A final thought on suffering...

Our group project spent a lot of time with the story of Candide and the philosophy of Pangloss.  Voltaire seemingly mocks the optimistic perspective throughout the play that is held dearly by many religions both then and today.  The LDS perspective certainly is that everything is for the best.  Joseph Smith was told that even if the very gates of hell were to chase after him that it would ultimately be for his good.  Nephi observes that there must needs be an opposition in all things.  Satan wanted to thwart God's plan and remove the suffering all together.  So what is it about suffering that is so essential to the God's goals to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man?

Eve concluded that being cast out was a good thing because without evil, one cannot know good.  It creates a spectrum that we can now use to compare things with.  We know good is good because we've seen what evil is.  And it seems that as we experience more suffering throughout our lives that the spectrum widens and we have a greater capacity to appreciate joy - almost as if our capacity to feel joy is exactly proportional to the amount of pain and suffering we've endured...  Christ descended below them all, he suffered everything imaginable, and then he received a fullness of joy.  Satan didn't quite understand God's intentions when he suggested that we make everyone 'choose the right' by eliminating the spectrum.  You have to ask yourself now if passing billions of God's children through a test-less life would produce results.  

Elder Wirthlin says, 'Come what may, and love it."  But can we really tell that to our newly-wed neighbor whose wife was just diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer, can no longer have children, and will likely die?  How can we comfort someone who is suffering so much?  How is it possibly that a loving god would allow such a travesty to happen?  And if He could overlook this one young woman suffering... how does He overlook an entire nation of suffering?  How is it that world wars are allowed to happen - and six million Jews exterminated! They were Christ's own people!  How does this idea of pain and suffering fit in with the good news of the Gospel and everlasting happiness and joy...?  ...I think that in the end it comes down to love...

Maybe perfect packages of suffering are prepared for each of us - but they're prepared out of love.  Pain and suffering help widen the spectrum so that we can know joy.  God allows bad things to happen because in the eternal perspective of things, it will be for our good.  We know that this is a test-tube experience to prove our worthiness and gain an appreciation for good.  And maybe that's why some actually ask for trials in their life because they have this understanding that it won't be permanent and in the end it will be for their good.  Do we have to go through a Christ-like suffering experience and take on the pains of God's children across countless numbers of worlds before receiving a fullness of joy?  Well - I hope not.  I think that this is where the atonement somehow intercedes and spares us that necessity.  

I know that God lives, and I know that He loves His children.  And because of that fundamental knowledge, I can know that because God allows suffering - it will be for my own good.  

Class Notes

Doctor Who - Blink

The director takes something so standard and safe and turns it into something that we absolutely fear.  Who knew that a still standing statue could instill so much fear.  Take Aurora for instance, a place that we felt completely safe in for so long has now become a place of fear.  No on will ever go into a movie theatre the same way after what happened in Aurora, CO.

Attachment.  

Post-war culture gravitates towards attachment theory.  Doctor Who is always searching for companionship - and not necessarily romantic companionship.  He is the only one left of his race and he loves earth because he can connect with humans so well.  Romanticism creeps in when the lady has to go back to the house to feel something...  facing darkness, not necessarily embracing darkness, but recognizing that there is something about taking us to the edge and recognizing that this is something that causes me fear...

A thought about the importance of feeling:

Feeling is not the same as embracing.  It's tough to know what to feel and what to outright reject.  The brethren encourage us to not watch violent media – to not embrace violence.  But then when something tragic in real life happens we’re encouraged to take time to feel it like when Lazarus dies and Christ tells us to feel it.  But what about historical films that depict the holocaust – possibly the most violent time that the entire earth has known…  Shouldn’t we take moments to feel that historical moment?  I think that when we start to overlook violence and justify our entertainment choices by saying that it doesn't affect us... that we're either lying to ourselves or have become numb to the violence. Feeling the effects of violence could be considered a sacred experience.  In order for you to be effected by violence, there has to be violence.  Not that violence is good - but its a life experience that is very serious and in that sense is sacred.  (I'm not explaining this very well... )

Atheist Stanford Professor - 

I wish that I could hear the music, but I feel like I’m tone deaf.  People like you can just hear god’s voice…  Today’s film will take an honest exploration of religion… the search just keeps going on…  Religion today in a scholarly culture is about exploring, and not necessarily about finding the one perfect clean doctrine that answers every question… but it’s more like Thomas putting his finger in Christ’s side.  We just want to feel…  more about asking the questions that it is about getting an answer.  It’s not an organized church that they’re looking for…

After WWI/WWII you have to ask, why would God allow such a terrible thing to happen?!  How?! Religion dies out for a lot of people in the 1960’s when we are starting to process what really happened.

Magdalena Abakanowicz, Agora, 2005-2006

The book talks about how the intent of most artists is to create works of art, of joy, and of beauty.  In contrast, Magdalena Abakanowicz creates Agora, a piece involving several outdoor sculptures, that give 'fearful reference to twentieht-centurey human disasters.'

The reason that they caught my eye was that they reminded me of a series of sculptures from my home town.  Each year Spokane, WA hosts a fun-run called Bloomsday - It encourages everyone of all athletic ability to become active and participate by walking, running, skating, etc.  I always remember the mothers bringing up the caboose with their baby strollers and bright neon athletic-wear.  Riverfront Park says that Bloomsday is the largest timed road running race in the world.  In recognition of the annual fun-run, David Govedare in 1984 created an outdoor exhibit that is now a permanent part of Riverfront Park.  The statues are titled, "The Joy of Running Together."

Class Notes

John Bowlby - Attachment Theory

Babies need to make bonds with motherly figure.  Humans are hardwired to proximity seek, be close to other humans for purposes of safety, especially in times of perceived distress.  A child's attachment for their mom eventually fades but the need for proximity stays, and so you seek out other connections, eventually finding you a partner.

WWII represents the ultimate trauma and left lots of people distressed.  Instead of a science/religion center we seek out love.  Love is the only stake that can draw everyone together and live peaceably in a communistic setting.  This seems like the obvious answer, but relationships haven't always been the center!

Edward Hopper - Nighthawk - 1942
The man alone is in the dark, the couple is in the light.  Maybe the lone man came to Philies to find people...  The waiter is dressed in white, suggesting a symbolic feel of comfort.  (Nurse, doctor, temple)

Facebook - many people turn to social networks in search of proximity but are left unsatisfied because virtual proximity doesn't cut it, there's a false sense of community.


Carl Jung - Archetypes - Agrees with Fraud in that our physcis are divided.

Conscious/Unconscious... The shadow represents the real, or spiritual creativity.  It's your power, your struggles, your dreams... not necessarily dark works or sin...  (Think of Phantom, "The Ultimatum")

You need to dive into the unconscious and face your reality, discover who you are.  Sanity is facing reality no matter what the cost...  As soon as you accept that unconscious part of you it will set you free.  Dive in and discover who you are.

Singing in the Rain (1952)

Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds.  Gene Kelly co-directed the film and also did the choreography.  The movie is the story of a motion-picture production company that is in transition between silent films and 'talkies.'  Gene Kelly starts as a musician with his buddy Donald O'Connor but soon climbs the ranks of stardom.  To increase popularity, the company portrays Kelly and Jean Hagen as Hollywood lovers, in spite of his resistance and her general lack of class.  The story follows Kelly as he escapes Hagen, falls for Debbie Reynolds, and makes a brilliant film in the process.  

Wikipedia says that Singing in the Rain only had average success when it was first released, but that it later gained legendary status and is now considered one of the best musicals ever made.

How did they do that!  I found this sweet VW commercial remixing Gene Kelly's dancing and singing in the rain.  The added footage is virtually seem-less...  Also - When I was watching this with my wife, she told me that Gene Kelly made this routine up on the spot without having previously choreographed the dance.  Pretty impressive.

Cosmo!  Cosmo is probably my favorite character in the show.  He's super funny and extremely talented.  The dude has excellent control of his facial expressions and can make everything around him come to life.  O'Connor was awarded a Golden Globe for his performance.  

A super interesting fact from Wikipedia was that in this scene where Debbie Reynolds is dubbing the voice of Jean Hagen, it's actually Hagen dubbing the voice of Reynolds!  It was Hagen's own voice!

What's really important, Rewards, Learning vs Education, and Struggles with teaching styles...

First off, Ts'ui Pên's Garden of Forking Paths reminds me of the movie The One with Jet Li.  Jet Li discovers that there are other 'hims' across the universe in similar worlds.  In each setting, though he is the same person, he is has chosen different paths and are therefore leading much different lives.  The main conflict is when his Criminal character illegally travels between worlds and kills off all but one version of his character.  Each elimination of a Jet Li makes the other Jet Li's more powerful.







What's really Important:
There have been a few really good class conversations that have made me think about things in a different light.  I've taken pages of notes and made several cross connections with how I generally view the world around me.  The pendulum theme of class swinging between meaning- and feeling-based cultures made a lot of sense and helped outline a basic historical pattern.  Lacon's totality theory on objectivizing those around us in order to cause them harm... Candide's unique and stirring view on optimism...

Struggles with Teaching Styles:
On the other hand, when we'd analyze paintings and other pieces of art, I felt like we would analyze the joy out them.  Occasionally I think that it's appropriate to hold a 2 hour discussion on how a few things make me feel - but maybe it's only a small part of what we could be studying.  Why don't we take a dive into technique...?  We could explore the materials available at different times, ingenuity in creating paint canvases, brushes and inks, making additional prints, the modern printing press, etc.  We could look at the evolution of musical instruments or the ever changing wardrobe fashions...  Each student could give a 5 minute oral presentation on an ancient author and present evidence on how their presence has influenced modern works.  Doc Mack could prepare a lecture on the different architecture found in LDS temples... the alternative possibilities are endless!

Rewards and Accountability, Learning vs Education:
I was really frustrated with the midterm test.  It was lengthy, had technical glitches, involved a great deal of memorization that I found irrelevant, and I wasn't nearly prepared enough for it.  To reign in my distaste, I had to take a few steps back and really analyze the situation.

1. I still had a chance to save my sinking grade with the remaining 800 points available.  Even if I fail the final in a similar fashion, the remaining 600 points will push me into a passing grade.  
2. I find it funny that the grade has been my first concern.  I think that a lot of us are here just for the green-light status on our MyMap academic plan.  With no offense intended for those that are, I'm not a humanities major.  I don't necessarily thrive on this kind of stuff - to me it's just one more GenEd course that I need to take in order to graduate.  I do realize, however, that there is importance in getting a well-rounded education that includes such things that are outside of my immediate interest.  
3. A letter grade is a result of the student satisfying the teacher's requirements.  Grades are objective and don't directly represent significant learning and positive change.  I want good academic marks because it's a reflection of my hard work and opens up doors of opportunity.  On the other hand, I want to remain a life-long learner and not just be satisfied with the a checkmark of completion.  
4. And finally, whatever happens in this class - can potentially be for my good. :) 

Propaganda at it's best

I had never really been exposed to Charly Chaplin before watching this film, and so when I first saw his character with a square mustache I instantly thought of Hitler.  Modern Times came out in 1936 - only a few years before the entire world is at war with the Axis powers, and so I made a connection (probably an incorrect connection after our discussion in class) that this video is a call to action, encouraging all of America to be more industrious and not be a fool like Hitler.  In fact, only Hitler is such a fool that he needs help feeding himself.  And then!  We'll have the machine malfunction so that we can humiliate him in the process.

It kind of reminds me of the educational philosophy from a few years prior, apparent in Bing Cosby's song, Swinging on a Star:

...Would you like to swing on a star, carry moonbeams home in a jar.  And be better off than you are, or would you rather be a mule!

...if you hate to go to school, you may grow up to be a mule...

...if you don't care a feather or a fig, you may grow up to be a pig...

...if then that sort of life is what you wish, you may grow up to be a fish...

...and all the monkeys aren't in the zoo, everyday you see quite a few.  So you see it's all up to you.  You could be better than you are, you could be swinging on a star.

The world is swinging back to a meaning based culture!  Where your own ingenuity is what brings you success.  The world can be a better place if you're smart enough and apply yourself!  You can be swinging on a star if you just go to school!  Leonard Huxley (1894-1963) took this pendulum swing down a slippery slope and wrote a future-based novel about how unrestrained technology would turn the world into feeling-less robots.  We'd have baby making factories that produced the exact number of children each state needed.  There was even a setting to adjust the cognitive firepower of the people it kicked out!  Huxley's warning is against completely scientifically constructed societies that targets humanistic achievements, such as literature, art, and religion.