Campbell's Chick Noodle Soup. Mythology too.

Today, I really thought that the movie we watched on Joseph Campbell was extremely interesting. Apparently, he devised the entire field of comparative mythology and there is an extensive library on this subject from Campbell alone. In fact, there are many reoccurring themes in universal works that most of us would recognize from the stories we’ve grown up around. Take for example, the “flood” story. We all know about Noah, and if you need a reminder let me take some time to recite you the true story:
“The Lord said to Noah
Go build me an arky, arky
The Lord told Noah
Go build me an arky, arky
Make it out of hickery barky, barky
Children of the Lord…
It rained and it poured
For forty daysie, daysies
It rained and it poured
For forty daysie, daysies
Nearly drove those creatures crazy, crazy,
Children of the Lord.”
Credits go to whomever wrote Rise and Shine. Anyways, Gilgamesh also has a great flood in the epic work, as does Hindu mythology, Aztec mythology, and the Greek myth of Deucalion. That’s all great, but the most interesting thing to me is the reoccurring role of the hero. Essentially, there are seventeen common themes to all mythological hero stories and in that regard nearly all of our current hero stories as well. There are eight steps, which are:
1. The Call to Adventure
2. The Road of Trials
3. The Vision Quest
4. The Meeting with the Goddess
5. The Boon
6. The Magic Flight
7. The Return Threshold
8. The Master of Two Worlds
No, this really does work out. Whether it be Odysseus or The Lion King (an extremely deep film in my opinion!) there is essentially a formula that can be formatted to all of the hero archetypes. However, I don’t really think that you have to fit every one of the steps to be able to be categorized as a universal hero archetype. Take for example nearly any episode of the classic series “The Twilight Zone”, written by Rod Sterling. One of the episodes, entitled “Death Ship”, follows the lives of three American Astronauts as they find themselves in a parallel universe. The captain of the mission is the first to discover an exact, identical spaceship of their own – with their dead doppelgangers in the ship. From this alternate universe, they must find a way back to Earth, while also solving the mystery behind their alternate selves. In this example the call to adventure and even the road of trials would occur before the beginning of the story, but they are still implied by the nature of their careers. They are adventurers, heroes in the strictest sense of the word – and their quest eventually leads to their demise, in stead of revival. The magic flight they take is a literal magic flight, repairing their spacecraft from things found from the environment of the planet. And the Return Threshold would represent their supposed return to this parallel universe, however the twist ending occurs when they discover they have entered the reality in which they are dead. Rod Serling truly was a master of science fiction, but I still find it extremely interesting that even a hit U.S. T.V. series can be similar to that of my pal Odysseus.

The supreme degradation of the moral filter

This might just be me, but whenever I get tired my moral filter goes down the hole. No, I do not mean that the moments before I enter sleepdom that I rip open a cliffnotes book and find the cow's milk in Tess symbolizes abandonment. I am talking about a physical dreariness that allows humans to become more "real". Say for example, after a great night's rest, you come down stairs and your child is watching TV when they are suppossed to be doing homework. You are more likely to simply scold them, and just turn off the TV. However, reverse the setting to nightime, when you're exhausted from the day, you're more likely to curse at them and perhaps throw a chair (maybe they only do that on Jerry Springer). But, is the happy well rested side more real than the angry, annoyed, and tired side? Or vice versa?
Perhaps after supreme degradation from the day's work that you just turn off your moral filter. That, not to be offensive, you're more crude just because you don't really care. Isn't that the same thing as showing your "true colors?" I'm not exactly sure myself, but I've certaintly said regretful things when my moral filter has been shut down.
The end. Feel free to comment what your own personal belief is on the issue of a moral filter.
P.s. - I know from personal experience, although not truly a moral issue, my vocabulary goes from "splendiforous" to "great" to "awesome" to (positive sounding grunt) as the day goes on. Its interesting to watch the effect of dreariness on people.

Heeeeeelter Skeeeeelter

Okay, so right now I'm reading (for pleasure) Helter Skelter, the true account of the Manson murders. Essentially, Manson was able to interpret the lyrics of Helter Skelter so that he was Jesus, the Beatles were descendants of God, and a huge race riot was going to occur. Thus, a new world order would come about, leaving the whites dominant. According to former "family" members, Manson told the group around 1968, "Are you hep to what the Beatles are saying? Helter Skelter is coming down. The Beatles are telling it like it is," (Helter Skelter). Which is so silly, because anyone who's watched Doctor Oz on Oprah would know skin tone is extremely minute in relation to your DNA. And I'm also a huge Beatles fan, although not incredibly insane like Manson, so I wanted to really examine the lyrics of Helter Skelter.

When I get to the bottom
I go back to the top of the slide
Where I stop and turn
and I go for a ride
Till I get to the bottom and I see you again
Yeah, yeah, yeah Do you don't you want me to love you
I'm coming down fast but I'm miles above you
Tell me tell me come on tell me the answer
and you may be a lover but you ain't no dancer

Okay, so this part to me strikes me as a drug trip. "Miles above you" seems to be a nod at a high, and with this vivid imagery of coming down a slide, I bet its something along the lines of an acid trip. The shallow examination of this part leads me to believe that perhaps the girl won't practice drugs with them. But, of course, there has to be more. Helter Skelter is apparently a twisty slide in England, thus the reference of "when I get to the top of the slide." However, I've also heard that the song could also be referencing the fall of the roman empire. Which, we all know from AP World, is because of those darned barbarians.
-Carson

Should I stay or should I go?

Most of you probably have a Facebook, and if not you are soooo 2003. However, if you DO own a facebook then you may be aware of an "application" called Friend Cicle. What this facebook application does is illustrate the various networks and friends you have, and how diverse your friend base is. And if you take a look at mine, you will see that I have a vast array of friends from all over Georgia. From transitioning from public to private, from middle to high school, my contacts are all over the place. Which leads me to my point: isn't it strange how those who you used to be extraordinarily close to come and go so fast?
It's so strange to me how relationships are nearly recyclable. I mean, for your extremely close friends this doesn't typically apply, but I've certaintly had my fair share of friends go astray. This wasn't supposed to be a long, engaging rant on my past, or anything like that. I just find it strange. Perhaps it's just me?
-Carson

2346 Lilio

2346 Lilio is a pivotol asteroid belt discovered by french astronomer K. Reinmun, who subsquently discovered the apollo asteroids. However, I can guarentee anyone reading this blog entry has never heard of 2346 Lilio, nor probably would they care. However, as I have more frequent mental breakdowns due to the college process, I find myself being able to relate to Lilio. Just, here me out. Okay, so my GPA isn't stellar (pun intended) and I only have one extracurricular. I'm also a white kid who does not have an abusive, alcoholic father. I do not speak a foreign language fluently, nor do I have any direction for my life. All I know is that I enjoy being outside, and that I am extremely lost. And, to further exasorbate myself, on paper I am exactly the same as millions of other kids out there. There is no diversity. I am not a special little snowflake. I will probably blend in with everyone else. And yet, there is so much more. Even though they can't see that, truly, who I am, I am still an individual. I have read work from every author wikipedia characterizes as an influence in the transgressional literature movement.In tenth grade I wrote a term paper on the Lorković-Vokić coup, and it came 4th place in a term paper writing contest. Awards were given to first, second, and third place. I've been a strict vegetarian for 3 years, and have campaigned against slaughterhouses. I have every single album by the beatles, and have a signed album by the steve miller band. I would have been a member of the youth socialist organization of America for three years in a row, but I forgot to send in my dues the second year. I have been through turmoil, and I have had my own share of personal tragedy. And yet, I am the same as 2346 Lilio.
Although I think I may be great, I am not significant enough to be put into a text book. I'm not going to be the next harvard magna cum laude, and I probably won't be the next president (I don't meet age requirements). And I feel as if the message behind college is lost within the admission process. If you want to go to college to learn, and not party, you're in the minority. The key reasoning behind most student's choice to go to a university is their reputation - whether it be academic or socially inviting. So I'll just continue playing the politics of college, and hope that soon I'll be discovered and noted.
I hope that one day I shall not be judged on the basis of my accomplishments on a paper, but for the complexity of my character. I hope that other people in my situation can break from the constricting requirements of many institutions, and that I can still impact the world somehow.
P.s. - On an entirely different note, I find it extremely ironic that Fahrenheit 451 was banned in North Dakota for over 20 years. It's an entire novel about the future government banning (and burning) books because they could inspire critical thought. It's been banned because, in "Fahrenheit", one of the books that eventually gets burned is the Bible. But, I mean, the point of the book is to NOT BURN BOOKS AND THEREFORE THE BIBLE. Just sayin', it's common sense people. C'mon.
- Carson

Disenchantment

Sometimes there are defining moments in your life where you stand at a crossroads. The fork in the road is definitive of where you could be going, however neither path is nescessarily right or wrong. However, the road leading to the fork in the road is the past, the history, and cannot be changed. The crossroads, thus, become concrete, and you have to weigh your options for as they are right now, not on the basis of what you wish had happened.
Okay, so what I just typed means nothing without context. But, I find myself at a crossroads this very moment. Recently, I've been having "issues" with a friend of mine, one who has remained extremely close to me for a number of years. So, now, to let out frustration I'm going to address you personally.
Within the past few months, you have complained to me about how I don't try. I don't put effort into the relationship. How, essentially, its all my fault for our dwindeling relationship. But,you can't see it how I do try. I'm the one who always goes along with your friends. I'm the one who always goes along with your interests, even though you know I don't really care all that much. I'm the one who sits stagnant, writing college essays typically, while you go along with your plans.
I've never been under this much stress before in my life. Not to rant, but the work load for 18 college applications is extremely overwhelming. So I am not, particularly, in the best position to worry about our relationships. But, the times where I'm not at work are few and far between, so it meant alot to me that this time you would come visit MY friends. Come see MY interests, as oppossed to your own. That, maybe, you would see I do try, and that you could branch apart from your own social bubble, and come see my own. However, you didn't. You blew me off, even though it meant the world to me. And you chose your new friends over your old, just like you think I do time and time again. However, I've never chosen anyone over you, I've chosen working hard and pain over pleasure. However, you continually choose over me, even though you are not plaguaed by strenous work. You have chosen a crossroads in your life, whether you recognize that or not. You have chosen a path that does not require, perhaps, a moment of social silence, nor have you chosen a path to stress your work ethic. I, however, am choosing a different path. I am choosing a path that involves today being strenous so that tomorrow I can be happy. I believe you to be selfish in some circumstances, and jaded in others. So, just realize, you're on your own path with your own definitive friends. And I am on my own.
-Carson
P.s. - I'm thinking its going to be Noah's Ark version 2.0 soon. In order to save gas today, I believe I am just going to swim home. Might be more effective.

Senior Trip...to ENLIGHTENMENT

So, for the first time in my 17 years, I get to designate my very own vacation. Yes, that is correct, my own vacation. At the finally of my brother's senior year, our extremely rich uncle (which is also the name of a student loan company) sent him to Italy for two weeks with a meager FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS. I know I go to Alpharetta High school, and I'm far from impoverished, however I'm relatively sure my parents would look into arraigned marriages if it guaranteed them four thousand dollars. So, as it is only fair, at the conclusion of my senior year I will also have a "dowry", if you will, of four thousand dollars to go wherever my heart desires. But, I would characterize myself as one of those people who can not decide what they want to eat for dinner. So, how am I supposed to know where I could go, if I had the choice of anywhere? Well, as always, I'm looking through my 1001 page philosophy book for answers. And I'm also googeling trips under 4,000$.
If I want a catalyst of change in my life, which would be nice before college, I should establish something to make that happen. Therefore, ruling out any trip in the continental U.S. I've never actually left the US, so I want to actually take some time to get to know myself. Additionally, I want to find myself by finding nature. This is because A. naturalism and transcendentalism tell me this is true B. I am a hippie.
I'm just going to put this out there. The greatest tragic character of ALL TIME was not the lead character in a drama, short story, novel or novella. No, Chris McCandless was a real "character", and besides Holden, is the most compelling person I have ever encountered in written word. So there's this sense of innate humanness that compels me to run to Alaska, and test my strength there. To find myself among one of the greatest natural environments the Earth still has left. But, the other part of me yearns to make my own adventure, and not to emulate Chris's. And, REI adventures also turned up a new destination that seems extremely compelling: Kathmandu.
For a mere 2700$, plus airfare, I can spend 19 days trekking mount Everest with Sherpas, but the elevation is low enough that I probably won't die! In fact, I have to get my physician's approval before going on the trip, have to be over 18, and have to sign a document that says my family won't sue REI if I mysteriously die. But with an elevation of over 18000', I'm fairly unsure if I have it in me. But I think I'm still going to go for the gold here and sign up for the trip, because how many people can say they've climbed mount Everest?
All in all, I'm looking for a sense of adventure before going off to _____ (insert college name there, hopefully not Devry). I think the largest, tallest mountain on Earth can guarentee this for me. Also, I hope I return from the trip without frost bite or just...return from the trip. Anyways, I'm going to email my Uncle tonight and see if he'll allow for me to "touch the heavens".
Carson
P.s. - Really hoping if I go on this trip nothing bad happens. Chris McCandless is my idol, but I'm sort of shooting for a different fate.