Beauty is something that is absolutely unavoidable in human life. much of what humans do in evaluating each other, arts, or anything visual rely solely on aesthetics and the idea of beauty. but what is beauty? a simple definition is just something pleasing to the eye. but it can mean so much more because beauty is not just in visuals as it can be abstract as well. Beauty to me pertains much to art and art compositions. beauty to me is an attractive face or being, or an alluring painting, drawing or form. Yet it can also be an emotion, gesture, or graceful movement. with such an unascertainable definition, i believe that it is a prime choice for this paper.
To me, as an artist, beauty is something of utmost importance and invades my daily life and work. i always strive to make my work visually appealing and must learn what is beautiful in order to achieve this. in some ways, beauty can be boiled down to a math equation involving the "golden mean" ratio which is supposed to give comfort to people as it is the most eye-pleasing ratio in nature. Because beauty is such a critical part of my daily life and my passion, i would be very interested to further learn the etymology of the word and perhaps uncloud a hazy, debatable, complex definition to such a common word.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
“Master of their language”: Education and Exile in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
1. Shelley's concern with education. In the passage where Henry and Victor approach Oxford, later removed in the final copy of the narrative, she links education and the state and seeks to "reveal an oppressive traditionalism at Oxford that severely constrains the minds and actions of its students, said to be “slavish.”
2. Peter Brooks argues that the Creature must learn language in order to enter into human society. Brooks then says that language has "failed to gain [the Creature] entry into the ‘chain of existence and events,’ but has rather made him fully aware of his unique and accursed origin” Language is at the root of the monsters pain and awareness of self.
3. The Acquisition of language and understanding also allowed the creature to understand "the very system that names him monstrous. " So with the knowledge of language the creature was automatically granted the ability to understand the conventions of beauty in human society.
4. The creature's request to be allowed to leave and emigrate to South America with a companion created to be as "hideous" as himself, in order to have some connection and a sense of normality and belonging, parallels the treatment of British and American slaves in the 1780's and forward.
5. The creature and Frankenstein's relationsship is often likened to that of a slave and a slave master. Malchow reads into Frankenstein's pursuit of the creature northward to chasing a runaway slave.
2. Peter Brooks argues that the Creature must learn language in order to enter into human society. Brooks then says that language has "failed to gain [the Creature] entry into the ‘chain of existence and events,’ but has rather made him fully aware of his unique and accursed origin” Language is at the root of the monsters pain and awareness of self.
3. The Acquisition of language and understanding also allowed the creature to understand "the very system that names him monstrous. " So with the knowledge of language the creature was automatically granted the ability to understand the conventions of beauty in human society.
4. The creature's request to be allowed to leave and emigrate to South America with a companion created to be as "hideous" as himself, in order to have some connection and a sense of normality and belonging, parallels the treatment of British and American slaves in the 1780's and forward.
5. The creature and Frankenstein's relationsship is often likened to that of a slave and a slave master. Malchow reads into Frankenstein's pursuit of the creature northward to chasing a runaway slave.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Weland
Weland the Smith is a legendary master blacksmith of Norse and Germanic legend
He is credited with forging the chain-mail that Beowulf uses
He has two brothers, Egil and Slagfior
In to variants of his story, Weland’s wife leaves him with a ring that he cherishes and duplicates hundreds of times
Later he is imprisoned by King Niohad, of a Swedish province, and is hamstrung. He is forced to forge items for the king. His wifes ring is given to the kings daughter.
After his confiscation of his ring Weland seeks revenge. He killed the king's sons when they visited him in secret, fashioned goblets from their skulls, jewels from their eyes, and a brooch from their teeth. He sent the goblets to the king, the jewels to the queen and the brooch to the king's daughter
Weland is also credited with forging the sword Durandal used by both Roland in the Chanson de Roland, as well as by Hector of Troy.
Also in some variants Weland is credited with forging the sword Excalibur, used in Arthurian legend.
He is credited with forging the chain-mail that Beowulf uses
He has two brothers, Egil and Slagfior
In to variants of his story, Weland’s wife leaves him with a ring that he cherishes and duplicates hundreds of times
Later he is imprisoned by King Niohad, of a Swedish province, and is hamstrung. He is forced to forge items for the king. His wifes ring is given to the kings daughter.
After his confiscation of his ring Weland seeks revenge. He killed the king's sons when they visited him in secret, fashioned goblets from their skulls, jewels from their eyes, and a brooch from their teeth. He sent the goblets to the king, the jewels to the queen and the brooch to the king's daughter
Weland is also credited with forging the sword Durandal used by both Roland in the Chanson de Roland, as well as by Hector of Troy.
Also in some variants Weland is credited with forging the sword Excalibur, used in Arthurian legend.
Vigilantes
Beowulf and Bruce Wayne share many characteristics. They are both powerful, intelligent, morally upright heroes who both play the same role. They are arrogant vigilantes. Bruce Wayne, as Batman, is Gotham City's Caped Crusader and Beowulf is the hero from Geatland who becomes the savior of Hrothgar's mead hall. Both are devoted to the cause of protecting their assigned location whether it be out of a deep-rooted hatred for evil-doers as seen through Batman, or simply to banish evil and gain glory as seen through Beowulf.
Beowulf is a character driven by glory and arrogance. Beowulf's incentive for being the mead hall's vigilante comes only from the desire for personal glory and achievement. This arrogance and need for self-proving seems to be Beowulf’s only true fault and the only thing that stops him from being a truly “perfect hero”. But this was a customary, acceptable act during the time period as it was normal for a warrior or accomplished person to state that which he or she had accomplished or what he or she was known for. Through Beowulf's vigilante-hood he faces and kills both Grendel and Grendel's mother alone and thus brings praise and merit upon himself. Hrothgar’s request initially was only to take care of Grendel, but when the threat arose, and Aeschere is killed, Beowulf is once again called upon to rid Heorot of evil, thus making himself the vigilante of Heorot.
Bruce Wayne’s vigilante-hood comes about through the killing of his parents and the desire to clean up and protect Gotham City, that came as a result of the witnessing of this. He trains his body and endurance to a level well beyond that of an average human, augments himself with a barrage of crime-fighting gadgets and fights Gotham City’s criminals. In the movie, The Dark Knight, the antagonist and villain of the movie, the Joker, issues threats against Wayne for his arrogance and threatens to kill a Gotham citizen each day until Batman’s identity is revealed. A few characters do meet an end prior to Harvey Dent’s false claim to be Batman. Batman faces a myriad of colorful villains, ranging from Scarecrow, to Mr. Freeze, to the Joker, and always triumphs over them and keeps Gotham City safe and crime-free. Batman has faced, and defeated, countless enemies and kept Gotham City the haven he desires it to be.
Together, Batman and Beowulf are actually very similar. Beowulf, being the original hero, is the forefather of Batman (and every other hero character) and it is interesting to note how alike the hero character is even today. Both are the same stock character in strength and morals and share similar faults. The hero seems to be one that does not allow much variation, as seen through the foundations of the original story, Beowulf, and the similarity of virtually every hero story today. Beowulf is an undeniably influential story that has laid the ground works for and entire genre of literature.
Beowulf is a character driven by glory and arrogance. Beowulf's incentive for being the mead hall's vigilante comes only from the desire for personal glory and achievement. This arrogance and need for self-proving seems to be Beowulf’s only true fault and the only thing that stops him from being a truly “perfect hero”. But this was a customary, acceptable act during the time period as it was normal for a warrior or accomplished person to state that which he or she had accomplished or what he or she was known for. Through Beowulf's vigilante-hood he faces and kills both Grendel and Grendel's mother alone and thus brings praise and merit upon himself. Hrothgar’s request initially was only to take care of Grendel, but when the threat arose, and Aeschere is killed, Beowulf is once again called upon to rid Heorot of evil, thus making himself the vigilante of Heorot.
Bruce Wayne’s vigilante-hood comes about through the killing of his parents and the desire to clean up and protect Gotham City, that came as a result of the witnessing of this. He trains his body and endurance to a level well beyond that of an average human, augments himself with a barrage of crime-fighting gadgets and fights Gotham City’s criminals. In the movie, The Dark Knight, the antagonist and villain of the movie, the Joker, issues threats against Wayne for his arrogance and threatens to kill a Gotham citizen each day until Batman’s identity is revealed. A few characters do meet an end prior to Harvey Dent’s false claim to be Batman. Batman faces a myriad of colorful villains, ranging from Scarecrow, to Mr. Freeze, to the Joker, and always triumphs over them and keeps Gotham City safe and crime-free. Batman has faced, and defeated, countless enemies and kept Gotham City the haven he desires it to be.
Together, Batman and Beowulf are actually very similar. Beowulf, being the original hero, is the forefather of Batman (and every other hero character) and it is interesting to note how alike the hero character is even today. Both are the same stock character in strength and morals and share similar faults. The hero seems to be one that does not allow much variation, as seen through the foundations of the original story, Beowulf, and the similarity of virtually every hero story today. Beowulf is an undeniably influential story that has laid the ground works for and entire genre of literature.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
1984, by George Orwell
For my summer reading book I chose 1984, by George Orwell. The story takes place in an oppressive, totalitarian future world in the country of Oceania. Readers follow Winston Smith, a member of the Outer Party, a sub-group of the the Party itself, as he begins to rebel against what is deemed acceptable. Winston’s actions, along with his love affair with Julia, lead to his capture by the party and eventual torture and brainwashing at the climax of the story. 1984 is a grim, pessimistic view of the future that Orwell put forth in fear of totalitarian rule.
I chose to read 1984 after receiving the suggestion to read it from my father. I learned the premise of the book and decided that it was an ideal book to read for my summer reading. It deals with a society that is much like our own but applies an oppressive regime upon it and creates a grim atmosphere of control and uniformity. Then it introduces a character that dares to be different and wishes to rebel against and contradict that which the Party desires and commands. This sets up the perfect character for the reader to rally behind and connect with. These characteristics are very similar to two of my favorite books, Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451. So with these characteristics paralleling books that already greatly appeal to me, 1984 was set up to be very compatible with me.
1984 features great story telling throughout the novel. Winston is a character that is deeply emotional, easy to connect to, and easy to support. His character is that of the rebel. This alone is enough to demand an instant liking from the reader, as people naturally want to associate with and support someone who dares to defy the norm. When Winston is subjected to torture and brainwashing by O’Brien, excellent story telling is very evident, specifically in the character department. In this scene Winston’s greatest fear, something eluded to many times throughout the story, is forced upon him with the hopes of it being enough to fully change him. In the end it is enough, and O’Brien succeeds in forcing Winston to betray his lover, Julia, in order to save himself. Winston is reintegrated into society with no feelings left for Julia and complete belief and support of Big Brother and the Party. The book does not end happily, but rather with the up-riser being crushed by the ever powerful, oppressive Big Brother. This was in order to show the world that in a totalitarian rule the people who do not conform to the established norm will be beaten into place and forced into conformity. Through Winston’s ordeal, a clear message of warning and fear is portrayed through a compelling story. This fusion is evidence of truly great story telling.
1984 is a great example of good story telling. It is a politically focused book that aimed to expose the horrors of totalitarian rule would have upon the world, all while utilizing well thought out characters and plot. Emotion runs rampant through the pages and a deep connection is established with the protagonist, Winston. With this as a base for the novel it succeeds greatly in becoming a truly great story. It has been a great pleasure to read 1984 for my summer reading book.
I chose to read 1984 after receiving the suggestion to read it from my father. I learned the premise of the book and decided that it was an ideal book to read for my summer reading. It deals with a society that is much like our own but applies an oppressive regime upon it and creates a grim atmosphere of control and uniformity. Then it introduces a character that dares to be different and wishes to rebel against and contradict that which the Party desires and commands. This sets up the perfect character for the reader to rally behind and connect with. These characteristics are very similar to two of my favorite books, Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451. So with these characteristics paralleling books that already greatly appeal to me, 1984 was set up to be very compatible with me.
1984 features great story telling throughout the novel. Winston is a character that is deeply emotional, easy to connect to, and easy to support. His character is that of the rebel. This alone is enough to demand an instant liking from the reader, as people naturally want to associate with and support someone who dares to defy the norm. When Winston is subjected to torture and brainwashing by O’Brien, excellent story telling is very evident, specifically in the character department. In this scene Winston’s greatest fear, something eluded to many times throughout the story, is forced upon him with the hopes of it being enough to fully change him. In the end it is enough, and O’Brien succeeds in forcing Winston to betray his lover, Julia, in order to save himself. Winston is reintegrated into society with no feelings left for Julia and complete belief and support of Big Brother and the Party. The book does not end happily, but rather with the up-riser being crushed by the ever powerful, oppressive Big Brother. This was in order to show the world that in a totalitarian rule the people who do not conform to the established norm will be beaten into place and forced into conformity. Through Winston’s ordeal, a clear message of warning and fear is portrayed through a compelling story. This fusion is evidence of truly great story telling.
1984 is a great example of good story telling. It is a politically focused book that aimed to expose the horrors of totalitarian rule would have upon the world, all while utilizing well thought out characters and plot. Emotion runs rampant through the pages and a deep connection is established with the protagonist, Winston. With this as a base for the novel it succeeds greatly in becoming a truly great story. It has been a great pleasure to read 1984 for my summer reading book.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
5 books
1. Fahrenheit 451. This book just appeals to me for some reason. It's a sci-fi book that deals with a nearly apocalyptic society much like ours and the trials of a man who dares to be different. the concept and plot just get me.
2.Lonesome Dove. this western was originally one of my moms favorite books and when i gave it a try it soon became one of my favorite books as well. the characters are so well constructed that i truly almost feel that i know them like a friend. the book being so long feels like you're on the journey with the characters as you read through the
3. Brave New World. This book instantly grabbed my attention and wouldn't let go until i was done with the book. the futuristic society created by Huxley fascinated me as i read about a future world designed by an author in the 1930's
4. Prey. futuristic concepts seem to be a reoccuring theme in my favorite books ... Prey features a fictional, but soon to be real, application of nano-technology that goes awry. i also enjoyed another book by Chrichton, the Great Train Robbery.
5. World War Z. Zombie book. the fictional accounts of the zombie apocalypse create a vivid picture of a grim future that will (hopefully) never come about. the writing style was unique in that it features an array of accounts from different people all around the globe.
2.Lonesome Dove. this western was originally one of my moms favorite books and when i gave it a try it soon became one of my favorite books as well. the characters are so well constructed that i truly almost feel that i know them like a friend. the book being so long feels like you're on the journey with the characters as you read through the
3. Brave New World. This book instantly grabbed my attention and wouldn't let go until i was done with the book. the futuristic society created by Huxley fascinated me as i read about a future world designed by an author in the 1930's
4. Prey. futuristic concepts seem to be a reoccuring theme in my favorite books ... Prey features a fictional, but soon to be real, application of nano-technology that goes awry. i also enjoyed another book by Chrichton, the Great Train Robbery.
5. World War Z. Zombie book. the fictional accounts of the zombie apocalypse create a vivid picture of a grim future that will (hopefully) never come about. the writing style was unique in that it features an array of accounts from different people all around the globe.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Excellence
"He saw himself in her eyes, suspended in two shining drops of bright water, himself dark and tiny, in fine detail, the lines about his mouth, everything there, as if her eyes were two miraculous bits of violet amber that might capture and hold him intact. Her face, turned to him now, was fragile milk crystal with a soft and constant light in it. It was not the hysterical light of electricity but - what? But the strangely comfortable and rare and gently flattering light of the candle. One time, as a child, in a power failure, his mother had found and lit a last candle and there had been a brief hour of rediscovery, of such illumination that space lost its vast dimensions and drew comfortably around them, and they, mother and son, alone, transformed, hoping that the power might not come on again too soon ..."
- Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
Simply put, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is one of my favorite books. In this passage I believe that Bradbury paints a wonderful description of a memory, full of emotion. As Montag looks into Clarisse's eyes, the reader is given a description, greatly utilizing imagery, that is something beyond telling a memory. In the passage, the reader is given the opportunity to experience a short glimpse into the childhood of the protagonist and experience a place of privacy, intimacy, and emotion. With this one passage Montag is given characteristics that make him feel like more than just a character, but more of a being with experiences and the feelings that go with them. In doing this he creates a character that grows with the book and one that the reader can truly make a connection with. In doing this, Bradbury has written what I believe is truly good storytelling.
- Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
Simply put, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is one of my favorite books. In this passage I believe that Bradbury paints a wonderful description of a memory, full of emotion. As Montag looks into Clarisse's eyes, the reader is given a description, greatly utilizing imagery, that is something beyond telling a memory. In the passage, the reader is given the opportunity to experience a short glimpse into the childhood of the protagonist and experience a place of privacy, intimacy, and emotion. With this one passage Montag is given characteristics that make him feel like more than just a character, but more of a being with experiences and the feelings that go with them. In doing this he creates a character that grows with the book and one that the reader can truly make a connection with. In doing this, Bradbury has written what I believe is truly good storytelling.
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