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Monday, November 29, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Spellbound: a Dali Study in Dreams
According to Wikipedia, Salvador Dali's work "Spellbound" was created in 1945 as part of a series of scenes in Alfred Hitchcock's thriller of the same name. Dali, known for being a Surrealist, was hired by Hitchcock to create the dream sequence, in which actor Gregory Peck, in an attempt to cure his mental illness, relates a strange and disjointed dream to his psychiatrists. (You can view the cached version of this clip by clicking here.)
Dali was the perfect person to design the sequence as he was a Surrealist. In other words, his work was created by using the paranoiac-critical method--a technique devloped by Dali in the 1930's that acknowledged the ability of the brain to "perceive links between things which are rationally not linked" (Wikipedia), which is exactly what happens in dreams.
Details from the work really reveal that Dali is attempting to enter a person's subconscious to create the effect of our helter skelter dreams. Objects and people from both reality and imagination are juxtaposed against one another. Above the stage are curtains painted with giant eyes. They are fantastical. Some of the eyes are open, some closed, many looking in different directions. One wonders while viewing this work if the top is painted and the bottom is a real photo. It is possible that these painted eyes represent the eyes of the men at the tables below--and the varying reactions they are having to the woman who appears to be on stage, dancing. The legs of the tables appear to be human legs, and one of the eyes appears to have a symbol engraved in it. This symbol could be a key, plane, spade, bird, or airplane. The action taking place on the dance floor seems to be blending into a film that is going on against the backdrop. In fact, the different areas of the painting--the film, the drapes, the men--all seem to intersect at the figure of the woman, who is located slightly right of center. The intersection of all of these real and fictional worlds begs the questions--what is genuinely, authentically real? Can reality be defined? Can one create alternate realities using the imagination? So many eyes create the atmosphere, again, of paranoia, as if one is constantly being watched.
This mixing of fantasy elements with reality raises many questions. Is Dali making a statement about the nature of reality? He is quoted as saying that his most famous painting, The Persistence of Time, was created to "systemize confusion and thus discredit completely the world of reality", according to the Museum of Modern Art website (MOMA). This quote, coupled with knowledge of Dali's eccentric antics, such as showing up at a ball held in his honor wearing a glass cage on his heart that contained a brasseire (bra), indicates to me that he was in favor of the imagination over reality. I think the archetype of the eye--which could represent insight or seeing beyond what's just literally in front of you--is present in his painting, too. Dali asks you not to trust what you see--to actually let yourself give in to reading between the lines, to risk paranoia. Also, the fact that this is part of a dream sequence relies on the archetype of sleep, which, according to our hand out on archetypes, is crucial for psychological healing. During dreams, a person can grow, discover more about his or her inner workings, fantasize and awaken with a greater understanding of human nature. In the movie, sleep as a healing time definitely aligns with what happens. Gregory Peck ends up uncovering a repressed childhood trauma through his dream and resolves his inner conflicts.
However, Dali's work still makes me, as a viewer, ask myself some questions about reality and imagination that perhaps Dali didn't intend. Are we, in America, all rather delusional at this point, believing our own press and our own narcisstic, self-created personas on Facebook and blogs? Do we need stricter boundaries between what is real and fantasy, so more people can tell the difference?
Questions: watch the full dream sequence. What do you think slicing the eye means, using archetypes to interpret the meaning? How do you, personally, feel about Americans and their tendency to live in worlds of fantasy--from video games to movies to reinventing themselves on line and in real life?
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Can Steroid Use be Stopped?
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2005-03-15-steroids-mlb-cover_x.htm
This article talks about Professional Baseball player and how some continue to use steroids.
"We need to understand the dangerous cycle that perception creates....
College athletes believe they have to consider steroids if they're going to make it to the pros; high school athletes, in turn, think steroids are the key to getting a scholarship. It's time to break that vicious cycle, and it needs to happen from the top down."
If the steroid use continues the only way people can make it in professional sports is to use steroids. Anyone with real, true talent will just be over looked. Congress is attempting to get into the problem and stop it, which many players think will be helpful. There is no real number of players found to be doing steroids, only speculations. So is there really anyway for us to stop steroids in the major leagues and be sure of it?
This article talks about Professional Baseball player and how some continue to use steroids.
"We need to understand the dangerous cycle that perception creates....
College athletes believe they have to consider steroids if they're going to make it to the pros; high school athletes, in turn, think steroids are the key to getting a scholarship. It's time to break that vicious cycle, and it needs to happen from the top down."
If the steroid use continues the only way people can make it in professional sports is to use steroids. Anyone with real, true talent will just be over looked. Congress is attempting to get into the problem and stop it, which many players think will be helpful. There is no real number of players found to be doing steroids, only speculations. So is there really anyway for us to stop steroids in the major leagues and be sure of it?
When your a little kid and your watching your favorite player on television you're wanting to be just like them. Hit homeruns like them, throw that deep ball for the game winning touchdown, or even hit the ball 350 yards straight down the middle. What kids are not thinking of is maybe there favorite player is taking steriods before the game or even after the game. Some kids would do anything to be like their favorite player and make it to the big leagues even if that means taking steriods. Its not just the professional athletes that that are making kids look towards using steriods, its even coaches the people that the student athletes look up to as if they were their second parents.In this era people are looking to be the best at any cost and steriods is becoming a problem with our professional sports and our highschool teams. Many kids have died because of using steriods and many kids look the other way and still use them thinking that will never happen to me. Kids need to learn that its not right to cheat yourself and even your life to be the best,because if you work hard and work the right way then you will succed and be the best.How come kids think they have to take steriods to be the best athlete they can? Will steriod use ever end in sports?
NFL Player Gets 30 Days For Manslaughter
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/16/sportsline/main5091566.shtml
"Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth is going to serve 30 days in jail after pleading guilty in Florida to a DUI manslaughter charge."
I can't believe this. I think this goes above and beyond absurd. Serving only thirty days in jail for killing someone is ridiculous. I can only manage how this poor man's family feels. What does this extremely unharsh punishment say about their family member? I would feel like the person I loved wasn't important, that their life was worth thirty days in jail. Is this justice?
"Police say Stallworth was drinking at a hotel bar before the March 14 crash that killed 59-year-old construction worker Mario Reyes. Tests showed Stallworth's blood-alcohol content was .126."
Brown's alcohol level was really high. He was very intoxicated and therefor negetively influenced. To be that drunk and to get behind the wheel is completely irresponsible. I belive that being a pro football player has a lot to do with Brown's sentence. This is just an example of how athletes recieve special treatment. It's one thing to get a few extra perks, it's another to get away with murder. I find this situation repulsive. The criminal gets a break, while the victim is left with no justice.
"Stallworth also reached a confidential financial settlement with the Reyes' family." I guess the saying is true, money can buy everyhting. If you have money and power you can get away with...... murder.
What are the reasons pro athletes recieve special treatment?
Thirty days for a life. Can this be justified?
"Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth is going to serve 30 days in jail after pleading guilty in Florida to a DUI manslaughter charge."
I can't believe this. I think this goes above and beyond absurd. Serving only thirty days in jail for killing someone is ridiculous. I can only manage how this poor man's family feels. What does this extremely unharsh punishment say about their family member? I would feel like the person I loved wasn't important, that their life was worth thirty days in jail. Is this justice?
"Police say Stallworth was drinking at a hotel bar before the March 14 crash that killed 59-year-old construction worker Mario Reyes. Tests showed Stallworth's blood-alcohol content was .126."
Brown's alcohol level was really high. He was very intoxicated and therefor negetively influenced. To be that drunk and to get behind the wheel is completely irresponsible. I belive that being a pro football player has a lot to do with Brown's sentence. This is just an example of how athletes recieve special treatment. It's one thing to get a few extra perks, it's another to get away with murder. I find this situation repulsive. The criminal gets a break, while the victim is left with no justice.
"Stallworth also reached a confidential financial settlement with the Reyes' family." I guess the saying is true, money can buy everyhting. If you have money and power you can get away with...... murder.
What are the reasons pro athletes recieve special treatment?
Thirty days for a life. Can this be justified?
Miller players disciplined for hazing
http://www.pe.com/sports/breakout/stories/PE_Sports_Local_S_hazing_28.3ea74a2.html
The 10-15 football players from Fontana Miller High are being disciplined for hazing many underclassmen. The players were punching and kicking the younger players. None of the boys were seriously hurt. The school is still giving out punishments and the players could be charged by the police.
I feel that the players should get suspended but not charged for a crime. Most of the underclassmen did not care about what happened because none of them were seriously hurt. The school made the right move to suspended the players.
Why are most of the hazing articles about football teams? Don't other sports do the same thing?
What happened with team? Will they just have to play without 15 players?
The 10-15 football players from Fontana Miller High are being disciplined for hazing many underclassmen. The players were punching and kicking the younger players. None of the boys were seriously hurt. The school is still giving out punishments and the players could be charged by the police.
I feel that the players should get suspended but not charged for a crime. Most of the underclassmen did not care about what happened because none of them were seriously hurt. The school made the right move to suspended the players.
Why are most of the hazing articles about football teams? Don't other sports do the same thing?
What happened with team? Will they just have to play without 15 players?
Crazy Parents
http://drphil.com/slideshows/slideshow/2343/?id=2343&slide=0&showID=462&preview=&versionID=
...my link In this article there's parents who have an 8 month old baby boy named J.J(because it sounds like a good sports name) and they are already pushing him to love sports. They admitted that if when J.J was older and he came up to them and said he didn't want to play sports or didn't like them that they would be disapointed and very upset. "I'm a strong believer that children have to have other activities besides academics," Mark says. "If JJ did not want to be in sports, his mother would be devastated. I would be disappointed."She and her fiancé have been exposing JJ to sports since he was in the womb, by reading NBA magazines to him, and JJ's is almost always wearing a sports-related outfit. When JJ is older, Charlene wants him to play flag football, basketball and soccer. "I've selected toys to gear him up for sports." She and JJ are also enrolled in a Mommy and Me and a tumbling class to help JJ develop his muscles and motor skills. "We do exercises just to get him coordinated," Charlene explains.I think that these parents are going way to over board with wanting him to play sports. My parents loved sports and hoped I would as well but I learned to love them on my own. They encouraged me to try all different types of sports but also many different activities. They have always told me if I wanted to quit that all I would have to do was tell them, and that's how it should be. You need to decide what you like on your own, being open and trying new activites is always good but if your child doesn't like it, don't force it on them.Will pushing those children into loving and playing sports will they just rebel? Will they lose the love of the sport and just want to quit because they played it too much?http://drphil.com/slideshows/slideshow/2343/?id=2343&slide=0&showID=462&preview=&versionID=...my link In this article there's parents who have an 8 month old baby boy named J.J(because it sounds like a good sports name) and they are already pushing him to love sports. They admitted that if when J.J was older and he came up to them and said he didn't want to play sports or didn't like them that they would be disapointed and very upset. "I'm a strong believer that children have to have other activities besides academics," Mark says. "If JJ did not want to be in sports, his mother would be devastated. I would be disappointed."She and her fiancé have been exposing JJ to sports since he was in the womb, by reading NBA magazines to him, and JJ's is almost always wearing a sports-related outfit. When JJ is older, Charlene wants him to play flag football, basketball and soccer. "I've selected toys to gear him up for sports." She and JJ are also enrolled in a Mommy and Me and a tumbling class to help JJ develop his muscles and motor skills. "We do exercises just to get him coordinated," Charlene explains.I think that these parents are going way to over board with wanting him to play sports. My parents loved sports and hoped I would as well but I learned to love them on my own. They encouraged me to try all different types of sports but also many different activities. They have always told me if I wanted to quit that all I would have to do was tell them, and that's how it should be. You need to decide what you like on your own, being open and trying new activites is always good but if your child doesn't like it, don't force it on them.Will pushing those children into loving and playing sports will they just rebel? Will they lose the love of the sport and just want to quit because they played it too much?
...my link In this article there's parents who have an 8 month old baby boy named J.J(because it sounds like a good sports name) and they are already pushing him to love sports. They admitted that if when J.J was older and he came up to them and said he didn't want to play sports or didn't like them that they would be disapointed and very upset. "I'm a strong believer that children have to have other activities besides academics," Mark says. "If JJ did not want to be in sports, his mother would be devastated. I would be disappointed."She and her fiancé have been exposing JJ to sports since he was in the womb, by reading NBA magazines to him, and JJ's is almost always wearing a sports-related outfit. When JJ is older, Charlene wants him to play flag football, basketball and soccer. "I've selected toys to gear him up for sports." She and JJ are also enrolled in a Mommy and Me and a tumbling class to help JJ develop his muscles and motor skills. "We do exercises just to get him coordinated," Charlene explains.I think that these parents are going way to over board with wanting him to play sports. My parents loved sports and hoped I would as well but I learned to love them on my own. They encouraged me to try all different types of sports but also many different activities. They have always told me if I wanted to quit that all I would have to do was tell them, and that's how it should be. You need to decide what you like on your own, being open and trying new activites is always good but if your child doesn't like it, don't force it on them.Will pushing those children into loving and playing sports will they just rebel? Will they lose the love of the sport and just want to quit because they played it too much?http://drphil.com/slideshows/slideshow/2343/?id=2343&slide=0&showID=462&preview=&versionID=...my link In this article there's parents who have an 8 month old baby boy named J.J(because it sounds like a good sports name) and they are already pushing him to love sports. They admitted that if when J.J was older and he came up to them and said he didn't want to play sports or didn't like them that they would be disapointed and very upset. "I'm a strong believer that children have to have other activities besides academics," Mark says. "If JJ did not want to be in sports, his mother would be devastated. I would be disappointed."She and her fiancé have been exposing JJ to sports since he was in the womb, by reading NBA magazines to him, and JJ's is almost always wearing a sports-related outfit. When JJ is older, Charlene wants him to play flag football, basketball and soccer. "I've selected toys to gear him up for sports." She and JJ are also enrolled in a Mommy and Me and a tumbling class to help JJ develop his muscles and motor skills. "We do exercises just to get him coordinated," Charlene explains.I think that these parents are going way to over board with wanting him to play sports. My parents loved sports and hoped I would as well but I learned to love them on my own. They encouraged me to try all different types of sports but also many different activities. They have always told me if I wanted to quit that all I would have to do was tell them, and that's how it should be. You need to decide what you like on your own, being open and trying new activites is always good but if your child doesn't like it, don't force it on them.Will pushing those children into loving and playing sports will they just rebel? Will they lose the love of the sport and just want to quit because they played it too much?
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