A spell fell over all as the words weaved through the crowd, spinning and sweeping; the teller slowly fading from the forefront, the tale forging ahead, filling the space between their ears, engulfing awareness, the muse taking flesh, forming a hero bright and true: one to dwell among them; one to struggle and overcome; one to sacrifice and save; one to, in the end, ascend and leave everything finally changed. Eventually, the spell broken, the people returned to their beautiful ordinary lives.
Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story...
Showing posts with label Thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thoughts. Show all posts
1.31.2012
12.07.2011
Stories and Societies
Reflection Theory
Imagine an anthropologist attempting to understand the lifestyle of the ancient Babylonians. She might begin by digging up artifacts at an excavation site, and drawing conclusions from what is found. The clay pot suggests that they cooked in ovens, and the drawings on it suggests a culture that values the arts. Now imagine that she found a book of Babylonian myths that were translatable. She reads these stories with interest, feeling like she is getting a first hand glimpse into the lifestyle of the ancients.
If we accept her ability to read a story to better understand a society, then we accept reflection theory. This theory postulates that literature reflects the society that birthed it.
Imagine an anthropologist attempting to understand the lifestyle of the ancient Babylonians. She might begin by digging up artifacts at an excavation site, and drawing conclusions from what is found. The clay pot suggests that they cooked in ovens, and the drawings on it suggests a culture that values the arts. Now imagine that she found a book of Babylonian myths that were translatable. She reads these stories with interest, feeling like she is getting a first hand glimpse into the lifestyle of the ancients.
If we accept her ability to read a story to better understand a society, then we accept reflection theory. This theory postulates that literature reflects the society that birthed it.
12.04.2011
Short-Circuiting the Brain
Emotions move us. What happens when we feel them strongly? Do we just move quicker?
Jonathan Haidt, a psychology professor at University of Virginia, researched the emotion that is the opposite of disgust (which causes us to withdraw and is usually caused by things associated with blood or poo). He came to term the emotion "elevation", which is the goose-bumps we get when we observe or participate in a great moral act. One thing I found intriguing was that when this emotion is most intense it can temporarily disable the part of the brain that monitors our physical boundaries (where our bits and pieces are in space), which causes the person to lose their sense of self and feel as if they have been absorbed into humanity and are intimately connected to all of mankind. Let's call this state ONENESS and define it as an intense feeling of elevation that causes us to lose our sense of self (and time?) so that we can become completely involved with humanity.
Jonathan Haidt, a psychology professor at University of Virginia, researched the emotion that is the opposite of disgust (which causes us to withdraw and is usually caused by things associated with blood or poo). He came to term the emotion "elevation", which is the goose-bumps we get when we observe or participate in a great moral act. One thing I found intriguing was that when this emotion is most intense it can temporarily disable the part of the brain that monitors our physical boundaries (where our bits and pieces are in space), which causes the person to lose their sense of self and feel as if they have been absorbed into humanity and are intimately connected to all of mankind. Let's call this state ONENESS and define it as an intense feeling of elevation that causes us to lose our sense of self (and time?) so that we can become completely involved with humanity.
9.22.2010
Free Thought
I want to be a blogger; however, I don't want to put the time into it, which is why I haven't ever successfully become one. Maybe I will manage this time...
I thought I would call this blog "Free Thought". The name was taken. I googled Free Thought to see if it had any associations, and it turns out it does. Apparently, Free Thought is a brand of thinking that refutes authority and relies on logic and science to draw conclusions. For this reason most people who profess to be Free Thinkers label themselves atheist or agnostic, since no measurable evidence exists to prove conclusively the existence of God. I say most, because there is a brand of Free Thought called Philosophical Theism, proponents of which accept the idea of a personable deity on philosophical grounds, but reject any dogma or religion associated with that being.
Thinking Free Thoughts was too awkward. Thinking's Free works well though. I like the loose tie to Free Thought, since I have some of those inclinations. I definitely do not draw the same conclusions though.
I thought I would call this blog "Free Thought". The name was taken. I googled Free Thought to see if it had any associations, and it turns out it does. Apparently, Free Thought is a brand of thinking that refutes authority and relies on logic and science to draw conclusions. For this reason most people who profess to be Free Thinkers label themselves atheist or agnostic, since no measurable evidence exists to prove conclusively the existence of God. I say most, because there is a brand of Free Thought called Philosophical Theism, proponents of which accept the idea of a personable deity on philosophical grounds, but reject any dogma or religion associated with that being.
Thinking Free Thoughts was too awkward. Thinking's Free works well though. I like the loose tie to Free Thought, since I have some of those inclinations. I definitely do not draw the same conclusions though.
Please Do Not Manipulate Me into Clicking a Like Button (Click Like if you agree!)
I really do not like to be manipulated. Even if it is an issue or idea with which I agree, I am repelled by the appearance of manipulation. Don't get me wrong - I can be very gullible, and am probably easily fooled. However, if I sense that there is some foolery about, I rankle. Don't make me rankle. Please.
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