Lauren Rule- Donnie Darko (Movie Blog #5)

Donnie Darko is an interesting movie.  For some very strange reason, the protagonist (Donnie) reminds me of my older brother.  I don't even know why because he isn't unstable.  I liked "Grandma Death", she tells Donnie that the people who live alone die alone.  The nickname for the character is very suiting.  The warning from the old woman made Donnie question the meaning of life, or if there even was a meaning to life.  Death (the concept not the old woman) makes all people question life.  Western civilizations have a stronger focus on death and the fear it inevitably comes with.  Eastern civilizations are not as concerned with the end of life.  I wrote a paper for my Wisdom and Traditions of India class concerning death.  Some people use death as a reason to live their lives to the fullest, while others are stifled by death in their lives.  Either way death dictates their lives.  The theme of death is continued when Donnie is told the world is coming to an end in under 29 days.  Donnie finds an outlet to his distress when he begins having visions of time traveling.  Similarly to The Jacket, the protagonist is freed from the fear of death by love.  Donnie died feeling blissful with feelings of love, no fear.  I would also like to note that this movie had an awesome cast (Drew Berrymore, Seth Rogan, Patrick Swayze, and Jake and Maggie Gyllenhall)!

Lauren Rule- Eros (Outside Reading #5)

Eros, as we discussed in class, is romantic love.  I found an article about the Greek god of live also named Eros.  According to the article, Eros was the mischievous companion of Aphrodite (the goddess of love).  I love Greek mythology and find it absolutely fascinating!  The myth continues that Eros, who is mentioned to be mischievous but I also suspect he holds a sexual/romantic component because of how we use the word, and Himeros (desire) are the constant companions of Aphrodite.  Valentine's Day's mascot, cupid, comes from the myth of Eros; even though Eros is still distinguished from Erotes (cupids).  The connection between Eros and cupids in mythology is obvious.  Both characters use a bow and arrows to ignite love in the hearts of men (and gods) and they are both often depicted as children.  Due to evolution in ancient myths, there are three categories of Eros.  The first Eros is from the ancient cosmogonies.  The second Eros is from the philosophers and mysteries.  And lastly, the third Eros is from the erotic poets.  This article was awesome.  It had way more information I could dare to ask for about the god Eros.  That is why I love Greek mythology.  It can get confusing at times, but there is so much detail in fabled characters.  We discussed Eros in context with Babett's Feast and briefly Chocolate for Water.  The passion expressed in the movies was amazing.  The god Eros was known for striking love directly into people's hearts.  The high level of passion from the god explains the level of passion released by people infected by Eros (love).  And I do mean infected.  The passion was transferred through food in the movies.  But if you've ever been around a couple (or a person) in love, it can be intoxicating.  The happiness emits from them can be infectious.  Unless you find in nauseating of course.   

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Ben Culotta - Chariots of Fire

One of the films I watched this semester was Chariots of Fire.  This film is about two very different 
men who compete as runners in the 1924 Paris Olympics.  Eric Liddell, a serious Christian Scotsman, believes that he has to succeed as a testament to his undying religious faith.  Harold Abrahams is Jewish Englishmen who wants desperately to be accepted and prove to the world that Jews are not inferior.  In this film they did portray religious and spiritual messages.  “Race till the end…it comes from within.”  Whether it was running for the Lord or Eric not running on the Sabbath to honor the Lord, each displayed the Christian message.  Man was not swayed from his belief and showed great discernment.  It was said that God made each of us for a purpose and God made them fast.  Therefore, winning is not just fun it is to honor him. I feel as though Chariots of Fire did a good job at portraying a particular Christian message.  In some Christian films they go over board in trying to communicate the Christian theme and, as a result, push people away.  It is as though they shove it down their throats and make it as if the Christian life is corny!  In my opinion, most Christian films do not portray a realistic Christian life or family.  It is as if the people are too perfect and no one can sway them.  In my life it has been quite the contrary.  The Christian life is hard and it takes more than oneself to get through it.

Ben Culotta - The Passion of The Christ

So this weekend I decided to give The Passion of the Christ a second viewing.  If you have not seen it, it is one of the most brutal films you may ever experience, regardless of your personal religious beliefs.  Obviously, if you do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, then you'll probably take the film a lot more personally than someone who doesn't share those same beliefs.  As i discussed this film with my roommate who watched it with me, he mentioned that he thought the film was one of the most violent he had ever seen.  I tend to agree with that sentiment, to a degree.  In the history of movies, there have been countless numbers of excessively violent films.  The reason that The Passion stands out as so glaringly violent is because it's all directed at one individual rather than a collective group of people. Seeing the brutal onslaught exacted upon Jesus is almost too much to bear.  If you have not seen the movie, you're most likely not going to enjoy it, but I believe that is part of the plan.  Its attempt is to accurately portray the brutality of Christ's crucifixion.

Patrick Baker - All Blogs Compiled

Patrick Baker - All Blogs Compiled

Class Film #1

Decalogue is an excellent collection of short films because it forces you to ask questions.  Many films provide the opportunity but do not present the issue in such an upfront fashion.  Decalogue is a collection of short films based off of the Ten Commandments, but rather than simply reiterating those religious teachings, it presents moral dilemmas related to each.  I found the first installment, titled Thou Shalt Not Kill, to be the most interesting.

In it, a boy is devastated after his sister accidentally dies, partially because of his actions.  Later on, this boy kills a cab driver, but the driver was actually a fairly notorious criminal in his own right.  The question posed by this particular Decalogue is whether or not it is more justifiable to kill an evildoer than a wholly innocent person.  Decalogue uses the Jewish technique of midrashim to make these stories more relatable.  Midrashim is a method by which a rabbi tells stories related to scripture, but rather than simply relating the facts through narrative, he conveys additional insights and details that might not immediately be evident from an initial reading.  Decalogue’s usage of this technique enables the viewer to debate its moral dilemmas on a deeper level.

Class Film #2

            Oz: The Great and Powerful is a prequel to the famous film The Wizard of Oz.  Set in the same world of Oz that L. Frank Baum created many decades ago, it follows the Wizard’s journey from our world to Oz, his confrontation with the Wicked Witches and his subsequent acceptance of a position of power and prestige within the Emerald City.  I found the film’s acting to be fairly good, and I am a fan of James Franco in general, but other aspects of the film left me disappointed.  For example, its reliance upon CGI made me feel too removed from the environment for comfort.  In addition, it wasn’t generally well-written.  Overall, it was an entertaining film, but I wouldn’t label it a particularly great one.

Class Film #3

The Jacket tells the story of Jack, a veteran of the Gulf War who is killed in action but returns to life afterward.  This sets up Jack as a sort of Christ figure from early on in the film.  Upon returning home, Jack helps out two people, a woman and her child, with their car.  He later helps them again, but not until after he is set up for killing a police officer and locked away in a mental hospital.  Jack is forced to undergo an experimental treatment in which he is locked in a morgue drawer while immobilized in a straightjacket.  He eventually begins having visions of the future.  This is a clear parallel to shamanism, a tradition which uses ascetic practices and hallucinogenic drugs to produce powerful visions.

It soon becomes apparent that the doctor conducting these experiments has already accidentally killed quite a few patients.  Jack sees a vision of his own death, but he also realizes that through his future sight, he is able to help others.  From this point on, he is trying to make the most of his march toward the grave by assisting as many other people as possible.  Two such people are the woman and daughter who he helped on the road.  He is able to stop the mother from living such a destructive life, and in doing so he ensures a better future for both people.  Self-sacrifice is the film’s core theme.

Class Film #4

Northfork was a very interesting movie.  I was rather confused until our discussion at the film’s end.  I think this is honestly because I was looking for symbolism on a deeper level than the one on which the film operated.  The film is set in the town of Northfork, which is due to be flooded in just a few days to make room for a hydroelectric dam.  Several residents of Northfork have been hired to convince their fellow townspeople to evacuate.  They have been offered lakefront property upon the reservoir as an incentive. These men refer to themselves as “Angels,” an ironic reference for an obvious reason.

            Another reason for the irony is the plotline of the child Irwin.  He is terminally ill, and his adoptive parents return him to the church-run orphanage from whence he came because they do not wish to evacuate with him.  The Reverend who cares for him in his final days places several objects by his bedside.  As Irwin sleeps and drifts closer to death, he encounters several strange characters with names like “Flower Hercules.” These are in fact real angels presenting themselves in the form and under the name of the objects in his surroundings.  Eventually, Irwin dies and moves on with them, around the same time that the town floods.  As I watched, I tried to interpret these characters on a deeper level, but the symbolism was in fact rather obvious.  Perhaps it was my attempt to discern a deeper meaning or purpose within Northfork, as I have yet to fully grasp the point of the film.  Maybe its only aim is simply to present a scene.

Class Film #5

Donnie Darko stars a severely depressed teenage boy of the same name.  Donnie is visited by a figure in a very dark, macabre bunny costume who identifies himself simply as Frank.  Frank tells Donnie that the world is going to end, and Donnie makes it his mission to prevent that from happening.  As the movie progresses, many people’s lives fall apart and many others die.  At the film’s end, it rewinds to the beginning, when Donnie narrowly dodged a jet engine as it fell into his bedroom.  At the end of the film, Donnie instead does not dodge the engine and dies, supposedly saving the world in the process.

            There are many analyses of this film, but one that I find most interesting is that it illustrates chaos theory.  Chaos theory is the idea that any action can have consequences that appear to be completely unrelated.  For example, a bird flapping its wings in Germany could cause an earthquake in California.  Donnie needed to die to prevent the world from ending, and while this might seem like a completely random connection to draw, such are the principles behind chaos theory.

Outside Reading #1

            The Zhuangzi has become probably my favorite work of philosophy during my time at CNU.  While I adore many eastern texts, from the Upanisads to the Bhagavad Gita to the Shobogenzo and beyond, the Zhuangzi strikes a very personal chord with me.  I don’t self-identify as a Daoist for numerous reasons, but I think many people would classify me as one.  Ultimately though, I try to recognize the Zhuangzi’s teaching that words and labels are inadequate, and that it doesn’t matter what I call myself so long as I find my personal Dao, or “Way.”

Outside Reading #2

            After reading quite a few fitness articles online, I’ve recently started working very hard to get back in shape.  I’ve played sports for my entire life, including in high school and in college, but I’ve fallen out of my fitness routine over the past couple of years.  I’ve made a commitment to myself to start up my old workout routine again, meaning I’ll hit the gym four times a week followed by intense cardio on two of those four days, rest twice a week and do yoga or some form of plyometrics once a week on a sort of active rest day.  I’ve realized that it’s essential for me to do so while I’m still young in order to build a foundation of fitness for the rest of my life.

Outside Reading #3

            Going along with the above, I’ve also started refining my diet to be healthier and more balanced in light of several articles on nutrition.  Growing up, my mother always served healthy meals, but in the past couple of years I’ve let my diet slip.  The general consensus is that nutrition is at least 80% of fitness, and I have basically no excuse for eating poorly since I know good nutrition from bad.  To that end, I’ve calculated my caloric and macronutrient requirements and started cooking 100% of my meals at home.  I’ve also decided to cut out alcohol entirely, at least until I get back in shape.  It’s full of empty calories and is generally very unhealthy.  Hopefully with these adjustments I’ll see progress soon.

Outside Reading #4

            For an upper-level night class with Dr. Rose this semester, we read several texts on the wisdom traditions of India.  One of those to which I had no previous exposure was The Forest of Thieves and the Magic Garden, a classic text of Jainism.  I was surprised at how easy to read and approachable it was for an ancient work.  It is clearly very well-written.  In addition, it taught me that Jainism is essentially a different response to and revision of Hinduism.  There are many similarities between Buddhism and Jainism, probably because they reacted to the same qualities within Hinduism.

Outside Reading #5

            I recently reread Rhinegold by Stephen Grundy.  Grundy is an author who retells classic myths in more of a novel structure.  His works pay careful attention to the character of the original myths, and sometimes they espouse the lessons more effectively than the source material because his books have been written for a modern audience.  Rhinegold is his retelling of most of the Norse Volsunga saga, and it is both well-written and fascinating.  He treats the tales with a great deal of respect.  I also own his books Gilgamesh and Attila, both worthy additions to his initial effort.

Personal Choice #1

            Several of my friends have been trying to convince me to go to music festivals with them this summer.  While I probably seem to most like the type to enjoy festivals (and I love going to shows), they’re really not my scene.  I think it’s probably because I’m such an introvert.  There’s a general misconception about introverts that we’re antisocial or dislike people, which isn’t true.  In simple language, the term refers to how we get our energy.  Extroverts draw energy from being around others, and introverts draw energy from being alone.  At a music festival, surrounded by thousands of people, I would probably experience feelings opposite from those of my friends.

Personal Choice #2

            I can’t wait for summer weather to arrive.  Unlike most people, I love working, and every year during the summer I work a 40-hour week.  The beautiful weather combined with the mental benefits I get of being productive and working hard always puts me in a great place mentally.  In addition, I’m working very hard to get back in shape.  To add to all the above, I have friends who are working alongside me to all the same ends, be it finding a job or hitting the gym.  In school, our lives have little constant routine because our class schedules change every semester.  While I am by no means a fan of a boring routine, there is much to be said for consistency and establishing a stable pattern to one’s life.  That’s exactly what I do every summer.

Personal Choice #3

            I’m currently in the process of revising my senior seminar thesis for publication.  I’m thrilled that all three of the professors on my advising committee voted to pass me with distinction, but there is more I must do to refine my work before submitting it to a conference or journal.  I’m just thrilled at the prospect of being published as an undergraduate.  My area of interest (Daoism and Chinese philosophy) is certainly a small niche, but that means that there is still a great deal of interesting research to be done.  Hopefully my thesis can help the discipline progress.

Personal Choice #4

            The Noland Trail is always a great place for me to go when I need to de-stress and introspect.  For one thing, I love being in nature, and for another, the peace and quiet of the trail makes it easier for me to think.  Much like Thoreau on Walden Pond, I sit on the edge of Lake Maury and reflect upon whatever happens to cross my mind at the time.  As an introvert, spending time alone is essential for me, and the Noland provides the perfect setting for me to do that.

Personal Choice #5

            I’ve recently been trying to upgrade my wardrobe with more professional attire.  People who know me well might find this surprising, as I probably don’t come off as the type of person to enjoy suiting up.  I really like it, however.  Even more importantly, though, as a senior getting ready to graduate, it’s important for me to have the proper clothes for work.  I can’t afford to buy suits at this time, but I’m trying to buy everything else, from dress shoes to dress watches.  I’m doing this slowly but surely.  I just feel that while a person shouldn’t live for their image, they should respect it.  It’s all about balance.

Ben Culotta - Boston Marathon Reflection

When the devastating news broke about the events that occurred during the Boston Marathon, was immediately glued to social media and my TV.  Regardless of how absolutely devastating the stories and images were, I still felt I had to keep looking to know more.  But, I couldn’t help but ask myself: “Why?”  Why did I want to keep looking up new information and photos when they all were just getting sadder and more horrifying?  Why did I feel the need to know every single minute detail of such a sickening event?  Why do we as social beings feel the desire to look up and read about such a terrible incident?  I feel that we have to realize that as much as we read stories and look at pictures and watch the news we may never fully understand why this all happened.  As unfortunate as it may seem, bad things happen to innocent people a lot of the time, and it is absolutely unacceptable and contributes to why our world at times can be so messed up these days.  I find it unbearable to think of all the victims never being able to see their friends and family again because of this tragic incident.  In the coming weeks, as the world tries to make sense of the events, we must learn from what happened to help influence the future so that something of this nature does not affect us again.  Instead of trying to decode the why, we should reflect on the who: both who we lost and who helped save and protect the almost 200 victims.  In doing so, we can be reinvigorated with a sense of hope for the future, as the goodness exhibited helps to revive the nation.  Be the change that you want to see.

Lauren Rule- Mysticism (Outside Reading #4)

Mysticism is one of those things I always think I understand, but when I try to explain it I really can't.  This article helped clear up some confusion.  The way each person experiences mysticism differs, but according to the article a person will most likely be touched by mysticism at least once.  The idea of mysticism was first used in Eastern culture before it spread into Western society.  Mysticism is the idea of a person having a direct experience of religious truth.  We discussed mysticism in conjunction with The Seventh Seal.  The protagonist sees death and is determined to make a connection with God before his end.  Or at the very least he wants a definitive answer about the afterlife.  The article infers the possible root on the word, "myein" meaning "to close the lips and eyes, and refers to the sacred oath of the initiates, the mystes, to keep secret about the inner workings of the religion".  I think the inference was due to the secretive aspect of mysticism.  The experience of a person with God is extremely personal.  An individual might want to share his or her experience, but since perception of an event like that would be so individualized another person may not fully appreciate the experience.  And those people who become professional mystics are selective with whom they share their knowledge.  Since our class was designed to examine religious concepts within movies, we didn't explore the non-religious side of mysticism.  Non-religious mysticism is usually experienced through nature, however, a religious experience can occur through non-religious mysticism.  The nature type of mysticism dissolves any and all boundaries between an individual and nature.  The article notes Goddess religion and witchcraft as such practices.  I think it would be really cool to experience mysticism.  I am not really a religious person, but the nature version sounds very liberating.    

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