Failure of the American Educational System

The American educational system is something which has been the subject of widespread discontent for many generations amongst the students compulsorily enrolled in its ranks. This has largely been dismissed as a scapegoat for laziness, yet another vague and easily ignorable complaint put forth by the teenage community; on the same level with complaints against the amorphous "system", and the ever anonymous "man". While all of these complaints may not be entirely spineless, the majority of its proponents are somewhat lacking for a solid argument. For this reason most of these issues are all but forgotten as the ever angsty population segment moves on into colleges, careers, and day jobs, respectively. Nonetheless, there is something inherently wrong with the way America is going about education.

I was home schooled until 9th grade, at which point I decided I should probably go to high school, firstly because it’s hard to teach yourself algebra, and secondly because I was bored. After attending Clarke Central for two years I genuinely felt dumber. From the humming security cameras, wrinkle-browed cops, restless students, dank over crowded hallways, and agitated teachers barely maintaining the appearance of discipline while the administrators issue threats and displeasure over the intercom, down to the filthy bathroom stalls saturated in the smell of urine and stale cigarette smoke; the average high school has more the air of a penitentiary than educational center. The problems which plague our schools are finding their ways into the entirety of our society; however these are only the symptoms of the fundamental issues from the very foundation of the American educational system.

In the late 1800s, Horace Mann, Barnis Sears, and Calvin Stove and other prominent Americans visited Prussia to study compulsory education system which had been developed there. The Prussian model was brought to the United States and quickly adopted after heavy lobbying, and the system is still emulated today. The origins of this system are found in the 1700s, when because of social upheaval the Prussian government realized that in order to maintain control it needed to be able to control the countries youth; instilling obedience through early indoctrination of the new generations. What better way to do this than to establish a state-mandated public school, establishing the ideology and propaganda of the Monarch, all in the name of education for the poor and needy? Teachers and administrators were taught and hired by the government; lessons revolved around reading writing and arithmetic, while the school itself was set up in such a way as to miniature version of the desired society, encouraging duty, discipline, patriotism and unquestioning obedience to the state. As one of the systems primary influences, the Jewish German philosopher Joseph Gottlieb, said, "The schools must fashion the person, and fashion him in such a way that he simply cannot will otherwise than what you wish him to will."

These schools were meant primarily produce working class citizens, to boost the countries production in the factories or to go into the military; however it was soon realized that this type of education was unfit for the children of the aristocracy. They would become the country’s influential citizens and leaders, and must be taught to think for themselves, therefore private schools were set up for the children of prominent citizens. These were almost the opposite of the public schools, students were taught to question, and studied within a program encouraging their interest and natural talent; in this way the countries future influences were selected. The state’s control was strengthened in 1788, when Abitur, or the final examination, was implemented, making it impossible to go into any learned field or obtain government office without having passed a government-mandated exam.

This is what the school systems in America, home of the free, is based upon. The public school is a halfway house; the youth of the country must be reformed before they are released into society. The doctrines of America are those of happiness through money, order and stability through fear of punishment, maintenance of the status quo through outright lies. We are told to stay in school, not so for learning, but so that we can earn more money, we are taught that everyone can be rich, and that material goods equivocate into happiness. In truth, not everyone can be rich, not everyone can be a successful entrepreneur, not everyone can be a millionaire; as a matter of fact only 45% of the working population makes more than $50 thousand, and only 5% make more than $150 thousand, with the bottom 20% making less than $25 thousand, and 9% less than $10 thousand. The fact is that someone is always going to be the janitor, the factory worker, the fast food clerk, and someone very well may be you. These low wage laborers make up the backbone of the system that says their jobs aren’t respectable, that they have failed, that they can’t be happy until they have a six figure paycheck and white house with picket fence in suburbia. After being thoroughly soaked in this materialistic philosophy, we are handed a set of rules without rhyme or reason. Within the endless race for property and privilege we must stay within these parameters, government infringement and morals grouped alike. Why should we follow them? An overweight disciplinary principal sweating behind a flat top desk knows; a frowning cop perspiring in the armpits of his dry cleaned blue suit will tell you just why.

It’s an obvious fact everyone seems to have a blind eye too; this county’s school system needs to be completely gutted and reconstructed. Even our private schools are only white washed and sugar coated imitations of the public. We wonder at the poverty rates, at the lack of leadership in our country; every political party throws mud at the incompetence of the other without providing solutions themselves; but how can we honestly expect better with the education our country is giving, and still so arrogantly defending?

Modernism Assignment 3: Modernist Poetry

1. Richard Corey

The poem describes the admiration of the workers for the life of Richard Corey,
"We people on the pavement looked at him: He was a gentleman from sole to crown" while expressing displeasure with their own; "So on we worked, and waited for the light, And went without the meat, and cursed the bread". They wished that they were in Richard Corey's place, because what he had was what they had been told would equivocate to happiness. This is proved untrue, "And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, Went home and put a bullet through his head." No one, was in fact, happy. This reflects themes of disillusionment, as they were disillusioned from the idea that unhappiness could be overcome by material advancement.

2. Mending Wall

I like the lines " Something there is that doesn't love a wall, That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it, And spills the upper boulders in the sun; And makes gaps even two can pass abreast" The idea of ownership is discussed here, particularly of the land and imaginary boundaries. These are ingrained in civilized society, Frost asks what we are trying to keep out. We have a country chopped up into millions of shrinking imaginary squares, boundaries of polite society. This expresses disillusionment, perhaps asking how free are we within the cell blocks of our private property?

3. A Dream Deferred

Hughes contemplates what happens when people are given a dream that the society in they live in has no intention of fulfilling. While they may "dry up like a raisin in the sun" or "crust and sugar over" for a time,, they do eventually erupt. The term explode is very open ended, probably intentionally. The cumulative of all these explosions probably equivocates into change and reformation, as when an old star explodes and a new one is slowly formed from its remnants. The most obvious and immediate target here is the American dream, expressing disillusionment.

4. The Negro Speaks of Rivers

Hughes compares his soul to the deep rivers. The river flows by with seeming impermanence, loose and fluid, as the solid structures of societies rose and fell around it. "I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it." The soul is similar in comparison to the physical; the soul is ultimately the more permanent of the two. We look at a forest and say it has been there for hundreds of years, though the old trees have died and new ones grown. It isn't the physical things themselves that remains, but the idea and spirit of them. This is part of the writing that came from the Harlem Renaissance, it also contains themes of self exploration which came about in the psychological movement.

5. Incident

Its interesting that this is all he remembers from his time in Baltimore, negative events in childhood seem to be remembered more distinctly. His reaction at this point would probably be more confusion than anger, and would have a larger influence. This reflects the inequality in America at the time that was being exposed in the Harlem Rennasiance. The idea of one child looking down on another "Now I was eight and very small, And he was no whit bigger,And so I smiled, but he poked out His tongue, and called me, "Nigger." shows them both to be very much the same in the simplicity of childhood, and displays the unjustification of racism.

Modernism Assignment 2: Soldier's Home

After returning home from the war Krebs seems disinterested in life. He continually says that he wants life to go smoothly, and isn't inclined to put effort into anything. He doesn't pursue girls because he comes to the conclusion that over all they aren't worth the effort, they were complications, he would have to talk to them and bother with "the intrigue and the politics." Instead he sits on his front porch and observes them walking by. He likes to watch them walk by while he is observing them from the detatchment of his porch, but he doesn't like seeing them in the socially interactive setting of the ice crean parlor.

He isn't particularly interested in any vocation. His mother tries to persuade him to get a job, saying that God has work for everyone to do, and that there are "no idle hands in His Kingdom," at which point Krebs states that he is not in "His Kingdom". This adds to the sense of aimlessness in his character. He tells his mother that he doesn't lover her, that he doesn't love anyone. He seems to resent his father, who is portrayed with vague distance throughout the story. He seems to like his younger sister best out of the family, maybe because she is innocent and looks up to him.

He talks about how life was simpler in Germany and he didn't want to come back. This displays disillusionment in that it attacks the idea of America as a great nation of freedom and happiness, Kreb was happier in Europe. This probably reflects Hemingways feelings ont he subject. Kreb says that things are more complicated in America, illustrating this he uses the subject of girls, saying that "He liked the look of them much better than the French girls or the German girls. But the world they were in was not the world he was in. He would like to have one of them. But it was not worth it." This could possibly be used as a metaphor for America in general, superficially better to look at, but lost in complications and less substantial.

When Krebs wanted to talk about the war people in his town were uninterested, having "heard too many atrocity stories to be thrilled by actualities." People were interested in hearing things that affirmed their view of the war and its horrors. Krebs says that "His acquaintances, who had heard detailed accounts of German women found chained to machine guns in the Argonne and who could not comprehend, or were barred by their patriotism from interest in, any German machine gunners who were not chained, were not thrilled by his stories." People were resistant to the idea that those on the other side had felt the same about the war as they did. They wanted to view their country as the conquering saviour, disregarding the fact that whether or not they initially supported the cause or reasoning behind the war, once you begin invading their country and destroying their homes it makes very little difference.

Modernism Assignment 1: Disillusionment

Disillusionment intererest me because it is something that I see as immediately relevant to society. We are all somewhat within an illusion in this country, however the thick layers of fake gold spray paint soaking America are chipping. I expect that the literature reflecting this will show the realization coming about in that time period that the promises of the new technology and progression into an onward and upward society were not entirely true, if at all.

Realism Assignment 3: Modern Example

Hotel Rwanda is a modern example of realism. The film illustrates a true story of the violent conflict that took place between the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups in Rwanda, which ultimately resulted in a genocide of the Tutsi people. Paul Rusesabagina, the primary protagonist is the owner of a five star hotel in Rwanda, who uses his hotel to house and protect Tutsi civilians against the Hutu militia while waiting for foreign intervention. Roughly one million Tutsis were killed in under three months while the United Nations and other groups ignored the situation and failed to give aid, only evacuating tourist and journalist from the hotel. Paul attempts to dissuade and bribe the Hutu leaders out of attacking the hotel until he eventually is able to use his political connections to get an evacuation party sent for the refugees in the hotel. The film captures the shocking brutality of the events. In one scene while Paul is driving back to the hotel after attempting to bargain with Hutu leaders, he begins to hit what appear in the darkness to be ruts in the road. On getting out of the truck he realizes that that the road is littered with the corpses of massacred Tutsis, stretching in every direction. The film is meant to expose viewers to the horror of the events by meticulously detailing the massacre.

Realism Assignment 2: The Battle with Mr. Covey

After being severely mistreated by Mr. Covey, Douglass specifically details his reasons for going to his master to ask for his interference. He writes that after becoming sick with exhaustion while fanning wheat, Covey ordered him to get up, and when he failed to do Covey "then gave me a savage kick in the side, and told me to get up. I tried to do so, but fell back in the attempt. He gave me another kick, and again told me to rise. I again tried, and succeeded in gaining my feet: but, stopping to get the tub with which I was feeding the fan, I again staggered and fell. While down in this situation, Mr. Covey took up the hickory slat with which Hughes had been striking off the half- bushel measure, and with it gave me a heavy blow upon the head, making a large wound, and the blood ran freely; and with this, again told me to get up." At this point he resolves to walk to his master, even though he is in an extremely weak condition, nearly dies in doing so, saying that he was only saved by his hair matting enough to stop the bleeding. His maser however remains mainly uneffected even by his pathetic state, and sends him back to Covey. This leads to his resolution to fight Covey in desperation when he attempts to whip him.

The social issue which Douglass was writing against was, clearly, slavery. He describes the process of his degredation from a man being to a slave. His mindset and very being seems to change at this point, he is not simply a man who is a slave; slavery has filled and flattened his entire being, altering him from a human being to a uniform unit of labor. He describes alteration writing that "Mr. Covey succeeded in breaking me. I was broken in body, soul, and spirit. My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark that lingered about my eye died; the dark night of slavery closed in upon me; and behold a man transformed into a brute! " He stays in this state until he resolves to excert his freedom on the most basic level as a human being and fight Mr. Covey when he attempts to tie and whip him. After this point, though still a slave, he regains his humanity.

Douglass wrote this with the intention of forcing people to look at the horror of slavery. At this some disagreement had been taken over the issue for a considerable time, and the discussion of the issue had largely fallen for many into the category of tea time politics. This is comparable to the issues today that we watch on the news, breifly think about how awful they are and that "someone" should do something about it, then proceed with our lives and frozen dinners. Writings of experiences such as Douglass's forcefully brought these issues to the forefront in a uncomfortable and therefore unignorable way.

Realism Assignment 1: A Story of an Hour

In the story Mrs. Mallards actions on the surface would appear very similiar to any other wife who's husband has died. However in the details it is shown that she is actually relieved that her husband is dead, not from malice against him but relief that her life would now "be her own". Chopin writes that "She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance." and then "She said it over and over under her breath: "free, free, free!" The vacant stare and the look of terror that had followed it went from her eyes. They stayed keen and bright. Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body."

The story displays that although grieving she was also joyed by her husband's death, as she would now no longer be under his will, Chopin writing "There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature." This is realism because it is a somewhat unpleasant truth that she would feel this way about her husband's death, and is illustrating a feminist by showing the extreme extent to which she felt inhibited and restricted by her marriage.

Dark Romanticism Assignment 6: Edgar Allan Poe

Poe's father left the family within a year of his birth, and both of his original parents were dead before he was three. He was taken in by John Allan, a Scottish tobacco merchant, and grew up in the Allan family. Because of this he traveled considerably as a young child, studying in England and Scotland for brief periods of time. He briefly attended the University of Virginia but ran out of money after a year, partly as a result of gambling; and his step father refused to pay his debts. At 26 he married his cousin, Virginia Clemms, she was 13 at the time.

Poe was probably very jaded by all of these events. This comes across in his writing, as he had a somewhat uneffected air through out his grotesque detailing of events, This is displayed in his story "The Black Cat", when he he is deciding how best to handle the corpse of his wife who has just killed for interfering with his murder of the cat which he hates; and afterword he is too pleased with the fact that he has rid himself of the cat to regret the murder of his wife. Poe never knew his parents and generally did not seem to get along well with his step family, he was never very close to anyone other than his wife, who died, because of this he was probably somewhat of a misanthrope.

Dark Romanticism Assignment 5: The Raven

The poem is expressing Poe's feeling over the death of his wife, and probably his sense of loss in general. There is a sense of mortality throughout the poem, illustrating life through the lens of impending loss. Poe views life as a passing parade of thoughts and individuals, everything eventually fades into the distance. The raven, "nevermore" to some extent symbolizes things gone past, or more directly his remembrance of this, which is the human condition of loneliness. Poe writes "This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er, But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er, She shall press, ah, nevermore!" establishing the connection between the loss of his wife and the raven.

The poem repeatedly emphasizes the word "nevermore" concerning Poes regret at the loss of his wife, expressing the idea that there is nothing more in the death, or the end, of things. This goes against the core idea of transcendentalism that there is something more, and higher, in life, the poem displays life as a progression towards inevitable death.

Dark Romanticism Assignment 4: The Black Cat

The story is somewhat disturbing. Poe's character is the opposite of the transcendentalist idea, as he begins with a good nature, but gradually grows, within his natural instinct, in an averse direction. He says he hung the cat simply out of perverseness, to do what he knew was wrong, and that this is inherent to human nature, saying that "I am not more sure that my soul lives, than that perverseness is one of the primitive impulses of the human heart - one of the indivisible primary faculties, or sentiments, which give direction to the character of Man." This ultimately leads to the killing of his wife, not in premeditated murder but simply in an irritable reaction to her blocking his swing at the cat.

This contradicts transcendentalism completely, the human nature is expressed within the story is impetuously cruel, vengeful, and somehow fragile. The character began describing himself as being noted for the "docility and humanity" of his disposition, which is through the course of events completely contorted. There is something in the nature of the character that is understood and recognizable, yet these are put within the context of something revolting and grotesque. Poe frames these things with an almost intentional naivety, as if luring the reader to identify with the horror and contortion of the characters madness.

Dark Romanticism Assignment 2: Dark Romanticism or Transcendentalism

I'm somewhere in the middle on this, I don't entirely agree or disagree with either, though I have some inclinations towards Dark romanticism. Humanities thoughts and intuitions may to some extent be influenced by a higher power, but they are influenced by other things as well. I can look at my mind without much introspection and state that I am not inherently good. The answer to the question of inherent goodness is fairly obvious, we have only to look at the world around us, is this the creation of an inherently good race? Dark romanticism however seems to focus somewhat strongly on the negative, humanity is imperfect but not without potential, however low the probability of its fulfillment may seem at times.

Dark Romanticism Assignment 1: Authors

1. According to transcendentalist philosophy, mans thoughts and intuitions are the voice of God. Hawthorne would have disagreed with this, as whatever led the people of Salem to begin having each other killed under the presumption that they were witches was clearly not the voice of God. These people were weak minded and easily influenced, their thoughts would not appear to be the channeled from some divine power but handed to them by the authorities and religious officials.

2. In transcendentalist belief humans are born inherently pure. However this can hardly be argued for a cannibal society, as they did not turn to it by growing corruption over time, but generation after generation was born into it and accepted it as the natural flow of events, entirely on the contrary to their inherent goodness. Melville had to work on a ship at an early age, in a navy which often times provided less than favorable conditions, because of circumstances beyond his control. This would clearly have a major effect on his life and perception. Because of this these things he probably came to the conclusion that man is not born inherently good; instead that he is largely shaped by the society and circumstance which he is born into.

3. Poe in all likely hood rejected transcendentalist ideas because of the darkness he saw and felt in his own mind, along with that in the world which continually seemed to collapse around him. While they may contain some inner goodness as well, he saw that humanity had an undeniable inclination towards selfishness and cruelty which in his life seemed be the more prevalent.

Transcendentalism Assignment 3: Scenario 2

I would have gone back to school to become a teacher, if that was what I really wanted to do it and its possible and it was within practical limits. I don't think its entirely fair that his wife has to pay for his college though, maybe he could have used funds that would have been used on lawschool, or if not go out and get a job, as he probably has some degree of experience. I think that the transcendentalist would think similiarly on this, as they believed that humaninty was good and should follow what they felt was right within themselves, Emerson writing:

"With Consistency a great soul simply has nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with the shadow on the wall. Out upon your gaurded lips! Sew them up with a packthread, do. Else, if you would bve a man, speak what you think today in words as hard as cannon balls, and tommorow speak what tommorow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said today."

Transcendentalism Assignment 2: Transcendentalism in Excerpts

In "Nature", transcendentalism was expressed in the idea of a sort of collective consciousness within nature, similar to the concept of the over soul. The idea that the many small life forms and objects within nature come together as a landscape and transcend their mere individual physical forms.

"When we speak of nature in this manner, we have a distinct but most poetical sense in the mind. We mean the integrity of impression made by manifold natural objects. It is this which distinguishes the stick of timber of the woodcutter from the tree of the poet. The charming landscape which I saw this morning is indubitably made up of some twenty or thirty farms. Miller owns this field, Locke that, and Manning the woodland beyond. But none of them owns the landscape. There is a property in the horizon which no man has but whose eye can integrate all the parts, that is, the poet."

"Self Reliance" discusses the need of humanity to find and follow their own path within themselves, mentioning a "divine idea" within us. This assumes that all people not only have this idea within them, but also that the idea is inherently good, which to some extent reflects the transcendentalists idea that there was no original sin and than human nature is good. However it does not assume that we would necessarily follow this idea of our own inclination, perhaps differing from the notion of our "inherent goodness".

"Trusty thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place the divine Providence has found for you; the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events. Great men have always done so and confided themselves childlike to the genius of their age, betraying their perception that the Eternal was stirring at their heart, working through their hands, predominating in all their being."

"Resistance to Civil Government" is an essay Thoreau wrote after being jailed for refusal to pay a poll tax, on principal. Thoreau essentailly states that he refuses based on the idea of a higher set of laws which come before the governments regulations, which he considers petty and ultimately unnecesary, saying that "the government is best which governs not at all". This displays transcendentalism because the assumption that government is unneeded is based on the idea that the people are capable of governing themselves, again assuming that humans nature is ultimately good; though he also states that he does not believe that men are prepared for it.

"I heartily accept the motto- "the governemtn is best which governs least, and I should like to see it acted up more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, I believe it finall amounts to this which also I believe- "that government is best which governs not at all;" and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have."

Transcendentalism Assignment 1: Response

Emerson expresses nature as a multifaceted being, a thing of subtle intelligences, coalescing and moving like a constant multitude of invisible tides working around us. This recalls several similarities from passages from Henry Thoreau's "Walden". In this way nature is viewed not as a sterile and dead background but as a living thing which we may impact or may impact us, saying that "in the woods, we return to reason and faith". We are reminded that we are part of the expansive collective being of nature, and much of our concern is more imposed by the zephyrous currents of society than our actual physical or mental need.

The excerpt from "Self Reliance" discusses individuality. Emerson believes that everyone reaches a point at which they must set themselves apart and express themselves as a being, in whatever form that may take. Each individual must forge their own place, Emerson writes "Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string". It is suggested as if we all have a deeply ingrained sense within ourselves of what course we should take, almost in the sense of a second gravity. We must rely on ourselves, not in a self righteous or selfish sense, but because it is our natural progression. This is dissipated and confused to some extent by society and its various institutions. Here themes cross with Thoreau's "Resistance to Civil Government", as he protest that government is in the way of the people, limiting progress by steeping them in regulation and consistency. Thoreau states that "the governement is best which governs least" and that this eventually leads to the idea that "the government is best which governs not at all".

Romanticism Assignment 5: Romanticist Art

The painting shows a scene in the wilderness with the sun breaking through the clouds over a lake. This landscape is Romanticist because it is glorifying nature and depicting it in an idealistic sort of way. Though it is not a work of writing it arouses the same sort of thoughts and feeling that associated with Romanticist writers, particulary of escaping into nature.

This image is an example of romanticism in art because it communicates the vast mystery of nature. The fog dissipating in the morning light displays a sense of wonder at the new.

Romanticism Assignment 4: The Ropewalk

This poem is about a workers producing rope in a large somewhat dreary building. This seems to be a very tiring and dull job. However the writers mind is elsewhere, thinking of the places his rope will be taken and the uses it will be put to. The imagery of the school boy flying his kite "gleaming in a sky of light" and the ships rigging, "rejoicing in the breeze", particularly stand out to me. This is an example of Romanticism because he transcends the dull factory walls and repetitive task of ropemaking; while nothing has changed around him he is miles away in the haven of his thoughts.

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

The story focuses on Lyra, a mischevious eleven year old girl who grew up in Jordan College of Oxford university. Not our Oxford, but Oxford in a world parallel to ours. In the parallel world all humans have an extention of themselves, called a daemon, which takes the form of an animal. Each human's daemon is essentially their soul. Lyra was raised by the scholars and servants of Jordan College; spending her childhood wandering around the grounds of Oxford with children and her friend Roger the kitchen boy. After saving her uncle, Lord Asriel, from a poisoning attempt, however, her life begins to change. Soon after her friend Roger is kidnapped by a group known as the gobblers, who take children supposedly do some sort of experiment. She also recieves a strange compass like object known as the alethiometer, which is somehow used to find the truth. In the ensuing chain of events she sets off to the far north with a group of gypsies to rescue Roger and the other children, as well as Lord Asriel who was being held prisoner by armored bears.

Romanticism Assignment 3: Thanatopsis

As its name implies, the poem is a meditation on death. Instead of handling the subject with a common cold and morbid tone, the writer views it with a sense of unity and return to nature that supported us in our lives, saying that "All that tread The globe are but a handful to the tribes That slumber in its bosom." Nature is the final resting place of all living things, the poem expresses that it is a thing we can learn from and be influenced by, as if another consciousness, a collection of subtle sleeping intelligences. In this way it focuses not only on death but also life.

This shows Romanticism in its view of death, drawing wholly from the authors thoughts on the subject and not sterile scientific principals. Also the focus on nature, again not scientifically but for its inspiration and insight, almost as a being, displays Romanticism.

Morning

Every morning, as the sunlight rises in our window out of the night, we rise into waking from the sleeping unconscious. The landscape is washed in color from new light; the air is cool and clean in our nostrils. Our limbs and mind are slowly rising, renewed from the previous day. The cycles of the day come in seasons - morning’s spring thawing from night’s long winter.

There is something unique in the sensation of waking. Our ethereal and corporal halves are reunited in a moment; the mind is called from its wandering back into the physical. As we steep in the warmth between the mattress and sheets, the traces of our dreams fade, slipping like water running off of a glass sphere. Our mind is left blank, completely cleansed for a split second as we re-enter our waking lives. We begin as a pure slate to be sculpted for the new day. Our heads as well as our limbs are slow and more moldable in the early hours. Muscles and sinew are slumberous but light, gradually thawing, refreshed from yesterdays ennui.

Something in the quality of light in the morning is distinctive from the rest of the day. It is more pure and clear than the afternoon, when it begins to yellow with age. The spectrum of color seems wider than at any other time of day, a vivid kaleidoscope. The moisture of the dew covers everything, almost radiating, blurring together in morning’s palate. Dawn creeps slowly over the sky line in the early hours; beginning to glow faintly with a red aura outlining the edges of vision, as if the entire curvature of the horizon were ignited at a point just out of sight. The sun rises like a burning emblem of the day against the streaming sky, waking color as it sweeps into view. The growing light cascades through our windows, climbing like wild ivy up our walls, swaying with liquid quality as we rise.

Sound is similarly effected during this hour; its waves seeming to carry differently in the brisk air. The tones are clearer and more piercing; noise seems to rip through the quiet in precise melodic strokes when the dead air is imposed upon. A still quiet hangs over everything like an atmospheric pressure; walking outside at this hour the noise is strangely hushed. From the middle of the empty street the faint approach of a cars motor can be heard from beyond the horizon line; all the slight noises of the waking world combine into a soft hum, a yawning silence permeating auroras still life.

Vitality in general seems to be heightened in the early hours. Inhalation is deeper and lighter, as if not only the lungs but entire frame breathed and coursed with air; pulsing reverberation through the innermost cavities. The air is cool and vibrant, as if the sky were being inhaled for the first time, un-recycled. Breakfast is an inevitable event of the A.M., after fasting for nearly ten hours we are in want of food. Eating seems less dull and ritualistic and more necessary and refreshing. We are empty and must consume to revitalize ourselves. The smell of tea wafts with steam in the morning air, fogging windowpanes above the kitchen sink; morning mulls in simplicity and pathos, the essential reincarnation of the earth in its axis.

Romanticism Assignment 2:

"On the other side he looked down into a deep mountain glen, wild, lonely, and shagged, the bottom filled with fragments from the impending cliffs, and scarcely lighted by the reflected rays of the setting sun. For some time Rip lay musing on this scene; evening was gradually advancing; the mountains began to throw their long blue shadows over the valleys"

The detailed description of nature displays Romanticism, Van Winkle frequently retreats into the woods.

"On waking, he found himself on the green knoll whence he had first seen the old man of the glen. He rubbed his eyes--it was a bright sunny morning. The birds were hopping and twittering among the bushes, and the eagle was wheeling aloft, and breasting the pure mountain breeze. "Surely," thought Rip, "I have not slept here all night." He recalled the occurrences before he fell asleep. The strange man with a keg of liquor--the mountain ravine--the wild retreat among the rocks--the wobegone party at nine-pins--the flagon--"Oh! that flagon! that wicked flagon!" thought Rip--"what excuse shall I make to Dame Van Winkle!" "

Here Van Winkle is waking up from a twenty year sleep, something which theoretically isn't particularly possible, showing Romanticism.

Walden by Henry Thoreau, pg. 259 - 300

Thoreau discusses the pond in spring, and its thawing. He discusses the idea of spring, and regrowth, drawing parallels between the sprouting of leaves and the growth of all things. All nature is considered to consist of a legion of constantly metamorphosing leaves or "lobes" of life, from the plates of earth to river and so on; the globe an organism, quivering and erupting upon itself with life and decay.

He finally left Waldens pond after another year, summarizing the second merely by saying it passed much like the first. In explaining his reasons for moving on he states that "perhaps he had several more lives to live" and that he could not spend any more time on that one. Noting how easily we fall into routine, which was to some extent something he had come to the pond to avoid; he remarks on the migration of natural animals, as the birds fly thousands of miles in winter warmer areas, and buffaloe move across the plains to find better grassland.

Romanticism Assignment 1: Response to Rip van Winkle

Rip van winkle was an interesting story. I actually liked the illustrations a lot, they added considerably to the story, though I assume these weren't in the original text. I had heard another version of this before, but it had focused more on the dwarves teaching Van Winkle a lesson about virtues of dilligence and hazards of lazyness. This seems to be less of the intent in Irving's version, which I generally like better. The morals are left somewhat open ended, leaving the reader to decide for themselves. While somewhat lazy and a procrastinator, Van winkle is still arguably praiseworthy in his own way. He is helpful to his neighbors benevolent in general, trying to live in a simple and contented manner. However he seems incapable of managing his own obligations, embodied by his nagging wife; he finds this continually dripping stream of minor affairs exasperating.

The story describes nature vividly. Wandering in the hills is Van Winkles outlet for his frusturations. The writing style is much more detailed about surroundings than in Puritansim or Rationalism. This in my opinion makes it more interesting to read. Descriptions of things such as the old inn keeper smoking his pipe and or the sun setting over the foothills have an air of earthy familiarity. His long sleep in the woods is reflective of the feeling of simple contentedness that he found in his frequent walks in them. His slumber is looked on almost as more pleasantly beneficial than disastorous, he wakes released from his nagging wife and previous petty obligations.

Rationalist Assignment 5: Rationalism in the Declaration of Independence

"and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them"

This mentions the station to which they are entitled by not only God, but also nature, reflecting the rationalist belief that the world is governed not only by God but also science.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

The passage states that all men are created equal, and also all have inherent rights, regardless of birth, class, religion, etc. This is a rationalist idea.

"That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. "

This displays the rationalist idea that it is the duty of individuals to improve their lives by applying certian principals, in this case that they have a right as citizens to abolish a government when it becomes corrupt in order to better it.

Rationalist Assignment 4: Thirteen virtues

1. Temperance - Don't do anything to a dull or licentious extent
2. Wholeness - As much as possible try to be undivided in your thoughts and actions
3. Self Control - Be in control of your thoughts and actions
4. Patience - Avoid hastiness in decisions, thoughts, and actions
5. Contentedness - if you cant be satisfied with the bare neccesities you probably wont be any more so with extravagance
6. Modesty - Don't build yourself up higher than a position you are comfortable falling from
7. Steadfastness - Don't be swayed by others opinions unless they have genuinely changed your thinking
8. Resolution. - Continue forward with what you determine to do, however minor, until it is accomplished, or your intention changes
9. Uprightness - In the occasion that you clearly know what is right, do it and don't allow other considerations to cloud your decisions
10. Open mindedness - dont discard ideas simply because they disagree with your own without equal consideration
11. Clarity - Be clear in your thoughts and speech, say what you mean to say
12. Tolerance - Measure your criticism of others with the remembrance of your own faults
13. Discretion - Don't follow any moral with legalism or dogmatically, constantly reconsider

I dont think following these guidelines would neccesarily lead to moral perfection. Then again I dont really think moral perfection can be reached by following anything. Everyone will inevitably have faults and make mistakes. I would probably be a better person if I followed all of these morals, either mine or Franklin's. But there's a considerable gap between what we we think and believe, in theory, and actually applying our beliefs to our lives. The bridge between our innner self, and the outer functioning self; the part which is actually projected into our physical surrounding, cannot always be crossed. There are few absolutes in life, there is no exact science to living rightly; we cannot fully rationalize ourselves because we are not fully rational.

Rationalist Assignment 3: Benjeman Franklins Autobiography

Franklins method of "arriving at moral perfection" is an example of his rationalism. In the passage he describes his attempt to better himself from a very logical and organized standpoint. This supports the rationalist ideas of self improvement through better understanding of the aspects of our live. He divides his plan into thirteen segments, each revolving around a virtue which he believes should be instilled into his lifestyle. These are listed in a very orderly and comprehensive manner. He explains this in the following passage, saying:

"In the various enumerations of the moral virtues I had met with in my reading, I found the catalog more or less numerous, as different writers included more or fewers ideas under the same name. Temperance, for example, was by some confined to eating anc drinking, while by others it was extended to mean the moderating every other pleasure, appetite, inclination, or passion, bodily or mental, even top our avarice and ambition, I propsed to myself, for the sake of clarity, to use rather more names and fewer ideas annexed to each than a few names with more ideas; and I included after thirteen names of virtues all that at that time occured to me as neccesary or desirable, and annexed to each a short precept, which fully expressed the extent I gave to its meaning."

Rationalist Assignment 1: Differences between Puritans and Rationalist.

While the Puritans believed that God was actively involved in controlling every aspect of their lives, the rationalist believed that after God created the earth he retreated and left it to its own devices. The rationalist rejected the idea of miracles, prophecies, and other supernatural events, along with the religious books which advocated them, such as the Bible. This angered the Puritans, who believed the Bible to be the word of God, and they accused the rationalist of being atheist. Because they did not believe that God intervened in human affairs, the rationalist thought that it was their responsibility to explore the innerworkings of his creation in order to improve their lives. This was also opposed by the ever antagonizing Puritans, as they believed that the works of God was not for his creation to know.

The current issue of the cloning of human cells is a good example of both puritanism and rationalism in modern thought. Many support this research on the basis that it will help cure diseases by making us able to replace cells or even organs in a human body with cloned ones, improving life expectancy. Others, however, are against it, as it may eventually lead to human cloning, allowing man, in a sense, to play God. Among other reasons some oppose this on the basis that this sort of creation is meant to be used by God only.

Walden by Henry Thoreau pg. 179-259

This section describes the nature and wildlife surrounding the pond, particularly in winter. Thoreau discusses the link between our spiritual and physical in our lives, stating that our common task such eating, working, sleeping etc. can be done out of out of mere animal neccesity and sensuality, but also in a more ethereal sense. These things can exert or rest us both physically and spiritually, if they are done not only out of an animal nature but also to the improvement of our higher selves. In addition to this he gives a chapter to the previous inhabitants of the area and how came to depart from it.

Puritans Assignment 4: Plain style

"May 12 was the first marriage in this place which, according to the laudable custom of the Low Countries, in which they had lived, was thought most requisite to be performed by the magistrate, as being a civil thing, upon which many questions about inheritances do depend, with other things most proper to their cognizance and most consonant to the Scriptures (Ruth iv) and nowhere found in the Gospel to be laid on the ministers as a part of their office."

I find this passage particularly plain, as it says mentions nothing of the ceremony or celebration of the first wedding, or even who was married; focusing instead on the legal technicalities of the marriage. This puritans particularly plain style of writing probably stems from similar sources as their general plainness in other areas of life. Being a very religious centered society, the Puritans believed that everything was to be done to the glory of God. Anything thing which was done to glorify earthly things was thought to be to the glory of man, and thus considered blasphemous. This is evident even from their style of clothing, which is almost always depicted as faded and dull. Under this theology writing were to be used only when immediately necessary as a way of recording or transferring information; anything beyond this was to the esteem of its creator and thus detracted from the God's glory.

This view fails to take into account that since according to their own theology the earth and all things in it are God's creation. Therefore anything that is inspired by that creation is ultimately an extension of God's creation, and to his glory. The Christian Bible itself is at times quite descriptive. The Puritans may have reconciled this saying that the this was God's book, however theoretically it was actually written by men through God's inspiration. As trees grow, flower, and produce fruit, it would only make sense that humanity should do the same.

Emo Subculture

There’s a new trend sweeping through American youth, and there’s something strangely wrong with it. Emo has found its way into multiple aspects of society, from music and fashion to art and philosophy; it’s imbedded itself into suburban culture. Presumably a slang term for emotion, Emo is generally considered to be a music, fashion, and mentality revolving around passive unhappiness and melancholy; not as a passing state but as a lifestyle, almost to be celebrated. In other words, being emotionally distraught is very in right now.

Like most subcultures, emo has its roots in a musical scene. The development of the style is usually attributed the 1980s band Rites of Spring, originally a punk band that began to be described as "emotional hardcore", for their emotional performances. Critics originally described emo as a subunit of punk; however in the nineties it steadily differentiated itself by increasingly melodramatic lyrics, and an emotional, at times whiny style of delivery. By the 2000s it had become almost unrecognizable from its predecessor, a synthetic over dramatized mess of production; punk on estrogen. Apparently the major record labels thought this would make a great trend, and a host of bands such as Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance were signed and entered the mainstream. Emo began streaming onto MTV and the Internet for a generation that was glued to the glowing screens like none before them.

The genre had developed its own fashion by this point. Most band members had black hair, wore make up, and were clothed in tight fitting black and white apparel; "girl pants" were popular regardless of gender. Major label pop rock bands were handed a new wardrobe and told to make slow songs. 2004 saw Green day, the previously pop punk band, in black suits and eyeliner. In an almost coordinated effort, designers released Emo apparel and merchandise into the mainstream market under the guise of underground, millions of kids rushing to claim their misunderstood individuality rapidly devoured the new style. But what were they really feeding into the mind of this restless suburban generation?

Emo almost immediately caught on, becoming not only a musical preference but a series of philosophies. The most immediate of these was the limiting of the spectrum of emotion to "sad". Followers of the trend decided that they were depressed, whether they actually were or not, and that the world was to some degree victimizing them. Moreover, depression became uniform; emo music contained common themes of mental illness and masochism, these therefore became icons of the trend. Not because these kids were masochist, but because it was an understood part of depression in the culture they felt they were part of; making them feel authenticated and giving them a sense of identity and acceptance.

It became fashionable to claim a borderline personality disorder. Paranoia might look good with your new fishnet stockings, and cutting was in a sense the new smoking; kids gave themselves a pinprick just to say they did it. Depression was not something to be overcome but to wallow in. Overindulgent self pity being encouraged; anyone who tried to join the trend without following these prerequisites was looked on as a "poser" because they were not validly depressed. This is combined with pseudo-intellectual nihilism, based on faulty and pretentiously oversimplified metaphysics mainly derived from the lyrics of their favorite band.

It seems odd how a generation could be so susceptible to such a lifeless and backward way of thinking. I once read on a bridge that "insanity in this country increases in proportion to lack of actual physical suffering". This may be, to some extent, true. Many people may feel somewhat aimless and disconnected from life in a culture where there are so many layers cushioning them from the core of life. During his stay on Walden Pond, Henry Thoreau writes:

"Most of the luxuries, and many of the so called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind"

Many in our culture live as if the ultimate goal of society is to spend life with out ever having to move from the spot where we are born, to be completely rid of the inconvenience of having to do anything for ourselves. This so-called "progress" would appear to be the only method of self-improvement we know. Every generation in our country has, in a way, had its trend to make up for this feeling of deficit. Emo kids are basically the neo-hippies, however instead of trying to make a difference through love, peace, and flower power, Emo is going to change the world by being feeling sulky and melancholy in the corner, and then writing blog entries about it on Myspace or various other online journals.

Puritans Assignment 3: Textual evidence of Puritan beliefs

1. Unconditional Election - God "saves" those he wishes - only a few are selected for salvation.

"God has laid himself under no obligation, by any promise to keep any natural man out of hell one moment."

2.Limited Atonement - Jesus died for the chosen only, not for everyone.

"God certainly has made no promises either of eternal life, or of any deliverance or preservation from eternal death, but what are contained in the covenant of grace, the promises that are given in Christ, in whom all the promises are yea and Amen."

3.Total Depravity - through Adam and Eve's fall, every person is born sinful - concept of Original Sin.

"It is no security to a natural man, that he is now in health, and that he does not see which way he should now immediately go out of the world by any accident, and that there is no visible danger in any respect in his circumstances."

Jonathan Edwards refered to the sinful man as "natural" here, supporting total depravity.

Walden by Henry Thoreau pg. 120-179

Thoreau writes his thoughts on the value of solitude, discussing the dissipating effect of over frequent social interaction. He writes that our attempts to increase understanding of one another by being in close proximity is ineffective; that we often meet before we have had time to accumulate anything new to share with others. Also nature is considered a sort of company, we can draw from communion with the many subtle intelligences just as we would draw from another human being.

Walden by Henry Thoreau pg. 1-120

Henry Thoreau's "Walden" is the journal of his two years on Walden Pond, in which he sets out to live independently of society, baring his life to the essentials in an attempt to simplify. He begins by stating his reasons for beginning this social expirement of sorts, discussing how many people spent their lives working their way out of debt for things they didnt need. His reasons go beyond the economic however, attempting to delve beyond what he describes as the "allluvion" that covers the globe, into the solid foundation of life.

He describes all aspects of his life on the pond, from how he built his cabin and grew his food, to his studies and description of the nature around him. Though his writing at times is a bit hard to follow, occasionally wandering into issues pertaining mainly to the 1850s, which arent as immediately relevant, however on the whole the book is far from archaic.

Puritans Assignment 2: Response to Text

The Puritans lived in a very plain manner, with most aspects of their daily lives intergrated with their religion. The simplicity of their lifestyle was to some extent required, as they were immigrants in an unknown land, all but cut off from the westernization they had left behind in Europe. However, in some ways they went even beyond this, renouncing worldly pleasures in an attempt to live Godly lives. Whether this was admirable or an extremist and somewhat dull utopian experiment is questionable, however they did undeniably lay foundations in their method of economy and governing which are still visible in current society.

Despite their somewhat delusioned philosophies, the Puritans displayed a considerable degree of courage and hardiness in settling in the new world, with the expanse of the Atlantic seperating them from any possible aid or provision, along with European civilization and the world as they knew it. Throughout various adversity they seemed to have maintained an almost Panglossian philosophy, as Bradford writes:

"Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this wilderness; but they cried unto the Lord, and He heard their voice and looked on their adversity. Let them therefore praise the Lord, because He is good: and his mercies endure forever."

Seeing as this was written at a point when they were unsure of provisions, and the captain of the ship was threatening to leave early with their current food supply if they did not find some quickly, this passage might have been considered a bit optimistic. However, despite this situation they managed to not only survive but establish a thriving colony. This could probably largely be attributed to their good work ethic, stemming from their belief in doing everything to the glory of God, and appears to have differentiated them from the less succesful colony of Jamestown.

A large part of their success was due to the native Americans, as the corn which they originally found was from an abandoned village who's people had died in a plague, and the indian Squanto was their guide for many years, teaching them the agriculture of the area. Bradford ironically originally described them as "skulking about them, and would sometimes show themselves aloof off, but when any approached near them, they would run away; and once they stole away their tools where they had been at work and were gone to dinner," naming them as savages, though they peacefully agreed to share their land with the Puritans.

The Puritans colony was originally a commune, and all the citizens of the colony would work and plant for the common store, which was then divided equally according to families. However after it became clear that they would not be recieving further provision, the Governor, in an attempt to increase the harvest, declared that each family would grow their own corn, and keep the crop for their own use. This immediately boosted work ethic, with each family growing for themselves they became increasingly industrious. This was perhaps the first implementation of the capitolist system by the colonies in North America. Bradford praises the system in his journals, demoting the communist leanings of classical Greek philosophy he writes that it "may well evince the vanity of that conceit of Plato's and other ancients applauded by some of later times; and that the taking away of property and bringing in community into a commonwealth would make them happy and flourishing; as if they were wiser than God." This displays a tone of intolerance towards ideas that are not directly dictated by traditional Christian thinking, something which seems to be common throughout Puritan writings. Bradfords reasoning for the success of this capitolistic industry is interesting, he attributes the rise in production to the fact that the people were less willing to work if they did not profit directly, an individual working for the overall good of the community would be less motivated than one who was working for themselves. This seems somewhat contradictory to Christian ideology, such as that of the "golden rule" and helping your neighbor. Noting this, Bradford says that this is cannot be held against them as it is inevitable since man is imperfect, and therefore selfish in his sinful nature.

Puritans Assignment 1: Beliefs

The Puritans were an exceedingly god centered society. They believed that they were among Gods chosen, and all aspects of their daily lives were under Gods providence and reflected his will. According to their doctrines, all men were born into evil and must be redeemed through the grace of God. However, only a limited number, which had already been selected uner Gods plan for humanity, would be given this redemption. Redemption through could not be earned or denied, but was given, therefore if you werent lucky enough to win at the holy lottery, you were apparently condemned to remain in your depravity and wickedness until you were eventually cast into hell.

As Gods elect, the Puritans believed that were given the authority to interpret Gods will as they were intune to such matters, and their duty to live righeously as exemplifications of morality for the rest of the world, "a city set upon a hill". Consequently this translated into their being rather legalistic and perhaps slightly self righteous, looking down on others who did not measure up to their standards of uprightness and morality. Though the puritans cheif aspiration was to glorify God, they seemed to have thought this would have been detracted from by making any sort of praise or reference to his creation, as they lifestyles and literature were almost bland and rather spartan. If they rejected these doctrines, or became smug in their own righteousness, although they had been chosen they believed they could still fall back into sin, therefore they must always continue to be vigilant in prayer and introspection.

introduction

I never know what to write in these. I like to read, mainly fantasy, The Lord of the Rings was probably one of the first books I read. I write though not very consistently. Im sort of into art, which was to some degree unavoidable as my father owns an art store. I like music a lot, music is good. I have fairly generic interest I guess.