A Lucrative Business

The greatest writers are those who not only play with the story and the characters in the literal side, but those who have the capability of manipulating the mind of the reader as such goes around the plot. Kurt Vonnegut very cunningly takes a stab at this technique with chapter one in Slaughterhouse Five by playing with the reader’s expectancy. He starts off his book with: “All this happened, more or less. The war parts, anyway, are pretty much true” (Vonnegut, p.1). Who would think a book should start by putting yourself in doubt before your public? Well I certainly got shocked by this technique, but guess what, now I realized it worked to perfection in grabbing my attention as the pages intended to work. “And I thought, too, that it would be a masterpiece or at least make me a lot of money, since the subject was so big” (Vonnegut, p.2). As I thought the first was great, this second message really hit me directly across as a mistake, for I detest authors who, for some reason, find in books simply a lucrative business, and especially worse when talking about historical tragedies. I understand many, if not all, of the authors intend to make money, but publicly admitting it in the book I found rude and forced me to adopt a preventive attitude towards the subsequent chapters which I am to read. You have to be very careful when in the application of these double intentions in a text, for there is a thin line between creating suspense and wonder, and causing the reader to stray of the real intentions of a page. In my view, Vonnegut crossed the thin line for a while. Maybe that’s his tactic, maybe he intended for me to think that way so that the shock in later chapters is greater, making it mind controlling. I am not yet sure of why he did this, concerning a topic so sentimental to many.
Thinking about it for a while I decided to come back to analyze what I said previously, because I found a relation between my thoughts and those of another character in the book: Mary. She had a high level of prevention against the author, as I do, but he later demonstrated that she mustn’t think so and they became friends. Maybe we will also come to understand each other much better soon. All I can say is that at least he pretty much succeeded in playing with my mind by producing all sort of contrary interpretations. I really look forward to next chapter where I will have enough backup to make a more educated decision, but until then, I will give him, who seeks gold in martyrs, a chance.

Our Place Down There

Through the Inferno, Dante walks us by a series of zones where very specific punishments are being enforced to those sinners and authors of crimes as specific as their burden. There are punishment for the violent against God, their neighbors, and themselves. We read about the consequence of frauds, astrologers, diviners and self proclaimed magicians. Hypocrites and thieves receive poetic justice in the hands of Lucifer and his demons. It strikes clear to the reader that all evil is concentrated on that burning chamber, that in the presence of hell we will find any man who has sinned in any way against God. Even those who where enveloped in chorographical disagreement receive a fine burden for their inevitable role.

Through the eight circle, ninth pouch I came across a very interesting conversation in which a victim of “the showers of scandal and schism” pronounces words fitting of a welcome to the blasted territory. “Now you can see atrocious punishment, you who, still breathing, go to view the dead: see if there’s any pain as great as this (Canto XXVlll, 130-132)." It’s a context of suffering and constant regret that he introduces. This character may as well be talking on behalf of all those sinners enveloped in the flames of hell, for they are all suffering pains without equal in their situation. By mentioning that the narrator is still breathing, he hints at a warning. He is warning us about what is to come if we don’t change our ways because we have seen the punishments for all sorts of sins, and almost makes it certain that if we invent a Sin, such a counterpart of a burden will fall on the innovator. It is important for you to understand the previous as I introduce you to my concept of what would happen if I we keep reading Inferno, because what is to come may be pessimist and drastic if you don’t, but realistic and enlightening if you follow.

If I would continue to read the inferno, I would read about sinners and demons, about punishments and cries of lament, about tears of blood and rivers of life boiling at terrible men. Inferno is a constant reference to the way we must carry out our lives because everything we do will have its consequence. It is clear to me that we are divided into groups and consequences according to our lives, but what I don’t quite follow is where the line is drawn. Every Sin has a spot on hell, and therefore any sinner will suffer in hell all right. But if a sin makes a sinner, and I can personally think of dozens of sins, consider those many more that exist or are to be. It is impossible for me to think of a person as one who is free of all sins. I can’t grasp the concept of living according to all the rules of heaven unhesitant, for I cannot view any offspring of the human species as perfect. “Upon the right I saw new misery, I saw new tortures and torturers, filling the first of Malebolge’s moats (Inferno Canto XVlll, 22-24).” If your mind works as mine, we have both come to the conclusion that we all have our spot in hell waiting for our judgment according to how many times the tail wraps around us without signs of mercy.

If by reading more of inferno I would find that there are unending punishments and sins, and in thus such reflection I came to think we all have a spot on hell, it is not really necessary for me to point out its meaning for humanity. It can only point towards the downfall of our species as sons of God. We will continue to last materially for there is no hint that our sons will be judged prior to the appointed time, until when they will already have secured their linage. But we will live a life destined to repentance due to the absence of perfection. As I said, it may be pessimistic. You may think that you are above all those mentioned and will live a perfect existence free of any sin. I rather stick to experiment and factual history. Rousseau once said: “Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains.” I will be ingenuous enough to add: Man is born perfect and everywhere he falls.

Utopic Dopamine

Culture remains in the remembered,
to those loyal to their freedom present.
and living within the edge of a desired,
liberty of life, speech and the intent,
of building a democracy of choice,
that lies within our own consent
on how to act and speak our own voice.
Pursuing similar ideals,
and recreating a community of rejoice,
ignoring offence and feeling what feels,
lights and unites the remains of us.
Looking the world upon heels,
identifying what leads to progress,
close to the eyes to appeals,
and achieve what signifies happiness.

Murderers And Martyrs

The story narrated by the twilight zone video has several starting points on where to base an analysis. In order to strive for a complete and accurate analysis, I will segment my discussion into different elements in the story and explain my opinion regarding poetic justice as I go along. First comes what I find the most grabbing: the background. We can appreciate complete and total devastation on a town where there used to exist a society of people who ran and laughed, who learned and lived together. But their crime was great for their greed took them to wage war upon each other. They picked up their guns and aimed them at their kindred. The fitting punishment is clearly displayed in the lonely life of the man. A town that surely grew as an invasion onto the green area around it was slowly getting covered by it. A town of humans, who undoubtedly strived for fame and glory, was slowly being blurred in history, forgotten by everybody. That is the first impression of poetic justice as a general punishment, where the sinner and aim of the disgrace was society as a whole. But it is evident, every story must hold its purpose, and this one is no exception. Poetic justice, as depicted in the encounter plays a very symbolical role based on the uniforms of opposing parties. The story plays with the themes of love and hate using nationalism and pride to blend the opposing factors into a story. That’s where poetic justice kicks inn. The crime: waging war against their neighbors, ignorant and fools alike followed a reason for a war beyond their comprehension where they became sinners and devils, murderers and martyrs. The punishment: A love story in the midst of their created war. Love, as one of the most important poetic elements must encounter a hate triggered by the sin. For in their blood frenzy they encountered solitude, and in their panic they confused nationalism and love in a limbo o mixed feelings. I can only find the punishment fitting for a sin.

MSN DECORUM

Daniel says:
Hey what are you up to?

John says:
Not much. How about you? How's school coming along?

Daniel says:
It's great. I have been working to get my schedule fixed in order to fit everything into my agenda, but classes are going good. By the way, do you mind if I make our conversation public in my blog?

John says:
Sure, if it serves any purpose. I am not much a fan of blogs anyway, they seem completely pointless. Why dont you focus on essays instead?

Daniel says:
Well dont get me wrong here, it's not like essays aren't important. The fact is, blogs serve an entirely different purpose. Have you ever even read much blogs?

John says:
Not really, I prefer to waste my free time playing around with my computer. I hate the fact that people just go around commenting on any random event they don't understand.

Daniel says:
You see, blogs are not as you picture them from what you communicate to me. I have room for my opinion without all the formalities of an essay. Besides, it gives you the chance to share your thinking with a wider public.

John says:
If you want to communicate with many just sit down and write a book.

Daniel says:
Not really. For example, on my blog I have the chance to give my opinion about current political events without having to be an expert, but I can assure you I have no position to write a political book.

John says:
I'm starting to understand what blogs are really used for. So rather than simple chat rooms where random ignorants throw opinions based on nothing, it is more like an opportunity to work side by sides with technology and all the benefits it provides.

Daniel says:
Of course, that's a great advantage too. Blogs come in really handy once you grasp their purpose.

John says:
Well you learn something new every day, don't you?

Daniel says:
you sure do! xD

John says:
I must leave now, I have some work to start doing. It was a pleasure talking to you. Good luck on your blogs, I'l sure come by and check them out.

Daniel says:
You take it easy John, The pleasure is mine.

Comprehending Blogs

I scrambled through my class notes searching for the name which was partly blurred up in my memory. As I found my way to the English Literature Arts class blog and noticed my office trial was almost up, evoking in me a deep resentment towards technology. I came across the excerpt from “Blogs” by Sarah Boxer as I slowly scrolled down the screen. The first few sentences made no lasting impression on me for I felt like I knew about that better than her, which of course I didn’t. As she mentioned the word “Weblog” my mind seemed to clip into the text, probably finding the word amusing. I kept on staring at those red symbols which seemed to hurt my eyes. As I highlighted the text on blue, making it easier on myself, a thought seemed to trigger right into my head yelling: “Hey man you really know nothing about it. You barely had a blog months ago and did not fully comprehend its utility. Just read.” The voice was convincing enough. I read.

“Instead of figuring out ways to serve up good fresh finds, many of the new bloggers were fixated on getting found. So the very significance of linking began to change. The links that had once mattered were the ones you offered on your blog, the so-called outbound links pointing to other sites. Now the links that mattered most—and still do—are those on other blogs pointing toward your blog, the so-called inbound links”( Sarah Boxer, “Blogs”). As I read this particular idea I thought beyond the factual statement, as if trying to picture myself a “blogger”. It was interesting to think how even an article on the blogging community hints to the human development concerning social behavior side by side with technology. After all, the essence of bloggers had changed as the way technology got used evolved. Sarah Boxer clearly uses cause and effect up there. At first it was all about the links you provided. Now it was selfish, all about how to get links hinting to your blog. But after all, what’s to expect of bloggers if even I have the same evolutionary pattern in my life. I was once concerned about unimportant events and worked my mind out over life ignorantly following the crowd to where they went, sort of like clicking on a link. As I grow I become more about creating links to my person, about acting in ways to make people remember me. We become what humans are meant for. We become survivors in memory of others, we strive to stand out and make the top of the list. As I work my mind over this I create a pathway of “links” inside my head. The next one taking me to the crazy thought that in effect, we are all our little blogs. We all live around sharing our opinions in order for others to read and comment. We all find ourselves in the mercy of what others link us to: be that fashion, politics, casual conversations or even visual propaganda. I have finally come to the understanding of how a blog really works, for I have experienced a personal blog all the time.