ENG 2150 Gimme Shelter: the spaces we live in

My final paper is focused on Long Island City, Queens. Besides its convenience of getting to either Manhattan or Brooklyn quickly, I want to discuss how it became known as “cultural center of Queens.” I want to do that in a step by step format arguing that Long Island City it attracts a new generational and more modern form of art. This, in turn, defines its vibrancy and why it is such a landmark of Queens.

Although I have an idea of what argument I want to make, I don’t have firm idea of how to word it and put it into a thesis. I feel also that this idea should take more of a stance. There are plenty of information and articles tying Long Island City to art. I also want to add how it has commercially developed and attracted businesses because of its growing resident population.

Right now I am toying with plenty ideas, but have to find a way to narrow it down to a firm argument.

Today in class we discussed Simmel’s emphasis on the role economy plays in our decision making and what we value. For example, I can say that a composition notebook is worth or valued at $2.50. How did I come to that estimation? That is what I have learned from our economy. In that way the economy is the determining factor in how we weigh the value of something. Simmel also compares life in general to an equation. The ultimate answer to that equation is money/economic based. Everything that leads up to that answer are products or factors of that equation. My ultimate goal is success. Things that add up to that are getting an education, studying, extracurricular activities, etc. Those are all components to an equations whose answer is success.

Simmels view is an objective, straightforward approach. In thinking of life’s aspects in an unbiased, mathematical sense we are able to gain a fuller understanding of how these factors play a role on our mental states. Unfortunately it is highly impossible to think in a solely objective manner. Most of our values and opinions are based on experience and sentimentality. That is the drive and guide in our lives. In turn, that is the main influence on our mental states.

The main idea in William James’ The Stream of Consciousness is that thinking is an ongoing, complex process that involves all of a human’s abilities. It is more than just feeling and sensing; it is how we analyze and interpret surrounding issues. James heavily emphasizes that our thought process is in constant motion – we are never not thinking. Even if there are gaps between our thoughts, such as during sleep, we still join previous thoughts to our next conscious thoughts. Although there are many things in our world to think about, we choose to focus on a specific subject. James proposes that we view our consciousness as a whole, rather than in bits and pieces leading up to complex thought. It is impossible for us to imagine simple thoughts because our daily routines are composed of complex thoughts. That is the foundations for which he builds his concept that consciousness is a consistent, ongoing stream.

I think that doodles in notebooks during class are the ideal example for James’ chapter. Although our notes are fixed on whatever is written on the board or what is being discussed, our mind still wanders. These wanderings, many times, result in doodles that have nothing to do with the class topic. This is a prime example of how our consciousness is always on the go and very complex. If our mind is able to linger on different thoughts at once, it proves that humans are incapable of visualizing simple thoughts. This proves James’ theory of a stream of consciousness and that it is better to think of consciousness as a whole, rather than puzzle pieces that build up to it.

Below are some doodles that I believe represent dual thinking processes at once.