Modules #1/#5 - "MEDIA & MONOLOGUES" - Fall 2021

[Prof. Sindor Aloyarc]

Welcome to the Module 01 and Module 05 "Media & Monologues" thread!

("Scroll-and-a-Half" / 150 words)

Module 01: (Monologues - MS:HP I)
Consider what you've written down from your brainstorm in the Meditation portion of our exercises. What jumps out at you that's wanting to be explored a little more deeply? Come up with a topic based around these meditations and write an essay about your personal perspective on the matter. This could be a single aspect or multiple elements from your list. In addition to sending in via e-mail, if you feel like sharing with your peers go ahead and post here with or without including your "Meditation" and/or "Mindfulness" responses added in together. This is voluntary and will not effect your points one way or another, however it will add to our community vibe and could stir up conversation for any "Mingling" points you may wish to accrue as Extra Credit.

Module 05: (Media - MS:HP II)
Based on your reflections from this month’s lesson and/or the Mantra you’ve chosen to explore, choose one full piece of media you find in any way to relate to these concepts floating around. This could be a book, television show, movie, musical album, etc., and doesn’t have to be something completely new to yourself, so long as it speaks to you as connecting to the vibe you’re associating with this energy. Perhaps you’ll go into detail about why you chose this in particular, along with what aspects correspond most appropriately with your sense of this month’s power. What’s your general opinion of your selection’s strengths or weaknesses? Anything unexpected or enlightening come up along the way? Include anything you feel compelled to share! In addition to sending in via e-mail, if you feel like sharing with your peers go ahead and post this to the corresponding “Media & Monologues“ thread at the Class Forum with or without including your “Mantra” and/or “Memento” responses added in together. This is voluntary and will not effect your points one way or another, however it will add to our community vibe and could stir up conversation for any “Mixing” points you may wish to accrue as Extra Credit.

[Prof. Will Lestrange]

Mantra
Reading through the lesson a few times and trying to tie everything together, I noticed a mix of emotions through the lesson: death of a loved one, physical sickness and weakness, and support through random acts of kindness and energy through a sweet, cold coffee drink.

Then I looked at the Mantra prompt again, tried to put a few words together that summed up the feelings from the lesson while in the process of recovering from a cold that I had briefly thought was something worse, and came up with this: "I can survive."

Friday when I woke up, and went to bed, I said those words to myself, but... nothing happened. I then had a nice long lie-in the next day, and did some morning exercises, but my coordination was off from where it should be. Remembering my mantra, "I can survive": my coordination returned to where it should be!

I tried to use the mantra a few more times over the weekend: both on Saturday and on Sunday - and unfortunately, it failed to do anything on those later times. But it did manage to center me once; possibly when I needed it the most!

Media
The piece of media that comes most strongly to mind is the musical selection "Morning Mood" (or simply "Morning") by the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg, as part of his larger suite "Peer Gynt", which was designed to be musical accompaniment to the play "Peer Gynt" by Henrik Ibsen. The sounds of the piece itself evoke the peaceful awakening of the world as a new day begins; the sun rises and the world is all calm and hopeful.

Many modern renditions of "Morning" evoke the power of peace with bucolic imagery; one example, which you can see (and hear) for yourself can be found if you click right here; the music is accompanied by a video where butterflies, birds (including ducks), and a rainbow are the stars of the show.

Ironically, though, the original context of the piece does not fit this mood at all: it is traditionally played when Peer Gynt, the main character of the Ibsen play, is stranded in the Moroccan desert and trying to defend himself from some attacking monkeys! That said, it is fairly easy for modern listeners to draw on peaceful and relaxing feelings from the renditions of "Morning" divorced from the Ibsen play - and isn't finding calm out of a turbulent setting one of the indicators of the true strength of the Power of Peace?

Memento
The most prominent takeaway I have gotten out of the lesson, my mantra, and the "Morning" music was that all of them showcase the ability to call upon the Power of Peace when placed in situations that might seem anything but peaceful: loss, sickness, isolation, and even being under attack!

[Emily Spencer]

Media
Thinking about this month’s power, namely peace, it took me awhile to think of media that would correlate. I must confess that I am rather sadly remiss in practicing peace in my life, including my viewing habits. As much as I like it, Criminal Minds could hardly be called peaceful. Even my obsession with Baby Yoda does not give The Mandalorian a pass on the peaceful scale. So needless to say, this took some thinking.

But this class is teaching me to be more introspective, so looking deep inside, I thought about what peace meant to me. It hit me then that peace does not necessarily have to mean sunshine, rainbows, and sparkly moonbeams (Although there is nothing wrong with those at all!). Peace can also come from within, especially if one overcomes a difficult situation or is able to maintain a positive attitude while going through hardship. Peace can be a conscious choice. Given my own current situation with my grandmother, this made perfect sense. Anyway, back to the matter at hand…

The 2001 film, Amélie showcases my kind of peace. The title character’s whole life is filled with hardship and sorrow, including the death of her mother when Amélie was six and her father’s resulting withdrawal. Even before that, she had to deal with the loneliness that came with being homeschooled and kept from the company of other children. It would not have been unreasonable for her to follow suit and become bitter and withdrawn. And yet, she did just the opposite.

Within herself, Amélie found the peace to find the good in life, whether it be by her own hand or the random acts of kindness performed by other people. She did not allow the misfortune in her life to define her, rather she determined her own path. Even though it is technically a romantic comedy, which I usually despise, this movie really stuck with me. In fact, I think it may be time for a rewatch!!

[Silvana Mandeville]

Faith is an important thing to have in many aspects of our life. I have a big struggle with faith in myself. I tend to worry much and fear that what I did wouldn't be perfect or even good enough in my life. And this fear in myself often held me back to try many new things. Like, I am afraid if I do something people will laugh at me for being embarrassing even though what I did was really good. Just like now, when I am writing this and thinking about what people might think if they read my words :") So, to have faith in yourself is important, it can expand our potential and talent in many things if we believe we can do it.