In this media log the movie that I would like to talk about is se7en. Se7en is a movie starring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman. Its about a man named Jon Doe murdering people because of his religious beliefs.
Se7en is a movie that really connects to me since I really like the concept of the sins, so I would just describe the seven sins depicted in the movie without spoiling much of the film.
To begin with the seven deadly sins are: 1.Pride
2.Lust
3.Envy
4.Gluttony
5.Wrath or Anger
6.Greed
7.Sloth
Each represent a devil in christian belief but we'll not dwell in that, instead we will try to describe what this are:
Pride is technically good on its own because people need it but when it becomes a too excessive it turns into something bad. Lust is self explanatory, if you lust about something chances are you're going to attack people to attain it. Envy same as lust only difference is the thing you want is an object not another person's body. Then we have gluttony, this is excessive eating. Then wrath or anger, anger has two forms the quiet anger and wrath. Wrath is releasing your pent up anger to others harming them and yourself in the process. On the other hand quiet anger is something more of thinking about hurting others while not putting it in action, throughout time this will accumulate to form Wrath. Greed is excessive want for money. Usually accompanied by power. Sloth is doing absolutely nothing or being too lazy that you trample upon others because of your decisions.
In the movie the seven sins are killed accordingly:
First was the sin of Gluttony, the man that was killed was forced eat until he died. The murderer actually forced fed him by shoving food down his throat. The purpose of this is to signify that eating too much will make you explode, which the murderer signified by cutting pieces of the guys meat and putting them on the table for him to eat.
Second was an attorney who was killed by draining the blood from the body. The body was also bludgeoned to a wall, signifying his Greed because behind the wall was his personal vault.
Third was sloth, this guy was kidnapped by the murdered and tied to a bed for a year. He was dubbed as a zombie because he was left rotting tied to the bed and considered to be dead until they managed to find him. Upon finding him it was revealed that the man was an infamous murderer and child molestor, thus the police wondered if the murderer is doing good or is actually something more sinister.
Fourth and Fifth in no particular order were Pride and Lust, the lust victim which have died in a very interesting manner, is a woman slut. Her job was a whore - sorry for the lack of term before- and she was forced by the killer to be raped by a man. Although the man was severely traumatized of what happened because of what he's been forced to do. Actually here is a picture I think it says it all.
The dildo used by the man to rape the woman
The victim of Pride on the other hand was a supermodel who was proud of her beautiful face. She was given the choice of saving herself by cutting her face up or she could just end her life. She choose the latter since a model's life is a model's face.
The sixth and seventh victim are also simultaneously done, the sins being Wrath and Envy. Envy was an envious man, he actually is envious of the other man, Wrath. because of this Envy murdered a close relative of wrath which prompts Wrath to repeatedly shoot Envy. Thus ending the deadliness of the seven sins.
Throughout the movie, I realized that everyone has their own fatal flaws, but then when this flaws are what makes us human. Trying to change that fact by murdering others is simply stupid. The world in itself flows in such a way that every pain and suffering it gives becomes a necessity for everyone to evolve in their own little way. Thus I conclude this movie's message in my own perspective, the flow of time is unwavering, the death of millions is but an instance of time. What the world needs is not destruction but adaptability to change and interact.
" 'The world is a fine place, and worth fighting for'...I agree with the second part."
A video representation of Maxwell's Silver Hammer by the Beatles
In this weeks media log, what I would like to talk about are two songs that expresses my subconscious mind or something that affects my decisions indirectly. So for the majority of this post, beside the video it will all be purely MY opinion.
I will be using two songs, since the first song is something I recently came across on thanks to my friend. The other song would be something that I really like but it may or may not be my favorite. So without further ado ...
Maxwell's Silver Hammer by the Beatles, the reason why I like this song so much is that It's about a guy named Maxwell who murdered people with his silver hammer because he felt like it. So lets go over to the lyrics since its easier to explain that way.
Joan was quizzical, studied pataphysical
Science in the home
Late nights all alone with a test-tube ohh oh oh oh
Maxwell Edison majoring in medicinem
Calls her on the phone
Can I take you out to the pictures, Joan?
But as she's getting ready to go
A knock comes on the door
The first part of the song symbolizes the normal events transpiring in everyday life. A boy asking a girl out for a date late at night though is something rare. From what I can draw from this the boy has several ulterior motives. But as I stated before its quite normal. Maybe I always wanted my decisions to be normal? I may never fully know.
Moving on.
Back in school again Maxwell plays the fool again
Teacher gets annoyed
Wishing to avoid an unpleasant scene
She tells Max to stay when the class has gone away
This part is also something to be of note, people have the desire to be heard and be recognized. Our individual personalities and decisions is what makes the world we live in fun. Even those stupid decisions that we've encountered are part of what makes us tick. Although sometimes those desires are the sources of our problem. My mind is an intricate web of desires and dreams. Alas those I've conjured in my mind are left to rot.
So he waits behind
Writing 50 times "I must not be so" oh oh oh
But when she turns her back on the boy
He creeps up from behind
The Irony in this part is, sometimes those who wish to exact judgement upon us are the ones whose karma had caught up on them. So many times in my life had I cursed others because of the horrible stuff they've done to me, only to be answered by misfortune or by bird poop (don't ask).
P.C. Thirty-One said "We caught a dirty one"
Maxwell stands alone
Painting testimonial pictures ohh oh oh oh
Rose and Valerie screaming from the gallery
Say he must go free (Maxwell must go free)
The judge does not agree and he tells them so oh oh oh
Standing alone is something to be proud of, but being alone isn't. No man is an Island, as wise men have said throughout history. People needs support and although some of us may stand proud with our achievements, we may not have achieved that without help from other people. Although as I've stated before sometimes we don't really get what we want. Rather even if we have all the support we have sometimes what is wrong is wrong and what seems to be right is probably wrong too. Acceptance is something we must learn, with that comes patience. And Patience is never a part of my personality.
Bang, bang, Maxwell's silver hammer
Came down upon her head
Do do do do do
Bang, bang, Maxwell's silver hammer
Made sure that she was dead
Lastly comes my most favorite part of the song, the concluding action. This lyrics probably represent my innermost desire to destroy my life. The Silver hammer represents the screw ups that I've done and how it kills everything that I try to build. In the end the silver hammer is something I wield, then does that mean my inner self is fighting with my own decisions? A question that may only be answered by a quote I've heard:
"What reflects inside of us is what we truly want."
To conclude, my feelings for this song is basically like a record that keeps on breaking on me. The only respite is knowing the reason behind all of this. That I myself am the reason for being who I am today. That my own decisions add up to what I am. And Sometimes reality hitting you in the face is not enough to wake you up on your own misery.
Blood is sometimes not enough to wake you up from your dream.
For the next song, its by Fall Out Boy, my favorite boy band.
Name: Sophomore Slump Or The Comeback Of The Year
Album: From Under The Cork Tree
Artist: Fall Out Boy
Frankly speaking this song already has many interpretations by the netizens, although I really want to use someone else's work and try to expand on it. I'd rather make my own meaning of this wonderful song.
Are we growing up or just going down?
It's just a matter of time until we're all found out
Take our tears and put them on ice
Cause I swear I'd burn this city down to show you the light
People's life had always been linear. It goes from point b to point d. Birth to death. Sometimes though this usual line goes haywire and rather than growing up, we simply break apart. Some who are strong stand up and face forward, others are unique. They are the ones who use this problems as something to benefit them. They are the people who would rather fall with the problem but show the others that they've dealt with it. The truth that everyone wants to set free... or let loose.
The first verse is all about being who you are. The fact that being what you are and who you are is very important, It means being yourself. Shredding away all the masks and disguises you've worn so far. It means being 'naked' in front of other people.
We're well read and poised
were the best boys
This line also exemplifies what I want to point out. People who're fully exposed are those with their own poise and stand. Simply being the best of who they are.
Cause I'll keep singing this lie if you'll keep believing it
I'll keep singing this lie
I'll keep singing this lie
Though in the end, what we truly want others to see is the lie that we made. The empty husks of men that we consider more worthy for the majority because of how they act as an absorbent for our pain and suffering.
Lastly my favorite part of the song:
The best part of "Believe" is the "Lie",
I hope you sing along and you steal a line
I need to keep you like this in my mind
So give in or just give up [x2]
Simply, the best part of having friends is the fact that they will put up with you. After all, the best part of believe is the lie. The lie meaning your husk, they'll live with it and wait for you to warm up. Hence, give in or just give it up.
This song resonates with me simply because my mind is a total wreck in terms of who I am. At times I'm random at other times I'm concrete. This song also signifies how much I value my friends for they are the ones that are always there to offer their support. Lastly, this song has my favorite phrase of all time, The best part of "Believe" is the "Lie". Because what can you believe other than the lies being told?
By now you're probably wondering, why do I keep picking superficial or non-existent subjects for my Blog. The answer is quite simple, I prefer the world of dreams rather than reality. Needless to say the subject I've chosen this time is neither dream-worthy and desirable..
So why this place? I mean can't I just choose something better like Heaven, Japan, America, Greece, Hong Kong, or some other place that does not invoke fear? It is simple really, the Underworld is interesting. In fact everything I've from Greek mythology is interesting but If i try to cram all of those wonderful/dreadful concepts into one blog. It would take me several years of studying and I still wont be finished.
Back to the matter at hand, I choose the Underworld simply because it's one of the most diverse part of Greek Mythology. As a form of media the Underworld is widely used in Homer's two epic, the Iliad and the Odyssey. It is almost always said with utter respect by the characters, since well let's delve into that.
The Underworld has many great interesting places but I'm going to cut it short and describe two places that I really like. One is the riven Styx, the river of hatred. In the Percy Jackson books, Styx is describe as "the river of unfulfilled dreams". Styx is also the most known river because of the legend of Achilles, the warrior who was dipped into the river making him invincible except for a small spot on his heels.
The River Styx symbolizes all the lost hopes of mankind as such that Charon on some point in the PoJ books stated "For thousands of years, you humans have been throwing in everything as you come across—hopes, dreams, wishes that never came true." Also it has been said in the book Mythology by Edith Hamilton, It is a river that connects all the rivers of the underworld, probably implying that the hopes of men are what connects them to misery. Since the River Styx is connected to the river of pain (Acheron), oblivion (Lethe), fire (Phlegethon) and wailing (Cocytus). Styx is also the river of promise, which the gods of Olympus swear upon an unbreakable oath. Get the picture why I like it?
The next one is Tartarus. The primordial god that was born side by side Gaea, mother earth. Tartarus in all forms of media that I can found (see references) has been a place of no return. In the PoJ books this is the place where monsters reform and evil itself is personified. Its is also described as a never ending chasm that contorts to the mortals mind of 'whats ominous and evil'. Tartarus is a Protogenoi, meaning they are beings that are the personifications of the universe. Tartarus is the dark side of mother earth where all ugly, evil, and dark beings who don't deserve the 'light' torture of the Fields of Punishment are thrown to. It contains all the evil gods that have existed before the rule of the Olympians and some truly evil gods that they have banished.
Underworld also contains the mortal's reprieve, the Fields of Ashpodel, Elysium, and the Isle of the Blest. Which I will not talk about since they do not interest me as much as Cerberus and the Fields of Punishment.
Cerberus for the the tidbits is that cute three headed behemoth of a dog guarding the entrance to Hades castle... well domain. He does not let the souls inside Ashpodel to get out and makes sure the living goes in ... well dead. Describe by Dante Aligheiri as a loud, huge, and terrifying (with snakes rising from his neck) creature. Some accounts also describer cerberus as a large worm-like monster writhing in the canto of gluttony.
This are all the probable reasons (and more if ever needed be) why I choose the Underworld as my second blog subject.
To truly wrap this up, what I truly get from Underworld is that all things under the earth are not evil, the Underworld is not Hell. Hell is akin to Tartarus while Underworld exists as a neutral camp although it is dark and brooding. It is also for the heroes who served the world that did not become gods. It also contains all the riches of the world, the peace of the dead and the hopes of damned, It is good on its own way. Basically in short the Underworld is more of a place of awe than a place to condemn... fearing it is probably the reason why Hades always plays the villain in Greek Mythology.
"Choose wisely, the Underworld or the world under the laws of men?"
-anonymous
Reference/s:
Hamilton, E. (1999). Mythology: Timeless tales of gods and heroes (Warner Books ed.). New York, NY: Warner Books.
Riordan, R. (2006). Percy Jackson and the lightning thief. London: Puffin.
McCarty, N. (2000). The Iliad. New York: Kingfisher.
Lombardo, S. (2009). Inferno. Indianapolis: Hackett Pub.
http://www.citationmachine.net/apa/cite-a-book/create
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iliad
http://camphalfblood.wikia.com/wiki/River_Styx
http://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Places/Untitled/untitled.html
http://camphalfblood.wikia.com/wiki/Protogenoi
What is a Hero? What is the purpose of being Hero? Simple. Hero is often defined a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. Clearly this means that Heroes are those people who we the common folk should look up on. For they are people who had proven themselves worthy of admiration and had saved us in when we are in dire need.
But let's not get into that tedious mess of word by word explanation rather let's make do with this, What is a Hero for me? Plain and simple, to me a Hero is someone who can express himself(or herself for that matter) freely and is not afraid to step up for his friends/family.
The reason why I defined what a Hero is to me is to give a general idea of who I am about to mention. Perseus "Percy" Jackson.
As to why I chose someone "fictional" as my hero, well its because as a character this guy pretty much sums it up. Unlike other lore-related heroes Percy feels Human to me. As to why that is well let's give a brief summary of this guy's adventures ...
So to begin with Percy was born into a "broken household" with only her mom as his respite to his life. He was diagnosed with dyslexia and AHDH which caused him misfortunes in his everyday life in school. Unknown to him that those "qualities" are what made him special. Fast track towards the future Percy learned he was a descendant of the gods and that he is a demigod - being that his father was a Greek god of the old. Percy now faces the threat of being annihilated by monster who are attracted to his "demigod scent".
The video above is from the movie, I wouldn't recommend it though but this is technically one of his greatest "hits". Besides the film differentiates largely from the books, much to my dismay.(And in this blog I'm going to talk about the books not the film but whatever just watch the awesome tidal wave!).
One specific event that I would like to share is when Percy was trapped in an island. It was an enchanted Island of course bearing the name Ogygia. It was then he met the goddess-like Calypso who nursed him to health and gave him her hospitality. They then share stories about how he ended up there and why she was there in the first place. To not spoil much of the book Percy promised Calypso that he would free her of the burden she has on her shoulders. That pretty much sums up why I like Percy, one I love promises and two it was the sweetest thing he could do for her.
My favorite part of his Heroic nature or rather "the thing that makes him human" is rather cliche'd in a sense that it doesn't surprise me anymore at the same time it gives me satisfaction. Percy in his last battle in Manhattan, has proven his bravery to the gods that Zeus himself acknowledged him and offered him immortality. Percy being that lovable character refused it downright after a short debate with the reason being ... wait for it... Annabeth Chase! or we can simply say he valued his human life.
But the reason why I really looked up to him as a Hero is one of his specific trait. In the books they called it his Fatal Flaw - which is the mental or physical weakness of a god, demigod, or immortal. To me though this Flaw is something that I lacked so I probably longed for it. Either way his flaw is "To save a friend, I would sacrifice the world". To me this kind of thing can only be done by Hero although the traditional Hero would probably be backwards. But that is what makes it unique in a sense that being a Hero is not uniquely tied down to saving the greater mass. Its saving those that matter to you. Saving the friends and people who have stood by your side in good and bad. It is that specific trait that led me to honor Percy as a Hero... Although he already is one in the books.
To sum it up, Percy is a Hero because of the many achievements that he has and all that he went through to get it. From a simple misunderstood kid to a Hero of Olympus. well what more can you ask for ?
Though just to add, my definition of someone being Heroic is different from others due to several reasons I will not disclose so if you feel that I violated your definition of a Hero or of Percy I'm sorry to say that's my opinion.
Also if given the chance to pick other Heroes I would probably choose those who are not afraid of sacrificing others to save what they truly want to save, since for me fighting for the minority that cares about you is better than fighting for the majority who are against you.
With that I end my first Media Log, Signing out
John
"A Hero is simply someone who would own up for his own beliefs and fight for it till the bitter end"
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