My Myth

Jordan Erekson

Period 6

April 2

Myth

They had it. Love, what more could they have asked for? In the beginning, Poseidon ( The Greek God of the seas and water) and Demeter (The Goddess of earth and forests) had it all. They maintained there lifestyles together upon Mount Olympus among the other gods. Day to day they would create and balance the land and water on the mount. Until that one day… As Demeter was laying out a new, fresh, and green layer of land on the ground Poseidon thought it would be funny to send a tsunami over the newly laid land to get his love wet. He created this enormous wave that stood way above anyone’s head. As he let it free it rushed down a hill to Demeter’s land. Demeter not knowing it was coming did not have time to brace for impact as it slammed into her knocking her off her feet. The wave continued to grow as it flowed down the hill. It destroyed many things in its path leaving the other gods and goddesses angry. Although this was not the first time Poseidon and Demeter had made this trouble erupt. Many times before this one, Poseidon created waves that rushed through the valley of Mount Olympus destroying anything and everything in its path. It had been one to many times for the childish behavior and Zeus (God of all Gods) banned them from the mountain. Then and there they were sent from off the Mount and was not allowed time where they could not pack up any of there belongings.

They were sent to an unknown world where the land was bare. Not a thing was around. Although knowing that they had been kicked out of Olympus it had led them to humble themselves. It was one day where Demeter was working on the land and planting new trees and amazing plants all over the vast land when they Poseidon decided to maybe help her out some and try to work things out between them too seeing how she was still angry with him for his childish activities that got them kicked out. It was at that moment when Poseidon with the flick of a finger sent water running through the land and sent rivers that explored through out the vast land of trees and land Demeter had set and planted. Through all of there hardships they were able to get past there hard times and create land so beautiful that it will be praised and worshiped for eons to come.

After completing there project and working together, Zeus had come down and congratulated them. He told them how the gods and goddesses had been watching them. They sent them here as a test to see how well they could work together and over come there childish behavior. Having passed the test they were warmly welcomed back onto Mount Olympus where they could go back to there normal god and goddess lifestyles, working together to create majestic and beautiful lands together.

As for the land they created together, it still remains today. As beautiful and majestic as it was in the beginning. And a life lesson has been taught that we must not take the powers and things we have in life for granted. As soon as we are able to achieve them we are just as vulnerable to get them taken away. But if we truly have a passion for what it may be, We can accomplish great things.

Moral Living

Jordan Erekson

Period 6

April 1

Moral Living

In the story Tao Te Ching written by Lao tzu there is a lot that we can learn about how we and others can live a moral life. In the first part of the story, he says “We know there is beauty because there is ugly. We know good because there is evil. Being and not being, having and not having, create each other. Difficult and easy, Long and short, high and Low, Define each other, just as before and after follow each other.” (pg. 165) This is the part that truly got me. I know for a fact in my life that these things do exist all around us today. For example this weekend over spring break which was a very nice break with the whether, but over it my mom was reading this book called “The Ugly's” I think is what the name of it was. I had asked her what it was about and she was saying how it is about this population of people who are split up depending on there designs and color of there attributes.

In the Dhammapada by Buddha started off perfectly, it said “All experience is preceded by mind, Led by mind, made by mind. Speak or act with a corrupt mind, And suffering follows As the wheel of the wagon follows the hoof of the ox.” (pg. 155) I believe in life this is all true to a certain point. It takes me to the point where I must be thinking about what I am going to do in order for me to go out and do it. Things don't just happen to happen. They all happen for a reason.

In the end I think one truly lives a moral life by the opposing forces that exist in their path. They must be able to choose between good and evil, must be able to over the lows in order to reach the highs in life. Its all in our mind and our choice whether or not we choose to do it right or wrong. The morals are there we must partake of them and use them for the right outcome.

Museum Critique

Museum Critique

The Museum that I went to was the Utah Art Museum up at the University of Utah.and I thought it was a great experience.

One of the collections that they had shown up at the Museum was along the lines of nature and how we as humans can effect it. They had had oil paitings in a big room that were showing the destruction of nature due to human inhabitants. One of the paintings was of an oil rig out in the ocean. But, this rig had been leaking oil into the ocean and you could see the impact it made on the water preservations. There was oil all over the water, it was covered and most likely it is impossible to get it all completely cleaned out of it. There will always be oil in it now.

There are many places where you can find more information about the work that is in this art museaum. You can learn more about some of the paintings by actually going to the museum. At the museum you can ask the people who work there more about the paintings. Also, another thing you can do while you are there is you can look and they have discription boxes on the side of the pictures that give a more in depth article about the painting. One more way is that you can go online and look up more things about a certain painting.

One of my most memorable paintings would have to be the ones about the great depression. These paintings were about the time period when america's economy had dropped. When everyone thought that nothing could be fixed and we just slummed around not wanting to fix anything or do anything about it.The name of one of the paintings was the “Tenant Farmers” this was a painting created by Lou Barlow. The picture shows it to be around the year 1936.

The Picture “Tenant Farmers” depicts an agarian couple whose lived and humorless faces are accentuated in shadow and angular shape by the woodcut technique used to make the print. The verdant fields of corn surrounding the couple stand as testament to their hard work. Barlow was referencing a system of labor that involved landlords paying farmers to work their land. Tenant farming was at the time coming to an end. Some farmers grew tires of what they saw as an unjust labor system. Tractorsand mechanization replaced others, while yet others were driven off the land by the environmental catastrophe called the Dust Bowl.

All of the pictures that I had looked at in the museum related back to the things we have talked about in class in some shape or form. For example, the Depression period. I put this into place along with the topic about our impact on nature. We talked about how we would drive down the streets around town and we stop at a stop light or even just look over to the car next to us, and it happens to be a big SUV. Usually most of the time when we see cars like that there are usually only one person in them at a time. And what that does to our economy is bad. It puts out many toxins and uses a whole bunch of gas. I related the artwork selection to that because the great depression was hard for people all around. Everyone would try to conserve the best that they possibly could at there times of need. If we dont try to conserve then we could just be leading ourselves into another great depression.

Personally I would love to go back and visit to another museum and learn more and more about paintings and the history about them. As I walked into the Utah Art Museum I almost felt as if a calm mood had come over me. It was verypeacefull inside of them and it brought a good vibe into me. As I walked around and looked at the pictures I felt as if I could relate in some way or form to the pictures and with the stuff we talk about in class. I love being able to relate things together and get different views on things for a better understanding on them. If another oppurtunity were to come about. I'd love to go to another museum again.

Hudson River Paintings

Jordan Erekson

Humanities

“The Oxbow”

The title of this painting is called “ The Oxbow”. It was created by Thomas cole in the year 1836 after there was a thunder storm. You can tell in this picture a lot of what the arrtist is trying to put into the meaning of the painting and what mood he is trying to create. As you can see on the right side of the painting it shows a little about how humans can affect the land and nature. You can see that there are places for agriculture and farming. On the other hand the left side shows a big thunder storm. Not only that but you can see in the corner there is a twisted tree that has been deformed by the storm. In conclusion it is safe to say that this painting depicts the beauty of nature and also how destructive nature can be at times.

“Kindred Spirits”

The artist of this painting Kindred Spirits goes by the name of Asher Brown. He is one of the well known artists and this painting was one of his firsts. As you are looking into the picture you can see the land in the distance and then if you look up close there are to men standing in the front. This picture shows the balance that man can have with nature. The trees around them are almost giving them shelter and helping to protect them from any danger that could come. In the background you can see the waterfalls and an eagle. This shows that there is a balance between nature and animals. That one without the other would not make it complete. They both help eachother out in a way.

The title of this last painting is called “ Rainy Season”. It was created by Frederic Edwin. This one is one of the more popular ones back in the time. It has been painted on a real secenic photo. A lot of the time when you look at an english artists painting what do you see in it? Buildings and stores. But when you look into an american painting a lot of the times you will see nature. This pictures shows the true beauty of nature and how increadible it can be without us even knowing it.

                                               Summary

From these pictures you can tell that nature is a big part of our society today. Without it we would not be able to cope and have the resources that are need around us for essential living. As I said, there is a big difference in the paintings from other places like England to here in America. Places like England have there paintings of buildings and towns because they do not have much nature around them. Unlike there, we have nature and wildlife all around us. It is surrounding us on our left and on our right. These paintings show the great and majestic beauty of nature and how we can affect it. Without good knowledge of our surroundings we will not be able to maintain it to the passion that we want it kept at. For example, when ever I go down to moab with my friends or my family we will usually do a couple of hikes and go rock climbing and repelling. As I am there I can see the affect that we as humans put into our national forests. There are always paths that are being created when there are open ones right along side of he ones people shouldn't be making. If only they would have a greater care for the nature and want to preserve the land then it would stick around for a long time. At the rate we are going, the land is getting degraded and falling apart because of our laziness. In Conclusion We need to have a greater respect for the land if we still want to see it and look at paintings of it like the ones above.

Polemic

Polemic

The general argument made by Abbey in his work Polemic is that of nature, The impacts that people have by traveling on it. More specifically, Abbey doesn't like all the traffic that people are making in these national parks. He writes “No more cars in national parks. Let the people walk. Or ride horses, Bicycles, mules, wild pigs-anything-but keep the automobiles and the motorcycles and all their motorized relatives out.” (pg. 389).

In my view, Abbey is correct all the way because I am one of those people who love going to the wild outdoors and the national parks to see the majestic views, but when I go and see trash everywhere and tire marks it hurts me because I want to help. For Example, My family and friends go to Moab at least twice a year, once we were going on this hike and we looked off the path a ways and saw a bunch of trails that bikers had made, even though there was a sign posted that said “no trails”. I think it is important to save the places we have like these so they will be around for many years and generations. But if we continue to build new developments it will surely decrease and disappear.

Walden

Walden

The general argument made by Henry D. Thoreau is about the impact that us as humans have on the environment and nature around us. More specifically, He talked about staying in a little tiny cabin for a long time and was just out in the wild all by himself. He writes “ Most men, even in this comaratively free country through mere ignorance and mistake are so occupied with the factitious cares and course labors of life the its finer fruits cannot be plucke by them.” (pg. 350). This means that people have been overly obssessed with the big non important things in life. The the little important things are not dealt with or known how to be dealt with.

In my view I think Thoreau is wrong because I dont have to go spend time in the forest in a little cabin to understand the meaning of things. For example, I was sitting in class one day and we were reading stories about people and there dfficultises in life. My teacher had asked us to put ourselves in their footsteps to try and see how they felt. I didnt want to because I already knew the feeling that the people were feeling and going through. Therefore, I conclude that if we just take time to look at the small non important things in our lives that we will be able to understand them without having to go great distances to figure them out.

Peach Blossom

Peach Blossom

The general argument made by T'ao Ch'ien in his work Peach Blossom, is that we cant take things for granted. When we have or know about something special we must cherish it. More specifically, Ch'ien suggests that when you are told to keep a secret that you will find it easier to keep it than to lose with what was said. He writes “On reaching the city, he reported what he had found to the magistrate, who at once sent a man to follow him back to the place. They proceeded according to the marks he had made, but went astray and were unable to find the cave again.” (pg. 344). In this passage, Ch'ien is suggesting that you shouldnt be spreading the word of things that need to be kept secret.

In my view, Ch'ien is correct in his writing and with what he expresses. For example, One time my mom had gone to the store and got a bunch of bags of candy for Halloween, but when she got home she hid them.I of course found them and started to devour it right away. No one knew about it till my mom caught me eating it. She told me I cant tell anyone else where it is hidden or they will eat it all gone. Me wanting to tell people that I had found the stache of cand y told my youngest brother and he went and ate all the rest of the candy. I learned my lesson because I was told not to tell anyone and I did, I had to face the consequence of the candy being all gone for that. Therefore, I conclude that if you are told not to tell anyone you better listen and just keep it to yourself.

Summary

Week 4 Summary

       Over the week we have talked about literature and how we can learn more through reading it.

I believe literature to be a key part to our learning, without it we would not have the understandings and views on things that we have around today. It is becoming less popular throughout the world today though. People are being less advertised to literature and are not erading books as much as we used to. Technology has a great part in this. We are so stuck on the things where we can kill aliens and beat the boss of levels that it takes away from our lerning experince of literature. We can improve these skills by taking time each day to read at least a chapter out of a book or even just a poem. Through this we will be able to have a better and the same knowledge as people around the world when it comes to literature.

Why Literature

Why Literature

The general argument made by Mario Vargas Llosa in his work is that people today do not make or say they dont have enough time for literature. More specifically, Llosa argues that literature and reading has become more a female activity. He writes “it seems clear that literature has become more and more a female activity.” (pg. 39) In this passage Llosa is suggesting that if we try to make time for literature, we will have the time we want for it.

In my view, Llosa is correct in his thinking because its true that we dont make the time to read. For example, I one day got home from soccer and was told I needed to read. But I said I couldnt read because I came up with the lame excuse that I was too busy to do it with other things. Although Llosa might object that there are some men who read. I maintain that most of The men dont. I conclude that we should make more time to read our literature today.

Literature in Existence

Jordan Erekson

Period 6 

Feb. 10

Humanities 1100

Reading Quiz 2

The existence of literature brings about certainty. Education in literature is a key component to the well being of the people today.  The knowledge of literature is a brilliant path way that should be expounded upon.  People all over the world have different views and concepts on different literature examples and stories.  Having Literature in our lives is greatly considered one of the main factors to our knowledge and understanding today.  We would not have the same readings and feelings on topics if it were for our certain knowledge of it.

For example, the industry that brings about musical lyrics. When an artist is composing a new song they will think about things around them in the world today.  Bob Marley was a famous musical artist.  He was not afraid to say what needed to be said in his songs.  Although, many times the lyrics that were said were misinterpreted by us as a people and brought along different readings and understandings to songs.

The great influential promises of poems are one that cannot be recognized to a certain understanding with people.  Poems are great path ways to how we see our lives and how we communicate and live. Today, many are not learned on the topic. There are men and women who have lived their lives without the true knowledge and guidance that poems can bring.  The mentality of our lives can be brought up through poetry.  Expressions, feelings, comforts, and divine nature are few examples of things that poems bring about.  Less and less times do you hear someone go back in thought and use a quote from a poem that they have heard, and expressed it to others in their lives.

In tandem, the examples of Robert Frosts quote “A civilized society is one which tolerates eccentricity to the point of doubtful sanity.” Having the guidance from poetry when young helps to

realize what the main points of things are. In Frosts quote, it delivers the message our society is changing to fit the appearance of others.  Our world today has been mocked and changed due to the insecurity of one’s self image.  There are those who can’t go outside without being mistreated and misunderstood.  Poems are there to help with all of this.  Having knowledge of poems can greatly influence how we act and react to the altering of our lives.

On the other hand, there is the possibility of those whose views will counteract and argue with these thoughts.  The ones who don’t believe in literature and poems have different actions and feelings about the topics.  The point may come out that poetry and literature are not needed in the lives around us today.  They believe it to be a contradiction to the beliefs of the fact that our lives are changing and being predisposed by the literature in the modern lives today.

            Our actions, feelings, thoughts, and comforts are aroused by literature and poetry.  We would not be able to have the same views and understandings we have if it weren’t for them. What we believe is our decision and with the help of the understandings of literature we are able to alter our life’s and begins on new paths. Poetry and Literature go hand in hand with each other and are good keys to success in our day to day lives. 

Jordan Erekson

Period 6

Humanities 1100

Education By Poetry

The general argument/point made by Robert Frost in his work Education By Poetry is that people today and people that are in college are not as educated as they need to be. Mainly in the field of Literature. Today we have people who don't know how to write poems and all that kind of stuff. More specifically, Frost argues/suggests that we need to teach literature as a more demanding course. College graduates are having to take night classes to catch up on the extra learning on that of literature because they are not focuses on their needed classes about it at the time. He writes “They have not been educated enough to find their way around in contemporary literature.” (pg. 48) In this passage Frost is suggesting that we take our required literature courses more serious. In conclusion, it is Frosts belief that if we take more lessons and focus more deep on our literature, that we may become more varied in our writing and looking at poems.

In my view Frost is correct in his thinking patters. He is right in my opinion because I know for a fact today that kids aren't paying as much if any attention to their literature courses as they should be. For example, I was sitting at home and my brother was reading this book and it had a very popular poem in it. My little brother came up to me and asked what it meant? At that time I knew that today we were not as focused on our studies in the literature area as we need and should be. Although, Frost might object and puts out a good point that people are not as educated today due to the fact that we don't put any effort into our teaching of literature. I maintain that we need to have better studies on the topic. Therefore, I conclude that if we are willing to study and put an effort into learning more about poetry and into our literature study that we may become learned and to know and have a greater knowledge of things in our life.

Jordan Erekson

Period 6

Reading and Interpretation Exercise

1.       Q.  What is the “subject” of the first sentence?

A.      They refers to The Old Masters.

2.       Q.  Where do you find the subject?

A.      The second line.

3.       Q.  Are the words in the sentence in the “correct” order?
            A.       No, it is not where you expect it to be.

4.       Q.  What is Auden trying to say?

A.      People turn away from disasters unless it involves them.

5.       Q.   What is his “argument”?

A.      The Old Masters are trying to convey suffering.

6.       Q.  How does he make the argument or convey his message?

A.      He shows it in the actions of the people.

7.       Q.  Does he provide “evidence”?

A.      Yes, he does provide evidence.

8.       Q.  What does the title mean?

A.      The Museum of Beauty.

9.       Q.  Can you figure it out without help?

A.      Yes, the words look similar to English words.

10.   Q.  Who are “The Old Masters”?

A.      The Old Masters are Davinci, Michelangelo, Brueghal and Rembrandt.

 1.   Q.   Why is this capitalized?

A.      It is a list of important people.

12.   Q.  How can you find out more?

A.      Look online and in books as well as other resources.

13.   Q.  How does Auden move through his argument and thus the poem?

A.      He starts out general and moves to specific.

14.   Q.  What is “Brueghal’s Icarus”?

A.      It is a painting.

15.   Q.  Do you agree with that thesis?

A.      Yes, I do agree that people turn away unless it involves them.

16.   Q.  How might Auden’s historical or cultural context have affected what and why he says it?

A.      His writing reflects his own obstacles and what he has gone through in his life.

17.   Q.  Did his living in Europe in the 1930’s affect his views about human suffering and how people respond to it?

A.      Yes, this definitely affects his views, historical events always do.

18.   Q. Why does he say The Old Masters were never wrong when they displayed their understanding or suffering in their art?

A.      Because they were the first and went through horrible times of suffering in the world.

19.   Q.  What does this say about the esteem in which The Old Masters are held.

A.      They had poor self-esteem about themselves and it showed in their work.

20.   Q. Why might that be the case?

A.      The time period in which they lived in.

21.   Q.  Does Auden’s presence in a museum, which privileges certain painters, affect his views about what he sees?

A.      Yes, it does affect his views on others life.

22.   Q.  How does he use “Brueghal’s Icarus” to support his thesis?

A.      He uses it to show how one only cares about a problem if it involves them.

23.   Q.  Are there similarities between Auden’s “historical context” and that of The Old Masters that might account for their similarity of views as Auden sees it?

A.      Yes, there is similarities between his historical context and The Old Masters and you can see it used in his work.

24.   Q.  What about differences might allow for a different interpretation of The Old Masters?

A.      The point-of-view and previous life experiences.

25.   Q.  How does painting convey a message that can be read?

A.      You have to be able to look at it and say what you believe the painting is telling you in its story.

26.   Q.  What would we expect to see in the title?

A.      A description of the picture.

27.   Q.  What do we see?

A.      We see words that convey a message.

28.   Q.  What do all the components do to make you see what the painter is trying to make you see?

A.      It affects the mood and emotional feeling of the painting.

29.   Q. What about Icarus?

A.      He is the main character.

30.   Q.  Where is he?

A.      He is in the water.

31.   Q. Why is he so small?

A.      In the story of the painting he is supposed to be small and unnoticed.

32.   Q.  How are people in the painting responding to this tragedy?

A.      They are turning away from Icarus and the tragedy.

33.   Q.  How does that compare to what Auden said?

A.      It is the exact same concept.

34.   Q.  Is Auden’s interpretation of the painting a good one?

A.      Yes, his interpretation is right on.

35.   Q.  What about Brueghal’s interpretation of the story correct?

A.      Yes, his interpretation was correct.

36.   Q.  What about Brueghal’s historical and cultural context informed his art?

A.      Yes, both informed his art.

37.   Q.  What would we need to do?

A.      We would need to look deeper into it and previous occasions.

38.   Q.  What do you notice about this scene that is different from the way it is presented by Brueghal?

A.      It is a totally different point-of-view.

39.   Q.  Why is Ovid’s view of what people would do so different?

A.      He has gone through this scenario different and during a different time period.

40.   Q.  What was happening in the first century B.C.E. when Ovid wrote?

A.      The Greeks and Romans were fighting over rule.

41.   Q.  How might that have affected his storytelling?

A.      It is what he was going through, which changes how and why he told the story the way he did.

ARGUMENTATION IN A CULTURE OF DSCORD

Jordan Erekson

Humanities 1100

Period 6

ARGUMENTATION IN A CULTURE OF DSCORD

The general argument/point made by Frank L. Cioffi in his work ARUGUMENTATION IN A CULTURE OF DISCORD is that people when in arguments or even talking to each other can be misunderstood or misunderstand the other person in the conversation. Words have different meanings and its how the other person decodes it is how they will receive it. More specifically, Cioffi argues/suggests that part of the problem of teaching argumentative writing is the “argument” means “heated, contentious verbal dispute”. He writes writes “argument” means “heated, contentious verbal dispute”. (page 63). In this passage, Cioffi is suggesting that people are misread and misunderstood part of the time in conversations. In conclusion, it is Cioffi's belief that we must be clear in what we are saying and what we are trying to say when in a conversation with another person.

In my view, Cioffi is correct because I know for a fact that when I am talking to some other people I get the weird looks from them because they don't fully understand what I am saying when talking to them. They will sometimes misinterpret the words coming out of my mouth. For example, Say I were in an argument and I said “You want to go?” The person could either think that I want to get in a fight with them, or they could possibly think that I am just telling them that they need to leave.

Although Cioffi might object that some people use words in conversations that can not be misunderstood very often, I maintain that there is a way to misread and misunderstand words that people are saying no matter what. Therefore, I conclude that when in an argument be careful to listen to the words that are coming out of the other persons mouth, so that you don't misread them.

Concepts We Live By

Jordan Erekson

Humanities 1100

CONCPTS WE LIVE BY

The general argument/ point made by George Lakoff and Mark Johnson in their work is that of the concepts that we live by. More specifically, Lakoff and Johnson argue/suggest that the concepts that govern our thoughts are not just matters of the intellect. They write “The concepts that govern our thoughts are not just matters of the intellect. They also govern our everyday functioning, down to the msot mundane details. Our concepts structure what we perceive, how we get around in the world, and how we relate to other people.” (page 61). In this passage, Lakoff and Jonson suggest that our conceptual system is not something we are normally aware of. In conclusion, it is Lakoff and Johnson's belief that communication is based on the same conceptual system that we use in thinking and acting, language is an important source of evidence for what that system is like.

In my view, Lakoff and Johnson are right because the concepts that they talk about are the ones that we truly do live by. We follow them and there patterns in our everyday life. For example, They talked about how argument is war. How we follow the same guidelines when we are in an argument of our own. Although Lakoff and Johnson might object that not everybody uses the same patterns and gidlines when in an argument they are about the same. I maintain that people, when arguing do follow those guidelines and argue all in the same patterns as others. Therefore, I conclude that if we do try to follow these concepts it will make our lives easier and much more simple.