Best of Today: Evolution of Art

Art has had a very profund effect on society. Art has been evolving since the the first humans roamed the planet. At first, art was illustrated through primitive cave carvings and painting. Afterwards, the Chinese evolved these cave paintings into caligraphy which is the art of writing letters. At about the same time, the Egyptians and other Middle Eastern countries began painting their own pictures, these paintings were called hieroglyphics. With that in mind, art has evolved with the times. Now-a-days modern art has transformed from primitive cave drawings to comlex paintings and drawings that have intricate concepts and philosophies such as cubism, and other abstract forms of art. The evolution of art is a lot more significant that it seems. Since art reflects the genereations before and after us, it serves as a visual histroy book of our ancestors and what life was like hundreds of years ago. All in all, art should be taken a lot more seriously since it is virtually a reflection of our past.

Best of Today: Art and Biology

I was intrigued to hear the notion that art was created by genetic evolution. Its interesting to know that a combination of the humanities and the sciences are both needed in order for art and creativity to prosper. This dynamic relationship is ever present in in the cave carvings where cavemen would illustrate human figures. Having the ability to reflect on yourself and others is a privilage that not many species have aquired. This allows me to connect the biological aspect of this relationship. The fact that humans have this ability was achieved through natural selection and the survival of the fitest. With that said, Wilson's notes that it is impossible for the arts and the creative mind to flourish without the help of the biological aspects of human nature. Aside from that, Wilson also pokes around with the idea that there might be another factor that is evolving with us, our culture. As of now, there are not that many studies showing scientific proof of this, but many scientists are starting to investigate, and believe that some aspects of culture has evolved with our generations.

Best of Today: Bacteria

While watching Mr. Wilson's fasinating presentation about the biological aspects of the Earth, I was amused to learn the real truth about bacteria. With that said, I was surprised to learn that not all bacteria is bad. In fact, 99% of the bacteria in the world is actually good for you. They help fight diseases and prevent them later. They can even put out spreading forest fires. Another thing that amused me about Wilson's presentation was his anology regarding bacteria. In the video, Mr. Wilson tried to put a picture to how much bacteria there is by comparing it to a grain of sand. It just amazing to think that there are so many bacteria, and yet we cannot even see most of them. This opens up a completely new aspect of life, the microscopic aspect. Things that you are not aware of. A lot like an unconsious brain. Lastly, I felt like Wilson's TED video actually made a difference in peoples mind. At least it did in mine.

Best of Day: TED Google Presentation

I found the Google presentation with Sergey Brin, the founder of Google, to be very interesting because i could completely relate to what Brin was mentioning. As a matter of fact, I just utilized Google in order to research Brin's background and how Google got started. It's fasinating to see such a rags to riches story in that Google was started from a person's garage, and now look at what it has become. Virtually every person that owns a computer has used Google, and that is saying a whole lot. Needless to say, Google's rise has been surprising as well. No other company has posted such big profits in such a short amount of time, while at the same time expanding their own company into an internet giant. One of the fascinating points during the presentation was when Brin pulled up a map of the data that is currently flowing through Google's databases. It was simply incredible, it look like the monitor was having a seizure or something, with all the line sand colors being presented at the same time. All in all, Google has revolutionized our society because it has allowed people to enjoy information that once was almost impossible to get your hands on. Google has greatly expanded the worlds sharing of information, and the knowledge available on the internet, and that is something Brin can be truly proud of.

Best of Week: Intangible Wealth

Question 44 in our Do You Mind section is very appealing because of the economic status of our times. For most people wealth is solely associated with money. However, wealth can also be found in intangible things such as health, happiness, and drive. Many people's goal's are to become wealthy. But what exactly do they mean buy this? I asked a few classmates what they thought of it, and the only response i got was the monetary unit that seems to be so valuable and holy. This is very unfortunate in the sense that my classmates do not associate wealth with the well-being of an individual or how the individual feels. However, this discovery was not all that surprising. Now-a-days it seems like our society is focusing a lot more on money, and I don't blame them. With the economy in ruins, and an inevitable recession about to transpire, cash seems to be the only thing on peoples minds. However, money is not everything! It certainly helps with a lot of dilemmas now-a-days but the wealth that cannot be felt, is what I think is of the utmost importance. Since everyone has money on their minds, people seem to be a lot more stressed and filled with anxiety. People need to relax a little bit, and live life at a slower pace. All in all, most people associate wealth with money, but it is the intangible wealth that truly satisfies and dictates an individuals life.

Connections: Harry and Hamlet

While reading Hamlet, i've come to realize that there are many similarities between Harry Potter and Hamlet. Much like Hamlet, Harry's father is dead. This causes him great emotional distress, which makes him act irrationally, a lot like Hamlet's split personality. Moreover, like Hamlet, Harry will stop at nothing to avenge his father's death causing a lot of turmoil in his life, eventually lashing out at his friends a lot like Hamlet, and his two friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Another major connection between these two pieces of literature is the concept of "close enemies". Harry's relatives such as his uncle and aunt are always trying to spy and interfere with Harry's life, a lot like Hamlet's friends. However, these enemies are not aware that their counterparts are jsut putting on a play so as to seem that they are a lot dumber they really are. With that said, I wonder if J.K Rowlings had Hamlet in the back of her mind while writing the Harry Potter series.

360 Degrees: Hamlet

Hamlet, the play has been a very difficult play to keep up not only because of the language that is utilized throughout the play, but also because of the simultaneous plots that are intertwined through the characters. For that reason, i wihs that Shakespeare was alive today to answer some of my questions regarding Hamlet. One of the most puzzling aspects of Hamlet to me is Hamlet's split personality. I have a preconceived notion that Shakespeare did this for a reason. It couldn't have been accidental. I would really like to know why he would create a character that is so smart yet so awkward. Perhaps it was a way to create confusion, or maybe it was a way to make the play more interesting. Nevertheless, Hamlet's split personality is a very interesting dialectic that I will keep in mind throughout the play. Another question that I have, is the whole issue with the ghosts. I dont really know the purpose of the ghost, aside from the fact that it is the ghost of Hamlet's father, and ex-king of Denmark. Lastly, I would like to ask Shakespeare himself, as to why he would create such a marvelous play which has so many interpretations. Just searching the web for a minute, and I was able to get numerous interpretations of Hamlet. If it was up to me, I would let the reader, or viewer, for that matter, know exactly how i wanted the play to transpire.

Carry It Forward: Hamlet

One of the major plot's in Hamlet, is Hamlet's split personality. With company around, Hamlet seems very vibrant, and happy with joy flowing throughout his body, but when the guests are away, Hamlet turns into a lonely, depressed individual. It is very important to spot this discrepency throughout the book because you would not know what is going on without this crucial information. This split personality has affected Hamlet tremendously since the death of his father. It seems as if he wants people to believe that he has accepted his fathers death, instead Hamlet puts on a show in front of an audience, yet when he is alone he pours out all his real emotions and thoughts.

Research: Shakespeare's Influence

Whether you might realize it or not, Shakespeare is "alive" and prevalent. Many of the cliches that are used now-a-days have stemmed from Shakespeare's poems. Sayings such as, "tongue-tied", and "refuse to budge an inch" are used reguraly but not many people know that these sayings originated from the works of none other than William Shakespeare. That is why, Mayor Daley, the mayor of Chicago, decided to make April 23rd,2009 talk like William Shakespeare Day. Moreover, since Shakespeare intended to put his writings in a play, many of the conversations that transpire are natural and seem to flow very eloquently. However, Shakespeare has impacted our society in a variety of different ways. From the way that we speak, to the ways that we write, Shakespeare has created a lasting impact on literature and the arts.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2009/apr/23/shakespeare-english-modern-cliche

It Matters: Future

Senior year has been a very interesting year because it prepares individuals for their future. The whole process of setting the foundation to the future is very evident this year. With that said, the “50 questions” that we are currently working on have a lot in common. Many of the questions provoke a lot of thought and careful thinking because they refer and give insights to an individual’s future, as well as their current train of thought. These questions that we have been working on give real insight into what I want to do in the future and they are very unique in that respect. Furthermore, the concept of laying the foundations for bigger and better things to come has remained a vital aspect this year especially. All in all, I’ve come to realize that in order to have a great future you need to have a good beginning and I don’t think that many people realize that concept now-a-days. Only when the foundation has been laid, can a house become a great house and the same thing applies to our futures.

Captured Thought: E.E. Cummings' style

While reading various E.E. Cummings poems I realized that he had a sense of uniqueness in his word choosing. Many a times, I misread a line, which my brain automatically thought ended in a certain way, but Cummings manipulates the English language by utilizing various unorthodox forms of syntax and grammar. At first I thought it was a bit childish but after reading more and more of his poems, I realized that without this childish playfullness the poem would not be the same. It weird because it's almost as if Cummings predicted the grammar of the AIM, and instant messaging language with all of its acronyms and shortcuts. With that said, I feel like Cummings has branched out from the traditional poetic forms into his own style of poetry. Furthermore, I think that this helped him express himself more by utilizng what is comfortable to him, rather than following the status quo. Instead Cummings challenegs the poetic status quo by utilizing various new styles which involve a lot of fragmentation and alteration.

Metacognition:Frank Gehry Project Reflection

While working on the Frank Gehry architectural project I realized that there is not one single way to approach his style and his thought. Like Gehry, I tried to draw inspiration from things not only from class but from outside of class as well such as my house, and the environment. With that said, when i went outside over the weekend I found hints of Gehry's thinking throughout our enviornment. For instance, as I was walking to the park I noticed a very unique tree that really stood out to me. I really liked the shape and form of the tree and so our group decided to incorporate this aspect as a part of our Eaton Rapids Library. At first I was skeptical of this style of thinking because I figured that it is necessary to work in an ecademic environment. Boy was I wrong! With that said, i really appreciate what Frank Gehry has done in the architectural world, and i also envy the way that he thinks and the ways that he is able to draw inspiration from seemingly everyday objects.

360 Degree: Obama Presidency

There has been a sense of pandemonium for the last several months as a result of the historical occasion that that was the Obama Presidential Inauguration. With Obama president, it seems as if most people have become more optimistic about U.S. politics. But is it going to be all that gravy? I mean, look at our current state, our country is fighting two wars, one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan; our economy is going down the drain, and it seems like we might have to go through another “Great Depression.” As much as I want to be optimistic, I can’t help but think of how to combat this monstrous burden bestowed upon President Obama. However, if there was ever a person better qualified for this job is our current president. Not only does he have the right mindset, but he is also trying to level the playing field by allowing both parties to discuss and share their points-of-view. Although President Obama has some tough tasks to combat, I feel like we are in good hands, knowing that our president will accept the best counter to these tough times not just what the Democrats agree upon. With quite a bit of determination and pride I feel like President Obama will be able to pull us through these tough economic times.

Connection: Obama & MLK Jr.

With the presidential inauguration over, the media has broadcasted many similarities between President Barack Obama with that of Martin Luther King Jr. King’s philosophy of life and liberty have influenced Obama tremendously as seen through his landmark inauguration speech. With that said, there are many more comparisons between MLK and Barack Obama. Obama’s speech itself was very similar to that of what MLK delivered in his famous I Have a Dream. Not to mention the fact that Obama also used many of MLK’s “catchphrases” such as “I have a dream” and Lincoln’s “Four scores and…” Aside from the actual speech, Obama also showed respect and a connection to MLK by choosing the same exact setting for the speech, the Lincoln Memorial. With that said, the major connection was evident through Obama’s speech in which Obama alludes to MLK’s dream for a coexistent species without any prejudice and racism.

Metacognition: 1st Semester

Over the course of the 1st semester i utilized visualization as a really great method of remebering things as well as thinking things through. When i visualize i'm able to forsee the future in a way. At least get my mind aware of whats happening. For instance, when i'm reading a novel, I try and visualize what is going on in the book to really get a good sense of what is going on in the novel. With that said, I've also realized that looking at from different perspectives allows me to get a better sense of the same situation. I think that has also forced me to think a lot harder at regular things such as the pipe picture. At first, I simply thought it was a pipe, but lookign at it from a different perspective, you notice that it is also in fact a picture of a pipe. That little deal, helped me realize that there is many more ways to look at things than I have perceived. Moreover, when thinking in different perspectives, I'm able to become a lot more creative, because I simply understand things better from viewing things in different situations. All in all, I feel like this semester was a great experience because I learned a lot of valuable tidbits and lessons that will be helpful later in life.

Blogging Around

Jason:
I completely agree with your article on iMedia, about David Sides and how his music is expanding the range of music to the youth. Personally, I felt the same way that you did. I originally hated the song " Buy you a drank" because it sounded cheezy and the singer's voice was altered but after hearing David Sides' cover of the song, I really appreciated the song a lot more since I could fully hear the notes and the melody playing without and disruption.

George:
I agree that the media plays an important part of our lives, and it even regulates it at times. I learned about the "Quiz Show Scandal" after Mr. Ferguson showed us a clip about it, and I feel like it really opens my mind, and now i begin to question certain aspects of media such as the validity and truth behind these types of shows.

Research: Creation of the World

Reading Sophie’s World I’ve come to realize that one of the major philosophical questions that seems to stem from every topic is, how the world got created. After doing some research, I noticed that there were several different theories of how the world got created, but the leading theory is that of the Big Bang. Most scientists are beginning to accept the notion that the Big Bang created everything. But that seems very peculiar. How can something come from nothing? According to the Big Bang model, the universe used to be a hot dense initial condition at some finite time in the past. After the Big Bang, the hot and dense initial condition continues to expand forming the universe. Now you might ask yourself, how is that possible, you are just speculating? Well, somewhat. Scientists have proven that are universe is expanding by noticing that star parallax, and studying cosmology. However, for now the Big Bang is just a theory, but the scientists at Cern, in Switzerland are trying to find the “God particle” that would permanently prove the theory of the Big Bang. All in all, I personally seem to believe in the Big Bang theory partly because it has some scientific reasoning, but also because it makes the most sense to me. However, I will not discredit other theories because I feel like they also have some pros and some cons dealing with the creation of the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_bang

Change of Mind: Sophie's World Philosophy

When I realized that our class was going to read Sophie’s World in was disgruntled to say the least. My impressions of philosophy were not quite enthusiastic to say the least. At first I thought that philosophy was just something older people do as a hobby in their free time. All in all, I thought that it was a boring subject filled with hard questions, and “outside of the box thinking.” However, after reading the first few chapters I was really moved by what I was reading. I realized that philosophy wasn’t just a worthless subject; I found it to be quite interesting even though the tough questions were still there. Now as we continue to read Sophie’s World I have found more appreciation to the matter of philosophy and its roots. It was really interesting to read about philosophies beginnings and how it ties into almost every aspect of our lives, from nature to how we got to living on this planet that we call Earth. I also realized that philosophy is much more than just reading, it’s different from all the other social studies courses. Like Socrates pointed out, discourse and conversations point at the heart of philosophy. All in all, I found Sophie’s World a pleasant gateway to a subject that I was never really interested in due to the fact that my perception of philosophy was quite negative, and when I think about it, I never really gave it a chance to interest me.

iMedia: MGMT's "Time to Pretend"

"Time to Pretend" by MGMT is a great expression of our current generation. MGMT incorporates all the trials and tribulations of our culture and has created a masterpiece reflection of the current youth. The first few lines in “Time to Pretend,” “I'm feeling rough, I'm feeling raw, I'm in the prime of my life. Let's make some music, make some money, find some models for wives” addresses the teen mind and really does a good job of stating what most teenagers think of themselves and their future. Moreover, MGMT tries to express the feeling of invincibility that teens tend to think that they have. After the first few lines, “Time to Pretend” addresses the drug culture that is also prevalent in our society. I’m not saying that this is the 70’s but I’m also not going to say that there are no drugs whatsoever in the teen world. Furthermore, the next few lines tend to reflect on the senior in high school. The song notes about ho teens start to think of their future, their majors, and their professions. Afterward, the song incorporates a more relaxed type of feel as opposed to the stressful days of a teenager. The song notes of the reminiscence process of the early adults and how they look back to their youth and remember their fond childhood memories. Afterwards, “Time to Pretend” goes along a more stoic path which incorporates the overcoming of these memories by continuing to live your life. It seems as if the band is trying to convey a sense of resilience towards the youth by stating that even though things get tough and stuff happens that you did not intend to happen, you must continue to fight and you must continue to overcome otherwise you will just be another lost soul. The ending to “Time to Pretend” is very gloomy because the band almost makes it seem like whatever happens in your life is just destiny and that you have to deal with it no matter what. All in all, “Time to Pretend” is a song that tries to convey the meaning of living. Its best if you live each day at a time, otherwise life will fly by and you will miss a lot of memorable events that occur during your youth years and I think this song is just trying to reinstall that notion.

LINK: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/m/mgmt/time_to_pretend.html
(This link provides the lyrics as well as the music video from Youtube)

Blogging Around: Jason Lee and J.T. Kim

Jason Lee:

I liked how you used the dialectic between immigrants preventing Americans from getting jobs or are immigrants the ones that keep our economy flowing. Furthermore, I liked how you asked follow up questions. I think that they were very helpful and thought provoking. All in all, I felt like your blog was very informative and I was able to see the immigrant issue thru another perspective.

J.T. Kim:

I really agree with what you had to say about the whole car point of view.I liked how you went so in depth with the whole idea that cars have evolved from primarily transportation utilities to more comfortable,more personal objects. I also liked how you compared life with no cars. I totally agree that life would be a lot more complicated and normal,everyday tasks like going to the supermarket would be a lot more time consuming.