Chinese Cultural Revolution Photos

When Chairman Mao was attempting to regain power, one of his plans was to rally the people against the "Four Olds"; old culture, old habits, old customs, and old ideas. People were told to revolt against the Four Olds, that it was the biggest battle yet. A group called the Red Guards were created to help enforce the struggle against Fourolds. And it worked. People were up in arms about anything that could be considered "Fourold", attacking store signs, unfit clothing, and even people who were deemed "old-fashioned". This picture depicts one of countless instances of citizens in the street forming together to attack a fourold, in this case, a sign.

Ji-Li bears witness to this kind of behavior many times in her experience. She remembers the first time people came together to attack a sign. They put more and more force on it trying to break it, kicking it, stamping on it, even smashing it into the ground. Eventually they bring out an axe and chop it into pieces. After that, public destructions of fourolds become commonplace. Red Guards run rampant through the streets, attacking anything they see unfit. The schools introduce the "Red Successors" so that even Grade School kids can get in on the red power.

GPA College Blog 2

Looking back at my GPA from last semester, I remember how horrified I was when I discovered that it was less than the 4.0 I had expected. But now that my GPA has dropped to a 3.5, my previous fear over having a 3.75 doesn't seem so bad. Not that I'm shocked with my new grade at this point. 3.5 is perfectly reasonable considering the B+ I have in Math/Physics, and the completely abysmal B- I have in Spanish (and even that doesn't seem so bad when it used to be a C). The fact that it is even so high is primarily contributed to the combination of my current GPA with last semester's, which was significantly higher. Without the combo, my grade would be residing closer to the 3.33 range. Clearly, the 3.3 has got to go if I want to get into any sort of respectable school.

I was at odds against my first and second schools (USC and CalArts respectively), getting opinions from both sides about which one I should do. It was really tearing me apart until I realized that I could simply go to one after the other. I never really cared about that third school. Anyway, my plan is to first go to USC (rockin' film school there) and then go to CalArts (best animation course in the world). This way, I get double the education, and don't have to make such a tough choice.

I can't really reflect on my past answers for this question, because they were contextual to the current situation I was in. In more general terms this time, I basically need to improve all of my grades, especially Spanish, which is currently at an abysmal 81%. I WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS. So I'm going to need to do very well on the upcoming project, or else I have no hope of getting it up to something reasonable. I should also work on getting my Math grade from a B+ to an A, and just overall improving my Humanities grade.

Suheir Hammad & Marjane Satrapi-Part 2

In her Def Poem, Suheir Hammad says, "Smoke where once was flesh". Here she is signifying how humanity is the ignition of revolution. The flesh of life is set aflame by the revolutionary ideas of free thinkers, and as the revolution comes full circle, the self-destruction of the revolutionaries themselves burns the flash, leaving nothing but the smokey remains of humanity. She also says, "Thank you to the woman who saw me blinking back tears. She opened her arms before she asked 'Do you want a hug?'" Here she uses her experience during the dark times that surrounded the Crisis on Terror, to show that even in humanity's worst times, where hope seems all but lost, those who give their hearts out, who invest in people during their moments of weakness, who accept those for who they really are, and reject the social values set by society, these few people are able to find a silver lining in the chaos.

Suheir Hammad & Marjane Satrapi on War

Today in class, we listened to one of Suheir Hammad's incredible poems. While the entirety of her presentation was very inspiring, a few lines in particular stuck out to me. First off, there was the line"I will not dance to your war drum". This signifies that despite the government's propaganda, their lies and their trickery, despite all of the things that they say, she will not give in to it all and support the violence.

Next, she says "I will not hate for you, nor will I hate you", which shows that her choice is not binary. Just because she does not support her country's decision to go to war, she will not turn her back on it either. The last interesting line here is, "We cherish corpses". Here, she is deconstructing the concept of martyrs, saying that they have been so overblown with importance, so infused with sacredness, that in some cases a dead boy is valued more than one who is still living.

Suheir Hammad & Marjane Satrapi both have very similar opinions on war. Both parties wish to stay away from violence, war, and overblown nationalism and stay relatively neutral within their boundaries. Despite this, they still love their country, and do want to remain supportive of its non-repressive endeavors. They despise how the martyrs are treated, and how all who oppose the country are considered enemies of the war and executed. All in all, both Suheir & Marjane do not wish to get wrapped up in the crazy political turmoil their country has created.

Islamic Holidays

Islamic New Year marks the beginning of the Muslim calender. People gather in mosques and pray. Ashura is the tenth day of the Muslim calendar. It commemorates the martyrdom of Mohammed’s grandson, Hussein. Reenactments and plays are performed in memory of him. Some Muslims beat and flog themselves. Mawlid an-Nabi marks the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed. Muslims focus on life and teachings of Mohammed. Some consider it to not be a holiday. 

Laylat al-Miraj is a holiday that celebrates Mohammed's night journey, where he ascended to heaven and met with the other prophets, before finally negotiating with Allah so that Muslims only had to pray 5 times a day. It is the most important holiday for Muslims. It is celebrated by telling children the story of Mohammed's Nightr Journey, as well as a feast of treats. 

Laylat al Baraat is a day of preperation two weeks before Ramadan. It is known as the "Night of Emancipation". Ramadan is the longest holiday in the Islamic Religion, spanning the entire ninth month of the Islamic Calendar. During this holiday, all who are of able physical and mental condition are required to fast during the day for the entire month. At the end of the month, Eid ul-Fitr, a huge three-day celebration takes place. Kids go door to door asking for treats, people visit each other, and everyone asks for forgiveness.

Current Events-Iran

Iran is a country out in the Middle East. At  1,648,195 sq km, it is the 18th largest country in Asia. That's roughly the size of Alaska. The government is a theocratic republic, where most of the power is given to religious figures. Almsot the entire population of the country are Muslims, with a staggering rate of 98% Muslim. The majority of the populace speaks Persian, and roughly three-quarters of the country is literate.

In other news, the Iran Government is being criticized for its increased usage of the death sentences. Critics accuse the government of using the death sentence as a threat to the populace, and even abandoning due process in trials. It seems their allegations are at least partly true, with over 150 executions last year and already 67 this year, totaling about  

2 per day at this point.

Street Art....?

1. I noticed that the artists incorporated a lot of personal things in their work. For example, Invader was always posting Spce Invader tiles all around the city. The artists also used a variety of different styles. While Invader mostly used tiles, Banksy used spray cans and posters to convey his messages.

2. I was amazed by how "Mr Brainwash" was able to get his art so loved and recognized despite that fact that he was....not exactly an artist. He was a total dumbass.
He didn't know anything about art- hell, he actually HIRED people to do the art for him. He just came up with some basic, stupid concepts. And yet, somehow, everyone bought into it. Un-freaking-believable.

3. All of the artists used their craft to convey their message in different ways. For example, Banksy had the "Elephant in the Room" exhibit for his first art show. He painted an elephant like the wallpaper in the room to convey how people can often miss things. I too can use art to convey a message.

Political Cartoon

This is a cartoon about a possible scenario that may have occurred in the creation of the "Handicap System" seen in the short story Harrison Bergeron. It shows what I think is one of the many problems with the system: It is clearly a bad idea, but anybody who is smart enough to realize this is handicapped, and thus unable to think of a solution. It is a vicious cycle of the worst kind. It also uses the classic humor element of exaggeration. After all, the earphones in the story went off only every 20 seconds, but here the guy is getting cut off by it after every word. Exaggeration can also be used to prove a point about something.

What is a Political Cartoon?

A political cartoon is a comic or cartoon drawing that brings about a social or political message. It's purpose is to convey a theme or idea in a way that is "entertaining" and "funny". It does not do this very well.

The Metamorphosis Chapter 3

1. In Franz Kafka's "The Metamorphosis", Gregor Samsa, our protagonist, is transformed into a giant bug. We all know this. But what was Kafka trying to tell us by turning the hero into a big bug? First, it was to emphasize what we discussed in Chapter 1's review, that Gregor was being dehumanized by his family and peers. Next, it is to show how we are often scared and unaccepting of new things, especially if we do not understand them. Once Gregor becomes a bug, he is treated as lesser, even though he is still the same person inside. Kafka is also trying to demonstrate how citizens of society, once they are deemed "unsuitable" in any way, are immediately outcast, and eventually forgotten. Society has given up on these people and forsaken all hope of them ever getting better, just like Gregor's family. And just like Gregor's Family, once they realized that they have destroyed a life, they just ignore the consequences and more on.
Hopy shit, that was really philosophical.

2. Sure, it might be interesting to consider how "The Metamorphosis" would have been different if Gregor had been transformed into something like a frog, I don't think that it would have actually ended up in the story. I don't think that any animal other than a cockroach was ever in consideration for Gregor's new form. There wasn't some big list of ugly, hard-to-manage animals that Kafka was narrowing things down from. My guess is that from the moment he had the idea, it was always "Cockroach." His real considerations in writing were mainly things like "How will this Metamorphosis affect Gregor and the people around him?" So the sentence "One morning, as Gregor Samsa was waking up from anxious dreams, he discovered that in his bed he had been changed into a monstrous verminous amphibian" would never have even crossed his mind, let alone his pen.
White text is fun.

The Metamorphosis Chapter 2

Family is a big deal. It's probably one of the most important parts of your life. But, of course, Families don't always get along. While the occasional squabble is fine and, dare i say it, almost healthy for a family, it's definitely important to make sure that this isn't an all-too-common occurrence. So I've put together a couple of rules for families to follow to help them all get along:

1: Family Comes First. Sure, other things like school or hobbies are important, but they should never get in the way of your family. It is your Number 1 priority to make sure they are okay. After all, if you're not there for them, how can you trust them to be there for you? Gregor's Family is...okay at this. While Gregor and his sister are both reliable, their parents aren't too good at this kind of thing. All they do is take and take from Gregor, never giving anything back. I'd give the Samsas a B- on this one.

2. Think About Others: Sorry guys, but a family isn't just your own big pack of servants. There are other people here with their own ideas and dreams, and you have to acknowledge those. Parents should not think of their offspring as a way to live vicariously, and children shouldn't think of Mom and Dad as nothing more than glorified butlers. This is one of the bigger problems in the Samsa household. Gregor's father forces him to give up being a stock broker just so that the family could have a more apparent source of income, and barely acknowledges Greta's violin skills. In this case, they get a D.

3. Communication Is Key: It's easy for families to grow apart. One day you're closer than ever and the next it seems like you're not even related. One great way to stop this from happening is to communicate with each other. There are many great ways to facilitate communication; have dinner together at home, going out for a little trip, even playing a board game every once in a while can help keep the family together. Gregor's family is a little hard to grade in this category. While it seems that Gregor and his parents don't speak much, we never see what goes on at home without him, so it's hard to gauge how much or how little the rest of the family talks. I'll go with a B on this one.

4.Be On Their Side: Your family is not the enemy. They are your friends. Try to treat them that way. This means encouraging people to follow their dreams, consoling them when they have a bad day, and having their back when they get picked on. Basically, provide them with Emotional Support. The Samsas are, big surprise, not very good at this. Even though he's earning their bread and butter, Gregor's parents don't really support him in any way. They used the shower him with praise for all his hard work, but as it all turned to routine, the adulation gradually faded away. Even worse, once Gregor undergoes his horrible transformation, his father immediately disowns him and only keeps him around at the request of his mother. The Samsas get a C- for this, bringing their grand total to a C. Better Luck Next Time, Guys!

The Metamorphosis Chapter 1

Even before he is transformed into something definitely not human, Gregor Samsa has been feeling dehumanized for quite a while now. The troubles start at home. For a while now, Gregor has been used by his family as a tool. They are having him work to pay off their own debt, since they lack the mental capabilities to go out and work for themselves. They have him work like a dog to pay off the debt that he had little or no part in. Despite all this work Gregor does for his family, his father never treats him with the respect he deserves.

The mistreatment continues at work. Every day, Gregor has to work ridiculous hours, and is never given any lenience in his schedule. Every day, he has to "cope with the problems of travelling, the worries about train connections, irregular bad food, temporary and constantly changing human relationships, which never come from the heart." He is constantly put on the spot by his boss. And to top it all off, no matter how hard he works, he can never satisfy the management. It seems that cockroach or not, Gregor Samsa is never given the dignity he deserves.