The Paradox of Choice

The paradox of choice is that it’s always there, not to mention the fact that it’s the single most simplest thing that can bring people together.

We are swarmed by the many different things we are offered, yet are always bored with it in one way or another. Although it fulfills our need for happiness for a certain amount of time, we are still unsatisfied with what we get, leaving us grieving about it more than we’re actually entertained by it, for example; watching some sort of show on TV.

The reading provided us with the example of Johnny Carson. People were connected through this guy’s show. If you knew Cason’s show, and the person across the street from you knew that show, you could be as different as night and day, but still have a shared knowledge about it. Or even when Klosterman gives the example of "The 'Hey Y!' Moment", which is perfect because it shows that sense of belonging and connection between people who know the hit pop single.

The “short term happiness” it provides us (like we discussed in class) , is only because it gives us something we want to do, and it’s a sense of freedom and control because you’re in charge of deciding for yourself what it is that you want to experience, which in this case is probably watching the Tonight Show. Yet, when we no longer feel that, we feel regret, because we could have done something else that probably has a lot more importance than sitting there watching the show on TV.

For me, it’s like trying to work on something I know has to be handed in the next day, but I waste my time on MSN talking about boys and what to wear because it’s obviously a lot more important to me than finalizing a copy of my English essay for Ms. Chang. Though obviously, after procrastinating for quite some time, I am left with two hours less than what I had to put my effort into the narrative. Because of that I’ll do a poor job just so I can finish in time to watch the next episode of ‘The Hills’ which premiers in, like, an hour.

Choice is what makes and breaks us.

The Matrix vs. Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Reality is our perception of the world, when not in dream. Reality is being awake, aware that anything can happen, and hardly having control over any of it. In dreams we get what we can't have in reality. It's the outside world, if you will. The Matrix makes the distinction between reality and illusion. The movie says reality is an illusion. It's only what we see that we believe in; leaving us with the question of what there is beyond our eyes. I do believe that imagination can be a substitute for real life, as it was portrayed in "Diving Bell and the Butterfly". However, can illusion be a substitute for real life? No. It can't, illusion is used in worst case scenarios when we're too afraid to face reality. Illusions just blind us of what's really going on, therefore leaving them useless in any situation because you will NEVER be able to ignore what's right there in your face. Reality is going to hit you straight across the face, everyday, every time.

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In the movie, "Diving Bell and the Butterfly", a character tells Jean-Do "find the thing inside you that is human and hold onto it...” We are, by far, the most distinct creatures on Earth. There is no way we are similar to any other animal. And what separates us from them is our mind. We have finer sensitivities. Other animals rely on instinct; they do not carry immense emotion which cannot exist, otherwise, without thoughts or imagination. The human mind is the most complex and unique thing. It's what make us human, it is what's inside us to make us human. In the movie, Jean-Do proves that all it takes is a little imagination to see beyond the world we live in. We can learn in greater depth about people and things that you don't physically have to be in a healthy human state to experience that; just like Jean-Do learned to communicate with a blink of his left eye. Being paralyzed did not stop him from being as human as he could have been. He held onto what was dear to him and continued on with life, despite it all. We are more amazing then we really realize it, and we take it for granted. We should not wait for something to happen to live life to its fullest. Jean-Do taught us all that.

The Lady or the Tiger

Chuck Klosterman looks at Cereal Commercials to view how the exclusion of Cereal Mascots from participating in the activities of the main stream (i.e the kids in the commercial)subtely influences our society's definition of cool from a young age. For Kolsterman, to be cool in this society something must be exclusionary.

Klosterman's idea of "exclusionary cool" creates a vision of how pathetic our society is because of the trends we follow. It's out there, we want it, but we can't get it. And why? Because it's limited and only certain people can have it. And it's because we made it that way. For example; the Kellogg brothers sued each other, but only one would come out controlling the company. Sometimes you just can't get what you want. It's how today's society works.

And, looking at today's society, we've artificially created a demand for products because of this "exclusionary cool" idea.

INCOMPLETE BLOG

Trix Cereal Commerical 1991

There are three distinct characters in the commercial. There's the lady, the children, and the Trix rabbit. Each character represents a different figure in the society. The woman has dominance over everyone else in this video. Therefore she is the ruler and leader in population to everyone else because she has the power to sell the product and keep everyone's attention to it; it's what they want. Of course, it's in her advantage. The children, in my opinion are very gullible. They are the minority in society. They believe everything the see and hear and are drawn into it. Because of this, the representative of the Trix cereal is able to hold onto their interest and sell her product. The rabbit is portrayed as the outcast of society, stupid and crazy. Because of this no one cares what he has to say or what he thinks and knows, although he is really smart and can even out power the lady in the commercial.


The message conveyed through this commercial is that, as a consumer, you have to not fall into the unintelligence of one. You have to know what you're buying before you buy it, you have to analyze it carefully and not be fooled into the habits of the people selling you the good. Sometimes, they only want to make a profit off of you, when really, just as the rabbit, you can be smarter then that.

What is Meaning?

Meaning is a very broad idea, hard to narrow down. I believe there are different types of meaning, depending on the situation it's in. But to me, meaning is a form of expression. One expresses meaning through feelings, thoughts, or other creative views. Its significance is to answer undiscovered questions or concerns within a person.

I convey meaning through this perspective because of what I’ve experienced and the person that I am. When I express meaning it’s done through, mostly, artistic and written ways; because it is the way I find those answers and discover new things and opinions. It’s how I learn. And this is why I interpret meaning in this way.

However, I cannot speak as a whole for other people, and what their definition of meaning consists of. Every individual is different. Experiences and accounts, the atmosphere, and surroundings of a person all play a role of influence in ones life, shaping their outlook on what “meaning” is, and how it can be conveyed. Ultimately, to me personally meaning expresses views, thoughts, and the insights of people. It can be conveyed through different forms, but I choose to express through artistic means. Meaning is something we as individuals understand, and choose to search for.

Random or Connected?

Connected, most definately.

In Chuck Klosterman's “Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs”; he imagines two distinct ways to look at life. One says that everything happens for a reason, and two that states, life’s daily encountering are just pure luck.

I’ve lived through enough, already, to say that I believe everything happens for a reason. Somehow, the things we go through and the paths we choose, depend on our perspective of the way life works. To this day, I can’t tell you how life is operated, but I know that there is no such thing as luck. In this world, you have to make your own luck.

Sometimes, I want to believe that life is random, and anything can happen, just because (for the sake of adventure filled days). But, in a tug of war situation; life being connected to whatever it is, sounds much more realistic, as apposed to just pure luck.

I guess part of my reasoning is because I believe in something up there. Something up there that helps us control our lives; keeps things in tacked even when we’re at our worst. Fate, destiny, signs, coincidence or what you will. It’s out there. Plus, that makes me feel a lot more secure, and much less alone, thinking that someone is helping me walk through life.

Maybe this has something to do with the way I was brought up. Maybe that’s only influential to my thoughts. My thoughts may just be abstract and crazy, but its how I’ve viewed on things for a long time. And it never once made me think twice.