Wednesday, September 29, 2010

The Truman Show

LaGuardia Community College
Aaron Straker
English


The Truman Show is a movie that makes you think.  The Truman show is a funny satire.  If that's what you would call this movie.  It shows exactly how the media controls us.  The movie is something everyone should see.  The movie isn't serious to the point it would be boring.  The movie has many funny parts because the main character is played by Jim Carrey.

          One big element in the movie is media.  Truman doesn't know that he's been on tv his entire life.  Throughout the movie we see people watching him on tv.  While Truman has no idea that this is happening.  The movie shows how even in movies our emotions get played with.  Truman’s father supposedly died when he was very young.  Later in the movie we see him reunited with his father because of his best friend since high school.  Truman begins to hug his father.  Christof who controls Truman’s world and the television show tells them to change the music and zoom in on Truman's face.  We see the audience have tears of joy.  Christof just controlled the audience emotions by simply changing the music and zooming in on Truman’s face.  The Truman show is on 24 hours a day.  When the show goes offline for the first time everyone panics.  The show isn't affecting their lives in any way.  There just watching someone else live there life.  But everyone still panics.  For some people they become emotionless.  Just waiting for a new tv show.  People stop doing their work because of a tv show.  Security Guards stop working just to watch this show.  Security Guards are supposed to be saving lives not watching someone else’s day to day lifestyle.

          The movie shows how repetitive our everyday lives are.  Imdb “When the lady comes on the bike with the basket, then the dog and then the yellow Volkswagen".  Truman says all they do is go around and around.  This movie is very similar to everyone’s life.  Even if one hasn't seen it.  There's a notion of your born, do stuff then die.  In the movie Truman starts the day off with the same words every day.  Imdb “In cases I don’t see ya good afternoon, good evening, and good night”.  He also has the same conversations with the same people.  Nothing ever changes in his life.  It doesn’t matter what your lifestyle is your life will always be repetitive.

            In the Truman Show Christof is sort of God.  He’s in control of Truman’s world.  He controls what everyone says to him.  He even controls the weather.  Christof has Truman on camera ever since he was a baby.  Even before that.  If Christof wants there to be an accident there will be an accident.  For example the accident in the elevator.  At the moment Truman tried to enter the elevator.  But since he’s the star of the show two men grabbed him and took him out of the building.  Truman had no idea what was going on.  The next day his wife has to do surgery because of the accidents.  Everything that happens in the world is all because of Christof.  He seems to be a God of Truman’s world.  If Christof says let there be rain there will be rain.  Imdb “Also note that Chrisof does not have his name listed among the “real world” in the credits, but in “Christof’s World”.  His high profile media driven life is no different from Truman’s”.

            The movie also shows that everyone has control over their lives.  If someone wants to be a drug dealer or criminal they can easily become one.  If someone wants a college education they can get one but through many years of hard work.  Christof states “He could leave at any time.  If this were anything more than a vague ambition, if he was absolutely determined to discover the truth, there is no way we could prevent him.”

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Blog Entry 1.3

LaGuardia
Aaron Straker
9/23/10

                My life compared to Socrates life I don’t know how I can compare my current life to his.  So far I know some differences that me and Socrates have.  Socrates was a philosopher a lover of wisdom.  While like he said I live in a world of relative ignorance.  One of his quotes even describes me somewhat of the old me.  “We are even comfortable with that ignorance, because it is all we know.”  But now I’ve changed somewhat I’m not as ignorant as I use to be.  But now I actually don’t mind asking questions.  I’ll ask the same question more than once.  Some people may get mad but I want everything to be clear. 
                Right now in my life I would say that I’m not chained.  Because even though I have my opinions and still listen to others opinions and respect them.  Even if I know what they’re saying is obviously false.  I’ll even think things through most of the time.  When I was younger I never really liked feedback from others.  I took it as offence to myself and my intelligence.  Even though others were trying to help me.  But now I want other people’s feedback.  I’m not the kind of person who tries to impress others so because if you did that could mean you’re still in chains.  Because the only person I can fulfill is myself.  Socrates knew he was ignorant.  He just simply wanted to learn more and more.  I also know I’m ignorant and I don’t know about everything out in the world. 
                They are many things created that are shadows for us.  Mainly it’s technology that’s a shadow for everyone including myself.  Some television shows are big shadows for people.  People watch shows with real people doing things while they could actually be doing the same for themselves.  Another possible shadow for people is reality shows.  Because people are mostly watching others do things that doesn’t even benefit there life.  These are some of the many ways that technology has created shadows for us.  Devices such as IPods, I touch, I pads, Cell phones and etc have effects on your life.  Technology even has a negative effect on my life.  Technology is one of the many shadows created for society.  Socrates didn’t seem to have many shadows because there were no technological distractions in his everyday life.  He never boasted about being the smartest.  He would always tell others that he wasn’t that smart.
                Walking out into the light would possibly be very difficult.  Because everyone would have to change their ways.  Dropping a bad habit is never easy.  Coming out into the light would mean less internet for me.  I wouldn’t say TV because I don’t watch as much TV anymore.  For Socrates coming out into the light was much easier.  All Socrates wanted to do was to learn more and more.  The more he learned he wanted to learn even more.  The difference between us there is that I don’t have that same type of energy as Socrates.
                I never really tried to help get others free.  I listen to others opinions but I won’t force my ways onto others.  Because everyone has their own choice on how they want to approach things.  Socrates listened to how someone was going to do something.  Then he told them there was an easier way of doing it. 
                I know where I am from the way I behave on a regular basis.  I’m not shy I can talk to others.  I can easily answer questions.  If someone asks me a question I won’t be afraid to tell them I don’t know.  I won’t beat around the bush and say I’m not sure.  Because saying that makes you even more ignorant.  It’s better to know that your ignorant than trying to hide it.  A quote that relates to Socrates should be “curiosity killed the cat”. 

Heroes Journey


LaGuardia
Aaron Straker
September 23, 2010


            Monday September 20, 2010 5:50 AM my journey began.  On this day had to go to school even though I was sick.  This is something I really hate.  Because when you’re sick everyone treats you different.  Because of the fear of getting sick themselves.  It’s not like high school where you can stay home.  You’re paying for college.  This is when I first crossed the threshold to go to school.  I would even say that I first crossed the threshold when I stepped out of bed.  Once you do that you don’t know how your day is going to go.  You just have to wait and see for yourself.  That is when my journey officially began.  I was still very sick I had a runny nose, fever and bloody noses from time to time.  I still have this cold now.  While I’m constantly editing my heroes journey.

            My tests for the day was to get to school on time and don’t fall asleep in any of my classes.  I failed the first test.  I was early but I took one wrong train then ended up 30 minutes late.  I thought the R train went to Queensboro Plaza.  It does but there’s a Manhattan R train and a Queens R train.  So I failed that test.  I passed my other test.  This was don’t fall asleep in class.  I never fall asleep in class now that was a bad habit in high school.  You really have to leave the bad habits in the past.  Which I have done. 

            I actually got more than one reward that day.  My first reward was to be able to get to class safely.  Also to have the energy to stay awake during class even though I wasn’t at my best.  Also I didn’t sleep go to sleep till 1:00 then had to wake up at 5:50.  I also got another reward through a failure.  Not sure if that has ever happened before.  Something that is really weird.  I was supposed to meet one of my friends from high school after class.  I wasn’t feeling well so I told her I was going to leave early.  I actually got to hang out with her on September 23 and we had a great time.  But when I left I saw one of my friends from high school.  At this point I was on my way home when I saw my friend.  He asked me questions how college is.  He made jokes and acted retarded as always.  I eventually got home. 

But I have to return to this 4 days a week.  There’s no escaping I can’t refuse it our else I’ll fail.  Therefore money is wasted.  I came back on Wednesday even though I was sick.  I have many more days to go.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Essay 1 (Can you live without technology)

           I interact with all kinds of technologies in my everday life.  In the morning I look at my cell phone.  I will use the toaster to make breakfast most of the time.  I use the computer and my ipod touch to talk to my friends.  When i need to go somewhere I take the train.  There's so much techology that I use I can't even write it all on paper.

          My life would be so different without all these technologies.  I wouldn't be able to talk to my friends all the time.  I probably wouldn't be able to talk to them at all.  I text my friends from high school all the time.  I also talk to my friends on facebook.  I wouldn't be able to travel to that much places without the train.  My life would be so different without my T.V, computer, phone and ipod touch. 

         I do believe that I'm very dependent on them.  Sometimes I might take it to the next level.  One time I woke up and went straight on to facebook through my ipod touch.  I think about it now I didn't even leave my bed and I was on facebook.  Sometimes I'll sit in bed and be on the internet.  So I guess I am dependent on technology because without it I would be very bored.

        Mostly I am very dependent on technology.  I mostly have my ipod touch with me.  So I can listen to music on the train or on the go.  Without my ipod touch I would be staring outside the window on the Q train.  On my breaks between classes I'll try to get acess to the internet through wifi.  I'll use my phone to text friends in other classes.

        Without technology I would feel disconnected the world.  I wouldn't be able to talk to my friends at all.  I wouldn't be able to call them or talk to them.  I really think without any technology I myself wouldn't be able to survive.  Or might die of pure boredom.