Blogs 2 follow

The below are blogs that I think are creative, awe-inspiring, interesting, intelligent and inventive- both in writing and in art. Within the blogsophere, there are a plethora of horrible, stupid blogs but within this I'm hoping to find the needle in the haystack! It's a hard search for these brilliant blogs but I'm sure I'll find many more!
http://pocket-universe.blogspot.com/
http://scientificart.blogspot.com/
http://www.camplinart.blogspot.com/
http://kat-vanka.blogspot.com/
http://world-science-blog.blogspot.com/
http://crispian-jago.blogspot.com/

Camus 2

"The others would all be condemned one day. And he would be condemned, too. What would it matter if he were accused of murder and then executed because he didn't cry at his mother's funeral? Salamano's dog was worth just as much as his wife. The little robot woman was just as guilty as the Parisian woman Masson marries, or as Marie, who wanted me to marry her. What did it matter that Raymong was as much as my friend as Celeste, who was worth a lot more than him? What did it matter that Marie not offered her lips to a new Meursault." 

Here, Meursault illustrates the lack of importance in life's trivilalities. However, life itself is mundane and trivial. So, anything and everything is pointless. In terms of condemnation, he sees all as having to pay for what they've done. No one is perfectly holy and mankind itself is doomed to condemnation. Yet, it doesn't matter- when life doesn't matter. He points out interesting perspectives when he sees that a dog could be just as valuable to someone as a wife. It is through these relationships and life's lack of meaning that Meursault shows how much "it doesn't matter." Who cares if Meursault will lose his girl, who cares if he likes Raymond, who cares about the guilty and non guilty, who cares about anything. When nothing matters, all is fair game. If the old man loves a dog more than a wife- who cares. If Meursault gets executed- who cares? Surely not him. To become this way you have to have a certain level of dissociation from life's wonders- although detached- Meursault chooses to be this way. If life is pointless- whats the point of even engaging reality. And through this he becomes alienated. But, we cannot forget that he feels, more than anything; he chooses to not feel-because, what's the point of feeling?

Camus

"As if that blind rage had washed me clean, rid me of hope; for the first time, in that night alive with signs and stars, I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world. Finding it so much like myself—so like a brother, really—I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again. For everything to be consummated, for me to feel less alone, I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate."

I'm sure this passage can be interpreted in many different ways within many different people. However, I see this text as Meursault's ending. His absoulute, unavoidable rage at the world surronding him has suffocated him to a point of surrender. And on this night, he finally choices to take all he's felt, all he's thought, all he's known- and let go. Meursault's casual choice of short, percise sentences has lead me to believe that he feels so much that he must diminish it to that point or else it will consume him. Paradoxically, he's dismissive due to his intense involvement into his feelings. If he wasn't so disinvolved, he's be eaten up and so he chooses to be so casual in life. But now, after all hope is lost, he is finally able to let go. Readers must realize that Meursault is not truly a dissociative, detached person- although he may convey this message. It is only until this night that Meursault actaully lets go and becomes detached from reality. And here, in this moment, he becomes happy. Once at peace, Meursault is OK with his inevitable fate of death and so, removed from everyone and at peace Meursault desires for all these ignorant people to "greet" him with hate. And personally, I'd like to image Meursault smiling as everyone screams at him and as he takes his final breath.

Genesis 1: The Beginning

"So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them."

This passage here is almost written in a ritualistic chant as it repeats over of what God has done and the good he has created. This language has an almost omnipotence to it as it confidently tells us what happens and doesn't even question, doesn't even doubt the "facts." This universality the Genesis holds within its matter-of-fact tone of confidence is so powerful. It takes hold of the reader and lets the reader have full faith and trust in its texts. On the contrary, Darwin states his facts but adds with it his doubts and his awareness and understanding within his readers doubts and questions. This uncertainty within Darwin's words gives the reader the ability to contemplate and decide for him or herself the facts. Unlike Genesis, which confidently gives us these "truths" in almost a commanding tone and holds that we must trust these words and if we were to doubt them- we would be foolish. This confidence is so powerful it takes hold of the reader and almost intimidates the reader to do otherwise then follow the commands.

Charles Darwin

Darwin was so brilliant and curious for his time!

"There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved." Here, this passage has so brilliantly summed up Darwin's curiousites and his theories. In this sentence he is describing the vast complexity of such an "entangled bank." There are physical laws that govern each of us, and although humans are so independent from worms and worms so independent from fish- we are still all so dependent on each other within very complex laws and intelligent designs. I believe we all share this deep void that Darwin is describing here. We are conscious creatures, and so, we are conscious of the complexities within life and the so brilliant and beautiful designs of the universe. We each share this complete awe at what is around us and how deeply it is interconnected- some may fill this void with god, with science, and some will forever have this unfillable void. But, no matter what, one cannot deny that this void and this unconcievable "entangled bank" still lies.

P2 of Conformity Essay

While conformity is often seen negatively in western culture, Sigmund Freud and Charles Darwin give light to the positivity of conforming through theories of a uniform society and a biologically deep rooted need to 'imitate' our peers. In Civilization and its Discontents, Sigmund Freud maintains that an ideal "culture demands sacrifices" one being conformity. In a world where man preys upon man, a civil society at large needs to develop in order for human beings to remain. And, it is with conformity that we can build a secure foundation for progress within a powerful community. Indeed, if everyone were to pursue different interests without the entire whole in mind, conflict would arise and bonds would be broken. It is through deep and interwined conformity that we can "levy energy" and exist so well together. Now, in Darwin's Origin of Species we are shown how advantageous it is to follow, imitate, and reflect our peers. Beyond the social benefits, we are biologically predispoced to mirror others in efforts of simply learning the environment, society at large, and ourselfs in relation to others. We are social beings, and socializing is at the very core of our beings. No species can survive on their own, indeed; we need each other and not only to survive but also to be happy. And although conformity may demand some sacrifices of being an individual, the overall benefits completely outway individualism. Personally, i think many people overlook these benefits because they are at the basic of our survival and daily living- the importance of conformity has lost its content when we have no capacity for gratitude in a such standard society. Yet, the pangs of all would soon be seen if suffering and calamity were to take place. When ever there is a disaster, do you see people spreading apart and wanting to be an "individual"? No. People come together and conform to reestablish the powerful bonds of community and well-being. But, with many of my peers living in a cosy western society the ability to gain a different perspective is hard to almost impossible. Life without conformity would be unendurable and frusterations would reach to a point of no return.