The piece of art by Vasudeo S. Gaitonde, named Painting 4 really stood out to me. After seeing many many paintings in the MOMA really related to me and the great works class. Painting 4 is very symmetrical the top and bottom are similar and so are the left and the right. But as you approach more to the center both sides become connected. Although the top and the bottom are similar there are slight color differences. I believe that the colors are our races. I believe the artist is trying to tell us that, when we put our races away and move closer towards human connection, we become the same. The blue area represents human similarities, and ultimately shows how we are all the same. 

In Freud’s Family Relationships he discusses the inter family relationships from birth on. Primarily focusing on a childs relationship with his parents throughout his/her lifetime.    He begins the article by speaking about the idea how a baby admires their parents and wants to look like them. They then begin to agree with everything their parents say, and want to emulate everything they do. When the child grows up he becomes less fond of his father. Then he speaks about the Oedipus complex. Where a child has sexual relations with the mother. I do not agree with this, but I do see where he’s coming from. Faulkner’s “Barn Burning,” is related to Freud’s ideas on relationship. It relates to Freud’s ideas in that it discusses the conflict between a father and his son. This story is about a boy, Sartoris, that has a conflict with his father, and debates whether or not to protect him. Sartoris knows that his father burnt down the barn of Mr. Harris, but debates whether to protect him. He sees the judge as evil, just because he is going against his father, this is very true to relative to Freud’s theories on the relationship between father and child. But it changes as the child rats out on his father knowing that he was wrong.

When we think of African American slaves, the first thing that usually comes to mind is how they worked extremely hard and how they were beaten. You may also think about male slaves being bought based on their physical attributes. When learning about slavery throughout my life I was never taught the hardships of the women. Frederick Douglass gives us a glimpse of how the women were treated. When he recalls the incident with his aunt Hester getting raped and abused, it opened my eyes. I realized that the women had it even harder the men. African American women were looked at as real estate, and nothing more than that. The film “The Birth of a Nation” gives us insight into the lives of the African American women during slavery, and it shows us through the life of Esther, a slave who was horribly raped and treated like absolute garbage by her master. This article speaks about the deeper meanings of the film such as the gender gap, and the power of women. As quoted in article: “she represents countless black women who have been and continue to be violated. Women without a voice, without power. Women in general. But black women in particular.” I truly believe that this film was speaking out against rape and against sexual abuse of women. The director is using rape of African American women during slavery as a vehicle to relay a deeper message. That being the issue of rape, which is still current and happening as we speak.

The story of Frederick Douglass, is an amazing story that we can learn lessons from for generations and generations to come. Frederick Douglass is the story of a man who saw it all. Douglass was a pioneer who stood for what he believed in, and made an impact for everyone around him. Douglass started his life as a slave, and ends it as a free man. Although it was a pretty amazing accomplishment, the story is not about that. The story is about the Douglass’ Journey, and his mindset and how he never gave up on what he believed in. This book gave us insight into the mind of Frederick Douglass. As a reader I was able to see what Douglass was thinking in every situation throughout his wife. Douglass first realized what it was like being a slave when he saw his Aunt Hester getting beaten. I believe this moment left a mark on his life forever. This was a traumatizing moment for young Frederick, that ultimately left a mark on his life forever. As Douglass grew up and started to become educated he realized how bad the slave life was. Douglass eventually became free. That is not what made him great. Many slaves escaped slavery and became free. Douglass saw meaning in his life and sought to make a lasting impact to the lives of others. After becoming free Douglass didn’t end his journey and relax. He continued his journey to promote freedom and demote slavery throughout the country. That is what made Frederick Douglass the icon he is today.

Metamorphosis by Kafka, tells a story of a human turned creature, and its interactions with society. Gregor Samsa, was an average salesman. There was nothing really special about him, until one day. A day that ultimately changes his life. Samsa wakes up as gigantic human sized insect. He reacted to it as if he was in a dream, until he realized it was a reality. Gregor, blew off work and remained in his room. His family, and his boss became worried. As soon as the chief clerk saw him he went into shock and became horrified. Everyone, except his sister Grete began rejecting him, because of his odd and scary physical appearance. Everywhere he went people got scared, and immediately fled his presence. His parents rejected him the most, they were disgusted and dismayed by their son, and they insisted to get rid of him. All of this rejection and hatred took a toll on Samsa, which ultimately led to his death. Right off the bat this story reminded me of the story of Frankenstein. I believe the underlying message with both of these stories is society’s rejection of differentness. In both these stories odd creatures are rejected and humiliated by society. I believe as humans we must be accepting of everyone, and not reject them based off their physical appearance. That is the main message I learnt from this story.

William Blake’s The Lamb depicts the lamb as an gentle, dependent animal. Blake emphasizes that the lamb is given life, food, as well as clothes. This shows that the lamb is a dependent creature reliant on the so called one “who made thee”. Frankenstein’s creature can be compared to the Lamb in William Blake’s poem. The creature just like the lamb, is created, given life by its creator. The creature is born innocent and created with Frankenstein’s good heart of intention. A creature is born innocent and “meek and mild”. It is his environment and influence that change it. Later on in the novel, the monster commits murder. These murders are committed because of Frankenstein’s rejection of his creation. The feelings of dejection the creature feels are what influenced it to commit these deeds. Just like the lamb, the creature is born innocent, like a child, as Blake says. When the creature commits murder, it can be compared to the Tyger, as a ruthless creature. However, Blake’s emphasis from both poems, is on the creator. At one point in The Tyger, he says, “Did he who made the lamb make thee?” In my opinion, this reference shows that all animals are created innocent, but change throughout their existence through certain influences. Even in the end, the creature is extremely distraught by Frankenstein’s death. His emotions show that his true nature is innocent and gentle, like that of a lamb. His emotions express his deep devotion toward his creator, just as Blake’s poem emphasizes the lamb’s creator, who gives the lamb food and clothes.

In William Blakes The Tyger, and the Lamb, he depicts two different types of animals and their lifestyles. Which ultimately represent two different types of living. The lamb is one that is more gentle and calm, the lamb needs “its creator” to survive. The Tyger on the other hand is more aggressive and wild, Blake even says in the poem “Did he who make the lamb make thee?” I believe that the relation between the two is more of a nature vs. nurture. When born all animals are innocent, but when they are raised in a hostile environment they must be hostile to survive. But the lamb grows up in a more calm environment where he can graze all day. I believe the Tyger is more similar than the lamb is to the creature. When the creature was created, he was as innocent as anyone else can be, like a baby. But when he was abandoned by his creator, he began to see the atrocities of the world and committed murder. I believe that he committed this shameful act because he wasn’t raised correctly. He did not know right from wrong. Just like the Tyger who kills to survive, I believe Frankenstein did this in order to survive. While the creature is very similar to the Lamb, I believe he really represents the Tyger.

There was a fog, a really dense fog on top of the old and distraught cemetery. It looked like an old town that was destroyed and hadn’t been around for centuries. That pillar was the last remaining of that town. The trees are accompanied by each other. There dullness and denseness complemented the color of the sky. It looked like an old haunted town. That was my reaction after looking at it for the first time. The second time I saw it from a completely new and different perspective. It looked like an old church with its own cemetery, that was completely destroyed. It was dark and scary, and frankly I was scared and uncomfortable. But I saw it much deeper than that. This picture was depicting religion, and the old way of thinking in relation to the enlightenment. The enlightenment was a time of thinking and challenging old outdated thoughts that have been followed for centuries. The enlightenment totally changed the way people thought about and practiced religion. I believe that the message David Friedrich is trying to send is that, during the enlightenment religion is not what it used to be. I believe he is comparing the picture to religion. He is saying that religion is old and outdated, in the time of the enlightenment. No more did people just follow and do, they thought for themselves. I ultimately think that this picture is a metaphor for religion during the time of the enlightenment.

For generations upon generations humans have used the tool/art of fiction to take the mind to an imaginary mysterious place. Fiction can often lead to ideas and theories which can then lead to knowledge. The beauty about fiction is that we can imagine as if we are in a reality. It is a deep thought but if we can think of fiction as an artificial reality, it makes it much easier to grasp the idea. I believe the idea of Fiction led to the enlightenment. When people began to read and indulge in fiction, they were in another reality where they came up with new thoughts and ideas, which ultimately led to the enlightenment. “I think therefor I am”, Fiction gives us the ability to create artificial knowledge which is translatable to the real world. Amini does a great job in portraying the power of storytelling, the boundaries are endless! Another great thing about fiction and storytelling, is that when you are reading or listening to a fiction you are in the storytellers’ world. You are seeing what they are seeing, but you can have your own thoughts. That’s what makes the mind amazing.  So does fiction lead to knowledge? Absolutely, fiction creates an artificial reality where we can think and have ideas that translate to the real world. I believe that fiction was a key component that ultimately led to the great Enlightenment.