For the Future

What would I book to save for future generations? The book I would save would definitely be the Bible. I can’t think of another book that has impacted my life and others’ more than this one.

While some people may not agree or even believe in God, many people believe the Bible to be the Word of God. People that do believe the Bible to be the Word of God (and I include myself to be among them) believe this book to be God’s living Word present among us even to this day. It teaches us how to live our lives in a manner that is holy and pleasing to God. Even people that do not believe in God can see that the Bible if full of lessons and morals that apply to everyday life no matter what the time period or current issues of the day are. No other book has had such an impact in history since the time it was written. Take for example our government system here in the United States. Our founders created the Constitution off of things they believed were unalienable rights for mankind. These rights and principles came from the Bible and Christianity.

For years the Bible has been a best-selling book even back in the days before the printing press. I truly believe that the loss of the Bible in our modern day world would be one of the greatest tragedies for mankind.

Halloween

            Like any other kid, I grew up thinking that Halloween was just another holiday. But this particular one was even better than the rest because of the fun costumes and a bucket full of candy. I believe I stopped trick-or-treating when I was eight or nine. Strangely, I don’t remember the reason that my parents gave to me and my siblings for not taking us out in the neighborhood.

 Since that time it seems to me that Halloween has been over-commercialized encouraging so many people to go over-board with decorations, parties, and costumes. While these things are fine and fun in and of themselves, are these really the kinds of things we need to spending a lot of money on considering our current economy? Look at the costumes people wear nowadays - for girls they are either a cute little princess or something suggestive and degrading, for boys they are either a superhero or disgusting. What has happened to the thought and ingenuity of creating your own costume?

Halloween actually is based off of a Catholic feast day called All Saints Day. The word “Halloween” means “holy evening.” Don’t believe me? Say the Lord’s Prayer… “hallowed be Thy Name.” Back in the day, All Saints was a huge festival-like day for Catholics. The day after this is called All Souls Day in remembrance of all those who have died. It was the custom the night before (the evening of All Saints) for the poor and homeless to go from door to door asking for alms and food in return for prayers for the dead members of that particular household. This is where we get the idea of trick-or-treating from. Unfortunately, other religions mocked this custom and so it eventually evolved into our modern holiday of Halloween.

Course Overload

            Classes, practicing, working, and studying keep me very busy as a freshman at Wright State. I find that I must manage wisely or I might very quickly fall behind in my studies. In general, I guess you could say that I am enjoying my college experience here, but there are times that I must admit I feel a little overwhelmed.

            If I could change one thing at Wright State, it would be the course load for music students.  Beginning freshman year, music students must complete two years of music theory and sight-singing, applied music lessons, instrumental methods classes, choral conducting classes, analytical listening class, and participate in at least one ensemble before their junior year. Most music students only have time for two general education courses per quarter compared to other students who take three or four general education courses for their first two years of college.  

Unfortunately most music classes are only worth one credit hour but students are still expected to be at every class, do all the homework, take weekly practical tests, and get high grades in order to move on to the next level. On top of all this, is the time music students are expected to practice on their instrument. All students are required to practice 1-5 hours a day depending on your instrument and degree. Some music students get so overwhelmed they end up staying in school for an extra year.

I think some of the general education requirements should be waived for music students so that they have the time and energy to pursue their dream.

Write...Rewrite...and Revise

            Before taking English 101 at Wright State, I have to admit that I never went back and worked on revising and rewriting a paper. I would look back over my papers, but more for proof-reading than anything else. Consequently, working on the revision process over the past couple of weeks has been an eye-opening experience in watching how writing can evolve and gradually improve.

            While my first drafts, for the most part, fulfilled what the assignment asked, they were at times underdeveloped and did not transition well. The revision process has helped me learn how to be more articulate in my sentences, catch and correct more errors, discuss the topics/ assignments with my peers, and encouraged me to ask for a second opinion of my papers. Rewriting has also forced me to think about my topic more than I usually would and to become more focused and organized as I write.

            I feel that my writing has developed and matured in my second drafts thanks to this process. I know that they are “working progresses” and are still far from perfection. Some of the hardest things for me in this stage of the revision process are the critical thought and self-assessment of the first draft and adding more information/content without becoming redundant or too wordy. I fully realize now that these papers could never have evolved into fruition without the time consuming, hard work of revision process though.

Henri de Toulouse Lautrec

Henri de Toulouse Lautrec was a famous artist born in 1864 who specialized in posters for the Moulin Rouge night club. He was ten years old when he started to paint and draw. Between the ages of twelve and fourteen, he broke both of his legs at different times and because they did not heal properly he was handicapped for life. He refused to let this interfere with his enjoying life – he loved night clubs, cabaret entertainment, circuses, fairs, and alcohol. Often he would be seen in a public place drinking and talking while creating quick sketches that would be expanded into brightly colored paintings the next day. He died in 1901 because of health problems related to alcohol.

 Toulouse-Lautrec’s purpose with this work/ad/poster is to encourage people to come and join in the fun at a masked, concert/ball at the Moulin Rouge.

His audience is the open public – anyone who would be interested or has nothing better to do.

He enjoyed this kind of entertainment and company and obviously had no problem with the lifestyle he led. What reasoning would he have to discourage people from this venue of entertainment if they choose it? Actions speak louder than words.

The media of this poster is a lithograph in four colors. The woman, La Goulue, was a famous cabaret dancer at the Moulin Rouge. Her position and/or dance would have been viewed as slightly risqué for that time period letting people instantly know what kind of place they were going to.

Unplugged TV sets in America

If all the TV sets in America were unplugged, I believe there would be a public outcry from people of all age ranges, cultures, and lifestyles…but especially from children who rely on TV as a main venue for entertainment.

How many of us grew up with “Saturday morning = cartoon time”? I did even though my parents let me watch very little television and movies. As I got older, I began to realize there were much better ways to spend my time – like reading, making music, and being creative. You ask if children could possibly grow up healthier, better educated, and more independent without TV sets… my answer would have to be yes.

Without an entertaining TV set, children would be forced to entertain themselves. Things as simple as inventing a game to play outside, reading a storybook, or drawing/coloring picture are so much more beneficial to a child. Children’s storybooks usually contain a lesson to teach as well as providing a fun English/Reading lesson. Artwork inspires children to use their imagination and be creative. As for playing outside, it’s very obvious…but First Lady Obama is right – eat healthier and exercise often, especially outside.

Many children, preteens, and teens feel they must be defined as what television and movies present as the “normal, cool, popular people.”Peer-pressure at school is already a huge issue in many children’s lives and the additional pressure from a broader, mature view is definitely not a help. I think removing this influence would truly help many young people be more assertive and independent in their way of thinking.

As with anything else, time spent in front of a TV set must be spent in moderation especially when it comes to young children.

Powerful Ads

 They say a picture is worth a thousand words…and ads are proof of the truth in this statement. Ever since the beginning of marketing history, ads have been one of the most powerful ways to reach out and divert the potential buyer.

Ads are especially successful if they succeed in capturing your attention, for the longer you look at or spend time on an ad the more ingrained it will be into your mind. Even without the use of words, ads can still portray a very powerful message to their viewers. Each and every detail in an ad is deliberately planned with the intention of announcing and clarifying the message sent to the consumer.

Today many ads use lust or humor or try to instill a sort of peer pressure on their audience to promote their wares. A lot of ads use sexual explicitness as the key to brand a product or message into the shopper’s mind. Humorous ads accomplish their intent when they make you smile or laugh and if, by chance you mention or forward a copy to a friend…the ad has doubly succeeded. Peer pressure ads inform you that with this product you can be as beautiful as X or wearing this gear will help you play your game like Z…in short they sow seeds of greediness.  

In our world today we are surrounded with all sorts of advertising telling us we need this in order to be happy and popular…look the opposite direction, smile, and smell the roses.