Short Archive of Final Project

Although once confused, I am now sure about my goal of this project. The relationship between being invisible and making others invisible is the thread of my argument. I took SAT2 exams on Saturday and I will take an AP exam tomorrow. Thus I did not really have time to place sufficient effort on the project. However, I am successful in giving it a tangible start. I will speed up my reading on the Invisible Man and begin to organize what my paper will be about roughly right after AP exam. Assignment is heavy, but my persistence is undefeatable.

Precious Time, Glory Days

10:30, what a luxury time for me to wake up. I greedily washed my face with the lovely sunshine. Prettiness is rare and smart. It is an expert of finding the best companion. Although Darlington is a beautiful place, such an amazing weather does not come until the last trimester. I am now drowned in a romantic paradox. I ought to be forlorn for the upcoming graduation of the seniors, however, I get increasingly involved and excited because I will not have any more chances to sit in the same classroom with these decent people in the future. Who on the earth will give up the precious time provided to devote himself in to such a community. Never do I feel so graceful to the glory days.

Thanks for sunlight energizing my every day.
Thanks for swans making silver lake smile.
Thanks for oak trees making shady beds for my nap.
Thanks for chalks decorating Mr. Sweeney’s smile.
Thanks for plates holding our happiness.
Thanks for library giving me a chance to skip class.
Thanks for Morris Chapel inspiring me with glory.
Thanks for Kawamura activating the reactions on my face.
Thanks for soccer field painting greenish bloom.
Thanks for rain disguising me when I release all my appreciation for my dear companions in Darlington.

Seniors are graduating in less than a week. Although I am too busy to move further in my English project which has been recently redirected, I am passionate about the new book and moving fast to the truth. There is no better way to celebrate out last moments than enthusiasm, is there?

Prospectus for Final Project

In my final project, I am going to compare the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Lu Xun. Self-consciousness is one of the most apparent patterns in Emerson’s works. He expresses his view towards humans, exploring the inner core of Man Thinking. On the other hand, Lu Xun is one of the most famous modern Chinese writers, known by acute critics and irony towards modern Chinese society. He suggested that the lack of self-consciousness of Chinese civilians was so severe that it led to the lack of ethnic confidence. By comparing these works, I am going to identify the importance of self-consciousness in these works. I will start by introducing Emerson’s transcendentalism and interpretation of human mind. Then I will state how resentful Lu Xun was towards the mentally “ill” Chinese and and then analyze his reason.. It should be made clear that although there is a link between Emerson and Lu Xun, the relationship between their ideologies is one after the other but not a parallelism. The link can also be interpreted as presence vs. absence, which means what is the importance of the presence of self-consciousness and what danger emerges when it is absent. These analyses serve as a mean to interpret Man Thinking. In this way, the theme will move from the individual to the collective, that is, the role of self-consciousness in the ethnic community.

race relation

Prejudice is a universal existence. It appears within a race and between races. In our country, because of the tremendous number of people, mistreat and bias are not unusual. One of the most tragic examples is peasants. Citizens look down upon peasants because they are poor and illiterate, without noticing the sarcastic fact that they are laughing at who feed them. The worse fact is that the word “peasant” is commonly used to humiliate a person. As we all know, bias based on careers exists in every society. Yet how frightening it is that 70% of the population is being mistreated? The awareness of thankfulness is one of the biggest subjects in modern China. In the movie “Do the right thing”, also as a food supplier, Sal differs from peasants. He holds higher fame partly because of his race. However when conflict took place, people turned their anger against him. The minority races are in a potentially dangerous position in the neighborhood. In my opinion, “Do the right thing” tell us about the distrust among different races. No matter how friendly they seem to be, there is distrust in the root of their hearts. It is a universal issue. With the same performance in the schools, international graduates find themselves inferior in both opportunity and payments compared to local people. The sad fact is that it is true and reasonable that people like to turn to their brethren. A book should not be judged by its cover, but it is more comfortable to read a book written in your mother tongue. Human beings are sensitive animals, achieving critical, which is the opposite character, is not easy, no saying about keep oneself in critical thinking. Thus, to build a friendship with foreigners, we should not only use our personal ability, but also base it on solicitude and understanding.

2 questions on "Do the right thing"

1. What purpose does money serve in the film?

Money does not play a major role in the movie. Instead, it serves as an image of racism. In the Korean shop, people always complained about the prize where as the shopkeeper claimed that they sell at low prize. Whenever people pay, they drop the money impolitely. The similar situation is demonstrated in Sal’s Famous Pizzeria. Although people get used to hang out in the place, the way the treated each other does not seem like clerks to customers at all. The attitude is disrespectful rather than casual. They are linked by material enjoyments and isolated by distrust due to racism. A significant performance of money shows in the last scene of the movie. Sal pinched the bills, which is twice as much as Mookie’s salary, into balls and threw at him to “pay” him. Surprisingly, Mookie threw the excessive bills back at Sal. Sal showed a surprising mood on his face. When it seemed to be some hope, Mookie picked up them again and left. After all, Mookie could not give up the distrust of racism.

2. What is the moral of the story?

“Do the right thing” ended up in a ruin after violence. Although begun with a dance claimed “fight the power”, as far as I am concerned, the movie wants to tell us the moral that nothing can be accomplished by conflict. Racism finds itself in the daily life of the neighborhood. Heated by the hot weather, it is not possible for people to bear the disconnection between them anymore. Thus they use violence to deal with the problem. What have they achieved? Is it possible to exchange Radio’s life with Sal’s Famous Pizzeria? All the anger burn the pizzeria down. However, will it go away? Yes, maybe it goes away, but the unchanged fact is that it turns into sorrow and regret. Sometimes violence is a method, yet never will it be a settlement. Recognize what is relative and what is absolute is the essential criteria of life.

Review on "Do the Right Thing"

Spike Lee’s “Do the right thing” is a strongly impulsive movie. Starting with the dance, the movie aims at an acrid topic—racism. Spike Lee, as the hero Mookie, plays a role of mediator between whites and blacks, with his status of black. Another neutral character is Da Major. Although he is always drunk, he is probably the most clear-minded individual in the neighborhood, like a wild sage. However, in such a hot day, they cannot calm the people down. It is a black neighborhood, whereas the most popular places in it are operated by other races---Sal’s famous Pizzeria and the Korean grocery. Sal is a racist, but he does not treat the blacks bad. He is racist because he only puts Italian American on his “wall of fame”; He is relatively tolerant because he enjoys serving the black people every day and is proud to see these people growing on his food. His sons, Pino and Vito, are totally different from their view on races. Mookie is working in Sal’s Famous Pizzeria, where is the main stage of the movie.

The clue which walks all the way down the movie is “hot”. Hot makes people feel impatient, which increases the potential possibility of conflict. After depicting the main characters and describing the uncomfortable relationships between people, spike lee puts a climax to the movie by performing the conflict between Buggin Out and Sal. Radio Raheem uses his radio to challenge Sal. Sal hits it to trash with his bat and the violence breaks out. The conflict soon spread with the involvement of all the people from the neighborhoods. Oppressed long enough, the uneasiness within the races erupted. Mookie lost his position and fought against Sal. The fight ended with sadness and destruction.

Racism is not an easy issue to deal with. The neighborhood seems to be peaceful and harmonious. The black majority regards the American and Korean’s shops as the most common and essential sector in their life in spite of some linguistic friction. Yet racism is deep in root. Even if people seem to live in peace in daily life, racism can take quick effect when initiated. Spike Lee did a nice job in uncovering the nature of this problem.

The success of “Do the Right Thing” is that it carries out deep consideration with people’s daily life, common and ravishing, especially when we look at this movie in the time of overwhelming usage of special effects.

Q&A on the Movie “Do the Right thing” by Spike Lee

2/4/2008

Q: Why do you think Spike Lee's "Do The Right Thing" started out with a woman dancing with an angry face? Describe the first few minutes of the movie in your blog and what you think. You may also include what you think is going to happen.

A: Usually, the opening of a movie is to uncover or imply the theme. The song of the dance is particularly African-American rap style. In the lyrics, the sentence “fight the power” appeared several times, which indicates its identity of central idea. Then think of the woman dancing with an angry face. Dancing means that she agrees the idea of the song, and she is probably angry with the “power”. It is noticeable that the woman is an African American. Thus the opening can be summarized as an African woman dance with an African song with the idea of fighting the power. From the dimension of history, I think the power is the superiority of whites. The movie will contain some events in which the African Americans searched their identity in their daily life.

2/5/2008

Q: Why do they call "Da mayor" the "mayor"? Whose neighborhood is this? Is it racist for Sal (the pizzeria owner) to display only photographs of Italian-Americans on the wall of his restaurant? Why does "da mayor" call everyone "Doctor"? What purpose does "Radio Raheem" serve in the narrative?

A: The story takes place in a diverse neighborhood which has a large proportion of African Americans. The reason that mayor got his name is probably that he has been an active existence in the neighborhood for a long time. I can see from the movie that he talks in a major’s tone---- Intonation, appellative and especially the attitude. He is in the illusion of putting himself into a special identity, which is that he is not affected by the surroundings. Even when sweeping the floor out sides Sal’s pizza restaurant, he says with pride---you’ll see the cleanest floor in the States! As he is in such a deep awareness of his identity of major, his immunity of environment influence is rather strength to apply images to the people. It is why he calls everyone “doctor”, doctor is an occupation which holds high repute in the society. A major will surly contact with doctors frequently. The reason that he calls people doctor is not that he want to praise them, vice verse, in this way does he gain the satisfaction of his identity.

In Sal’s pizza restaurant, there is a wall of honor, or, indeed, the wall of Italian-Americans. I do not agree with the perspective consider the wall to be a practice of racism. Firstly, what is more common for a person to feel proud about his nationality? The restaurant is operated by Italian-American; it goes without saying that they hanged the pictures of their national heroes on the wall. There may be some aspects of discrimination; nevertheless, the possibility is lowered by Sal’s attitude towards Mookie. Sal does not show any uneven treatment when dealing with the argument between his son and Mookie.

The “Radio Raheem” serves as a narrator who delivers his work according to the situation with an ironic sense of humor.

Here I sing---Views on "Leaves of grass" from Whitman

It is usually hard to figure out what is the motive of a poet to compose poetry. He does not have the awareness of writing it in purpose. Every poem is the claim of the heart, why do we claim for reason? Expression of emotion does not need any reason. Here stands the man singing. If there was a reason for Whitman to write “Leaves of Grass”, it could be nothing but singing---pull out the every single marrow of your mind and thoughts. Why consider reason? Go ahead and do what you like, take out your pen and write what you want! Do not care about the so-called rules. “But it is based on experience.”Here comes Emerson with his transcendentalism,” Surpass the experience!” Whitman draws a parallel with Emerson with his unrestricted delivery of mood.

Just as the argument on motivation, neither can we easily find out what was Whitman trying to accomplish. In my opinion, the achievement is a conversation between him and himself. He had been asking himself for times in the poem. They discussed Air, God, women and various topics. It is such a particular way of man thinking, which is talking to your mind. “Clear and sweet is my soul, and clear and sweet is all that is not my soul.” As we reach here, what he is trying to achieve is clarified---the universal agreement which leads to self-determination. Question, answer, review, and determine. “I have said that the soul is not more than the body, and I have said that the body is not more than the soul.” The quote indicated his view of comprehensive unification from in and out of oneself, and the insuperable resolution of recognition, which were his goal.

Similar to Thoreau, Whitman is also an individualist. Does he have something to do with his community? Individual does not mean isolated, everyone plays a role in his community. Even though Whitman was in a status of self-consideration, his voice jumped out of the book. He contributed to his community in the way that Thoreau did. As I already stated in my passage “grey contribution”, the contribution was unconscious. However, the difference is that they emitted their own colors. On the contrast of Thoreau’s articles, Whitman’s lines were full of passion. He abandoned the unnecessary disguise, standing beside the lake, embracing the pure air, speaking for himself.

A·I·R

Under the mosaic ceiling sits what I am,
Sits amusing, sarcastic, and even mindless,
Looks around, there is nothing but floating air,
Steps out, marches in and plays a role of the universal spectator.

I pull my head up and gain the thoughts,
Have I been excessively softhearted, with the pathetic disguise of kindness?
Have I been painstakingly obedient, pleased by the white lie of willingness?
Have I been numbly tolerant, along the edge of wrathful roar of justice?

The world is screwy like the disorder pattern above,
And inside me emotions make their masterpiece of random world.

I listen to the words of the passer-by,
I hear the overlord from my back.

He has the shadow overlaps me,
I have the body occupies him,
His advent is inevitable, just as the darkening of the vicious angel,
His advance is insuperable, simulates the dawn of mighty devil,
His override is unmerciful, along with Osiris' frozen sentence.
And I beg for his supreme darkness over the world,
Exchange with my excessive soft heartedness,
And I beg for his martial path sweeping the land,
Exchange with my painstaking obedience,
And I beg for his conquering footprints crushing the road,
Exchange with my numb tolerance.

It is not a beneficial deal,
But it is an essential deal.

How about the woman?
Have not I liked the body of her?
Have not I liked the smile of her?
Have not I liked the concern and unruliness of her?

All those are obvious illusions,
Take advantage of my three characters.

And now I am going to trade them with the overlord,
I look for joy from disillusion and victory.

Now the specter betrayed his identity,
The impure composition makes me feel sick,
I would rather take off all my clothes now and run to the lake,
To get rid of its fakeness.

How can I find a better inspiration than this?

Get rid of its fakeness,
Question his inevitable advent,
Which will be degenerated by my awareness of life,
Question his insuperable advance,
Which will be blocked by my resolution of struggle,
Question his unmerciful override,
Which will be disintegrated by my reasoning of sensibility.

How about the woman?
Why should I cease to love women?
Why should I abandon the right to draw us together?
Although the time have not come,
She will be mine,
I will be hers.

You are not wandering meaningless under the chaos top of room,
You are not the spectator,
You are the anonymous guide of life.

Accolade, Illumination, Resolution,
You are A·I·R.

Release

Although often linked with Emerson’s transcendentalism, Whitman’s has his own color of expression. The very first image of his ideas to me is release. Release, aye, release. How about throw all the cumbrous clothes away and sitting on the band in the woods? Then I saw his figure of individualism.---“I have said that the soul is not more than the body, and I have said that body is not more than the soul, and nothing, not God, is greater than one’s self is…” Soul and body fuse into an individual, which may surpass God in some way. He is also a self-questioner. If he were living today, he might say something about getting rid of the over-materialized world. Back to the nature, feel it with all your skin. Drop down the unnecessary electronic devices and take more time to use your brain to examine yourself. Let the body return to the sacred territory of soul. Whitman think in abstraction, however, who can say it is not a kind of realistic thinking?

Grey Contribution

After working out, I walked around the peaceful lake and its surroundings. Never had the current of my thoughts run so vigorously in such a calm order. Perhaps the so-called man thinking sparked, just a little while, in my mind. Although often recognized as negative words, solitude more than once proved to be inspiring the deep thoughts of people.

When Thoreau was living in the woods, he wrote great pieces. His attempt was simple---looking for a simplified life. However, his ideas were contributing. In the excerpt from “spring”, his description of ice reflected his firm will on life. Simple, endless, never give up.

The status of man thinking can take place in various ways. Even when sitting in a station after dropping his car, Dillard made his way to the very bottom of his heart. Separating feeling from materialized world, he paced into another dimension and reflected back to now---catch it if you can, live purely in the present.

Neither of them thought in order to contribute to their community, however, they unconsciously left great spiritual treasure to others when they marched in their world of consciousness. Solitude is grey, but the grey contribution is great.

Some gossip

Maybe it sounds shortsighted and superficial, but the very part of Chinese law which I strongly opposed with is a small one---in a car accident, all the obligation leaves to the driver. For a country of such large population, there can be tons of car accidents a day. Also, drivers appear to be nothing compare to the quantity of pedestrians. Although it seems to obey the principle of minority follows majority, it is hard to say that this is a rational law. I walked to school when I was still a middle school student, every day I saw my classmates cross the street when the light is red. Even well educated teenagers disobey the rules, how about the vast insufficient educated adults due to the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s? Maybe you will say that the teenagers are just playful, but it is nonsense that playing against the rule is interesting to them. As so many pedestrians don’t obey the traffic rules, how come the driver is always responsible for the accident? Discovering the leak of it, some people cause an accident on purpose to get indemnity. The law violates its purpose, making the roads more chaotic. I don’t know if it is altered now, but it has been an unreasonable existence.

Finding marrow

What is the marrow of life?

In Thoreau’s opinion, he thinks that simplicity is essential to the search of it. Withdraw yourself from any unnecessary needs; go into the woods, live deeply. The marrow, in my opinion, is simply living.

Are you living? Do you know it? What is it?

Living cannot be simply identified as a biological action. Why Thoreau intend to move into the woods? Life is too complex. Some of us may know, but few of us realize the truth that in most situations we are not living but lived on. The miserable fact derives from the excess desire of materials. Just settle down for a while and take some consideration. Think of those questions. As you think, you will find the things around you are mostly unnecessary, because you don’t live on them. However, you may also question that it is approach animal-like life. What is human? In my opinion, the greatest thing that human can do is to abandon. That is, to use intelligent eyesight to identify the truth behind the substances. Once you achieve the abandonment, you are living.

Based on the idea, I find my way of sucking the marrow of life. Although I cannot go into the woods and live there, I can avoid being influenced. Just as Confucius says “Don’t be delighted by materials, neither be sad by yourself.”

Some Q&A on “Where I Lived, and What I Lived For” by Henry David Thoreau

Q1:Thoreau’s method as a writer is often to move from the small fact to the larger truth. In the first sentence, he tells the reader that his unfinished house allowed the air to blow through. How does this simple fact become important in the discussion of the “winds” in the last part of the paragraph?

A1:The first sentense indicates the materialize insufficiency of Thoreau's living place. The last sentence illustrates the spiritual pleasure which he gets from the wind. The fact of the first sentence is important to the discussion in the last part because it helps the writer to show his idea that sipritual value is not disturbed by materialize factors.

Q2:The theme of the next paragraph is the effort to “live deliberately” in order to “live deep.” In what way did living in the woods enable Thoreau to improve the quality of his life?

A2:It makes him withdraw from the interfere of superfluous life, enabling him to approach closer and give more thoughts to life.

Q3:The final paragraph asserts that “we live meanly, like ants.” What explanation does Thoreau give for this way of life? Why does he place so much emphasis on simplicity?

A3:He says " it is error upon error, and clout upon clout, and our best virtue has for its occasion a superfluous and evitable wretchedness. " He places so much emphasis on simplicity because he thinks that details draw life away.

Q4:What paradox is expressed in the final sentence of this passage?

A4:We don't control materalize advantages; it is them who gain advatages upon us.