"Thinking has, many a time, made me sad, darling; but doing never did in all my life."
This can be taken is so many ways, especially out of context and I've decided I really really like it.
Perhaps in part it has to do with the motivating factor that I always seem to need, but it's just nice - the turn of phrase.
So many nuggets in this book!
Yes. I do like Victorian Literature. ^^
[update]
Why is it that the death of a fictional character seems so real? I feel like I'm going into mourning and from a character that I thought was annoying and frivolous. I feel bad for thinking that way and this character has died every time someone has picked up the book and read this part!
Books are beautiful, powerful things. The human imagination as well, to be able to accept such untruths.
I can't wait to start graduate school.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Thursday, March 27, 2014
I am not myself
I am not surrounded by my friends; I rarely have time to go out. By Saturday, all I want to do is sleep and veg (and do some reading for my classes - go to a cafe with a nice view and immerse myself in that which I love).
So.
Being someone that is influenced by pretty much everything, I am influenced by the people I am around (though I daresay that everyone is, most people don't like to acknowledge that they are.. yet we are products of society or I suppose a different way to look at it is to say that we are the sum parts of that which created us - our background, upbringing, past, moral/immoral/amoral influences, media, etc. Eh. Another discussion for another day).
I suppose I still am me, but I do notice when I pick up on language idiosyncrasies or mannerisms of other people.
For the most part, it doesn't really bother me, but other times, it kind of does.
Bleh. I suppose this is why I want to be surrounded by academics, though I worry that they will be the type who are pedantic. But then again, I suppose if one could draw out the genuine in such people, it wouldn't matter, would it?
In the end, the conclusion that I often come to and try to preach against, is that I am too self-conscious for my own good.
Korea does make me that way, but I am the one that notices it. In trying to ignore it, I simply acknowledge the existence of its presence; I don't address the problem and thus it never goes away.
Aren't adults supposed to be over this by now or does it just get worse?
So.
Being someone that is influenced by pretty much everything, I am influenced by the people I am around (though I daresay that everyone is, most people don't like to acknowledge that they are.. yet we are products of society or I suppose a different way to look at it is to say that we are the sum parts of that which created us - our background, upbringing, past, moral/immoral/amoral influences, media, etc. Eh. Another discussion for another day).
I suppose I still am me, but I do notice when I pick up on language idiosyncrasies or mannerisms of other people.
For the most part, it doesn't really bother me, but other times, it kind of does.
Bleh. I suppose this is why I want to be surrounded by academics, though I worry that they will be the type who are pedantic. But then again, I suppose if one could draw out the genuine in such people, it wouldn't matter, would it?
In the end, the conclusion that I often come to and try to preach against, is that I am too self-conscious for my own good.
Korea does make me that way, but I am the one that notices it. In trying to ignore it, I simply acknowledge the existence of its presence; I don't address the problem and thus it never goes away.
Aren't adults supposed to be over this by now or does it just get worse?
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Pushing boundaries
New movements in art are often created because the old becomes hackneyed and new modes of expressions are needed.
It's exactly that, "new modes of expression."
Sometimes, art that deviates from the expected is simply for the sake of deviation. (I say expected, and not the "norm" because I would argue that the norm does not exist as much as we come to have certain expectations of what should be and that becomes the "norm" though this is constantly shifting.)
Other times, art deviates from what is expected because the old stops being able to express the feelings, thoughts, and emotions that exist.
This is why sometimes I feel like language is so limiting. The ineffable becomes pigeonholed into the words that are inadequate to express the truth behind what exists.
I disagree with Saussure on this point, I think. He claims that things do not exist until they are articulated. I argue that because we cannot articulate certain things, create a different language in music and art to express what words cannot.
It's exactly that, "new modes of expression."
Sometimes, art that deviates from the expected is simply for the sake of deviation. (I say expected, and not the "norm" because I would argue that the norm does not exist as much as we come to have certain expectations of what should be and that becomes the "norm" though this is constantly shifting.)
Other times, art deviates from what is expected because the old stops being able to express the feelings, thoughts, and emotions that exist.
This is why sometimes I feel like language is so limiting. The ineffable becomes pigeonholed into the words that are inadequate to express the truth behind what exists.
I disagree with Saussure on this point, I think. He claims that things do not exist until they are articulated. I argue that because we cannot articulate certain things, create a different language in music and art to express what words cannot.
Confirmation
I always think it's cool when grass-roots movements are followed up in studies and the like.
I had quite passionately written about how porn can be problematic in relation to sex trafficking and although this is not directly related, look! A study that supports the idea that porn is a problem. I mean I mentioned in that post as well but I hadn't seen the references myself, so actually seeing an article was heartening to say the least.
And of course I wasted like an hour trying to find the dang post to link it... I read through all my other posts and I think I need to learn to be less wordy. Some of the wordplay is interesting, while others, crap.
I had quite passionately written about how porn can be problematic in relation to sex trafficking and although this is not directly related, look! A study that supports the idea that porn is a problem. I mean I mentioned in that post as well but I hadn't seen the references myself, so actually seeing an article was heartening to say the least.
And of course I wasted like an hour trying to find the dang post to link it... I read through all my other posts and I think I need to learn to be less wordy. Some of the wordplay is interesting, while others, crap.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
I need to write more
academic papers, that is.
I find them to be uncomfortable because there has to be some kind of logical order to it. It takes a while for me to come up with these blog posts (well, sometimes) and to have to come up with an articulate, logically ordered paper, I find it harder to write.
I like this kind of writing but I suppose I don't mind academic writing either. I'm minding it less, which is a sign that I'm *hopefully* getting more acclimated to it.
Eh. This was a useless post.
I find them to be uncomfortable because there has to be some kind of logical order to it. It takes a while for me to come up with these blog posts (well, sometimes) and to have to come up with an articulate, logically ordered paper, I find it harder to write.
I like this kind of writing but I suppose I don't mind academic writing either. I'm minding it less, which is a sign that I'm *hopefully* getting more acclimated to it.
Eh. This was a useless post.
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Options are dangerous
People think that options are awesome. One can choose to put in ketchup into their burger, one can choose the drink to go with one's meal, one can choose one's future career path, one can choose to be in that relationship, one can choose to do many, many things. In all of this, one cannot forget that one always has the option not to.
Options are dangerous. They give one the illusion that one is somehow in control, when all it does is give one the idea that it's okay to quit. When suddenly, there's the option of not doing something, one is setting oneself up for failure. With prosperity comes choices, with choices comes ennui, with ennui comes paralysis. Well, I suppose it isn't as simple as that, but I see it far more often than should be.
I read an article about being efficient and about being motivated and basically it comes down to, shut up, suck it up, stop complaining, and just do it. Why that's become so hard for many people is because they think they have the option of not doing it and so in their inaction, they choose not to. They drag out the inevitable and are unable to move forward.
Perhaps I'm just talking about myself.
Any at rate, if you had a choice to go to class at 8 in the morning to learn something enriching and to grow as an individual, or sleep an extra hour and go to lunch with friends and in general laze around all day, the very idea that going to class is an option suddenly allows for you to sleep in with this attitude of the gross misinterpretation of carpe diem and we briefly enjoy that hour of sleep (only, of course, to regret missing class and the learning that took place because of the extra studying required to understand a concept that could have been easily learned during class).
Basically, it comes down to thinking that we have the willpower to do things that we really don't have the willpower to do and having that illusion of an option just makes it easier to give up.
Now, does that mean that I believe in taking things to the extreme and saying that we should get rid of all free will or all options so that we become automatons that merely follow the will of whatever culture we're thrown into?
Of course not.
I'm just saying that certain things shouldn't be seen as an option. It makes the difference, in my opinion, between success and failure.
Btw, I'm pretty sure I was influenced by this article in writing this particular post. ^^
Options are dangerous. They give one the illusion that one is somehow in control, when all it does is give one the idea that it's okay to quit. When suddenly, there's the option of not doing something, one is setting oneself up for failure. With prosperity comes choices, with choices comes ennui, with ennui comes paralysis. Well, I suppose it isn't as simple as that, but I see it far more often than should be.
I read an article about being efficient and about being motivated and basically it comes down to, shut up, suck it up, stop complaining, and just do it. Why that's become so hard for many people is because they think they have the option of not doing it and so in their inaction, they choose not to. They drag out the inevitable and are unable to move forward.
Perhaps I'm just talking about myself.
Any at rate, if you had a choice to go to class at 8 in the morning to learn something enriching and to grow as an individual, or sleep an extra hour and go to lunch with friends and in general laze around all day, the very idea that going to class is an option suddenly allows for you to sleep in with this attitude of the gross misinterpretation of carpe diem and we briefly enjoy that hour of sleep (only, of course, to regret missing class and the learning that took place because of the extra studying required to understand a concept that could have been easily learned during class).
Basically, it comes down to thinking that we have the willpower to do things that we really don't have the willpower to do and having that illusion of an option just makes it easier to give up.
Now, does that mean that I believe in taking things to the extreme and saying that we should get rid of all free will or all options so that we become automatons that merely follow the will of whatever culture we're thrown into?
Of course not.
I'm just saying that certain things shouldn't be seen as an option. It makes the difference, in my opinion, between success and failure.
Btw, I'm pretty sure I was influenced by this article in writing this particular post. ^^
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