It’s About Time

Everyone is guilty of yelling at their phone at least once in their life. It is a very strange concept if you really think about it. We scream at this inanimate object, as if we expect a response in return. It is not that we are actually angry at our phone. We are upset at the fact that our phone is already malfunctioning, despite purchasing it not too long ago. At least with my phone, I have noticed that it seems to subtly get worse and worse with every use. This then made me question as to whether or not our phones were built to last. It seems that technology these days takes advantage of our materialistic tendencies. They know that they can sell a product with a predisposed life expectancy because we tend to favor “new” over “old.” However, this is not a new concept. Continue reading “It’s About Time”

The Fun Theory

*Our conversation in class today is a reflection of this post, which just so happens to also be about repetition*

After reading Jonah’s blog post, “The Shared Experience of Absurdity” I could not help but think about the repetitive nature of our lives. At least in college, we wake up, eat, go to class, maybe sleep a little more, eat again, then fall asleep and do it all over again the next day. We have been practicing this same routine for so long that it almost feels like we are cheating ourselves when we do something out of the ordinary. Maybe our monotonous tendencies stem from this structuralist perspective on intertextuality, which is introduced by Joe Moran within the book, Interdiscipinarity. With the concept of intertextuality in mind, “texts are formulated not through acts of originality by individual authors but through interaction and dialogue with other texts,” (76). The concepts and ideas that comprise our world are but recycled versions of other ideas that were thought of long ago. Everything that we say, do or even own was once just an idea that someone had, which was then used as the platform for another idea. It is not our fault that we can get stuck in these cyclic and sometimes even stale habits, for we are only mirroring a practice that has been done since the beginning of time. Continue reading “The Fun Theory”

Everyone’s a Critic

Despite that utmost passion you have in what say, believe or even think, there is always going to be someone out there who will disagree with your message with enough fury to match the passion which you possess. Whether what they have to say is beneficial or intently malicious, everyone has some sort of opinion, however, some are just better at expressing it than others. We are all exposed to criticism from the day that we are born, from the simplest form of a critique from a sibling or friend to the feedback and corrections from a teacher on an assignment. Despite the negative connotation that the word “criticism” is typically associated with, criticism can also be construed as constructive, for sometimes we get lost in our own thoughts. Criticism can be seen as a link back to back to reality through the way it offers an alternative perspective on the matter at hand. Everything is open to interpretation, but as humans we have a tendency to value our interpretation over others. Continue reading “Everyone’s a Critic”

Elitism At Its Worst

The idea that hierarchies dictate and shape our world is not new. The fact that something or someone can be superior to something or someone else is a concept that has been exhausted since the beginning of time. In most cases, this allows for some “light” competition which at times, can be viewed as harmless and even motivational by the way it propels people to strive for something more. However, in other instances, the implementation of this societal pyramid can be detrimental to society as a whole. Colleges have always been sources of competition, due to the fact that their academics, sports and even alumni are perpetually being compared and contrasted.   By comparing them, we are creating this notion that one college is “better” than the other. Although the idea that some colleges are more “established” than others has some truth to it, it also perpetuates an aura of elitism, ultimately creating a college social ladder.   Continue reading “Elitism At Its Worst”

Knowledge Is Power

In a world where technology and other amenities are constantly changing our standard of living, knowledge and its accessibility are no exception to this cultural phenomenon.  What makes knowledge so universal is the fact that it can be described or categorized as new, old, and in some cases even prophetic.  To have access to all of this information is essentially what defines the purpose of a liberal arts school.  As Joe Moran attempts to define the nature of interdisciplinarity throughout the book, Interdisciplinarity, he mentions how the German philosopher, Wilhelm von Humboldt, once described a university as a place where one can, “lay open the whole body of learning and expound both the principles and the foundations of all knowledge,” (9).  A liberal arts school offers the chance to experience a range of knowledge, which is necessary for the human mind to keep growing.  Out of the many options that one has the chance to explore as student at a liberal arts school, the study of English stands above the rest. What makes the English major so unique is the idea that English itself is comprised of a combination of skills, ranging from the obvious ability to read, to the more advanced skill of being able to take the text outside of the classroom and relate it to everyday life situations, ultimately making it easier to adapt to the situation at hand. Continue reading “Knowledge Is Power”