Tmesis (noun):
The interpolation of one or more words between the parts of a compound word, as be-thou-ware for beware.
OR, as Barney would use... "It's gonna be legen-wait-for-it-dary!"
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Prolegomenon.
Guess what?! Someone actually used one of my "Strange & awesome words" today at uni! "Prolegomenon".
I thought it was pretty cool. I had never actually seen it anywhere except in the Thesauraus ages ago... Anyway, just thought I'd share that piece of randomness.
I dare you all to try and use it at some point throughout your day. Just throw it out there!
I thought it was pretty cool. I had never actually seen it anywhere except in the Thesauraus ages ago... Anyway, just thought I'd share that piece of randomness.
I dare you all to try and use it at some point throughout your day. Just throw it out there!
An escape from reality?
Have you ever considered the multiplicity of space that media creates? I hadn't until this week's Media lecture, but think about this; you're currently on the internet, you're reading this blog, possibly chatting to someone, playing online poker, checking out the latest headlines, whatever it is, you're in a number of virtual spaces at once, as well as still being in the physical world.
These spaces overlap and intertwine constantly, yet is there always a clear separation between these two (or more) worlds?
Media allows us to multiply the spaces that we take up. And not only that, but we can create new selves, multiplying our identities. The internet in particular gives this gateway of escape to many of us, in which we can be multiple identities in multiple locations at once.
Consider sites such as Second Life where you can create an avatar for yourself and "socialise" with others in this virtual world. Yes, it becomes a tad creepy, I agree, when people become totally consumed in this world... Some even to the point where they've opened up a rehab centre for World of Warcraft addicts to "beat pathological computer obsessions." (More here if you like)
It seems like an extreme stretch, but if you consider these people in the real world, I mean, to you or me it may seem strange, but I mean, perhaps they don't find their lives "fulfilling" enough, and see this as an escape from a mundane reality into a more exciting, self-created world in which confidence comes from the keyboard and mouse.
Though, I think it's scary that people have come to this overdriven obsession. Perhaps these sites are allowing us to become less involved with reality, and in a way they have created the issue, as without this option of a virtual escape, perhaps they would be out there in the real world, and through this forced social atmosphere they would not have become overwhelmingly consumed in another world.
This also brings us to Facebook, MSN and such... These are "social networks," yet ironically, how social are we actually being by sitting in front of a computer?
These spaces overlap and intertwine constantly, yet is there always a clear separation between these two (or more) worlds?
Media allows us to multiply the spaces that we take up. And not only that, but we can create new selves, multiplying our identities. The internet in particular gives this gateway of escape to many of us, in which we can be multiple identities in multiple locations at once.
Consider sites such as Second Life where you can create an avatar for yourself and "socialise" with others in this virtual world. Yes, it becomes a tad creepy, I agree, when people become totally consumed in this world... Some even to the point where they've opened up a rehab centre for World of Warcraft addicts to "beat pathological computer obsessions." (More here if you like)
It seems like an extreme stretch, but if you consider these people in the real world, I mean, to you or me it may seem strange, but I mean, perhaps they don't find their lives "fulfilling" enough, and see this as an escape from a mundane reality into a more exciting, self-created world in which confidence comes from the keyboard and mouse.
Though, I think it's scary that people have come to this overdriven obsession. Perhaps these sites are allowing us to become less involved with reality, and in a way they have created the issue, as without this option of a virtual escape, perhaps they would be out there in the real world, and through this forced social atmosphere they would not have become overwhelmingly consumed in another world.
This also brings us to Facebook, MSN and such... These are "social networks," yet ironically, how social are we actually being by sitting in front of a computer?
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Things that win my heart #6.
Dear Geeks,
At least we have a candy named after us.
Sincerely, Nerds.
 |
Friday, March 25, 2011
Whoa.
Okay, whoa. Just after posting the last blog post below, I decided to procrastinate further (instead of doing my Film Studies assignment) and go onto this random photo blog that I haven't visited in months... The first thing I see?
Guess I'm not alone on the thought... :)
Guess I'm not alone on the thought... :)
Emotional memory.
Life is chaotic at the moment... Uni's been demanding, never mind everything else going on at the moment! *sigh* But we get through it, don't we? While still having some time to breathe and really get enjoy it... and to blog!
At the beginning of this week, my Theatre and Performance Studies lecturer was talking about emotional memory; the way we can relate to characters on stage by drawing from experience within our own lives. It made me wonder how close to every emotion we have each come to throughout our lives.
It's not possible to have experienced every single thing that life offers, even when we do experience a million different feelings and thoughts in a day. But such empathy can come from within us when it comes to regarding all kinds of experiences that others may go through in life; we just go through these things our own way.
For example, in acting, if you have to play a character who has murdered someone, and feels a deep sense of regret afterwards, how would you know how that feels? Surely (well, hopefully!) you haven't actually murdered anyone, but many of us would have had some feeling of regret in our lives that we can draw from... You broke your sister's doll when you were younger, or cheated on your 9th grade maths test... You know what I mean?
And each day we form new experiences, and feelings, and emotions, which constantly add to our emotional memory, whether we're conscious of it or not. These things are what push us to understand each another further and even more importantly, to further understand ourselves.
Which then makes me think, is there such thing as regret? I know I mentioned it before as an example, but I mean it now in the sense that, no matter what the experience was, was it not what you wanted in that exact moment of your life? And if you could go back to the past to erase something you regret, would you go through with it? Becuase isn't that part the building of your emotional memory, and has made you the person you are?*
*That question probably seems contradictory to my example of the murderer, but as if you wouldn't feel regret for committing murder! Unless you're a psychopath. Anyway, that's such a tangent!
At the beginning of this week, my Theatre and Performance Studies lecturer was talking about emotional memory; the way we can relate to characters on stage by drawing from experience within our own lives. It made me wonder how close to every emotion we have each come to throughout our lives.
It's not possible to have experienced every single thing that life offers, even when we do experience a million different feelings and thoughts in a day. But such empathy can come from within us when it comes to regarding all kinds of experiences that others may go through in life; we just go through these things our own way.
For example, in acting, if you have to play a character who has murdered someone, and feels a deep sense of regret afterwards, how would you know how that feels? Surely (well, hopefully!) you haven't actually murdered anyone, but many of us would have had some feeling of regret in our lives that we can draw from... You broke your sister's doll when you were younger, or cheated on your 9th grade maths test... You know what I mean?
And each day we form new experiences, and feelings, and emotions, which constantly add to our emotional memory, whether we're conscious of it or not. These things are what push us to understand each another further and even more importantly, to further understand ourselves.
Which then makes me think, is there such thing as regret? I know I mentioned it before as an example, but I mean it now in the sense that, no matter what the experience was, was it not what you wanted in that exact moment of your life? And if you could go back to the past to erase something you regret, would you go through with it? Becuase isn't that part the building of your emotional memory, and has made you the person you are?*
*That question probably seems contradictory to my example of the murderer, but as if you wouldn't feel regret for committing murder! Unless you're a psychopath. Anyway, that's such a tangent!
Friday, March 18, 2011
Waterfalls.
I'm gonna go chasing waterfalls...
No more sticking to the rivers and the lakes that I'm used to.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Gah.
Why do some women hate liberation? I'm not a total feminist or anything, and I can't say that I'm even completely up-to-scratch with how it all worked out for us females, but I'm damn sure that I prefer having the right to being paid the same as men, to vote and to show my knees to the public!
Would you really prefer not having the choice to work the same jobs as men, having half the rights men do, and not having the right to say 'No' ? Just because you're sick of working and not having the door opened for you, would you rather not having the right to choose?
And on that note, what is up with the opposite? Seriously, if a man is opening the door for you, it is generally out of sheer chivalry, not because they're being demeaning and think we can't handle things on their own. Chivalry ain't dead.
All in all, I think we should be more open-minded on both ends. Today allows us to make the choice, right? We can work if we want to, or stay home if we want to. And we have the right to kick men between the legs if they send us to the kitchen demanding a sandwich cause it's our 'duty!' Mhmm. I went there. Hehe.
Would you really prefer not having the choice to work the same jobs as men, having half the rights men do, and not having the right to say 'No' ? Just because you're sick of working and not having the door opened for you, would you rather not having the right to choose?
And on that note, what is up with the opposite? Seriously, if a man is opening the door for you, it is generally out of sheer chivalry, not because they're being demeaning and think we can't handle things on their own. Chivalry ain't dead.
All in all, I think we should be more open-minded on both ends. Today allows us to make the choice, right? We can work if we want to, or stay home if we want to. And we have the right to kick men between the legs if they send us to the kitchen demanding a sandwich cause it's our 'duty!' Mhmm. I went there. Hehe.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Strange & awesome words #2.
Prolegomenon (noun):
The beginning section of an essay, book or treatise which states the purpose and goals of the following writing.
Pretty sure that just means it's another word for "introduction" but who cares? Sounds pretty cool. Try and pronounce it :|
The beginning section of an essay, book or treatise which states the purpose and goals of the following writing.
Pretty sure that just means it's another word for "introduction" but who cares? Sounds pretty cool. Try and pronounce it :|
Friday, March 4, 2011
Bonkers.
The mad hatter:
Have I gone mad?
Alice:
I'm afraid so, you're completely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret; all the best people are.
Have I gone mad?
Alice:
I'm afraid so, you're completely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret; all the best people are.
Express.
One thing I've been pondering lately is people's inherent need to divulge all their thoughts to others. I've come to realise that every action we take, and every decision we make becomes the seed to further opinions and countless thoughts brewing in our minds, making it nearly impossible to keep them within ourselves. We have to let them out somehow, and where better to place them than in the minds of others?
Although it often poses a challenge, it is one of the most relieving ways to let go of something, or even to come to some sort of conclusion just by speaking the words that have been playing over in your mind.
It seems that by talking about things, new conclusions can be made. When you say the words aloud, you are now hearing them in the mind of those you're telling. Their judgements, or more, the judgements you believe they have, allow you to look at what you're saying from a different perspective.
Sometimes it's inevitable that our thoughts jump out, as if our mind hadn't a second to hold it back, which brings us back to that inherent need to let it out. The question we come to answering then, becomes whether we should have let it out or if it would have been better kept in. Was this new conclusion desired, or would we have rather kept hold of our own opinion? Though, don't forget, it is our choice to hold onto whichever side we wish.
I think that despite everything, expressing our thoughts is our best choice. Why let something boil when there is always someone out there who is willing to listen? And there always is. I guarantee it. It just may not necessarily be a person, but perhaps a pet goldfish, or a blog ? Whatever it is, I encourage you all to express your thoughts, fears, aspirations, despite the risk of judgement or new conclusions. Who are we without what others help us become?
Although it often poses a challenge, it is one of the most relieving ways to let go of something, or even to come to some sort of conclusion just by speaking the words that have been playing over in your mind.
It seems that by talking about things, new conclusions can be made. When you say the words aloud, you are now hearing them in the mind of those you're telling. Their judgements, or more, the judgements you believe they have, allow you to look at what you're saying from a different perspective.
Sometimes it's inevitable that our thoughts jump out, as if our mind hadn't a second to hold it back, which brings us back to that inherent need to let it out. The question we come to answering then, becomes whether we should have let it out or if it would have been better kept in. Was this new conclusion desired, or would we have rather kept hold of our own opinion? Though, don't forget, it is our choice to hold onto whichever side we wish.
I think that despite everything, expressing our thoughts is our best choice. Why let something boil when there is always someone out there who is willing to listen? And there always is. I guarantee it. It just may not necessarily be a person, but perhaps a pet goldfish, or a blog ? Whatever it is, I encourage you all to express your thoughts, fears, aspirations, despite the risk of judgement or new conclusions. Who are we without what others help us become?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)