Alright, last blog of the year, right here, I think. The tell tale heart, what a fun story, great for the whole family. Its an entertaining tale, and teaches a good moral to learn in the end. But seriously, this story is really weird, and is made even stranger by the narrator being crazy. This thriller explores the mind of a maniac and puts the reader right in his shoes. In any other kind of story, putting us in the shoes of the main character would give us a better view of the story, but in this case, it only restricts the facts even more. Having the point of view of a insane man committing a murder is both confusing and somewhat disturbing.
The way this story takes you through the actions of a mad man killer makes you think about what exactly is going on. His ranting and attention to certain detail leaves you confused and wondering exactly what is going on. It makes you think about what goes on in the minds of the criminally insane, and how people can actually rationalize killing someone. Is this really what people are like? If so, it sure portrays it as a very scary reality for someone to have to live in. I sometimes wonder if I am insane, due to some of the strange things I catch myself doing. But then I start to wonder about being insane and aware of it at the same time. Can that happen? Can someone be fully aware and accept that they have a serious mental problem and are bonkers and still be as crazy, or even crazy at all. I usually side on the fact that being self aware of your insanity is probably a sign that you are not really insane, or at least not very, and I forget about it.
But anyway, yeah, Tell Tale Heart, good story, you should go read it to your children for their bedtime story. That will give em a nice goal for what they should be like when they grow up.
IDK....
sincerely,
Dennis J. Tierney
P.S. Don't read this to your kids, it will mess them up.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monsters and Ourselves: Whats the difference?
For this months blog, I will be taking the random scribbled text on the back of a piece of paper titled "Essential Questions: Quarter 4 'Monsters and Ourselves'", which I wrote down as the rest of the class verbally discussed the questions on said paper. Please note that the following ideas and words are in fact incomplete and used merely as a sort of "thinking out loud" type of expression, only on paper, with a bic ball point pen. And I quote...
"Difference between "evil" and trying to survive. If people act like animals, we call them savage, heartless, evil, but do we call animals evil? When a wolf or lion kill a deer or antalope, it is not evil, but survival. When they defend each other, or territory, it is nature. The man has no nature anymore, we are "civilized"(Meaning taken away from natural settings, not the more widly used definition that implies "good" behavior.) too much, so the true "nature" of man is unknown. So what if what we "assume" to be "evil" is mans true nature? Is it truly "evil" then? Or is evil just an invention of a corrupted nature in order to destroy devolution, a development, a survival of the fittest. For if we believe in "evil" we will try to be "good", and shun our old nature of life, thus, thrusting us ever forward in a most evelutional concept."
The following are random things also on the paper, not full sentences:
"I expect from people to not do what I expect them to do"
"expect=assume" "know, or know not, never assume"
"I think, therefor I think I am"
"I assume, therefor I am man"
"I think, therefor I assume I am"
"I expect nothing of people, assumption is the downfall of man"
"The only assumption I make is that whatever I assume is probably wrong"
Thus concludes the interesting, and perhaps nonsensical, scribbles on this paper.(besides drawings of course, but those would be rather hard to put up on this blog.)
I'm not sure how this will do as a blog, but it is something that I would have said in class if I was the type of person who did such things. I hope you can make some sense out of my random thoughts bluntly transfered on to paper.
"Difference between "evil" and trying to survive. If people act like animals, we call them savage, heartless, evil, but do we call animals evil? When a wolf or lion kill a deer or antalope, it is not evil, but survival. When they defend each other, or territory, it is nature. The man has no nature anymore, we are "civilized"(Meaning taken away from natural settings, not the more widly used definition that implies "good" behavior.) too much, so the true "nature" of man is unknown. So what if what we "assume" to be "evil" is mans true nature? Is it truly "evil" then? Or is evil just an invention of a corrupted nature in order to destroy devolution, a development, a survival of the fittest. For if we believe in "evil" we will try to be "good", and shun our old nature of life, thus, thrusting us ever forward in a most evelutional concept."
The following are random things also on the paper, not full sentences:
"I expect from people to not do what I expect them to do"
"expect=assume" "know, or know not, never assume"
"I think, therefor I think I am"
"I assume, therefor I am man"
"I think, therefor I assume I am"
"I expect nothing of people, assumption is the downfall of man"
"The only assumption I make is that whatever I assume is probably wrong"
Thus concludes the interesting, and perhaps nonsensical, scribbles on this paper.(besides drawings of course, but those would be rather hard to put up on this blog.)
I'm not sure how this will do as a blog, but it is something that I would have said in class if I was the type of person who did such things. I hope you can make some sense out of my random thoughts bluntly transfered on to paper.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
The Picture of Dennis Tierney
even though I am probably the complete opposite of Mr. Gray, the fabulous man he is...
This book, despite what everyone else is saying, is rather interesting to me. The only part I have been rather bored with was the details of folklore on jewelry and tapestry throughout the ages. I find the banter between the trio of characters to be quite enjoyable, while it has nothing and yet everything to do with the plot of the novel. The back and forth between Lord Henry and whomever might be his victim has awaken a part of my mind that has laid dormant for a few years. The philosophical arguments at the beginning of the story had me smiling, frowning, nodding, shaking my head, and laughing. The though bouncing between two similar yet un-similar beliefs, with Lord Henry and Basil jump-started my philosophic ideas and brainstorms from years past, and how different my ideas have become. This opening of a portal into the past through simple dialogue in a book about a man who corrupts his youth is quit interesting.
I find myself, more and more as the novel draws to an end, to be in line with poor Basil, long gone, (although some bias might be held due to my close relation to the visual arts) and a grand hater of Lord Henry, whom reminds me all too well of people in my own life. Everyone must have such people in their lives, people that play games, that pry into your mind, and plant the seeds of sin. Nowadays we have a public market for that, television and the Internet, even the education system can sneak this into a regular routine. But I start to sound like a crazy conspiracy theorist when I talk like this, and yet...
Well, I guess I enjoy the dialogue of the book more than I do the actual premise that a panting is reflecting a man's soul, instead of him getting old and ugly. And I am quite disappointed that Basil(love the name), however predictable, had to die. Goes along with the whole tortured artist deal though, so I guess I can look it over. Although, I could be saying this pre-maturely, seeing as how I need to read the last few pages tonight, but still. The good Lord Henry sure has made me think as much as he has made the characters think, but I think(hope, maybe the better word,) that his words are having about as much effect as they did on Basil. It is nice to be thinking again, drifting through the days hollow-minded was getting old. I should probably write some of this down... but no time for it now, got to finish this book first.
good night
This book, despite what everyone else is saying, is rather interesting to me. The only part I have been rather bored with was the details of folklore on jewelry and tapestry throughout the ages. I find the banter between the trio of characters to be quite enjoyable, while it has nothing and yet everything to do with the plot of the novel. The back and forth between Lord Henry and whomever might be his victim has awaken a part of my mind that has laid dormant for a few years. The philosophical arguments at the beginning of the story had me smiling, frowning, nodding, shaking my head, and laughing. The though bouncing between two similar yet un-similar beliefs, with Lord Henry and Basil jump-started my philosophic ideas and brainstorms from years past, and how different my ideas have become. This opening of a portal into the past through simple dialogue in a book about a man who corrupts his youth is quit interesting.
I find myself, more and more as the novel draws to an end, to be in line with poor Basil, long gone, (although some bias might be held due to my close relation to the visual arts) and a grand hater of Lord Henry, whom reminds me all too well of people in my own life. Everyone must have such people in their lives, people that play games, that pry into your mind, and plant the seeds of sin. Nowadays we have a public market for that, television and the Internet, even the education system can sneak this into a regular routine. But I start to sound like a crazy conspiracy theorist when I talk like this, and yet...
Well, I guess I enjoy the dialogue of the book more than I do the actual premise that a panting is reflecting a man's soul, instead of him getting old and ugly. And I am quite disappointed that Basil(love the name), however predictable, had to die. Goes along with the whole tortured artist deal though, so I guess I can look it over. Although, I could be saying this pre-maturely, seeing as how I need to read the last few pages tonight, but still. The good Lord Henry sure has made me think as much as he has made the characters think, but I think(hope, maybe the better word,) that his words are having about as much effect as they did on Basil. It is nice to be thinking again, drifting through the days hollow-minded was getting old. I should probably write some of this down... but no time for it now, got to finish this book first.
good night
Monday, February 1, 2010
Currenty revocering from 2 days of food poisoning, please be nice
I guess since the main thing we are talking about in class lately is gender roles and such, I'll try to touch on that. It has been interesting to talk about how drastic the differences in gender roles can be from a change in time period or country. However, being one of the seven to eight males in a classroom that is mostly female, including the teacher, I can't help but feel horrible when we talk of the past and read novels such as The Awakening and A Thousand Splendid Suns. But one thing I can do, is appreciate the difference I can see between the books and today's lifestyle of women. Granted, I might not be able to connect to the feminist novels as much as a woman in my class could, but I try. And it is always awkward talking or writing about this topic, I am always afraid I might say something wrong, and being in a groggy, half sick mind-set isn't helping think clearly anyway... but anyway.
It is almost mind blowing when you compare these novels to our life style. Compared to A Thousand Splendid Suns, women in America are a thousand steps ahead. Women can be whatever they want to be, don't have to rely on a man at their side or expected to produce a worthy offspring. Women are free to explore the possibilities of life, not sent off to the highest bidder when they are of age.
I am going to stop where I think I have made my point, and hope I didn't say anything stupid.
I am tired and haven't eaten anything in a day or so... I might try to hold down some toast... after a quick nap.
good night.
It is almost mind blowing when you compare these novels to our life style. Compared to A Thousand Splendid Suns, women in America are a thousand steps ahead. Women can be whatever they want to be, don't have to rely on a man at their side or expected to produce a worthy offspring. Women are free to explore the possibilities of life, not sent off to the highest bidder when they are of age.
I am going to stop where I think I have made my point, and hope I didn't say anything stupid.
I am tired and haven't eaten anything in a day or so... I might try to hold down some toast... after a quick nap.
good night.
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