Plato and Aristotle

Perhaps strangely, I prefer Aristotle to Plato going merely on these two readings (as unfortunately, I'm not nearly as well-read as I'd like to be yet in the area of the classics). After talking about it in class today, I realized that my opinion was unpopular in the discussion at the time, though I can honestly see the merit in liking either more than the other. They each appear to have their individual strengths. My basis for preferring Aristotle really is that his teachings in the Poetics are so familiar. In both theatre classes and some high school English classes, I recall discussing the basic construction of plot and poetry, and it delighted me to see something I knew and honestly understood from that period in my life because this is the source. It's intriguing to see where these things come from, and make one really think about their importance to society. Where would we be without Aristotle's frameworks for tragedy and basic plot sequence, including denouement, climax, and the like? I'm amazed by the fact that we still teach using Aristotle's models even today. His work was so well-planned out and considered that we still haven't come up with a better way to formulate and discuss/teach the creation of basic stories and plays. I suppose this makes me look like a fool, which I will by no means deny, but I enjoy learning about Aristotle's ideas all the same. After all, I've been spoon-fed many of his theories from a young age anyway--at least now I know why!

Plato is interesting in his own way as well, and definitely creative in a different way. His way is more towards a story-telling mode of getting across his ideas, which I very much enjoy, though perhaps I would enjoy it more if I read more of his work. The Apology of Socrates, while very interesting, made me (quite honestly) physically tired because of its length, and matched with my weakened state at the moment due to recent illness, I think it was more the fault of outside forces than Plato's writing ability that made it difficult for me to follow overall. But I appreciate the concept of the writing, and I thought it was humorous in its way and accomplished what it set out to accomplish. My next venture, sparked by this reading and the discussion in class, is to read Plato's Hippias (minor). It discusses Homer (which also has something to do with something mentioned in class...), and the title apparently means "On Lying." I recall someone mentioning it in high school years ago, but as I've put off a lot of reading I have wanted to do since high school up until now, I am hopefully going to start broadening my reading horizons more in the next few weeks... starting tonight.

I found a translation online of the full Hippias (minor) to read HERE (click the link to go to it--it should open in a new window). And HERE is a humorous blog post about Aristotle (that isn't very flattering to him but that's okay, I'm sure he wouldn't be all that offended... cough... okay maybe a little) that was not created by me or anyone affiliated with myself but I found it funny and it was attached to this very charming illustration I found while I was googling...

...Who WOULDN'T want to click on that and see what the website was all about? I mean, really...

Alright, I leave you now to the wonderful world of not-Sarah-land to frolic and be free and merry and jovial and insert-other-synonym-for-happy-here.

Okay, toodles!

~Sarah

Prometheus

Today was a fun sort of day with some beauty thrown in for spice. I went to Prometheus in 3D with my Intro to Western Lit class. The movie consists of scatterings of sex and disgustingly graphic violence, though it contained scenes that were quite indulgently pretty. As far as shots of the shockingly gorgeous landscapes and the level of detail in the sets and special effects, they had plenty and used them to overwhelm the outrageously detailed and revolting alien/monster scenes. My favorite character was probably David, the robot-who-looked-like-a-man. Before you jump on me about how much of a jerk he was though, let me explain that it was because he seemed more multi-faceted and harder to figure out from the very beginning. I enjoy characters with depth and David, while working against humanity, kept my interest because he was humorous (albeit darkly), and he had an agenda that wasn’t obvious from the get-go. He grew on me even more when he spoke with Charlie Holloway, a man who may have had his heart in the right place but was quite rude and borderline abusive to David in one scene in particular. David, while he may not have had feelings per-se, was both daring and interesting because he got revenge in a way that I believe only a human can. He also was a villain that held my intrigue because the entire time he was working with his own plan behind that of the one the majority of the crew on the Prometheus aimed at. The main lady, Elizabeth Shaw, was not interesting enough in my opinion. What really threw me off was when she had an abortion and was still so surprisingly spry. As someone who has had 5 major abdominal surgeries before (J-pouch surgery), I know you don’t just get up and run around after one of those—especially if the most current technology to close a wound as of 2094 is still just a bunch of surgical staples. I suppose it is possible that the medicine Elizabeth injected into herself multiple times was strong enough to kill the pain. But suspending my belief became rather difficult when she ran consistently and jumped over large holes in the earth throughout most of the end of the movie. I am also unsure as to how Elizabeth expects to get some aliens who were on the verge of murdering the entire human race to help her and answer some of her questions. But oh well... Overall, this was not a terrible movie, as it did succeed in keeping my interest throughout. However, I do not know if I’ll be recommending it to all my friends—just those with a strong stomach.

Day... oh nevermind.

Today in class we discussed the theme of Justice, the Furies, the importance of the choruses, matricide and murder in The Oresteia. We read an enormous amount due simply to the length of the parts of the chorus. We discussed The Onion, with the possibility that we would create our own parody articles based on it. There were terrible jokes and puns and the inability to halt the laughter that I most readily emitted, though it hurt my soul. There were plans made to meet up and dress like “sluts” for a stand-in professor (this is probably about as scandalous as it sounds). There were expressions of awe purely over language, though this is hardly a new occurrence in this class. Prometheus, the movie, is showing in 3D at 1:40 on Thursday, and I am pondering over whether or not to attend simply due to funds but I believe missing it would likely be worse than going. I know I will probably enjoy it very much, as I usually enjoy horror movies. I may have nightmares, however. If so, I plan to quite joyously snuggle my boyfriend and fall asleep in the safety of his enormous and lovely biceps. Okay, no, but seriously, my boyfriend is awesome. But shhh, don’t tell him I told you. In any case, I am running out of things to say. Today was mildly exhausting even though I got very little done. I’m working on trying to be a bit more interesting with my wording, perhaps with little success, but I digress… I am past my post limit, and so, you need not be troubled by my silly excuse for writing any longer.

Toodles,

Sarah Grissinger

The Great Rooted Bed

Odysseus and Penelope's bed represents their relationship and its strength. In line 197-229, Penelope tests Odysseus--who she does not yet recognize--to see if he is really her husband by asking her maidservant to move their bed. Odysseus reacts immediately with fury, telling Penelope that he knows the bed cannot be moved because he created it himself. Referring to the bed in lines 210-211, Odysseus explains that "Not a man on earth, not even at peak strength, would find it easy to prise it up and shift it...". It is because of the way Odysseus built the bed that he is certain of its immobility, as it is described as an olive tree that Odysseus merely chopped off the top of and carved into, building his entire bedroom around the tree's roots. The bed has remained rooted to that spot, just as Odysseus' love for Penelope, and her love for him, never wavered, remaining stubbornly rooted in their hearts. Odysseus asks somewhat fearfully if the tree-bed is still where he left it, which also represents his fear that perhaps Penelope has forgotten him and replaced him as her lover along with their bed. However, Penelope shows her stalwart loyalty to Odysseus in lines 230-258, crying in joy to see that her love has returned to her. Finally reunited, the two return to their bed, which symbolizes a sort of full-circle in their relationship. 

This was supposed to post yesterday but it didn't...

Write for an hour only (on the shield—p. 170-173, line 515). Start: 2:20 End: 2:49 

Post to blog afterwards.

The images Hephaestus puts on Achilles’ shield represent civilization in Homer’s time, or what Homer may have thought civilization was during the time of Troy’s existence. Both peace and war scenes are depicted on the shield, the characters paused in perpetual extremes in gold and silver, bronze and tin. The richness of the metals used are fit for a child of a god or a king, showing Achilles’ importance to the gods. The shield itself also represents protection, as it is used to protect the body of its user from harm. A possible interpretation of this could be that Achilles is protecting civilization, and represents the power of his lineage to those who oppose him. The scene in lines 548-581 shows a battle much like the battle Achilles is fighting against Troy, with an ambush that leads to victory, though with slightly different methods. Some of the scenes make reference directly to gods worshipped in the time of Hector, such as Ares and Pallas Athena in line 557. Yet, many of the lines are simply scenes of life or of slaughter, such as in lines 616-650. The lions ripping the ox apart as the dogs bark helplessly at it in fear for their own lives may show the occasional cowardice of men against an enemy. While they watch helplessly, what they swear to protect may be torn apart. The beauty of the scene after the lions shows a kind of celebration and calm during a time of peace, perhaps after a battle has been won. The images on the shield seem to show his enemies the reason for why Achilles fights.

Just for Fun: A Bit of Fry and Laurie

I mentioned this show in class today so I thought I'd post something from the show. Stephen Fry only really makes a short cameo in this particular video but there are more... many... many more videos... on youtube (of both of them on the show, I mean). I do love them together. :)

Day 2

In today's class we learned about types of Poetics: lyric, tragedy, comedy, and epic. We also learned about each other and made introductions with our partners. Anna and I made up our own introductions--she said I desired to have a chinchilla farm when I grew up and I said she had a pet rattlesnake named BoBo. It was fun. Before all of that, we looked up allusions to certain Bible stories in culture, such as those mentioned in films, television, art, and literature. The Iliad was also mentioned briefly today because we have to read it for next class. I dare not talk about The Iliad any longer, however (because oh mercy high school memories). I honestly do not know what to talk about. I think I will write a poem instead. I'll try haiku... kind of.

There is nothing in this world 7

that makes me happy 5

more than your beauty 5

internally and outwardly. 8

You are more than 4

I thought possible 5

Every time I reach you I am so 9

astounded 3

because you are... you. 5

So you. Irrevocably you. And I 10

fail at 2

the right words. Always. 5

But I know that I don't want to see any

one 1

but you this morning. 5

There. It’s kind of awful (okay, it really is) but it’s an interesting experiment. And no, it’s not exactly a lyric poem as it is defined, I see. No Iambic Pentameter for me, thank you. But maybe some day I’ll consider it. I like to experiment with words sometimes. I miss it, actually. I hope I get more time to do that soon.