A forgotten alley way-

A forgotten alley way in Gotham City leaves you nothing, but the echoing sounds of car horns, shards of broken glass, snarling gargoyles, moaning cats, the ascending steam from sewer holes, and a dimly lit street light that casts a gloomy reflection from the moon. Your adrenaline has kicked into high gear after successfully pick-pocketing the bill fold off a finely dressed man waiting for a bus around the corner. You lay low with your back against a moist, cold brick wall and a slight smirk, as you finger through the green money. Your heart beats with anticipation and you’re breathing rapidly, yet they both suddenly cease as you struggle to comprehend what exactly it is that is grasping you firmly by the collar. A tall, black as the night, captivating white-eyed, pointy-eared figure, engulfed by a batwing-like cape stands above you, suffocating every square inch of your personal space. It’s too late to pull out the switchblade or revolver, for his rasping voice draws your immediate attention, “I am Batman.”

The Myth behind the Caped Hero

Superman is the mythical caped crusader with a heart full of gold and a willingness to preserve peace and justice. The citizens who knew him and appreciated the deeds of this superhero would gaze in awe and say that he is “faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.” Superman entered the American culture during the mid 1930’s. At this time, the United States was in the midst of a deep depression. Not only had people lost money, but also their spirits had fallen. What the country needed the most was a superhero to lead them from their despair. Psychologically, Superman arrived at the right time. He became the superhero who helped us regain the American Spirit.

Joseph Campbell, the author of The Hero with a Thousand Faces, has made a study of the mythological superheroes of many cultures; both ancient and modern. From this study Campbell has devised a list of criteria of which these heroes share. It is interesting to note that both ancient and modern heroes have at least some of the elements on the list that Campbell devised. The story of Superman follows Campbell’s fourth function of mythology. This is “the psychological function: that, namely, of shaping individuals to the aims and ideals of the various social groups, bearing them from birth to death to the course of a human life” (186). Moreover, Superman represents fundamental values threatened by 20th century wars and economic crises, righting wrongs and providing justice for all. By using Joseph Campbell’s hero cycle entitled The Keys, the reader discovers how Superman is called to adventure, crosses the path of helpers along the threshold of adventure, and is given many difficult tasks which he must overcome.

One of the criteria on Campbell’s list is the “call to adventure” which states that all superheroes appear to follow a pattern of having an unusual birth and/or childhood. Campbell states “The mythological hero, setting forth his common day hut or castle, is lured, carried away, or else voluntarily proceeds, to the threshold of adventure “(74). Superman follows this pattern as he is not an earthling, but is a native of the planet Krypton. His birth name is Kal-El, and he is sent to earth by his parents when the planet Krypton begins to gradually die. Jor-El, Superman’s father, is described as a brilliant scientist; we know little of his mother. However, his father is very important and might even be royalty. We know that this will be an unusual character when Kal-El arrives in Kansas in a small, tubular space ship during a meteor storm.

Another criteria Campbell states in his hero cycle is that the hero will eventually cross the path of a helper. According to Campbell, “The hero journeys though a world of unfamiliar yet strangely intimate forces, some of which severely threaten him (tests), some of which give magical aid (helpers)” (74). The first helpers in the superman myth are Martha and Jonathan Kent, an older couple who live on a farm in Kansas. They find the baby Kal-El in his space ship wrapped in a red cape at the crash site. They decide not to take him to an orphanage but to raise him as their own son. Superman’s foster parents are very different from his biological parents because they do not have much money nor are they considered royalty. Martha and Jonathan decide to name their baby Clark Jerome Kent after her maiden name. Clark’s foster parents are excellent helpers, raising Superman to be kind, respectful, and honorable. They not only help the young Superman realize his extraordinary potential as an athlete, but also teach him how to relate socially and be kind to others. Early in his life, Superman realizes that he is different. He is aware of his supernatural powers. He has x-ray and heat vision, the ability to fly, and super human strength. Realizing that he is different, Jonathan and Martha consistently communicate truths to him that will help the future Superman benefit mankind and protect the innocent from danger. Thus, these two helpers instill in Superman the American values that, coupled with his other-worldly powers, make Superman the quick essential American hero.

Campbell also states that the hero will have some tests that will severely threaten him. Keeping his supernatural abilities from earthlings is a test. Clark must keep his superman identity secret so that he can fit in with not only the other employees of the Daily Planet, but all others who might oppose him. The Daily Planet is a major metropolitan newspaper located in the city of Metropolis where Clark is employed as a reporter. Clark must keep a “nerdy” reputation in order to disguise himself. While working with the newspaper, he meets a young, beautiful woman, Lois Lane. Many hero myths include a romantic element, and according to Campbell’s hero cycle, Lois Lane, may represent “the hero’s sexual union with the goddess-mother of the world (sacred marriage)” (74). In many ways, Lois is a helper, but she also represents one of his tests, for Lois is an intelligent, modern-day woman whom Clark is very attracted to. Clark realizes that Lois has a “crush” on Superman, but must refrain from revealing his feelings and identity. In fact, in order to keep his secrecy from Lois and the public, he must first change into his Superman costume. This also is a task because he must find a place to change; most often Clark uses a convenient phone booth. Clark and Lois together discover many deadly plots aimed at the destruction of mankind, but it is left to Superman to save the world from all threatening evil.

The supreme ordeal takes place in the caped crusader’s journey when he encounters the evil and indestructible Doomsday. Doomsday is from Superman’s native planet Krypton and is the result of a cloning experiment gone all wrong. Doomsday possesses a level of strength and invulnerability equal to Superman himself. This to date is one of Superman’s greatest adversaries. In this adventure, which occurs when Superman is at the height of his powers, he battles with the evil Doomsday. This battle is waged from Ohio to the city of Metropolis. The consequence of Superman’s victory during this supreme ordeal is that the world is safe from evil. In the end of a great war, Superman dies or at least we are told that he is dead. However, he does not really die, but is diagnosed with a severe head injury which leads to a coma. This represents resurrection in Joseph Campbell’s hero cycle: “The hero re-emerges from the kingdom of dread (return, resurrection). The boon that he brings restores the world (elixir)” (74). Upon his return, Superman continues to fly the skies and save all innocent beings from disaster, and this dedication to protecting the innocent from harm is the very “elixir” that 20th century American public felt looking in the world and in our society.

In The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell states, “Freud, Jung, and their followers have demonstrated irrefutably that the logic, the heroes, and the deeds of myth survive into modern times” (73). Clark Kent, aka Superman, lives today as the ultimate American superhero. Upon the top of a building, Superman with his red cape flowing like waves in the wind represents the pride and honor that both young and old Americans’ feel for their country. Superman protects the innocent, cares for the disabled, and fights for the American way.

Status: Double O

Growing up, I was heavily influenced by toys, comics, sports, family, and movies. A significant character that has always captivated my interest in stories would have to be the fictional British secret agent, James Bond. In the early 1960’s, Ian Fleming, who worked for British naval intelligence during World War 11, introduced the world to this new hero. He was daring, courageous. The ladies loved his company. He drove fast cars through unexplainable situations, and used the most sophisticated gadgets. The birth of Agent 007 would forever change the world of espionage in writing, and make numerous superstars in Hollywood’s entertainment industry. Espionage has everyone’s attention whether it is written in an exciting story or captured on camera in a motion picture. One reason I enjoyed getting lost in the James Bond book was that espionage from Ian Fleming’s stories helped my mind escape from reality. I also wanted to read Fleming’s series of the mysterious and action-packed secret agent because they were very popular. Ian Fleming’s twelve books sold more than eighteen million copies nationwide. But most of all, James Bond was a hero I could identify with because of his tenacious attitude towards life and the will to work hard for what he wanted to accomplish in life. These traits have sparked my imagination and helped me grow into a more creative person.

I remember when I was in third grade at Hill Middle School, my grandpa gave me my first James Bond 007 book to read. The book was The Spy Who Loved Me written by Ian Fleming in 1962 and was an original from that year. The story involves U.S and Russian submarines missing which creates tension between the neighboring countries. Agent 007 teams up with one of his many Bond girls, Anya Amosava, and together they find out the hidden truths behind an extremely wealthy, powerful man by the name of Stromburg. His job is essential regarding the shipping industry, and his journey takes him from mountain top skiing, to the pyramids of Egypt and finally to the depths of the ocean where he defeats the villain Stromburg. I enjoyed imagining myself in this hero’s role, but what I remember most are the amazing gadgets which sparked my imagination during my childhood. For example, Bond had a cigarette case which converted to a microfilm viewer, a wristwatch with ticker-tape readout and of course his Lotus which transformed into a submarine.

I dreamed of using all of the sophisticated gadgets that James Bond used. Q, the British wizard of inventions, and James’ friend, influenced me to wonder about how technology would be utilized in the future. In the stories concerning Q and his relationship with Bond, Q never expected gratitude for his work, all he hoped was that his specially crafted tools be returned “in pristine order.” Throughout my childhood, I dreamed of melting objects with an ordinary pair of sunglasses or wear a watch that could spit out poisoned darts. Agent 007 had everything that ranged from his Walther PPK 7.65mm gun in Dr. No to an ordinary suitcase that concealed 40 rounds of ammunition, a throwing knife, 50 gold coins, a sniper rifle, and a talcum-powder can with a tear-gas canister that would only destruct by a magnetic sensor. Q’s inventions were always a step above the times. In Tomorrow Never Dies, his cell phone even doubled as a fingerprint scanner. Some of the more popular toys were his cars. In the early books, he drove a fully equipped Aston Martin DB5, including built-in machine guns, hubcaps with tire slashing blades and its own tracking device. During school as a youngster, I would sketch my own gadgets. I remember one that I drew when I was about ten. It was a unique shoe that released slippery oil from the heel and a flame thrower that could spread an intense stream of flame over 50 feet into the air. This is only one example of the many imaginative sketches I have completed over the years.

Besides the inventiveness of Bond’s gadgets, Mr. Fleming created the character of 007 to be the perfect gentleman. He is an agent fighting with fierce determination and honor. His personal appearance and ambition to succeed, and his success with women were all qualities I admired and have tried to emulate in my life. He had an incredible ability to think on his feet, superb fighting skills, and an unwavering commitment to any mission, however dangerous. Bond kept his mind on the task which had to be accomplished. This has made him the ultimate secret agent during the time of crisis. This series continues to interest its readers, as Bond continues to defeat a variety of evil villains. By overcoming his fears with courage, Bond brought class to action books and movies. The British spy, James Bond, as a character, provided me with an excellent role model.

James Bond is a “Licensed To Kill” action figure that most men would strive to be like, especially since he gets all the ladies he has ever wanted, drives amazing cars, uses secret weapons that the mind can only imagine and explores all over the world and identifies with other cultures. James Bond was exciting for me to try to emulate as a young boy, but when I matured, I realized that I could only admire him and could not practically pursue my fantasy of the glamorous spy. Nevertheless, it gave me great pleasure to read a few of Mr. Fleming’s works for they continue to spark my imagination and helped me to become a more creative person. Thank you so much Mr. Fleming.

Wings of a Bird- Dream Interpretation

During the summer of 1996, I had a very vivid dream. I participated for a Novato boy’s basketball team and was heavily influenced by the National Basketball Association or NBA. My friends and I would sometimes wake up early on Sunday mornings to play at Lynwood Elementary school. A dream that has influenced me to think differently would be the dream about NBA Legend Larry Bird. Larry Bird has been an idol of mine for quite some time. He had beyond the ordinary discipline, unselfish attitude, and decisive play making capabilities unlike anyone I had ever seen before. A legend is someone that will never be forgotten and who will always be remembered. Larry accomplished that and more as soon as he entered the league in 1979. Larry had the talent and the determination. I have been playing basketball since I could barely walk. My father purchased a miniature Bird hoop that was set up in the backyard. The following is my description of that one dream that has influenced me.

I was on vacation with my parents in the city of Boston, Massachusetts. We were staying in a hotel very close to the Boston Garden. The Boston Garden is where Larry and the Celtics used to play all of their home games. I told my parents that I wanted to see it, so they gave me a day to do just that. As soon as I walked up to the gate, the security guard said, “Wait just to make sure I need a photo ID.” I pulled out my passport and the guard remarked, “We have been expecting you Mr. Hageman, we hope you enjoy the tour!” A tour guide walked me around the large, silent as night arena. It definitely did not resemble a garden by the name it was given. I gazed at the sky which held each and every World Championship rafter that hung from high above. There was a rack of balls in the center of half court. My brain tingled with temptation as I felt a sudden urge to aim and shoot at the basket. The security guard approved of the idea by pointing his elongated index finger towards the court with a smile. I was free to take some shots if I wished. He helped remove my jacket and watch, while I emptied my pockets of loose change. I jogged towards the wooden checkered beast, the parquet court, which had an aroma of sweet pine finishing swept through my nostrils.

As I approached mid-court, I observed the winking leprechaun which depicted the teams’ dominance and logo. I started heating up from beyond the arc. I was having so much fun that time seemed to have slipped by me. There I stood alone at the free throw line when I gazed back at the seats to find my tour guide. He was gone and I was now even more excited to play. I gazed back at the rim and bounced the ball a couple of more times. I took a deep breath, but as soon as I was about to release the ball, a loud echoing slam came from behind my shadows. It sounded as if though someone had dropped a ball on the checkered beast. I turned my head slowly to secretly observe what had just happened. There stood a 6’9” bleached white specimen with long curly golden hair. He asked with a deep voice, “Do you want to shoot around?” It was a green and white giant with warm up pants named Larry Bird. Larry and I went over many exercises and three point contests. After the games, Larry showed me his old locker and snagged a little brown box. He gently placed the box onto the palm of my hand. I gave him one last hand shake and left the Boson Garden with a smile on my face. I did not open the box until after we arrived back at the hotel room later that night.

As I lay isolated upon my bed, I tried to depict what exactly Larry’s gift was and how it should be used. It was a golden ticket to the 2011 NBA Championship game. It was weird because how could there be tickets already made in advance to a game almost ten years into the future? Ten years pass and I am sitting courtside to a Boston Celtics game with my fiancée. It was a dark and windy night in Boston. The home team was playing a successful Chicago Bulls team. It was the final Game 7 for the World Championship. The opening began and the starters were about to be introduced. The lights dimmed and the towering scoreboard ignited the room with vivacious colors and patterns. The announcer uplifted the crowd with excitement as he roared the names of the five starting Celtic players. The fifth and final player to be introduced was me! On the back of number 12’s jersey read HAGEMAN. The dream concludes with me on the shoulders of my fellow teammates and in my hands are two shiny, golden trophies, the Championship trophy and the series MVP. I woke up after that and never had this dream again.

However, my dream has led me to suspicion to what exactly the significance of this dream may have represented. It is believed that when there is a home in your dream it symbolizes your “spirit.” Well the gym is like my home in a sense. My spirit is ultimately my passion for the game of basketball. Without the game, I have absolutely no clue where or how I would be. What can I say-I love it so much! There are many symbols that I can get from this dream. I met my mythological “hero” Larry Bird. I was playing the game that I love. I was 12 years old when this dream occurred which is right in the prime when I was fascinated with the game of Basketball. I believe my dream was one of a wish fulfillment. I idolize the Bird man and respected his style of play. He was the first one to practice, and the last one to leave. This dream had a huge impact on the way I perceived the game. I built up confidence in myself and practiced almost everyday for the rest of my school career and beyond. I wanted respect every time I walked onto a court. I feel proud when my opponents tell each other to defend me tight and to not let me shoot. This dream altered my individualism concerning practice methods for the game I love. Overall, this dream was very positive and I now understand that knowledge is essential on being aware of one’s strengths and weaknesses.

Bourgeois Hero- His Royal Airness

“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.”-Michael Jordan

The image genre that is most meaningful to me is the use of ads and their influence on people. The sub-genre that I would like to discuss along with this very notion is sports celebrity endorsements for the ads themselves. The image above tells it all. We are being asked to take one track and analyze its meaningfulness, well boy do I have a lot to discuss. I must be able to distinguish between the uses and abuses of how this image of “His Royal Airness,” can have such an overwhelming influence on how people imagine themselves.
America is driven by consumption, the ideology of capitalism. The capitalist society that we are members of, is a society loaded with consumers. Consumerism is achieving personal happiness by the material possessions we own. The economic system of the U.S would not survive without mass consumption. The desire to own and to want, controls our everyday lives as we are exposed to thousands of advertisements. These products can be promoted through several different ways. One effective method of advertisement is celebrity endorsement. Through this method, a celebrity is incorporated into a commercial or paper advertisement with the ultimate goal of persuading the target audience. The iconic figure or celebrity that promotes the product is normally a well-known person who has an influential impact in the pop culture world. These people can be seen as “heroes” by the media entertainment industry.

If these celebrities can be thought of as heroes, then one must question: what characterizes a hero? Is a hero a valiant soldier who faces the enemy when others run away or a firefighter who attacks hell’s kitchen head on by breaking through the window of a burning building? One of the leading reasons for consumption is by that of a bourgeois hero. According to Berger, an author from one of my Media Analysis books, “For Marxists, bourgeois heroes and heroines function to maintain the status quo by ‘peddling’ capitalist ideology in disguised form and by helping keep consumer lust at a high pitch.” The bourgeois hero is not the hero that we are accustomed to recognizing by brave acts, but a hero that we can recognize because we, as spectators, have seen them attain the American dream that we all chase after. The bourgeois hero is a spokesperson for the promotion of consumption. They help impose the ideals of the bourgeoisie class: power, wealth, and education. Michael Jordan is the perfect example of the bourgeois hero in Marxist theory; however some reasonable people may disagree with this and claim that he is truly an American hero.
Michael Jordan’s name is synonymous with greatness. A 14 time NBA All-Star, a 2-time Olympic Gold medalist, and Sports Illustrated’s “Sportsman of the Year,” has helped form this man into a true iconic figure. His determination, work ethic, and captivating gracefulness on the court have transformed the game into an art form. He never seemed to disappoint the fans by thriving while facing adversity. His astounding athletic abilities seemed boundless and were always showcased in dramatic fashion. He had the stylish look of a model, while also becoming one of the most successful business entrepreneurs in the world. In America, people dream of becoming the self-made man; successful, wealthy, popular, and striving to be recognized by others. These dreams have all become realities for Michael Jordan. I have researched and found some staggering statistics of how much of an influence that he has had which I will share for this next essay.

It is hard to believe how much money one person can be worth by the image and products that they sell. I can say that I too have been an advocate consuming machine of his “Airness” and the wide range of products that he helps to promote. What are the positive and negative influences of the concept of bourgeois hero? It is positive in the sense that the companies laugh at us while they all make mad profit. The negative aspect is that, we, the consumers of the products, are falling for what we desire by spending our hard earned money on products that we want, and not necessarily what we need.

Images of greatness

The invention of the camera and video cameras has started a revolution. We are bombarded with free flowing, aesthetically pleasing to the eye, fast moving images everyday. There are probably many images around you as you are reading this blog right this very minute. Your existence and life’s most cherished memories can be told with a giant photo album, no words attached are even necessary. Images and the Image Culture is a phenomenon that I cannot explain in words.

A simple picture can speak a thousand words. My job was to find an image that is meaningful to me and share its importance to a culture. Many images easily come to mind, most of them political or military based. Famous war photographs from the civil war including sprawled out dead bodies on the grounds of the First Bull Run or Antietam, Marines raising the American Flag at Iwo Jima, a naked crying girl running in the streets of Vietnam, Jaws surfacing from deep beneath the dark murky waters, Indiana Jones escaping from a giant bolder, Michael Jackson moon-walking or NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong standing on the moon.

All of these images have been presented to us and have been embedded into our minds through the universal use of media and literature. Yet, I need to share an image that is truly meaningful to me. I have selected the famous photograph taken of Boston Celtics legend, The Hick from French Lick, Larry Bird and the Los Angeles Lakers Superstar, Mr. Showtime himself, Earvin “Magic” Johnson! I must say that this image has many meanings besides two players awaiting a possible rebound. You can see this very image in the background of my room in my recently made vlog regarding self-censorship. By the way, it is a painting that was given to me for my birthday from a friend who is an artist.

This particular image has been named as one of the Top 100 Sports Illustrated Magazines greatest photographs. Just the other day I witnessed a fellow SFSU student wearing a lime green t-shirt with the image on the front. I can say that it has obviously affected our culture in some shape or form.

Rosen says, “ We will, of course, be enormously entertained by these images, and many of them will tell us stories in new and exciting ways……....why particular

events or people affect us as they do.”

These two particular people have had a tremendous effect on me. Not only in the way I view the game of basketball, but in life as well. This image can tell everyone a story. This image in my eyes represents the path or drive to success, work ethic, leadership, pride, striving to be the best, friendship, respect, dedication, excitement, competitiveness, guts, intelligence, determination, domination, class, warriors, gladiators, just to name a few. At the time they were of epic proportions. Mythical like gods some say. In representing the cultural aspect during the 1980’s, the city of Boston represented the blue collared, hardworking, and gritty workers putting in the hours. While the city of Los Angeles represented the white-collared, glamour, flashing lights, and Hollywood.

As stated in the synopsis for a new book about these two individuals, “From the moment these two players took the court on opposing sides, they engaged in a fierce physical and psychological battle. Their uncommonly competitive relationship came to symbolize the most compelling rivalry in the NBA. These were the basketball epics of the 1980s -- Celtics vs. Lakers, East vs. West, physical vs. finesse, Old School vs. Showtime, even white vs. black.

In conclusion, images take us over completely. How close is that to McLuhan? Whether it is one image or a million images, the point is that they mean so much more than just an image. They speak to us without the use of words. They are a language all in themselves. They are capable of sharing the past; they are capable of sharing the future. They are…

Stop Smiling Burger King Dude!

Pictures of chaos, dead bodies abandoned in downtown streets emerged, we confronted our inability to cope with the immediate chaos, destruction. How is it that the U.S. was unprepared to cope with such a disaster. We see evidence, images of violent acts, drugs, and sex on television and news on a daily basis. How could we not be prepared to handle this difficult situation? Is it due to the actual severity of what crisis presents itself? It seems that a murder charge here, a rape there, another kidnapping somewhere else are all just to common these days. It seems that the people are only stimulated by the most grotesque, worse, terrifying acts of all. Whether it man-created or mother nature at its fiercest.

I saw that this well-written essay by Christine Rose was published in 2005. I wonder what her perspective would have been if it was written shortly after the horrific acts on September 11^th, 2001. Although Christine quickly mentions the everlasting images of the twin towers burning from the terrorist attacks.

The word “image,” can have so many different meanings if you think about it. Christine uses the example of love. It could mean an image of a couple united with a steamy embrace or parents hugging their child. The main argument is that with every image that we may have in our psyche, it can easily mean different things to different people. What I wonder about is the words that are most meaningful such as family or sex or body. I guess that your particular view depends on past experiences and perspective on its definition.

I just closed my eyes and rubbed my face. You know how you can see little sparkles, colors, and images, when you either squeeze you eyes tightly or blink in the dark black spots. I have no idea why, but I just witnessed Joseph Stalin’s face and moustache shape shift to Luigi’s good friend, Mario. It was creepy. I know that was completely random, but its images isn’t it?

I agree with her view on how the ease of replication makes images less magical and less shocking. For me, I have seen certain commercials or symbols so many times that it ultimately makes the material dry and boring. I lose all excitement after a while. This also goes with popular fast food chain mascots. Jack In the Box and Burger King were starting to freak me out big time. It was to the point where I had a nightmare of Burger King staring at me while I sleep. Ronald McDonald on the other hand has been obsolete from the repetitive world of images. He’s been out of the loop for a while which makes it more enjoyable to see his character re-visit from time to time.

Do you feel that it should be illegal to use one’s own digital camera or computer to produce or alter an original image? Christine declares that as a result, the power of the image may be diluted in one sense, but strengthened in another.

I have to admit that manipulating a photo to your own discretion can be highly entertaining, and boy to see it published is fantastic. In my senior at Novato High School, O took a computer design class. I have to admit it was very funny to put my parents heads and other bodies or Bob Marley and I smoking a true spliff stuffed with kaya.

Silence of the Lambs-

For my essay # 2, I chose to respond to ChaseTheMusical’s Vlog on his idea of “Self-Censorship.” He gets right to the point and asks the viewer what is it and why we do it? His definition of Self-Censorship is when you are in a certain situation whatever it may be and you hold back by not saying something that is on your mind. It may be that you are refraining from being “real,” because you are fearful of hurting the person’s feelings. Or maybe because you are afraid of the ramifications that may soon follow with what you have said to that person. The fact of the matter is that you do not let people know what you are thinking. My question is how does that make you feel? What existence do you have as a human-being on planet Earth if you always mind your P’s and Q’s as some would say. If you are always Mr. nice guy then people will eventually treat you like dirt and take advantage of you because they know that you won’t say anything back. I agree with Chase in that it would be extremely frustrating to never share your feelings and keep them locked up.
It’s not a game; it’s just having the pride in yourself and the willingness to be honest with people. I completely agree with Chase that we do not want to hurt other people’s feelings on purpose. This is not the case. But if you are striving to find something that bothers you and you must make a point by sharing it on Youtube, then to me it sounds like you are attempting to cause a stir. There is something that American’s have the right too which is the Freedom of Speech with good reasoning of course. I know that Chase is simply stating what it is, but I found his argument to be weak. It would have been much more effective if he had been able to share a personal experience as an example with his viewers. He simply just discussed the topic. For one, it would have interested me more, but I see what his message was for his vlog.
Another aspect about this vlog is that it sounded like he was just trying to recruit more subscribers like it’s a popularity contest or something. He says that he is afraid and he is telling the absolute truth. The reason why he declares to share his thoughts on certain “touchy” subjects is because he is protected by his surroundings in his home. You should be strong minded and stand up for yourself with good intentions of course.
Immediately after watching his vlog, I was interested in anything else that he may have discussed concerning touchy subjects. So, I followed up and found one that he did which discussed being 22 years old and still a virgin. To me I think that he is a virgin in a couple of ways. One because he has not yet had sex and two because he still hasn’t found himself and his purpose yet in this world. This may be why he is sharing his opinions to find himself. It all makes sense to me. I too am a virgin in one of these senses.
I agree with his view on how we all have flaws and that by sharing them with others then maybe we can put them out there and find an answer to solving them. I laughed when he said that he can’t dance or sing and then burped. He was being “real” for sure at those moments and throughout his vlog. What is even crazier about this whole thing is that my friend Chris, a student at SSU looks exactly and I mean exactly like him. Minus the longer hair. It is spooky how similar they are. My main thought on this entire touchy subject is that how does someone know who they are if they can never say what is on their mind. There is a time where you have to face your fears and just speak up. Many people did overtime and boy did they make a difference. Names such as Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., Frederick Douglass, and Marshall McLuhan all did it. Trust me; there is a list like this that will go on and on. You have to use common sense in your approach to sharing your views with others. There is no harm done by simply being honest with someone. It might hurt their feelings, but there is no shame on your part. The point is that you had the confidence within yourself to get whatever it was off your chest. This is the most important thing. It is better than lying in my opinion.

You Ain't Nothing But A Hound dog-

I will need to read this book once again. I enjoyed the majority of the material in this fascinating book yet I managed to struggle in comprehending some of Marshall McLuhan’s theories or concepts. This book and the messages within it are not by any means easy to grasp. There are pictures that relate to the information, but sometimes the pictures just looked odd. This randomness is why I liked the book. For example, I observed that when you look at the montage of noses from a distance on page 21 in the book they closely resemble the computer data chip on the previous page. I have no clue, just something that caught my eye. Due to its approach in being outrageously different compared to other ideological books, I found it to be quite interesting. I thought it was interesting when he asks if you have ever contemplated suicide and honestly, yes I have. But does everyone at least once in their lifetime? I would never do anything remotely close to harming myself on purpose, but it has crossed my mind for whatever reason I cannot explain.
McLuhan’s perspective on “your education,” especially the involvement of childhood is disturbingly true. The images and news that are presented to us via electronic media diminish the little time that we already have of “growing up.” We grow up so fast as it is, not to mention the years zooming by with the blink of an eye, yet with what is on TV, it forces children to become more aware of the truths.

that it even exists. I wish every detail of every concept could just be expressed for what it is and not how it can be altered to make sense for someone who does not appreciate it. I understand that it is best not to lie to our youth, but only guide them away from aspects of life that they are not ready to comprehend. An example of this for me would be my adjustment in learning the truth behind Christopher Columbus. During my entire childhood, Columbus was sought to be a hero and the man who discovered that the world was indeed not flat. It was only 3 years ago in my history course that I learned the revolting, destructible, and hard truths of how he treated the natives, especially women and children. I was quite disturbed and shocked when this entire time I felt that I had been given the truthful information.
Media research and its effects on society existed before television use became widespread in the mid 1950’s. It was the invention of television that prompted scholars to study its meanings. Behind every action, every word, there is something that can be criticized about it. Once television expanded, the people expanded. People have a tendency to emulate that which makes them feel more meaningful. New ways of behaving were being introduced which accumulated to a mass exodus towards change.

You are probably wondering why I have Elvis Presley, the one and only King of Rock and Roll on my blog. Well, this man changed how viewers could watch TV. When he appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, it was forbidden for the public to witness his gyrating bottom torso on screen. Remember the scene in Forrest Gump with little Forrest and his mother walking down the street? In the 50’s, this was very sexual and quite explicit for the era. Today in 2009, there is more violence, drugs, and sex than I could have ever imagined to see in my life. The question is, how and why do the regulations towards the viewing of these acts change overtime? Why do they have to change? What makes us able to see them now and not before? Another important factor that McLuhan discusses is the difference in mediums. I understand that “the medium is the massage,” but watching something on the tube, and reading something in the newspaper are quite different, yet you can interpret the exact same message into different meanings.
It is amazing when you realize that McLuhan’s theories were extremely ahead of his time. Television had already existed for more than 25 years, but in 1967 he had recognized its deeper messages. The most important paragraph in this entire book comes on page 26. The very profound and bold sentence that is simply stated is “All media work us over completely.” I just wanted to mention how strong of a statement that really is if you think about it for a second. On page 45, McLuhan discusses his views on how “Rationality” and logic came to depend on the presentation of connected and sequential facts or concepts. I think this closely relates to the presentation of connectiveness that we have on the internet. Well, let me think, hmm maybe something called AIM and vlogs?

The Postman has delivered the mail-

First, I would like to say that Neil Postman is one very intelligent human being. The arguments in his essay are compelling and definitely well researched. I am quite certain that Neil Postman has probably read this essay many times over the course of his career. It is quite revealing to the truths of modern day technology. His essay on “The Humanism of Media Ecology,” possesses all of the necessary tools to what a great essay should have. I enjoyed his use of examples that came from the words of some of the greatest literary writers, poets, and thinkers of human existence. He mentions Aristotle, Socrates, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, just to name a few.

Honestly, I was freaked out with his concept regarding the replacement of the word “substance” with the word “technology” and how it would still stand as a fundamental principle of media ecology. When I think of the word “substance,” it means everything put together that creates something. Sure, we can think of chemistry or physics classes and think of substances, but I am talking about the ingredients used for the creation of something whatever it may be. It was freaky to compare that word with today’s technology. All I can think of is man versus machine like in Terminator. One day, machines will take over. They are beginning too right this very minute, today. I am interning at ABC for a show, and there is one human being running with the studio camera. The remaining three cameras’ are robotic and move on their own. When I walk around campus, everyone is always on a computer, phone, iPod, etc. We resemble machines in the sense that I expect to see someone pull out their phone almost on cue.

Media has the absolute power over many things that exist within our everyday lives. It shapes the way we feel about ourselves, the way we think, the way we talk, the way we walk, and the way we comb our hair. Today’s technological advancement, breakthroughs, gadgets, whatever you want to call them is truly out of this world. The special effects in movies sometimes make me have to change my underwear. Sorry, joke!

In Postman’s essay, there is a brief glance at the most beautiful aspects in life to enjoy. He mentions the natural environment and includes things like air, trees, rivers, and caterpillars. After reading all of the horrifying truths and being tangled in its web of confusion, for a split second, I was memorized by the very thought of these images. I thought of the real trees, the real caterpillar on a tree stem, the real rivers and the sounds they make when flowing. Then, my mind fluttered with those images transforming into a different type of image, the one’s on a computer or television screen. The reality is that we can simply use a machine to record these aspects in their natural environment and place them onto a screen. It is sad but true that many people rely on the screen and not for the real experience. As a human, I feel that it is mandatory to discover, experience, and just live your lives. If you are so amazed with seeing the Great Sphinx on the Discovery Channel, then why don’t you try your very best to save up the money and travel to Egypt to see it in person. Words cannot express how much that little concept means to me.

Follow the Yellow brick road!

“Whereas our argument shows that the power and capacity of learning exists in the soul already; and that just as the eye was unable to turn from darkness to light without the whole body, so too the instrument of knowledge can only by the movement of the whole soul be turned from the world of becoming into that of being, and learn by degrees to endure the sight of being and of the brightest and best of being, or in other words, of the good.”
This is my moral to the story for my paper. Eureka I found it! I have just successfully completed watching The Wizard of Oz. The witch of the North talks about how Dorothy has always had the power and that she needed to learn it for herself. This ties in dramatically with my first blogs regarding the path towards obtaining knowledge or wisdom through experience. When I viewed the film, I did my best to correlate what I heard and what I saw on the screen with symbols discussed in class about Plato’s Cave. It was then where I realized that it was all there in front of me.
The yellow brick road, notice that yellow is a form of light, is the path towards enlightenment. Dorothy ran away from home because she was mentally and spiritually bewildered. It was the path that she needed to take through another reality or illusion that the knowledge of finding who she is and what is important to her in the end. Along her journey through self-evaluation and the search for truth, she is accompanied by none other than the scarecrow, tin-man, and lion. They were all in need of something as well including a brain, heart, and courage. Symbolically, I feel that Dorothy was in need of those exact three objects as well. The characters in the story already had what they were looking for all along. As stated in the bold quote above from the end of Plato’s Cave, the “capacity of learning exists in the soul already.” That is it!
It relates to learning through experience. They just had not realized it or even understood what it meant. A few other symbols that I considered were the Wizard himself, and the flying monkeys. The Wizard reminded me of Socrates for he was full of answers and wise. The flying monkeys were the slaves in the dark, empty, closed minded cave. They did exactly as they were told to do and had no minds of their own. The black and white beginning of the film represented Dorothy’s cloudiness of thought, her lack of experience.
She was at her home in Kansas, her cave, her comfort zone. It was running away from this comfort zone and the willingness to change from the ordinary to grow that ultimately showed her the path towards enlightenment. When she arrived to the Land of Oz, it was all in color, suddenly more clear and she was on the right path towards the truth. I can think of a few specific scenes and quotes from the film, that I will use for my paper to help justify my argument on this moral. I will wait until the paper is complete before I further discuss those topics. I am positive that this film has a crap load of life lessons to be learned, but I find this moral the most meaningful to me as it relates to my previous blogs pertaining to learning through self-evaluation and experience!

I am beginning to see the light-

First and foremost, John Partridge did an outstanding job on his essay. The first thing that caught my eye was his thesis statement. In Partridges’ opening paragraph, he describes the eyes of the slaves being overloaded with sensory information and their rejection of it. This closely relates to my first blog where I shared my story of being overloaded with Calculus in Math class. I was blinded by the light, or knowledge, that was being thrown at me, for it was too much all at once. My eyes viewed the information, but it was my mind that rejected it. Partridge says that some of the prisoners would wish to remain imprisoned through the horror of their condition. Just as I would have rather remained imprisoned in my ignorance of Calculus than become over powered by the ‘light.’ In life, I feel that is absolutely necessary to respect everything and to at least give your full effort in whatever it is that you are learning. How will I succeed, grow, and experience, if I do not put forth the efforts which are needed from me?

Partridge explains how Socrates also believed that he was commanded by the god Apollo to practice philosophy. This notion ties in with my belief that we, humans, must receive aid from others. In an earlier blog, I shared my opinion on mentors and their importance in helping us grow as individuals. There are people out there who have experienced some things first hand, but without the guidance of the mentor it may not be possible to view the light. Therefore, Socrates may have been a mentor to the slaves, but he too learned his wisdom from another. In this case, it was the god Apollo. Does this mean that Socrates was a slave at one time in his life as well, possibly during his infancy? What can we infer when he, too, was led to believe a certain ideal? The question is, how can we lead a life away from being a slave and being imprisoned? Will I be a slave my entire life? What can I do to break the chains which have imprisoned me since birth? I would like to experience everything for myself, so that the truth may come directly to me and not through the eyes and ears of another.

Partridge goes on to examine the importance of this very topic by sharing his correlation between The Matrix and Plato’s Cave: proper teaching only occurs when students are prepared to make discoveries for themselves. I discovered that I learn the best through self-examination. I wonder if the “care of soul” mentioned in his essay may be a possibility for me and my future endeavors.

Another point that closely relates to my first blog, is how we can distinguish different things but lack a systematic, casual explanation of them. Partridge states that we have an assortment of true beliefs about the what of things, but a mistaken hold on the why of things. I gave a similar view on this by explaining the truth behind the apple. I used the apple as an example for seeing the truth more clearly by using the aid of light (knowledge) to gain from experience. Truth of the apple has come to us through the vision we now have of it with the aid of light. For us to search for more truth of the apple, we could take a bite of it, find where it came from, and find other deeper meanings using experience. Thus, we can continuously find out more about what the apple is, but can only speculate as to why the apple is.

Enter the Dragon-Blog #2

A bright light can be overpowering. In the beginning after the credits, there is a bright light. Throughout watching the film and comparing it with Plato’s Cave, I found particular coincidences that drew my immediate attention. When I first watched “The Matrix,” all I could think about was how sick the slow motion, guns, and blazing scenes were, and how loud the surround sound was to my ears. After watching it this time with “The Cave” in mind, it definitely put a lot more of the illusions into a different perspective. My symbolic references could be off, but for me they are true.
In my first blog, I related the cave to being shallow, empty, and dark. When the police are going through the dark hallway in search of Trinity, it reminded me of the cave. When they kick the door open, they find Trinity sitting in the corner looking at the wall. What was interesting to me was how you can see her figure cast a shadow on the wall. They ask her to put her hands up which then resembles the puppets from the cave. The police use the light to try to find their way through the dark building. This light represents how they cannot see—not see outside of the box. They are still enslaved by the system, the Matrix; they cannot think for themselves.
When Trinity said “Wake up, Neo,” the quote immediately grabbed my attention and reminded me one of my favorite musicians, Bob Marley. He had a song titled, “Wake up and live,” which calls out for people to realize that there is a lot more than meets the eye. “Wake up,” is a very broad statement. I feel that it could mean to literally wake up from sleep, or wake up from this routine that we may all have, and to ultimately expand our minds to enrich our lives even further.
This also ties in with Neo at the office where he works. At work, he is in a tiny cubicle, hiding from the agents. The slave at work, our ordinary routine, everyone in the office is the same, working just in the same way. We are all dependent on the system, the Matrix, for survival. Also, when in the office, speaking with his boss, Neo glances out the window and observes the washers cleaning the windows. The dirty window represents cloudiness, confusion and altered reality or state of mind. As the window begins to be cleaned, it is obviously clearer to look out and see “the new realm.”

Does Morpheus represent the greatest good, a god similar to that of the power of the sun?
He is very wise and seems to have an answer for everything similar to how Socrates informed the slave. “You have to see it for yourself,” a quote which ties in with my first blog about how I gain the most from personal experiences.
In class we spoke about chains symbolizing mental, physical, spiritual, and control. It appears that these come into play when Morpheus is hand-cuffed to the chair in the high-rise building. He uses all of these aspects to release from his imprisonment.
After Morpheus sticks the needle in the hole in the neck, he and Neo appear in a bright white lighted room. It appears that Neo is somewhat blinded by the light, ignorant, the over-powering presence of knowledge. He has been living in the matrix and has been consumed by it. Morpheus always wears sunglasses in these scenes. I think this is a symbol that has a great reflection on Plato’s theme. Morpheus is enlightened, similar to that of Socrates, thus the light does not bother him for he has experienced it before.
For seven years while I was growing up in Novato, I studied a mixture of different styles of martial arts. I attended Ito’s White Tiger dojo which pertained mostly to Karate/Kenpo. Sensei Ito also gave us instruction in Chinese-boxing, tai chi breathing techniques, and Jeet Kune Do. This leads me to my next observation. It was “The Dragon,” Bruce Lee who gave me the motivation and interest to even begin studying the martial arts. For as long as I can remember, I have always been a Bruce Lee fan. I recognized the teachings of Bruce when Morpheus is fighting with Neo during the Kung-Fu scene.
Morpheus says “free your mind.” This closely resembles Bruce’s philosophy and his teachings of Tao of Jeet Kune Do. Bruce used to say, “Using no way, as way. Having no limitation, as limitation.” You must be able to adapt to your surroundings. We are all simply taught the concepts, a certain way of thinking. Yet, it is up to us to expand our minds and go further, to go beyond what everyone else might know. Bruce encouraged his students to use all the different systems and to absorb and adapt what is useful into their own personal style. He insisted that Jeet Kune Do was not a style but a way of thinking.

In light we trust

To begin my 1st blog, I would like to share a quote that somewhat relates to Plato’s cave. The legendary musician Jimi Hendrix once said, “Knowledge is power, power is wisdom.” I could not agree more. With knowledge, the truth, of whatever it may be, can be accepted. No one sees the truth in its true form. We are all individuals, we are all unique, and thus everyone has a different perspective on what is true. This reading is important to me because it shows that truth can come in all forms. Plato did a remarkable job at looking at the deeper meanings behind every thing. It can be from shadows of animals on the wall of a cave or reading the words printed in a book. This brings me back to Jimi’s quote. The light represents knowledge, which is power. On a consistent basis, it has been experience that has shown me the truth. I feel there truly is no other way to find the true meaning of anything without going through life’s experiences. The prisoners in the cave were helpless without the guidance from the light. The prisoners in the cave had a tunnel vision; they had a very narrow view of the world. The cave has a much deeper, symbolical meaning. Caves are dark, shallow, and empty. The empty cave represents an empty mind, which has no meaning. The cave can also represent society in how humans live by the social norms, and conformity. Once you bring in light or (knowledge) into that emptiness it gives it truth. The light that blinds us can be extremely overwhelming. This relates to how I felt when I was in my first calculus course in high school. The teacher gave a lot of information that became overwhelming for me. I could not handle the brightness of the light or the knowledge that was being thrown to me.
Another example may be, there is an apple on the floor in a dark room, and you can see the object but only from its outer layer, its shape. Once light enters the dark room, you see it in full detail; its rich color, stem, texture. Truth of the apple has come to us through the vision we now have of it with the aid of light. Yet, this is only the beginning. For us to search more truth of the apple, we could take a bite of it, find where it came from and find the deeper meanings using experience. The sun creates life and helps things grow. The more we can learn, the more we grow as an individual. Growth for humans is essential to a healthy lifestyle. Someone that opposes growth will never change and become stagnant. It seemed that the prisoners or students of Plato were resisting the opportunity to become enlightened or aware. Why? They were comfortable and had no desire for change. They are followers and ultimately had no desire to learn and grow.