brianadenise

[brianadenise]

“Life-as-a-journey implies both purpose and a final destination as opposed to a random series of disconnected happenings. We think of life as moving from one stage or “phase” to another; then again, this implies that we can make sense of life.” (Janaro & Altshuler, pg.43)

"My mama always said life was like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get." (Forrest Gump, [film] Forrest Gump,1994)

As this chapter describes, humans struggle with grasping the idea that life can be and is random. Many people have probably had the inner monolog, “Why am I the sperm that made it into the egg? If it were another sperm would I still be me?” There are so many factors that go into making a person, from conception to birth every single decision you make will affect that child. What you eat, what vitamins you take, your rate of movement. I like to think that If my mom had decided to eat a chili cheese dog on day 198 of her pregnancy with me, that maybe I would have become the president. But there are so many other factors that go into making a person and how that person develops into an adult, that there’s (likely) no way that we’d be able to figure it out anytime soon. So, what do we do? We make goals for ourselves; graduate highschool, get your first girlfriend/boyfriend/partner, get your first job. We then treat these goals as milestones and celebrate them as such. But, as humas it seems that we have failed to realize that we are complex creatures who can live complex lives and even mundane lives. A person CAN be happy working a 9 to 5. A person CAN be happy being a stay at home parent. A person CAN be happy living at home with their parents. These are all normal things that not many people celebrate, but celebrate your job because you have value and are contributing to society, celebrate your children because you are raising the future, and celebrate your affordable housing because you’re waiting for the housing market to crash. Celebrate your life and way of living because life can be a journey compiled of monumental milestones but do not let your life be degraded simply because it is different. Because like Rascal Flatts said “Life's like a road that you travel on. When there's one day here, and the next day gone. Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand. Sometimes you turn your back to the wind” (Life is a highway, Rascal Flatts, Cars edition, 2008)

“The garden always seems to be somewhere else. But if this achetype can cause disillusionment, it can also be the source of hope” (Janaro & Altshuler, pg.45)

(https://www.wikihow.com/Leave-the-Past-Behind) 

Everyone knows the saying, the grass is greener on the other side, which is very much like the garden scenario. Some people spend most of their lives trying to reach the “other side” or the “garden”, but once they get there it might not live up to their expectations and so they revert to thinking of how much better it was before they got to this other side. Something I realized a few weeks ago is that I tend to forget what trauma feels like. In highschool I was in a bad situation with my family and I just couldn’t wait to leave and come to college. Well, I got to college and had to deal with adult problems. I went from being a highschooler worrying about money to being a college kid worrying about money. I started to wish that I could go back to highschool and back to living with my family, because in the middle of my current struggle I totally lost sight of my past struggle and trauma. The wishful thinking subsided and I soon remembered how bad it used to be and compared to now, I am much happier. In the Promised Land scenario on page 45 it speaks of the elders who begin to miss their homes and are believing that they were much better off beforehand; I think that maybe these elders were experiencing what I was, that forgotten trauma. 

“Confucianism, a major Chinese philosophy, stresses the social world and one’s duties within it and avoids the question of how it began, which does not matter as much as how life is lived.” (Janaro & Altshuler, pg.46)

(https://www.timeout.com/usa/things-to-do/best-wildflowers-in-us)

I believe that Confucianism has the right idea about life. So many people stress about the afterlife, about what's beyond their lifetime and what's been way before it, that they can’t experience the life that they're living in the moment. In Christianity it is often belived that being homsexual is a sin and that you should not live a life of sin because it will damn you to hell and eternal suffering. But what are the odds that there is hell and what are the even smaller odds that homsexuality is even a sin. The bible has been revised and translated so many times over that no modern day christian can accurately tell you what even constitutes as a sin. You should do what feels right in your heart. Love who you love and be who you want to be. If you’re not enjoying the life you’re living then what’s the point. 

I know that morals play a big part in living a good and decent life but there's not enough time for me to discuss morality at the moment and I also don’t think we’re nearing that chapter yet.

Janaro, R. P., & Altshuler, T. C. (2017). Page 43. In The art of being human: The humanities as a technique for living (p. 43). essay, Pearson.

Janaro, R. P., & Altshuler, T. C. (2017). Page 45. In The art of being human: The humanities as a technique for living (p. 45). essay, Pearson.

Janaro, R. P., & Altshuler, T. C. (2017). Page 46. In The art of being human: The humanities as a technique for living (p. 46). essay, Pearson.

[brianadenise]

“The more we know about the past, the more we understand the importance of historical and cultural context” (Janaro & Altshuler, pg.24)

(https://citizen.education/2019/02/04/what-black-history-month-means-to-me/)

History is one of the great humanities, to take part and contribute to history we must first read and observe. Observe what actions took place at times before us, analyze what put those actions into motion, learn from any mistakes and victories, and then apply what you’ve learned to the real world. Modern day humans first learn about history in school, but we kind of learn our history through a biased frame. In schools history is told through the winners eye and also through the eyes of the majority. For example, the only time that we’re really taught about black history, specifically African American, is during black history month. This large group of oppressed people contribute so many scientific, academic and social advancements to the United States, but because their voices are always being quieted we, so can never truly learn of their contributions to history. Thankfully, this is changing, lawmakers all around the country are fighting to pass bills that will allow America's truth to be taught in our school systems. A bill has recently passed in Rhode Island, all thanks to representative Anastasia P. Williams fought with all of her heart to get a bill passed that would require all R.I. schools teach African American History. “the connections that hold our society together are fragile. These connections can become strong through respect, compassion, and most importantly, truth.” (Anastasia P. Williams,  p.5, Bill to teach African-American history..., by Edward Fitzpatrick)

“They(literalist) are also likely to listen haphazardly to what a figuratist is generally saying, latching onto the very lastthing that was mentioned.”  (Janaro & Altshuler, pg.30)

(https://www.betterleadersbetterschools.com/10-ideas-for-meaningful-conversations/)

Growing up my mom and I would have daily in depth conversations, I suppose I would consider both her and myself figuratists. We would discuss politics, religion, history and even things like favorite podcasts, books, and games. Besides my mom I have never really found anyone that I can have a critically thought out conversation with. I come from a very small town where everyone has the same general opinions, I think it’s because most of the people who live in that town have been there for generations, we cycle between the same two mayors. I think it’s because my mom comes from New York. I perceive her to have more critical thoughts than those of the people who are from my hometown. It wasn’t until I met my best friend Madison Corwin, that I was able to find another person, who in my opinion, I could have meaningful conversations with. When conversing with another figuratist I find that both parties tend to leave the conversation with more knowledge than they started it with. While when talking to a literalist you(the figuratist) leave the conversation with general information, but nothing  containing much substance. I do want to add that just because a set of ideas doesn’t present substance does not necessarily devalue it, because at the end of the day everyone's opinions are meaningful and hold value.

“Figuatists are adept at twisting words, which in their original context were just mildly clever, and making them shine with brilliance.”  (Janaro & Altshuler, pg.31)

(https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/theater/2019/03/07/10-things-you-likely-didnt-know-hamilton/3071013002/)

The way a person words their thoughts can make all of the difference, and it’s the same thing with tone. Phrasing evolves over time as media, pronunciation and society itself changes. Hamilton, for example, is one of the most famous musicals of this decade, and it has a hip-hop/rap genre of music narrative throughout most of the showcase. Now I’m sure that if we went back in time 60 years and presented the general public with Hamilton they would not like it, it would most likely get a scathing review.

Janaro, R. P., & Altshuler, T. C. (2017). Page 24. In The art of being human: The humanities as a technique for living (p. 24). essay, Pearson.

Janaro, R. P., & Altshuler, T. C. (2017). Page 30. In The art of being human: The humanities as a technique for living (p. 30). essay, Pearson.

Janaro, R. P., & Altshuler, T. C. (2017). Page 31. In The art of being human: The humanities as a technique for living (p. 31). essay, Pearson.

Fitzpatrick, E. (2021, May 28). Bill to teach African-American history in R.I. schools passes after heated debate - The Boston Globe. BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved January 16, 2022, from https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/25/metro/bill-teach-african-american-history-ri-schools-passes-after-heated-debate/ 

[brianadenise]

“Through the humanities, we can live more than once: here and now,  and yesterday as well. Those who refuse to browse among the cummulative treasures of human expression have only themselves to blame if they find themselves trapped in one solitary existence.” (page 11)

I think that so many people are scared of death and that has lead to humans having this obsession with being immortal. Immortality can be implemented in so many ways, through fame, ideas, religion and so forth. Girls will slowly kill themselves for instagram fame. Boys will be reckless, trying to immitate the “thug life” that so many of these famous rappers portray. It’s strange that when trying to achieve immortality you have to destroy yourself. 

https://www.evanstonian.net/in-depth/2016/03/07/apps-affecting-appetite-instagram-sparks-teen-eating-disorders/ 

Janaro, R. P., & Altshuler, T. C. (2017). Page 11. In The art of being human: The humanities as a technique for living (pp. 11–11). essay, Pearson. 

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