I finished my sound recording after several unsuccessful attempts. Its amazing how different your voice sounds on a recording. I never realized how monotone I sound when I speak. I also did not realize how deep my voice was. I noticed as I recorded my script, that I could barely make out the inflections in my voice as I read my script. It took me several times to make a track that had inflections. I noticed that I slur some words and mispronounce others. Throughout the whole ordeal, I felt as though I was listening to another person talk about my life.
However, I do think this project has helped me a great deal. I improved my speaking skills. This assignment has forced me to speak more clearly and with emphasis. In the past I spoke lazily. I also felt that this project has made me comfortable telling other people about myself. Something is lost when you write an essay or blog about yourself. It feels kind of anonymous and impersonal. It's easier. When you talk about yourself outloud for another person, even when its just a recording, it's more emotional. I felt almost embarrassed talking about myself being upset in my story. You actually hear what you wrote and take more of it in. When I just write, I don't really grasp the full effect of the words. But, when I speak them aloud I feel like they actually mean something.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Why is "old" and such a bad word?
When Rodrigo and Iago are speaking with one another in Act 1 Scene 1, they discuss how Iago was not chosen for a promotion and instead a mathemitician, Michael Cassilo was. "...Michael Cassio, a Florentine that never set a squadron in the field, nor the division of a battle knows more than a spinster, unless the bookish theoretic...Mere prattle without practice is all his soldiership...and I ( of whom his eyes had seen proof at Rhodes, at Cyprus and on other grounds Christened and heathen) must be beleed and calmed by debtor and creditor" (4). In other word's Iago had not been chosen to recieve this promotion because someone who had been more educated would have been thought to do better in this military setting. However, one has to wonder what sense this makes. Iago has had more experience in actual battle than Michael and should be more suited for the promotion. What had to have won over Othello in his decision is idealism.
In a perfect world, Michael's education probaly would help hijm in strategy and make him a better candidate than Iago. Unfortunately though, the world is not perfect. The battle field is not always a perfect place. War involves much improvising and acting quickly. Often the difference between life and death is separated by just a second or two. There is no time for a "bookish theoretic" who has no experience in war to start making new battle formations or designing mathematical models to understand why a cannon may not be hitting its normal trajectory. If the enemy is overruning the trenches, one might just have to pick up a gun and fight his way out. A textbook will not save you. Iago would have been better suited for this situation.
Besides idealism, I think that argument of change and tradition may also play a role in situations like Iago's. One can argue that Othello went against tradition and chose the mathemitician because of the unconventional skill that mathematics would provide. If this is true, then one might wonder if throughout history and literature if the words "new", "change" and "unconventional" have had some inherently good meaning. Analyzing this now, I think I have always had a positive connotation for these words. However, by strict deffinition, these words are just used to describe something that was previously unavailable or attainable. It could be either good or bad. Michael's math could have also hurt the Italian army there is no guarantee that it would help it.
Over spring break I watched a Clint Eastwood movie, Heartbreak Ridge that had a similar theme. Eastwood played the role of an old, "washed up" Korean and Vietnam War veteran named Sergeant Highway. Although this character had many years of experience and in the military, he recieved little respect mainly due to his age. The younger marines mocked him for his age. When he decided to take a job training new, youthful marines, this is especially evident. One fellow officer remarked, "I ask for marines but the division sends me relics." Fortunately for Highway, he proves his worth throughout the movie including one of the last scenes of bootcamp. He fights the other marine who made a remark about his age. Highway punches the young marine in the face and knocks him out. Eventually he becomes the hero of the movie and shows that with age comes experience.
I think this idea of novelness and tradition pertain to our present day lives very much. This is the case especially with the primary elections. One candidate in particular who likes to preach about change is Barr0ck Obama (I know I can't spell it). In fact this seems to be his campaign motto. I think Obama is a qualified candidate, but I am not sure I like change in everything. Im sure change can be positive at times and it could be for the better, but it could also be for the worst. Obama talks about how drastical change is great and what our country needs. After thinking about Heartbreak Ridge and Othello, Im not so sure. In those two examples, the character who would have done the better job would have been the traditional and more conservative type. Why do we need a brand new president to change everything? Our country is in the best and most stable economic shape in the world. Why not have a president who keeps everything the same? I know this is cliche and over-used, but "Why fix something if it ain't broke?'
This is the trailer for the movie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eM8dd1k0FM&feature=related
This is Obama
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp30iKrRafQ&feature=related
In a perfect world, Michael's education probaly would help hijm in strategy and make him a better candidate than Iago. Unfortunately though, the world is not perfect. The battle field is not always a perfect place. War involves much improvising and acting quickly. Often the difference between life and death is separated by just a second or two. There is no time for a "bookish theoretic" who has no experience in war to start making new battle formations or designing mathematical models to understand why a cannon may not be hitting its normal trajectory. If the enemy is overruning the trenches, one might just have to pick up a gun and fight his way out. A textbook will not save you. Iago would have been better suited for this situation.
Besides idealism, I think that argument of change and tradition may also play a role in situations like Iago's. One can argue that Othello went against tradition and chose the mathemitician because of the unconventional skill that mathematics would provide. If this is true, then one might wonder if throughout history and literature if the words "new", "change" and "unconventional" have had some inherently good meaning. Analyzing this now, I think I have always had a positive connotation for these words. However, by strict deffinition, these words are just used to describe something that was previously unavailable or attainable. It could be either good or bad. Michael's math could have also hurt the Italian army there is no guarantee that it would help it.
Over spring break I watched a Clint Eastwood movie, Heartbreak Ridge that had a similar theme. Eastwood played the role of an old, "washed up" Korean and Vietnam War veteran named Sergeant Highway. Although this character had many years of experience and in the military, he recieved little respect mainly due to his age. The younger marines mocked him for his age. When he decided to take a job training new, youthful marines, this is especially evident. One fellow officer remarked, "I ask for marines but the division sends me relics." Fortunately for Highway, he proves his worth throughout the movie including one of the last scenes of bootcamp. He fights the other marine who made a remark about his age. Highway punches the young marine in the face and knocks him out. Eventually he becomes the hero of the movie and shows that with age comes experience.
I think this idea of novelness and tradition pertain to our present day lives very much. This is the case especially with the primary elections. One candidate in particular who likes to preach about change is Barr0ck Obama (I know I can't spell it). In fact this seems to be his campaign motto. I think Obama is a qualified candidate, but I am not sure I like change in everything. Im sure change can be positive at times and it could be for the better, but it could also be for the worst. Obama talks about how drastical change is great and what our country needs. After thinking about Heartbreak Ridge and Othello, Im not so sure. In those two examples, the character who would have done the better job would have been the traditional and more conservative type. Why do we need a brand new president to change everything? Our country is in the best and most stable economic shape in the world. Why not have a president who keeps everything the same? I know this is cliche and over-used, but "Why fix something if it ain't broke?'
This is the trailer for the movie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eM8dd1k0FM&feature=related
This is Obama
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp30iKrRafQ&feature=related
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Gender and Ancient Times
In book nine, I found a few instances which Augustine wrote about that seemed to show certain attitudes about gender in ancient Roman times. These examples give evidence that women were very much subservient to men in this time period. The Roman Empire was clearly a patriarchal society.
When discussing his mother's early life Augustine says, "When she reached the age for marriage, and was bestowed upon a husband, she served him as her lord" (176). Two sequences of this quote prove to the reader that there was a male-dominated society during this time. First Augustine uses the word choice "bestowed upon a husband" to describe how his mother met a man and married him. This wording implies that the women in a marriage had no choice who she would be married to. In fact, it seems as though she is some kind of commodity. She is the property of the husband and clearly below him in importance. Next he says "she served him as her lord" now it is unmistakable that the woman served man in this society. Man was her "lord."
Another example of the idea of male superiority occurs when Augustine writes about his mother and father's relationship. He says, "...[his mother] knew that a woman must not resist a husband in anger, by deed or even by word" (176). The husband is again pictured as the ruler of the household. The wife must submit to his wishes even when she disagrees with him. The wife must put aside her welfare for the sake of his temper. The man is of more importance than the woman. The male dominates the society.
When recanting how his mother had passed away, he says how Adeodatus was upset. "As she breathed her last, the child Adeodatus broke out into lamentation and we all checked him and brought him to silence. But in this very fact the childish element in me, which was breaking out into tears, was checked and brought to silence by the manlier voice of my mind" (181). In this Augustine has a notion of a "manly" stereotype that he must abide to. If he cries for his mother, then he appears to be weak, childish, effeminate, and "bad" in the eyes of his patriarchal society. Although Adeodatus was only admonished for crying, he was a child. Had Augustine cried, he would have been embarrassed because weeping is an "unmanly" action. Clearly Augustine lives in a patriarchal society that values "manliness."
Rome was a male-dominated society. This is reflected in the writings of Augustine. Although these writings are spiritual in nature, they can still be used as a window into the social values of this time. This "window" provides the reader with the ideas of what the roman man should be: strong, tough and the ruler of the household. On the other hand, Augustine's work shows the characteristics of what the woman should be: weak and subservient to man. These two stereotypes of gender coincide with the characteristics of a patriarchal society.
When discussing his mother's early life Augustine says, "When she reached the age for marriage, and was bestowed upon a husband, she served him as her lord" (176). Two sequences of this quote prove to the reader that there was a male-dominated society during this time. First Augustine uses the word choice "bestowed upon a husband" to describe how his mother met a man and married him. This wording implies that the women in a marriage had no choice who she would be married to. In fact, it seems as though she is some kind of commodity. She is the property of the husband and clearly below him in importance. Next he says "she served him as her lord" now it is unmistakable that the woman served man in this society. Man was her "lord."
Another example of the idea of male superiority occurs when Augustine writes about his mother and father's relationship. He says, "...[his mother] knew that a woman must not resist a husband in anger, by deed or even by word" (176). The husband is again pictured as the ruler of the household. The wife must submit to his wishes even when she disagrees with him. The wife must put aside her welfare for the sake of his temper. The man is of more importance than the woman. The male dominates the society.
When recanting how his mother had passed away, he says how Adeodatus was upset. "As she breathed her last, the child Adeodatus broke out into lamentation and we all checked him and brought him to silence. But in this very fact the childish element in me, which was breaking out into tears, was checked and brought to silence by the manlier voice of my mind" (181). In this Augustine has a notion of a "manly" stereotype that he must abide to. If he cries for his mother, then he appears to be weak, childish, effeminate, and "bad" in the eyes of his patriarchal society. Although Adeodatus was only admonished for crying, he was a child. Had Augustine cried, he would have been embarrassed because weeping is an "unmanly" action. Clearly Augustine lives in a patriarchal society that values "manliness."
Rome was a male-dominated society. This is reflected in the writings of Augustine. Although these writings are spiritual in nature, they can still be used as a window into the social values of this time. This "window" provides the reader with the ideas of what the roman man should be: strong, tough and the ruler of the household. On the other hand, Augustine's work shows the characteristics of what the woman should be: weak and subservient to man. These two stereotypes of gender coincide with the characteristics of a patriarchal society.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
True Wisdom
"...Be not desirous to seem wise, for those who affirm themselves to be wise become fools" (142).
True wisdom was the topic i wrote about in my first paper for core class. I described true wisdom as the ability to know one's limits as far as his ability is concerned and to accept constructive criticism from others. Pride tends to inflate ones sense of his abilities. Many will think that they are correct when it comes to all subject matters and will not take criticism from others. I felt that this quote from Augustine really relates to what I had been trying to say through my paper.
Often we feel superiority over other people because of certain accolades we have. We consider ourselves to be above certain people and because of this refuse to take advice from them. I have noticed throughout my experiences that I have struggled with this concept. Although I have become better at listening to others ideas, I had not always been this way.
When I was younger, I hated listening to other people criticize me and I could not stand taking advice from others. I was very stubborn and almost dogmatic in the belief that my input in anything was far more valuable than that of my peers. Many times I probably angered my peers because I had been condescending to them. I always found it humiliating to have to listen to other people.
Only when I was in high school did I start to change my ways. I realized that the more criticisms I received, the better a person I would become. The more perspectives one can receive on a certain issue, the better off he will be. The more perspectives he will receive, the more chances he will find an error in whatever he is seeking to accomplish. I have found that by accepting other's criticism I have become a better friend, son and student. In entirety, I feel I have become a better person.
True wisdom was the topic i wrote about in my first paper for core class. I described true wisdom as the ability to know one's limits as far as his ability is concerned and to accept constructive criticism from others. Pride tends to inflate ones sense of his abilities. Many will think that they are correct when it comes to all subject matters and will not take criticism from others. I felt that this quote from Augustine really relates to what I had been trying to say through my paper.
Often we feel superiority over other people because of certain accolades we have. We consider ourselves to be above certain people and because of this refuse to take advice from them. I have noticed throughout my experiences that I have struggled with this concept. Although I have become better at listening to others ideas, I had not always been this way.
When I was younger, I hated listening to other people criticize me and I could not stand taking advice from others. I was very stubborn and almost dogmatic in the belief that my input in anything was far more valuable than that of my peers. Many times I probably angered my peers because I had been condescending to them. I always found it humiliating to have to listen to other people.
Only when I was in high school did I start to change my ways. I realized that the more criticisms I received, the better a person I would become. The more perspectives one can receive on a certain issue, the better off he will be. The more perspectives he will receive, the more chances he will find an error in whatever he is seeking to accomplish. I have found that by accepting other's criticism I have become a better friend, son and student. In entirety, I feel I have become a better person.
Conflict of Mind Against Body
"...I had read, how the flesh lusts against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh. I was indeed in both camps..." (148). I also am indeed in both camps. Often when I make decisions throughout the day, even the most common place decisions, I feel an inner conflict between my body and my mind like Augustine did. Whether it be making the decision to study or workout, the mind tells one that participating in these activities is the correct thing to do. However, the body speaks to one contrarily. In the case of studying, the body does not wish to sit for hours memorizing and typing tedious papers. As for working out, the body instinctively does not want to be forced to expend large amounts of energy to make it tired. The body would rather eat and just lay down. In my particular case, the I think the mind is usually the victor, but in some situations the body does conquer my will.
Unfortunately, I cannot always discipline myself. I find that when it comes to forcing myself to eat healthily, I cannot win the battle between the mind and the body. When I have a craving for spaghetti, lasagna or any other Italian food I almost always give in to eating it. I know I should eat healthier and eat more fruits and vegetables, but my body overwhelms the will of my mind.
I think that this conflict of mind and body is a major cause of the stress and unhappiness in our lives. However, we have to force ourselves to live well by studying and being healthy. Personally, I dread long tests, papers, vegetables, and running five miles, but I realize its important to do so. I notice as I've grown older and matured, getting better at winning the battle between the body and the mind has helped me to become a more complete person.
Unfortunately, I cannot always discipline myself. I find that when it comes to forcing myself to eat healthily, I cannot win the battle between the mind and the body. When I have a craving for spaghetti, lasagna or any other Italian food I almost always give in to eating it. I know I should eat healthier and eat more fruits and vegetables, but my body overwhelms the will of my mind.
I think that this conflict of mind and body is a major cause of the stress and unhappiness in our lives. However, we have to force ourselves to live well by studying and being healthy. Personally, I dread long tests, papers, vegetables, and running five miles, but I realize its important to do so. I notice as I've grown older and matured, getting better at winning the battle between the body and the mind has helped me to become a more complete person.
Friday, January 18, 2008
College
Augustine says, "...I got no joy from my learning, but sought only to please men by it..." (102). I think this realization of Augustine's can apply to many college students. Attending college is not required necessarily by law, but it pleases parents and a college degree appears honorable. Honor also comes with the college one attends. For example, Harvard University would be much more prestigious than a community college or even the University of Richmond. I cannot name one college student that genuinely enjoys writing term papers, lab reports and attending 8:15 classes. Although college is not necessarily compulsory, it is definitely not something one would attend if he did not have to. One attends college because it pleases others.
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