Quick Blog: 3/14

Existentialism in summary is as open-minded as a person can view the world. An existentialist sees that there is meaning in the world but recognizes that all meaning is interpretation that each individual creates. This practice is much different from how I see meaning but it does have some truth to it. I think there is some order in the world but an existentialist wouldn't believe that. The truth that existentialism does hold is the meaning we place within object and things that shouldn't necessarily have meaning. For example, I'm super attached to my phone but often 

don't recognize the meaning I put into it. Existentialism could help with unnecessary attachments like that.

Quick Bog: 3/3/14

"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." 

(Last sentence in the novel "The Great Gatsby")

In this quote Nick is wrapping up his whole experience with Gatsby. Nick admired but didn't agree with Gatsby's hope for getting back the past. Gatsby thought he could win Daisy back 5 years after they sparked their love. It didn't work out for Gatsby and I think Nick shows this in the quote.  When he says, "we beat on, boats against the current" we keep going and work toward what we want like Gatsby did for Daisy. Then he says, "borne back ceaselessly into the past" saying that we indeed can't repeat the past like Gatsby wanted to do, but the past will continue to reoccur in our minds and always be there.

Quick Blog 2/25: "The American Dream"

The large gap between the "haves" and the "have-nots" I think is why the American Dream is still alive. With the majority of the U.S. wealth in the top 1% most people are still striving for their American Dream. I don't know how to change this gap but I do believe it needs to be changed. I think sharing the wealth to make everyone's lives better should be the American Dream. Maybe if everyone works toward a more equal country it could happen. The American Dream seems like more of a motivation for people and we should use that to inspire a new American Dream where everyone is involved.

Quick Blog 2/6: Olympic Dreams

One of my favorite sports to watch during the winter Olympics is figure skating. If I went to the Olympics for a sport it would be for figure skating. I skated since the age of 3 until the end of 8th grade.  I took it very seriously for a while I had a coach and took off ice classes. I used to skate alongside junior Olympians and would just watch them in awe. Going to the Olympics for skating used to be a dream of mine.

Quick Blog 2/4: Originality or Plagiarism?

"all ideas are second-hand, consciusly and unconsciously drawn from a million outside sources." 

-- Mark Twain

"creativity is just connecting things." 

-- Steve Jobs

I totally agree with these quotes. I do think that no idea is totally original or organic. Mark Twain says second-hand and unconsciously drawn ideas which is so true -- all ideas are inspired by things stored somewhere in your memory. For example I started taking art this year and before we even started our own pieces we studied famous pieces. Now we are a ways into the year and doing independent work but I often find myself noticing after finishing a piece that it has a lot of the same features as one of those original pieces we studied. I don't notice these things when making it but it is because of my unconscious memory that the art is alike. I also don't think it's bad that ideas aren't 100% original because like Jobs said, "creativity is just connecting things" and it's these things all being connected that produce the new great art and ideas.

Quick Blog 1/31: Book and Film Recommendation

A book I encourage people to read is "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes. It is a book about a mentally retarded man named Charlie and a mouse named Algernon who go through an experiential surgery to increase their brain capability. The book is a collection of Charlie's journal writings that he is required to do during the experiment. The surgery helps Charlie for some time. The book is a super interesting view into someones extreme transformation and how his life and feelings develop. It also shows the importance he finds in life and when the reader finishes the book they too are forced to really reflect on their life and values. 

Quick Blog 1/30: Life List

1.) Maintain a more balanced diet. Eat more healthy food and less unhealthy snacking.

2.) Continue my practice of yoga in college and try new ways of exercising and staying active.

3.) Enjoy the next step of growing up and moving away to college and learn how to be more independent.