Horror

"The horror freezes your soul but that doesn't mean you want them to stop."

 This line from the short story Videotape had the ability to do just that, freeze my soul. This story presents the odd reality of our gruesome seeking society. We yearn to watch these extricating tragedies like the videotape recorded of the man being shot right in front of this little girl. Although you would initially believe that no one would want to watch it, it is all we can do to pull ourselves away from the mystery and sheer rapidness at which life is taken away. And even though we urge ourselves to look away, we cannot peel our eyes from the "way his head is twisted away from the door". What troubles me is how our society grew to love tragedy? The answer is the media. The media is made to help inform us of the news of the world; all the amazing deeds and beneficial acts. However, they do simply the opposite-drown our lives with news of killings and mass shootings. All this does is prompt others to dwell in the spotlight by committing these excruciating crimes. And through all of this blood shed and rapid heartbeat, we have grown to love it. This horror grips our soul. It makes our adrenaline race and our breathing quicken. It is the fuel to

oddly, disfigured fires that are our souls.

Masked

In page 136 of Art Spiegelman's Maus, the characters Anja and Vladek are portrayed wearing pig masks. A mask is supposed to make ones identity unknown, however in this comic it is simply a state of mind that the characters have; they aren't physically putting on any mask. For the sake of Spiegelman's novel the masks make you realize that the jews and polish did not have any differences except religion. They were able to pretend to be normal poles just by having that state of mind, no masks needed (except Spiegelmen uses them to portray that the mice were trying to be pigs). However, how do the masks affect Vladek's and Anja's identities? Not very much in fact. Despite their attempt to look "polish" their old acquaintances were still able to recognize them. Because their were no apparent differences between the polish and the jews, it was rather easy for them to blend into the crowd, they just had to act like themselves and be unafraid. However, in a scene where Vladek walks by some children they all scream "jew" as if they could see right through his disguise. This may simply be the untainted instincts of a child or simply an instance of fear that the children had, anyway the parents simply dismissed it as a joke. Ultimately, Art uses these masks to convey the obscenity of this genocide against the jews who were practically identical to the polish people who were simply left alone.

Page 136 of V. 1

Candid

This week we were told to bring in a picture from our childhood that represented something. A birthday, christmas day, anything. When people began to show their photos to the rest of the class we began to realize that almost all of them were joyful and the occupants of the photos were smiling. We slowly realized that photos aren't always truthful in what they convey; life isn't always sunshines and rainbows and because of this pictures are not an accurate representation of life. Although, many people said "well what about the candid photos? the ones where no one is paying attention and it truly is real life". This presented a sort of gray area in the realm of photos. But from experience i can say that some "candid" photos aren't really candid. Ive seen the typical Best-friend-laughing-at-eachother-like-we-dont-have-a-care-in-the-world photo planned out to be "candid", creating a fallacy. Oh and we can't forget all the heart throbbing "relation ship goals <3" photos scattered across the internet. Because how can a single photo represent the perfect relationship that every person wishes to have? Pictures only represent a single perspective from which something is seen; and this perspective might not always be the truth.

typical

Money Hungry

I will never truly understand business men who pollute and destroy the earth. However, their is always a motive. Money. But what many people refuse to believe is that money can't solve all problems. When the oceans are polluted to a point where no life can live in them, what fish will you eat? because i can assure you that money is not edible, but you can test that if you'd like. When all of the forests are cleared for more important things like new amusement parks or new cities, how will you get fresh air? because last time i checked those unimportant trees that you are chopping down create the air we breath, but you can attempt to breath your money. Air isn't very important anyway. In fact, if you cut down all the trees what will you make your precious money with? When you kill animals like elephants or rhinos for their expensive ivory, what animals will you put in your zoos or display in your circuses? When you destroy our atmosphere to the point where no life form can exist, what will you do? Doesn't matter does it? because you'll still have your money to keep you company. "We won't have a society if we destroy the environment." (Margaret Mead).

Window Pane

We have associated windows with Virginia's work throughout class; and this is also relevant for the movie Hours. In one of the final scenes of the movie Richard slowly inches his way to the window as he speaks to Clarissa, the woman who he could never obtain, until he finally tosses himself off the window pane. Rapper Eminem has referred to a window as a passage for escape and the window pane represents all the pain that stands between this as he makes use of this pun; "Now you get to watch her leave out the window guess that's why they call it window pane". 

In Virginia's pieces many of the characters are seen looking through windows towards there dreams or aspirations. However, the window stood as a barrier between their dreams and reality. The scene where Richard commits suicide is representing that he has finally escaped the cruel reality of his life; he was never able to keep the woman of his dreams and used his writing to escape to a fantasy world where everything was perfect. Also, even as a young boy Richard was held back from what he wanted by a thin window as he called for his mother. Finally, the open window was simply the end of his escapade, it revealed his true future, suffering and ultimately death.

Parallel

She felt somehow very like him—the young man who had killed himself. She felt glad that he had done it; thrown it away. The clock was striking. The leaden circles dissolved in the air. He made her feel the beauty; made her feel the fun. But she must go back. She must assemble.

In this moment, Clarissa feels very similar to Septimus who she doesn't know. She views his life and struggle as a representation of her own hardships. "He made her feel the beauty"; Clarissa finds new light in the actions of Septimus. She is not only enlightened that he has found peace in death, but also sees it as beautiful how he could escape his life. In this novel, Clarissa and Septimus act as counterparts who may seem very different at first but in reality have many similarities in their thoughts. Both characters have thoughts and actions that resonate with eachother creating a symbolic outlook on death which they both view as freeing. Furthermore, his death "made her feel the fun" about being alive and having these extraordinarily complex thoughts. The stress of time is all around her as the party wages on and the clocks chime; however, in this "moment of being", Clarissa realizes that the time will not effect Septimus any longer. Also, like Septimus, Clarissa cites a line from Shakespeare's play Cymbeline "fear no more" portraying her realization that she shall not fear what is to come. Septimus choose not to be afraid anymore by freeing himself from his worldly ties.

Spontaneous

"Life itself, every moment of it, every drop of it, here, this instant, in the sun, in Regent's park, was enough." (Woolf, 79)
In this excerpt from Mrs. Dalloway, they explain that everything in life is something to remember. Each and everyday has something fulfilling and memorable in it. This novel displays that all the thoughts and actions of a single day are very significant. The very slow moving story conveys that within each hour there are numerous events that will trigger feelings and memories from other periods in your life, linking together your entire life. "Every drop" of life is unique and you should capture all them, because like Virginia Woolf explains in The Life of a Moth, life is fragile and can be taken from you at any moment. So for everyone reading this right now, YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE, I don't care how of a cliche you think this is. Because truly, make the best of your life; stay up until two on a school night watching your favorite tv shows; go to a concert on a Sunday night when you still have homework (like I'm currently doing). Enjoy your young years, eventually you will grow up and have to deal with grown up things. So for now just live. Ps: I wrote this while waiting for the concert to come on, so if that isn't a definition for living life as it goes than I don't know what is.

Insignificance

In "The Death of a Moth" by Virginia Woolf, death is just a simple concept as she views it. She believes that even the death of a moth, which may seem so insignificant to most, is a powerful thing. Woolf uses many extended metaphors to display a type of cage that life seems to hold on some. The metaphor of a "vast net with thousands of black knots" made of rooks illustrates the restraint that something like depression can have on someone, like a net cast over them, disabling them (Woolf 696). Woolf herself was a sufferer of depression and committed suicide before the piece was even published. The moth was also used as a metaphor for herself as finally "[her] struggle was over" (697). The rooks also rose and fell from the treetops to the vast sky like waves ebbing and flowing, similar to the way her depression caused uncontrollable sadness or happiness.  Like the moth she views herself as someone who is just out of reach of help. She describes her life through the metaphor of the window. Like the moth she can see the world continuing and thriving through the clear window, however she is held back from thriving herself through restraint of the glass. Even the smallest death is not insignificant.

Chaldean Cuisine

In Fish Cheeks by Amy Tan, a girl expresses her shame in her culture and her embarrassment of her family's traditions. She was ashamed of the "Chinese food" and the "strange menu" that her mother prepared for her and I can also relate to this (Tan 94). When I was younger my mom would always pack me Chaldean food for lunch, which I loved by the way. However, the awkward stares and questions about "what are you eating..." outweighed my own joy to bring it to school. Now that I am older my mom will still occasionally pack me Chaldean food, but I try hiding it because it isn't worth receiving the questions and stares. I also have relatives that speak way to loud for no apparent reason which always embarrasses me in front of my friends. I can relate to Tan's life in many aspects and after reading the piece, I've realized that I shouldn't be ashamed of my heritage because it is in fact what make me unique from everyone else. Also, like they said "Your only shame is to have shame" (95). I just hope I can realize that like Tan's mother, my own mother was just trying to give me everything I loved for lunch.

Champions

In the piece "Champion of the World", Maya Angelou proves how one person could have an impact on the lives of many. Joe Louis acts like a type of savior to the Blacks. Throughout the story there are many allusions to the motif of religion, and not only Christianity but also the old Greek religion relating to the gods. "World without end" (90), this line has close similarities to a prayer of the Christian religion, however, Angelou disposed of the amen after the verse. Also, similarly to Jesus Christ, Joe Louis acts as a savior for his people by proving that “[they] were the strongest people in the world” (Angelou 90). Louis is carrying his people to equality. There are also many allusions to the Greek gods as the men are said to be drinking "white lightning" which is related to Zeus. Also, the men are "drinking Coca-colas like ambrosia" which is the food and drink of the gods; the men are feeling godlike because of Joe's win. However, it is ironic how despite their joy and godlike feelings they still do not feel safe in their own community. Joe is helping to make in difference for the black community but it will take a lot of change until whites and blacks are equal.