Bulls vs. Bears (visual piece)
This portray of a bull fighting a bear in the middle of wall street is a very common representation of the different cycles of the market. The downturns in the business and financial market are represented by a bear and, on the other hand, buoyant markets are represented by bulls. It is very commonly referred to the market using this terminology on public media, depending on the current situation. The current financial situation is described commonly as a bear market due to its repercussions on the stock market performance. An example of how these figures are used in the market is Merrill Lynch’s logo. They use a bull to represent strength within the market and their ability to fight the bear markets.
http://emsworth.wordpress.com/2008/11/29/famous-american-paintings-unexpectedly-met-at-the-new-york-historical-society/
Total Eclipse of the Heart (song)
This nostalgic song repetitively refers to the old days and how things were better. This can be seen as an analogy of what is happening right now in the financial market. It talks about feelings of helplessness, terror and angriness, which commonly held feelings towards the current economic situation and its causalities. The song represents an adverse situation for the character, which portrays the situation of many people affected by the crisis.
www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/b/bonnie_tyler/total_eclipse_of_the_heart.html
The Wizard of Oz (Film)
This film represents a voice of protest by the Free Silver Movement, which argues in favor of bimetallism. It was a response to a prolonged economic crisis period in the United States. It uses a lot of symbols to protest against the currently adopt measures, which suggested switching back to the bimetallist currency system. It is a tale of the international monetary system that suggests the power of bimetallism. Its name includes the abbreviation for ounce (Oz), it takes place in Emerald city (color of money) and the character (Dorothy) wears silver.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032138/
The Economics of Money, Banking and Financial Markets
Mishkin wrote a comprehensive textbook about the banking system, monetary policy and the financial market from an economic theory perspective. Most of the issues regarding the current crisis are referred to throughout the textbook. The updated version includes an extra chapter of the Subprime meltdown and the current financial crisis. It addresses specifically the different factors that occasioned and deepened the crisis, the different economic concepts involved and the possible future consequences.
http://wps.aw.com/aw_mishkin_econmbfm_8/
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
The Simpson Critique
Summary
This critiques analyzes the structure of the popular TV show, The Simpsons. Classified as an alternative writer, its author portrays the different contradictions of the American society. Through sarchasm and irony, a traditional, middle class family go through many situations that implicitly critiques many of the actual practices of modern American society. There is a clear negative connotation of capitalism, bureacracy in governments, unethical behavior from church officials and unprofessional behavior by doctors to name a few.
Reaction
This is a very interesting critique since it deals with a controversial TV show that has been very succesful. Maybe part of its success is due to the adequate usage or sarchasm by the author in order to make it entertaining. Another reason may be, that the wide American middle class feels identified with the different expressions of protests againts the hypocrisy of the modern societies.
Reflection
I personally like the show very much and I think the author does very well in portraying his critique to society in appealing and entertaining ways. The hidden messages throughout its episodes suggest an important voice of protest against modern everyday practices. I also consider the type of comedy used by the author as a very fine type, which contributes to the appeal of the show to people in general.
Questions
Should there be any kind of regulation for shows that may influence people's perceptions?
What is the main source of critique in the show?
How can the show's criticisms can be interpreted in the American context?
This critiques analyzes the structure of the popular TV show, The Simpsons. Classified as an alternative writer, its author portrays the different contradictions of the American society. Through sarchasm and irony, a traditional, middle class family go through many situations that implicitly critiques many of the actual practices of modern American society. There is a clear negative connotation of capitalism, bureacracy in governments, unethical behavior from church officials and unprofessional behavior by doctors to name a few.
Reaction
This is a very interesting critique since it deals with a controversial TV show that has been very succesful. Maybe part of its success is due to the adequate usage or sarchasm by the author in order to make it entertaining. Another reason may be, that the wide American middle class feels identified with the different expressions of protests againts the hypocrisy of the modern societies.
Reflection
I personally like the show very much and I think the author does very well in portraying his critique to society in appealing and entertaining ways. The hidden messages throughout its episodes suggest an important voice of protest against modern everyday practices. I also consider the type of comedy used by the author as a very fine type, which contributes to the appeal of the show to people in general.
Questions
Should there be any kind of regulation for shows that may influence people's perceptions?
What is the main source of critique in the show?
How can the show's criticisms can be interpreted in the American context?
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Themes from the Bell Jar
1. This shows the descriptiveness of a situation, which may be useful for a writing course.
100 years of solitude: highly descriptive literary work.
2. This portrays different feelings that could be interpreted from a psychological point of view.
The Psychology of Persuasion: book that talks about psychology theories.
3. It teaches graphic description that could be used in a literature, design or art courses.
The Art Book: guideline for general art techniques and perspectives.
100 years of solitude: highly descriptive literary work.
2. This portrays different feelings that could be interpreted from a psychological point of view.
The Psychology of Persuasion: book that talks about psychology theories.
3. It teaches graphic description that could be used in a literature, design or art courses.
The Art Book: guideline for general art techniques and perspectives.
Monday, April 6, 2009
The second sex
Summary
The author clearly has a very strong feminist sentiment as a result of the historical degradation of the female sex. She recalls throughout her paper how women have been considered inferior since very ancient times, and how even the greatest philosophers of all times considered women "imperfect." She talks about a variety of cultural contexts that share the same perception for women, in general and protests against this tendency for gender inequality. She also compares women's degradation to racial discrimination as with Jews and black people. But her general argument suggests the importance of considering everyone as a human being, regardless of their sex, ethnicity or religious preference.
Reaction
I think it is an interesting paper since she puts together historical evidence of the sublevation of women. She has some very interesting points and her reaction is clearly a response to the historical tendency of machismo in many cultures around the world. In my opinion, many of her points are very valid, especially when she relates this subject to the american society. Her call for equality represents a very valid point that should be considered by many cultures that still preserve this kind of ancient mentality.
Reflection
I agree with the author in many ways, since I consider every human being in the same way regardless of his/her sex, race, sexual orientation, political tendencies or religious preferences. Especially in my culture, women are very important and they are treated in a very special way. I think this machismo movement belongs to ancient periods where human beings were ignorant about many issues. But women themselves have been in charge of showing the world that they are as capable and even more capable than men in certain aspects.
Questions
1. Are there still any evidences of machismo in the modern american culture?
2. What did you consider the most interesting thing in this paper?
3. Do you consider her views accurate or is she being a little bit extremist?
4. From experiences in other cultures, how does the perception of women vary across them?
The author clearly has a very strong feminist sentiment as a result of the historical degradation of the female sex. She recalls throughout her paper how women have been considered inferior since very ancient times, and how even the greatest philosophers of all times considered women "imperfect." She talks about a variety of cultural contexts that share the same perception for women, in general and protests against this tendency for gender inequality. She also compares women's degradation to racial discrimination as with Jews and black people. But her general argument suggests the importance of considering everyone as a human being, regardless of their sex, ethnicity or religious preference.
Reaction
I think it is an interesting paper since she puts together historical evidence of the sublevation of women. She has some very interesting points and her reaction is clearly a response to the historical tendency of machismo in many cultures around the world. In my opinion, many of her points are very valid, especially when she relates this subject to the american society. Her call for equality represents a very valid point that should be considered by many cultures that still preserve this kind of ancient mentality.
Reflection
I agree with the author in many ways, since I consider every human being in the same way regardless of his/her sex, race, sexual orientation, political tendencies or religious preferences. Especially in my culture, women are very important and they are treated in a very special way. I think this machismo movement belongs to ancient periods where human beings were ignorant about many issues. But women themselves have been in charge of showing the world that they are as capable and even more capable than men in certain aspects.
Questions
1. Are there still any evidences of machismo in the modern american culture?
2. What did you consider the most interesting thing in this paper?
3. Do you consider her views accurate or is she being a little bit extremist?
4. From experiences in other cultures, how does the perception of women vary across them?
Monday, March 30, 2009
Vogler pg. 143 -173
Summary
The approach to the inmost cave and the ordeal are very usually very exciting parts on every hero's journey. These are some advanced stages in the adventure, which enable the hero to develop and portray its heroic characteristics or traits. The approach to the inmost cave is that section where the hero approaches danger, terror and other dark feelings provoked by the upcoming encounter with an adverse situation. The ordeal is the transformation of the hero into that magical and sometime super human figure, who is able to sort out impossible situations and succeed. Usually these two stages are highly emotional due to the risk that the situations involve and due to the way how the hero manages to succeed against all the odds.
Reaction
These were two well elaborated sections by Vogler, who focuses on the application of both to the common hero journeys. He also provided some very interesting examples in both sections to sustain or support the theoretical introduction he provided at the beginning of each section. I think they were both very valid and applicable to most of the hero stories I can think of.
Reflection
Once again, when I go through each of these categories, I try to connect them to films or books that I have read in the past. And as I have mentioned in past blogs, Peter Pan was one of my favorite films. So, generally I try to relate each of the stages to the story of this young super hero. And these two sections fit perfectly in Peter Pan's story as he is approaching the moment of confronting Captain Hook in order to save Wendy and the other kids. At this point, he developd fully all of his heroic sentiments and features in order to achieve his goal. It is interesting to make this kind of relationships in order to have a better understanding of what the author means by each description.
Questions
How is that "cave" most generally represented?
What is the most interesting aspect of the reading?
How can you relate both of these stages to some personal experience?
The approach to the inmost cave and the ordeal are very usually very exciting parts on every hero's journey. These are some advanced stages in the adventure, which enable the hero to develop and portray its heroic characteristics or traits. The approach to the inmost cave is that section where the hero approaches danger, terror and other dark feelings provoked by the upcoming encounter with an adverse situation. The ordeal is the transformation of the hero into that magical and sometime super human figure, who is able to sort out impossible situations and succeed. Usually these two stages are highly emotional due to the risk that the situations involve and due to the way how the hero manages to succeed against all the odds.
Reaction
These were two well elaborated sections by Vogler, who focuses on the application of both to the common hero journeys. He also provided some very interesting examples in both sections to sustain or support the theoretical introduction he provided at the beginning of each section. I think they were both very valid and applicable to most of the hero stories I can think of.
Reflection
Once again, when I go through each of these categories, I try to connect them to films or books that I have read in the past. And as I have mentioned in past blogs, Peter Pan was one of my favorite films. So, generally I try to relate each of the stages to the story of this young super hero. And these two sections fit perfectly in Peter Pan's story as he is approaching the moment of confronting Captain Hook in order to save Wendy and the other kids. At this point, he developd fully all of his heroic sentiments and features in order to achieve his goal. It is interesting to make this kind of relationships in order to have a better understanding of what the author means by each description.
Questions
How is that "cave" most generally represented?
What is the most interesting aspect of the reading?
How can you relate both of these stages to some personal experience?
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Vogler (pg 127-141)
Summary
This section of Vogler's text deals with two stages: Crossing the First Threshold and Enemies, Tests and Allies. These are two very interesting sections. The first one talks about the first step of a hero's adventure. This is the first challenge that the hero must face and represents the engagement of the hero with the adventure after he accepts the Call to Adventure. The second section of represents another important part of the adventure. Particularly it talks about some of the possible aspects that would give shape to the adventure. Some of the challenges may be represented by enemies encountered along the journey. There are also allies along the journey that will help the hero sort out several adverse situations.
Reaction
It was an interesting section since it start giving us the structure of the actual adventure. This categorization of the sequences of the adventure, provides us with better tools to analyze a story. Both of the categories have a very clear application to almost every kind of story. There is always this turning point where the hero starts his journey and generally is marked by his first comfrontation. And there are always obstacles along the path that are represented by enemies or tests that make part of the adventure. Consequently, the hero usually finds someone who is willing to help him fight his obstacles in order to reach his goal.
Reflection
As I mentioned before, these two sections have an importance practical application to many of the stories or films I can think of. It is remarkable, how after reading this book, my mind functions in a different way when analyzing some movie or book. I am always trying to figure out what stage is the movie on, or if the story doesn't comprehend some of the stages. It is an important tool, however, to analyze accurately the different sections of a story.
Questions
What are some examples of these two stages in movies or stories?
What was interesting about these two sections?
How are both of these sections usually represented?
This section of Vogler's text deals with two stages: Crossing the First Threshold and Enemies, Tests and Allies. These are two very interesting sections. The first one talks about the first step of a hero's adventure. This is the first challenge that the hero must face and represents the engagement of the hero with the adventure after he accepts the Call to Adventure. The second section of represents another important part of the adventure. Particularly it talks about some of the possible aspects that would give shape to the adventure. Some of the challenges may be represented by enemies encountered along the journey. There are also allies along the journey that will help the hero sort out several adverse situations.
Reaction
It was an interesting section since it start giving us the structure of the actual adventure. This categorization of the sequences of the adventure, provides us with better tools to analyze a story. Both of the categories have a very clear application to almost every kind of story. There is always this turning point where the hero starts his journey and generally is marked by his first comfrontation. And there are always obstacles along the path that are represented by enemies or tests that make part of the adventure. Consequently, the hero usually finds someone who is willing to help him fight his obstacles in order to reach his goal.
Reflection
As I mentioned before, these two sections have an importance practical application to many of the stories or films I can think of. It is remarkable, how after reading this book, my mind functions in a different way when analyzing some movie or book. I am always trying to figure out what stage is the movie on, or if the story doesn't comprehend some of the stages. It is an important tool, however, to analyze accurately the different sections of a story.
Questions
What are some examples of these two stages in movies or stories?
What was interesting about these two sections?
How are both of these sections usually represented?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)