Masculinity / Masculinities REVISED!

What is "masculinity"?  What are "masculinities"?  What defines these concepts?  Use examples from Orwell's 1984 as well as those drawn from popular culture, literature, advertising, and so forth to furnish your response.

When I first read the blog topic for this week, I was unsure of how to respond. According to today’s media, men are most often stereotyped as being the Jock, the Athlete or the Nerd. But when I think of someone who is masculine, I basically think of superheroes, and how they use their strong attributes in daily life. But in the novel 1984, people are seen as equals, if they are doing their part in helping the party, so stereotyping is not occurring, as often, in their society.

            When looking at the title again, I instantly begin to think about masculinity and its portrayal in 1984; thinking about the title of Big Brother and how it links to being masculine with having the equivalence of being “the Alpha male”. With the slogan of the party, “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU”, this causes people to be constantly looking over their shoulder and worry if their actions are considered to be ungood. This insecurity of Oceania’s citizens allows for the party’s upper hand gaining control, with having its presence known, which unfortunately for the rest of the population influences their daily life.

            Certain scenes come to mind when thinking about masculinity in regards to 1984.  It seems to me that in this time period when the book was written, men, wearing their long black coats with top hats, have more power and authority than women. This perspective of social classes is brought into the society where the story takes place. But in our modern day times, women are often applauded when standing up for what they believe, even if they are standing up against men, thus causing females to gain some power.

            Well, in our society, people are mainly seen as equals. As in a Friends episode, the character, Sandy is hired as a male nanny. This is seen as socially unacceptable because this type of job is seen as being “feminine”, as pointed out by Joey and Ross. Although women, Monica, may see this as a great change in society, men see it as a “social suicide”.

            Nowadays, men and women are objectified in advertising. But for some reason, people always buy into it. Stereotyping is often used as a tactic, and unfortunately people do not seem to mind or care. People need to see that the media and its advertisements basically control the products they are buying. The media business is a cruel one, and I hope that in the near future they will be able to figure out how to advertise such products in less objectifying ways. This picture is an example of how corporations use attractive models to support and sell their products. They are willing to sell the bodies of people just for the success of their products.

I find that the term masculinity is becoming less often used because people are able to think on our own without corporations shoving their products down on throats. I believe that these big corporations are like our own Big Brother, monitoring what products we own of theirs and whether or not we are satisfied. They are always looking for people to use their products, in which by using their advertisements they are able to control what we think and thus influencing our decisions of everyday life. I hope that sometime in the short future, people will be able to think for themselves and decide which products THEY want to use.

Freud's Civilization and its Discontent topic 1 (REVISED!)

In life, is happiness even possible to be achieved while living through our mistakes and successes? I have often pondered this myself. Many would simply agree that life is only lived for people to be happy. Previously, I would have agreed with this statement but after reading Freud’s novel my views on life have been changed and have possibly confused my point of view even further.

Happiness can simply be defined as people having good fortune or simply being happy or joyful. Unfortunately, the only problem with the fact that people only live to pursue happiness and to remain so, many are very desperate to be in this state of mind and may sacrifice other parts of their life to be happy. This statement is supported when Freud writes “[people] seek power, success and wealth for themselves and […] underestimate what is of true value in life” (pg 23). Most people, in order to achieve their happiness, must be able to know what it feels like to be unhappy, which may or may not aid them to achieve what they desire most. So with people trying their best to achieve what they wish to accomplish in life, this leaves me to wonder is it really possible for people to attain full happiness. Freud’s friend writes to him about what he believes happiness is; “a feeling of something limitless, unbounded" (pg 24). Although Freud does not seem to believe in the same, he writes about it anyways.

To say I was merely confused by Freud’s writings would be an understatement. But through that confusion I was able to comprehend that Freud thinks that happiness is mainly attained through the enjoyment of beauty, which undoubtedly becomes a source of pleasure. Many believe that it has become more difficult for people to compare the happiness of people from an earlier era because it was essentially a biased emotion. In Freud’s view, civilization on the whole takes a massive toll on the happiness of an individual.

So can people really obtain the happiness they strive for in life? Many people never really think about the future, it is assumed that happiness is something we all strive for and unhappiness is never nearby. This is supported when Freud writes that “[people feel] inclined to say that the intention that man should be ‘happy’ is not included in the plan of ‘Creation’” (pg 43). However, the sad fact is both happiness and unhappiness are equally reachable. Unfortunately, unhappiness does not seem to require a lot of effort to achieve whereas happiness seems to be miles away from where we are. Although unhappiness is close enough for us to touch, achieving happiness is ultimately what we seek to achieve in our lives but what happens when you achieve that happiness, can you ultimately stay happy for the rest of your life?

Happiness, for many, is an important feeling to achieve in their lifetime because that feeling you have when you get something right after many attempts prior is one of the greatest feelings in the world. This feeling is ultimately what people strive for and wish for that feeling to live in their memory forever. However in my lifetime, I hope that I will be able to achieve what makes me happy and I hope that I will be able to hold onto that satisfying feeling and enjoy my life. Like most people, if not all people, I will live my life out searching for that ultimate feeling of success and happiness.

Socrates and Plato's Apology Topic 1 (REVISED)

Are Socrates’ charges, corrupting the youth, creating new gods and not believing in the old gods legitimate? Is this a fair trial?

 Throughout Plato’s Euthyphro, the characters of Socrates and Euthyphro are discussing, what is good and right and what is simply not. It is because they are concerned with the current charges against Socrates and could possibly happen as well as why he is being charged.

But it is in Apology that the charges of Socrates are put to rest. These charges do not seem to be legitimate or fair because they are based off of accusations and not direct knowledge as to what actually occurred. Before the trial even begins it seems that the accusers, jury and the judge had already had already decided his fate.

The “corrupting of the youth charges” later becomes a more secured offence while his charge about not believing in the gods is clarified when he says “I find it hard to accept [stories] people tell about the gods? I expect that I shall be found at fault because I doubt these stories” (pg 6, section 6). He goes on to explain his doubt about the god’s powers and attributes to society to Euthyphro. Socrates later becomes worried that the gods will fight over disagreements that occur between people and possibly between the gods themselves. An example of this is shown when Socrates says that “some of the gods [may] think one thing [is] just [and] the others another” (pg 8, section 8).

        But in order to answer the original question, which has made me think about the daily choices made by many individuals, Euthyphro’s idea of “righteousness and piety are part of justice which has to do with the careful attention which ought to be paid to the gods” (pg 16, Section 14) is what has clarified my thoughts about this question.

To answer the question, no, I do not think that his charges were fair because, as mentioned earlier, his punishment had already been decided. Socrates believes that Meletus is accusing him on the account of inventing new gods as well as not believing in the old ones and could quite possibly be trying to isolate Socrates because of his beliefs. Unfortunately, putting him to trial and condemning him to death would not be appropriate actions of people in our modern society. Even though, Meletus and the jury think that he was guilt, or possibly just disliked what Socrates was trying to teach, they could have arranged a more appropriate punishment. If they had concluded a different punishment then Socrate’s trial would not cause such a stir among many generations of people.

But the bottom line is it should not be legal or just to take someone to court because they have different beliefs that you. Everyone is entitled to having their own beliefs because if people did not believe in various things, then life would become very boring. Although this was not taken place in this day and age but these charges may have been fair in the time period where they occurred. But overall my concluding thought to this question is that no, the charges are not fair and no matter how their judicial system worked it should not have be a legitimate charge.

The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas (REVISED)

Although the people of Omelas are fully aware of the child's suffering, those who remain in Omelas don't seem to feel any guilt. In fact, Le Guin reinforces this in her story.   Do you think it's possible to constantly feel guilty about the misery of others?  Please explain and provide examples.

            In the city of Omelas, people know about this suffering child, but they still remain. They have learnt to deal with the pain that they are holding, like most of our modern society is able to do today. Although people learn how to deal with their own sufferings, I am not totally convinced that people cannot feel guilty for the pain they pass onto others. But people, who feel guilty all the time, must have a horrible life, or really bad luck because most people for some reason are able to forget about the misery of others and can go on living their own lives. The Human Race is a more selfish creature than most would think, because through the hustle of their own lives they are not afraid to step on others and make them feel bad for themselves.

            In Omelas, the children are told about this suffering child around the ages of eight to twelve, through their whole lives they return to see the child. No matter their understandings of its suffering, they always seem to be “shocked and sickened at the sight [of the child]”. Although they are angry, they believe that they cannot do anything for the child but if they really felt that bad for the child, I am pretty sure they could think of a way to help. Many people who actually want do something to help the child only know of one way to ease their guilt, to walk away from Omelas. But the ones who stay were taught that they need to “perceive the terrible justice of reality, and to accept it”. Most people, either in or out of Omelas, respect and live by what we are taught as young people, and going against what our teachers, parents and elders have taught us would be very disrespectful. Thus, many of the citizens of this town, stay and learn to live with the guilt, even though the discomfort they know that the child has to live with.

An example of this is, in our modern day society, is that people, walking downtown, past homeless people; they always seem to ask us for money or something they are in need of but most of us, including myself, keep on walking. Many people feel guilty as they continue walking by, but soon try to rub that feeling off and go on about their day. People, a greedy kind of species, have learned to get by in life without feeling guilty all the time. It is a good thing for people to feel guilty for some time but eventually we have to forgive ourselves and live our lives.

As asked by Patrick for the original blog; could people, if we were to form groups, to allow us to get beyond our concerns as individuals? People tend to think differently once we are placed into groups. I, personally, do not think that the question would be any different. In groups, once an idea is thrown out there, many, if not most people would normally agree because of that fear of being judged or even being wrong. But sometimes in these group settings people, who feel strongly about that subject, may be able to get past the fear and explain their thoughts. But for this question, I would hope that people would express what they think and not just agree for the sake of agreeing. However, when specifically dealing with individuals, people may not feel comfortable with going against the odds and stick up for the child. Even if they were able to stand up for the child, it may ruin their society, and people are not prepared to lose what they are comfortable with and used to.

Masculinity / Masculinities

Masculinity / Masculinities

What is "masculinity"?  What are "masculinities"?  What defines these concepts?  Use examples from Orwell's 1984 as well as those drawn from popular culture, literature, advertising, and so forth to furnish your response.

When I first read the blog topic for this week, I was unsure of how to respond. When I think of masculinity I originally think about courage, bravery and war, as being what I have learnt over the years.  But according to today’s media, men are most often stereotyped as being the Jock, the Athlete or the Nerd. But in the novel 1984, people are seen as equals, if they are doing their part in helping the party, so stereotyping is not occurring, as often, in their society.

        When looking at the title again, I instantly begin to think about masculinity and its portrayal in 1984; thinking about the title of Big Brother and how it links to being masculine. With the slogan of the party, “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU”, this causes people to be constantly looking over their shoulder and worry if their actions are considered to be ungood. This insecurity of Oceania’s citizens allows for the party’s upperhand to gain control, with having its presence known, which unfortunately for the rest of the population influences their daily life.

        Certain scenes come to mind when thinking about masculinity in regards to 1984.  It seems to me that in this time period when the book was written, men, wearing their long black coats with top hats, have more power and authority than women. This perspective of social classes is brought into the society where the story takes place. But in our modern day times, women are often applauded when standing up for what they believe, even if they are standing up against men. Feminists are becoming more and more apparent, thus causing females to gain some power.

        Nowadays, men and women are objectified in advertising. But for some reason, people always buy into it. Stereotyping is often used as a tactic, and unfortunately people do not seem to mind or care. People need to see that the media and its advertisements basically control the products they are buying. The media business is a cruel one, and I hope that in the near future they will be able to figure out how to advertise such products in less objectifying ways.        

I find that the term masculinity is becoming less often used because people are becoming more equal and are able to think on our own without corporations shoving their products down on throats. I believe that these big corporations are like our own Big Brother, monitoring what products we own of theirs and whether or not we are satisfied. They are always looking for people to use their products, in which by using their advertisements they are able to control what we think and thus influencing our decisions of everyday life. I hope that sometime in the short future, people will be able to think for themselves and decide which products THEY want to use.

But right now in the future, I am, like most people are content and can easily be convinced to wear, say, or act like the advertisements want me too.

Freud's Civilization and its Discontent topic 1

In life, is it possible to be happy and thoroughly enjoy living through our mistakes and successes, I have been wondering about this in the recent past. Many would simply agree that life is only lived for people to be happy. I would have agreed with this statement but since I have read Freud’s novel my views on life have been changed and have possibly confused my point of view.

Happiness can simply be defined as good fortuned or simply the state of being happy or joyful. Unfortunately, the only problem with the fact, if it is true, that people only live to strive for happiness and to remain so, many are very desperate to be in this state of mind and may sacrifice other parts of their life to be happy. Most people, in order to achieve their happiness, must be able to feel what it is like to be unhappy, this may or may not help for them to reach what they desire most. So with people trying their best to achieve what they wish to accomplish in life, this leaves me to wonder is it really possible for people to attain full happiness.

According to Freud, happiness in life is mainly attained through the enjoyment of beauty, which undoubtedly becomes a source of pleasure. Many believe that it has become more difficult for people to compare the happiness of people from an earlier era because it was essentially a biased emotion. In Freud’s view, civilization on the whole takes a massive toll on the happiness of an individual.

So can people really achieve to be completely happy in life? Many people never really think about the future, it is assumed that happiness is something we all strive for and unhappiness is never nearby. However, the sad fact is both happiness and unhappiness are equally real and reachable. Unfortunately, unhappiness does not seem to require a lot of effort to achieve whereas happiness seems to be miles away from where we are. Although unhappiness is close enough for us to touch, achieving happiness is ultimately what we strive to achieve in our lives but what happens when you achieve that happiness, can you ultimately stay happy for the rest of your life? Happiness, to many, is an important feeling to achieve in their lifetime because that feeling you get when you get something right after many attempts prior is one of the greatest feelings in the world. However, I wish that in my lifetime, I will be able to achieve what makes me happy and I hope that I will be able to hold onto that satisfying feeling and enjoy my life.

Socrates and Plato's Apology Topic 1

Are Socrates’ charges, corrupting the youth, creating new gods and not believing in the old gods legitimate? Is this a fair trial?

 Throughout Plato’s Euthyphro, the characters of Socrates and Euthyphro are discussing back and forth, what is good and right and what is simply not.

       These charges do not seem to be legitimate because they are based off of accusations and not a direct knowledge as to what actually occurred. But the “corrupting the youth charges” later becomes a more secured offence. Socrates’ charge about not believing in the gods is clarified when he says “I find it hard to accept [stories] people tell about the gods? I expect that I shall be found at fault because I doubt these stories” (pg 6, section 6). He goes on to explain his doubt about the god’s powers and attributes to society to Euthyphro. Socrates later becomes worried that the gods will fight over disagreements that occur between people and possibly between the gods themselves. An example of this is shown when Socrates says that “some of the gods [may] think one thing [is] just [and] the others another” (pg 8, section 8).

        But in order to answer this question, which has made me think about many of our day-to-day choices, Euthyphro’s idea of “righteousness and piety are that part of justice which has to do with the careful attention which ought to be paid to the gods” (pg 16, Section 14) is what has clarified my thoughts about this question.

        In our modern day society this trial would not be fair, legal or legitimate, but in the time this was written this trial could very well seem to be legitimate. But I am left to wonder if Socrates’ charges are fair and just. As far as I believe and know that in this time period this trial would be legitimate. But I enjoy that fact that in our modern times this trial would never be just and right because we are taught that people have different beliefs and we do not all have to think the same. Individuality in modern society is what is keeping people happy and thus not making us become different people, who make bad decisions and people lead us into situations we would not like to be in.

Citation: Plato, Euthyphro, Apology, Crito. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1948. 1-20. Print.

Le Guin Blog Topic 2

2. Although the people of Omelas are fully aware of the child's suffering, those who remain in Omelas don't seem to feel any guilt. In fact, Le Guin reinforces this in her story.   Do you think it's possible to constantly feel guilty about the misery of others?  Please explain and provide examples.
 

I do not think that it is possible for people to constantly feel guilty because eventually they will forget about the misery of others and begin to live their own lives. I believe that the human race is a more selfish kind of creature and will concentrate on what they want in their lives, rather than feel bad for their peers.

 An example of this is when people are walking downtown, past homeless people; they always seem to ask us for money or something they are in need of but most of us, including myself, keep on walking. Many people feel guilty as they continue walking by, but soon try to rub that feeling off and go on about their day. People, a greedy kind of species, have learned to get by in life without feeling guilty all the time. It is a good thing for people to feel guilty for some time but eventually we have to forgive ourselves and live our lives.