Brave New World
Seminar Pre-Write
Seminar Pre-Write BNW Andrew Munroe
2. In what ways has Brave New World made you think about the concept of happiness?
Brave New World has made me think of happiness as something that is present when you find joy in doing an activity. I also think that happiness can come in many forms, the people in BNW think they are happy and maybe they are, but they wouldn’t know, and that happiness is not just a one way answer to any problem. I think that the people in BNW are secretly searching for happiness because they feel that their lives are quite empty. I also believe that after reading the book that happiness is hard to simply create in the form of drugs, as it is in this society in BNW.
3. What does John mean by saying nothing in civilization costs enough (page 239)?
I believe that John is trying to say that where he comes from everyone only had what they needed in order to survive and stay happy. I also think that in the society in London the people involve consumerism in every part of their lives and that because it is so available to everyone, they don’t know what it would be like without having all of the unnecessary items in order to live. John is also saying that in the Brave New World, people are always given everything to satisfy their comfort and that because of this, John realizes that there is no reason to live without consequence or danger. “Something with tears for a change.”
4. How much of our society do you think is focused on comfort and how much do you think is focused on truth and beauty? Give overall percentages and explain why.
I think that our society is focused on both subjects and it depends on where in the world you live. But I think that we are overall focused on beauty because if you are seen as beautiful then you will care less about being truthful and have lots of comfort. I think we are focused on beauty about 60% of the time with comfort and truth filling in the other percent when we feel like it, but I also think that it depends on the person and their values. We always want to be comfortable, either with our consumerism in the form of phones and mechanical devices, or being comfortable within social groups, no one wants to be alone.
- What is the overall message of Brave New World?
2. In what ways has Brave New World made you think about the concept of happiness?
Brave New World has made me think of happiness as something that is present when you find joy in doing an activity. I also think that happiness can come in many forms, the people in BNW think they are happy and maybe they are, but they wouldn’t know, and that happiness is not just a one way answer to any problem. I think that the people in BNW are secretly searching for happiness because they feel that their lives are quite empty. I also believe that after reading the book that happiness is hard to simply create in the form of drugs, as it is in this society in BNW.
3. What does John mean by saying nothing in civilization costs enough (page 239)?
I believe that John is trying to say that where he comes from everyone only had what they needed in order to survive and stay happy. I also think that in the society in London the people involve consumerism in every part of their lives and that because it is so available to everyone, they don’t know what it would be like without having all of the unnecessary items in order to live. John is also saying that in the Brave New World, people are always given everything to satisfy their comfort and that because of this, John realizes that there is no reason to live without consequence or danger. “Something with tears for a change.”
4. How much of our society do you think is focused on comfort and how much do you think is focused on truth and beauty? Give overall percentages and explain why.
I think that our society is focused on both subjects and it depends on where in the world you live. But I think that we are overall focused on beauty because if you are seen as beautiful then you will care less about being truthful and have lots of comfort. I think we are focused on beauty about 60% of the time with comfort and truth filling in the other percent when we feel like it, but I also think that it depends on the person and their values. We always want to be comfortable, either with our consumerism in the form of phones and mechanical devices, or being comfortable within social groups, no one wants to be alone.
Seminar Reflection
Seminar Reflection
Andrew Munroe
Reaction:
During the seminar about Brave New World, everyone made many comments that kept the dialogue going. But I think that the most interesting comment was about how we see the people in London as being unhappy because they do not understand what true emotions are, but this brought up another question of how can we know what they define as happiness and unhappiness? This really was interesting to me because I often find happiness in riding my bike and participating in challenging activities and I didn’t know how anyone finds happiness in a dystopian society, but this question really struck me. Now, I keep thinking about what everyone considers universal happiness, if I could possibly find it for myself, and if it is something that I will understand. I think that everyone has their own definition of happiness and how they find it, because not everyone in our society is the same, and I feel that this is what drives us to keep growing and advancing in ways we never imagined.
Self-Evaluation:
Overall the whole seminar was an accomplishment for me, and I feel that I learned a lot of new things from my classmates. I feel that throughout the whole seminar I have definitely grown a lot in the area of Connection, where I can now thoroughly understand parts of the book that are related, and often connect them to our world and how they influence us. In the previous seminar I simply went with the current question that we were discussing and not knowing why we were speaking about it, but know I understand how the questions relate to each other and how they drive us to dig deeper into the conversation without realizing it. I feel that I have grown in many more ways as well and have started to use these new skills since the last seminar in my everyday work such as annotating and writing short essays. While I know I've grown in every aspect since the last seminar, I always feel that I have room for improvement and should strive to better myself.
Key Take-Away:
Brave New World was filled with a massive amount of interesting, new things that I enjoyed reading about a learning. My main take-away with this book was about how Huxley had the imagination to envision a dystopian world where everything was “perfect” and uniform, and I feel that this is the part that I will remember because in some way, Huxley had to find that idea from some true reality. I think that because of this, I will constantly be thinking about how our world may in some abstract way be related to the Brave New World, and possibly if we are headed towards that type of non distinction we seem to fear so heavily. I also think that the the most specific key idea was about “Ignorance is bliss, knowledge is power,” and how this seemed to be one of the main themes, but mostly because I thought that it meant that people can choose to truly understand or be blissfully happy. While this is the key take-away for me during the Brave New World book, I feel that there is so much that I have learned and will remember and that I can reference in the future to increase the pride that I see in my work.
Andrew Munroe
Reaction:
During the seminar about Brave New World, everyone made many comments that kept the dialogue going. But I think that the most interesting comment was about how we see the people in London as being unhappy because they do not understand what true emotions are, but this brought up another question of how can we know what they define as happiness and unhappiness? This really was interesting to me because I often find happiness in riding my bike and participating in challenging activities and I didn’t know how anyone finds happiness in a dystopian society, but this question really struck me. Now, I keep thinking about what everyone considers universal happiness, if I could possibly find it for myself, and if it is something that I will understand. I think that everyone has their own definition of happiness and how they find it, because not everyone in our society is the same, and I feel that this is what drives us to keep growing and advancing in ways we never imagined.
Self-Evaluation:
Overall the whole seminar was an accomplishment for me, and I feel that I learned a lot of new things from my classmates. I feel that throughout the whole seminar I have definitely grown a lot in the area of Connection, where I can now thoroughly understand parts of the book that are related, and often connect them to our world and how they influence us. In the previous seminar I simply went with the current question that we were discussing and not knowing why we were speaking about it, but know I understand how the questions relate to each other and how they drive us to dig deeper into the conversation without realizing it. I feel that I have grown in many more ways as well and have started to use these new skills since the last seminar in my everyday work such as annotating and writing short essays. While I know I've grown in every aspect since the last seminar, I always feel that I have room for improvement and should strive to better myself.
Key Take-Away:
Brave New World was filled with a massive amount of interesting, new things that I enjoyed reading about a learning. My main take-away with this book was about how Huxley had the imagination to envision a dystopian world where everything was “perfect” and uniform, and I feel that this is the part that I will remember because in some way, Huxley had to find that idea from some true reality. I think that because of this, I will constantly be thinking about how our world may in some abstract way be related to the Brave New World, and possibly if we are headed towards that type of non distinction we seem to fear so heavily. I also think that the the most specific key idea was about “Ignorance is bliss, knowledge is power,” and how this seemed to be one of the main themes, but mostly because I thought that it meant that people can choose to truly understand or be blissfully happy. While this is the key take-away for me during the Brave New World book, I feel that there is so much that I have learned and will remember and that I can reference in the future to increase the pride that I see in my work.
Mexican Whiteboy
Mexican Whiteboy Seminar Pre-Write
Seminar Pre-Write
Andrew Munroe
Danny and Uno both have masks that are constantly up when they are around each other and surrounded in public. Danny’s mask is being silent and shy in the beginning, before he is known by new friends, and whenever he was nervous or pressured he would use his fingernails to dig into his own arm, and no one noticed. He is pressured to change himself so he doesn’t feel like an outsider. But this dissolved when Danny gets drunk.. Uno’s mask is that he needs to act tough because he is black and an outsider. He acts tough because he needs to look out for his family, Manny. The reason Uno needs to be tough is because if he has to hustle for money, he needs to be able to stand up for himself. Uno never really seems to take his mask down until the end when he starts to look out for Danny, and they both look out for each other, breaking their masks.
Socialization is present in the book, where in National City there are certain contained neighborhoods where all of the mexicans live as well as the african americans. Also socialization is shown in the way that it seems that mexicans can’t get a good jobs and pay for their living styles. And that the mexicans are forced to hustle for money, baseball. Uno, because he is black, cannot get a good job and needs to be tough, be a man, because there wasn’t good education for non-whites. Socialization has the Man Box, and Uno feels that he needs to be tough if he wants to live. And that socialization has taught us that being of a different skin color, other than white, makes you a target and they can’t move up in the world.
I feel that this book really showed me how mexicans are considered lesser than whites and that they cannot get jobs that pay for what they need, and leave them with extra. They are constantly living paycheck to paycheck and they even need to place bets and hustle for extra spending money. In the hit and run with Ray, the white person who was hit by Ray kept getting up, and Ray simply kept running him over, which I feel was because he felt he was oppressed. Danny’s whole family who is all mexican, except his mother, has never been to college, because they feel that they are mexican they are not smart enough. And because of Danny’s economic class he can’t get to Mexico, where his dad is supposed to be. This is not the way we should view others or ourselves.
Quotes; Senior talking about money” Looking at herself in the mirror, running a hand through her nappy ass hair.”
Senior, Uno, “ I watch sports and BET and rap videos,’ but who you think built that?’
‘The White Media’
“They talk before they know what to say”
Andrew Munroe
Danny and Uno both have masks that are constantly up when they are around each other and surrounded in public. Danny’s mask is being silent and shy in the beginning, before he is known by new friends, and whenever he was nervous or pressured he would use his fingernails to dig into his own arm, and no one noticed. He is pressured to change himself so he doesn’t feel like an outsider. But this dissolved when Danny gets drunk.. Uno’s mask is that he needs to act tough because he is black and an outsider. He acts tough because he needs to look out for his family, Manny. The reason Uno needs to be tough is because if he has to hustle for money, he needs to be able to stand up for himself. Uno never really seems to take his mask down until the end when he starts to look out for Danny, and they both look out for each other, breaking their masks.
Socialization is present in the book, where in National City there are certain contained neighborhoods where all of the mexicans live as well as the african americans. Also socialization is shown in the way that it seems that mexicans can’t get a good jobs and pay for their living styles. And that the mexicans are forced to hustle for money, baseball. Uno, because he is black, cannot get a good job and needs to be tough, be a man, because there wasn’t good education for non-whites. Socialization has the Man Box, and Uno feels that he needs to be tough if he wants to live. And that socialization has taught us that being of a different skin color, other than white, makes you a target and they can’t move up in the world.
I feel that this book really showed me how mexicans are considered lesser than whites and that they cannot get jobs that pay for what they need, and leave them with extra. They are constantly living paycheck to paycheck and they even need to place bets and hustle for extra spending money. In the hit and run with Ray, the white person who was hit by Ray kept getting up, and Ray simply kept running him over, which I feel was because he felt he was oppressed. Danny’s whole family who is all mexican, except his mother, has never been to college, because they feel that they are mexican they are not smart enough. And because of Danny’s economic class he can’t get to Mexico, where his dad is supposed to be. This is not the way we should view others or ourselves.
Quotes; Senior talking about money” Looking at herself in the mirror, running a hand through her nappy ass hair.”
Senior, Uno, “ I watch sports and BET and rap videos,’ but who you think built that?’
‘The White Media’
“They talk before they know what to say”
Mexican Whiteboy
Mexican Whiteboy Reflection
Andrew Munroe
During the socratic seminar for the book Mexican Whiteboy I was inspired by all of the intellectual discussions flowing around. From a comment made by Acacia, where she talks about Danny thinking of himself as a ‘fake Mexican’, because he is part Mexican, when he is in public or around anyone except his family, and when he is with his family, he thinks of himself as a ‘fake Mexican’ because he is whiter than everyone else in the room. For example Danny was in a room with his uncles and aunts, and he was the only one in the room with lighter skin, and this made him the point of interest. This really struck me because I agree with Acacia completely and have often thought of myself in different ways when around different people, even though I’m completely white, and how someone like Danny must feel in a position like that.
I sometimes feel like Danny in my own way, how he’s silent and doesn’t want to be noticed by others. When I first started high school after being homeschooled for most of my life because I thought they may not like me or they may simply not want to be near me, I just wanted to be quiet so I wouldn’t be noticed as different than everyone else, and just like Danny opened up slightly after a while around people like himself, so did I. And so I feel like I can really relate to Danny in that way.
For the seminar I feel that I was pretty good with agreeing with others ideas and building upon them to create a better understanding of myself and what others are thinking about the book. I think I could improve on bringing others into the conversation/discussion because I am so focussed on listening and trying to speak myself that I don’t notice that others my not have had a chance to tell us their opinion. I feel like we should all listen to them.
The line that really spoke to me from the book is a quote from Senior, “It’s people who wander into your city, Uno. They the ones who could see your life for what it is. National City, boy. Ain’t but a forgotten slice of America’s finest city.” I feel like Senior is trying to say that we have all grown so used to everything around us that we don’t realize how truly messed up it all is.
Andrew Munroe
During the socratic seminar for the book Mexican Whiteboy I was inspired by all of the intellectual discussions flowing around. From a comment made by Acacia, where she talks about Danny thinking of himself as a ‘fake Mexican’, because he is part Mexican, when he is in public or around anyone except his family, and when he is with his family, he thinks of himself as a ‘fake Mexican’ because he is whiter than everyone else in the room. For example Danny was in a room with his uncles and aunts, and he was the only one in the room with lighter skin, and this made him the point of interest. This really struck me because I agree with Acacia completely and have often thought of myself in different ways when around different people, even though I’m completely white, and how someone like Danny must feel in a position like that.
I sometimes feel like Danny in my own way, how he’s silent and doesn’t want to be noticed by others. When I first started high school after being homeschooled for most of my life because I thought they may not like me or they may simply not want to be near me, I just wanted to be quiet so I wouldn’t be noticed as different than everyone else, and just like Danny opened up slightly after a while around people like himself, so did I. And so I feel like I can really relate to Danny in that way.
For the seminar I feel that I was pretty good with agreeing with others ideas and building upon them to create a better understanding of myself and what others are thinking about the book. I think I could improve on bringing others into the conversation/discussion because I am so focussed on listening and trying to speak myself that I don’t notice that others my not have had a chance to tell us their opinion. I feel like we should all listen to them.
The line that really spoke to me from the book is a quote from Senior, “It’s people who wander into your city, Uno. They the ones who could see your life for what it is. National City, boy. Ain’t but a forgotten slice of America’s finest city.” I feel like Senior is trying to say that we have all grown so used to everything around us that we don’t realize how truly messed up it all is.