Friday, October 3, 2008

Books, Children and Nature

When I think about the very challenging and seemingly strange questions: What is a Book?,  What is a Child?,  and What is Nature? my first reaction and effort is not really one I want to say much more about. 

What is a Book?

In the best light of that questions response I think of my favorite books instantly. I think of some of my favorite authors which took me on long highways and endless road trips, through valleys and jungles, across boarders and around the world. Physically a book should have a cover, without a cover of some sort for protection. It should have a title, a title is definitely an important factor. And philosophically... not gonna go there. Ok fine, books perhaps are the most important vehicle for communication to large numbers of readers, communities, cultures, and yes probably even the the Human Species as we known it today. Books have the power to change the w
ay people perceive reality. (What the Bleep?Link coming soon ).  They give people hope, comfort loneliness and educate. As time goes 
on perhaps the protective covers will be these computer screens and the icon of a book cover. I can't imagine what I would do had I not the opportunity to trade and share with friends and search for in used book stores and hostels and Internet cafe's. And of course we have text books, they guide the reader on a different kind of pathway leading often to very rewarding experiences and perceptions as well. Love Books!

What is a Child?
 
The first child that comes to mind  throws these factors into the equation: age, inexperience, ignorance, innocence, and irresponsibility. I think they are generally nerve racking and spoiled.  But they are of the few who have the innate ability to learn and think critically with generally very low levels of stress. This allows for great adventures into every new situation. I can only imagine the amount of learning which occurs at that Child to Young Adult role where the learning curve is sure to drop off as we become fixed into the world as we see it and believe it.  Ps. The"child" in this photo ate this entire half-gallon of ice cream. Oh the things children will do for a dare(not by me of course).

What is Nature? 

Nature is natural.  Nature interests me the most because it is so interesting. I think of wilderness areas and wild animals, I think of the river trips  this summer, I don't really think of humans at all. But realize that this term is losing it's meaning in some cultures as a result of human nature to destroy it. It is human nature to learn and love and educate. Changing the word nature to benefit and natural to beneficial seems appropriate if we ever go dropping words from the language. Nature is wild it is out of control and free to do what it can. Not even love will tame this beast. 


Monday, September 15, 2008

Red Shoes?

What is the story behind these red shoes?


The Red Shoes (1948) is a British feature film about ballet, written, directed and produced by the team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, known collectively as The Archers. It tells the story of a young ballerina who joins an established ballet company and becomes the lead dancer in a new ballet called The Red Shoes, based on the story by Hans Christian Andersen about a woman who cannot stop dancing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Red_Shoes_(film)

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

not a pimp


I read Charles Perrault's Bluebeard today and was impressed with the artwork more so than the story itself; I guess I came into the reading with a preconceived notion that this dude with a bluebeard was some paligamous pimp. I did actually like the story a few minutes after reading however. what would the marrige have been like had she never looked. Perhaps that was simply a test of trust which each of the wives failed?

wtf?

I had no clue that these fairy tales had such deep origins. I have really never put much thought into them either. I am impressed with the way that not only Sexson but the rest of the class is so familiar with such seemingly elementary literature. I do see that this literature is not so elementary afterall and that it may be the roots of most of what I know as fascinating and enjoyable lit.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008