Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Symbolism In Santa

When people think of Christmas they might think of family, food, presents, and travel. However, most likely when people think of Christmas they think of Santa Claus. For those who don’t know of him, Santa Claus is a character that is in many Christmas stories from the famous Christmas poem entitled The Night before Christmas and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. He also known to deliver presents to the good girls and boys on the night of December 24. But is there more to this holly jolly fellow than meets the eye? Is there really symbolism in Santa? Some may call this hogwash, but I believe there is.

As children run down the stairs in their little footy pajamas, they hope that their list of toys and goodies are located beneath the Christmas tree, but at the same time hope that they weren’t bad enough to get the worst present ever; coal. As many know, Santa distinguishes nice and naughty by punishing those who are naughty with a lump of coal. Many believe that the deep black color of the coal symbolizes evil because of its negative connotation (blacklist, black mail, 'black death'). This dark combustible mineral substance also may symbolize the soul of the child if he or she continues there naughty ways of life. Though this somewhat dark side of Santa seems a bit evil for a children’s character, his symbols of niceness surely counterbalance the overall image of Saint Nicholas. He is probably best known for his red suit and cap; red being a color that represents joy, sensitivity, and love. There is little doubt that this color was used to lower the defenses of children and have them grow attraction to Santa. But, the number one greatest reason kids love Santa is that he brings lots of presents. This fact; and this fact alone, makes Christmas superior to the other holidays for youth. Some may say because of these gifts, this holiday has become more about receiving presents rather than the actual story of Christmas. Surely these events weren’t the original idea for Santa’s creators, but because of the symbolic aspect of Santa as the gift giver, parents focused on only that aspect missing the really great qualities of our jolly fellow completely.     

From the white frivolous beard on which he has on his face, to the quite jolly and plump exterior, it is not uncommon for people to believe that Santa is just another children’s story character who made it big.  But through a pair of trained eyes, many can see the more sophisticated, symbolic side of our friend Santa Claus and learn that things that seem childish may truly be something everyone can cherish.

Sphere No.5

**Based off the sculpture by Arnaldo Pomodoro**

Our lives have been challenged by machines.From writing a letter to creating cars, machines are taking the hard work of a job away from us. Before the mechanical revolution, many more citizens were employed, but now they are being replaced by the technological demon. As time goes on and citizens become lazier and more weak because of the figurative robotic helping hand of machines, the world as we know it will be controlled not by the work of humans, no, it will rotate using gears, motors, and oil. The mechanical menaces will become self aware of this change in the status quo and because of the advancements will own and control our society.      

Sunset in Georgia

**Based off of the painting by George Inness**

As though peace is scattered across the land, numerous warm, vibrant arrays of light are brought forth in the sky. The orange cream colors remind many of the happier times of the summertime. Where many have cheerful thoughts of friendships and fun. with these thoughts coursing through our mindset we are comforted for whatever the night has to come.    

Monday, December 13, 2010

A Response to Brave New World

Birth: the act of creation. This procedure is the act of producing the next generation of our kind. Producing one who may change the world, whether it is good or bad. But what if this basic human instinct was placed on to machines? What if humans were grown and harvested as though vegetation on a rural farm or garden? Though these horrific and unthinkable events may be just thoughts, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley shows the strange dystopian world it would be like if humans were born by machines.

The story is set in a London six hundred years in the future. People all around the world are part of a state run by a dictator, free from war, hatred, poverty, disease, and pain. They enjoy leisure time and material wealth. However, though this town seems to be a utopian world, all is not well. In order to maintain such a smoothly running society, the ten people in charge of the world, the Controllers, eliminate most forms of freedom while also twisting around many of the traditional human values. A realistic form of the Controllers may have been Adolf Hitler because of how he treated Germany and of its people. These rulers of this dystopia also believe that the process of Standardization is a value worth allowing. Though this way of life may be less problematic what these dreadful dictators are missing is the creativity stand point. But, with all that aside, how these tyrants keep this rule of standards across. These Controllers create human beings in factories, using technology to make ninety-six perfectly “normal” babies from the same fertilized egg and to condition them for their future lives. After the birthing process and the infant stage these test tube children are raised together and subjected to mind control through sleep teaching to further condition them. All the children spend their free time indulging in harmless and mindless entertainment and sports activities. As adults, people are content to fulfill their destinies as part of five social classes, from the intelligent Alphas, who run the factories, to the mentally challenged Epsilons, who do the most menial jobs. Teaching the lower groups such as the Epsilons is a very abusive task. So the child learns to hate books and more specifically reading, the spray them with high-powered jets of water. This technique might work for calming a riot down, but for these teachers to use it a kids is just crude and psychotic at the very least. Having these social classes though improving the overall standard of the workday, the rulers of this “chimerical” country are turning the citizens into workaholic, brain-dead, robots.

From making toast to making Toyotas, machines make our lives a lot easier. But though the act of childbirth can have many dangers and can be quite painful, is doesn’t mean we have to have machines carry out the procedure and let us go off and do something else. Even though there are afflictions, without them there would be no love for it for that pain can make love and relationships grow. Though Huxley was writing a satirical piece of fiction, not scientific prophecy, it is a sure sign of what may become of the human race if we let robots take care of everything.               

Friday, December 10, 2010

Le Pere Jacques

Following the path through the foliage
Stopping to work is incoherent  for you, but I must
While you are gathering the hopes and dreams through a flowering plant
I must sacrifice my time to keep you at bay
Though you aren't saying it to me
The way we laugh together tells me you are thankful

Monday, December 6, 2010

Battle

As volcanoes roar upon the land, birds fly leaving a feeling absence. The earth roars and shakes as an army of flamed souls produce. The souls stand in lines by the thousands waiting for the command. With the voice of that could break bones by the force alone, yells attack. They crusade through our lands engulfing anything and anyone in there way. We, the brave and the bold; we the meek and the shy must come together to defeat the impulses of evil. Though the chance of us winning is few, with the spirit of goodness and whole heartedness, there is no doubt of victory.