So the main objective of this blog had been to write about and critique novels that I had read. As anyone who's followed it for a while can tell, I've severely digressed. So, I'm going to make an effort to get back to the essence of this blog, to discuss two novels that I recently read. I will simply use my recollection of the novels and their content, instead of actually just stepping over to my book case and flipping to the passage of interest (sorry, I've been cursed with this adamant and zealous lethargy) To start with I'll discuss my thoughts and impressions (i'm very impressionable, mind you) about Richard Yates Revolutionary Road and then proceed to Dick's Ubik, and possibly conclude (if my lethargy permits) with some thoughts on the new film Juno.
Revolutonary RD
The story of the dysfunctional suburban family in an oddly overwhelming normal setting. This novel spoke out to me more than most in a long time. The themes that are brought up, turned over and examined, are full of impact. The love, the true love, between two people, and what that includes. The choices we make in life and how we stagnate in them, afraid to even reach out for something better. The oppressive qualities of a society obsessed with tidiness, mediocrity, and normalcy. It becomes too much for the main characters to take, forcing them into stinking lashes that hurt each other and themselves only to...to what? Scream passionately that we are not like "those next door," we have a life, a passion, an intelligence which they can not possibly possess. oh what a tortuous mentality. oh the pain of reality when we realize that mistakes of our own life are due in most part to our own self deception, our own suffocating need to hope that, if we only wanted to, we could always do better.
There was so much self delusion in this novel, and yet, it was so richly human, it cut deep when the reader realized, how far am I from being like the husband (or the wife)? ....not that far.
I can't really continue to the next novel, let's just leave it at this for now, the lethargy has won yet another bout. Damn you, laziness, damn you.
Showing posts with label Thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thoughts. Show all posts
Monday, January 14, 2008
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
A freakin Penny for your Thoughts
As of late, things have been losing their original luster. Things that once came naturally have started to slip through my hands like fine sand. Skills and knowledge that I uniquely possessed and mastered have begun to dwindle, slowly blurring into obscurity. Take the other day for example, (I have two examples, so don't get so antsy, just settle down and enjoy them) in my math class, the professor was talking about a theorem, specifically the divergence theorem in multivariate calculus. He then asked us what this was like in first semester calculus. It was only after much prodding and guidance that i realized what it resembled, and I weakly offered, "Oh, it's like the fundamental theorem of calculus."
"No, not LIKE. Try is. People, this is the fundamental theorem of calculus."
And what's important here in this example isn't the fact that it was fundamental or trivial or what the hell ever theorem. the thing that struck me was, without his patient spoon feeding, I would have never remembered that it was the fundamental theorem of calculus. What does that mean? What do i care?
Well the truth is, i consider myself a math major in college, I might even go further to say that i at times consider myself a true mathematician. But the truth is, there's so much of the fundamentals that I've forgotten that I'm having trouble coping with the fact that I can still consider myself a true mathematician. What am I after all these semesters of math? Am i gaining the knowledge which ideally a math major should know? If the answer is no, then what the hell have i been doing these past four years? If the answer is yes, then what kind of shabby mathematician am I becoming? definitely not one that I'd trust with basic arithmetic, that's for sure.
Now I know what a common response would be, oh it's not the actual classes or material that matter in college, it's the learning process that truly matters. Or the methods we pick up. Or the habits we form as mathematicians through our classes. Or it's the way we learn to approach problems. And what do i say to this? Fine, if you're trying to sheepishly defend the validity of your major. But, is it truly fine? If we take courses, and forget the material as soon as we step out of finals, then...my God, what's the point?
My other example deals with the fact that I consider myself a racquetball aficionado. Now, several issues have been burdening my mind as of late. One deals with the fact that I've been playing-put bluntly-pretty crappily compared to my former standards. For me at least, I need a lot of consistency in playing in order to remain at a decent competitive level. And this seriously irks me like you cannot imagine. You're probably thinking, but it's a sport Ivan, it's going to require a lot of practice in order to be pretty good. And I whole heartedly agree with you, I just have one question, WHY? It's not with sports either, it's just like my former example with math, consistency is seriously the benchmark for remaining decent in something. But why, dammit. Why can't we have at least one thing, just one, where we're good at, regardless of age, or how often we do it? Is time seriously that much of a freaking thief that it takes from us not only our good experiences but also our very limited and very few skills?
It just seems too much of an investment, and not for enough incentive. Even if i were to dedicate five days a week exclusively to math or racquetball, just how good am I going to get? Best among my friends, best in the state, best in the world? Just how good is good enough? The truth is, there never is a good enough. It doesn't matter how much time we put into it. Where's the satisfaction? That's my other issue, just where does satisfaction lie? I can't seem to find it sometimes, it's as ambiguous to me as the divergence theorem was to me a few days ago.
So where does this leave me? A life of unsatisfied passions and interests? To be honest i don't know. Just what am I wanting out of the games I play or the classes i go to or the books I read? Contentment? Perhaps, it's something simple that I'm overlooking, something as subtle and discreet as the last phrase i heard as I left the racquetball courts tonight:
"Hey, good game, Ivan. Take care."
"No, not LIKE. Try is. People, this is the fundamental theorem of calculus."
And what's important here in this example isn't the fact that it was fundamental or trivial or what the hell ever theorem. the thing that struck me was, without his patient spoon feeding, I would have never remembered that it was the fundamental theorem of calculus. What does that mean? What do i care?
Well the truth is, i consider myself a math major in college, I might even go further to say that i at times consider myself a true mathematician. But the truth is, there's so much of the fundamentals that I've forgotten that I'm having trouble coping with the fact that I can still consider myself a true mathematician. What am I after all these semesters of math? Am i gaining the knowledge which ideally a math major should know? If the answer is no, then what the hell have i been doing these past four years? If the answer is yes, then what kind of shabby mathematician am I becoming? definitely not one that I'd trust with basic arithmetic, that's for sure.
Now I know what a common response would be, oh it's not the actual classes or material that matter in college, it's the learning process that truly matters. Or the methods we pick up. Or the habits we form as mathematicians through our classes. Or it's the way we learn to approach problems. And what do i say to this? Fine, if you're trying to sheepishly defend the validity of your major. But, is it truly fine? If we take courses, and forget the material as soon as we step out of finals, then...my God, what's the point?
My other example deals with the fact that I consider myself a racquetball aficionado. Now, several issues have been burdening my mind as of late. One deals with the fact that I've been playing-put bluntly-pretty crappily compared to my former standards. For me at least, I need a lot of consistency in playing in order to remain at a decent competitive level. And this seriously irks me like you cannot imagine. You're probably thinking, but it's a sport Ivan, it's going to require a lot of practice in order to be pretty good. And I whole heartedly agree with you, I just have one question, WHY? It's not with sports either, it's just like my former example with math, consistency is seriously the benchmark for remaining decent in something. But why, dammit. Why can't we have at least one thing, just one, where we're good at, regardless of age, or how often we do it? Is time seriously that much of a freaking thief that it takes from us not only our good experiences but also our very limited and very few skills?
It just seems too much of an investment, and not for enough incentive. Even if i were to dedicate five days a week exclusively to math or racquetball, just how good am I going to get? Best among my friends, best in the state, best in the world? Just how good is good enough? The truth is, there never is a good enough. It doesn't matter how much time we put into it. Where's the satisfaction? That's my other issue, just where does satisfaction lie? I can't seem to find it sometimes, it's as ambiguous to me as the divergence theorem was to me a few days ago.
So where does this leave me? A life of unsatisfied passions and interests? To be honest i don't know. Just what am I wanting out of the games I play or the classes i go to or the books I read? Contentment? Perhaps, it's something simple that I'm overlooking, something as subtle and discreet as the last phrase i heard as I left the racquetball courts tonight:
"Hey, good game, Ivan. Take care."
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Simple Thoughts
#1
I know that the time may be ripe, but just how the heck do I harvest it?
#2
Is it bad that all of my questions are consulted by using Wikipedia? What are the implications of having so much information at our fingertips? A hundred years ago, with no internet, definitely no Wikipedia, the process of gaining knowledge was harder, more strenuous, and demanded utmost sincerity and determination. There would have been something passionate in the quest for knowledge, something truly inspired. But nowadays, with all of the conveniences of rapid information transfer, where has the passion gone? A question that would have lit a fire under a scientist generations ago, urging him into pursuit through many long, lonely nights in the confines of some dusty library, is answered for us by some quick and efficient search engine, instant gratification stripping knowledge of its weight. Is this progress? Have we truly managed to take away all of the magic from information and research?
#3
And have we gotten to the point where we rely on constant contact with others in order not to feel alone? We're so connected, and not only with other people either. We have plugged ourselves into our aim convos, ipods, cell phones, emails, etc. A second almost doesn't go by without us being around some vehicle of communication. We've created this overwhelming necessity of staying in touch, or else we risk falling hopelessly out of touch, or worse, out of fashion. And has this increase in communication helped us, has it eradicated the globe of pestilent loneliness? I don't think it has. It seems like we've let it cheapen our relationships at times. Even with so much always being said, we've somehow managed to say less things that actually matter.
#4
What becomes of our wasted time? Today, like most lazy, weekend days, I sat around and watched old reruns on TV. How much time did i waste doing this? Let's just say, it was enough time to have studied and understood completely the material in my math test coming up in a week. But the time's instead become squandered on cable television (damn you South Park for being so addictive). Just what happens to that time though? And, recognizing that this wasn't the first time I've been fixated on the "tube", nor the last, just how much of my life is going to be spent like this? Shouldn't we consider our lives, our short sequence of moments on earth, as precious and supremely valuable? So what is the cost for wasting such large portions of it? Should there be some penalty or fine for not getting better use out of something so treasured? Oh wait, it's our own life we're wasting, it's punishment enough when we look back and ask ourselves that simple stinging, powerful question: What if I'd done things differently?
I know that the time may be ripe, but just how the heck do I harvest it?
#2
Is it bad that all of my questions are consulted by using Wikipedia? What are the implications of having so much information at our fingertips? A hundred years ago, with no internet, definitely no Wikipedia, the process of gaining knowledge was harder, more strenuous, and demanded utmost sincerity and determination. There would have been something passionate in the quest for knowledge, something truly inspired. But nowadays, with all of the conveniences of rapid information transfer, where has the passion gone? A question that would have lit a fire under a scientist generations ago, urging him into pursuit through many long, lonely nights in the confines of some dusty library, is answered for us by some quick and efficient search engine, instant gratification stripping knowledge of its weight. Is this progress? Have we truly managed to take away all of the magic from information and research?
#3
And have we gotten to the point where we rely on constant contact with others in order not to feel alone? We're so connected, and not only with other people either. We have plugged ourselves into our aim convos, ipods, cell phones, emails, etc. A second almost doesn't go by without us being around some vehicle of communication. We've created this overwhelming necessity of staying in touch, or else we risk falling hopelessly out of touch, or worse, out of fashion. And has this increase in communication helped us, has it eradicated the globe of pestilent loneliness? I don't think it has. It seems like we've let it cheapen our relationships at times. Even with so much always being said, we've somehow managed to say less things that actually matter.
#4
What becomes of our wasted time? Today, like most lazy, weekend days, I sat around and watched old reruns on TV. How much time did i waste doing this? Let's just say, it was enough time to have studied and understood completely the material in my math test coming up in a week. But the time's instead become squandered on cable television (damn you South Park for being so addictive). Just what happens to that time though? And, recognizing that this wasn't the first time I've been fixated on the "tube", nor the last, just how much of my life is going to be spent like this? Shouldn't we consider our lives, our short sequence of moments on earth, as precious and supremely valuable? So what is the cost for wasting such large portions of it? Should there be some penalty or fine for not getting better use out of something so treasured? Oh wait, it's our own life we're wasting, it's punishment enough when we look back and ask ourselves that simple stinging, powerful question: What if I'd done things differently?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)