endless exploration

Don't lie. As much as we all claim to be free from judgement, we have all criticized someone based on their outfit, grades, diction, etc.; it's human nature. So in all of our defenses, being judgemental is a necessary trait of being human, as we must be able to evaluate situations and make important decisions. However, just because it's natural for us all, does not mean it's morally right. Nick, the protagonist in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald states that, "whenever you feel like criticizing any one... just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had." (1). For all you know, that boy who wore that are too big for him has to wear his older brother's clothing because his mother could only work a total of 10 hours this week. The girl with the thick accent spends all her free time trying to improve her English. The kid who got a D on his history test had to work the entire weekend, instead of study...

On the right is a Nazi propaganda poster. Nazi propaganda was used to praise the Germans, and spread Hitler's leadership while shedding a negative light upon Jews, blaming them for the poor state of Germany. Between the two images above, many similarities can be drawn. For instance, on the left, is a page from Maus II by Art Speigelman, who uses mice to represent the Jews. In front stands Vladek Speigelman, and behind him are faceless mice, or Jews. In the drawing, Vladek looks exhausted and stressed, hence the bags under his eyes. The Jews are wearing prisoner uniforms, revealing their vulnerability.  On the right, Hitler stands in front of his supporters in a similar fashion. However, Hitler's facial expression isn't one showing weakness, but instead is one of power and ferocity, the people behind him saluting to him. The Germans are portrayed as a formidable power, as the goal was to convince people to stand by Hitler and the Nazis, when in reality, the world kno...

For me, personally, I enjoy reading thrillers, mysteries, something to keep me at the edge of my seat. I've always overlooked graphic novels and associated them with childishness and whatnot, and I'm sure many of my peers felt the same way. Even publishers had a hard time wrapping their heads around graphic novels' success when they first became popular. By just flipping through the pages of Maus, you would see illustrations of different animals, and probably would immediately deem it as literature targeted towards kids. Before I came to class, I skimmed over the underlying clues, acknowledging the pictures as simply painting a picture for the reader to follow. However, after participating in class discussions, I realized how much you had to read between the lines, and how much thought goes into each individual panel. Especially with a novel like Maus, a glimpse into the life of a Holocaust survivor, the themes were very serious and dark, like racism, death, and ...

On page 157 of Maus I by Art Spiegelman, he surrounds two smaller panels with a freely drawn picture of the concentration camp in Auschwitz. Within the smaller panels, Spiegelman depicts Vladek's conversation with Anja in the truck in the midst of the chaos of being transported to the camp; the two are literally trapped by the Nazis. The openness of the picture of the camp also illustrates how the Nazis were everywhere, and how the Jews could not escape their cruelty. Additionally, the trucks shaded with vertical stripes resemble prison cells. Towards the bottom of the page, the barred windows on the back of the truck makes the similarity even more obvious. The banner going across the page says "Arbeit Macht Frei" which, after googling it, I was able to understand that it is a German saying that means "Work Sets You Free." This is ironic because the more work Jews were forced to do, the less hope for freedom they had. By blocking the banner with a caption t...

What exactly is the definition of the term "worship"? According to the dictionary,  to worship means to show "reverence and adoration for (something)." The word "reverence" means deep respect. With this in mind, I disagree with what Wallace has to say about worshipping your own "body and beauty and sexual allure" and how that will "always" make you feel "ugly" (237). In fact, I think having deep respect for these things will make you appreciate yourself even more. However, I also think it becomes a choice for each individual. To a certain extent, what Wallace states has some truth to it. I think feeling ugly depends on if you worship an "ideal" body or type of beauty and if you don't fully love your own. If you worship or admire someone else's beauty, you will feel as though you're not as beautiful as him or her, because it will take an immense amount of effort to try exactly like anyone. If one "w...