The New Literature

So I realize I’ve been neglecting my blog lately but I’m busy like a bee. That is no excuse though, so here I am straightening my hair, getting ready for class, packing, rocking out with Smashing Pumpkins and writing this blog. See… busy.

I thought I’d run off my last entry for this one and think through a random thought I just had on music and literature. In the past literature was extremely important. It was a major form of entertainment. History was preserved through these great works of art and life lessons learned. Today however, less and less of the population is reading but music is always listened to. Is it possible that musical lyrics will someday take the place of poetry and plays? That our music will carry on our legacy and not our books?

In my high school English class not only did we analyzed poetry we analyzed music. Lyrics are just a form of poetry after all. Music has the almost magical ability to make us happy or sad, to change our emotions. We can relate to them at extremely personal levels at times feeling like they were just written for us. Songs tell stories of the time, for instance “Hero of War” by Rise Against shows a popular view to America’s current situation. Songs also teach us lessons too. “Don’t Worry Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin (as seen in last entry) teaches us that you shouldn’t let anything ruin your happiness. NAS’s “I Can” teaches kids that they can do anything they want if they work hard. Some songs are just as deep as any book, poem, essay, or blog post. They provoke thought. Two I can think of off the top of my head are Muse’s “Plug in Baby” and Cold play’s “Viva La Vida.” I think that music, instead of being it’s own category of art should perhaps just be a subcategory of literature.

We all have our favorite song. I am sure you have yours. Why is it favorite? What does it mean to you? It is most likely not the same song as when you were little or maybe even a few years ago because as we change our mind, emotions, and taste change. I’m sure you look back and think “Why in the world did I ever listen to that?” I get that feeling about Aaron Carter, although I still jam out to some Spice Girls.

Dont Worry. Be Happy!

Needed a pick me up after my theology test today and this thought popped in my head. So for all you students out there who have the same feeling as me right now, this is for you:

Midterms got you down?
Well wipe away that frown
Dont worry. Be happy!

If I May Call You Edna?

Are you one of those people who does their best thinking in the shower? Are you a fish who never wants to leave the water? Does everything just seem right when you are in it?

Water, the giver of life. Without water nothing on Earth would exist. It would be barren as many other planets are. The rain after a long drought replenishes the land. The oceans provide a home for all types of aquatic life. Everything mammals eat and drink contains water. The human body is 55%-78% water. We can only survive 3 days without it. Water is essential.

In many beliefs water is not only essential, but magical. In Christianity, water is used to cleanse one’s soul of sin, in the ritual of Baptism. It is also used for blessings and exorcisms. In Hinduism, there are sacred rivers such as; the Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari, Sarasvati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri. In Islam and Judaism it is used to keep one pure. Waterfalls are sacred in the religion of Shinto. In Viking burials, the dead were sent out to sea. In the practice of Zoroastrianism, water is kept from being polluted, because it is sacred itself.

Water is a major symbol in many literary works. In Siddhartha, by Herman Hesse, water conveys knowledge and tranquility. In the song “Once In a Lifetime” by The Talking Heads, water symbolizes life. In Kate Chopin’s, The Awakening, water represents freedom and cleansing.

Now that we have learned a little bit about water throughout life, I think its time to explore what makes us so comfortable in it. My theory about this goes back to when we were just mere babies in our mother’s wombs. We were floating in fluid and felt safe. When we are in water it’s the same feeling, the feeling off safety. And when we are safe we feel free to think.

So why then are people afraid of the water? To look at the other side of water, it is very powerful. It gives life and has the power to take it. It can wipe out whole cities and topple boats like rubber duckies. As tranquil as it is, it also has great destructive energy. It has the power to pull people into its depths and never let them go.

I transform into a fish when summer comes around and I get brilliant thoughts in the shower. I love running in the rain and the ocean is my playground. Once I get in the water, its hard to get me out. All I know is there is nothing like going under water on a bright summers day. When you look up and see the sunlight glistening on the top and streaking through, everything just seems right. The silence and faint noise of moving water, put you at peace. My only wish is that I could stay down there longer, but alas I eventually have to surface for air.

“The foamy wavelets curled up to her white feet, and coiled like serpents about her ankles. She walked out. The water was chill, but she walked on. The water was deep, but she lifted her white body and reached out with a long, sweeping stroke. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace.”

http://www.africanwater.org/religion.htm

http://etext.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/ChoAwak.html

http://www.liquidsculpture.com/index.htm