Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism is based on the knowledge of individualism which was a trend in religion in the early 1800s. The transcendentalists believed that the other religions were taking away from the power of the individual. Transcendentalism is also under my definition of being self-reliant. Each person has the ability to be self-reliant and depend on themselves. This does not take away from the aspect of teamwork and effort but rather enhances the image of one person. The strengths of this particular religion are great speeches, empowering oneself, and motivational wisdom. The power one can express when speaking of transcendentalism is monumental for the confidence and will to be self-reliant. Much like Johnathan Edwards, the preachers of this time period were unlike any other. They got them fired up and actively ready to spread the religion. Associated with transcendentalism also are a few weaknesses. The ideas of transcendentalism were very strong and often scary. Some folks were scared of the transcendentalists during this time because they were loud, unpredictable, and boasting with confidence. Teamwork among transcendentalists was nonexistent which was resulted in many perplexed by their views of society.

My views on transcendentalism are mixed but clear. I am a fan of being self-reliant when I need to be but I am also very set on being able to work exceptionally well as a team in today’s society. I think that it is important to cover both because one will come across many circumstances where he/she will need both skills and mindsets. The transcendentalists would just give up and run away from teamwork and say that it is against their religion. For these views I am considered somewhere in between of being a Transcendentalist. I am not sure if the true transcendentalists would have liked me to be “both” religions. I believe that in today’s society we should all be well-rounded individuals and teams.

The Great Gatsby -- Luhrmann and Fitzgerald

One of the greatest reproductions of the famous Great Gatsby to date is directed by Baz Luhrmann. Many stylistic choices were incorporated into the making of this film that depicted several takes on Fitzgerald's mystery book. The use of stylistic elements, sound, and meanings added with the exceptional acting, help make this film the most successful remake yet.

Fitzgerald was wildly creative when writing The Great Gatsby. Colors, clothing, money, etc. Each symbolized something more than what was envisioned in the minds of the audience. Green symbolized the future and hope, Gatsby's silk clothes symbolized riches and a mislead path, money represented status and therefore tragedy. It was difficult to depict what Fitzgerald was conveying to the audience at times because he was at a much higher level of depth than any other writer at that time. Fitzgerald used several stylistic elements like foreshadowing, irony, symbolism, and use of metaphors. Luhrmann did a great job of keeping the Gatsby feel to the film by leaving much of the dialogue the same. This helped preserve the roaring twenties era and the stylistic views from the characters. 

The soundtrack displayed by Luhrmann was one of the best qualities of the film. I thought that the use of new songs added great effect to the film. The songs by Kanye West and Jay-Z were tweaked a little bit to fit the timeline of the movie which inspired tremendous innovation and surprise. These base pumping songs added excitement to scenes and was able to related the audience to the era more so. 

One of the main ideas in Luhrmann's version was the green dock light. It represented the life between Gatsby and Daisy and as long as the light was on and blinking, he knew in his head that he could repeat the past (according to Gatsby). The green light was a representation of color and emotion within Gatsby and Daisy. Luhrmann makes this connection easier to understand because he was able to provide a visual to the audience where Fitzgerald did it through words. Appearing several times, it is clear that Luhrmann believes this is one of the biggest symbols in the book. Though Luhrmann and Fitzgerald portrayed their ideas through different mediums, they effectively translated their views to the audience using stylistic elements, sound, and meaning.

Bowling for Columbine

Michael Moore, a well acclaimed director and producer, threw himself at the American public in search for a possible answer to why the United States has a higher violence with guns. Growing up in Flint, Michigan, Moore was slightly more attached to this documentary than perhaps other film producers. His emotional connection to this topic is from Flint, Michigan where a little girl was killed at an elementary school by a boy her ago who found a gun and used it as a weapon. Moore's emotional tie and perseverance is a great strategy to persuade the audience. Emotionally tying the tragic events to the use of gun control was displayed when Moore went to Charlton Heston's home to question him about his view on gun control in relation to recent shootings. Heston was passive and non committal in the questions asked and was protecting his right to bear arms at all times. Displaying this rhetorical strategy of pathos generates an argument of persuasion throughout the documentary.

Another strategy used by Michael Moore is the use of sarcasm. The film is quite funny and filled with laughable moments. Moore interviews real people to get their reactions and it connects with the audience at a perspective most relevant. Moore phrases his questions in a dramatic way so that when they interviewer answers truthfully, it seems unrealistic yet honest. He uses fallacies and stereotypes to ask questions referring to his aim at argument.

Moore was unsuccessful at arguing the right to bear arms in this documentary. He didn't convince people that it was wrong or that it needed to be changed. I do agree that he raised awareness to the 2nd amendment and got the audience thinking about the future. Going to a neighboring country, Canada, Moore was able to provide proof of our problem related to nearby governments. Raising this issue and being aware of this flaw in our American culture is much needed. I applaud Michael Moore in his success to do just that. His use of strategies relating to his expertise in filming allowed for the audience to engage in this documentary to turn around our nation's culture regarding gun control.  

Sound and Fury

Throughout the film, several arguments were displayed between the two families as well as among them. The main topics of these arguments were deaf culture, childhood experiences, and what’s best for their child to be successful in the future. In all of the arguments, there are many valid points that one ponders not matter deaf or hearing. All parents experience a time when they question whether what they are doing is best for their child. Also, parents decide what culture and experiences they are exposed to at a young age.

The most prominent argument throughout the film is between Peter, his wife Nita, and Peter’s mother. Multiple times their voices and body language raised as the conversations became more intense. Peter’s mother argued with logos that Heather would have both worlds with the cochlear implant and therefore have expanded opportunities in the future with education and jobs. Heather’s parents argued with pathos that Heather would lose all touch with deaf culture which is very important in them. Because their family is also surrounded by deaf culture and Heather’s parents are deaf, they want her to be like them-a deaf family.

The second argument that hit me as important in their decision with Heather was directed towards her childhood and how it would be affected. Heather’s parents were concerned about how she would react with children her age after the implant if they decided to go through with it. They even visited several schools and homes where children with the implant were located. Peter and Nita wanted her to interact with both the deaf and hearing and they didn’t think that was possible with the cochlear implant. Peter’s mother assured them that she would be able to but their pathos towards deaf discourse was too great.

Peter engaged in an intense argument with his mom. His mom was very pro-cochlear and he was strongly against it. His mother saw the struggles that her son went through and used past experiences to take a stance on the family issue. She felt that the implant would give her granddaughter a more normal life and would be able to get a better education and communicate better as a whole. Peter argued that he turned out just fine and is successful in his workplace while providing for his family. Both sides of the argument are valid which makes for a heated debate and proves no answer is necessarily wrong.

Irrational Fear

(fear of) Driving on Volume 13

There are no real reasons or events to why I am utterly afraid to turn the wheel of my car while the volume is on 13. I don’t have a superstition with number 13 outside of the vehicle. I think that only in the car, the number 13 is bad luck, or in my case, a point of no return. Because of this unusual, irrational fear, I ponder what would happen if I accidentally left it on that volume. Imagine taking a turn and not seeing a deer, or driving down the highway at night and running out of gas, or perhaps trying to tap your brakes and nothing happening. These are the thoughts that float in my head as to what terrible event could happen.

When riding in other cars, I watch the stereo intensely to which volume the music is set on. The number 13 seems to be close to the perfect volume in most cases. Watching closely as my friend turns the dial, I pray for any other number. Then it happens. Volume 13 stares right back at me. I often ask my friend to turn it up or down. One strategy after another is played like a game of chess. My favorites are “turn it down I’m on the phone” and “Oh, this is my favorite song, turn it up.” Sometimes I can incorporate my well thought out strategies but other times I flat out say don’t put it on volume 13 because it’s bad luck. I am not ashamed of my odd fear; it is just, like all people, something I have to live with. 

"Blurred Messages"

Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" music video has received worldwide attention because of the message that is indicted in the scene. Two sides are present when depicting the message portrayed. After reading "Blurred Lines... Is Kind of Rapey" by Tricia Romano, I could sense the anger and discomfort that many were feeling about the message in "Blurred Lines." I also read "Blurred Lines' is Cocky, Yes. But Rapey, No." by Jennifer Lai. The opinions expressed in this particular article were less of a concern towards women. Both articles had respective points to why the lyrics and music video raise concern to women.

My opinion after reading both sides to the Robin Thicke issue is that the music video and lyrics of the top 100 Billboard song were not meant to be harmful towards women. The intentions of the song were nothing more than a guy and girl flirting. Lai makes a valid point saying, "In fact, he's putting the ball in her court by telling her to make the move and not the other way around." Lai is reffering to the line "I know you want it" which implies that the girl wants it but doesn't use any forceful or non-consenting action in the lyric. Thicke may advertise himself as a cocky douche in the video but not to the extreme of a rapist. Maura Johnston, featured in the "Blurred Lines... Is Kind of Rapey" article, said, "Lyrically it's problematic, but I feel like so many pop songs right now are problematic." Johnston is a well-known critic and she feels that "Blurred Lines" is getting too much attention when there are songs that have a bigger controversial issue.

"Blurred Lines" is another song that hit the top of the charts and someone found something wrong with the message. Yes, some parts of the video may not look ethically correct; however, there isn't an implied message that has rape written all over it. Today's artists and lyrics are risky and they have to be with how competitive the market is. I think the message was interpreted incorrectly among viewers and was simply a flirtatious gesture. Media has blown up several situations that didn't need to be just to make money. This is one of those situations or "mix ups" that media has created.

The Energy Bus

Over the summer I read The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon. After reading this non-fiction Wall Street Bestseller I was definitely piloting my own bus towards a life full of positives. This book was previously recommended to me this summer to improve the mental side of my golf game. After a few pages through the novel I decided that this was a perfect fit for the AP Composition summer book. Gordon's words flowed effortlessly through each little chapter. Each chapter is about a different aspect of life and the brain and how you think. For example, one of the chapters was about love and why we need love in our lives to be able to be happy. Within the chapter it had five ways to love your passengers of your energy bus. My favorite section of the book was a small snip-it about how  energy feeds of people around you. If you are leading a team and your are negative, they are going to feel that negative energy and won't perform as you would expect. The energy one person exerts is capable to effect people up to 10 feet away while the brains thoughts only effect people up to one or two feet away. Gordon reiterates his thoughts to inflict the reader over and over again.

George is the main character in the story Gordon tells. His life is at an all time low with his job, marriage, children, and nothing was going his way...or so it seemed. George has a deadline at work for an important product launch. His boss told him that if he doesn't turn his life and production around, he will be fired after the product launch. When all is tunneling down the drain, the best thing of his entire life happens, his car has a flat tire. George was forced to take the bus which was the last thing George wanted to do at the time. That day George met Joy, the (energy) bus driver. Over the course of the novel she teaches George the 10 Rules for the Ride of Your Life. George applies theses rules to his work and life to turn it all around. He starts loving life again and becoming more successful because of it. His marriage turns around and divorce is now entirely off the table. He nails the product launch with his team. All of these accomplishments were because of the positive energy George acquired by piloting his very own Energy Bus.

This book makes you realize the joys you have in your life and to always look at the positives. Joy's 10 rules are helpful and put you not only in George's shoes but also make you think about your own life and what could be more positive to live a happier life on your own Energy Bus.