Blog 2_10: Final Post! (A sad post)

It feels wonderful to have completed my final assignment for English 1000. Looking back on the creative process, I feel as though I rolled with the punches, so to speak, while writing. I did encounter a few difficulties, and things definitely didn’t always go as planned while writing, but overall I believe this project and this class overall have been successes.

On a general note, I shall first reflect on my experience within English 1000. Upon entering this course in the winter (looking forward into the spring and summer), I definitely entered the course with a sense of superiority toward this course. However, as the semester progressed, I realized this wouldn’t be another basic open ended writing course — which, I am fabulous at, by the way.

Oh no, this was to be a course that emphasized different aspects of modern English usage that aren’t commonly addressed in high school. For example, I was shown the importance of correct formatting. Whereas in high school, students were able to fudge their way through essays, changing the formatting as they needed in order to fit the length of their assignment, college does not play that game. In college, students are required to make their own work adapt to the amount of space they’re given. The whole process of configuring a word processor to meet certain page standards was new, although undoubtedly useful.  When I encounter later on a professor who requires pages to be submitted in a certai fashion, I will be able to fall back on my knowledge gained from English 1000 about how to properly configure a word processor.

Also, on a more personal, note, I’ve truly gained a concept of time management this semester. Whereas my first semester my classes did not include large projects that required immense amount of forethought and planning, my courses this semester were incredibly dependent on such forms of learning. Therefore, I have been required to change the way I plan for courses. Undoubtedly, there were times this semester when I promised myself I would never procrastinate again. Although somewhat reminiscent of many students’ Sunday morning promises that they will never drink again, I remain confident that I will be able to attain my goals. I will never procrastinate again… so much… Seriously.

More specifically, reflecting on this final project, I feel that — as with all projects — you aren’t able to entirely gauge where  your research will take you when you set out to work on your project. Whereas I thought I would only write about some religious conflict, in the process of narrowing down exactly what made religious conflicts so intense, I was brought down entirely new avenues that I had not previously explored, such as sacred spaces.

Looking forward to my academic career at MU, the biggest thing I’ve learned this semester (not only in English 1000, but in other courses as well) is the importance of owning your knowledge when you’re within academia. In our generation it seems as though we’re only taught to access information when we need it, but not to truly know it inside and out, and to own it. After having worked on these projects for extended amounts of time, I see the definite benefit of owning the knowledge on these papers, so that I can think analytically about the topics more easily.

I look forward to using the skills I’ve learned in English 1000 to enrich my future studies at MU. Cheers.

Blog 2_9: Finalizing My Plot, Sewing my Paper Together (EXTRA CREDIT BLOG FOUR)

My formulation process is now complete. My plot, entirely researched, and almost entirely in order, I’m seeing some problems rise to the surface. However, it’s better that I catch them now before I finish my paper — and then have to weed through all of my work again.

Near the start of writing my paper, I recognized that not all readers might grasp the significance of the two religions in my story. Although it is my intent to show how two religions from different societies (with inherent different economic structures in each of the societies respectively), I see that some might look at my story and only see an interesting plot line. Therefore, as I continue to write my story, I will need to be diligent in ensuring that my plot reference the conflict between religion.

I also recognize that, as I tend to do often in my writing, some areas remain unclear. I’ve recognized a few spots in the pages I’ve written that need reworking. But, as always, it’s better that such an occurrence happen now rather than later on during the writing process.

One of the most important things I’m finding with this paper is that when work gets to be this length, the usefulness of a second set of eyes cannot be understated. There are some things which simply are most easily seen by someone who is entirely new to the topic at hand. For instance, if you are yourself working through the process of writing a story, and you’ve thought through every single facet of your topic. For instance, I’ve thought through every single aspect of the two opposing religions. If I were to write something, like when I wrote about Zintenism’s characteristics, there might very well within the story be a jump in logic that most readers would not catch. Rather than having to painstakingly read through my story once more, a second set of eyes is able to easily pinpoint the problem, and advise on how best to change it. Norton also suggested this method as well.

The more I write, the more I am seeing the stark parallels referenced in Jihad vs. McWorld. The two religions, although both pursue relatively similar values, find their biggest differences relating to money. Many popular real world religions, such as Christianity, preach about the necessity of giving away all of one’s money. Jesus commanded his followers to have faith in the Lord their God, and to trust that he would provide on a daily basis what the people needed.

Also, my work is intended to speak volumes about nonviolence. Readers will see the struggle by Sergio, and note that he does not respond with violence. Had Sergio chosen to respond by violently striking back against Ray, and the band of other teens who attacked him, he would have perpetuated the cycle of violence, which was so damaging in the first place. Although violence/nonviolence is not a huge part of my story, I hope that readers will note the plot line, and take into their own lives a notion of promoting nonviolence.

Until next time!

Blog 2_8: Formulating Ideas (EXTRA CREDIT BLOG 3)

As I’ve done a fair amount of planning beforehand, the task of writing my story is proving to be not quite as difficult as I had intended it to be. It goes to show that planning makes all the difference when working on large projects like these. I’m working to narrow my vague ideas about religion into a succinct easy to follow plot line. Writing fiction with meaning is definitely a different type of writing than I’ve done in the past. It forces you to think both creatively and logically. I’m finding that as each step of my story must have included meaning, writing a story like this is almost as difficult as writing a full out research paper would be. That doesn’t give me any regrets, but just gives me a more adequate scale of the amount of work involved in creating a well thought out piece.

As I complete the process of writing out exactly what I want my plot to be, I am working to include certain elements for specific reasons. For example, I talk about Margot’s choice of breakfast food being to go. Although some might not see a greater significance in this choice, I intend it to represent the Zintenist adherence to trends and to the vogue. As Margot is in eight grade, surely there is no justifiable reason that she would not have time in the morning to make her own breakfast. Also, having enough disposable income to purchase one’s breakfast to go on a daily basis is a symbol of wealth. It costs more to eat out, so the very nature that Margot’s family allows her to do so on a daily basis speaks not only to the wealth that Margot’s family has accumulated, but also to how they like to show such wealth off to all those around.

The other main religious group in my story, the Turkenonists, are intended to represent a stark contrast to the Zintenists. Whereas the Zintenists are a sort of American religion mix, the Turkenonist religion represents old world values. Turkenonist represents a resistance to globalization and the standardization of certain products, Turkenonists embrace a more of organic life. Those Turkenonists living in Naoli deny themselves the need to find their self fulfillment through material wealth.

The difference between the two religions can best be explained as a predicament quite similar to Jihad vs. McWorld. Written by Thomas Barber, the struggle embodied in this document shows the differences between religions in post industrialist economies, such as America, and more old world countries, such as Pakistan. The differences between the two are substantial, and Jihad extremists have been blamed for the terrorist attacks on America. Although the Jihad originally was intended to embrace peace, this is perfect instance in which some have confused the true meaning of religion to justify conflict. Truly, there is nothing worth fighting over to the extent that the world trade centers needed to have been destroyed.

Although there may be room for conflict on both sides so that a peaceful outcome might be had, the indivisibility of religion often prevents such ocurances.

Blog 2_7: Narrowing in on my story (EXTRA CREDIT BLOG TWO)

As I continue to work on writing my story, one thing remains for certain — absolutely everything takes much longer than anticipated. I ran into a bit of a problem toward the end of my last deadline in that I found myself cramming to finish my story before deadline. However, as is with the structure of this course, I’ve been given a second wind. I have until April 23, or this Friday, to continue working on my work of fiction. I’ve already realized that my story will require more than the alloted 7-10 pages when written correctly — although I’ll work on retaining a style that uses words only when necessary.

I can feel my characters beginning to take shape — they are, in my head now, beginning to become real figures acting within the story. I have an outline — a general direction in which I want my story to go, however I need to gain momentum in putting my story in that direction. It’s an interesting problem to have — although after having let my plot simmer for a few days within my head, I think I’ve gotten a new glimpse on the direction I want my story to go in. As is fitting with my first paragraph, I find that some times all I need to create a product successfully is to let my ideas simmer. After a short amount of time, I can go back on my previous ideas and notes, and clearly group my ideas and themes into fiction. Essentially, what I mean to write is that after having let my work sit for a period of time, I’ll be able to write concisely.

As I stated in my presentation, I intend to create a drama in which the conflict of religion becomes the catalyst of the end of the world. In my draft right now, I have a bunch of ideas that don’t quite fit together. So, I need to go back, and rework them. Hopefully, after some time of reworking them, I’ll be able to create a more coherent knowledge product.

I hope that as I work through my story, I will be able to adequately include my resources within my story — although they won’t be directly referenced. Through a complete understanding of my sources, I’ll be able to intricately weave the details of the findings of various reports into an accurately portrayed work of fiction. That, the ultimate work of fiction, is to portray larger human themes through a story that is itself not real.

It is my hope that through a quality work of fiction, I will be able to create a work of fiction that touches on larger human themes — not just those of religion — but that I’ll be able to adequately capture the most fine essences of the human spirit within black and white word — within monosyllabic diction — within a paradoxically lifeless ink that will be able to spring forth from the page and create an image of art so vivid that all who read it may be affected by its meaning for years to come.

Blog 2_6: Planning (EXTRA CREDIT BLOG ONE)

The idea of what I will write about is slowly coming into focus. Within the last few days I’ve narrowed down exactly how I want to present my complex thesis into one concise presentation. Originally, I thought about creating a sort of video or audio/photo presentation — but after further review I’ve found that that is not how I want to present my idea. It would be too complicated, and, with the amount of time I have to create it, wouldn’t adequately explain my idea with the quality I need. In other words, there’s no other way my jankity film would ever be able to compete with the standards of modern cinematics.

But writing is a different story. I’ve always been a strong writer, and I’ve practiced writing all throughout high school — I feel confident that with fictional written word I can adequately portray my thesis: “Although Kurt Vonnegut perceives religion as a pointless institution created by men to satisfy the interests of men, it will indeed catalyze the end of the world.”

My story will focus on two small children, living and growing up in a time period much like the one in which we live today. Both children will come of age as their culture gears itself up for a religious war. There will be no reference to existing religions, but the created religions will indeed mirror existing religions, such as Christianity or Islam. Although both religions will have similar goals, and similar monotheistic structure, different religious texts will pit them against each other, and a war will ensue. The reader will look on with disgust as they see two religions killing each others’ beliers for no immensely important reason. But the conflict will continue to grow.

In fact, as each character comes of age, the forces of the religious war will grow out of control. By the time each character has reached an age of achieving awareness in love in their preferred sex, the religious war will have grown too strong to allow such love to express itself. Each character will be required to suppress critical parts of their identity in order to survive. One of the characters will fall in love with a member of the opposing tribe, (BIG SURPRISE, RIGHT?), and a secret love affair will ensue. I’m not entirely sure of the structure that will take.

THe setting of this story will be in a country similar to America — a country where diversity is paradoxically emphasized in its creed, yet not embraced in daily life. A great chopped salad of diversity shall appear in place of a great mixing pot of diversity. This will also facilitate the love affair easier into the plot — so that a member of one tribe may feasibly fall in love with a member of another tribe. This war shall in essence be a civil war — yet the aftermath will destruct all of humanity as it exists.

Also, one final note on the usage of the word tribe — it is used in a very adopted form. Indeed the two opposing religions shall resemble tribal groups — in that they are heavily united with practice and directly opposing of each other — it is my hope that the usage of the term ‘tribal’ shall also draw connotations of a religious nature as well. More to come later.

Blog 2_5: Research Plan

This is that research thing that I neglected to do yesterday. So here it is in all its glory.

Blog 11: Working on it at the moment.
Research Worksheet: I plan to begin working on this tonight, and finish it Tuesday evening.
General Research: (To refine Thesis) April 4, 5, 6
Define Thesis: Evening of April 5th.
Make Presentation: April 7, 8
Work on Annotated Bibliography to further support thesis: April 9, 10
Compose Rough Draft (Complete by April 14): April 12, 13, 14
E-mail paper to classmates for peer review: April 15
Review two students papers from home: April 17
Blog 12: April 20
First Submission!: April 20-22
Second Submission Reviews: Depending upon scheduled appointment, although April 28-May 2
Blog 13: May 4

Peace yo.

Blog 2_4: Stance

My critical source is designed to analyze various books written by Vonnegut. Written primarily for use within academia, this text analyzes Vonnegut’s more impactful novels for common themes. Tony Tanner, author of The Uncertain Messenger, addresses themes of uncertainty within Cat’s Cradle. Tanner explains how although Vonnegut appeared to be a science fiction writer, when one delves deeper into his work, one learns that Vonnegut does indeed have signifficant merit to his writing. Sound complex?

It is, and for that reason Tanner writes to an audience who can roll with the punches he throws. Punches being large vocabulary, complex themes, and a critical analysis of a work of literature that remains esoteric save for the few who are able to understand its references. In tandem with that, this piece does not include, at least in my reproduction of it, bright colors, bolded text, or any other frills whatsoever. As this was printed in the 1960s, it is not wise to expect that there were such embellishments in the original text either.

Written for a narrow purpose, this author sticks quite narrowly to his thesis — that of analyzing Cat’s Cradle. Moreover, this analysis does not include a summary of Cat’s Cradle, but rather just a brief introduction of what the writer will be speaking on, and then the bulk of the analysis. In this way, the author is able to communicate a farily complex amount of information within a short amount of space.

The genre of this piece is to simply analyze, critique — hardly to entertain.

The analysis of Cat’s Cradle focuses on the title of the book and the island on which the end of the book focuses. The title of the book referring to a game known to have originated a long time ago, presumably handed down from parent to children. Enacting a thought provoking criticism of this, Vonnegut writes in his novel how children upon learning the game find that there is “no damn cat, no damn cradle.” Tanner takes not only this reference in Cat’s Cradle, but similar references within other books authored by Vonnegut. Through this, he shows a mastery of the material, and also executing an in depth analysis of the signifficance of what he believes the implications of the phrase might be. While not everyone reading this book will analyze it to that extent, or will have necessarily read other Vonnegut books for that matter, there are those who have. While being only a small part of the market, these are the people for whom this author writes.

Finally, the most in depth part of a critical analysis, the stance. Clearly, this must be the part receiving the most thought, the most work, as this is to be the substance and purpose of the paper. The author interpets Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle as saying because each character of San Lorenzo is pursing his or her own dream, that the end of the world is likely to come from that. The analysis states that becaues Vonnegut has placed on this island both ice-nine and ‘representative sof the artistic and Utopian dreams which console and dignify the human race’, that these two aspects represent the human race. True or not, the numnber of people who stay up late at night worrying about these aspects is small. The audience of this group is small as well.

Blog 2_3: My own analysis

In the face of uncertainty, I shall press onward, not knowing whether or not my blog conforms to the requirements set out in this class. I shall again write a commentary of my thoughts after having annotated my blog in the real life.

Vonnegut’s satirical writing criticizes society with disappointing accuracy. In his novel Cat’s Cradle (and many others), Vonnegut accurately portrays humans as unfortunate beings. In fact, in Cat’s Cradle, the end of the world comes not at the end of some cataclysmic war, but through a serious of quite unfortunate events. A plane crash leads to, through an almost rube goldberg-esque series of events, a significant amount of ice – nine spilled into the ocean.

But how could the end to our lovely existence come without access to powers stronger than anything we can comprehend? Through the few people who have chosen to suppress parts  of their conscience, we have been given the keys to powers stronger than anything we can know. The true question remains, are we as humanity responsible enough for these privileges?

Some might ask God. Vonnegut didn’t believe in God. As a humanist, Vonnegut said he behaved decently throughout his life with no expectation of reward in the afterlife. Undoubtedly his religious beliefs are a reflection of his work — Vonnegut at the beginning of his novels dares to say that a religion based entirely on lies could be worth something. Vonnegut speaks against all religions of the time — Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism — anything. And yet, paradoxically, although he says that they are based on complete lies, they carry value.

Vonnegut’s statement on religion references his view on life — that although our life isn’t based on the veritas of an altruistic creator to whom we should worship, we undoubtedly have worth within our own lives. We have worth as we run our course on this planet. This, he does not negate. Humanists see life differently.

Vonnegut also depicts the island of San Lorenzo as an idyllic respite in the caribbean — save for the claw, of which all people are afraid. The critical analysis I read tried to make the argument that the Hoenikker children were somehow representative of “the artistic and Utopian dreams which console and dignify the race”. Of all the comparisons in my analysis, I find this to be the most far fetched. While the Hoenikker children do indeed represent intelligent beings, I do not believe they represent the hope of the human race. They are indeed the son of Felix Hoenikker. While Dr. Hoenikker and his ego has indeed accomplished many wonderful achievements for the human race, he gave the keys for our ultimate destruction — ice nine.

Finally, the article discusses the possibility that there is no cat, and no cradle — thus, showing the vacancy in the title of the book, Cat’s Cradle. The game itself, an ancient game allegedly used by parents to entertain kids, leaves the kids with a sense of emptiness upon learning the game. Where there should have been a cat and a cradle, there is neither. Quite frankly, where there should have been fun and entertainment, there was nothing but perplexed mystery. This also, speaks to Vonnegut’s hauntingly downtrodden view of reality.

Blog 2_2: Critical Evaluation

The notion of explaining the Hoenikker kids by Freudian Analysis provides one with plenty of material about which to think (in the interest of correct grammar). But why might one be called to consider such a proposition?

Indeed, the world to us is directly influenced by our subjective point of view. For example, the only reason I command this fact to paper is for the simple reality that my journalism class addressed the issue of objectivity. And while it can be said that sometimes things are objectively fact  — E.G. the notion that our world is perceived subjectively — there are other things that undoubtedly aren’t. Putting Freudian Analysis on a book written not for such analysis, while I see this author/philosopher makes several valid observations about characters, I believe they ultimately end up with a faulty outcome.  It is possible for an analysis to show interesting commonalities but fail to prove its thesis. I believe that is the ultimate case in this analysis of Cat’s Cradle.

What I mean to say when I reference objectivity and subjectivity is this. Although Vonnegut was a great writer, one who paved the way with his writing style — I do not believe his characters were neither set up to be nor should be analyzed with Freudian technique. One can easily point to several instances in any book and Analyze them as one would like. For example, one could similarly analyze Harry Potter with profound philosophical wisdom, and likely come to a different conclusion in the role each of the teens play. Harry, for example, could represent truth — as he follows his own purpose even though it leads him into sticky situations. Hermione could represent knowledge, as she was always the one learning, reading, thinking. Finally, Ron could represent comedy. One could say what I’ve done is profound analysis of these characters, but what I’ve actually done is use their generalized personality characteristics to transform a book meant to entertain into something philosophical.

A second, although much less substantive complaint against the Kansas Quarterly’s article about Cat’s Cradle is their usage of word. While it is excellent that the writer of this publication has  a large vocabulary, I find their point is often lost within a usage of academic vocabulary. As E.B. White suggests in his book Elements of Style, never use a complicated word when a more simpler one would suffice. At least a full quarter of the adjectives in the article were used simply to show off, in my opinion.

Blog 2_1: Cat’s Cradle Issues (Religious Value)

An underlying thesis of Cat’s Cradle is the idea that religion, whether one is able to discern his stance, or not. Kurt Vonnegut intends to call to attention not only the controversy, of religion, but its validity as well. In the opening of his book, Vonnegut asserts that a religion based entirely on lies can be worth something.

He then presents to us Bokononism, on which much of his book turns out to be based. Bokononism, when the character arrives in San Lorenzo, is prohibited. Yet, paradoxically, most of the citizens of San Lorenzo practice Bokononism. Even the leader of San Lorenzo, Papa Monzano, practices Bokononism. Of course, it should not be put beside the point that Bokononism isn’t just prohibited by a little bit — but by a lot. Those who are found guilty of practicing Bokononism are subject to death by the hook — one of the most gruesome deaths that one can imagine. It is precisely the hook that keeps most of the citizens of San Lorenzo from disobeying the laws previously agreed upon.

It’s religion that everyone keeps coming back to. Throughout the book, Vonnegut paradoxically applies much of the teaching from his book to a religion he openly informed us is made up — based on lies — but yet, worth something. Bokononism, although not based through thousands of years of history, teaches us ways to classify our world, teaches us how to see ourselves.

Undoubtedly, Vonnegut is writing with a satirical tone — he is taking jab at current religions of the time. He looks at Christianity (or, for that matter, any other religion that one uses), and brings forth the idea that the notion of being historically valid might not always equal culturally valid. Historical truth might not always equal moral truth.

Vonnegut’s truth, however, is selling novels. While, in all truth, his comments about religion are interesting, they are not culturally profound. While his novel is an interesting read to pick up once in a while, and his quirky satirical style is quite memorable, it does not provide any substantive ideas that will stay with the reader for an extended period of time. If nothing else, he serves to entertain the reader, rather than to inform them of some new philosophical principle. Rather than teach us something new, he pokes fun at what already exists.

In making us laugh, Vonnegut has succeded. In making us think, Vonnegut has succeded. In writing a book that has indeed become successful, Vonnegut has succeded. In getting honorary credit from his university, likely because of his book’s success, Vonnegut has succeeded.