12/9/11 Reading the Koran was very interesting, to say the least. I was very excited to read it because I really wanted to understand more about the Muslim religion since no one ever seems to talk about it except in a bad way. However, when I did start to read it, two things really stuck out to me. The first was that there are a lot of similarities between the Bible and the Koran. It had a lot of similar stories, like the Abraham story, like I said in class. The second thing that stuck out to me was how angry the God of the Koran was. I've been taught growing up that God is just but he is also very loving and a Father figure, but the God in the Koran is very mean and very angry. It also says that it is He who turns the unbelievers blind and deaf, and they are marked from the beginning to fail. It's kind of like playing the wrong note in a chord for me. I know that it probably would have helped to have someone who actually was a part of the religion to explain their interpretation of it to us, but I still remain very uneasy about the writing. I do have to say that a lot more Muslims are very devoted to their religion than Christians are, and I know I'm not exactly the standing perfection of Christian values either. But I still do not think that the portrayal of such an angry God fits.
Other than my very biased views, I think that the flow of the Koran varies from the Bible because it focuses more on rules and such rather than telling a story like the New Testament does. Sorry for ranting lol.
Visit to the museum
11/18/11
The exterior of the museum tells people "there are important things in here!" or somewhere along the lines of "NONE SHALL PASS!"....well maybe not that extreme, unless you feel intimidated by smart things. It actually seems quite regal in my opinion, with a sense of grandeur and magnificence. It's probably one of my architecturally favorite buildings on campus, besides maybe Elliot Hall. It has a really nice, open, clearly stated entrance with a double winding staircase to create a sense of arrival. The entrance and sculpture court happens to be my favorite spot, considering I had to spend two weeks drawing the joy of the waters statue at the front. The Ascending day and Descending Night sculptures are my two favorites next to the joy and dancing waves statues because they create a funnel to channel people through to the main staircase. Plus, Objects displayed are usually grouped by a common theme, such as Asian or Medival. The front entrance leads you up a grand staircase which splits off into two stairs, letting you go either left or right to make your journey. Each room is connected in such a way that the artwork leads to the next one and the next one until you are in different gallery. For special collections, such as the Ancient Peoples one on the lower right floor, they keep you in one room to really emphasize the importance of the gallery and space objects and artwork in such a way that it creates many paths and choices for you to choose from as you peruse the artwork. Overall, the museum is tiny but well designed and leads a viewer through a multitude of experiences and sights in a cohesive, direct, and wonderful manner.
Paper Topic
11/11/11 For my paper, I have chosen to discuss the topic of the good life as it relates to the worldly, spiritual, and ethical conceptions of how to have a good life. First off, it will give me a lot to write about X). Secondly, I think it is a really good debate topic because the good life perception all depends on who you are asking. Ask a movie star and they might say worldly (unless you are Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie). If you asked the Pope in Rome, he would say spiritual. If you asked Ghandi, he would say ethical. Hopefully I can fully explore all of these topics in the paper while also implementing my own ideas about what I think constitutes a good life.
Honestly, I'm not really sure what else to write for this journal haha.
Daoism vs. Confucius
11/4/11 While reading the various Analects of Confucius, I noticed that Confucius was a lot more focused on an earthly concept than the main theme of Daoism. Laizou Tzu is very concerned about going with the flow and not going against Nature and her cosmic course. With Confucius, he almost seems to advocate going AGAINST the flow, saying that no matter what, custom is custom is custom and you must do whatever you can to keep it going, even if life gets in the way. He is also more concerned with filial piety I think than the Daoist is. The Daoist seems more to oneself and for oneself. If I had to choose one of the philosophies to live by in my life, I would probably choose Daoism only because I'm a very go with the flow kind of person and I really relate to the idea of not fighting with the force of "the river of life", because there are some things that you just can't fight against. Your life will be a whole lot better and less stressful by working with the curves life gives you instead of trying to make a straight line. With Confucianism, the idea of custom seems, at least to me, like it would become monotonous after a while a lose its meaning, which defeats the whole purpose of making each custom important and special. However, there are some things in Confucianism that I do agree with. For example, The idea of a ruler who has a loyal following from his people because of his actions and NOT his orders is very appealing to me because I believe in the "Have a soft voice but carry a big stick" philosophy, which I think it really emulates.
THE GOOD LIFE 10/28/11 Every Friday seems to come sooner and sooner. Geez. Anyways, I'm sort of half and half about the definition of "the good life". On the one hand, I agree with a lot of people and say that no one can really tell what the good life is or what it entails. It really kind of depends on the person you are talking to. Is it true happiness that makes a good life or is it a simple life that makes a good life? On the other hand, if you want to look at it from a purely superficial point of view, like we did in our presentation, the good life can actually be split up into two main categories: Money, wealth, and fame, or a deep spiritual connection and a simple, happy lifestyle. I really think it is a bit much to be asking students to define what a good life is and what it entail because, again, it really just depends all upon who you are asking, whether it be the family member of a person, a religious clergy, or the person themselves.
For example, Jennette Walls, author of the Glass Castle, had a horrible life, in the terms of society (comfort, food, stability, ect.), and yet some could say that she had a "good life" because she made the most of her situation and she was happy, not regretting the events that led her to where she is.
Another example we used was Odysseus from the Odyssey, because in all respects, he really did have the perfect "good life". He had war fame, a faithful wife, a strong son, and trustful friends. He also had money, good looks, and a "spiritual" connection, you could say, with his gods (Athena).
In summary, you can't define the good life. Simple as that.
10/21/1 Dr. Hartman, I sincerely hope you get a chance to read all of my journal entries. I went back and reread a couple today and actually laughed. BUT! (Hi, Christine. I do read your journal entries, though I don't always comment. And I am a fan. Thanks for your feedback on how the class is going. MSH)
That isn't the point of this journal.
SO, as far as course goal go, I reread them and they still sound way to wordy and confusing to me, so I'm going to sum them up in the best way possible ^.^ The course goals basically outlined that they wanted us to discuss our literary readings and samples in an intellectually stimulating and thought inducing way while still teaching us stuff we didn't know before (I think I did a pretty good job!). So far, I really think that we've done a GREAT job of completing that goal. Usually after we finish all our reading for the next day, we sit in our "Socratic Seminar" circle and do a really nice job of debating back and forth the various pros and cons of the literature we just read. For example, today we had an awesome discussion about the different use of "God" and "gods" in Plato's retelling of Socrates' "Apology". I think it's really nice that we as students get to command the discussion and formulate our own questions to ask. I'm a huge proponent of "thinking for yourself" (WHAT?!! Heresy!) and I hate it when teachers feed us the answers and then just have us regurgitate them back on a paper or test.
The fact that we can also challenge the way or point of view that a piece of literature has been written really helps the students, I think. If we were to believe and go along with everything that anyone ever told us, would there have ever been quantum physics or string theory?
I think the instance that has stood out in particular to me during this course would be the parody assignment. I really loved everybody's parodies and laughed a lot more than I thought I would. I really think that it finally gave a lot of us the chance to show that we could take what we had learned and put it to the test. I think everyone's was different and unique in their own way and it really shows how well the class is being taught in my opinion.
Paradies (Parodies? Paradys?)
10/13/11 Bad spelling aside, I really liked the parody assignment this week. True, I hated it when it was first assigned. Being funny on purpose ISNT. FUNNY. I spent a good 2 hours pacing around my room in a state of anxiety, thinking, "Oh dear, a parody. How am I supposed to be funny on purpose?! I'm usually funny on ACCIDENT!" No joke, this is actually what was going through my head. I sat upside down on my chair, had an orange, had some crackers, sang my ABC's backwards, and drank some water upside down. At the end of 2 hours I had a stomach ache with a headache to go along with it. And still the Word Document just stared back at me, irrevocably white, whispering, "YOU SHALL FAIL!". At last, I gave in.
I went to....
THE INTERNET.
I typed in "Psalm 23 parody" and shamefully hit "enter". The first article to pop up on Google said, "Science is my Shepherd, I shall not want..." DING DING DING!! A light bulb went off in my head like the winning spin on Wheel of Fortune. I whipped open that Word document faster than you could say, "Haksuyah" and furiously typed away. And thus, Psalm $23,000,000 was born. Once I had my idea, it took me all of 20 minutes to write and perfect my "ode to humanity". I am quite proud, if I do say so myself.
Hearing everybody's parody in class really made me laugh, especially the one about the architecture students (I still want that one posted on here, please and thank you). The Facebook one also gave me a good laugh. I might go friend Odysseus...or Antinoos. He seems funnier.
Then again, Telemahkos was pretty funny too...
Maybe I'll just friend all of them.
All in all, great assignment.
What is a Hero?
10/7/11 As discussed in class today, heroes are the people that do more than what is asked of them. I brought up the subject of Penelope being a hero to the women of her time. I really think that Penelope was not just there to show women how to be faithful to their husbands and how to be good wives. She is, in fact, more celebrated for her cleverness and her resilience than she is for being a good and faithful wife to Odysseus. I mean, yeah, she would not have been as popular with the masses of her time if she spent those 19 years fooling around with other men like her husband did, but still the fact that she is shown to be a strong woman, and not just a submissive, frightful girl, is something to be said. Also, the fact that Athena chooses her to help (Athena, being the goddess who loves wisdom and cunning) out of all the other people in the world says something about the kind of standing that kind of women would have even with the gods.
As far as everyday heroes go, I think there is also a lot to be said about the hero who does more than what is asked for him AND does it humbly and without any expectation of praise or any reward for his services, like the firemen and policemen in a town or city. I know this sounds so cliche because everybody probably talks about it, but I still think its worth mentioning. THOSE are the heroes that people of today should look up to; a humble servant for the greater good of humanity.
....Not really sure....
9/30/11 [Christine, it's funny that you mention, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day." Because that poem is a kind of parody of the types of comparisons in love poetry like the Song of Songs. Shakespeare's playful point is that nothing is worthy of being compared to his beloved. MH]
Like I stated in class this morning, I am absolutely in LOVE with Song of Songs. I think it's even better than Shakespeare. Why? Well first off, I think the conversation between the bride to be and her future husband is so beautiful. When you marry your significant other some day, you know each other so well and so intimately that....I don't even have words to describe the emotion between the two. The image of a beautiful bride being strong enough to love her husband and yet being gentle and humble in his presence is just an image you don't see every day. With the new wave of feminism and the "strong business woman" at the forefront, you don't see soft and gentle women who love their husbands unconditionally much anymore. And the husband? If a guy ever read those parts to me as a poem, I would be a puddle of goo in two seconds. I don't like many gushy, romantic things, but this poem is just so simply stated and so adoringly worded that my heart can't contain my joy when I read it. The fact that he doesn't try and use cliches to describe the love of his life, choosing instead "thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks" and "thy temples are like a piece of pomegranate within they locks" shows how intimately he has paid attention to her and the little details he loves in her. I guess because the compliments are so detailed and personal that I find them to be more endearing than the traditional "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" line that every guy tries to use when he is trying to be romantic (no offense for lack of trying there, boys). Attention to personal detail is really what gets me. And it may just be me, but, oh well!
Creation Week!
YAY! 9/23/11 Finally we finish the Odyssey! That only took what, half of eternity? ANYways, I really love whenever we do a section on creation myths, especially from other cultures. I find them personally REALLY interesting to read about. One, they all seem to have something in common, which is so weird considering all the different cultural influences on each one. Well except for the Bible. Like we said in class, the Bible really seems to be completely opposite of what all the other stories sound like. First from order came chaos, instead of chaos being reverted into order, like all the other stories seem to state. I think I like the Bible story the best, just because it's so orderly and simple sounding. Instead of having to perform these great battles and always having strife in some way or other with another god, the Hebrew Yahweh just speaks into being all that is in the universe. So simple and elegant, I think. Plus, it's the least WEIRD sounding. Have you noticed that the rest of the stories, especially some of the greek ones, are a bit.....er, strange? *cough* APHRODITE-AND-THE-TESTICLES *cough* (that one actually kind of made me laugh). Plus the other stories are really gory as well. Like how they describe in detail Kronos' castration of his father.
Lovely.
Or, how Tiamat and Purusha get split up, painfully, I would think, into separate parts of the earth and sky. How would you like to have half your body used to create a tree in a forest and then find out one day that it's a dog's favorite pee spot? Not pleasant.
On a last parting note, completely non-related to what I've been talking about, I really don't like the fact that "Hymn to Aten" was put into the creation stories section. To me, it doesn't really seem like a creation story, Sure, it comes from the "creation" of a new religion, but it does not explain in any way how the world "came to be" or any other sort of related action. I was miffed about that.
But only slightly.
The Odyssey Pt. 3
9/16/11 Is that the Hallelujah chorus I hear? FINALLY the suitors get their just reward! Of course they wait until like the last FOUR books of a 24 book epic to finally get around to it, but that just makes it all the more exciting when it finally does happen. I wish they had given us a rough estimate of just how many suitors there actually were in that room because it seems to be bigger than I thought. Five minutes in and they've only downed a quarter of the suitors. I think Athena could have lent some help earlier on (considering all that Odysseus had to go through to get to where he was) instead of chastising him for his "cowardliness" when he calls out for help. Like I said, it seems like there were a lot of suitors, so calling out for help doesn't sound "cowardly" to me. But she's a goddess, so I guess she can do whatever she wants.
Like I said in class, the end story probably could have been taken out. It really was not that necessary. The end of book 23 gave us all the happy ending we wanted and then book 24 just ends with some lame "and then Athena kept the name Mentor..." ...okaaaaaaaaaaay so that has WHAT to do with the rest of the story? Nothing, that's what. And then, in the midst of battle, she says "oh, stop this silly fighting foolish children" and they all go "OKAY!" and just drop their weapons. I'm sorry, but men just don't do that. They. Just. Don't.
All in all though, I have to say that the ending when Odysseus and Penelope finally get their homecoming made me a little misty-eyed. It was just too cute for words. And I NEVER say that about school readings.
The Odyssey Pt. 2
9/9/11 For some reason or other, I am finding the Odyssey much more engaging and interesting this time around. I think this might be a different translation than the other one I read in 9th grade English class. Or maybe i just appreciate his struggles as more than just a story now that I am four years older. In any case, I was sad to see that I had reached the end of book 13 this Thursday night! I really wanted to see what Odysseus was going to do with the suitors! I think we might have skipped over that part in the book when we read it before because some of the details are fuzzy to me.
I have to say, the tenacity and hope that Odysseus holds onto during his ten years of trials really astounds me more than it has in the past. I guess I just didn't appreciate how long 20 years could be, even 10 years. Ten years ago, I was 8 years old. I mean....wow. To still hope for home and to still seek it even after all this time? Just...incredible.
I also have a bit to say about all the women that have been portrayed in this epic.I am really appreciating how resourceful these stories make the women seem. To me, a strong, confident, wise women is the best kind of women to be, and it is one of my personal goals in life. To see that the Greeks really revered smarts among the female gender, along with a strength of character and a steadfastness to the home and family, makes me want to become like that even more so. I really think we could use this teaching in schools across the country to not only teach a "good story", but to intstill in the younger generation values and morals that I feel we have somewhat lost, especially with young girls. I would like to show them that it is okay, celebrated even, to be a smart and wise decision maker and to be strong in who you are instead of taking the crap from other people.
The Odyssey 9/2/11 I think I've read the Odyssey so many times by now that my brain will start turning to mush haha. But I do have to say that I am really enjoying getting the story from Telemakus this time. The classic scenario of Odysseus' return home is so familiar to me by now, from reading the actual Odyssey and other related readings (Lightning Thief anyone?), that I could probably recite it verbatim. But finally understanding the struggle at home years before he even returns home really helps me get into the story and maybe feel a bit more related to it. Telemakus' coming of age tale really hits home because he and I share the same feeling of being too young and naive to understand fully what is going on but then knowing at the same time that the wool is being pulled over our eyes. His fear of retribution from those older and wiser from him resonates with my own feelings of youth and foolishness.
Also, knowing how long and how strenuously Penelope worked to stave off the suitors really gives me a new meaning of "girl power". I mean, to keep at bay maybe 100 men all intent on taking you and your household, along with your livestock and all your capital, for an unknown number of years, hoping that your husband isn't dead or, worse, run off to some other woman really shows a strength in character that not many women today could hold up to. I certainly couldn't.
Truth be told, I have not yet read past Book Three, so I do not have much else to elaborate on, although I will say this. Every time I read this story, I always get mad at Odysseus. I mean, seriously?! I highly doubt he was "forced" or "coerced" into doing any of those....activities with those various goddesses. I hope Penelope finds out and quarantines him to his room.
GILGAMESH
8/25/11
In truth, I have not read Gilgamesh yet, though I know that many schools teach it in their curriculum. So, question:
WHY HAS NO ONE TAUGHT IT TO ME YET?!
Personally, I think it is a MUCH more enjoyable read than the Odyssey or Romeo and Juliet (I don't think we can beat that dead horse anymore). To know that it comes from a time period dating even before the Bible really excites me. I feel like I'm getting an intimate look into the raw human literary world of the past. It also seems not so...cookie-cutter. Like you know someone didn't just take the basic outline of something and slap it together, adding a few details here and there that embellish it and make it slightly more different than it's predecessors.
I am also really enjoying the fact that the people in the story seem impossibly relatable to your everyday Joe Shmoe; a strong-willed, proud, vain, thick-headed, hot-blooded young male? Let’s see, where have we seen THAT before?
Can’t think of any examples? Me neither…..
The other thing I like about this story is that they don’t make all the women out to be there to “tear down the men” and “bring about their demise” like Sampson and Delilah or Adam and Eve of the Bible. The woman who humanized Enkidu is actually a pivotal character in the story. In fact, without here, there wouldn’t BE a story! (Props to you girl)
On a side note, the classroom discussions are things I am starting to look forward to every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday now. It’s nice to be able to lead the discussion to where it should go and be able to go off on tangents when we want because it somehow relates to the story. Who knew Star Wars could be used in an Honors college discussion?
Last Journal EVERRR! (well, for this semester)
12/9/11Reading the Koran was very interesting, to say the least. I was very excited to read it because I really wanted to understand more about the Muslim religion since no one ever seems to talk about it except in a bad way. However, when I did start to read it, two things really stuck out to me. The first was that there are a lot of similarities between the Bible and the Koran. It had a lot of similar stories, like the Abraham story, like I said in class. The second thing that stuck out to me was how angry the God of the Koran was. I've been taught growing up that God is just but he is also very loving and a Father figure, but the God in the Koran is very mean and very angry. It also says that it is He who turns the unbelievers blind and deaf, and they are marked from the beginning to fail. It's kind of like playing the wrong note in a chord for me. I know that it probably would have helped to have someone who actually was a part of the religion to explain their interpretation of it to us, but I still remain very uneasy about the writing. I do have to say that a lot more Muslims are very devoted to their religion than Christians are, and I know I'm not exactly the standing perfection of Christian values either. But I still do not think that the portrayal of such an angry God fits.
Other than my very biased views, I think that the flow of the Koran varies from the Bible because it focuses more on rules and such rather than telling a story like the New Testament does. Sorry for ranting lol.
Visit to the museum
11/18/11The exterior of the museum tells people "there are important things in here!" or somewhere along the lines of "NONE SHALL PASS!"....well maybe not that extreme, unless you feel intimidated by smart things. It actually seems quite regal in my opinion, with a sense of grandeur and magnificence. It's probably one of my architecturally favorite buildings on campus, besides maybe Elliot Hall. It has a really nice, open, clearly stated entrance with a double winding staircase to create a sense of arrival.
The entrance and sculpture court happens to be my favorite spot, considering I had to spend two weeks drawing the joy of the waters statue at the front. The Ascending day and Descending Night sculptures are my two favorites next to the joy and dancing waves statues because they create a funnel to channel people through to the main staircase. Plus,
Objects displayed are usually grouped by a common theme, such as Asian or Medival. The front entrance leads you up a grand staircase which splits off into two stairs, letting you go either left or right to make your journey. Each room is connected in such a way that the artwork leads to the next one and the next one until you are in different gallery. For special collections, such as the Ancient Peoples one on the lower right floor, they keep you in one room to really emphasize the importance of the gallery and space objects and artwork in such a way that it creates many paths and choices for you to choose from as you peruse the artwork.
Overall, the museum is tiny but well designed and leads a viewer through a multitude of experiences and sights in a cohesive, direct, and wonderful manner.
Paper Topic
11/11/11For my paper, I have chosen to discuss the topic of the good life as it relates to the worldly, spiritual, and ethical conceptions of how to have a good life. First off, it will give me a lot to write about X). Secondly, I think it is a really good debate topic because the good life perception all depends on who you are asking. Ask a movie star and they might say worldly (unless you are Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie). If you asked the Pope in Rome, he would say spiritual. If you asked Ghandi, he would say ethical. Hopefully I can fully explore all of these topics in the paper while also implementing my own ideas about what I think constitutes a good life.
Honestly, I'm not really sure what else to write for this journal haha.
Daoism vs. Confucius
11/4/11While reading the various Analects of Confucius, I noticed that Confucius was a lot more focused on an earthly concept than the main theme of Daoism. Laizou Tzu is very concerned about going with the flow and not going against Nature and her cosmic course. With Confucius, he almost seems to advocate going AGAINST the flow, saying that no matter what, custom is custom is custom and you must do whatever you can to keep it going, even if life gets in the way. He is also more concerned with filial piety I think than the Daoist is. The Daoist seems more to oneself and for oneself.
If I had to choose one of the philosophies to live by in my life, I would probably choose Daoism only because I'm a very go with the flow kind of person and I really relate to the idea of not fighting with the force of "the river of life", because there are some things that you just can't fight against. Your life will be a whole lot better and less stressful by working with the curves life gives you instead of trying to make a straight line. With Confucianism, the idea of custom seems, at least to me, like it would become monotonous after a while a lose its meaning, which defeats the whole purpose of making each custom important and special. However, there are some things in Confucianism that I do agree with. For example, The idea of a ruler who has a loyal following from his people because of his actions and NOT his orders is very appealing to me because I believe in the "Have a soft voice but carry a big stick" philosophy, which I think it really emulates.
THE GOOD LIFE
10/28/11
Every Friday seems to come sooner and sooner. Geez.
Anyways, I'm sort of half and half about the definition of "the good life". On the one hand, I agree with a lot of people and say that no one can really tell what the good life is or what it entails. It really kind of depends on the person you are talking to. Is it true happiness that makes a good life or is it a simple life that makes a good life? On the other hand, if you want to look at it from a purely superficial point of view, like we did in our presentation, the good life can actually be split up into two main categories: Money, wealth, and fame, or a deep spiritual connection and a simple, happy lifestyle. I really think it is a bit much to be asking students to define what a good life is and what it entail because, again, it really just depends all upon who you are asking, whether it be the family member of a person, a religious clergy, or the person themselves.
For example, Jennette Walls, author of the Glass Castle, had a horrible life, in the terms of society (comfort, food, stability, ect.), and yet some could say that she had a "good life" because she made the most of her situation and she was happy, not regretting the events that led her to where she is.
Another example we used was Odysseus from the Odyssey, because in all respects, he really did have the perfect "good life". He had war fame, a faithful wife, a strong son, and trustful friends. He also had money, good looks, and a "spiritual" connection, you could say, with his gods (Athena).
In summary, you can't define the good life. Simple as that.
Psalm 23,000,000
MIDTERM EVAL! (DUN DUN DUNNNNN)
10/21/1Dr. Hartman, I sincerely hope you get a chance to read all of my journal entries. I went back and reread a couple today and actually laughed. BUT!
(Hi, Christine. I do read your journal entries, though I don't always comment. And I am a fan. Thanks for your feedback on how the class is going. MSH)
That isn't the point of this journal.
SO, as far as course goal go, I reread them and they still sound way to wordy and confusing to me, so I'm going to sum them up in the best way possible ^.^ The course goals basically outlined that they wanted us to discuss our literary readings and samples in an intellectually stimulating and thought inducing way while still teaching us stuff we didn't know before (I think I did a pretty good job!). So far, I really think that we've done a GREAT job of completing that goal. Usually after we finish all our reading for the next day, we sit in our "Socratic Seminar" circle and do a really nice job of debating back and forth the various pros and cons of the literature we just read. For example, today we had an awesome discussion about the different use of "God" and "gods" in Plato's retelling of Socrates' "Apology". I think it's really nice that we as students get to command the discussion and formulate our own questions to ask. I'm a huge proponent of "thinking for yourself" (WHAT?!! Heresy!) and I hate it when teachers feed us the answers and then just have us regurgitate them back on a paper or test.
The fact that we can also challenge the way or point of view that a piece of literature has been written really helps the students, I think. If we were to believe and go along with everything that anyone ever told us, would there have ever been quantum physics or string theory?
I think the instance that has stood out in particular to me during this course would be the parody assignment. I really loved everybody's parodies and laughed a lot more than I thought I would. I really think that it finally gave a lot of us the chance to show that we could take what we had learned and put it to the test. I think everyone's was different and unique in their own way and it really shows how well the class is being taught in my opinion.
Paradies (Parodies? Paradys?)
10/13/11Bad spelling aside, I really liked the parody assignment this week. True, I hated it when it was first assigned. Being funny on purpose ISNT. FUNNY. I spent a good 2 hours pacing around my room in a state of anxiety, thinking, "Oh dear, a parody. How am I supposed to be funny on purpose?! I'm usually funny on ACCIDENT!" No joke, this is actually what was going through my head. I sat upside down on my chair, had an orange, had some crackers, sang my ABC's backwards, and drank some water upside down. At the end of 2 hours I had a stomach ache with a headache to go along with it. And still the Word Document just stared back at me, irrevocably white, whispering, "YOU SHALL FAIL!". At last, I gave in.
I went to....
THE INTERNET.
I typed in "Psalm 23 parody" and shamefully hit "enter". The first article to pop up on Google said, "Science is my Shepherd, I shall not want..." DING DING DING!! A light bulb went off in my head like the winning spin on Wheel of Fortune. I whipped open that Word document faster than you could say, "Haksuyah" and furiously typed away. And thus, Psalm $23,000,000 was born. Once I had my idea, it took me all of 20 minutes to write and perfect my "ode to humanity". I am quite proud, if I do say so myself.
Hearing everybody's parody in class really made me laugh, especially the one about the architecture students (I still want that one posted on here, please and thank you). The Facebook one also gave me a good laugh. I might go friend Odysseus...or Antinoos. He seems funnier.
Then again, Telemahkos was pretty funny too...
Maybe I'll just friend all of them.
All in all, great assignment.
What is a Hero?
10/7/11As discussed in class today, heroes are the people that do more than what is asked of them. I brought up the subject of Penelope being a hero to the women of her time. I really think that Penelope was not just there to show women how to be faithful to their husbands and how to be good wives. She is, in fact, more celebrated for her cleverness and her resilience than she is for being a good and faithful wife to Odysseus. I mean, yeah, she would not have been as popular with the masses of her time if she spent those 19 years fooling around with other men like her husband did, but still the fact that she is shown to be a strong woman, and not just a submissive, frightful girl, is something to be said. Also, the fact that Athena chooses her to help (Athena, being the goddess who loves wisdom and cunning) out of all the other people in the world says something about the kind of standing that kind of women would have even with the gods.
As far as everyday heroes go, I think there is also a lot to be said about the hero who does more than what is asked for him AND does it humbly and without any expectation of praise or any reward for his services, like the firemen and policemen in a town or city. I know this sounds so cliche because everybody probably talks about it, but I still think its worth mentioning. THOSE are the heroes that people of today should look up to; a humble servant for the greater good of humanity.
....Not really sure....
9/30/11[Christine, it's funny that you mention, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day." Because that poem is a kind of parody of the types of comparisons in love poetry like the Song of Songs. Shakespeare's playful point is that nothing is worthy of being compared to his beloved. MH]
Like I stated in class this morning, I am absolutely in LOVE with Song of Songs. I think it's even better than Shakespeare. Why? Well first off, I think the conversation between the bride to be and her future husband is so beautiful. When you marry your significant other some day, you know each other so well and so intimately that....I don't even have words to describe the emotion between the two. The image of a beautiful bride being strong enough to love her husband and yet being gentle and humble in his presence is just an image you don't see every day. With the new wave of feminism and the "strong business woman" at the forefront, you don't see soft and gentle women who love their husbands unconditionally much anymore. And the husband? If a guy ever read those parts to me as a poem, I would be a puddle of goo in two seconds. I don't like many gushy, romantic things, but this poem is just so simply stated and so adoringly worded that my heart can't contain my joy when I read it. The fact that he doesn't try and use cliches to describe the love of his life, choosing instead "thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks" and "thy temples are like a piece of pomegranate within they locks" shows how intimately he has paid attention to her and the little details he loves in her. I guess because the compliments are so detailed and personal that I find them to be more endearing than the traditional "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" line that every guy tries to use when he is trying to be romantic (no offense for lack of trying there, boys). Attention to personal detail is really what gets me. And it may just be me, but, oh well!
Creation Week!
YAY!9/23/11
Finally we finish the Odyssey! That only took what, half of eternity? ANYways, I really love whenever we do a section on creation myths, especially from other cultures. I find them personally REALLY interesting to read about. One, they all seem to have something in common, which is so weird considering all the different cultural influences on each one. Well except for the Bible. Like we said in class, the Bible really seems to be completely opposite of what all the other stories sound like. First from order came chaos, instead of chaos being reverted into order, like all the other stories seem to state. I think I like the Bible story the best, just because it's so orderly and simple sounding. Instead of having to perform these great battles and always having strife in some way or other with another god, the Hebrew Yahweh just speaks into being all that is in the universe. So simple and elegant, I think. Plus, it's the least WEIRD sounding. Have you noticed that the rest of the stories, especially some of the greek ones, are a bit.....er, strange? *cough* APHRODITE-AND-THE-TESTICLES *cough* (that one actually kind of made me laugh). Plus the other stories are really gory as well. Like how they describe in detail Kronos' castration of his father.
Lovely.
Or, how Tiamat and Purusha get split up, painfully, I would think, into separate parts of the earth and sky. How would you like to have half your body used to create a tree in a forest and then find out one day that it's a dog's favorite pee spot? Not pleasant.
On a last parting note, completely non-related to what I've been talking about, I really don't like the fact that "Hymn to Aten" was put into the creation stories section. To me, it doesn't really seem like a creation story, Sure, it comes from the "creation" of a new religion, but it does not explain in any way how the world "came to be" or any other sort of related action. I was miffed about that.
But only slightly.
The Odyssey Pt. 3
9/16/11Is that the Hallelujah chorus I hear? FINALLY the suitors get their just reward! Of course they wait until like the last FOUR books of a 24 book epic to finally get around to it, but that just makes it all the more exciting when it finally does happen. I wish they had given us a rough estimate of just how many suitors there actually were in that room because it seems to be bigger than I thought. Five minutes in and they've only downed a quarter of the suitors. I think Athena could have lent some help earlier on (considering all that Odysseus had to go through to get to where he was) instead of chastising him for his "cowardliness" when he calls out for help. Like I said, it seems like there were a lot of suitors, so calling out for help doesn't sound "cowardly" to me. But she's a goddess, so I guess she can do whatever she wants.
Like I said in class, the end story probably could have been taken out. It really was not that necessary. The end of book 23 gave us all the happy ending we wanted and then book 24 just ends with some lame "and then Athena kept the name Mentor..." ...okaaaaaaaaaaay so that has WHAT to do with the rest of the story? Nothing, that's what. And then, in the midst of battle, she says "oh, stop this silly fighting foolish children" and they all go "OKAY!" and just drop their weapons. I'm sorry, but men just don't do that. They. Just. Don't.
All in all though, I have to say that the ending when Odysseus and Penelope finally get their homecoming made me a little misty-eyed. It was just too cute for words. And I NEVER say that about school readings.
The Odyssey Pt. 2
9/9/11For some reason or other, I am finding the Odyssey much more engaging and interesting this time around. I think this might be a different translation than the other one I read in 9th grade English class. Or maybe i just appreciate his struggles as more than just a story now that I am four years older. In any case, I was sad to see that I had reached the end of book 13 this Thursday night! I really wanted to see what Odysseus was going to do with the suitors! I think we might have skipped over that part in the book when we read it before because some of the details are fuzzy to me.
I have to say, the tenacity and hope that Odysseus holds onto during his ten years of trials really astounds me more than it has in the past. I guess I just didn't appreciate how long 20 years could be, even 10 years. Ten years ago, I was 8 years old. I mean....wow. To still hope for home and to still seek it even after all this time? Just...incredible.
I also have a bit to say about all the women that have been portrayed in this epic.I am really appreciating how resourceful these stories make the women seem. To me, a strong, confident, wise women is the best kind of women to be, and it is one of my personal goals in life. To see that the Greeks really revered smarts among the female gender, along with a strength of character and a steadfastness to the home and family, makes me want to become like that even more so. I really think we could use this teaching in schools across the country to not only teach a "good story", but to intstill in the younger generation values and morals that I feel we have somewhat lost, especially with young girls. I would like to show them that it is okay, celebrated even, to be a smart and wise decision maker and to be strong in who you are instead of taking the crap from other people.
The Odyssey
9/2/11
I think I've read the Odyssey so many times by now that my brain will start turning to mush haha. But I do have to say that I am really enjoying getting the story from Telemakus this time. The classic scenario of Odysseus' return home is so familiar to me by now, from reading the actual Odyssey and other related readings (Lightning Thief anyone?), that I could probably recite it verbatim. But finally understanding the struggle at home years before he even returns home really helps me get into the story and maybe feel a bit more related to it. Telemakus' coming of age tale really hits home because he and I share the same feeling of being too young and naive to understand fully what is going on but then knowing at the same time that the wool is being pulled over our eyes. His fear of retribution from those older and wiser from him resonates with my own feelings of youth and foolishness.
Also, knowing how long and how strenuously Penelope worked to stave off the suitors really gives me a new meaning of "girl power". I mean, to keep at bay maybe 100 men all intent on taking you and your household, along with your livestock and all your capital, for an unknown number of years, hoping that your husband isn't dead or, worse, run off to some other woman really shows a strength in character that not many women today could hold up to. I certainly couldn't.
Truth be told, I have not yet read past Book Three, so I do not have much else to elaborate on, although I will say this. Every time I read this story, I always get mad at Odysseus. I mean, seriously?! I highly doubt he was "forced" or "coerced" into doing any of those....activities with those various goddesses. I hope Penelope finds out and quarantines him to his room.
GILGAMESH
8/25/11
In truth, I have not read Gilgamesh yet, though I know that many schools teach it in their curriculum. So, question:
WHY HAS NO ONE TAUGHT IT TO ME YET?!
Personally, I think it is a MUCH more enjoyable read than the Odyssey or Romeo and Juliet (I don't think we can beat that dead horse anymore). To know that it comes from a time period dating even before the Bible really excites me. I feel like I'm getting an intimate look into the raw human literary world of the past. It also seems not so...cookie-cutter. Like you know someone didn't just take the basic outline of something and slap it together, adding a few details here and there that embellish it and make it slightly more different than it's predecessors.
I am also really enjoying the fact that the people in the story seem impossibly relatable to your everyday Joe Shmoe; a strong-willed, proud, vain, thick-headed, hot-blooded young male? Let’s see, where have we seen THAT before?
Can’t think of any examples? Me neither…..
The other thing I like about this story is that they don’t make all the women out to be there to “tear down the men” and “bring about their demise” like Sampson and Delilah or Adam and Eve of the Bible. The woman who humanized Enkidu is actually a pivotal character in the story. In fact, without here, there wouldn’t BE a story! (Props to you girl)
On a side note, the classroom discussions are things I am starting to look forward to every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday now. It’s nice to be able to lead the discussion to where it should go and be able to go off on tangents when we want because it somehow relates to the story. Who knew Star Wars could be used in an Honors college discussion?