The way I managed to interpret Franz Kafka’s piece “Before the Law” was relating power and the aspect of life in general. The man from the country approaches the gatekeeper in hopes of gaining access to the law. The law being something that is accessible to everyone, as stated by the man himself. The gatekeeper at first doesn’t grant him the access. The man asks again and he gets a “its possible…. but not for now” answer. So after closely reading, it can be interpreted that the gatekeeper has power and the man is someone of lower power. The gatekeeper would mock the man in a way because he would see that the man was in fact initimated so that made the gatekeeper constantly reminding him that he has power and the further he gets, the higher in power the other gatekeepers will get. After a long time insisiting, the man grows old and is starting to die. The gatekeeper asks the man before dying, what does he want to know? The man wants to know that out of all who work so hard to gain entry, what makes him any different and the gatekeeper responds with “Here no one else can gain entry, since this entrance was assigned only to you. I’m going now to close it.” This story in a way proves that everyone in life has some power the hold. Whether it is given to us, in the sense that we are being classified based off of our class or whether you use yourself to the bestt advantage. The man knew that he wanted to know the law, to be the law but after facing a huge obstacle which was the gatekeeper, he didn’t try to strive for it as much as he could of. He kind of just let it slip right out of his hands despite insiting on it for a bit in the beginning. When the gatekeeper saw that he was the obstacle, he did what he could to remain it. In life, you have goals and once you embark on that road, it is in your power whether you use it to your advantage. As the man said, out of everyone who worked so hard, why didn’t he gain access? The gatekeeper responds with that no one can gain you the access cause only the man had the ability too.

Emily Dickinson’s “Tell all the truth but tell it slant”

This poem in a funny way reminded me of a relationship and in most cases even a friendship. Someone would tell the truth but in a way that would benefit them so they wouldn’t either hurt the other person’s feelings or cause any type of trouble or argument. Hence the first two lines that read “Tell all the truth but tell it slant- Sucess in Circuit lies”. This is done because the whole truth can be hard to swallow or can catch someone by surprise. The second half of th poem talks about explaining lightening, comparing it to the truth, what you have to do in reality is  explain the truth in full but in a way of words that would not hit the person hard. You have to explain in all steps precisely in order for the whole truth to be out on the table. I do believe this poem is correct in the way it says the truth should be said, if the truth is not explained FULLY then it the truth is not really told.

Aphorisms on Futurism by Mina Loy:

The first two lines “Die in the past—–Live in the future” I think was used at the beginning for a reason. It basically sums up the whole reading. When making decisions, people tend to always think about the past and when they experienced a bad one, they tend to not make riskier decisions. I was always told to work the future and to not let anything hold you back so in a way this is what the reading summarizes. We are constantly face a man vs man battle in which as mentioned before, we tend to find not being able to move forward because we are so caught up in the past. Sometimes we need to take risks and see where it takes us. “Leap into it and it explodes with light” so basically take the chance and run with it. It gets hard but the process in order to achieve what you want to achieve you must struggle, it does not come easy. No matter how big, small,old or young, you are, you are capable of doing whatever you desire. When you put your mind into it especially your motivation, the sky is the limit. The quote that reads “Man is a slave only to his own mental lethargy.” This proves that when you restrict yourself, there is no way getting out since we are in control of your thoughts.

Example of Manifesto:

Don’t let anyone tell you your potential.

Don’t let their thoughts rule you, rule you to a point where it affects your path to your goals. Follow what you love, what you want. Explore and take advantage of every chance you face, no matter how big or small the risk may be.

You are in charge.

Define your own meaning of success and don’t ever doubt yourself in the slightest bit as that can gear you off track. Remind yourself why you started as a kicker. And remember to always  look at the past sometimes to remind you how far you have gotten and to make you more proud than ever..

This are just a couple of things I say to myself whenever things get tough. I love to read inspirational quotes to keep going and get back on track. It can be targted for anyone as words of advice whether they have someone to remind them or not.

In Monday’s discussion, intersectionality plays a huge role in Harriet Jacobs narrative. Intersectionality being “individuals are subject to a number interconnected social categories” race and gender just to name a few. In other words, one individual being opressed some how. Jacobs intended audience at the time of her novel being written was for white northern women. So they can understand the pain, from not just women to women but the unfairness on their part as being the slave owners wives, the fact that they not just treat women very poorly but as well don’t give respect to their own wives since they are sleeping with female slaves. Jacobs writes about her experiences and incounters throughtout all the years she was a slave. When reading both Frederick Douglass “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July” as well as “Seneca Falls Declaration” I couldn’t help but find some similarities. Starting with Douglass’ piece. He discusses how the fourth of july is something joyful to WHITE AMERICANS only. “The fourth of july is yours not mine, you may rejoice, I mourn.” It is an obvious statement when I say that African Americans were not treated like whites. They basically had no say in society in any type of way or form. He at first gives the founding fathers their credit for what they have done before he talks about the reality. He claims that what the founding fathers have made to be the founding principles are indeed being acted against. This is all a matter of hypocrisy. Just by the title of his speech, reminded to Jacobs narrative, in chapter three, titles “The Slaves New Years Day” in which she would describe how on New Years would be the day where they as in the slaves, would be traded and brought. This day was a day they would dred of course but to the slave owners a good day for them as they brought more slaves that they can prey and take advantage of. Both, shows how a day that is meant for everyone to enjoy and celebrate is in realty, a pity party. In the Seneca Falls Confernece, we see a little of the declaration of independence, talking about equality for all but it also points out how women are apart of those equal rights and how they should be respected in society. As said before, Jacobs audience was for women. White women. As you may have heard, when “We the  people” was written it may have only meant “We the white people” In Jacobs narrative, its clear that women of color would have no say since they were slaves. But the word women doesn’t exclude anyone, its ALL women. This was written by two anti slavery activsts. All three texts go together because they all have to do with white men having more authority and say over everyone else.

Lyric poetry was commonly used and very popular during the Romanticism era. Romanticism focused on individualism, nature as well as just being more in touch or at least trying to be more in touch with your own feelings. Both Chinese Lyric (Tu Fu) and Arabic Lyric (The Koran) were poems written in this era, explains why they have some aspects in common. Chinese Lyric was written by Tu Fu when he was imprisoned by a group of people called the rebels. During the time, which was year 774, there was a lot of political chaos around him and he found that writing helped cope with his desire for the peace and the political chaos that he was surrounded by. In Spring Prospect, which is the name of the Chinese Lyric, he describes nature not in the beautiful scenery that you would love to imagine. Tu Fu describing that the flowers drew tears and the birds basically sensing that there was something on right because they alarmed the heart shows that the political change that was going on during the time was not affecting society in a good way and since this was also the romanticism era, it was all about getting in tune with ones feelings and nature and this lyric does both. Fu found this as a way of, in my opinion, letting the public know how much this is affecting us whether we see it or not. The poem ends with hair getting grey and falling out, which can be inferred that this has been going on for a while and it hasnt been addressed. Arabic Lyric, at first when you look at it, you dont really see how the poems have simailar aspects but when interpreted it can be seen. The Opening, is basically written in a form of a prayer. It talks about God being in charge and one having belief as we ask him for help and to help us down the right way. Getting back to the aspect of nature, this is a good example because religion is all about God and just being natural and pure in a sense. In order for you to say a prayer, especially when asking for help, something is going on. It could be that a simailar situation may be going on, and help is being asked for. This was written, just like the chinese lyric in order to write down emotion and feeling like a sense of relief may have came along. Although the structures of the poem are very much different, they can be linked in that sense. If we were to go into a much deeper interpretation, one can say that these poems are showing a sense of individualism because they are expressing themselves, which shows that they are being independent.

The Bride of Frankenstein is one of the most successful sequels to Mary Shelley and her famous story of Frankenstein. There were other sequels and more moder verisons of the story but both James Whale; who was the director and especially John L. Balderston; who wrote the movie, decided to shake things up and create a horror and sci flim where the monster gets a love interest.

Despite what may have happened in the original movie, in this verison Frankenstein and the monster end up being alive. It starts off with Mary Shelley herself claiming there is more to the story and it automatically takes us back to the last scence of Frankenstein (1931). The father of the girl who was drowned by the monster, wishes to see the bones of the monster, but ends up falling into a pit that little does that the monster is still living and would soon strangle him. Frankenstein is found and returned to Elizabeth and with a little care, is well again. He becomes caught up in the fact of that he can try again once more. Elizabeth is not so fon dof the idea and starts to think that this time around, things will not end up so well for Frankenstein. Frankenstein and his mentor are reunited again and start looking for parts for the mate. The monster ends up saving a woman, the woman and her screams are heard by two hunters and automatically come to her rescue. Long story short, the monster kills the hunters and escapes the woods. Fast forward a bit, Frankenstein does not wish to continue on with the idea of the collaboration to make the monster a mate and his newly wife Elizabeth is kidnapped and used to mak Frankenstein do his part. Of course, Dr. Frankenstein works hard and hard enough to make The Bride of Frankenstein an actual creature. The monster when seeing his bride, automatically feels a connection and his first word is Friend? but the bride ends up rejecting him. The monster becomes emotional and claims that his bride hates him. Frankenstein and Elizabeth fleed the scene knowing that this cannot end well and the monster ends up pulling a lever and is the cause of the destruction of the tower and lab.

The similarity between the two, would be obivously be that once again, Frankenstein was not so successful. Even though this time around, the body parts chosen were not specifically chosen but one thing that was missing was naturing them and having Frankenstein tell them its okay and a sense of comfort to the monsters. Just like in the first, Frankenstein runs away from the creations instead of actually taking as much effort as he did to make the creatures but instead to show them whats right from the beginning and most likely, this story could have had a different turn out if the bride felt comfortable from the start of her being alive.

It all starts from after he was born, that Victor Frankenstein recalls his life story by explaining where he comes from, his childhood as well as family. He was some of high class as he states in the first sentence “I am by birth a Genevese; and my family is one of the most distinguished of that republic.” His father was “well respected” by everyone who knew him due to his activeness in public business. He spent his younger years serving the affairs of the country until he made the decision of focusing on family. His father was extremely close to a man named Beaufort, who was a merchant. Beaufort soon died because of poverty. Due to this moment of vulnerability, Beaufort’s daughter Caroline and Victor’s father become close and soon marry. Victor was born not to long after.  Around chapter 3, we are introduced to Elizabeth, who soon becomes part of the family as she is adopted and becomes Victor’s step cousin. In this chapter, Victor is much older, seventeen to be exact, and is ready to attend the University of Ingolstadt. But his dreams are soon tested when both his mother Caroline and Elizabeth become deeply ill with scarlet fever which his mom doesn’t survive, she tells Victor and Elizabeth to marry before her death but Victor, with all the pain his heart, ends up going to Ingolstadt.

In a way, I feel like this decision to go to Ingolstadt ended up causing Victor even more pain in the end as he never got to really dwell his mother’s death. When people don’t tend to take their feelings into consideration, it ends up bottling up and becoming more than it was before. Even though, since the age of 15, he was always intrigued by science, in chapter 4 he basically becomes an introvert and blocks himself from the world in order to focus on his work that is a body. I feel like that point in time in his life, it changed him. He lost contact with everyone as his obsession grew. “The summer months passed while I was thus engaged, heart and soul, in one pursuit. It was a most beautiful season; never did the fields bestow a more plentiful harvest, or the vines yield a more luxuriant vintage..” That is what Victor narrates on his feelings on working on the body.

I am the type of person to never take the time to make sure if I am okay, which is obviously not okay. I go out of my way, both left and right, to make sure that everyone around me is in their best state, no matter how little or big my help may be. When it comes to people I am extremely close to, if I have to sacrifice my happiness to make them feel better, I wouldn’t even think twice to do so. I see it as both a weakness and a strength but lately

I feel nothing but

a weight on my shoulders, I

might just be losing

Losing, a sense of how I actually am. I realized that lately I have been anxious about what tomorrow might hold and even the slightest things bother me. I constantly find myself thinking about every type of scenario that can happen without a reason too. Its like my mind wonders and it is not in my hands to control it. Work at home, work at school, even with people I, on a daily, put up with can feel like factor to the overthinking my mind can do. Satori is one Zen principle that focuses on the natural state. Natural state being that the harmony between body and the mind. Although it is difficult to reach a point, one way to attempt this harmony is through mediation. When I reach high levels of stress, I sit back and mediate and find myself more calm, less worried and able to concentrate more.

Its a distraction

A private trip just for me

To be more at ease

I learned about mediation through my counselors in Baruch and my aunt does a little of it. I had probably the same reaction that many have. Which is “uh no, not for me.” But never say never, life is all about discovering things, taking risks and doing things that you never thought you would ever even have an interest in. I’ve learned that I make better decisions when I am in tune with myself than when I am stressed out and I promised myself after I noticed that change, that I would do it more often.

Better decisions,

Equals more of a stable mind

Happiness is key.

Hi everyone, my name is Lyndsey Rivera and I am currently a sophomore majoring in finance. I was born and raised in the Bronx but currently live in Westchester.

Immanuel Kant’s “What is Enlightenment?” talks about how one should not rely on the guidance and/or opinion of another in order to act for themselves. He defines this as “immaturity”. He also states that this immaturity happens when there is “lack of resolution and courage” as oppose to lack of understanding. He claims that being immature is “convenient” but in a sarcastic tone saying that since we have a book to help understand ourselves reason and position in society, “a spiritual adviser to have a conscience for me” and a doctor to tell you what to do in order to be your best self, its rather easy to fall into that immature thinking. It’s easy to not put in any effort or even think at all if you constantly have someone doing that for you. Once a person thinks this way, it is hard to shake this out of them since it has became more of a habit. When he says this, I automatically thought of a piece I read back in high school called “Plato’s Allegory of the Cave” in which talks about a group of people who are prisoned and while being in prison, are shown through the walls things that they will sooner or later ought to believe are true when in reality they are being blinded into thinking that reality is something that is when its not. Towards the end, when the prisoners are free and realize that what they were taught in the cave is nothing like the REAL world, they can’t accept this “new” reality because they are so used to thinking this way. I also find the usage of the word coward to be repeated, this is because this is another reason for people not being to able to think and stand up for themselves. Kant’s solution to this problem is one word simple, freedom.

In my opinion, I don’t believe we live in an enlightenment era. We are constantly standing up for what we believe is right and if that was the case, living in an enlightenment era, this wouldn’t be so. There are so many movements currently going on such as the Women’s March that took place recently and groups such as BLM (Black Lives Matter) and so many others that just prove that we are not thinking immaturely. We are not afraid to take charge when needed something that in Kant’s era wasn’t seen.