Blogging Around

1. Austin Bream: His focus was that we encourage that which we condemn, the example given was that society encourages others' disparities in order to sense superiority.

I would like to respectfully disagree with Austin's point of view on society's actions. He says that "Joe's" misfortune was due to society and ultimately put him in jail, but society can't provide a perfect world for everyone. To believe and expect this would be unrealistic, society didn't cause this, rather how he acted in his circumstances did. For one, there's always a choice, he didn't have to steal, there are laws that push for a certain accessible standard of living within the workforce. Also, he states that society allows schools to stay poor, but there are so many ways that these schools are improving and movements being issued that they do. Albeit they don't meet a "suburban" standard, but in any situation some will  be greater than others, not because they "want to be superior" rather they want the best for their area. Austin also states that "Society encouraged his poor childhood by encouraging his father's absence", I believe that society actually looks down upon leaving a family, that it's discouraged. Society didn't encourage it, rather situational choices were made and resulted in Joe's bleak life. Austin then says, "Society encouraged that absence with Joe's existence", again it's unrealistic to believe that society caused Joe's father to leave and then to put Joe in that situation so he suffers, all to have a sense of superiority. Society's heart often goes out towards cases such as these (i.e. charities, political movements, affirmative action, etc.). Nobody gets a good feeling out of this suffering, that they feel better about themselves. Simply, subordination is inevitable in any given culture or society, because of competition, yet competition in life does not necessitate the lowering of others simply the bettering of one's self. It's unfair to put society at fault for situational issues.

2. Ryan Bunney: His focus was that standardized tests test little.

I agree that standardized tests do not encapsulate all of one's intelligence or even how great of a student you may be, but I believe that their is merit. It tests one's diligence in studying, test taking ability, intelligence (not all of it, but a portion of it), and more. There are other methods of admission that do test these lacking areas which is why they work in conjunction with one another- Ryan pointed this out. I could very well say the same thing about college essays, or about one's GPA, and the list goes on and on.

Also, on junior high testing, I would argue that ultimately preparing for the ISAT is beneficial for the students- Ryan brings this up. That it allows for greater resources, teaching, etc. So that it is a good method of determining where resources are due, because all schools prepare greatly meaning that they end up being on a ,give or take, level plane. On the Terra Nova's, I believe the teachers actually do prepare you for the test through everyday instruction, and my experiences show that they do take time to prepare you and have you do well. This all points to schools wanting the best for their students.

I really like your points going both ways, it shows that you recognize both planes of the debate and that you're open minded and remain so throughout your writing and expression.

  

Connection: Starry Night

Art. What comes to your mind upon reading this word? Art is a theme that resonates among all of us and within our lives. It's a culture's heartbeat, it's definition and expression. Yet many define it as a seemingly aesthetic or shallow work, nothing beyond a cursory surface. Yet art is the quality and expression of principles, emotions, realms, of what is beautiful and appealing, beyond ordinary significance. Throughout class- most clearly recognized through Beat by Beat we explored and analyzed the significance and meaning behind the art of writing, opening our mind to the wonders and intelligence behind the ink on paper. I recognized through this concept of true art the meaning behind other pieces of art- exploring the painting Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh.


Through the class's reading and discussion of Beat by Beat we perceived the purpose and brilliance behind techniques and writing styles. We were able to recognize the "beat" and "rhythm" of writing, the significance behind word choice, and the meaning behind so many different styles. Thus, I decided to explore the different realms of art (i.e. music, paintings, drawings, etc.) and decided upon discovering the meaning behind the art of the impressionist era. 


I decided upon the impressionist era, because of the "impressions" that the art left or would seek to create, impression is defined as an effectual consequence or response, something that one would have to diverge themselves within exactly like one envelopes themselves within the art of writing.


The painting I decided to analyze was Starry Night by Van Gogh, now upon research and interpretation I discovered many deeper apprehensions of the masterpiece. For one, the painting was created to represent the warmth and geniality of Van Gogh himself, for he admired the night sky as his own. He also painted this piece at a time when he was in sickness diagnosed with the time's "epilepsy", he used this painting to escape from his misery and illness and envelope himself once more in the work of art. Also, because of his affliction he wasn't able to go on his own and observe his subject as he once had, meaning that he used mental imagery to paint this piece allowing for greater interpretation and his representation. His passion for the night is seen through the darkness, where the sky comes upon the town- interpreted as the greatness of the sky. Many experts also speculate that Van Gogh was illustrating the "Via Lactea", a recent scientific discovery of his time. Also the configuration of the painting- the spirals of white and yellow and the bright vertical lines are "soft" to the painting. It illustrates a supplication for hope out of darkness along with the stars and mellow window light of the town. 


Now without a deeper look into the painting, it's ostensibly a crude, undefined picture of the night. But further look into it we recognize it's true meaning and the nature of it's art, just as we do throughout the reading of excellent writing.






   

Best of Week: Blessings

The Kite Runner apprises an incredible amount of universal teaching and guidance, applicable to each and every reader's life, creating an indispensable connection between the reader and Hosseini. Throughout the week's reading and discussion, I explored two predicaments throughout the class's observations that epitomized the "lesson" that our writer illustrated throughout Amir's story. One a re-visitation to the past and another a barrier to his future. The lesson that I learned is one of counting your blessings and making the best of what you have, no matter how great or how small your capabilities may be.

Throughout our class's examination of the book we continually came across the topic of historical re-visitation. That is, the re-visitation of Amir's past (hence the memoir). Now, Amir deliberately recognized the excruciating pain, hardship and impact that his experience of viewing Hassan's rape left him, yet he didn't "capitalize" upon the joy that was brought into his life ( i.e. Rahim Kahn's appearance, Soraya, and his father's acceptance). His lingering upon his past truly gave him this pain and remembrance. 

The second situational problem is Soraya's infertility, this passage in the book exemplifies the problem through Amir's feeling and emotion:

"And I could almost feel the emptiness in Soraya’s womb, like it was a living, breathing thing. It had seeped into our marriage, that emptiness, into our laughs, and our lovemaking. And late at night, in the darkness of our room,I’d feel it rising from Soraya and settling between us. Sleeping between us. Like a newborn child."

It brings an incredible amount of hardship impacting both their marriage and their family. Upon this, due to their defined culture "filling in that gap" is much harder to fill than not (i.e. General Taheri's view on blood relations). 

Given these two "problems", I realized that we can come across cross roads like this in our lives and we can take either path. The one that makes the best of our situation or the one that leads to further contempt and pain. Knowing Hosseini through his writing, I know that he'll find a way to make the best of both situations in Amir's life. To fulfill both holes in his life through the life of another.

Best of Week: Culturally Defined

Throughout our reading and discussion of The Kite Runner, a predominant question was raised both by myself and the class as a whole. This question was one of Amir and Hassan's relationship. It was prompted by many passages, this, simply being one of them: The question being, why don't Amir and Hassan recognize their relationship as a true friendship? rather, what's stopping them from retaining that mutual bond?

"Ali and Baba grew up together as childhood playmates--at least until polio crippled Ali’s leg--just like Hassan and I grew up a generation later. Baba was always telling us about the mischief he and Ali used to cause, and Ali would shake his head and say, “But, Agha sahib, tell them who was the architect of the mischief and who the poor laborer?” Baba would laugh and throw his arm around Ali.

But in none of his stories did Baba ever refer to Ali as his friend.

The curious thing was, I never thought of Hassan and me as friends either. Not in the usual sense, anyhow. Never mind that we taught each other to ride a bicycle with no hands, or to build a fully functional homemade camera out of a cardboard box. Never mind that we spent entire winters flying kites, running kites."

I found the answer through Baba and Ali's dialog and interaction with one another, and that reflection upon their child's relationship.

Baba and Ali's dialog identifies with their societal relationship (i.e. "Agha sahib" and the nonrecognition of a true "friendship") and reflects the cultural relationship between a Pashtun and a Hazara. Regardless of Amir and Hassan's childhood experiences together, their relationship was bound by the same cultural standard. Hassan recognizes Amir as "Amir Agha" and sets himself in a position lower than Amir in both outside and within their time together. Khaled Hosseini used their relationship in order to illustrate a theme of civilization and culture represented in life itself, sufficiently answering our questions. That ethnic and cultural boundaries drastically affect and define who we are and our relationship with others regardless of our situational experience. But most importantly, that it can’t erase the bond that has been created within those experiences.

Is it fair that culture have such a dominant role in defining these relationships? I can't tell you for sure, but I can speculate that maybe society's interpretation is what makes some relationships so special after all.