ENG 2150 Gimme Shelter: the spaces we live in

After reading Simmel’s text on “The Metropolis and Mental Life”, it appears to me that he is making an argument on how an individual values time, and how money drives the world.. In todays society, time can be seen to be more valued then it ever was or it can also be that we are wasting it more then its ever been, all depending on the individual. The example we used was described in the text of how a pocket watch was to be kept in ones pocket. The significance of this watch is so that we are more punctual people as it demonstrates a great part of our personalities, image, and priorities. With regards to the Blase Attitude that Simmel speaks of, the city dwellers demonstrate this attitude quite nicely. Since time has become of such value, We spend about a fourth of our life in educational institutions, and then another half of our life working to make ends meet. This process is repeated over and over again and it brings out the blase attitude that Simmel describes. However, due to changing times, without seeking a higher education, it is impossible to become successful and wealthy. In our minds, we know that we have to continuously repeat the same procedures every single day, but at the end of the day, its the money that drives us to continue doing what we have to do.

 When I first read A stream of consciousness, I was puzzled as to what the meaning of the reading was about. Even now I don’t believe i grasp the entire concept 100%, but my interpretation of this would be with the picture shown above. It is water, otherwise known as H2O in chemistry terms. It serves as the life for this planet just as the blood circulating our body serves as life for us. I feel water represents consciousness because if its shape. Water does not have a shape unless it is contained, similar to consciousness, it has not shape or form unless molded by the person its apart of.

According to James ” Every State tends to be part of a personal consciousness, Within each personal consciousness states are always changing, Each personal Consciousness is sensibly continuous, it is interested in some parts of its object to the exclusion of others. Water hold true to all these attributes described by James. It is dependent on the personality and experiences of the person. Water is also always continuously flowing on this planet to continue the life cycle, just like consciousness is continuous. Depending on the direction water is traveling, it is also interested in certain areas with the exclusion of others.  Water represents the Stream of consciousness as depicted by James.