I am fairly happy with the direction that my life is headed in at this point. I have challenged myself academically, and it is paying off for my future. My biggest goal for how I want to live my life in the future is to experience as much of life as possible. At it's most basic level, I think this is truly the American Dream. Most of what people do in pursuit of "The American Dream" is so that they can do what makes them happy when it really matters. Everybody in the world wants to be happy, so they create goals to help them achieve this. The pursuit of happiness is even explicitly mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, alongside life and liberty as the three core principles of America. Since both life and liberty are guaranteed in America, most people devote their time to the third principle, the pursuit of happiness. Gatsby spends lavish amounts of money in an attempt to get Daisy to notice him so that he can truly be happy, which shows that people have little regard for monetary wealth or material goods in their pursuit of happiness.
People do not only seek their own happiness though. There are organizations and people all over the world that are fighting for other people to be happy. This is true altruism, which is working for other people's happiness without regard to your own. People do not volunteer for their own physical benefit, but to help others find the happiness that everyone wants. Not everyone who does charity work enjoys their time doing this work, but by helping other people become happier, volunteers get a level of satisfaction and contentment that makes them feel happier as well.
I believe that true wealth is the freedom to do what you want without restriction. This is why even though Gatsby is extraordinarily rich, I would not consider him wealthy, because he does not have the freedom to do what he really wants, which is to be with Daisy. The only character in The Great Gatsby that I would consider wealthy is Tom Buchanan. Tom can and does do whatever he wants, although he is not a good person about it. For most of the novel, Tom faces no repercussions for his actions due to both his social status and his vast riches. Anyone who is truly unhappy cannot be wealthy, because that is what I believe wealth really is.
This reminds me of a quote "And when Alexander saw the breadth of his empire, he wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer." Alexander the Great had devoted most of his life to doing what made him happy, expanding his empire and defeating his enemies, but when he was finished he was sad because he could no longer do what made him happy. This relates to the constitution and the "pursuit of happiness" because they portray happiness more as a journey, rather than a destination. Throughout life, people's idea of what happiness is for them can change, but almost every decision in a person's life is based on what they think will provide them with the most happiness in the long run, which is truly "The American Dream" .
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Nothing Really Mattress(?): Kafka, Camus, and Importance of Translations
Diction - each translation provides a different description of Gregor Samsa's transformation; a gigantic insect, a giant bug, an enormous bug, and a monstrous vermin. Each of these serves to create a different image in the reader's mind.
Syntax - Each of the sentences is laid out differently the way it is read. Three of the four sentences start out by identifying Gregor Samsa as the character, showing the most important part of the sentence, while the final sentence begins with describing the setting, "one morning". The length of the sentences influences how they appear to the reader as well, some sentences are shorter than others, which makes them have a different impact on the reader, such as the shortest sentence is the most direct, and has more of a hostile tone than longer sentences.
Imagery/Details - Each translation highlights different details in order to create different imagery for the reader. The translations use different words to describe the dreams that Gregor had, like uneasy, troubled, or agitated. By tweaking the description of either Gregor or his actions, the different translations slightly alter the percieved personality of the character.
Structure - The first translation is focused on the actions taking place;"As Gregor Samsa awoke...", "he found himself...", which makes the passage less sedentary and more active. The second translation is the shortest and most direct, which changes the author's tone from the other translations. The third translation creates an atmosphere that the rest of the story will follow. This translation is about setting the stage, rather than explaining a character or describing actions. The fourth translation is the most detailed and has the most imagery. This translation is about creating an image in the reader's mind, and make them visualize the text.
Each of the different translations adds a different context to the message and alters the reader's interpretation slightly. The diction of each passage focuses on different elements of literature, and this in turn shifts the reader's focus. By focusing on verbs, a translation makes the passage seem like an account of events, whereas by focusing on adjectives and descriptors the passage seems more like a vivid description of a scene. Punctuation also varies between each of the translations. By including more commas, the fourth translation forces the reader to take more time while reading and appreciate the details more, rather than the second translation which includes no commas and is much more straightforward and direct.
The first and third translations are the most effective in my opinion. Both the second and the fourth translations alter a key detail of the text, which drastically changes the passage. The second translation changes the main character's name from Gregor to Gregory and removes most of the details as well, which strips the passage of its tone and makes it much more bland. The fourth translation says that Gregor transforms into "a monstrous vermin" rather than a bug or insect as the other translations say. This alters the reader's mental image of the text, since the most commonly associated animal with the word vermin is a rat, not an insect. I think the first translation is the most effective, because it has more emphasis on the actions than any other translation, which engages the reader by being active, instead of a passive description of a man in bed.
The variety between all of these translations of a single line highlights the greatest difficulty in analyzing translated texts. Whomever translated the text inadvertently added some of their own perspective and interpretation, which affects how the reader reacts to the passages. This was only a single line, but the amount of differences between them shows that an entire story translated by two different people can have wildly different end products, despite being based on the same original text, because of the interpreter's personal choices in how they present the words.
Syntax - Each of the sentences is laid out differently the way it is read. Three of the four sentences start out by identifying Gregor Samsa as the character, showing the most important part of the sentence, while the final sentence begins with describing the setting, "one morning". The length of the sentences influences how they appear to the reader as well, some sentences are shorter than others, which makes them have a different impact on the reader, such as the shortest sentence is the most direct, and has more of a hostile tone than longer sentences.
Imagery/Details - Each translation highlights different details in order to create different imagery for the reader. The translations use different words to describe the dreams that Gregor had, like uneasy, troubled, or agitated. By tweaking the description of either Gregor or his actions, the different translations slightly alter the percieved personality of the character.
Structure - The first translation is focused on the actions taking place;"As Gregor Samsa awoke...", "he found himself...", which makes the passage less sedentary and more active. The second translation is the shortest and most direct, which changes the author's tone from the other translations. The third translation creates an atmosphere that the rest of the story will follow. This translation is about setting the stage, rather than explaining a character or describing actions. The fourth translation is the most detailed and has the most imagery. This translation is about creating an image in the reader's mind, and make them visualize the text.
Each of the different translations adds a different context to the message and alters the reader's interpretation slightly. The diction of each passage focuses on different elements of literature, and this in turn shifts the reader's focus. By focusing on verbs, a translation makes the passage seem like an account of events, whereas by focusing on adjectives and descriptors the passage seems more like a vivid description of a scene. Punctuation also varies between each of the translations. By including more commas, the fourth translation forces the reader to take more time while reading and appreciate the details more, rather than the second translation which includes no commas and is much more straightforward and direct.
The first and third translations are the most effective in my opinion. Both the second and the fourth translations alter a key detail of the text, which drastically changes the passage. The second translation changes the main character's name from Gregor to Gregory and removes most of the details as well, which strips the passage of its tone and makes it much more bland. The fourth translation says that Gregor transforms into "a monstrous vermin" rather than a bug or insect as the other translations say. This alters the reader's mental image of the text, since the most commonly associated animal with the word vermin is a rat, not an insect. I think the first translation is the most effective, because it has more emphasis on the actions than any other translation, which engages the reader by being active, instead of a passive description of a man in bed.
The variety between all of these translations of a single line highlights the greatest difficulty in analyzing translated texts. Whomever translated the text inadvertently added some of their own perspective and interpretation, which affects how the reader reacts to the passages. This was only a single line, but the amount of differences between them shows that an entire story translated by two different people can have wildly different end products, despite being based on the same original text, because of the interpreter's personal choices in how they present the words.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
You down with the IOC? Yeah, you know me!
For Criterion A, I would give myself an 8 as a grade. I referenced various parts of the novel during my analysis, both from before and after the passage, and used direct quotes from the passage. I gave good context for my passage, and explained the characters as well.
For Criterion B, I would give myself a 5. I could not find very many literary devices in the passage that I chose. I did point out the diction and dialogue used in the passage, as well as general themes of the novel. I also barely examined the effect of the devices on the reader.
For Criterion C, I would give myself a 2. I did not spend that much time in my planning period organizing my commentary, but I did do some. My ideas generally flowed from one to the next, but there were several times during the commentary that I paused in order to finish with one idea, and then just picked up with a different idea.
For Criterion D, I would give myself a 4. I use generally adequate language throughout the commentary, but there a few moments when I lose track of my ideas and I fumble for the words that I am looking for. Otherwise, I use the appropriate terminology for literary devices and the lenses and themes of the novel.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Blog Post 10, I've got you covered
The two covers that I chose to compare were the top right and the bottom left covers. The top right cover features a blurry depiction of a girl facing away from the the viewer. The girl is in a blue dress against an orange background, creating a deep contrast between her and the environment. The girl is also blurry on the cover. The blurriness of the girl could represent the clones' almost humanity, that they are not quite the same as everyone else. This is accented by the girl looking away from the camera, which creates an air of anonymity and mystery about her.
The second cover that I analyzed was the bottom left. This cover features a lone rowboat floating on a shoreline. In the background there is a pier with a sunset lighting the sky. This is a very lonesome cover, without any people being featured. The boat on the cover could represent the opportunities that the clones believe they have, but in the end, no one is able to realize those opportunities, they are not even real opportunities. A single rowboat represents the mere possibility of escape, but just as a rowboat cannot cross an ocean, the clones cannot escape their fate.
One interesting thing about these covers is that they both feature Kazuo Ishiguro's name much bigger than the title Never Let Me Go. This could represent how the characters and the lessons in the book are more important than the book itself. A difference between the covers is the presence of a girl on one and just a boat on the other. Both covers also feature a quote from a review, probably to entice people into reading the book.
When looking at the top right cover, the first thing that comes into my mind is a child running away. It reminds me of someone alone in a desert with no people or things around. This makes sense with the clones, because they are so alone in life, no one is really there to help them. When looking at the bottom left cover the first thing that I think of is sunset on the shore. This cover is even lonelier than the other cover.
If I hadn't already read the book, based on the top right cover I would think the book is about two girls that run away from home in India, but somehow get separated and have to find their way back to each other. It reminds me of the film Slumdog Millionaire. Based on the bottom left cover, I would think that this book is about a guy who spends the summer at the beach in a rundown house while fixing it up, but now he has to leave.
Both of these covers are very different from the cover of the book that I have. Neither of them seem to directly relate to the plot of the book, and the bottom left cover is not related at all. Both of the covers evoke feelings of sadness and loneliness, which are prevalent themes of Never Let Me Go.
The second cover that I analyzed was the bottom left. This cover features a lone rowboat floating on a shoreline. In the background there is a pier with a sunset lighting the sky. This is a very lonesome cover, without any people being featured. The boat on the cover could represent the opportunities that the clones believe they have, but in the end, no one is able to realize those opportunities, they are not even real opportunities. A single rowboat represents the mere possibility of escape, but just as a rowboat cannot cross an ocean, the clones cannot escape their fate.
One interesting thing about these covers is that they both feature Kazuo Ishiguro's name much bigger than the title Never Let Me Go. This could represent how the characters and the lessons in the book are more important than the book itself. A difference between the covers is the presence of a girl on one and just a boat on the other. Both covers also feature a quote from a review, probably to entice people into reading the book.
When looking at the top right cover, the first thing that comes into my mind is a child running away. It reminds me of someone alone in a desert with no people or things around. This makes sense with the clones, because they are so alone in life, no one is really there to help them. When looking at the bottom left cover the first thing that I think of is sunset on the shore. This cover is even lonelier than the other cover.
If I hadn't already read the book, based on the top right cover I would think the book is about two girls that run away from home in India, but somehow get separated and have to find their way back to each other. It reminds me of the film Slumdog Millionaire. Based on the bottom left cover, I would think that this book is about a guy who spends the summer at the beach in a rundown house while fixing it up, but now he has to leave.
Both of these covers are very different from the cover of the book that I have. Neither of them seem to directly relate to the plot of the book, and the bottom left cover is not related at all. Both of the covers evoke feelings of sadness and loneliness, which are prevalent themes of Never Let Me Go.
Friday, January 30, 2015
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Blog Post #8, Baby
4. In your mind, are there any heroes in Double Indemnity? If so, who?
There were very few redeeming characters in Double Indemnity, but if any character were to be considered a hero it would be Barton Keyes. Keyes consistently does the right thing, and pursues justice as opposed to personal gain. Barton Keyes is Walter's friend at the insurance firm, responsible for checking through all of the claims for any fraudulent ones. Throughout the film we learn that he is very proficient at his job, and has discovered quite a few cases of people trying to hoodwink the agency due to a "little man" in his gut that lets him know when something is amiss. Besides Keyes following his instincts and doing what he believes is right, he is also a fiercely loyal friend. When Walter is accused of being potentially involved in Mr. Dietrichson's death, Keyes immediately leaps to his defense and praises his character. Keyes also offers Walter a job because they are friends and Keyes respects Walter. It is really in the end of the film that you see some of the most heroic aspects of Barton Keyes. Keyes discovers Walter bleeding from a gunshot wound, having just confessed his role in the murder of Mr. Dietrichson, and is immediately prepared to turn him over to the police. Even after Walter tries to appeal to Keyes's sympathies and asks him to wait a day so that he can escape to Mexico, Keyes doesn't relent about turning in Walter. Keyes does call an ambulance as well to help Walter, showing that even when faced with betrayal by his best friend, he still does the right thing, and not whatever would help him the most. Other than Barton Keyes, I would agree that there are no other heroes in Double Indemnity. Every single character has one major flaw or another, and few redeeming characteristics.
There were very few redeeming characters in Double Indemnity, but if any character were to be considered a hero it would be Barton Keyes. Keyes consistently does the right thing, and pursues justice as opposed to personal gain. Barton Keyes is Walter's friend at the insurance firm, responsible for checking through all of the claims for any fraudulent ones. Throughout the film we learn that he is very proficient at his job, and has discovered quite a few cases of people trying to hoodwink the agency due to a "little man" in his gut that lets him know when something is amiss. Besides Keyes following his instincts and doing what he believes is right, he is also a fiercely loyal friend. When Walter is accused of being potentially involved in Mr. Dietrichson's death, Keyes immediately leaps to his defense and praises his character. Keyes also offers Walter a job because they are friends and Keyes respects Walter. It is really in the end of the film that you see some of the most heroic aspects of Barton Keyes. Keyes discovers Walter bleeding from a gunshot wound, having just confessed his role in the murder of Mr. Dietrichson, and is immediately prepared to turn him over to the police. Even after Walter tries to appeal to Keyes's sympathies and asks him to wait a day so that he can escape to Mexico, Keyes doesn't relent about turning in Walter. Keyes does call an ambulance as well to help Walter, showing that even when faced with betrayal by his best friend, he still does the right thing, and not whatever would help him the most. Other than Barton Keyes, I would agree that there are no other heroes in Double Indemnity. Every single character has one major flaw or another, and few redeeming characteristics.
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Life is but a Netflix Queue created by an idiot...
Netflix Suggestions by MacDuff...
Gladiator... The emperor of Rome is a wise and fair ruler, but is assassinated by his son in an attempt to gain power. The son then kicks one of his best generals out of the army due to his friendship with the old Emperor. The general, Maximus, manages to escape his execution, but his family is murdered and he is captured into slavery. Maximus becomes the best gladiator in Rome, and eventually manages to avenge his family and defeat the Roman Emporer in single combat. Recommended by MacDuff because he identifies with the protagonist, fighting against a corrupt ruler who killed the previous ruler, as well as his family.
Braveheart... A Scottish warrior's wife is killed so in retaliation he kills a garrison of English soldiers. The warrior, William Wallace, then wages war against the English and their treacherous King, Edward Longshanks. Eventually William Wallace is betrayed and captured, but be refuses to submit to the English, even after being tortured. William Wallace is executed for his fight against the English, but he inspires his Scottish countrymen to continue the fight for their independence. Recommended by MacDuff because it features a Scottish protagonist who fights for what he believes in. This film gets MacDuff hype before a battle, and inspires him to be a great warrior. It also reminds MacDuff of himself since his wife was also killed by his enemy.
Olympus Has Fallen... The White House is taken over by North Koreans, and the president must be saved. It falls upon a member of the Secret Service to take action and save the president. MacDuff sees himself in the protagonist, Mike Banning, as a man who is not in a position of leadership, but still manages to get things done. MacDuff and Mike are also very good warriors, so he approves of this movie.
The Matrix... In The Matrix, Morpheus must convince Neo that he needs to save the world. Neo is reluctant to accept his role and tries to avoid his responsibilities. Morpheus must make many sacrifices of himself in order to convince Neo to take on his role of hero. This reminds MacDuff of himself and his relationship with Malcolm. MacDuff connects with the character of Morpheus, and sees Malcolm as the character of Neo. MacDuff had to convince Malcolm that he was worthy of becoming King of Scotland, just as Morpheus had to convince Neo that he was worthy of becoming "The One". Morpheus also suffers directly as a result of his actions to help Neo, just as MacDuff suffered as a result of his aiding Malcolm.
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