the characters how to find their way back to their old ways.
Throughout both of these stories, many journeys were taken. Some of them were small mental journeys, like in “Smoke Signals”, and some of them were actual walking journeys, like in “The toughest Indian in the World.” No matter how these journeys were taken, they were both ways to get back to their heritage and old ways. Both of these stories symbolize heritage and old ways. These two things are the building blocks of who we are. No one would be who they were without their background and heritage. The reason everyone falls back on their old ways when they have nothing left to hold on too is because that is what they know best and it comes so natural. In both of these stories, the characters just want to find their old ways because at this point, they have nothing left to hold on too. Whether these stories are real, or merely dreams, the characters in both stories are searching for their heritage and old ways.
Monday, April 23, 2007
The Perfect Ten
Tim had always had trouble finding the right woman. Every time he thought he was close to finding the right woman, he was quickly shot down and found out that the girl “just wasn’t feeling it.” Tim had always been the most popular kid through high school and was what some may consider your typical “high school jock.” During high school Tim was always surrounded my females and had no problem communicating with them. Once Tim came to college, it was as if nothing had changed. He played football and he still had women surrounding him. Although he enjoyed the attention that all the girls gave him, he wished that he could just have a normal relationship.
After a spending a year and a half in college, Tim finally found a girl who he thought he would spend the rest of his life with. Her name was Lindsay, and she seemed absolutely perfect for Tim. After spending just a few weeks together, Lindsay began to grow tired of Tim and they began to quarrel. Tim didn’t understand what his problem was but he soon realized that this relationship would be over shortly.
Tim went through the rest of college, seeing a few girls but never getting too serious. It was after Tim graduated that he realized he had a relationship problem, so he decided that he needed to do something about it. After looking on the internet that night, Tim decided that he was going to sign up for three blind dates. He had seen the TV show and always thought that is was pretty bogus, but he figured that he was desperate and could use all the help he could get.
After filling out all of the paper work, he finally set up three blind dates, each of which were two weeks apart so that he could see them again if he wanted to. After getting everything ready, Tim started to become fairly nervous. He had never been very good with first impressions and that’s what blind dates were all about. He began to question whether or not he had made the right decision about going on these blind dates but it was far too late to change his mind.
The first night came much too fast for Tim and he has incredibly nervous. The first woman he was going to meet was Dianna. The only thing Tim knew about her was that she had graduated from college, so he was pretty skeptical about the whole situation. Tim got ready to go and left his house early so that he wouldn’t be late for the first big date. They met at the Rialto, which was a very nice Mexican restaurant/bar.
“Hi, I am Tim.” He said, with a shaky voice.
“Hi, I am Dianna.” She said. She was a beautiful tall blonde, with stunning features. Tim was in shock and didn’t really know what to say because she was so beautiful.
As the night went on, Tim became much more comfortable talking with her and soon realized that she had no personality. Dianna was just too beautiful to be true and Tim realized why she had been single for so long. When the night was over they exchanged phone numbers but Tim knew that he would not be seeing her again.
Two weeks later, Tim was ready for his next date. This time he was not as nervous and felt very confident with himself. They were to meet at the same place, because it was the most popular place to go in town. Tim arrived early like last time and waited at the front for Jenny to show. Jenny showed up right on time and they greeted each other. The minute Tim saw her he knew that it just wasn’t going to work out. Tim was in no way a shallow person but he knew that there had to be some physical attraction in order to even get the ball rolling between two people. Jenny was about 5’ 10” and she was a little over weight with a very unattractive face. Tim wasn’t going to waste the night so he decided to make the best of the situation. After talking with Jenny for a few hours, he realized that she was awesome. Her personality was amazing and she was absolutely hilarious. He wished that she was more attractive because he knew that he would never be completely attracted to her because of her looks. When the night was over, they exchanged numbers and went their separate ways.
It was the final night and Tim was a little apprehensive about going on this last date because the other two had not turned out the way that he had planned. He began to think that he was going to be single for the rest of his life. He got ready to go and took off early for the Rialto as he had done two times before. As he sat in the waiting area, he thought about his past relationships and how he thought he had messed them up. A few moments later, a young lady tapped him on the shoulder. “Excuse me, are you here for a blind date?”
“I sure am. You must be Katie.”
“Yes I am. You must be Tim.” They both shook hands and both of their eyes lit up. She was a beautiful brunette with dark skin. Tim was once again in shock with her stunning looks, except she was even more beautiful than Dianna was.
They sat down at a table and began to talk. The more they talked, the more they became obsessed with each other. Tim couldn’t believe how perfect she was. Not only was she a “bomb shell”, but she had a personality that could light up the entire restaurant. She was a perfect ten. After dinner they went out on the town and had a wonderful time. Tim thought that he had found the one. Katie was perfect for him.
They hung out again the next night and seven nights in a row after that. It was as if they had started to date without ever speaking a word about it. A few weeks later, Katie told Tim that she had to go to Denver on business and wouldn’t be home for a week or so. Tim was depressed and wished that she didn’t have to leave for a week.
The week went by and Tim hadn’t heard from Katie. He began to worry about her. Two days later, Katie called and told Tim that she was very sorry but she had met someone else and she was going to be staying in Denver. Tim had lived in Denver previously and thought he would ask who it was because he knew quite a few people down there. So Tim asked, “Well what is his name?”
“Well it is actually a she and her name is Sara.”
Tim couldn’t believe what he was hearing and he was devastated. That night Tim cried himself to sleep wondering if he would ever find another woman that could compare to Katie.
After a spending a year and a half in college, Tim finally found a girl who he thought he would spend the rest of his life with. Her name was Lindsay, and she seemed absolutely perfect for Tim. After spending just a few weeks together, Lindsay began to grow tired of Tim and they began to quarrel. Tim didn’t understand what his problem was but he soon realized that this relationship would be over shortly.
Tim went through the rest of college, seeing a few girls but never getting too serious. It was after Tim graduated that he realized he had a relationship problem, so he decided that he needed to do something about it. After looking on the internet that night, Tim decided that he was going to sign up for three blind dates. He had seen the TV show and always thought that is was pretty bogus, but he figured that he was desperate and could use all the help he could get.
After filling out all of the paper work, he finally set up three blind dates, each of which were two weeks apart so that he could see them again if he wanted to. After getting everything ready, Tim started to become fairly nervous. He had never been very good with first impressions and that’s what blind dates were all about. He began to question whether or not he had made the right decision about going on these blind dates but it was far too late to change his mind.
The first night came much too fast for Tim and he has incredibly nervous. The first woman he was going to meet was Dianna. The only thing Tim knew about her was that she had graduated from college, so he was pretty skeptical about the whole situation. Tim got ready to go and left his house early so that he wouldn’t be late for the first big date. They met at the Rialto, which was a very nice Mexican restaurant/bar.
“Hi, I am Tim.” He said, with a shaky voice.
“Hi, I am Dianna.” She said. She was a beautiful tall blonde, with stunning features. Tim was in shock and didn’t really know what to say because she was so beautiful.
As the night went on, Tim became much more comfortable talking with her and soon realized that she had no personality. Dianna was just too beautiful to be true and Tim realized why she had been single for so long. When the night was over they exchanged phone numbers but Tim knew that he would not be seeing her again.
Two weeks later, Tim was ready for his next date. This time he was not as nervous and felt very confident with himself. They were to meet at the same place, because it was the most popular place to go in town. Tim arrived early like last time and waited at the front for Jenny to show. Jenny showed up right on time and they greeted each other. The minute Tim saw her he knew that it just wasn’t going to work out. Tim was in no way a shallow person but he knew that there had to be some physical attraction in order to even get the ball rolling between two people. Jenny was about 5’ 10” and she was a little over weight with a very unattractive face. Tim wasn’t going to waste the night so he decided to make the best of the situation. After talking with Jenny for a few hours, he realized that she was awesome. Her personality was amazing and she was absolutely hilarious. He wished that she was more attractive because he knew that he would never be completely attracted to her because of her looks. When the night was over, they exchanged numbers and went their separate ways.
It was the final night and Tim was a little apprehensive about going on this last date because the other two had not turned out the way that he had planned. He began to think that he was going to be single for the rest of his life. He got ready to go and took off early for the Rialto as he had done two times before. As he sat in the waiting area, he thought about his past relationships and how he thought he had messed them up. A few moments later, a young lady tapped him on the shoulder. “Excuse me, are you here for a blind date?”
“I sure am. You must be Katie.”
“Yes I am. You must be Tim.” They both shook hands and both of their eyes lit up. She was a beautiful brunette with dark skin. Tim was once again in shock with her stunning looks, except she was even more beautiful than Dianna was.
They sat down at a table and began to talk. The more they talked, the more they became obsessed with each other. Tim couldn’t believe how perfect she was. Not only was she a “bomb shell”, but she had a personality that could light up the entire restaurant. She was a perfect ten. After dinner they went out on the town and had a wonderful time. Tim thought that he had found the one. Katie was perfect for him.
They hung out again the next night and seven nights in a row after that. It was as if they had started to date without ever speaking a word about it. A few weeks later, Katie told Tim that she had to go to Denver on business and wouldn’t be home for a week or so. Tim was depressed and wished that she didn’t have to leave for a week.
The week went by and Tim hadn’t heard from Katie. He began to worry about her. Two days later, Katie called and told Tim that she was very sorry but she had met someone else and she was going to be staying in Denver. Tim had lived in Denver previously and thought he would ask who it was because he knew quite a few people down there. So Tim asked, “Well what is his name?”
“Well it is actually a she and her name is Sara.”
Tim couldn’t believe what he was hearing and he was devastated. That night Tim cried himself to sleep wondering if he would ever find another woman that could compare to Katie.
The Toughest Indian in the World
The story by Sherman Alexie was interesting to say the least. Although there was a graphic sex scene, that’s not the focus of the story. This story has a much deeper meaning. This story is about a man (Sherman Alexie) trying to find out who he really is in this white world that he lives in. He dates a white woman who is also a reporter and he tends to get caught up in all of the white ideals and views instead of sticking to his roots. It wasn’t until the car ride with the Indian that he begins to remember his heritage that he has grown apart from. During the car ride, Alexie trades the Indian a coke for a piece of deer jerky. Although it’s subtle, this shows how Alexie is growing up in a white world and how the Indian is growing up in his Indian culture. Now, everyone puts the focus on the gay sex scene, but that is just a small part of the story. After the scene, Alexie goes into the bathroom to realize what just happened. He knew that he had done something wrong and something that he had no desire to do again, but he had learned something about himself. At the end of the story it says, “If you had broken my heart you could have looked inside and seen the thin white skeletons of one thousand salmon.” Alexie is trying to convey the fact that he found apart of himself that he had forgotten about and that Indian had showed it to him. He begins to walk off into the distance barefooted as he had done when he was younger, searching for his old self. A soul flight.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Montana
Montana is a place like any other. Although I enjoy the big city life, I will always have the strongest love for Montana. Montana is a place where the mountains flourish like grapes in a vineyard and the trees soar like the flight of an eagle. The smell of Montana is like no other. When it rains you don’t get a damp smell. Instead you are greeted with a pleasant refreshing smell; the smell of purity. Montana’s true beautify cannot even be seen by roads or highways. Although the passes can be quite pretty, the true beautiful lies in the heart of the mountains. It is here where you find the most beautiful scenery; crystal clear, glacier lakes that span for miles and beautiful rock formations that look as if they were perfectly sculpted by the hands of an artist. Not only is the scenery gorgeous, but the animals that inhabit the land are even more spectacular.
Most of the time I tend to take all of Montana’s beauty for granted, and simply push it aside, not thinking of how blessed I am to have grown up in such a beautiful state. Taking the time to really think about this state really makes me realize how beautiful it is. Many like to complain about the unpredictable weather patterns and how it is too cold here during the winters, but that’s what makes Montana so unique. I enjoy waking up to a beautiful, sunny day and then seeing snow on the ground come dinner time. Montana is truly one of a kind and I know that someday I will find my way back here, whether it be for a short period of time or for the rest of my life. I love Montana.
Most of the time I tend to take all of Montana’s beauty for granted, and simply push it aside, not thinking of how blessed I am to have grown up in such a beautiful state. Taking the time to really think about this state really makes me realize how beautiful it is. Many like to complain about the unpredictable weather patterns and how it is too cold here during the winters, but that’s what makes Montana so unique. I enjoy waking up to a beautiful, sunny day and then seeing snow on the ground come dinner time. Montana is truly one of a kind and I know that someday I will find my way back here, whether it be for a short period of time or for the rest of my life. I love Montana.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Eros
There are many ways in which you can interpret the story of how Eros came to be. After reading through the website I found that Eros was born from the world egg at creation. Eros was also known as phanes and is not really even considered as being part of the ancient religious beliefs of the Greeks. The website said that "EROS was the Protogenos (Primordial deity) of sexual desire who emerged at the very creation of the universe. He was the driving force behind procreation in nature-http://www.theoi.com/Protogenos/Eros.html." After reading this, I have a different look on the symbolic "Cupid".
"Verily at first Khaos (Air) came to be, but next wide-bosomed Gaia (Earth), the ever-sure foundation of al1 the deathless ones who hold the peaks of snowy Olympos, and dim Tartaros (Hell) in the depth of the wide-pathed Earth, and Eros (Love), fairest among the deathless gods, who unnerves the limbs and overcomes the mind and wise counsels of all gods and all men within them." - Hesiod, Theogony 116
"Verily at first Khaos (Air) came to be, but next wide-bosomed Gaia (Earth), the ever-sure foundation of al1 the deathless ones who hold the peaks of snowy Olympos, and dim Tartaros (Hell) in the depth of the wide-pathed Earth, and Eros (Love), fairest among the deathless gods, who unnerves the limbs and overcomes the mind and wise counsels of all gods and all men within them." - Hesiod, Theogony 116
Comments
I really enjoyed reading through both Mariah's and Kate's posts. I found that they had some of the same thoughts about love as I did. I enjoyed reading about what other people had to say about certain topics and I will continue to keep reading classmates blogs. To look at these blogs just go to this website, http://121-12.blogspot.com/, and look for their link on the right.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Love Poem
(I am a terrible poem writer)
Love
It's the feeling people get
deep within their heart and soul
Its a wild roller coaster
that will tie your emotions in a knot
some people thrive on it
while other seem not to care
everyone seeks love
whether it be from some else
or perhaps a passion
everyone feels love
Love
It's the feeling people get
deep within their heart and soul
Its a wild roller coaster
that will tie your emotions in a knot
some people thrive on it
while other seem not to care
everyone seeks love
whether it be from some else
or perhaps a passion
everyone feels love
Love Free-Write
Love. Its a very difficult question for most. I personally take it very seriously when using the word, while others throw it around freely with no meaning. It aggravates me when I hear people who are dating say "I love you" to each other when they have only been dating for 2 or 3 months. I mean come on, don't tell me that you truly love them after such a short amount of time. I don't know maybe i am just being cold hearted and stubborn, but people just use the word to freely. And I'm not talking about when people say it just kidding around, but when people use it in a serious way but don't truly mean it.
Monday, February 12, 2007
"Lost Book Found"
I found the video "Lost Book Found" by Jem Cohen to be a very interesting portrayal of what the city streets in New York are really like. After searching the web I found that after using only a 16mm camera, Cohen created a video based on a notebook that was filled with all kinds of listings of places, objects, and incidents. Cohen said that the notebook suggests that there is a hidden city with unconsidered geography. In an unusual way, it seems like the creator of this notebook may have been using it as an escape.
"Its beauty is quite ineffable. It's the sort of visual experience that transforms everything seen by the viewer for several hours afterward. . . What it actually does is capture the subconscious of the city itself, the dream state of the whole past existing in simultaneous disarray."—Luc Sante, Low Life and Evidence
This quote from the website, describes how the notebook captures images in the cities dream state. This would directly relate to Borges's thoughts about the world being made up of dreams.
The website I used was http://www.vdb.org/smackn.acgi$tapedetail?LOSTBOOKFO
"Its beauty is quite ineffable. It's the sort of visual experience that transforms everything seen by the viewer for several hours afterward. . . What it actually does is capture the subconscious of the city itself, the dream state of the whole past existing in simultaneous disarray."—Luc Sante, Low Life and Evidence
This quote from the website, describes how the notebook captures images in the cities dream state. This would directly relate to Borges's thoughts about the world being made up of dreams.
The website I used was http://www.vdb.org/smackn.acgi$tapedetail?LOSTBOOKFO
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Borges vs. Stevens
Although these two authors seem very different, they both seek for an escape. Stevens uses the mountain as his escape from reality, while Borges uses dreams.
Metaphor's From Borges
"the world is a mental activity, a dream of souls" - "Break of Day"
"the sky the pinkish color of a leopard's gums" - "The Circular Ruins"
"the sky the pinkish color of a leopard's gums" - "The Circular Ruins"
"Break of Day" and "The Circular Ruins"
I found both of these pieces, by Jorge Luis Borges, to be both interesting and unusual. The idea of dreams actually creating what surrounds us is very unusual. Although it is an unusual idea, I find it to be very fascinating and interesting. I like to think that dreams are very symbolic and have a much deeper meaning, but I have never thought about it in such a way that Borges does. Although we know that this life is not created by dreams, it is interesting to think about what it would actually be like if it were. Overall i enjoyed both pieces.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Break of Day
"I recalled the dreadful conjecture of Schopenhauer and Berkeley which declares that the world is a mental activity, a dream of souls, without foundation, purpose, weight or shape."
Jorge Luis Borges' poem is a very very interesting indeed. Throughout the poem, Borges brings up the thought that our active lives that we lead during the day are nothing compared to the lives we lead in our dreams. I had a difficult time understanding where he was going with this poem but the lines above lead me to believe that the world is just a bunch of mental activity that numerous people have declared to be true, therefore making society believe that our lives are not part of our dreams.
Jorge Luis Borges' poem is a very very interesting indeed. Throughout the poem, Borges brings up the thought that our active lives that we lead during the day are nothing compared to the lives we lead in our dreams. I had a difficult time understanding where he was going with this poem but the lines above lead me to believe that the world is just a bunch of mental activity that numerous people have declared to be true, therefore making society believe that our lives are not part of our dreams.
METAPHOR
A metaphor is a comparison between two or more subjects that seem to have no relation to each other. Unlike simile's, which compare two subjects using the words "like" or "as", metaphor's usually compare two subjects using the word "is". A metaphor can best be described as being a symbol or an emblem. Example: "The snow is a fluffy cotton."
Escape
Escape: to slip or get away, as from confinement or restraint (www.dictionary.com). At some point in ones life, one must escape from reality. Even if only for a few moments, it is necessary for every human being. This could be as simple as day-dreaming or as drastic as taking a vision quest somewhere in the outdoors. Why is it that people feel the need to escape from the reality of their repetitive lifestyles and allude to another world, whether it is a “real world” or a “made-up world”? Wallace Stevens, the writer of the poem “The Poem That Took the Place of a Mountain”, and Chris McCandless, the main character in the story Into the Wild, both find it very necessary to escape from the hustle and bustle of their busy lives and go to a place where they feel free.
In the poem “The Poem That Took the Place of a Mountain”, Wallace Stevens describes how he climbs a mountain and looks out over the sea. Although the poem makes it sound like he is just taking a hike, there is a much greater meaning to all of it. “The exact rock where his inexactness would discover, at last, the view toward which they had edged, where he could lie and, gazing down at the sea, recognize his unique and solitary home” (Stevens 1). In this excerpt from the poem, Stevens explains how this mountain is his solitary home, where he can escape from his business life and focus on writing.
In the book, Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, Krakauer re-lives Chris McCandless’s journey through the wild Alaskan wilderness. Throughout the story, Krakauer realizes how ill-prepared McCandless really was, and wonders why anyone would ever attempt to do something like this with very little knowledge of the wilderness. Although Krakauer is disappointed in some of the choices McCandless makes, he begins to understand why McCandless did what he did. McCandless didn’t just go out on this journey just to say that he survived in the wild for a few months, he wanted to get away from it all. The Alaskan wilderness was his escape from reality, a place he could go to clear his mind and soul and just be free. McCandless wasn’t seeking fame; he was looking for an escape from the real world.Getting away from our usual, routine lives is key to a successful life. You cannot always focus on your job, school, or whatever it is that you are doing. Everyone needs to escape and do something that they enjoy. Stevens uses his mountain as an escape to work on his poetry and focus on what is really important to him. McCandless escapes reality by traveling through the Alaskan Wilderness and living off of nature. Although he dies in the end, he learns a lot about himself and he enjoys the feeling of being free. We must all escape reality to be free.
In the poem “The Poem That Took the Place of a Mountain”, Wallace Stevens describes how he climbs a mountain and looks out over the sea. Although the poem makes it sound like he is just taking a hike, there is a much greater meaning to all of it. “The exact rock where his inexactness would discover, at last, the view toward which they had edged, where he could lie and, gazing down at the sea, recognize his unique and solitary home” (Stevens 1). In this excerpt from the poem, Stevens explains how this mountain is his solitary home, where he can escape from his business life and focus on writing.
In the book, Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, Krakauer re-lives Chris McCandless’s journey through the wild Alaskan wilderness. Throughout the story, Krakauer realizes how ill-prepared McCandless really was, and wonders why anyone would ever attempt to do something like this with very little knowledge of the wilderness. Although Krakauer is disappointed in some of the choices McCandless makes, he begins to understand why McCandless did what he did. McCandless didn’t just go out on this journey just to say that he survived in the wild for a few months, he wanted to get away from it all. The Alaskan wilderness was his escape from reality, a place he could go to clear his mind and soul and just be free. McCandless wasn’t seeking fame; he was looking for an escape from the real world.Getting away from our usual, routine lives is key to a successful life. You cannot always focus on your job, school, or whatever it is that you are doing. Everyone needs to escape and do something that they enjoy. Stevens uses his mountain as an escape to work on his poetry and focus on what is really important to him. McCandless escapes reality by traveling through the Alaskan Wilderness and living off of nature. Although he dies in the end, he learns a lot about himself and he enjoys the feeling of being free. We must all escape reality to be free.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
The Poem That Took the Place of a Mountain
"It reminded him how he had needed
A place to go to in his own direction,"
The poem "The Poem That Took the Place of a Mountain", by Wallace Stevens, has a much deeper meaning than what is on the surface. In these two lines, Stevens tries to express how the mountain represents a place he can go to find solitude and relaxation. While he is here he can get away from his stressful job and concentrate on writing. Although Stevens has a specific direction he heads toward while working, he has another direction, which is writing poems. The mountain represents a place of escape, to get away from the hustle and bustle of his everyday life.
A place to go to in his own direction,"
The poem "The Poem That Took the Place of a Mountain", by Wallace Stevens, has a much deeper meaning than what is on the surface. In these two lines, Stevens tries to express how the mountain represents a place he can go to find solitude and relaxation. While he is here he can get away from his stressful job and concentrate on writing. Although Stevens has a specific direction he heads toward while working, he has another direction, which is writing poems. The mountain represents a place of escape, to get away from the hustle and bustle of his everyday life.
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