This class certainly has stretched the bounds of my thoughts on the social aspects of our society. Ethics, freedoms and rights, simplicity, "living deliberately: all topics I have thoroughly covered in my mind due to this class. What has this class taught me? First, I'd say that'd be that we live in a world with many faults. We always have, and most likely always will. Still, it's worth fighting, persisting, aiding, for what, in your opinion, is the right way to live. After all, what else are we going to do with our time? Second, nothing is as it seems. Only through careful deliberation and due process of thought can one begin to catch a glimpse of the complexity of any of the problems we have facing our society today. Even then one may be wrong. It is quite important to have the perspective of the whole of our existence, and not what our current lives have trained our eyes to see and ears to hear.
This class has conditioned me to be more confident in airing my thoughts in front of a critical audience, and being comfortable with speaking to a large group about my opinions and not just a preset presentation.
The authors of these pieces of literature helped solidify they idea that being different and not fitting in to the society around you is completely and totally alright. It's OK to disagree with everybody and live differently. Especially with those I identify like Vonnegut, Thoreau, and Emerson, I've taken away the idea that it is not an absolute goal to belong to any community. Community is simply a human pursuit that fulfills the desire to create value within oneself.
Vonnegut taught me that being kind is not always the end all be all. In his case, as I see it, his aggressive response to actions taken against his book was necessary and executed with acute skill.
The idea of plenitude has helped me identify a feeling that I too have and could not previously explain to those around me. I now have a term for it and a method of explaining this perverse affliction that seems to have taken hold of a lot of the western world, and eastern world as well.
Above all else, all of the authors of the chosen literature for this class have defended what they believe in with passion and heart. This, I have come to realize, is what separates great people from the rest of those around them.
I really like that you brought up community and the fact that we try to place value on ourselves/those around us by their ability to naturally or artificially fit in. I had similar opinions, but hadn't really considered that to be something that i had learned. Definitely an important lesson.
ReplyDeletePlenitude was an idea that has definitely changed my life. I am so glad that this idea was discussed in our class because I have become so much better with realized I have everything I need. I also think that the authors discussed in the class defending their ideas very well.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that this class has made me more confident in sharing my thoughts and opinions. I really liked how we would discuss the literature in our group first and then discuss it as an entire class. I agree with you and Taylor, plentitude is definitely one of the bigger ideas that I feel I have taken from this class, I also like the fact that I know that meaning of the word plentitude and what it really entails. I also like how you mention the authors defending what they believe in, I never would have thought before this class that so many people believe our society and literature is suffering. I also never realized how much of an effect the media and virtual worlds have on our society.
ReplyDeleteI think all the authors did a great job getting their points across in all of the pieces of literature we've read. After sitting back and thinking about the things I've read I could understand where they were coming from. I think that our society is starting to become more focused with technology and less on actual literature which is probably why a lot of people don't read as often as they should. I feel out of everything plenitude is one thing that I will definitely use outside of this class to describe our world today.
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