Thursday, April 30, 2009
Caitlin Nelson - Indian Tribes Documentary
Watching this documentary made me feel really frustrated towards the people in it. I understand the debate over the fact that the land is not always going to be solely for the Native American, to an extent. But the people in the documentary were completely rude and selfish. They didn't even try to see it from anyone else's point of view but their own. just because the different tribes forms of church weren't like our traditional ones, doesnt mean it isnt religion. It was so frustrating seeing how narrow minded people are capable of being, as if something that doesn't fit into their box of how things should be, automatically is unimportant, wrong and stupid. I had a roommate very much like the people of these documentaries, a strict christian who saw things her way and her way only and had no love in her heart for people outside of her own faith. I think thats why this documentary fired me up so much, i reminded me of her. Close mindedness is such a bad thing, so much harm is done by those who are unwilling to see things from other points of view, who are so unwilling to open up their eyes to how beautifully unique so many cultures are - how they richen our lives.
Caitlin Nelson - Assigned Reading
"The great increase in human population began in earnest ten thousand years ago; there are now 3,500,000,000 and there will be about 6,500,000,000 in thirty more years. We have loosed a population epidemic since men ceased to hunt and gather that is the most terrifying phenomenon of the million years of human experience" from The Tender Carnivore pg 26
It is interesting to me that Paul Shepard looks at the human race as an epidemic. When I think of an epidemic I usually think of something that is quickly killing hundreds of people, like the Plague. I can see where Shepard is coming from, but at the same time I think is is incredibly harsh on people. It's almost as if his ideal world would have little or no people on it, he would probably overjoyed if a natural disaster knocked out a few countries. We do destroy, and kill things, and poison the earth, but we do try to save it to - at least some of us do. When I read things by Shepard, I don't like getting the feel that we are a plague upon the earth, as if we are the worst thing that ever happened to it. We're learning, we are trying to become "eco" friendly, whatever that means. Some days I'm pretty convinced that we've started to change the way we treat the earth a little too late, but the important part is to realize that we are trying. And in the United States, it's only practical for things to have adapted the way they have. With the sheer amounts of people that we have, an the knowledge that we have gained in technology, i can see why we live the way we do. You can't expect us to just retreat into shacks in the woods and live happily ever after. Is that what Shepard is doing? I'm sure he wrote his book on a laptop in his nice apartment. I fully support finding ways to improve the world, but at the same time I think we need to be practical about it.
It is interesting to me that Paul Shepard looks at the human race as an epidemic. When I think of an epidemic I usually think of something that is quickly killing hundreds of people, like the Plague. I can see where Shepard is coming from, but at the same time I think is is incredibly harsh on people. It's almost as if his ideal world would have little or no people on it, he would probably overjoyed if a natural disaster knocked out a few countries. We do destroy, and kill things, and poison the earth, but we do try to save it to - at least some of us do. When I read things by Shepard, I don't like getting the feel that we are a plague upon the earth, as if we are the worst thing that ever happened to it. We're learning, we are trying to become "eco" friendly, whatever that means. Some days I'm pretty convinced that we've started to change the way we treat the earth a little too late, but the important part is to realize that we are trying. And in the United States, it's only practical for things to have adapted the way they have. With the sheer amounts of people that we have, an the knowledge that we have gained in technology, i can see why we live the way we do. You can't expect us to just retreat into shacks in the woods and live happily ever after. Is that what Shepard is doing? I'm sure he wrote his book on a laptop in his nice apartment. I fully support finding ways to improve the world, but at the same time I think we need to be practical about it.
Caitlin Nelson - Outside Reading
The Poplar Field
The poplars are fell'd, farewell to the shade
And the whispering sound of the cool colonnade:
The winds play no longer and sing in the leaves,
Nor Ouse on his bosom their image receives.
Twelve years have elapsed since I first took a view 5
Of my favourite field, and the bank where they grew:
And now in the grass behold they are laid,
And the tree is my seat that once lent me a shade.
The blackbird has fled to another retreat
Where the hazels afford him a screen from the heat; 10
And the scene where his melody charm'd me before
Resounds with his sweet-flowing ditty no more.
My fugitive years are all hasting away,
And I must ere long lie as lowly as they,
With a turf on my breast and a stone at my head, 15
Ere another such grove shall arise in its stead.
'Tis a sight to engage me, if anything can,
To muse on the perishing pleasures of man;
Short-lived as we are, our enjoyments, I see,
Have a still shorter date, and die sooner than we.
~William Cowper
This a poem by William Cowper that I read when I was in the tenth grade, and it has been one of my favorites ever since. When I read those verses, I feel as if Cowper gets to the heart of man's faults. He talks about this beautiful field of trees that he once loved, simply for what it was. It was a retreat for him, but then man decided to cut the trees down. Cowper goes back and to his dismay the trees are gone. All that is left are stumps of the trees that he once enjoyed so readily. And yet, even though man cut the trees down for whatever reason it was, he is still unsatisfied. Man has this insatiable hunger to continue to create, to mold nature into what it "should" be. Our happiness is so short lived. It's like buying new clothes or a new book or whatever, it's exciting at first and we can't imagine wanting something else. But a few days later the purchase is old, its not exciting anymore because its used and we are too familiar with it. People have seen it already, and thus starts the process again. Of having to buy something else new, to regain that temporary feeling of happiness and contentedness that we want to feel so badly. But it won't last, it never lasts. Not when we place it in material things, or things that we are in charge of. Man is thirsting for more, and we search in all of the wrong places and do all of the wrong things. Until we realize that, until we realize that joy, the kind that doesn't fade, is found in spirituality, in God, or some outlet of that form, we will just continue to seek and destroy looking to fill up a gap within ourselves that won't be filled by anything created by our own hands.
The poplars are fell'd, farewell to the shade
And the whispering sound of the cool colonnade:
The winds play no longer and sing in the leaves,
Nor Ouse on his bosom their image receives.
Twelve years have elapsed since I first took a view 5
Of my favourite field, and the bank where they grew:
And now in the grass behold they are laid,
And the tree is my seat that once lent me a shade.
The blackbird has fled to another retreat
Where the hazels afford him a screen from the heat; 10
And the scene where his melody charm'd me before
Resounds with his sweet-flowing ditty no more.
My fugitive years are all hasting away,
And I must ere long lie as lowly as they,
With a turf on my breast and a stone at my head, 15
Ere another such grove shall arise in its stead.
'Tis a sight to engage me, if anything can,
To muse on the perishing pleasures of man;
Short-lived as we are, our enjoyments, I see,
Have a still shorter date, and die sooner than we.
~William Cowper
This a poem by William Cowper that I read when I was in the tenth grade, and it has been one of my favorites ever since. When I read those verses, I feel as if Cowper gets to the heart of man's faults. He talks about this beautiful field of trees that he once loved, simply for what it was. It was a retreat for him, but then man decided to cut the trees down. Cowper goes back and to his dismay the trees are gone. All that is left are stumps of the trees that he once enjoyed so readily. And yet, even though man cut the trees down for whatever reason it was, he is still unsatisfied. Man has this insatiable hunger to continue to create, to mold nature into what it "should" be. Our happiness is so short lived. It's like buying new clothes or a new book or whatever, it's exciting at first and we can't imagine wanting something else. But a few days later the purchase is old, its not exciting anymore because its used and we are too familiar with it. People have seen it already, and thus starts the process again. Of having to buy something else new, to regain that temporary feeling of happiness and contentedness that we want to feel so badly. But it won't last, it never lasts. Not when we place it in material things, or things that we are in charge of. Man is thirsting for more, and we search in all of the wrong places and do all of the wrong things. Until we realize that, until we realize that joy, the kind that doesn't fade, is found in spirituality, in God, or some outlet of that form, we will just continue to seek and destroy looking to fill up a gap within ourselves that won't be filled by anything created by our own hands.
Caitlin Nelson - Eisenberg: Walls in the Environment
In the book Eisenberg talks about how we have created walls in nature. These walls prevent living things passing from one part of nature to another. And not only that, but they block things from getting in. When the one group was giving their presentations on the communities and how they separate themselves from nature, I linked it to when Eisenberg said that. We are so determined to have everything fit into a certain box, because then it makes sense and we can control it. Humans, or at least Americans, are so fixated on being in control of everything. We have anxiety disorders because we don't know how to handles things when they suddenly aren't in our control. Creating walls in nature is just another way for us to sub categorize everything, to reinforce that fact that everything has a place and a purpose and there should not be deviation from that. Sometimes I wish that we would just step back and let nature be, to be able to look at a forest and not think about how we could develop it to make money, but just look at it and take it for what it is. We are a greedy nation, if something isn't making us money than it isn't good enough, than it needs to be changed or revamped or anything. It's almost as if we look at nature as something that needs to cultivated because heck, it can't just sit there and not earn it's keep.
Caitlin Nelson - Cedar Meal (my choice)
The original reason I became a religious studies major is because I love learning about new cultures and beliefs, and even getting the chance to experience them when I can. In the latter half of the semester I ended up changing my major, but having the Cedar Meal in class reminded me of one of the reasons why I love religion. I love the tradition of it, even though we were performing more of a pseudo cedar meal than the real thing, to me the beauty of the real thing stuck out. Its a worship and love of God, its thanking him for salvation, for the promised land. For the end of a time of suffering, for miracles. its reading the words of old and making them live again. It reminds you of why it is you believe what you believe. Its things like the Cedar meal that are why I love religion. It's important to have specific times set aside to love God, to worship Him, to reminisce on what has been and the relevance of that in our lives today. I'm not Jewish but I still enjoyed experiencing just a small piece of something so greatly important to their faith. I wasn't such a big fan of the food, but the rest of it I really did enjoy. It helped to remind me of something that I was once so passionate about, and thats good.
Caitlin Nelson - PFAC (my choice)
I really enjoyed the differences in the art at PFAC. The photography was beautiful. I enjoyed hearing about how dedicated he was to taking the photo. That to him it was more about capturing it at just the right moment, even if that meant having to sit in one place all day, just so that the light could be just right. The pictures that caught my attention the most were the ones of trees, and also of mountains. There was one picture were it was just trees, and two really stood out, just two slivers of silver. But it was very distinct at the same time. I think that it is easy to assume that making a black and white photo makes the photo art, but Anderson shows that its more than just the color scheme that makes it art, its how you capture what you are photographing. And he did just that, he captured it in a way that made it beautiful and real for everyone who looks at his pictures.
Then across the hall here were the pictures that were created by the use of aquariums. I can't remember the name of the artist, but his pictures were my favorite out of the artwork that we viewed. He created these lands that I could only think to see in my imagination, or in some photo of a real place that was incredibly altered. I liked it because when I looked at those pictures I could place them to different fictional places I had read about, or I could link it to the Jurassic area. This artist opens a window and brings the fantasy world to life.
The last artist I would honestly debate on whether what he created was art. I admit that I am certainly no knowledgeable person when it comes to what makes a creation a piece of art. My hang up on what he did, is that it is something I link with science. Scientists use similar, if not exactly the same technology to find artifacts buried underground, or to find ships in the sea. I don't understand how purposely burying a canoe and then taking sonar photos of it is art. I feel bad criticizing it. But to me, it would be like me making an xray picture art. I just don't see how it can be classified as anything more than what it is, scientific sonar at its best.
Then across the hall here were the pictures that were created by the use of aquariums. I can't remember the name of the artist, but his pictures were my favorite out of the artwork that we viewed. He created these lands that I could only think to see in my imagination, or in some photo of a real place that was incredibly altered. I liked it because when I looked at those pictures I could place them to different fictional places I had read about, or I could link it to the Jurassic area. This artist opens a window and brings the fantasy world to life.
The last artist I would honestly debate on whether what he created was art. I admit that I am certainly no knowledgeable person when it comes to what makes a creation a piece of art. My hang up on what he did, is that it is something I link with science. Scientists use similar, if not exactly the same technology to find artifacts buried underground, or to find ships in the sea. I don't understand how purposely burying a canoe and then taking sonar photos of it is art. I feel bad criticizing it. But to me, it would be like me making an xray picture art. I just don't see how it can be classified as anything more than what it is, scientific sonar at its best.
Caitlin Nelson - Drum Circle (my choice topic)
I have to admit I was skeptical when I first read the email about the drum circle. i was unsure of what to expect, and I wasn't sure if it would be fun. After experiencing it though, I can say that I absolutely loved it. I've never experienced something like that, and it helped to remind me of how much I enjoy new experiences, especially ones that introduce me to different forms of spirituality. I loved being able to be loud on the drums that I got to play, I'm usually a pretty withdrawn person and I'm more of a listener than a talker. So I really liked just making noise and having it be ok, it felt really satisfying. Sometimes I would just close my eyes, and everyone was in unison with everyone else, all of the random beats and noises seemed to flow together and make sense, and the energy from that was awesome. And it influenced outsiders, people stopped to listen, us sitting there playing drums had a positive affect on their day. The experience was therapeutic for me. I felt like I do when i get out of a yoga class, just completely calm and centered. My mind doesn't wander as much, I forget about rushing from place to place, I'm much more in tune with myself. The drum circle was by far one of the most eye opening sort of experiences I have had to something like that.
Lindsey Pritchett - Final Post (topic of my choosing)
I have really enjoyed this class. I like how we have learned outside of the classroom. The trip to the Fine arts museum and the drum circle at Lion's Bridge were two of my favourite classes. I also really enjoyed having walking the noland trail as homework. Overall, this has been one of the least stressful classes I've taken at the university. In turn, it has also been one in which I have learned infinitely more than in the others. As opposed to sitting in ENGL208 re-reading a play that I have read two or three times previously, I got to think and formulate opinions. I really enjoyed the mountain vs. tower discussions. I found those the most interesting. Also, I discovered that in these classes I actually talked and shared my opinions on matters. I was also encouraged to complete the homework on time. In my other classes, I have been known to procrastinate horribly and not pay attention. It was refreshing to take a class in a subject I love and enjoy it.
Lindsey Pritchett - Gary Snyder's poetry: nature
Today in class we discussed how Gary's poetry often refers to "the muse." We talked about how Gary identifies "the muse" as nature itself, or the great goddess. Nature is an abstract concept as no two people define it in the same way. Someone refers to nature as the wilderness while another identifies it as our baser instincts. There is a mistaken belief that nature is less than authentic. In reality, nature is perhaps the most alive thing on the planet. In nature, life is everywhere. The trees are living, the animals are surviving, the sky is moving and the earth itself is rotating. I think people surround themselves with dead things, "materials," in order to avoid living. If we do not truly live, then we do not have to face our own mortality. In the broader spectrum of things, people fear their own death more than anything else. As animals are not perceived to consider their mortality, they live on a survival of the fittest structure, they do not have this problem. People, however, are incredibly complex creatures who choose to drown out nature: a world in which life and death is constantly in flux. Instead, we try to make life and death as mundane and routine as possible. Death has become a source of personal crisis when we must face it. Life, however, is not truly experienced because we live in a world of synthetics: plastic, concrete, electronics. All of these things create a wall dividing us from what is truly living in this world.
Lindsey Pritchett - Roots
Over the course of the semester, we have continually discussed the idea of placing roots. Roots are a means of connecting us to a place, people, or a specific time. We talked about this a lot when we discussed the Scotish. In the times of old, they lived in a clan society. The lands were divided amongst various clans of people and those clans defended and cared for the land. The people that lived there identified as much with their clan as they did with the earth their land lay upon. Roots give us the feeling of belonging, belonging to a place makes us feel at home there. This is important for humans because we tend to be more group oriented than hermits.
all of this talk about roots made me realise that, as an individual living in america, I do not really have roots. I have moved around a lot throughout my life and have never really had a place to call home. I have lived in various houses with my parents, but none of them have really ever become home. This made me wonder about my roots. Where do I identify with? Do I identify with the lands that my ancestors came from? England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, France and the Native American tribes of old? Do I identify with one of all of these? All of the talk about roots really provoked me to consider this. I concluded that the United Kingdom is my true home as it is the place I most identify with. In fact, when I went there last summer, I had never been there before but I had no difficulty navigating the country. I could tell where I was and it was almost as though I had been there before, despite never having stepped on that ground before, in this life. It was really strange but, while I was in England, I actually felt "rooted" to the place. To me, this is what all that talk about roots indicated.
all of this talk about roots made me realise that, as an individual living in america, I do not really have roots. I have moved around a lot throughout my life and have never really had a place to call home. I have lived in various houses with my parents, but none of them have really ever become home. This made me wonder about my roots. Where do I identify with? Do I identify with the lands that my ancestors came from? England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, France and the Native American tribes of old? Do I identify with one of all of these? All of the talk about roots really provoked me to consider this. I concluded that the United Kingdom is my true home as it is the place I most identify with. In fact, when I went there last summer, I had never been there before but I had no difficulty navigating the country. I could tell where I was and it was almost as though I had been there before, despite never having stepped on that ground before, in this life. It was really strange but, while I was in England, I actually felt "rooted" to the place. To me, this is what all that talk about roots indicated.
Lindsey Pritchett - Gary Snyder's "Mother Earth:Her Wales"
I really liked this poem because the words and the flow of it reminded me a lot of one of my favourite songs: "safer" by Animal Collective. The poem reminds me a lot of the lyrics in this song. Snyder's poem is infinitely more descriptive than the Animal Collective lyrics. The poem is less abstract: he is describing what is around him. The way of nature: what it feels like, what it looks like, etc. The animal collective song is more abstract. You have to scan the lines for deeper meaning.
The verse:
"Wind blows trees through the tops of my hair
I saw wolves in the fog, I can see through the rain
Oh, man and things have changed
In the snow filled lakes where there used to be waves"
reminds me a lot of the poem. To me, it says that we should appreciate the nature that is around us without outright, bluntly stating it. It's more poetic, in a way than Snyder's poem. Yet, I found Snyder's work enjoyable. While this was not one of my favourite poems by Snyder, I really enjoyed making parallels between the song and the poem.
The verse:
"Wind blows trees through the tops of my hair
I saw wolves in the fog, I can see through the rain
Oh, man and things have changed
In the snow filled lakes where there used to be waves"
reminds me a lot of the poem. To me, it says that we should appreciate the nature that is around us without outright, bluntly stating it. It's more poetic, in a way than Snyder's poem. Yet, I found Snyder's work enjoyable. While this was not one of my favourite poems by Snyder, I really enjoyed making parallels between the song and the poem.
Lindsey Pritchett - Natural Reserves
One of the most interesting parts in Ecology of Eden was the section where Eisenberg discusses the work of George G. Davis. Davis constructs regional master plans that show where it is okay to farm. log and build and largely wild areas. This allows for the area to stay mostly wild while allowing civilisation to flourish, as well. These plans are beneficial to the environment because it allows wilderness to live free of human interference and it allows civilisation to still acquire what is needed to live in a metropolis. I enjoyed this section of the book because it talked about working towards maintaining the wilderness while still accounting for the materials we require to live in civilisation. What I did not like was that Eisenberg preached that civilisation should retract from wilderness and then he advocates for the continual use of natural resources. He does not discuss ways to cut back: he merely suggests ways for civilisation and nature to work together.
Lindsey Pritchett - Arcadia
In Ecology of Eden, Eisenberg presents the idea of Arcadia, a middle ground, as the solution to the dissonance between nature and civilisation. According to Eisenberg, Arcadia is a place where nature and civilisation can coexist and actually work together. The idea is that both can thrive without being harmful to the other. Generally, the middle ground would encourage the growth of wilderness by including tsimtsum in their lives. The way they would accomplish this is by setting aside 1/7th of their land and planting native plants. Then they would simply allow the plants to grow freely and wildly. This would encourage wildlife to grow. It would also be of no inconvenience to the people that live on that plot of land. In fact, both sides would thrive from the experience.
Lindsey Pritchett - The Convergence of the Twain
For my ENGL208 class, I read the poem "the convergence of the twain" and wrote a paper on it. This poem really struck me because it retells the story of the titanic in a way that makes the iceberg sound as though it was meant to be the ship's lover rather than the ultimate cause of doom. Though the ship has sunk at the beginning of the poem, it continues to retell the tragic story. The poem introduces the theme of fate, as the "tragedy" was doomed to happen. The iceberg was fated to collide with the ship. Just as people do not realise when they are falling in love, they merely do not see it, the people watching for danger did not see the iceberg. As a result of this, the two collided. While this occurance has been perceived as one of the greatest dents to humanity's ego, it in turn teaches us a great lesson. No matter how great a ship we build, nothing is truly invincible. Fate will and can step in at any given moment. While we may perceive ourselves to be above this, ultimately, fate will grant us the right time and place for both good and bad occurances.
Lindsey Pritchett - Unlondon (Outside of Class reading)
In the book Unlondon by China Mieville, two girls pass through a hidden passage way in London to an alternate universe. This place they enter into is full of broken, unwanted things, such as an umbrella with a snapped handle. Here, in Unlondon, what is trashed and unwanted in London becomes wanted and useful. This reminded me of the old cliche, "one man's trash is another man's treasure." This is very true in Unlondon. It is a sort of place where what would normally wind up in a garbage dump is recycled and becomes useful. Seeing as this is a children's book, I found it very interesting that the idea of everything having a purpose, even once it is broken is being presented. To me, recycling is very important. The world has a multitude of finite resources, all of which can be preserved to last longer if we recycle. Not only that, but it is also good for the environment. The deeper meaning of this book sort of relays that message. Though the book is mostly fantasy, it does well to encourage children to re-use and recycle their toys instead of merely throwing them out.
Lindsey Pritchett - Outside Reading
In my Religion and the arts class, we were assigned a reading that dealt with vision and how it affects the way we perceive art. Vision limits us because we can not focus in on one thing, we must see the object and what is surrounding it. Though we can focus on certain aspects of a piece of art, we are doomed to see the entire piece. Each person sees things differently and, inevitably, culture has also shaped the way we see things. As a result of this, perception and interpretation of art is going to be just as different. Very rarely will two people look at the same piece of art and notice the same details. Thus, those same two people will interpret the piece differently. Also, as language has been attached to every object, we are not able to merely perceive colour and texture. We must see the whole, for the whole is what has received the name, not each individual stroke of colour. Thus, when we look at a painting of, say, the Virgin Mary, we immediately recognise it as such. We do not search for greater meaning in the painting because we see what it already there. It is in this way that vision limits us. However, we are also granted an imagination that also impact what we see. Vision is, in fact, relative to the individual. It is as diverse as personality.
Lindsey Pritchett - Abarat (outside of class reading)
Recently I was reading a book called Abarat, by Clive Barker. It is a fantasy book about a young girl named Candy. She lives in a place called Chickentown. There is this one part of the book where, for history class, she is assigned to go out and learn something about her town that she did not already know. Candy learns aboutthe myth about an old man who killed himself in one of the rooms at the hotel her mother used to work at. When Candy turns in her assignment, she receives an F because a myth is not fact and it has nothing to do with Chickentown. Candy's professor scolds her for believeing that a myth has as much to do with a place as the town's history. The myths are, in fact, what make a place interesting. It adds culture and substance. I found it interesting because we had talked about cultural myths earlier in the semester. How myths affect the way people see the world. Especially the cultural myth I studied. In the Celtic creation myth, it is believed that we came from the earth itself. This has affected the way the Irish live and what they belive today. So, in contradiction to Candy's professor, myths hold a great deal more value than she perceives.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Leandra Jacobson 4/29 SWINE FLU
The recent “epidemic” of the swine flu is a perfect example of Shepard’s ideas in the Tender Carnivore. He explains his theory of why this happened in the section we covered about population density and disease. I heard on the news that the flu is not received from eating meat but from living in close quarters to pigs, mixing the variations of the disease and creating the “swine flu.” This completely coincides with how Shepard explains the increase of diseases with the increase of people densely packed in an area. A dis4ease will mutate and change from person to person, become immune to vaccines, and be constantly adapting as people do to their environment. He says, “the number of diseases has increased with world population,” as the emergence of this flu is not the first time but a scattered pattern of a possible epidemic to come (98). Whether it is being blown up by the media or not, it is still a frightening thought especially from being a person recently in an international airport. Shepard says the ease of transmission by close quarters, like being on an airplane, is the altered habits of humans that make this contagion possible. Diseases thrive on our way of life, something that would not exist if we did not live so closely or live in this agricultural society where this disease would have formed from the farming of pigs.
Lindsey Pritchett - Survivor
When I was younger, my parents used to watch Survivor: (insert name of various island here) on a weekly basis. As a child, I would read books and draw while paying minimal attention to the tv show. Most of what I remember is that a group of people were placed on an island, in the wilderness and they were expected to work with their teammates to survive. This generally included massive amounts of bickering and manipulation amongst the teammates. It bugs me that millions of viewers sit in their homes and watch this negative depiction of nature and actually consider it such. To me, survivor merely serves to show a controlled environment in which people are placed and instructed to act in a certain way for money. This is not nature. If it were, the people in these groups would actually work together as a team and they would find a way of surviving, whether or not they win the silly games played. It would be more about forming bonds and learning to depend on each other in order to create a camp that could actually survive the elements. Nature is more of a place where people heal and reflect, not where individuals argue and manipulate each other for a prize. Thus, survivor is an incredibly negative picture of a nature that is not nature at all.
Lindsey Pritchett - Drum Circle at Lion's Bridge
Drum Circle at Lion's Bridge yesterday was my favourite day of this class. I absolutely loved sitting out by the river beating on the drum with my classmates, in rhythm. This has been a very stressful week. I've had 3 different papers due, a presentation and various other homework to complete. The end of the semester has created a very stressful environment and the work just continues to pile up. The drum circle erased all of this and allowed me to be free of the responsibilities of attending university for a brief period of time. Inside of the circle, my to-do lists didn't matter. Nothing mattered except listening to my surroundings and beating out my stress in rhythmic patterns. The energy drum circle created felt wonderful. I really liked how everyone got into it and really just lost themselves in thoughts and feelings, all expressed by beating on the drum. Afterwards, my stress was completely erased and I was able to enjoy my evening. :-) Drum circle was incredibly therapeutic as well as spiritually cleansing.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Leandra Jacobson 4/28 zodiac
I have always found myself connected deeply to the earth and to the changes of the season, allowing my consciousness to accept the effect of the cosmos on my persona. The date of my birth categorizes me as a dragon on the zodiac calendar. I have never vested much in zodiac signs or horoscopes but thought it would be an interesting exploration since I mention the zodiac in my final paper and wanted to expand on it more but didn’t want to exceed 10 pages by too much, haha. I found the description given on chinesezodiac.com to be fairly accurate and relative to my personality. The dragon is described as ambitious, creative, passionate, and willing to take risks. I tend to be a strong willed, dominant girl who is often described as intimidating. I have large ambitions for my future and will never settle for anything less that the dreams I have set out for myself. A dragon is found to become stressed from their pursuits, can come off as arrogant, and prefers to be alone. My refusal to settle makes it hard for me to acquire large amounts of friends, making me selective, somewhat elitist, and unfriendly at times. To project such an unapproachable image is a side effect of having such an uncompromising personality.
This site also offers a compatibility section. But if a zodiac sign can determine who is and is not meant to be, will you then discriminate those who are not classified as cosmically compatible? Because a dragon and an ox/goat are not willing to settle for anything less than what they desire the most, should I reject all those who are an ox or a goat and only look for the better match of a monkey or a rat? I acknowledge the significance of the cosmos on my personality, but I will not accept that it is set in stone. These characteristic definitions are subject to flexibility and change.
This site also offers a compatibility section. But if a zodiac sign can determine who is and is not meant to be, will you then discriminate those who are not classified as cosmically compatible? Because a dragon and an ox/goat are not willing to settle for anything less than what they desire the most, should I reject all those who are an ox or a goat and only look for the better match of a monkey or a rat? I acknowledge the significance of the cosmos on my personality, but I will not accept that it is set in stone. These characteristic definitions are subject to flexibility and change.
Leandra Jacobson 4/28 Aquarium
Since this is an ecology class, it is only appropriate to recapture my visit to the Georgia aquarium. This past weekend I went to the largest aquarium in the word in Atlanta, Georgia while visiting my friend David. It was incredible how many fish and exhibits there were, this giant fish and people tank in the middle of a very strange city. What I found fascinating was the walk through, a long tunnel that went under the largest tank. In this were sharks, fish, and coral. I was amazed at how the fish and the sharks were swimming together, not having a slaughter fest going on.
The amazement with the fish was seen on all observers face. The exotic, the large, and the colorful fish attracted the most attention but I loved them all. The piranha was surprisingly beautiful for being such a feared creature, which apparently isn’t the man-eating maniac I thought it to be. What I found interesting in my own experience is the complete dislike I have for zoos but that I enjoyed the aquarium. It may be because I eat fish but do not eat meat, I have very little ethical dilemma with eating a fish and I need to eat some meat of substance to maintain a healthy weight. I do not like the capture of wild creatures, exotic or not. I see an innate difference in the suspended existence of fish though; that their environment is basically the same in a giant tank compared to the ocean since many of the fish were not long distance migrates. There was one type lobster that was incredibly fascinating and sadly in a very small tank. These lobsters would line up and begin marching randomly into nonsensical directions for miles. Scientists have no idea why or have not discovered any explanation for doing so in relation to food or environment. I love the unexplained, and found it extremely humorous.
The amazement with the fish was seen on all observers face. The exotic, the large, and the colorful fish attracted the most attention but I loved them all. The piranha was surprisingly beautiful for being such a feared creature, which apparently isn’t the man-eating maniac I thought it to be. What I found interesting in my own experience is the complete dislike I have for zoos but that I enjoyed the aquarium. It may be because I eat fish but do not eat meat, I have very little ethical dilemma with eating a fish and I need to eat some meat of substance to maintain a healthy weight. I do not like the capture of wild creatures, exotic or not. I see an innate difference in the suspended existence of fish though; that their environment is basically the same in a giant tank compared to the ocean since many of the fish were not long distance migrates. There was one type lobster that was incredibly fascinating and sadly in a very small tank. These lobsters would line up and begin marching randomly into nonsensical directions for miles. Scientists have no idea why or have not discovered any explanation for doing so in relation to food or environment. I love the unexplained, and found it extremely humorous.
Leandra Jacobson 4/28
I loved drum circle in class. I had never been to one before and believe I will be attending another one run by PESO through CNU when I can get the chance and my schedule allows. I felt a significant transition of time involved that Kelly mentioned. I saw this as our attempt to move from profane time into sacred time. I do not personally believe this transition is fully possible, but just as we attempt to model God’s perfection, a drum circle attempts to transcend time with the shedding of the watches and time keeping devices. I found this particularly applicable to my situation of inviting my friend, Sean, to attend the class. I asked him to come, although I knew he had work immediately after class session is over. After we finished class, I knew he was going to be late to work. He was not concerned at all and explained how ten minutes of drum circle was infinitely better than being on time to work. He always tells me what a rush everyone is in and how we all need to take our time in life.
I enjoyed the attention the circle attracted. I also was distracted at observing other students in the circle and their awkwardness to the situation. The uncomfortable smiles were my favorite part; it would not have been genuine if all participators got into it since it was a new experience for many. The different instruments created a haphazard beat at times that would come together at parts, reflective of the assortment of people who are in the class.
I enjoyed the attention the circle attracted. I also was distracted at observing other students in the circle and their awkwardness to the situation. The uncomfortable smiles were my favorite part; it would not have been genuine if all participators got into it since it was a new experience for many. The different instruments created a haphazard beat at times that would come together at parts, reflective of the assortment of people who are in the class.
Kevin King 2/28
Drum Circle
I just got back home from the drum circle at the Lions Bridge and it was a really interesting and unique experience. I knew little about this before today and it was a mind opening time that I really enjoyed. It was amazing to actually feel the energy coming from everyone and was like nothing else. I've never really been concerned with nature or made it apart of my life but this class and activities such as this drum circle have really opened this up to me. I had no idea what to expect but it was a good time that I really can't even find the words to explain it. Overall, I'm glad I got to participate and it was very interesting and soothing as well.
I just got back home from the drum circle at the Lions Bridge and it was a really interesting and unique experience. I knew little about this before today and it was a mind opening time that I really enjoyed. It was amazing to actually feel the energy coming from everyone and was like nothing else. I've never really been concerned with nature or made it apart of my life but this class and activities such as this drum circle have really opened this up to me. I had no idea what to expect but it was a good time that I really can't even find the words to explain it. Overall, I'm glad I got to participate and it was very interesting and soothing as well.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Kevin King 4/27
After the presentation of the paper by Dr. Redick I wanted to mention a few thoughts I had after this class. It is a very interesting subject and way to look at how our societ has changed in social aspects. I never really blamed the interestate system and cars for taking away from the basic characteristics in our world. Dr. Redick mentioned how because of cars we have greatly reduced in the amount that we socialize we each other. When thinking about this subject I usually thought of more recent inventions such as the Internet for causing this in our society. Even though the Internet greatly reduces our social interactions, it is important to track back to the first wave of technology that began this trend. The interstate system takes away from the way our ancenstors traveled for thousands of years. We have completely tried to manage our environment and make it mroe beneficial for us, while destroying the basic means of life. Everything works out in a way that is acceptable for society, but I do not believe that we are doing everything we are meant to do. Its kind of like we have over civilized ourselves into this world and I thought this presentation was very interesting espeically to look at this concept from a different perspective.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Leandra Jacobson 4/25
I recently viewed the film, “Surf’s Up” with my friend Sean. The premise of this movie is a young penguin aspiring to be a professional surfer in the “Big Z Memorial” surf contest. The young penguin Cody fights his way into the contest, but cannot surf the warm water waves in contrast to his arctic homeland. He fails miserably at first and finds himself knocked unconscious by a poisonous stinger in his flipper. He is saved by the lifeguard, who beings him to her uncle’s house, the island “witch doctor” character. Cody discovers this island doctor to actually be Big Z, the professional surfer who inspired him to surf as a child.
Sean described Big Z to be a “soul surfer.” He explained it to be someone who surfs for the pure enjoyment of the sport, not the competition. Z had been in exile from society in a tree for many years, and was brought out to the public by Cody after showing him the vigor for surfing. I liked this idea of a soul surfer, someone dedicated to their craft for the pure enjoyment of it. I see this in all outdoor activities, people worshipping an activity not for the glory but for the pleasure.
Sean described Big Z to be a “soul surfer.” He explained it to be someone who surfs for the pure enjoyment of the sport, not the competition. Z had been in exile from society in a tree for many years, and was brought out to the public by Cody after showing him the vigor for surfing. I liked this idea of a soul surfer, someone dedicated to their craft for the pure enjoyment of it. I see this in all outdoor activities, people worshipping an activity not for the glory but for the pleasure.
Leandra Jacobson 4/25
The Twilight bicycle race in Athens, Georgia is a congregation of the entire town, all ages and sizes of people. This gathering is an annual ritual, of every type of person in Athens. I have seen the city come together on many occasions, for football games and gymnastic meets. There was a very different makeup of people overall, a much more eclectic assortment of people. The density of people in a certain area affects delinquency and disease as explained in the Tender Carnivore. There are so many people in such a small town, and the high concentration has created a lot of delinquency. The streets were crawling with police more than usual, due to the increase possibility of crime with more people.
I found it so amusing how they set up the race. They blocked off the two main roads, which were a huge inconvenience. I sat on the street and watched the chaos develop throughout the day. People were completely thrown off, lost at how to cross the street with fences in the way. People would walk back and forth, back and forth for twenty minutes or so trying to figure how to overcome this oddity in their town. People would be so confused, asking complete strangers how to cross the street at that specific intersection. The people had to walk down two blocks where there was an opening in the fence, which became harder to figure out as it got more crowded and everyone was becoming increasingly intoxicated. Complete strangers would team up to find a crossing, herding in directions to escape their captivity on the one side on town. They were caged, fenced in, becoming more and more crowded as the hours passed. Some would become content with the side they were on, some would become panicked and frantic at the need to retrieve their sunglasses from their car on the other side of town. I am so glad I was able to observe this all from the outside booth of Wild Wings restaurant, where my friend manages and allowed me to hang out all day.
I found it so amusing how they set up the race. They blocked off the two main roads, which were a huge inconvenience. I sat on the street and watched the chaos develop throughout the day. People were completely thrown off, lost at how to cross the street with fences in the way. People would walk back and forth, back and forth for twenty minutes or so trying to figure how to overcome this oddity in their town. People would be so confused, asking complete strangers how to cross the street at that specific intersection. The people had to walk down two blocks where there was an opening in the fence, which became harder to figure out as it got more crowded and everyone was becoming increasingly intoxicated. Complete strangers would team up to find a crossing, herding in directions to escape their captivity on the one side on town. They were caged, fenced in, becoming more and more crowded as the hours passed. Some would become content with the side they were on, some would become panicked and frantic at the need to retrieve their sunglasses from their car on the other side of town. I am so glad I was able to observe this all from the outside booth of Wild Wings restaurant, where my friend manages and allowed me to hang out all day.
Leandra Jacobson 4/25
I came upon a child of God
He was walking along the road
And I asked him, "Where are you going?"
And this he told me...
I'm going on down to Yasgur's Farm,
I'm gonna join in a rock and roll band.
I'm gonna camp out on the land.
I'm gonna get my soul free.
We are stardust.
We are golden.
And we've got to get ourselves back to the garden.
This song, “Woodstock” by Joni Mitchell, is one of my favorite. I love how perfectly the beginning fits with this class. The freedom found in Woodstock has been immortalized in time, the ultimate hippie festival that has been recreated and replicated ever since. I attended one of these festivals last summer, Allgood in West Virginia. It was an incredible experience (from what I can remember) that I wouldn’t trade for anything but definitely will think long and hard before doing again. These peaceful, somewhat lawless organizations of people are what this song calls, getting back to the garden. It is an attempt to return to Eden, creating a natural way of living for people with the similar mindset of music, peace, and love. They usually take place on private property with personal security forces, like Yasgur’s Farm or the mountain we stayed on in Allgood. We camped out on the land, had some soul searching, and definitely felt like stardust. For the 3 days on that mountain we returned to that place of Eden, where humans ran in synch with nature and everything was, well, all good.
He was walking along the road
And I asked him, "Where are you going?"
And this he told me...
I'm going on down to Yasgur's Farm,
I'm gonna join in a rock and roll band.
I'm gonna camp out on the land.
I'm gonna get my soul free.
We are stardust.
We are golden.
And we've got to get ourselves back to the garden.
This song, “Woodstock” by Joni Mitchell, is one of my favorite. I love how perfectly the beginning fits with this class. The freedom found in Woodstock has been immortalized in time, the ultimate hippie festival that has been recreated and replicated ever since. I attended one of these festivals last summer, Allgood in West Virginia. It was an incredible experience (from what I can remember) that I wouldn’t trade for anything but definitely will think long and hard before doing again. These peaceful, somewhat lawless organizations of people are what this song calls, getting back to the garden. It is an attempt to return to Eden, creating a natural way of living for people with the similar mindset of music, peace, and love. They usually take place on private property with personal security forces, like Yasgur’s Farm or the mountain we stayed on in Allgood. We camped out on the land, had some soul searching, and definitely felt like stardust. For the 3 days on that mountain we returned to that place of Eden, where humans ran in synch with nature and everything was, well, all good.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Lindsey Pritchett - Guest Speaker
I found Dr. Kabat's lecture to be very thought provoking. Something that stuck out to me from that particular lecture was that he said our emotions define our mental state and the way we view the world, in large, defines the way we perceive nature. He also said in order to have a relationship with something we must be able to communicate with it. He gave this as the reason why humans have such difficulty formulating a relationship with nature. In fact, he made the idea of such a relationship being created sound as though it were near impossible.
I do not disagree. In fact, I agreed with many of the things he was saying in his lecture. It made me re-evaluate the way I perceived nature and question whether or not I would be able to cultivate a relationship with it. The answer is no. In order to settle in nature, to create a habitat out there and actually LIVE there, there would have to be some form of destruction or mini-civilisation in the midst of the wild; a haven where the rest of humanity can still be contacted and reached but not actually included. Also, this mini-civilisation would be in the domain of the animals: thus it would be incredibly difficult maintaining it as a haven from the wilderness. There would be a constant, everyday struggle to maintain that ground as well as survive alone in the wild. Such a task simply does not seem feasible over such a long period of time. Therefore, I believe that humans are merely only welcome to tred upon the land of the wilderness and not actually partake and live in it.
Lindsey Pritchett - Only Revolutions
For one of my extraneous reading assignments, I picked up this book I have been wanting to read for a great deal of time. It's Only Revolutions by Mark Danielewski. Though it's not entirely related to the course, it was read outside of class, thus I felt it fit the requirements of this particular assignment.
The story is told from the perspectives of Sam and Hailey, two lovers who live in completely different time periods. You actually have to flip the book around, revolving the book from front to back, every eight pages to read the story properly. Beside every line, in the interior margin of the book, there is a list of events that happened during the time period they are in.
The events that are listed are both minimal and huge; ranging from a treaty being signed abroad to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The story moves in confusing circles and at times it is incredibly difficult to understand. However, it is beautifully written. Mark Danielewski's writing is simply phenomenal. It's written much the same as House of Leaves, though, in my opinion, that is much easier to follow than Only Revolutions.
Overall, the main thing I learned from this particular book is that the events that are happening now in our lives may not directly affect us now, or ever at that, but later, the impact will be there, eventually, and it will make a difference. In fact, it reminded me a lot of chaos theory and the butterfly effect: how the smallest action can create a phenomenal outcome/event somewhere else. I feel as though the two are directly related, though I wish to read the book again to be certain. As I previously stated, for a work of it's magnitude, it really is confusing.
Lindsey Pritchett - Topic of my Choosing
"The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars" - Jack Kerouac
This is, perhaps, one of my favourite inspirational quotes. I actually have it on the wall in my dorm so I can see it on the way out each morning. I love the idea between madness being defined, according to Kerouac's quote, as this need to do something. Madness as the idea of action rather than inaction or living in patterns predetermined by other people.
There was a portion of the essay that was read in class yesterday that really stuck out to me. It reminded me a lot of what Daniel Quinn pointed out in Ishmael, when he was talking about how humans move from one box to another. It was the portion where the woman would get in her car to drive a quarter of a mile to the gym to walk on a treadmill. To me, this behaviour is starting to define America. It makes me incredibly sad because, in the sixties, I feel as though the above quote fit really well into that particular generation. The hippies were in the midst of a revolution and the government was at war in Vietnam. Today, we lack this burning desire to be mad to live and talk and breathe. Instead, we merely go through the motions. It makes me sad how many people never do the things they want to in life. My grandma is in her sixties and her entire life, prior to February, she had never left the country. Though she had always wanted to, she never took the opportunity to until after she realised that she was old and would actually die. Then she decided she had to make up for lost time. Now she is more active than most people my age. When I am around her, I wonder if it's going to take our generation just as long to realise that the time we have here is now and we should experience everything possible as the opportunity arises instead of merely succumbing to the societal expectations that are placed upon us.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Kevin King 4/23
Land and Culture
We discussed in class during a Tender Carnivore disccusion the issue of how the makeup of the land and earth can impact the culture of the people that live and civilize there. I thought about how America fits into this discussion a little more after class because we summed up that we are still mixing together so much that we are not quite at the end of figuring out how the land has shaped our culture as a whole. I dont think that we will ever get there as a country because of the levels of diversity in the people that inhabit the United States and because of the wide range of diversity in the land that covers our continent. Between mountains, deserts, beaches, and the various rural and urban areas, our land is very diverse and each region deals with different implications with civilization that will keep us with varying cultures for many years to come. Yes we're all American's but I think the part of land that we live in gives us all unique assets to our character and identity and I dont think there will ever be labels that we can put on our country as a whole.
We discussed in class during a Tender Carnivore disccusion the issue of how the makeup of the land and earth can impact the culture of the people that live and civilize there. I thought about how America fits into this discussion a little more after class because we summed up that we are still mixing together so much that we are not quite at the end of figuring out how the land has shaped our culture as a whole. I dont think that we will ever get there as a country because of the levels of diversity in the people that inhabit the United States and because of the wide range of diversity in the land that covers our continent. Between mountains, deserts, beaches, and the various rural and urban areas, our land is very diverse and each region deals with different implications with civilization that will keep us with varying cultures for many years to come. Yes we're all American's but I think the part of land that we live in gives us all unique assets to our character and identity and I dont think there will ever be labels that we can put on our country as a whole.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Andrew Deitrick 4/21
On "Madness"
After hearing the lecture at the Lions Bridge today, I had some time to think about what was presented. I was specifically interested in the comment Dr. Redick made about releasing the “mad” back into society during the Reagan administration.
This comment made me think about the idea behind imprisoning those who are deemed mentally ill and the effects of such behavior. It is difficult for many of us to realize the repercussions of more or less getting rid of certain mentally strained individuals from our society. However, when we imprison those who appear to be mad, or those who appear to be mentally ill, we create the implication that our minds have an ultimate way in which they should be. I don’t feel that we are in the position to make such a claim. To claim that there is a right or a wrong or a mad way to think seems ridiculous. While someone who is mentally deranged may make little logical sense to someone who is deemed to be normal, there is still life, ideas, and truth present in the deranged person. To imprison innocent life, pure ideas, and truth makes no sense. For example, Dr. Redick mentioned that he learned the value of a true, humble gift from his nameless, mad friend. Without the experience in the outside world with his friend, Dr. Redick wouldn't have received this message, or at least not received this message at the said time. This is just one example of the potential truth that can be attained through such individuals.
After hearing the lecture at the Lions Bridge today, I had some time to think about what was presented. I was specifically interested in the comment Dr. Redick made about releasing the “mad” back into society during the Reagan administration.
This comment made me think about the idea behind imprisoning those who are deemed mentally ill and the effects of such behavior. It is difficult for many of us to realize the repercussions of more or less getting rid of certain mentally strained individuals from our society. However, when we imprison those who appear to be mad, or those who appear to be mentally ill, we create the implication that our minds have an ultimate way in which they should be. I don’t feel that we are in the position to make such a claim. To claim that there is a right or a wrong or a mad way to think seems ridiculous. While someone who is mentally deranged may make little logical sense to someone who is deemed to be normal, there is still life, ideas, and truth present in the deranged person. To imprison innocent life, pure ideas, and truth makes no sense. For example, Dr. Redick mentioned that he learned the value of a true, humble gift from his nameless, mad friend. Without the experience in the outside world with his friend, Dr. Redick wouldn't have received this message, or at least not received this message at the said time. This is just one example of the potential truth that can be attained through such individuals.
Andrew Deitrick 4/21
Visual Sound
I had not been to the Peninsula Fine Arts Center before our class took a trip there. While I really enjoyed the Ansel Adams pictures and the constructed environments, the thing that caught my eye the most were the R.G. Brown photos. As we walked up the exhibit, I couldn't help but realize how everyone noted their confusion or lack of understanding in the pieces of art. After reading a little about Brown, I've come to the conclusion that his art isn't meant to be understood or logical, its purpose is served by illustrating an abstract thought. While this may go unsaid about much of art as a whole, it is difficult to see Brown's work for what it truly is, which ultimately makes it difficult to see it as art.
Brown is more of less painting a picture with sound waves. He uses computers and machines to construct his graphs and pictures, but we are ultimately seeing sound. The object Brown builds to embed is a huge part of the final product. When he is planning his construction, Brown is trying to keep in mind what the object is going to "look" like to his machines. His construction is focused mainly on the visual appearance of sound waves. A list of a few things Brown is currently working on can be found here.
I had not been to the Peninsula Fine Arts Center before our class took a trip there. While I really enjoyed the Ansel Adams pictures and the constructed environments, the thing that caught my eye the most were the R.G. Brown photos. As we walked up the exhibit, I couldn't help but realize how everyone noted their confusion or lack of understanding in the pieces of art. After reading a little about Brown, I've come to the conclusion that his art isn't meant to be understood or logical, its purpose is served by illustrating an abstract thought. While this may go unsaid about much of art as a whole, it is difficult to see Brown's work for what it truly is, which ultimately makes it difficult to see it as art.
Brown is more of less painting a picture with sound waves. He uses computers and machines to construct his graphs and pictures, but we are ultimately seeing sound. The object Brown builds to embed is a huge part of the final product. When he is planning his construction, Brown is trying to keep in mind what the object is going to "look" like to his machines. His construction is focused mainly on the visual appearance of sound waves. A list of a few things Brown is currently working on can be found here.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Leandra Jacobson 4/20
This past weekend I went on a walk/run on the Noland Trail. I run the trail every weekend and wish I could more often but work, class, and living off campus interfere with doing so. I usually have a solid routine of how to work the 5 miles, by running the first three, walking as I reach the Lion’s Gate Bridge for 0.5, then running the remaining mile and a half. I would like to run without stopping but it is irresistible to go cool down on the beach, walking alone on the sand while by heart’s still racing and blood is furiously pumping through my veins. I always feel a little dizzy when I stop suddenly, but actually prefer the feeling when sitting on the beach. It is always so windy right by the water, with various birds diving or squawking around the water’s edge. There generally are lovers walking by if I sit there long enough, and depending on the day I’ll cool down for 5 minutes to sometimes a half hour of observation. This time alone is just as therapeutic as running, clearing my mind from the problems of the day that I try to trail behind me. I don’t run to get skinny, I am confident in my body and believe to be in shape and a healthy weight. I run to clear my mind, to untangle, and to release the frustrations of life. I have found that the Noland Trail is the best place to do this, the perfect distance of 5 miles, a long run that is challenging but achievable. The cool down at the 3 mile marker may be my favorite part, the relaxation I find hard to do in my busily scheduled week. I have become familiar with different parts of the path and the beach, making it less of a beautiful “landscape” and more like the familiar “countryside” as described in Tender Carnivore.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Leandra Jacobson 4/19
I recently purchased the Bhagavad Gita for my final paper in religion and film with Dr. Redick. On the first page I found the innate relations between this religion and the earth. In the Upanishads begins with a descriptive account of a horse, the “sacrificial horse.” It describes the beginning as his head, the sunrise and start of the day. His eye is the sun, his breath is the wind, and the sky is his back. “When he urinates, it rains” is a graphic image to read in a holy text. It continues to describe the elements of the earth in relation to the elements of this being. This relation process is commonly found with relating an organization, like a religion, to a certain mechanical device, like a body. We learned about this in organizational communications, making relational devices with different workings of a business to a metaphorical object, like a pack of lions.
John Lame Deer is a Native American author of “Lame Deer: seeker of visions.” I read this in sections for a class, learning about his style of writing and the contexts he had to operate under. John uses this relational tool in explaining the earth to a black kettle, explained though the steam, the earth, the soot, and other attributes. He explains the observations of outside cultures to the detailed appreciation by Indians; inadequate observations, “What do you see here my friend? Just an ordinary old cooking pot, black with soot and full of dents” and, “I’m an Indian. I think about ordinary things like this pot.” You can read this awesome passage here:
http://books.google.com/books?id=LKs6GPmOWWAC&pg=PA108&lpg=PA108&dq=john+lame+deer+pot&source=bl&ots=IF4BM7YuSK&sig=s6Zr5gTIdt9K-IIFMYg9Bu6Hhrs&hl=en&ei=0nvrScbpMc_Htgf04bDaBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4
John Lame Deer is a Native American author of “Lame Deer: seeker of visions.” I read this in sections for a class, learning about his style of writing and the contexts he had to operate under. John uses this relational tool in explaining the earth to a black kettle, explained though the steam, the earth, the soot, and other attributes. He explains the observations of outside cultures to the detailed appreciation by Indians; inadequate observations, “What do you see here my friend? Just an ordinary old cooking pot, black with soot and full of dents” and, “I’m an Indian. I think about ordinary things like this pot.” You can read this awesome passage here:
http://books.google.com/books?id=LKs6GPmOWWAC&pg=PA108&lpg=PA108&dq=john+lame+deer+pot&source=bl&ots=IF4BM7YuSK&sig=s6Zr5gTIdt9K-IIFMYg9Bu6Hhrs&hl=en&ei=0nvrScbpMc_Htgf04bDaBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Kevin King 4/16
Fetishers and Managers
I was home in Richmond this past weekend and saw a first hand view of perfect examples for planet fetishers and managers that are discussed in The Ecology of Eden. I live in a developing neighborhood and my mother made me aware of a situation that was taking place with the neighborhood association and zoing for new houses. She really hates these types of associations but told me it was interesting what people had to say about the issue at hand. There was a vote being taken that involved the woods at the beginning of the neighborhood should be made into a small park. I don't even know if this is up to us in the end but they were having the debate regardless. I happened to speak with both of my neighbors because we were all outside discussing this issue. I thought immediately to what I read from Eisenberg and it let me view this from a whole different perpective then I would have in the past. It was interesting to view people as fetishers and managers and to apply what I've learned to real life.
I was home in Richmond this past weekend and saw a first hand view of perfect examples for planet fetishers and managers that are discussed in The Ecology of Eden. I live in a developing neighborhood and my mother made me aware of a situation that was taking place with the neighborhood association and zoing for new houses. She really hates these types of associations but told me it was interesting what people had to say about the issue at hand. There was a vote being taken that involved the woods at the beginning of the neighborhood should be made into a small park. I don't even know if this is up to us in the end but they were having the debate regardless. I happened to speak with both of my neighbors because we were all outside discussing this issue. I thought immediately to what I read from Eisenberg and it let me view this from a whole different perpective then I would have in the past. It was interesting to view people as fetishers and managers and to apply what I've learned to real life.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Leandra Jacobson 4/15
I went into the desert, a weeklong trip. I walk the hallway to the bathroom sink and in my reflections couldn’t bring those eyes to blink. I watch my lips part and the words slip, “I left my prints in the sand and He swept them clean.” For that brief moment, I broke from the mundane. Then that hallway back to myself went dark again.
This is, I suppose, a “poem” of some sort I wrote in History of Christian Though today. It is just a random spillage of thoughts, nothing fancy or too artistic so it’s not to be taken as a legitimate poem and just as rambling. The significance of this poem was brought on by reading sections of The Idea of the Holy by Rudolf Otto, a book mentioned in this class several times. I was distracted because I have reviewed the book in this class as well as Religion and Film, so I understood the basics that I’ve been taught already. The experiences of being present in the vast areas of nature bring this idea of an aweful tremendum, a fear in the face of God’s almighty power. It is seen in silence, in vast landscapes, and grandiose scenes of nature like a desert. I thought about what my reaction to that would be in the personal experience of wandering through one of these vast areas and discovering who I am. In visiting this imaginary voyage I picture I would have an arduous path with an equally awesome religious experience, eye opening and shocking. When I would leave a place like a desert my presence would all the more not have been felt because of how magnificent in size it is, and ability to be impacted in comparison to me. It is so easy, once it is experienced, to lose that feeling of awakening. The realization I have in the mirror, reflecting on my reflections of myself, happened but was lost quickly. I believe that this is how life can be; greatness is experienced and has only so long of a lasting impact until the feeling is forgotten. The goal is to continually recall these feelings until the ultimate gratification, whether it be satisfaction by God or whatever may be your supreme goal, is reached.
This is, I suppose, a “poem” of some sort I wrote in History of Christian Though today. It is just a random spillage of thoughts, nothing fancy or too artistic so it’s not to be taken as a legitimate poem and just as rambling. The significance of this poem was brought on by reading sections of The Idea of the Holy by Rudolf Otto, a book mentioned in this class several times. I was distracted because I have reviewed the book in this class as well as Religion and Film, so I understood the basics that I’ve been taught already. The experiences of being present in the vast areas of nature bring this idea of an aweful tremendum, a fear in the face of God’s almighty power. It is seen in silence, in vast landscapes, and grandiose scenes of nature like a desert. I thought about what my reaction to that would be in the personal experience of wandering through one of these vast areas and discovering who I am. In visiting this imaginary voyage I picture I would have an arduous path with an equally awesome religious experience, eye opening and shocking. When I would leave a place like a desert my presence would all the more not have been felt because of how magnificent in size it is, and ability to be impacted in comparison to me. It is so easy, once it is experienced, to lose that feeling of awakening. The realization I have in the mirror, reflecting on my reflections of myself, happened but was lost quickly. I believe that this is how life can be; greatness is experienced and has only so long of a lasting impact until the feeling is forgotten. The goal is to continually recall these feelings until the ultimate gratification, whether it be satisfaction by God or whatever may be your supreme goal, is reached.
Leandra Jacobson 4/15
I went into the desert, a weeklong trip. I walk the hallway to the bathroom sink and in my reflections couldn’t bring those eyes to blink. I watch my lips part and the words slip, “I left my prints in the sand and He swept them clean.” For that brief moment, I broke from the mundane. Then that hallway back to myself went dark again.
This is, I suppose, a “poem” of some sort I wrote in History of Christian Though today. It is just a random spillage of thoughts, nothing fancy or too artistic so it’s not to be taken as a legitimate poem and just as rambling. The significance of this poem was brought on by reading sections of The Idea of the Holy by Rudolf Otto, a book mentioned in this class several times. I was distracted because I have reviewed the book in this class as well as Religion and Film, so I understood the basics that I’ve been taught already. The experiences of being present in the vast areas of nature bring this idea of an aweful tremendum, a fear in the face of God’s almighty power. It is seen in silence, in vast landscapes, and grandiose scenes of nature like a desert. I thought about what my reaction to that would be in the personal experience of wandering through one of these vast areas and discovering who I am. In visiting this imaginary voyage I picture I would have an arduous path with an equally awesome religious experience, eye opening and shocking. When I would leave a place like a desert my presence would all the more not have been felt because of how magnificent in size it is, and ability to be impacted in comparison to me. It is so easy, once it is experienced, to lose that feeling of awakening. The realization I have in the mirror, reflecting on my reflections of myself, happened but was lost quickly. I believe that this is how life can be; greatness is experienced and has only so long of a lasting impact until the feeling is forgotten. The goal is to continually recall these feelings until the ultimate gratification, whether it be satisfaction by God or whatever may be your supreme goal, is reached.
This is, I suppose, a “poem” of some sort I wrote in History of Christian Though today. It is just a random spillage of thoughts, nothing fancy or too artistic so it’s not to be taken as a legitimate poem and just as rambling. The significance of this poem was brought on by reading sections of The Idea of the Holy by Rudolf Otto, a book mentioned in this class several times. I was distracted because I have reviewed the book in this class as well as Religion and Film, so I understood the basics that I’ve been taught already. The experiences of being present in the vast areas of nature bring this idea of an aweful tremendum, a fear in the face of God’s almighty power. It is seen in silence, in vast landscapes, and grandiose scenes of nature like a desert. I thought about what my reaction to that would be in the personal experience of wandering through one of these vast areas and discovering who I am. In visiting this imaginary voyage I picture I would have an arduous path with an equally awesome religious experience, eye opening and shocking. When I would leave a place like a desert my presence would all the more not have been felt because of how magnificent in size it is, and ability to be impacted in comparison to me. It is so easy, once it is experienced, to lose that feeling of awakening. The realization I have in the mirror, reflecting on my reflections of myself, happened but was lost quickly. I believe that this is how life can be; greatness is experienced and has only so long of a lasting impact until the feeling is forgotten. The goal is to continually recall these feelings until the ultimate gratification, whether it be satisfaction by God or whatever may be your supreme goal, is reached.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Leandra Jacobson 4/12/09
If the availability of food does not set the population, then what does? Larger animals such as humans practice replacement and not mass reproduction. This is seen in hunter gatherers like lions and wolves, not the agriculturists who reproduce more for reasons of expansion and not for tribe maintenance. It’s a cultural or a social value that is not only present in humans, although highly intellectual beings, family values are present in wild animals as well. This hunter population size is to be set by the lowest bracket of available food, the worst food year or years seen. Having food, or excess of food, is normal for agriculturists who do not have as much a fulfilling diet as a hunter. The hunter is adjusted to being hungry, satisfied by the meat taken in and not a constant consumption of grains and vegetation. Humans are all moving away from that type of consumption in America and are definitely modeling after agriculturalists where the more food is the better, but not necessarily as healthy.
Hunters do not live in populated densities as seen in nature and do not reproduce to their maximum capacity as Shepard says. This is also supportive of the weaning out of the hunters in humankind, especially in America. So if all of Shepard’s points support how the hunter lifestyle is better, is there a possible way to return to becoming hunters? I try and fight my agricultural nature by running and exercise, but no matter how far or often I run my body will never outrun a horse or be in the shape of that type of hunter. As a vegetarian I have also defined myself very much so as an agriculturalist and nothing like a hunter, although if I lived on a farm where I raised the animals I would consume them when it came time to.
Hunters do not live in populated densities as seen in nature and do not reproduce to their maximum capacity as Shepard says. This is also supportive of the weaning out of the hunters in humankind, especially in America. So if all of Shepard’s points support how the hunter lifestyle is better, is there a possible way to return to becoming hunters? I try and fight my agricultural nature by running and exercise, but no matter how far or often I run my body will never outrun a horse or be in the shape of that type of hunter. As a vegetarian I have also defined myself very much so as an agriculturalist and nothing like a hunter, although if I lived on a farm where I raised the animals I would consume them when it came time to.
Leandra Jacobson 4/12/09
In Shepard’s book, he explains how food growing supports more people and that is why the population increases. I have always completely agreed with this statement and how now in highly populated areas is where food growth has been perfected in the form of a grocery store. Bit this statement is not entirely true, as Shepard goes on to explain the other influences involved in population increase and the misconceptions involved.
Pre-Neolithic revolution is when man was more in touch with nature, and starvation was not as prevalent as it would be though. I always assumed that the idea that the more food, the greater the population, but Shepard says that is not the only influence. There is also the social structure that influences population and life span, as he explains that life expectancy is merely “an expression of the realities of life during his evolution” (93). Taking this into consideration, and including that the major difference in life span was infant mortality, it shows that humans have not greatly increased on many levels. Shepard says that we have in fact become less healthy down the line of “evolution” instead of more healthy, congruent life expectancy only because of the assistance given from medicine to even out the balance. This is a fascinating thought and I look forward to reading more from his book about this topic.
Pre-Neolithic revolution is when man was more in touch with nature, and starvation was not as prevalent as it would be though. I always assumed that the idea that the more food, the greater the population, but Shepard says that is not the only influence. There is also the social structure that influences population and life span, as he explains that life expectancy is merely “an expression of the realities of life during his evolution” (93). Taking this into consideration, and including that the major difference in life span was infant mortality, it shows that humans have not greatly increased on many levels. Shepard says that we have in fact become less healthy down the line of “evolution” instead of more healthy, congruent life expectancy only because of the assistance given from medicine to even out the balance. This is a fascinating thought and I look forward to reading more from his book about this topic.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Hunting and gathering
Shepard argues that agriculture should be abandoned for a number a reasons, and he presents his own vision of a hunter-gatherer future. I'm not convinced, however, that simply making everybody a hunter-gatherer will solve our culture's problems. For one thing, it doesn't seem like a very realistic, feasible plan. For another, I think any lifestyle can be destructive - even hunting and gathering - depending on the assumptions one carries with us. Our current form of agriculture (and our culture in general) is particularly destructive because of the assumptions we carry. These assumptions, like the concept of linear time, that man shapes his destiny, and the whole notion of "progress," shape our culture and agriculture. So I don't think agriculture is the root of the problem. If we became hunter-gatherers and carried the same assumptions, our culture would probably be just as destructive.
I suppose what I'm getting at is not so much a way that Shepard's suggested changes might be implemented. If instead of trying to change our food source, we try to change our culture's assumptions, we might shift away from agriculture naturally. For instance, if we change the assumption that nature is inanimate, people might see agriculture to be exploitative and may desire a lifestyle (like hunting and gathering) that fosters respect of and a connection with nature. If we change the basic assumptions, I think the rest will sort itself out.
-Tyler Wake
I suppose what I'm getting at is not so much a way that Shepard's suggested changes might be implemented. If instead of trying to change our food source, we try to change our culture's assumptions, we might shift away from agriculture naturally. For instance, if we change the assumption that nature is inanimate, people might see agriculture to be exploitative and may desire a lifestyle (like hunting and gathering) that fosters respect of and a connection with nature. If we change the basic assumptions, I think the rest will sort itself out.
-Tyler Wake
Human Evolution
When we started discussing The Tender Carnivore, we began with chapter three, which, as the title states, examines the significance of humanity's past. I am reading chapter two right now ("On the Responsibility of Being an Ape"), which is tracing human biological evolution from its primate ancestors. I was shocked in reading this chapter to see how "human" other primates are. There are apparently many traits, like color binocular vision, that are uniquely shared by humans and other primates. Another example is how social other primates are. I had no idea they were so much like us! By pointing out these similarities, Shepard has made me feel less like humans are some separate, higher being (and I think that's good).
Back to the topic of evolution. We talked in class about domesticating (genetically engineering) animals. I wonder how this relates to humans. We're still evolving, no doubt. One thing one hears a lot when discussing the birth of agriculture is the idea that humans evolved to become agriculturalists - that it is our destiny. I think this might be a unspoken assumption when people talk about "going back to hunting and gathering" as if it involves devolution. Shepard apparently wants us to become hunter-gatherers again, and I am curious to hear his arguments. Without yet hearing his arguments, however, I am more inclined to agree with Daniel Quinn, who says essentially, "we cannot become hunter-gatherers again, but we cannot stay agriculturalists, so we need to develop a new paradigm." Like I said, though, I'd like to hear what Shepard has to say on the subject.
-Tyler Wake
Back to the topic of evolution. We talked in class about domesticating (genetically engineering) animals. I wonder how this relates to humans. We're still evolving, no doubt. One thing one hears a lot when discussing the birth of agriculture is the idea that humans evolved to become agriculturalists - that it is our destiny. I think this might be a unspoken assumption when people talk about "going back to hunting and gathering" as if it involves devolution. Shepard apparently wants us to become hunter-gatherers again, and I am curious to hear his arguments. Without yet hearing his arguments, however, I am more inclined to agree with Daniel Quinn, who says essentially, "we cannot become hunter-gatherers again, but we cannot stay agriculturalists, so we need to develop a new paradigm." Like I said, though, I'd like to hear what Shepard has to say on the subject.
-Tyler Wake
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Leandra Jacobson 4/9
I loved the discussion on the Tender Carnivore today. The exploration of a human “evolution” could really be just thought as breeding us, like the dogs discussed, for desirable characteristics. This is very possible because of the awareness human posses and the need for survival, choosing mates that have positive characteristics we would want in our own children. I would like to prove Shepard’s idea of the production of muscles geared toward hunter-gatherers due to breeding though my personal relationship and how I see this is very possible. I joke to my boyfriend that the only reason l date him is that he has 20/20 vision to make my children less susceptible to having my mole vision. I find it visible in humans, even now, the types of “breeding” that has been done. People are attracted to those that reflect similar attributes as themselves, and many people weirdly have told me how David and I look alike. Also, athletic people are attracted to other athletic people due to shared body image, parts of the person they are attracted to, and activities they participate in. David and I share similar athletic interests such as hiking and running. I definitely believe that people choose certain characteristics of other people not purely on looks, but also on ability such as athletic ability to pass onto their children.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Leandra Jacobson 4/7/09
Today as a class we partook in the ritual of the Seder meal for the celebration of Passover. This was an interesting touch to my family religious history I never fully experienced, just passively through an informal Hanukkah. This was a great ritual for me to watch Dr. Redick perform, being that I feel a strong connection with Judaism although I never have truly practiced it. I found the parsley to be of particular interest. The dipping of the green into the tears is a heavily symbolic religious act, consuming it into your own body for digestion. It becomes a part of you, just as the taking of communion in the Catholic Church.
This connection of the food to the earth as briefly explained in class brought to mind Ecology of Eden. Food production has been so far removed from a natural farming ideal that it travels across the world to feed people. How much more efficient would the world be if there was no exportation of food? The film I watched for government 215 called Life and Debt explores the exploitation of Jamaica and the banana industry by America. It is a film everyone needs to see in addition to reading this book in order to bring light to the reality of this situation outside America and caused by us.
Here is a link to the documentary:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1012786448011028455&hl=en
This connection of the food to the earth as briefly explained in class brought to mind Ecology of Eden. Food production has been so far removed from a natural farming ideal that it travels across the world to feed people. How much more efficient would the world be if there was no exportation of food? The film I watched for government 215 called Life and Debt explores the exploitation of Jamaica and the banana industry by America. It is a film everyone needs to see in addition to reading this book in order to bring light to the reality of this situation outside America and caused by us.
Here is a link to the documentary:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1012786448011028455&hl=en
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
