Finishing up the semester, our class discussed orchestra music from different countries (even though we learned you can’t really tell them apart) and works by Mozart. Throughout the discussion of Mozart, I thought to myself, “This is the music that makes babies smarter.” Listening to similar romantic composers, I believe classical music in general makes people think differently. I don’t know if it makes people “smarter” per say, but I believe it takes a better understanding of music in order for someone to digest the song.
For example, pop music is definitely broken down into simple sections that even a two-year-old could distinguish. The sections in a classical orchestral piece, such as exposition, development, and recapitulation, are harder to pinpoint. It seems that the more someone is familiar with music theory and music history, the easier it is for them to comprehend a song. Following that train of thought, fine art is also the same way. Without the knowledge of how something is organized or the historical context of the piece, the observer focuses on the tactile sense (what they’re seeing or what they’re hearing). When you take into account the techniques and meaning of the work, you’re less focused on concrete matters. It’s like, Yes… I hear woodwind and brass instruments right now, but how are these two parts in relation to each other? At first, the music this week felt separate from what we’ve done the whole semester, but actually processing music is the same as processing a painting or a story. I realized separating it into parts and focusing on micro aspects really help.
Response 11 (11/15/13)
Last time I wrote an essay, I did a creative approach that addressed the modern day relevance of a work. Now I am left with writing a formal approach of comparing two works for essay numero deux. Because I absolutely dread formal writing of any sorts, I want to do something that will at least intrigue me. I plan on comparing satirical elements of my two favourite works of literature we’ve read this semester—Tartuffe and Candide.
For my essay, I believe I’ll be taking the viewpoint that Tartuffe and Candide are similar. In both works, the characters are so exaggerated by the authors. In fact, just writing this now I’ve had a revelation that Orgon and Pangloss possess the same naïve optimism. I don’t know what other characters I could compare, but I do know that the satirizing of the upper class is present in both works. Orgon is the head of the household and seems rather inept at making good decisions for his family; the baron also holds strict control over Cunegoode from marrying Candide just because his noble lineage only dates back to 72 generations (gosh, what a peasant).
At the moment, I’m kind of stuck on ideas, so I’ll have to brainstorm more ways Tartuffe and Candide are similar.
Sounds good. Keep in mind: the number of things you find to compare isn't as important as the number of things you can say about the things you do compare. Just taking the idea that the characters are exaggerated could give you a lot to talk about. - MH
Response 10 (11/8/13)
Midway through the semester I really lost interest in reading because I found the language to be a bit difficult to grasp (for example, I found it hard to find irony or satire in Canterbury Tales). However, I’m absolutely on the same page as Voltaire—pun intended. Voltaire seems to have the intense knowledge of Enlightenment thinkers, but he’s too sassy to be pretentious and presumptuous about the world. He mocks the notable philosophers who think they have the world figured out. Instead of writing this object in a very obtuse manner, Voltaire writes in extremes, which honestly, make me laugh out loud sometimes. Next time I’m eating chocolate, I’ll mentally thank the explorers for attaining syphilis so I can gorge myself with endless amounts of brownies.
Aside from enjoying the discussion of Candide this week, I also liked hearing about David’s The Death of Socrates. In my AHS 100 class, I learned all about the Oath of the Horatii. Neoclassical artwork is necessarily my favorite, but I don’t consider it the worst time period of art either. Often times I find Neoclassical artwork to be too posed or dramatic. Also the colors in Neoclassical paintings remind me of the color scheme for the Regal Cinema complex in Westfield (i.e. really pastel and ugly).
I am really dejected about the final exam because I thought it was going to be a creative project like in Honors 202. I planned on drawing three images of the Virgin Mary in the style of the periods: Medieval, Renaissance, and Enlightenment. It was going to be so cool with side by side comparisons, but I guess I’ll have to save that idea for a rainy day or something.
Response 9 (11/1/13)
Bonjour! This week we discussed the French play Tartuffe. I was pleasantly surprised that it was one of my favorite works assigned this semester. I really enjoy theatre, so I find reading plays easier to read than a long epic narrative (I’m looking at you, Dante’s Inferno).
I quite enjoy reading satire because it’s a less obvious form of comedy in comparison to one-liners by Adam Sandler. Orgon was one of my favorite characters because of his oblivious nature. In class, it was mentioned that most drawings of Tartuffe are of the pivotal scene, in which Orgon is hiding under the table while Tartuffe attempts to seduce his wife. I like watching the Youtube clip because it helped me imagine the comedy of the situation better. Elmire would be a fun character to play because she has to keep up with charade of being attracted to Tartuffe when she’s really disgusted by him. Although in our class’s casting of the play, how could any human possibly feign disgust for Johnny Depp?
It’s hard for me as a modern reader to understand why Tartuffe was met with such backlash. I don’t see much controversy with the play, but then again, I’m not a church official during a time of religious tension. I just don’t see the main point of Tartuffe as mocking religion or followers of religion. I could see how people who were upper class wouldn’t like the play because it paints the man of an upper class household out to be a naïve fool incapable of recognizing deceit. I imagine that there were probably a few real life examples of Orgon in France.
Response 8 (10/25/13)
During the short week our Honors 202 class met, we discussed various stories of the “founders” of Latin America. I quite enjoyed the news-casting assignment as everyone had to participate. I think our class is at that awkward stage in the semester where the same people talk all the time, so the in-class activity really made even the shyest of students speak. Also, livening up the routine with a little Spanish propaganda news is always a great addition to any class.
Overall, I think explorers tend to be selfish @$$#&%*, but I have to keep in mind this is the first example in history where two cultures from vastly different places on the globe interact. I’m sure there are probably very few written documents of a native’s perspective. During class today, I was thinking it was such a shame the natives didn’t have a more widespread system of written language that way there was the opposite side of the events in the textbook. I guess that’s why I found Of Cannibals to be such a pleasant surprise because Michel de Montaigne questioned the ethics of what makes one society more “savage” than another society. I’m sure if I was an explorer, I would be repulsed by cannibalism to make such rational comments...
Unless my name was Hannibal Lecter
After OfCannibals, I can see why the Enlightenment Era is the next period in the timeline of history. It’s people like Montaigne who kick start the movement of innovative thinking rather than voicing similar opinions of the monarch or religious figures. I can’t wait to look at work that is influenced from a scientific approach rather than religious outlook.
Response 7 (10/11/13)
Elizabeth, this sounds promising. Is your idea to critique consumerism or to update Dante's punishments with more contemporary references? I look forward to seeing what you come up with. --MH
For my paper, I plan on adding a creative approach to the modern significance of a work we have discussed in class. As far as selecting what story to parody, I chose Dante’s Inferno because as a class we invested a large portion of time on it, and I believe there is a lot of material to work with. My topic is applying Dante’s Inferno into a modern setting, specifically the store Wal-mart. The point of my paper isn’t to declare Wal-mart as hell, but moreover apply the concept to a more modern-day relevant scenario. During the Medieval Ages, religion was the main influence in people’s lives. Nowadays, consumerism in America is more engrained in the average citizen’s life than church (think of how many times people visit a store in a week as opposed to church). Also, because the store is catered to individuals with low SES, people from a more prosperous background may look down upon others who shop at places like Wal-mart. I may make the character of Dante as someone who is disgusted with “the system” of America, and I have yet to decide what kind of person Virgil should be.
I have no inclination yet as to how in-depth I plan on going, whether describing every level or only a few should be my approach. I might skip a couple of levels or find a good stopping point that way I can properly address each level without rushing through the whole journey. I still plan on keeping the same themes and motifs. I also intend to incorporate the characters Dante meets along to way and relating them to Americans shopping through various parts of Wal-mart. As you can tell, my ideas are very loose as of now, but when I start actually writing it, I know I will find a sense of direction.
Response 6 (10/4/13)
The presentation this week was dedicated to Leonardo Di Vinci’s work—The Last Supper. I remember learning in my AHS 100 about the horrid technique Di Vinci used to create his famous work. Painting a fresco on a dry wall and instead of plaster is a big no-no. To combat the fact that fresco cannot be modified as the artist works, Di Vinci also utilized tempera for the final coat of his mural painting. The fact that a significant portion of the painting had to be restored by the hands of other artists perhaps ruins the integrity of the piece, perhaps in the same fashion that the fragments of Michelangelo’s The Pieta were cemented on by other restoration experts. But the fact that these tragic circumstances have presented wear and tear on a masterpiece does not hinder the powerful presence of a Renaissance work. If I were to see The Last Supper or The Pieta in person, my first thought would not be of the restorations; moreover, I would be awestruck by the talent it took for an artist to complete the masterpiece. I believe this calls for a class field trip to Italy then…
I did not find inspiration in Utopia because I do not care for works of literature that are basic descriptions and lists. I think the book would have made more of a statement if it was written as a dialogue like in Dante’s Inferno. Even though I did not enjoy Utopia, I did like the ideas Niccolò Machiavelli presented in The Prince. I know the Inferno, Utopia, and The Canterbury Tales were considered cutting-edge for their time, but I consider The Prince to be the most obvious written work that opposes tradition. To list the traits of a perfect ruler is not a hard task to do, but to actually consider realism, weigh the benefits and costs of certain traits, and contemplate how society would respond to the leader takes a more effort for the writer.
Response 5 (9/27/13)
Bonjourno! This week we time-traveled to Florence, Italy during the era of Michelangelo for our honors presentation. It was a great for us to be able to delve towards the Renaissance, which everyone can pretty much agree that those times were better than the Middle Ages (Bubonic plague, anyone?). Not only did the population’s health improve during the Renaissance, but also some of the most beautiful works of art are from this period. I’ve always been a fan of realism, so I have a strong appreciation for Renaissance artists. At first, the class seemed hesitant to participate, but having the comparison between The Pieta and the two pieces really helped a lot.
I was excited to read the Canterbury Tales because I had read excerpts from the story for a literature class during my senior year of high school; however, I don’t remember it being as contradictory as it is. It’s confusing for me because not only do I have a hard enough time deciphering what certain works of literature mean (I’d rather read Ernest Hemingway; he’s straightforward), but also the Canterbury Tales is written really unorthodox. When a character is lying in modern-day text, the author usually blatantly states the character is lying due to verbal or nonverbal descriptions. Chaucer’s writing is supposed to be ironic, but when I read it, it just comes across as unclear to what the characters’ motives are. Admittedly, I just give up and stop reading the text half-way through the assigned reading. I had the same problem with Honors 201, I just don’t care about literature that derives from religious scripture, especially if it’s written in a confusing manner.
Response 4 (9/20/13)
This week we discussed the concluding events in Dante’s Inferno. In my last response, I discussed that I was disappointed that I did not enjoy reading the text as much as I originally thought I would. I would have to say that after being fully engaged this week and understanding the story better, I do have a newfound appreciation for Dante’s work. I thoroughly enjoy his wit and ability to allude to historical figures in a theological story. I discussed with Benjamin that the story doesn’t really follow actual theology though, and he agreed. I gathered from class that the idea of levels of hell really seemed to not resonate with the Christian classmates, as they believe all unrepentant sins are punishable to the same degree.
Although parts of the Inferno contradict with certain notions from the bible, I really like Dante’s creative view on hell. I appreciate it when a writer does something cutting-edge for his or her time, and I believe Dante really challenged his peers to look at the idea of sin in a different way.
I also brought up in class how I wish Satan had been able to talk to Dante. It would have made for a stronger end to the Inferno, but I guess I have to remember that it’s only the first third of the story, and the ending has yet to come. However, if Satan had been able to speak to Dante, it would have probably looked something on the lines of this:
Satan: Freeze, Dante. Welcome to my humble abode. Dante: Well, what a cool party you have going on here. Satan: Yes, but Judas and the gang have a very icy disposition. No warmth there. Dante: Oh, well, if you want to be loved so much, why did you give God the cold shoulder? Satan: … Dante: OH BURN!
Response 3 (9/13/13)
This week in class, we discussed Dante’s Inferno and were graced with a great presentation about the Sainte-Chapelle. I love learning about architecture, especially the gothic style because that’s when methods of constructing become more advanced than the simple post and lintel. I wish that the basic elements of what is unique to gothic architecture were outlined more thoroughly because it’s important to understand the foundation of one period, as the proceeding ones build upon the knowledge from the past. However, I did enjoy hearing about the in-depth history of why the Sainte-Chapelle was constructed because I’ve always appreciated learning about the relationship between monarchies and churches. It always makes me sad to hear that the modern-day structure isn’t preserved close to its original condition, especially in the case of the Sainte-Chapelle when the main reason for its existence is because of the relics, which are mostly dispersed elsewhere.
When it comes to Dante’s Inferno, I honestly had higher expectations of the work. For starters, I’m always a sucker for dark themes, so the idea of travelling to hell really speaks to me (that’s weird wording, I swear I’m not a minion of Satan), so I thought I would like the story better. I guess my viewpoints of what is moralistically right or wrong come from rational, concrete modern laws. The whole “what is important to God” guidelines really have no meaning to me. During the discussion today, it baffled me that murder is not considered the worst sin. From a law and ethnical standpoint, that’s the worst action you can commit because it causes the most emotional and financial damage. After the point was brought up that fraud and treachery are considered worse because it’s exclusive to humans, I understand why the circles are arranged the way they are—I just don’t agree with it.
Also, why was this not included as punishment any of the circles?
Response 2 (8/30/13)
During our second week of class, we discussed the following texts: Confessions, The Consolation of Philosophy, and The Qu’ran. I was a little disappointed because the preceding week had be a glorious demonstration of art, but I realize that we have to throw literature into the class’s repertoire of knowledge as well.
I going to be brutally honest—the reading this week was extremely hard for me to digest. Not only am I already pretty weak when it comes to analyzing works of literature (I like pictures, not words), but I’m clueless when it comes to references from the Bible and basically the whole of Christianity, except for that catchy song from my childhood about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. I love the fact the class split into groups to complete the notice-focus-why prompt because I was able to get more out of the texts from doing so. It’s also great to hear classmates’ perspectives because everyone seems so knowledgeable about references to Christianity, especially Daniel in my group.
I’m pretty logical and enjoy straight-up facts, so the layout and word usage is always something I look for as opposed to the deeper meaning of a written work. It was interesting to hear my group’s take on different parts in the stories, because I would mention a very concrete matter, and they could synthesize the passage in a deeper, thematic way. In contrasting Confessions vs. The Consolation of Philosophy, I was able to see how the structure of the pieces differed. For instance, St. Augustine’s writing in Confessions seemed like a recital of past events; whereas, Boethius in the The Consolation is more geared toward actively working to achieve a relationship with God. I also jokingly mentioned that St. Augustine’s memoir mentions fruit and Boethius does not talk about pears or any sort of fruit. From this comment, our group was able to expand upon the idea of the fall of man and how St. Augustine’s story is a more in-depth struggle to find God. Boethius presents a Socratic debate that doesn’t reach quite the level of passion for the Lord as St. Augustine’s does, and maybe that’s why I preferred The Consolation over Confessions.
Response 1 (8/23/13)
Because I completed Honors 203 a year ago, it feels odd this semester going backwards in the sequence; however, the Renaissance is one of my favorite periods of history to learn about because art truly begins to flourish during this era (in AHS 100, I remembered Renaissance artists by thinking of the name of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles).
I’m really excited to start off this semester having completed the art history course because I feel I will be better equipped to analyze art. Even though it’s important to participate, my main goal is to not talk too much and listen to other students’ viewpoints. The last thing this class needs is a know-it-all, so I’ll try to hold back with the plethora of knowledge I acquired.
Also, I feel better prepared this semester with regards to my writing. I had the opportunity during the summer to work at a website design company, and my job entailed writing professional website pages and creating 40 blogs per month. I learned a lot from the Chicago Manual of Style and my coworkers, so hopefully my newfound knowledge of writing will be put to good use. As always, I will be supplying subtle humorous points and sarcastic remarks in my responses, so keep an eye out for those.
Even though I’ve learned about the Elements of Art and Principles of Design since I was in eighth grade, this week of class was still interesting because of the different way those key points were addressed. I always love comparing two artworks, and I believe sketching is the best way to engage students with the art they’re observing. On an end note, I’m glad I’ve seen the end of LORE. I quite like the way the wiki works, so there’s so positive feedback for that, but I do miss having my picture of Janet Leigh screaming in Psycho.
Response 12 (12/6/13)
Finishing up the semester, our class discussed orchestra music from different countries (even though we learned you can’t really tell them apart) and works by Mozart. Throughout the discussion of Mozart, I thought to myself, “This is the music that makes babies smarter.” Listening to similar romantic composers, I believe classical music in general makes people think differently. I don’t know if it makes people “smarter” per say, but I believe it takes a better understanding of music in order for someone to digest the song.For example, pop music is definitely broken down into simple sections that even a two-year-old could distinguish. The sections in a classical orchestral piece, such as exposition, development, and recapitulation, are harder to pinpoint. It seems that the more someone is familiar with music theory and music history, the easier it is for them to comprehend a song. Following that train of thought, fine art is also the same way. Without the knowledge of how something is organized or the historical context of the piece, the observer focuses on the tactile sense (what they’re seeing or what they’re hearing). When you take into account the techniques and meaning of the work, you’re less focused on concrete matters. It’s like, Yes… I hear woodwind and brass instruments right now, but how are these two parts in relation to each other?
At first, the music this week felt separate from what we’ve done the whole semester, but actually processing music is the same as processing a painting or a story. I realized separating it into parts and focusing on micro aspects really help.
Response 11 (11/15/13)
Last time I wrote an essay, I did a creative approach that addressed the modern day relevance of a work. Now I am left with writing a formal approach of comparing two works for essay numero deux. Because I absolutely dread formal writing of any sorts, I want to do something that will at least intrigue me. I plan on comparing satirical elements of my two favourite works of literature we’ve read this semester—Tartuffe and Candide.
For my essay, I believe I’ll be taking the viewpoint that Tartuffe and Candide are similar. In both works, the characters are so exaggerated by the authors. In fact, just writing this now I’ve had a revelation that Orgon and Pangloss possess the same naïve optimism. I don’t know what other characters I could compare, but I do know that the satirizing of the upper class is present in both works. Orgon is the head of the household and seems rather inept at making good decisions for his family; the baron also holds strict control over Cunegoode from marrying Candide just because his noble lineage only dates back to 72 generations (gosh, what a peasant).
At the moment, I’m kind of stuck on ideas, so I’ll have to brainstorm more ways Tartuffe and Candide are similar.Sounds good. Keep in mind: the number of things you find to compare isn't as important as the number of things you can say about the things you do compare. Just taking the idea that the characters are exaggerated could give you a lot to talk about. - MH
Response 10 (11/8/13)
Midway through the semester I really lost interest in reading because I found the language to be a bit difficult to grasp (for example, I found it hard to find irony or satire in Canterbury Tales). However, I’m absolutely on the same page as Voltaire—pun intended. Voltaire seems to have the intense knowledge of Enlightenment thinkers, but he’s too sassy to be pretentious and presumptuous about the world. He mocks the notable philosophers who think they have the world figured out. Instead of writing this object in a very obtuse manner, Voltaire writes in extremes, which honestly, make me laugh out loud sometimes. Next time I’m eating chocolate, I’ll mentally thank the explorers for attaining syphilis so I can gorge myself with endless amounts of brownies.
Aside from enjoying the discussion of Candide this week, I also liked hearing about David’s The Death of Socrates. In my AHS 100 class, I learned all about the Oath of the Horatii. Neoclassical artwork is necessarily my favorite, but I don’t consider it the worst time period of art either. Often times I find Neoclassical artwork to be too posed or dramatic. Also the colors in Neoclassical paintings remind me of the color scheme for the Regal Cinema complex in Westfield (i.e. really pastel and ugly).
I am really dejected about the final exam because I thought it was going to be a creative project like in Honors 202. I planned on drawing three images of the Virgin Mary in the style of the periods: Medieval, Renaissance, and Enlightenment. It was going to be so cool with side by side comparisons, but I guess I’ll have to save that idea for a rainy day or something.
Response 9 (11/1/13)
Bonjour! This week we discussed the French play Tartuffe. I was pleasantly surprised that it was one of my favorite works assigned this semester. I really enjoy theatre, so I find reading plays easier to read than a long epic narrative (I’m looking at you, Dante’s Inferno).
I quite enjoy reading satire because it’s a less obvious form of comedy in comparison to one-liners by Adam Sandler. Orgon was one of my favorite characters because of his oblivious nature. In class, it was mentioned that most drawings of Tartuffe are of the pivotal scene, in which Orgon is hiding under the table while Tartuffe attempts to seduce his wife. I like watching the Youtube clip because it helped me imagine the comedy of the situation better. Elmire would be a fun character to play because she has to keep up with charade of being attracted to Tartuffe when she’s really disgusted by him. Although in our class’s casting of the play, how could any human possibly feign disgust for Johnny Depp?
It’s hard for me as a modern reader to understand why Tartuffe was met with such backlash. I don’t see much controversy with the play, but then again, I’m not a church official during a time of religious tension. I just don’t see the main point of Tartuffe as mocking religion or followers of religion. I could see how people who were upper class wouldn’t like the play because it paints the man of an upper class household out to be a naïve fool incapable of recognizing deceit. I imagine that there were probably a few real life examples of Orgon in France.
Response 8 (10/25/13)
During the short week our Honors 202 class met, we discussed various stories of the “founders” of Latin America. I quite enjoyed the news-casting assignment as everyone had to participate. I think our class is at that awkward stage in the semester where the same people talk all the time, so the in-class activity really made even the shyest of students speak. Also, livening up the routine with a little Spanish propaganda news is always a great addition to any class.Overall, I think explorers tend to be selfish @$$#&%*, but I have to keep in mind this is the first example in history where two cultures from vastly different places on the globe interact. I’m sure there are probably very few written documents of a native’s perspective. During class today, I was thinking it was such a shame the natives didn’t have a more widespread system of written language that way there was the opposite side of the events in the textbook. I guess that’s why I found Of Cannibals to be such a pleasant surprise because Michel de Montaigne questioned the ethics of what makes one society more “savage” than another society. I’m sure if I was an explorer, I would be repulsed by cannibalism to make such rational comments...
After Of Cannibals, I can see why the Enlightenment Era is the next period in the timeline of history. It’s people like Montaigne who kick start the movement of innovative thinking rather than voicing similar opinions of the monarch or religious figures. I can’t wait to look at work that is influenced from a scientific approach rather than religious outlook.
Response 7 (10/11/13)
Elizabeth, this sounds promising. Is your idea to critique consumerism or to update Dante's punishments with more contemporary references? I look forward to seeing what you come up with. --MHFor my paper, I plan on adding a creative approach to the modern significance of a work we have discussed in class. As far as selecting what story to parody, I chose Dante’s Inferno because as a class we invested a large portion of time on it, and I believe there is a lot of material to work with. My topic is applying Dante’s Inferno into a modern setting, specifically the store Wal-mart. The point of my paper isn’t to declare Wal-mart as hell, but moreover apply the concept to a more modern-day relevant scenario. During the Medieval Ages, religion was the main influence in people’s lives. Nowadays, consumerism in America is more engrained in the average citizen’s life than church (think of how many times people visit a store in a week as opposed to church). Also, because the store is catered to individuals with low SES, people from a more prosperous background may look down upon others who shop at places like Wal-mart. I may make the character of Dante as someone who is disgusted with “the system” of America, and I have yet to decide what kind of person Virgil should be.
I have no inclination yet as to how in-depth I plan on going, whether describing every level or only a few should be my approach. I might skip a couple of levels or find a good stopping point that way I can properly address each level without rushing through the whole journey. I still plan on keeping the same themes and motifs. I also intend to incorporate the characters Dante meets along to way and relating them to Americans shopping through various parts of Wal-mart. As you can tell, my ideas are very loose as of now, but when I start actually writing it, I know I will find a sense of direction.
Response 6 (10/4/13)
The presentation this week was dedicated to Leonardo Di Vinci’s work—The Last Supper. I remember learning in my AHS 100 about the horrid technique Di Vinci used to create his famous work. Painting a fresco on a dry wall and instead of plaster is a big no-no. To combat the fact that fresco cannot be modified as the artist works, Di Vinci also utilized tempera for the final coat of his mural painting. The fact that a significant portion of the painting had to be restored by the hands of other artists perhaps ruins the integrity of the piece, perhaps in the same fashion that the fragments of Michelangelo’s The Pieta were cemented on by other restoration experts. But the fact that these tragic circumstances have presented wear and tear on a masterpiece does not hinder the powerful presence of a Renaissance work. If I were to see The Last Supper or The Pieta in person, my first thought would not be of the restorations; moreover, I would be awestruck by the talent it took for an artist to complete the masterpiece. I believe this calls for a class field trip to Italy then…I did not find inspiration in Utopia because I do not care for works of literature that are basic descriptions and lists. I think the book would have made more of a statement if it was written as a dialogue like in Dante’s Inferno. Even though I did not enjoy Utopia, I did like the ideas Niccolò Machiavelli presented in The Prince. I know the Inferno, Utopia, and The Canterbury Tales were considered cutting-edge for their time, but I consider The Prince to be the most obvious written work that opposes tradition. To list the traits of a perfect ruler is not a hard task to do, but to actually consider realism, weigh the benefits and costs of certain traits, and contemplate how society would respond to the leader takes a more effort for the writer.
Response 5 (9/27/13)
Bonjourno! This week we time-traveled to Florence, Italy during the era of Michelangelo for our honors presentation. It was a great for us to be able to delve towards the Renaissance, which everyone can pretty much agree that those times were better than the Middle Ages (Bubonic plague, anyone?). Not only did the population’s health improve during the Renaissance, but also some of the most beautiful works of art are from this period. I’ve always been a fan of realism, so I have a strong appreciation for Renaissance artists. At first, the class seemed hesitant to participate, but having the comparison between The Pieta and the two pieces really helped a lot.
I was excited to read the Canterbury Tales because I had read excerpts from the story for a literature class during my senior year of high school; however, I don’t remember it being as contradictory as it is. It’s confusing for me because not only do I have a hard enough time deciphering what certain works of literature mean (I’d rather read Ernest Hemingway; he’s straightforward), but also the Canterbury Tales is written really unorthodox. When a character is lying in modern-day text, the author usually blatantly states the character is lying due to verbal or nonverbal descriptions. Chaucer’s writing is supposed to be ironic, but when I read it, it just comes across as unclear to what the characters’ motives are. Admittedly, I just give up and stop reading the text half-way through the assigned reading. I had the same problem with Honors 201, I just don’t care about literature that derives from religious scripture, especially if it’s written in a confusing manner.
Response 4 (9/20/13)
This week we discussed the concluding events in Dante’s Inferno. In my last response, I discussed that I was disappointed that I did not enjoy reading the text as much as I originally thought I would. I would have to say that after being fully engaged this week and understanding the story better, I do have a newfound appreciation for Dante’s work. I thoroughly enjoy his wit and ability to allude to historical figures in a theological story. I discussed with Benjamin that the story doesn’t really follow actual theology though, and he agreed. I gathered from class that the idea of levels of hell really seemed to not resonate with the Christian classmates, as they believe all unrepentant sins are punishable to the same degree.Although parts of the Inferno contradict with certain notions from the bible, I really like Dante’s creative view on hell. I appreciate it when a writer does something cutting-edge for his or her time, and I believe Dante really challenged his peers to look at the idea of sin in a different way.
I also brought up in class how I wish Satan had been able to talk to Dante. It would have made for a stronger end to the Inferno, but I guess I have to remember that it’s only the first third of the story, and the ending has yet to come. However, if Satan had been able to speak to Dante, it would have probably looked something on the lines of this:
Satan: Freeze, Dante. Welcome to my humble abode.
Dante: Well, what a cool party you have going on here.
Satan: Yes, but Judas and the gang have a very icy disposition. No warmth there.
Dante: Oh, well, if you want to be loved so much, why did you give God the cold shoulder?
Satan: …
Dante: OH BURN!
Response 3 (9/13/13)
This week in class, we discussed Dante’s Inferno and were graced with a great presentation about the Sainte-Chapelle. I love learning about architecture, especially the gothic style because that’s when methods of constructing become more advanced than the simple post and lintel. I wish that the basic elements of what is unique to gothic architecture were outlined more thoroughly because it’s important to understand the foundation of one period, as the proceeding ones build upon the knowledge from the past. However, I did enjoy hearing about the in-depth history of why the Sainte-Chapelle was constructed because I’ve always appreciated learning about the relationship between monarchies and churches. It always makes me sad to hear that the modern-day structure isn’t preserved close to its original condition, especially in the case of the Sainte-Chapelle when the main reason for its existence is because of the relics, which are mostly dispersed elsewhere.When it comes to Dante’s Inferno, I honestly had higher expectations of the work. For starters, I’m always a sucker for dark themes, so the idea of travelling to hell really speaks to me (that’s weird wording, I swear I’m not a minion of Satan), so I thought I would like the story better. I guess my viewpoints of what is moralistically right or wrong come from rational, concrete modern laws. The whole “what is important to God” guidelines really have no meaning to me. During the discussion today, it baffled me that murder is not considered the worst sin. From a law and ethnical standpoint, that’s the worst action you can commit because it causes the most emotional and financial damage. After the point was brought up that fraud and treachery are considered worse because it’s exclusive to humans, I understand why the circles are arranged the way they are—I just don’t agree with it.
Response 2 (8/30/13)
During our second week of class, we discussed the following texts: Confessions, The Consolation of Philosophy, and The Qu’ran. I was a little disappointed because the preceding week had be a glorious demonstration of art, but I realize that we have to throw literature into the class’s repertoire of knowledge as well.I going to be brutally honest—the reading this week was extremely hard for me to digest. Not only am I already pretty weak when it comes to analyzing works of literature (I like pictures, not words), but I’m clueless when it comes to references from the Bible and basically the whole of Christianity, except for that catchy song from my childhood about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
I love the fact the class split into groups to complete the notice-focus-why prompt because I was able to get more out of the texts from doing so. It’s also great to hear classmates’ perspectives because everyone seems so knowledgeable about references to Christianity, especially Daniel in my group.
I’m pretty logical and enjoy straight-up facts, so the layout and word usage is always something I look for as opposed to the deeper meaning of a written work. It was interesting to hear my group’s take on different parts in the stories, because I would mention a very concrete matter, and they could synthesize the passage in a deeper, thematic way. In contrasting Confessions vs. The Consolation of Philosophy, I was able to see how the structure of the pieces differed. For instance, St. Augustine’s writing in Confessions seemed like a recital of past events; whereas, Boethius in the The Consolation is more geared toward actively working to achieve a relationship with God. I also jokingly mentioned that St. Augustine’s memoir mentions fruit and Boethius does not talk about pears or any sort of fruit. From this comment, our group was able to expand upon the idea of the fall of man and how St. Augustine’s story is a more in-depth struggle to find God. Boethius presents a Socratic debate that doesn’t reach quite the level of passion for the Lord as St. Augustine’s does, and maybe that’s why I preferred The Consolation over Confessions.
Response 1 (8/23/13)
Because I completed Honors 203 a year ago, it feels odd this semester going backwards in the sequence; however, the Renaissance is one of my favorite periods of history to learn about because art truly begins to flourish during this era (in AHS 100, I remembered Renaissance artists by thinking of the name of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles).I’m really excited to start off this semester having completed the art history course because I feel I will be better equipped to analyze art. Even though it’s important to participate, my main goal is to not talk too much and listen to other students’ viewpoints. The last thing this class needs is a know-it-all, so I’ll try to hold back with the plethora of knowledge I acquired.
Also, I feel better prepared this semester with regards to my writing. I had the opportunity during the summer to work at a website design company, and my job entailed writing professional website pages and creating 40 blogs per month. I learned a lot from the Chicago Manual of Style and my coworkers, so hopefully my newfound knowledge of writing will be put to good use. As always, I will be supplying subtle humorous points and sarcastic remarks in my responses, so keep an eye out for those.
Even though I’ve learned about the Elements of Art and Principles of Design since I was in eighth grade, this week of class was still interesting because of the different way those key points were addressed. I always love comparing two artworks, and I believe sketching is the best way to engage students with the art they’re observing.
On an end note, I’m glad I’ve seen the end of LORE. I quite like the way the wiki works, so there’s so positive feedback for that, but I do miss having my picture of Janet Leigh screaming in Psycho.