Enlightenment and Romanticism

Sense and Sensibility

            After viewing the show I believe that it is clear that the author and director have defined different and

 distinct roles for the sisters. Marianne is very romantic minded and is driven by her romanticism in every 

facet of her life. From the very beginning of the movie she states her intentions with love by stating her 

displeasure with Elinor due to the manner in which Elinor handles her relationship with Edward Farrars. She 

does so by chiding and ridiculing her for entertaining a man that could not even read poetry up to the 

romantic standards that Marianne believed was proper. Marianne’s romanticism was of particular display 

and most noticeable when she questioned if Elinor’s love for Edward was a fancy or a feeling. Fancy being 

because it would be a logical or popular thing to do and a feeling being true emotion.

            Marianne also displayed her romantic personality in many other ways throughout the movie. She 

displayed a very commonly romantic attitude when she fell in love with John Willoughby at first sight. You 

could tell by her actions that even though she knew very little about him she was madly in love and showed 

her true intentions by hastily requesting that her mother fetch his name as he left her home in that scene. She 

also showed much more affection for Willoughby when he romantically picked her some wildflowers instead 

of the generic types that Colonel Brandon had brought moments before.    

            In bright contrast to Marianne, Elinor was quite the opposite and led a very logical and reasonable 

quest for love. In the face of disgust and contempt from Marianne for her ways, Elinor stayed true to her 

heart and eventually found peace and love in her own manner. Elinor displayed this logical thinking most 

evidently when Willoughby was leaving her sister to head to London and start a new life. While her sister 

was weeping and wailing, Elinor was logically thinking about Willoughby’s countenance and actions looking 

for a sign that would perhaps give away his true intentions. She always took a more cerebral approach to 

her relationships.

            While the sisters were in London their actions revealed much about their approach to love. 

Marianne was very focused on her own goals and was bound and determined to find Willoughby and 

reconnect with him. While this was happening, Elinor was having a struggle of her own but put it aside to 

focus and help her sister find peace amongst her struggles. Elinor even accuses Marianne of being selfish 

only focusing on her problems.  I believe because Marianne is so up front with her emotions and wears them 

on her sleeve, she seems more easily prone to suffering. Elinor protects her emotions by keeping her feeling 

vested in side of her. After Elinor confronts her about her selfishness, she still helps Marianne through her 

problems.

            Due to the heartbreak that Marianne experiences because of her romanticism I believe that Jane 

Austen and the director are leading us to believe that if we use logic and reason in our relationships we will 

be better off in the long run. I don’t think it was just a coincidence that Marianne almost died of heartbreak. 

I believe it is a strongly suited metaphor that sends us the message to keep reasoning close by when our 

heart is full of love.        

 

Baroque Blog Post

Baroque Blog Post

          Today’s society is anything but one. There is no need to look further than the most recent political elections that have polarized our country recently and have sent many into a slight frenzy. If you be republican or democrat, pro choice or pro life, we have many freedoms that allow us to express our beliefs and personalities. We have been discussing in class some of the different movements of the past and I would like to compare and contrast a few of those with this post.

            The question posed is whether I believe if America has more of a Baroque or Renaissance influence today. To simply answer the question I would say that we are in a small reformation heading in the direction from a more Renaissance theme to a more dominantly influenced Baroque time. There are many areas of American life and art that could be discussed and dissected but I will only choose a few.  One of the most obvious area that I can draw a distinct line is the current obsession America has for reality television. A slight shift from a more renaissance and traditional and produced and rehearsed view of television production to a more liberal and unrehearsed view into the lives of reality stars. This also includes game shows and contests that are produced live and have a reality flair to them in contrast to tape delayed programs that clearly show the love affair that America currently has with the Baroque view of Art.

            I would also argue that certain parts of the country are divided currently with some of the more central issues of these two topics. To showcase this point is would discuss musical artists for  moment. Country stars are certainly more orderly and rational with their music compared to the more modern rap music and the excessive exploits of the likes of Lady Gaga and her counterparts.

Medieval Blog Post

            While I was reading the story I was wondering where we were headed and if I could ever understand what was going. The story was interesting and captivating but didn’t come full circle for me and my mind for some time. Not until the two men started drawing the cathedral together did I gain an understanding of the purpose to me. You asked us to ponder the question, “How does the cathedral bring the narrator and the blind man together?” This is the question I was drawn to and would like to discuss. The topic of the cathedral we have discussed in class was a show of power and unity. Cathedrals were built to give honor and to unite people for a common good and cause. They naturally brought people together to worship and praise god. They were a common thread that dissolved differences between one another and helped and still help people today to recognize the similarities and not focus on the differences. The significant part of the cathedral that I recognized in this story was the unity it caused between the blind man and the husband. The husband focused on the differences he and the blind man had. He was terrified about the idea of meeting and dining and ultimately housing this blind man. Finally through this wonderful experience they enjoyed the two of them were brought together by the drawing of the cathedral. They closed their eyes and allowed their different, yet human cathedrals joined by the hand sketch imperfectly.  

America’s Epic

            When discussing the Iliad and Odyssey in class and learning about all things “Epic,” I couldn’t help but let my mind wander and explore the history of The United States while trying to put a finger upon this particular topic of discussion. While allowing my mind to wander my mind reached places like the Revolutionary War and the instrumental men such as George Washington that displayed such great faith and trust in the Lord to provide a country free of tyranny. I also passed over The Civil War and thought of brave men that had deep enough conviction in their hearts to fight their fellow men for basic rights that they believed their neighbors should have. I thought of many brave young men who at the call of duty stormed the beaches of Normandy, France where so many laid down their lives in order for others to enjoy freedoms and peace. All of these embody pieces and bits of an “Epic.” These instances have not just one hero but many heroes. They embody a nation of determined men who will defend others freedoms even if it cost them their own freedoms and lives.

            But after discussing the Trojan War and quickly referencing Brad Pitt and the movie Troy, my mind was fixed on one Epic in particular that resonates deep within me. For those of us that are avid sports fans know the story of Pat Tillman well, but many others have not had the pleasure of reading or hearing about this wonderful hero. Pat Tillman was a standout athlete and football player at Arizona State and later with the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). Pat had made it to the big-time and reached one of his many lofty goals. But unlike most young men in our country, playing football was not Pat’s ultimate athletic goal. It was only a means to pursue his true number one goal of becoming a U.S. Army Ranger. After a few years of playing in the NFL, Pat left millions of dollars on the table and talked his younger brother, who was chasing his own dream of becoming a Major League Baseball player,  into pursuing this goal alongside him.

            Who in their right mind would do something like this, who would leave millions of dollars, plus fame and fortune, and lavish lifestyles behind to defend our freedoms. The only answer that comes to my mind is EPIC men. You see, America’s EPIC is made of men like Pat Tillman, men with options. Men with choices, but men that would rather provide and protect those options and choices for future generations.    

Two Examples of Hedonism:

It is only fitting that I discuss Question one and detail two examples of Hedonism. For the past four or five days I have been in Las Vegas working a convention. Hedonism professes that happiness is the equal to physical pleasure and also the possession of things that bring us pleasure. If Las Vegas does not perfectly parallel Hedonism I must be sorely informed on the subject.

            As I sat and did a little people watching, as I always do when in Vegas, I couldn’t help but reflect on our discussions in class the past two weeks. To view the people and their actions, the only explanation I could muster up justify their actions was that they were acting on their hedonistic tendencies and enjoying the pleasures that they have so rightly earned and so deeply feel the urge and need to experience.

            Two events of particular exclusivity in Las Vegas stuck out to me like a sore thumb. Gambling and Prostitution are two of the most Hedonistic activities available for pleasure in Vegas. The slogan of “What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas” is very similar to the slogan for Hedonistic view of Carpe Diem or “Seize the Day.” In other words, live it up. I remember reading that hedonistic people believe that all pleasure is automatically good. This statement had more effect on this topic of discussion than all others combined. For the only reason I could actually believe that someone would be willing to thrown outrageous amount of money away in a casino that you fully understand is not in the business of losing money and to also throw away your dignity and self respect for the flesh of a prostitute or stripper to enjoy for a hedonistic moment of pleasure, because all pleasure is automatically good.