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Typical Day In The Office
Source: Gossip Girls
After observing this behavior day in and day out, I've become very interested in social behavior. What strange, social creatures we are. I mean, naturally we assess people all the time, making judgments. I'm sure this is a valuable tool for survival. However, watching this behavior triggered all sorts of other interesting thoughts as well.
Because I'm a Woody Allen fan, my immediate thoughts (a/k/a judgmental-ness) were, What middle-class mentality. I mean, really, the only ones with "rules" as to appropriate attire are the middle class. Any other class, you're either setting the trends or you just don't give a shit.
Anyway, this led to some brief research on social structure. I stumbled upon Functionalism where I read, "Society is seen as a system of organized parts or components of the whole, each dependent on the others and integrated into the whole. These parts are individual persons who participate in social life, occupying a certain status within the system. The individual is in turn controlled by norms or patterns."
It goes on to state, "humans were 'acting' in a non-voluntary way. According to his view, society molds people, causing them think that there are certain acceptable ways to behave and live. Shared values and norms, the institution of the family, and the generally agreed-upon means for accomplishing ends were all viewed by Parsons as patterns of social interaction that contribute to the relatively smooth functioning of society."
And if you question the status quo? Well, then I guess you're back to the Metaphysical Secret.
Get Out Of Your Head
For anyone who is in his/her head...
(This is for you.)
Pass It On
Haven't heard of The Yes Men? Here's the link, check 'em out. Self-described as "Impersonating big-time criminals in order to publicly humiliate them. Our targets are leaders and big corporations who put profits ahead of everything else."
Watch What Happens
I've gone to great lengths to try to change my life in times past. Sometimes by running away from something, you inevitably run right into it. I don't have the answers to life. And if I did, would I really want them? I have no idea.
This motif or theme seems to keep poking its way into my train of thought: What's so wrong with where I'm at? Why am I always trying to get somewhere else? Reminds me of the saying, Wherever you go, there you are. So this is my challenge: Watch what happens. (This is where I am right now.)
Or maybe to clarify: Watch what is happening...
Philosophy and Science
Science and Philosophy always go hand in hand.
A Matter Of Focus
"4 Artists Paint 1 Tree" is pretty self-explanatory. It's a short Walt Disney film depicting four artists painting the same Oak Tree, however it sheds light on the different, unique perspectives of each artist.
Source: 4 Artists 1 Tree
Marc Davis, Eyvind Earle, Walt Peregoy, and Joshua Meador are shown here holding their paintings, representations of the Oak Tree. This very intuitively reminds me of Nietzsche's No capital "T" truth, only small "t" truths.
Source: Chad Frye
"One artist sees the tree as architectural form. Another sees the trunk detail and wants to focus on that. And so on. The resulting paintings as you might expect are very different. Walt says that each painter didn’t simply paint a tree, but his own response to what the tree represents." (- Be Yourself )
Source: Marc Davis - Marc Davis Tree
Source: Eyvind Earl Eyvind Earl - Eyvind Earle Tree
Source: Walt Peregoy
In a nutshell, it's a matter of focus.
"-ISM" Words
After brushing up on my "-ism" words, I think Ferris Bueller (John Hughes) put it best:
Source: Ferris Bueller Pic
And just because I can...All -ism's will run their course (just like everything). Capitalism is no exception. Stepping off my soapbox now.
Money, Money, Money, Money, Money
Interesting question Peter Singer poses: How do we spend our money?
It's a big question considering the way we spend money speaks volumes of our inner values and patterns of behavior.
Source: bills
Free Documentaries? Um...Yes, Please
Passing this on to whoever stumbles upon it. If you're a documentary fan, this is a must GO-TO website! Pick a category, browse the documentaries and then sit back and enjoy! Here's the link: Top Documentary Films.
The Breakfast Club
But what we found out is that each of us IS
a brain, and an athlete, and a basket case,
a princess, and a criminal."
