Sunday, January 27, 2008
Words in a song
In the movie Music and Lyrics, Sophie (played by Drew Barrymore) says something to the effect that the melody of a song is like seeing something for the first time, the physical attraction, the sex. The lyrics are like when you get to know them and their story. And the combination of the two makes it magical. I think most music people would agree, at least if you asked them they would say as much. But is it so bad that I can't beyond the melody?
If I think about any moment I was moved or touched by a song, I recall the melody being the source. I don't think it's superficial. In many songs there is every bit of story in the melody as there is in the lyrics. This isn't a new idea, and I think it's why people were and are invested in classical, orchestral music so heavily for such a long time. In the past, people were incredible sensitive to what happened in a musical score. I'm hesistant to say that people today are dull in that regard, because I think it still affects us in many of the same ways. However, with classical instrumental music you just don't get the cheat sheet with the words on it. I don't really mean that. The lyrics are more than a cheat sheet, and I submit to Sophie's wisdom that the magic really is in the combination.
Sometimes I have trouble reconciling the thoughts I have about the melody with the lyrics and the song as a whole. I think we all experience this occasionally when we are humming along to an enjoyable tune, only to interrupt ourselves when we realize the lyrics are just ridiculous, and maybe for a reason. The kind of trouble I often have is when a song reminds me of something that the song is clearly not about. It's even more troubling when I want to tell Katyana that a certain song made me think of her, but I can't really mention because it may only be in the melody. For example, if you go on youtube.com and look up Shatner + Conan O'Brien + Fear of Pop you'll find a video of a song Ben Folds and Shatner did on the Late Night Show. It has to be that version, the one I downloaded on itunes just isn't quite there. The melody reminds me of the days when Katyana and I just started dating. It's something like a nervous feeling in my chest, but at the same time there's calm. It makes me so happy. If you listen to the words, it's funny how much that song is apparently in another world than the one I imagine.
I cut my hair today. I had been growing it out for almost a year now. Well I guess more like 7-8 months. After growing it for so long, some amount of attachment is inevitable. Though really for me, it's not that important. It's nice to only use a little bit of shampoo, and take 2 minutes to dry off instead of all morning. But then again, it's nice to have long hair. What makes the decision for me is just that it's time for me to have short hair. It grew out for so long, because I didn't feel the need for that kind of change. And I guess now I do. Shame it has to make me shorter.
I realized at some point in my life, that I'm really an all or nothing kind of person. I found that I can stick to something if I am ready to commit myself to it. That sounds great and all, it's a good thing to know. But on the other side it takes a lot for me to prepare myself to change. And until I am ready, I can make for a pretty unimpressive human being. I haven't figured out if it's a good or bad thing. It does show a lack of moderation, and I'm trying to work on that in a few different parts of my life, but I also wonder if it's just the way I'll always be. It doesn't have to be a bad thing, as long as I can continually seek to recognize what is important (and recognize it to the extent that is necessary for me). But that's just a lot easier said than done. It helps to have the people I love around me.
If I think about any moment I was moved or touched by a song, I recall the melody being the source. I don't think it's superficial. In many songs there is every bit of story in the melody as there is in the lyrics. This isn't a new idea, and I think it's why people were and are invested in classical, orchestral music so heavily for such a long time. In the past, people were incredible sensitive to what happened in a musical score. I'm hesistant to say that people today are dull in that regard, because I think it still affects us in many of the same ways. However, with classical instrumental music you just don't get the cheat sheet with the words on it. I don't really mean that. The lyrics are more than a cheat sheet, and I submit to Sophie's wisdom that the magic really is in the combination.
Sometimes I have trouble reconciling the thoughts I have about the melody with the lyrics and the song as a whole. I think we all experience this occasionally when we are humming along to an enjoyable tune, only to interrupt ourselves when we realize the lyrics are just ridiculous, and maybe for a reason. The kind of trouble I often have is when a song reminds me of something that the song is clearly not about. It's even more troubling when I want to tell Katyana that a certain song made me think of her, but I can't really mention because it may only be in the melody. For example, if you go on youtube.com and look up Shatner + Conan O'Brien + Fear of Pop you'll find a video of a song Ben Folds and Shatner did on the Late Night Show. It has to be that version, the one I downloaded on itunes just isn't quite there. The melody reminds me of the days when Katyana and I just started dating. It's something like a nervous feeling in my chest, but at the same time there's calm. It makes me so happy. If you listen to the words, it's funny how much that song is apparently in another world than the one I imagine.
I cut my hair today. I had been growing it out for almost a year now. Well I guess more like 7-8 months. After growing it for so long, some amount of attachment is inevitable. Though really for me, it's not that important. It's nice to only use a little bit of shampoo, and take 2 minutes to dry off instead of all morning. But then again, it's nice to have long hair. What makes the decision for me is just that it's time for me to have short hair. It grew out for so long, because I didn't feel the need for that kind of change. And I guess now I do. Shame it has to make me shorter.
I realized at some point in my life, that I'm really an all or nothing kind of person. I found that I can stick to something if I am ready to commit myself to it. That sounds great and all, it's a good thing to know. But on the other side it takes a lot for me to prepare myself to change. And until I am ready, I can make for a pretty unimpressive human being. I haven't figured out if it's a good or bad thing. It does show a lack of moderation, and I'm trying to work on that in a few different parts of my life, but I also wonder if it's just the way I'll always be. It doesn't have to be a bad thing, as long as I can continually seek to recognize what is important (and recognize it to the extent that is necessary for me). But that's just a lot easier said than done. It helps to have the people I love around me.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Human Right
What is in a human right? In other words, what is the basis for one? I'm pretty sure we're born with them; so we consider them something earned or given when we breath for the first time. Is there something in breathing that gives us intrinsic value? But that's not the way I intend to look at the question.
It is somewhat of a fickle question to ask, at least I feel that way. To question the authenticity of a human right can easily be seen as threatening to that right. And I agree that this kind of threat should be taken seriously, but at the same time we must be sincere about these things. Simon Veil wrote that the philsophical basis for human right, the only philosophical basis, is that every human has a connection to a reality that is completely foreign to this world. By foreign, he means a reality that is altogether outside of the reach of human faculties. And in this world exists the source of the good, true, just, and beautiful. What is common to all humans, back on this worldly reality, is the longing- the deep-seeded longing- for the good. It's Aristotelian in that though we are incapable of achieving the divine, we seem to possess the ability to turn towards it. A sad, faint sort of mimicry, but really I think it's true. Any appreciable act committed by a human, probably had the character of this turning.
One thing I like about this way of thinking is it allows us to drop the hunt for equality. We don't have to turn a blind eye to the radical inequality in the world. People are deaf, ill-minded, hispanic, overweight, color blind, rich...whatever. To say that we are all equal in respect to these qualities is at best like the thoughts of a child who closes his eyes, plugs his ears with his sticky fingers, and refuses to exist in a world where he has lost this round, and must leave the four square court. We are inequal, but not to worry- the basis of respect isn't found in the reality of these inequalities. It is found in that which
is common and what is equal, that link to the reality of the good.
What human right is justified? It seems like the first things that should be protected are our needs. The most basic needs like food, air, water... etc. At least we can say we've protected our right to live, and living is essential. But what else? Shouldn't the grasp of our rights extend to include that which enables and embodies our pursuit of that other reality? It is a more complicated question to ask what the soul needs.
I have to admit I've become a little annoyed by people commenting on human rights in a non-chalant manner. I sometimes wonder if people could call anything a human right as long as it didn't directly result in someone else's murder. In a way this dilution is as harmful as flat out denial of human rights. If the right cannot be traced back to a philsophical basis, then I have severe doubts as to its necessity as a civic right. Maybe I'll learn something new tomorrow, but I don't like the idea of human rights being hypothetical lines drawn in the sand so that we play nicely.
It is somewhat of a fickle question to ask, at least I feel that way. To question the authenticity of a human right can easily be seen as threatening to that right. And I agree that this kind of threat should be taken seriously, but at the same time we must be sincere about these things. Simon Veil wrote that the philsophical basis for human right, the only philosophical basis, is that every human has a connection to a reality that is completely foreign to this world. By foreign, he means a reality that is altogether outside of the reach of human faculties. And in this world exists the source of the good, true, just, and beautiful. What is common to all humans, back on this worldly reality, is the longing- the deep-seeded longing- for the good. It's Aristotelian in that though we are incapable of achieving the divine, we seem to possess the ability to turn towards it. A sad, faint sort of mimicry, but really I think it's true. Any appreciable act committed by a human, probably had the character of this turning.
One thing I like about this way of thinking is it allows us to drop the hunt for equality. We don't have to turn a blind eye to the radical inequality in the world. People are deaf, ill-minded, hispanic, overweight, color blind, rich...whatever. To say that we are all equal in respect to these qualities is at best like the thoughts of a child who closes his eyes, plugs his ears with his sticky fingers, and refuses to exist in a world where he has lost this round, and must leave the four square court. We are inequal, but not to worry- the basis of respect isn't found in the reality of these inequalities. It is found in that which
is common and what is equal, that link to the reality of the good.
What human right is justified? It seems like the first things that should be protected are our needs. The most basic needs like food, air, water... etc. At least we can say we've protected our right to live, and living is essential. But what else? Shouldn't the grasp of our rights extend to include that which enables and embodies our pursuit of that other reality? It is a more complicated question to ask what the soul needs.
I have to admit I've become a little annoyed by people commenting on human rights in a non-chalant manner. I sometimes wonder if people could call anything a human right as long as it didn't directly result in someone else's murder. In a way this dilution is as harmful as flat out denial of human rights. If the right cannot be traced back to a philsophical basis, then I have severe doubts as to its necessity as a civic right. Maybe I'll learn something new tomorrow, but I don't like the idea of human rights being hypothetical lines drawn in the sand so that we play nicely.
Monday, January 14, 2008
It's 4:16am, and I'm about to start writing a paper on Aristotle and Political Friendship. I always write this late at night, but I guess there are a few reasons for that. I remember a Calvin and Hobbes strip, where Calvin talked about why it's scarier at night time- because there are so few distractions. That coupled with a sense of the unknown, and I think he's pretty right. However, for me the loss of distractions finally works in my favor. I don't remember how that strip ended, though I'm pretty sure it was happy.
Really, I'd prefer to write at any other time of the day. There is a certain stigma attached to people who stay up all night. For the most part it's true, and for the most part that have to do with laziness and insomnia. And in some way I'm ashamed of both of those. Ironically, night time is when I'm most productive. I'm laziest during the day time when I'm pushing things back or napping. Excessive napping is a sign of depression, but I'd think it could also be a sign of people who like to nap. I've always enjoyed sleeping when I'm tired. Besides, my brain cooks at night.
Another thing that struck me about Calvin's (de Hobbes) soliloquy, was that if what he said is true then there is some kind of underlying fear within us. If the daytime didn't present so many distractions, we would live ever present in that fear. It's hard to imagine what that would be like, especially in the daytime, but I think if you recall some memories of being alone in the dark you can guess at what that fear is really like. I know it's somewhere in the chest. And I know there are certain things you can do to either harness that fear or lose control. Harness isn't the right word, it's too gutsy, bravado...the kind of word a country boy with "no" fear would use. Something more along the lines of "deal with", in the sense that you can strike a deal between your rational conscience and your terrified conscience. Like if every fear you have is some sort of illogical abberation, then you have nothing to fear. But then again, what if that abberation becomes truth?
I've always thought it's the smaller things you have to be scared of. They present the possibility that you could get away. And the fact that that's only a possibility, but not a likelihood is scary to me. A huge monster will just eat in one bite, and then you can just go on your own way.
Anyways, I'm supposed to be working on my paper. That means it's time for me to strike a deal with my own fears. And while these fears have different kinds of teeth- insecurity, plain incompetence, whatever etc.- they're still there in the daytime.
**The comic ends- Things are never quite as scary when you've got a best friend.
Really, I'd prefer to write at any other time of the day. There is a certain stigma attached to people who stay up all night. For the most part it's true, and for the most part that have to do with laziness and insomnia. And in some way I'm ashamed of both of those. Ironically, night time is when I'm most productive. I'm laziest during the day time when I'm pushing things back or napping. Excessive napping is a sign of depression, but I'd think it could also be a sign of people who like to nap. I've always enjoyed sleeping when I'm tired. Besides, my brain cooks at night.
Another thing that struck me about Calvin's (de Hobbes) soliloquy, was that if what he said is true then there is some kind of underlying fear within us. If the daytime didn't present so many distractions, we would live ever present in that fear. It's hard to imagine what that would be like, especially in the daytime, but I think if you recall some memories of being alone in the dark you can guess at what that fear is really like. I know it's somewhere in the chest. And I know there are certain things you can do to either harness that fear or lose control. Harness isn't the right word, it's too gutsy, bravado...the kind of word a country boy with "no" fear would use. Something more along the lines of "deal with", in the sense that you can strike a deal between your rational conscience and your terrified conscience. Like if every fear you have is some sort of illogical abberation, then you have nothing to fear. But then again, what if that abberation becomes truth?
I've always thought it's the smaller things you have to be scared of. They present the possibility that you could get away. And the fact that that's only a possibility, but not a likelihood is scary to me. A huge monster will just eat in one bite, and then you can just go on your own way.
Anyways, I'm supposed to be working on my paper. That means it's time for me to strike a deal with my own fears. And while these fears have different kinds of teeth- insecurity, plain incompetence, whatever etc.- they're still there in the daytime.
**The comic ends- Things are never quite as scary when you've got a best friend.
Friday, January 11, 2008
A new semester.
Last semester kicked my ass. Not really in the way most people would describe getting their ass kicked, but in a more tired, debilitating way. I've sort of come to think of myself as a disappointment to LMU. I don't think it's all my fault, just mostly. I've been too lazy and I didn't have much heart. It's not like it happened without me knowing it; I could tell that I was conciously living beneath the life I want to live. You would think that simply knowing that would be enough to make a change, but I guess I'm learning that not all of those kinds of changes happen quickly. More than just time, it takes day to day effort.
So here are the things I've proposed for myself. First of all, there's this. I'm hoping this blog writing gives me a sense of accountability if it dosen't make me feel better about what I'm doing. Maybe it will decrease my fear of writing on that damn microsoft word page. I think I can some up the rest of the changes I hope to make with- active living. I don't want to do whatever I have to do that day, and then slink back to my apartment. Oddly enough that may involve taking on more of the things I don't like to do: working a few more hours at the school of ed., excercising at the pool, eating healthy. I want to work hard.
Some people would say that you have to be more focused and specific when you make lifestyle changes like this, and that my scope is too broad. I have to admit there is a certain amount of impatience in me when I think about these things. I want to be better...now. But for whatever reason, it's just my way. A few months from today, I may find myself in the same state I was at the end of this last semester, but hopefully if I can take advantage of this little blip of energy, I might be able to make it out of the doldrums.
I am 22 years old already. Seeing that in writing is a little motivation in itself.
So here are the things I've proposed for myself. First of all, there's this. I'm hoping this blog writing gives me a sense of accountability if it dosen't make me feel better about what I'm doing. Maybe it will decrease my fear of writing on that damn microsoft word page. I think I can some up the rest of the changes I hope to make with- active living. I don't want to do whatever I have to do that day, and then slink back to my apartment. Oddly enough that may involve taking on more of the things I don't like to do: working a few more hours at the school of ed., excercising at the pool, eating healthy. I want to work hard.
Some people would say that you have to be more focused and specific when you make lifestyle changes like this, and that my scope is too broad. I have to admit there is a certain amount of impatience in me when I think about these things. I want to be better...now. But for whatever reason, it's just my way. A few months from today, I may find myself in the same state I was at the end of this last semester, but hopefully if I can take advantage of this little blip of energy, I might be able to make it out of the doldrums.
I am 22 years old already. Seeing that in writing is a little motivation in itself.
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