After The Tulips Bloomed
The most defining feature of the human condition is our ability to be resilient, especially in the face of extreme challenge. This makes us human.
Month: July 2020
Pleasure & Pain of Homo Sapiens
If desire is the backbone of human nature and desire often leads to loss, how can we break the psychological cycle of failure while simultaneously finding meaning in a meaningless world? The following collection of haikus remind us of our innate human drive and the traps we fall into, repeating them mindlessly over time.
Nobody’s Favorite
What roles do hope and expectation play in our lives? How can social obligations impact individual fulfillment? Can hopelessness be utilized as a life strategy to attain serenity? “Nobody’s Favorite” is a short story addressing the use of language and the nature of hope in humans’ self-perception.
Fake Internet Points
As the primary commodity for trade, how has information hindered our societal advancement and created a polarizing nightmare? The advent of the printing press, the internet, social media, and media companies have served as advancements for humanity, making it infinitely easier to communicate and engage with others across the globe, but is this a good thing? Now, society’s obsession with social media has made it easier than ever to be cast as “other” if you hold an unpopular opinion. This new song by Blindboss tackles the challenges of modern society and the hypocrisy of social media.
A Cautionary Tale
There are many external hindrances to success throughout an individual’s lifetime, but, often, internal roadblocks can keep us from being who we aspire to be. How does fear of failure or survivor’s guilt factor into our self-confidence, self-esteem, or desire to achieve? How do fear and shame keep us immobile? Is it easier to accept mediocrity rather than take a chance and risk disaster? This story interprets a well-known Greek myth for a modern audience, reminding us there is a time and place for fearless acts if we are to reach our true potential.
If I Ponder
The question of whether or not we can truly understand others (let alone ourselves) is one that might not be grappled with on a daily basis, but is often in the back of our minds, influencing the decisions we make. Where do we find truth and how do we come to terms with the scars formed from searching for answers?
The Act of Apt Sailor in the Ice Colony
The piece deals primarily with the absence of home, solitude, silence, secrecy, the passage of time, individual memory, and the willingness to admit and wrestle with contradictions, anger, destruction, and creation. How do we deal with contradictions in ourselves? Do we know they’re there? How does prolonged silence, uninterrupted aloneness, or living without a home affect the individual mind? How resilient are we against the human traumas we put ourselves through?
Can Art Say The Unsayable? An Exploration of Lolita & Humbert Humbert
The controversial and well-known Lolita by Nabokov forces us to address taboo topics and confusing realities in a way that only art can do. How do relationships often represent unrealistic ideals? Despite the novel’s taboo subject matter, can it teach us something about the dynamics of normal relationships? How do different art forms allow us to address immoral behaviors, social faux-pas, or the negative features of our human condition productively?
