Camelot

At first, I was confused about why the worldview of this was Christian, because obviously there is a lot of immorality. However, I realized then that there was a definite line of right and wrong, even if the characters were choosing to do wrong. Justice is a very Christian element, and King Arthur's whole kingdom was based on a righteous, just law system. Also, King Arthur chooses to let Jenny and Lancelot continue their affair even though it hurts him, which shows him to be a sacrificial character. Arthur embodies the Christ-like sacrifice, which is extremely Christian in worldview. 

Planet of the Apes

Planet of the Apes screams secular humanist, due to its focus on evolution. It's crazy to think about what will happen once humanity is gone, and the idea that monkeys may someday be running the world is a terrifying one. I'm certainly thankful that I have a greater hope for humanity. I know that life for mankind doesn't just end, yet for some people, apes running the world does not seem that implausible.

Stranger Than Fiction

Well, this movie was really interesting. I have decided that I don't really enjoy anything Postmodern at all. This movie was definitely of the Postmodern variety, and while I didn't dislike it, it was not my favorite (sorry Mrs. Kirk). Metafiction was a huge part of the movie, with the author narrating Harold's life story. As Harold went on with his daily routine, he never really questioned anything about his life. However, one day, he began to wonder why everything was happening. This is the "Y" of "THENDYWAMPS". Once he realizes that he is unhappy with his life, he seeks to change/improve it. Eventhough he knows that he is inevitably going to die, he makes a leap of faith and pursues a relationship with Anna, and by making this leap, he has a happier life.

Goodbye!

Well, my two favorite characters from "Hamlet" are FINALLY dead! Like always, I was very confused about what was going on in Act Three. At first, I thought it was kind of sad that these fellows were traveling to their deaths, but then I realized that that is what I'm doing. Of course, I have more to live for than they do, but I could drop dead this very moment. It sounds depressing, but we're all getting closer to death every second.

I decided that I don't actually like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that much when they knew that they were supposed to take Hamlet to his death and they still went along with it! However, it was their order. They were summoned to do that, just as they were summoned to go to see Hamlet and Claudius in the first place. If I am summoned by authority to do something, I (usually) do it. Isn't that what life is? We follow rules set out by other people, often not questioning them. My life is pathetic if I follow orders simply because I am afraid of what will happen to me if I don't.

THENDYWAMPS

I don't know who won the game. If the winner of the game had the most Monopoly money, then of course the Heads team won. If the winner had the least amount of Monopoly money, then my team won. Team Tales made a rule saying that we won because we rolled last, but does that really mean we won? I can say that I won, but someone from team Heads could say that that team won. Both would be right, because there are no rules and there is no meaning. Neither team won or lost because we can't know. My head really hurts thinking about this, by the way!

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

I am becoming more and more confused by this book as we read more. What on earth is going on? While I do not really understand exactly what is going on, I do know that the book is very funny. The one quote that stuck out to me from Act 2 was the one that said that all we are doing is waiting for someone to watch us. In class, we discussed the need for interaction. I was thinking about this later, and as I was thinking, I was watching some people in the hallway. It was incredible to watch the interaction between the students. The girls would keep on doing what they were doing if and only if there were boys watching. The boys tried to act really cool, continuously glancing back at the girls to see if they were watching. It was absolutely ridiculous, but I'm sure I do the same time. We always strive for the approval of others, and I can't decide if I should accept that or be embarrassed by it.

Guildy and Rosie

The whole "being characters in a play in a play in a play" thing is too much for my mind to comprehend, but I am trying! I did find interesting the conversation about fate and chance, that whole thing is helping me understand Postmodernism more, since I had absolutely no idea what it was. I could have done without the homosexual jokes, but I felt really bad for poor Alfred!
My favorite part was when Guildenstern bet that the player that his birthday year doubled was an odd number. Maybe it is my love for math, or perhaps my low tolerance for people who lack common sense, but this part made me laugh. I also enjoyed the questions part, because I have played that game before, and it is really hard!

I really do not understand what is going on in this book, but I suppose that is part of the point. It's interesting to think that people actually think this way. I am so surrounded by my Christian bubble that I never think that anyone could ever have a Postmodern worldview. Living a life with a Postmodern worldview seems like it would be extremely depressing.

Obama's Rhetoric

Obama's inauguration speech was a much anticipated event. Everyone was excited to hear what the great new President would say to his country. However, according to Michael Gerson, Obama's speech was "rhetorically flat." This surprised me because Obama has many controversial policies, so I assumed that a Christian would be quick to critique his beliefs, not his rhetoric. Gerson seems to represent many of the "religious" population of the country who disapprove of Obama, because he is looking for something to criticize. "If we can't find anything wrong with his beliefs, let's attack his delivery!"

Obviously, the President's rhetoric in his speeches are important. He represents our country, and he is the person that we will look to in times of trouble. I understand the need to analyze, and there is nothing wrong with being analytical. However, many people in America (and everywhere) do not figure things out for themselves. They read things from "experts" and then make those things their opinions. Therefore, I find it wrong for a Christian "expert" to do an interview about the errors in the President's speech. I can just see Christians who are looking for things to hate about Obama saying "Oh my goodness, the man cannot even give a speech correctly. I knew McCain should have won!" He did say that Obama's speech was not horrible, but not amazing. Obama's rhetoric was probably better than most of the country's, and his speeches are definitely a step up from Bush's.

Rosie and Guildy

I've never been very philosophical. I don't wonder why we're here. I just accept life as it is. As we were reading in class today, I realized that I resemble Rosencrantz. Mrs. Kirk said something about how possibly Rosencrantz doesn't argue with the improbability of the coin flipping because it is working out in his favor. I'm sure I am supposed to have much more insight about what I have read so far, but that is the only thing that really stuck out to me. It stuck out to me because it is so incredibly true! People always complain when things do not go their way, and are happy when things do. I am totally fine with my life when it is going fine, when I don't have anything to complain about. What kind of a difference am I ever going to make in life if I can't learn to deal with things that go wrong?