










Freshman Composition
Critical and Argumentative Writing
Blogging in the Blogosphere
English 100 and 103
FORMAT:
When you blog, in the Title, write your first and last name as you would as if you are turning in a paper to me. Then you do not have to write my name because I know you are in my class. Write what English class you are in whether it is English 52, 60, 100 and what College.
For example, one would write:
Yue Hayes
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #1
Homelessness
Font size
In addition, for the title, pick the topic of discussion, grammar/organization, content, current events, pop culture or literature as a TITLE that we have discussed in class. Write the posts like this: write #1 Post or #2 Post or Post #50, so I can easily keep track of them and how many you write.
Of course, you are welcome to write more than several posts, and in doing so is another form of participation and does count in the participation grade. Perhaps, in class, you may not participate all that much but in the realm of the blogosphere, you can from the comfort of your own home,
* reflect on the day's class discussion or offer up an insight that you found particularly interesting, etc., etc.
*
* How does it change the way you think or thought before on the subject?
*
* What actions might you take in the future? Anything is open to interpretation.
Of course, I need not go on and on about being respectful towards your peers' opinions and beliefs. If you disagree with another student's views be discreet about it: Do not say so and so is completely wrong because of this and that. Instead, say, I disagree with so and so and here are the reasons why I do. Go after their evidence and support and do not, I repeat do not attack someone else personally. This is supposed to be a forum for everyone to share their ideas and views.
*I will enforce the blogosphere by either deleting your hard work, making an example out of you here in the realm of the blogosphere or in class* . . .
3,403 comments:
1 – 200 of 3403 Newer› Newest»Hello English 100 Class!
I am excited for the new semester!
Cathrina Afusia
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #1
Welcome all to the Blogosphere! My name is Cathrina and I am a former student of Mr. Hsiao's. I want to encourage all new fellow students not to get intimidated because this class will be very beneficial! I promise. I cannot wait to start writing again. Class just ended and it was great meeting my new classmates.
Jenny Guzman
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #1
AAWW boo I wanted to be the first blog!! Oh boo!!
Well anyways I am Jenny!!
I am like Cathrina, a former student of Prof Hsiao. This is the 3rd class I have taken a class with him, and I know we will have fun. Prof Hsiao does seem scary, but I think everyone will enjoy this class!!
Jenny Guzman
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #2
New pic of Janelle.
Showing her Mexican side. All I need to show her Salvi side!!
Brenda Flores
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #1
Hi everyone!
Okay, 1st question. Do we write all the name, class, school stuff here or when we post a blog? Thanks for the help, I need it. See everyone Wed!
Yesica Vasquez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post # 1
I think I got this right..
Hello everyone! This whole blog thing is new to me, but I am looking forward to it! =)
See you all in class Wed!
OMG!!!
This is the fist time ever
blogging!Well I would like everyone to know im very shy!!!
so if it lokks like im being
stuck up im really not.
Jenny Guzman
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #3
To my classmates
I am a very vocal person. If I offend people please let me know. Some people will not like me, but I am here to help.
I will help anyone who needs it. I have taken prof h class before so if you guys have any question about class or life please let me know.
BTW I might start talking to you randomly so please do not freak out. I promise I am not weird. Just fun
haha
Samantha Navarro
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #1
Hello everyone! This is my first time taking Mr. Hsiao, I feel a little intimidated, yet excited to be a part of his class. For me the biggest challenge will be to be outspoken in class, but something tells me I will not be shy after this semester. I cannot wait to get to know everyone!
Esmeralda orozco
English 100
Cerritos College
Post#1
This is my second blog
but i forgot to put the class
and name info so I quess the other one didn't count
Priscilla Daza
english 100
cerritos college
post #1
Can I just say...and I have said this couple of times already, BUT I just want to say that this fall semester in English 100 is NOT going to be the same without "TLK" aka Kevin. He would always let me know what was up whenever I was lost in English 52 last spring. Now I really have to rely on myself...MAN! ALSO...I want to say that I am pretty stoked about taking the class and seeing familiar faces such as Tess, Audrey, Janelle and Arcelia and Steven. Seriously though I was walking to class yesterday and I was like "MAN! im stoked about english class. i hope i dont make a fool out of myself for being too excited on the first day" ahahaha
A few words to the students who have not taken Mister Hsiaos' class: Do not feel overwhelmed with his high expectations. It is well worth taking his class. Yes, it will be at times stressful but there will be more times that are both interesting and fun! I promise :D
Jonathan Aguilar
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #1
Class was very interesting because i don't know how i'm going to make it this semester. This class seems like a lot of work, so i'm just gonna have to work extra hard.
Samantha Navarro
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #2
I posted earlier today with an AIM account but I got a new account so the page does not redirect to another page when clicking on my profile.
Ronald Guerrero
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #1
Hello everyone, the first day of class was very interesting. It's my first class with Prof. Hsiao. I look forward to the rest of the semester hopefully I get bumped off of the waiting list and into the class :)
Arcelia (Arcie) Swarr
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #1
This is my second time having Prof Hsiao as my English teacher, and I am so excited about the new semester!! I'm so happy to see familiar faces in class, and looking forward to getting to know the new faces in class! I tend to be shy, but once I get to talking to someone I can talk about anything! For all the new students, hang in there! I know Prof Hsiao seems tough, but if you stick with the class and put your best efforts into all your work then this class may be one of the most rewarding steps on your educational experience!!
Jenny Guzman
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #4
Brenda
Whenever you post a blog you write all the stuff.
Jenny Guzman
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #3
Like that, hope it helps.
Tess Elizondo
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #1
I cannot wait to see what this semester has in store for me. I am really glad to have the same great professor as last year, and also some of the great spontaneous classmates too.
Ana Cervantes
English 100
Cerritos College
Post#1
*Few* Ok that was a mission to get the hang of this. I have never done bloging before so bare with me. But I think I got the hang of this yay!!
Hello everyone my name is Ana and I am looking forward to bloging with all of you =]
Jean Carlo Morales
English 100
Cerritos College
Post 1
This semester I hope to do a lot better than last semester. I know I may get lazy but i feel motivated for some reason. I know Mr. Hsiao said that this class will be hard as hell but hey, I love challenges.
Adrian Moreira
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #1
I just wanted to say hello to all my new classmates. I hope to get to know most of you sooner or later. I just finished reading the syllabus and it looks like we are in for quite the ride. I am excited to see how this journey will end.
Veronica Vasquez
Cerritos College
English 103
Post #1
New to blogging, and have tried to avoid it as much as I could in the past, so I'm surprised it's a requirement for class now! A bit scary, but I think I can get use to this after a while.
Zachary Duke
Eng 103
CC
Post # 2
I am glad to see a lot of people from Eng 100 in 103. what i am going to say is to every last one taking any of Mr. H's Classes so read it.
This Professor WILL be tough to pass, hard to keep a good grade but in the end it will be worth it. you have made it this far. you have gone threw a lot to get here. don't give up. It may look hard, he may be scary as hell. but every one of you can do it. I believe in you, yes you, the one reading this. It just takes time, practice, and some guts to give your views into the class. I know some of you my be thinking that there is no way in hell i can make it. well, I was one of those people. I though that i would be lucky if I got a C- in the class. but the cool thing about this class is, Mr. H and anyone in the class is here to see you pass. Not to make you fail. they will help if they can. trust me. I know.I had to ask for help A LOT!!!! To the point i almost got annoying. lol
For the people that know me, this is my first Metal quote of the semester. "you can't quit until you try, can't live until you die, you can't learn to tell the truth until you learn to lie" (Sixx AM- Life Is Beautiful) This quote should help teach you that just because you think the odds are against you. Don't give up. you can't quit until you try. so, just give Mr. H and this amazing class a chance. We all are here to pass and I know all of us will help you to pass. no one here is out to see you fail.
Good luck every one and may God (or your religion's leader) bless you.
P.S. if anyone can play the guitar, bass guitar, or drums, please tell me, i am putting together a band. thank you again for reading.
Jenny Guzman
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #5
Jean Carlo,
Hey I hope you get added in the class, we rocked in ENG 52 with our debates!! I just hope you will talk more in class. No trying to put you on blast, but you should know how I am!! Haha
Raul Moreno
English 103
Cerritos College
Post: 1
So we're back on the blog...
I just wanted to say good luck to anyone taking one of Mr. Hsiao's classes... especially 100 and 103.
Nothing will come easy and, as he noted, if you are a female, you'll probably cry at least once. That's just in class.
It was nice to see some old faces on Monday. I'm looking forward to another rigorous and crazy work load from Mr. Hsiao with even deeper material and some hot discussions. I only hope that people speak up and that those voices are strong. I need someone to clash with on all the most controversial issues since Amador is not here this time around.
Janice Silva
English 103
Cerritos College
Post#1
Hi everyone, i never tried anything like this so i am excited to get this started.
Martha Vazquez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post 1
I am not too sure what to expect from this class, but it sounds challenging and exciting. I cannot wait to get to know all the different characters in our class!
Sarai Vazquez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post # 1
I am looking forward to the new semester, and hopefully I learn a lot. One of my goals in this class is to better my writing skills. Hopefully my classmates and teacher will be patient and help me improve throughout this semster.
Arturo Lopez
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #1
Hsiao
Round 3
Lets do it!
Sandra Valadez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post # 1
Hola everyone!! I am pretty excited about this class. It seems our professor is going to be...challenging but is that not the way to grow and learn?? I went home after class excited. I woke up in the middle of the night (to give my baby her bottle) and huggled next to my husband ready to fall back asleep, but I did not. I laid there thinking of all the things I wanted to talk about. Married life the ups and downs, my daughters and how I am starting all over (about a nine year difference between the two), my happy moments in life as well as the bad ones. A little embarrassing to admit but true but since the happy new adition my social life has come to a hault. Since I currently do not work I am at home with my daughters ( I LOVE that I am able to do so) and then I am off to school fulltime. My interaction with adults besides my husband is rare. So you guys can see why I am sooo excited about the interaction this class entitles. Well everyone cheers to a new semester!
Sandra Valadez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post # 2
I just added my picture to the profile but I don't see it can you guys??
Audrey Velveta!!
Eng. 100
post who cares
today was a really good day..trust me you will get all use to the loud voice.good thing i posted on like 2 different pages lol..but besides that trust me our class will get super close...gotta finish reading bye.
Ana Cervantes
Cerritos College
English 100
Post#2
Grrrrrrr!! ok idk how many of u might care or are going to through the same problem. I'm so freaking mad that i cant get any of my books yet cuz of this new flacon card thingy. I have hw due for some class that requires a book that im freaking out =(
But any away class was good today, Im getting a little scare though he has high standards that I hope I can accomplish. Well I have to go so i can read the stories they seem intersting =]
The first day of class seemed pretty overwhelming ,but i hope to learn a lot this semester from Mr. Hsiao and you guys.
Jenny Guzman
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #6
Sandra,
I was in your shoes when I was on maternity leave. When I hung out with my friends without the baby and I loved it. I did not have to worry about poopie diapers, or when to feed her.
The bliss only lasted about 10 minutes only cause I will start talking about her and call to see how is she doing. Now that I am work and school I cannot wait to see Janelle smile.
Ok sorry I rambled about the baby again.
Sandra yes your picture shows.
Oh many tattoos do you have??
Audrey same question, and new one where is your sister??
Michael Swisher
English 100
Cerritos College
Post#1
Salutations and good morning to all. I must say that I am pleasantly surprised by this class thus far. As you may have somewhat noticed about my personality, I am a self-described "whore for attention". I apologize in advance for any offenses I may contribute to the content of our future discussions, but I promise to provide well-thought opinions to the table. I enjoy a few laughs (and it is apparent so does our professor), so I hope we will chuckle a few times together. As for my picture, that was a long time ago, in a gymnasium far far away. If anyone request assistance with a reading, or simply needs guidance away from drugs or prostitution... I'm here.
VIVA LA TACO BELL!!!!!
Adrian Moreira
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #2
I took a summer session Math class this summer. It was three hours, Monday thru Thursday for nine straight weeks. During those nine weeks I had about 5 dreams that included some sort math situation.
Yesterday was the end of my first week with Prof. Hsiao as my English teacher. Last night, I had a dream about English class. Maybe it was because before I went to sleep I read our homework assignment? Or maybe I will just be dreaming about English for eighteen weeks? I will just have to wait and see.
Kevin Lonh
Engl100
Cerritos College
Post #1
Aww Priscilla... :( no worries..
count me in for the field trips!
Oh ya Prof.Hsiao, thanks for the 10am call. I will miss the fun times in class. *tears* Can't wait to hear from you soon
TOOTLES!
Michael Swisher
English 100
Cerritos College
Post#2
The Allegory of the Cave
Amongst the philosopher’s and greater story-tellers of history, you find Plato a topic of discussion more often than others. I am familiar with several of Plato’s compilations: Seventh Letter, Republic, and even Laws (a long read). I will make an attempt to be bold and state truly that I believe Plato to be pretentious, unfairly ubiquitous in literature, and wrongly accredited. The Allegory of the Cave is, in my opinion, a pristine example of how one’s passionate illustration of a misguided notion can, over time, come to be accepted as divinity. If one carefully studies these passages, one should realize that these “shadows” Plato pictures amongst the cave are not the intended deceits, lies, and falsehoods he claims them to be. If Plato desired to influence a generation by depicting politics and society in a story telling manner, do so with the truth itself, not a version of it. It is common knowledge that oppressors exist, and we as a people are not privy to the virtue harbored by humanity. Plato, as far as I am concerned, was himself a shadow. He never illustrated properly the few politics, ethics, and truths that truly hide from society, lost in the darkness of the cave.
Michael Swisher
English 100
Cerritos College
Post#3
Homonyms
A homonym is, as defined by Webster’s Dictionary, “a word the same as another in sound and spelling but different in meaning”. I do not wish to comment on the entirety of Homonyms by Giorgio Agamben, because I do not have the finger strength. I would enjoy, rather, commenting on a selection of the text. “The name, insofar as it names a thing, is nothing but the thing insofar as it is named by the name”. I will forego the opportunity here at presenting myself as eloquent or educated and simply say “I’m calling bull****.” How can the enlightened fractions of the human institution read an excerpt such as this and continue reading. I know how, put that sentence at the end, which coincidentally, Giorgio did. Have we forgotten the romance of writing? “What’s in a name?” A rose by any other name, not a rose named by a name, but no longer that name because the name named names on a naming spree. I apologize, Mr. Hsaio. I firmly believe we are of like mind and I will greatly enjoy the experience of this class, but I do not enjoy “filler” literature. Substance, meaning without pretext, innuendo, or motive, these are the faculties that inspire passionate pages. So go forth you few, you daring few, unto fairer pastures unbridled and weathered by desire for popularity. Go forth and seek ye a homonym in another soul, for that is worthy of mention.
Jenny Guzman
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #7
Tradition or Faith
We just came back from baptismal class because we are going to baptize Janelle. The guy giving the class asked a good question. "Why are you going to batized your child?"
Most people inculding myself stated tradition. The guys said "is this the only real reason to baptized your child?"
I thought, I have been so jaded with my life that I do not know the real reason to batize the baby.
People can believe in what whatever one likes. One faith is one's faith.
The real reason I want to baptized Janelle is, I feel like it is sort of protection for her. I feel if I baptized her I am setting her up to be a good person, and to give me a reason to pratice my faith.
I know I will not go to church every week, but I will go as much what time permits.
Jenny Guzman
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #8
Oh I saw Priscilla working at BJ's today. I hope our family was not too demanding. I know the other waiter must have hated my sisters, but they crazy anyways.
I am enjoying the discussion. . .
The leaders are taking shape.
It is too bad that most if not all the students have as yet not experienced the blogosphere.
Jenny, you are the undisputed MVP so far.
Cathrina and Priscilla, stop telling the students that everything will be fine.
Raul, you have the right attitude actually.
I have enjoyed reading the posts. . .
Michael,
Your attribution to Plato to politics, shadows, etc. definitely rings true.
As far as "filler" for Agamben, well, we will see. . .
Very dense writing. . .
Admirable. . .
and
no need to apologize by the way. . .
Where is everybody else on their posts on Plato or Agamben.
You post on either story/essay.
You may if you are ambitious enough post on both.
Hey everyone i am not sure if i got this blog thing right but my name is Brian Jimenez and this is my first year with Mr. Hsiao. This class sounds fun and willing to push myself for at A. I have a question? Do we post here on the homework that was assigned to us?
Adrian Moreira
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #3
The Allegory of the Cave
First of all I want to say that thanks to Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, I kept saying "So Crates" in my head when I was reading this story. Secondly, I am not a big fan of philosophers. I too think they are somewhat pretentious. I did however have some insight on this story and here's what I think....
I read this story twice and I think that Socrates and Glaucon are having a conversation that most of us have had at one point in our lives about what's real or what is truth.
Sometimes we are blinded like the cave dwellers and only see what someone else wants us to see. Glaucon says "how could they see anything but the shadows if they were never allowed to move their heads". I grew up in a conservative Christian home, and feel that as a child and teenager, I was raised to see things a certain way and there was no other way about it. For example, my siblings and I weren't allowed to go to the movies because the movies were the Devil. And we grew up thinking that that was true and we'd go to hell if we watch Crocodile Dundee. Back then, the movie theater was a shadow on the wall we were to stay away from. It wasn't until my parents decided to "turn their heads around" and see the light. My first movie experience was Home Alone 2.
Like the cave dweller that was allowed to escape and see the world for what it truly is, to have to go back to my cave and the days of no "secular" music and no movie nights. To go back to playing the "name that shadow on the wall" game would be difficult for me also. It would be almost impossible for me to go back to thinking the same way I did before I myself, took my blinders and shackles off. Although I do not pity those who are still living in their caves, I do hope that one day we all have a chance to change our views on something particular in our lives and see a truth as it truly is.
Jenny Guzman
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #9
Brian,
When prof h gives you homework to post this is where you have to. Just make sure you put your name, class, college and the post number. Then he will not give you credit....
HHmmm..
Well I do not know if he will or not, but I do know he will call you on it.
If anyone has a problem with the reading, like they do not understand it make sure you read it more than once.
I do not understand it the first time. I know there will people who get it right away, but you are your own person.
Ronald Guerrero
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #2
The Allegory of the Cave
There are multiple experiences that one can draw from this story but one line stuck out to me more than others, “Better to be the poor servant of a poor master, and to endure anything, rather than think as they do and live after their manner?”, after reading this line I found myself reading it over and over again because of its significance to me and how some people rather do the opposite and live after their manner. Currently I am being judged upon at work for something they have no knowledge of, as observers, drawing conclusions, and watching shadows on the wall. I have been contemplating several days whether or not I have been doing the right or wrong thing until now, now I realize I should endure all the suffering and the blame. If I am to be blamed for something that they cannot understand, I would rather be blamed than to live on suffering from lies and living life in a miserable manner.
Jenny Guzman
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #10
Yay the number are growing!!
Gabriela Tovar
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #1
I don't know about you guys but who understood The Allergy of the Cave by Plato? I sure got lost...
It seemed like if it was refering to the earth, the world, and the universe.
At first I thought it was about aliens especially because they were saying things like: "True, he said; how could they see anything but the shadows if they were never allowed to move their heads?". Are they talking about the humans or aliens? I read and read it three, four times one after the other but still it was not making sense. I will re-read it again and again. Though i didn't understand the beginnig, i liked the end when they were explaining about the sun. "...the light of the fire is the sun..." I don't know why but i really liked that little part. it doesn't make much sense but to me comes to tell me how strong, fierced, hot, the sun is. I love our sun...
Hope anyone can help me understand it...
Jenny Guzman
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #11
AAAHHH!!! My mommy brain is back!!
I do not know how Michael read the story Homonyms and understood it. It is driving me bananas. I have Webster Dictionary up online to understand some of the words.
I think I am getting the jist of it, but I just want to say.....
"WHY DID I TAKE HSIAO AGAIN????!!!"
Ok needed to vent, but I am good now.
Gabriela,
Just remember to read a few times to understand it. The cave for me means "it is something that is holding one back in life. With out that something one's life would be better."
My cave is alcohol. The only thing not letting me get drunk all the time is my daughter. When I look at her the needs go away.
Do not get me wrong I drink one or two just not everyday, but I do not drink to the point were I can not take care of Janelle. If I did not have her I will drink all day everyday.
Diana Amezcua
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #1
After reading Plato's Allegory of the Cave a few times, I found it very similar to our life experiences. For example, when we are younger our parents tell us about life and the consequences we can expect if we act a certain way. Indeed, we believe it and trust all they tell us because that is all we know and think that is reality. Then when things do not go as expected we start doubting what they had told us and are confused about what we thought we knew. Plato refers to this discoveries as "sharp pains", to my understanding this are the reality checks we experience when the unexpected happens. This little passage explains it all "Like ourselves, I replied; and they see only their own shadows, or the shadows of one another, which the fire throws on the opposite wall of the cave?" The shadows can be our parents shaping our thoughts when we are younger and we believe those shadows because that is all we have seen and know.
Andrew Murphy
English 103
Cerritos College
Post#1
Plato's Allegory of the Cave
I believe this passage was an appropriate one to start of the new semester. ..."let me show in a figure how far our nature is enlightened or unenlightened..." (Line 1) This whole passage shows the intellectual in our world along with the dim. The prisoners ,who are bound, only see the shadows displayed on the wall and associate what they see as something. For example, if someone who holds up a glass to the fire which projects a shadow of the glass, the prisoners will see the shadow of the glass and associate the shadow as a glass instead of the real glass. ..."would they not suppose that they were naming what was actually before them?" (line 9)
Without formal education we only see things 2-dimensional. We begin in this world as the prisoners did, looking at the wall, but only we can break the shackles and go onto the upper world to learn and comprehend our surroundings. ..."the journey upwards to be the ascent...into the intellectual world"... (line 36) So as I stated earlier, being the beginning of a new semester I take it as a reminder of how learning and understanding can be our liberator.
Monique Gutierrez
English 100
Cerritos College Post #1
Choosing A Major
I am currently in my third semester of college. This is my first year back from a long hiatus. The last time I attempted to go to college was 2001! Now that I am back I am more focused on learning. Back then I didn't know what to do with my life. I didn't want to be in school. I wasn't motivated. I've been working since I was seventeen. The job I have now helps to pay the bills, but it's not good enough. I am not satisfied with my life. I decided to come back to college because I feel I could do better. I want to learn more than before. I still haven't decided on a major. If I had to choose one now it would be English. I love to write. I remember when I was a little girl I used to write stories. The stories wouldn't make much sense but they were special to me. I would keep them in this light blue pillowcase hidden in the closet. I don't know what happened to them, but if they were around today I would've made a book about it. I know that English 100 is a tough class to take, but I'm giving it a try. I'm not saying I'm going to pass this class with an A,but I am accepting the challenge to learn. I am not a straight A student and it takes me awhile to learn new things, but I'm not going to give up. I am currently taking a Counseling 200 class. This class will help guide me to success.
Monique Gutierrez
English 100
Cerritos College Post #2
So,we post on here and not on our personal blogs? Because, I was posting there this whole time! But, posting here does seem to make more sense. How is everyone doing tonight? I am doing well and I cannot wait to get to know all of you. Take care!
Yi-Hui Chiang (Charleen)
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #1
Hello everyone!
After the first week in class, it looks like we'll have lots of work to do. I feel a little nervous of Mr. Hsiao's class, but I'll get ready for the new challenges! :)
Ibeth Rodriguez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #1
Hello I am Ibeth and this is my first time taking Mr. Hsiao's class. I am not going to lie I am a little worried about how his class is going to be. So far from what he has told us I am a little afraid of what grade im going to get for his class. I know that I am going to get the grade that I deserve. I know that I need to work hard for the grade that I want which is an A. One of the thing that I notice on the first day of class is that many of his former english 52 students were not taking his English 100 class. I thought that was great because it showed that his students enjoyed his class that they wanted him to keep being their professor. I just hope that this class is fun but most importantly I hope I learn many things that will help me out for the future.
Edilu Medina
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #1
The Allegory of the Cave by Plato
On reading the story I was completely lost I re read it about 3 times. The conclusion I came to was how society has an image amongst people how to look at life and treatment towards others. If one is good and another is bad would it make sense to be the same and follow. Who would receive more good even if their bad. That is my perspective on the Allegory of the Cave.
Jose D. Santos
English 100
C.C.
Post #1
hi everyone i am Jose but u can call me David. I have heard a lot about this and at first i thought it was boring, but now that i am tring,, it does not look boring anymore.. Instead is fun and easy because you are more comfortable at home. Please help me out on this if i need to ... thanks!!!!!!1 see you monday at. class
Esmeralda Orozco
Enlish 100
Cerritos College
Post#2
Allegory of the Cave
I have read the story three times and even googled the book to see what other people thought about the story. I have some what of an understanding but I am still puzzled. To my understanding Socrates is telling Glaucon about his love for philosophy. Socrates tells of prisoners chained from their heads to their legs. What I believe Pluto is trying to makes us understand is that human beings chain themselves (as a figure of speech) from reality. They are not open to any other ideas rather then what they already believe.
Esmeralda Orozco
English100
Cerritos College
Post#3
ok im just getting the hint of this but in my last two blogs my picture didn't come out so I didn't want to take any risk. So to day we went to help the Kidworks organization. All you guys missed out on a great day. I had so much fun specially because I took my BFF Yvette. We were in charge of the water balloon station and may I add the best station throughout the day and not just because we were in charge but because all the little kids kept coming back and telling us they liked our station.
Raul Moreno
English 103
Cerritos College
Post: 2
First let me just say that Michael over in the 100 class seems to be like a strong intellectual. I think whoever is in his class better bring their A game for class discussions because he's definitely going to bring some heavy thought and bold statements for everyone to chew on.
As for filler material, and please excuse me if I'm out of line in this direct address, but I doubt this is filler material. It's tremendously dense unless, most likely, you already have a degree in philosophy, literature and perhaps even mathematics. If it is indeed bull****, then for the sake of discussion and provocation of thought let's get out of it what we possibly can, yes?
Homonyms
I've been at this text for about two days, looking into the subject of set theory, religion, sex, Einstein, logic, philosophy and even getting some sort of reference to Frida Kahlo among other things.
There's a lot to really talk about, but I think the basic underlying idea is to always ask something to the effect of "Why?". The most focal passage would be in P2: "What does it mean to say that the concept 'red' designates red objects?" This is in reference to Immanuel Kant, an 18th century philosopher who at one point in his career, despite being a very extroverted personality, isolated himself for a "silent decade" to elaborate on the ideas of how the human mind acquires data and how that data is processed.
Further, upon looking into the life of Frege, one should note that his "career" as a philosopher stemmed naturally from his mathematical work. He sought to prove that basic mathematics was not based on axioms but on logic. In this endeavor, he began questioning deeper, more philosophical subjects. He questioned the idea of "meaning" itself.
I want to bounce off of what Andrew Murphy and what he had to say about AOTC. With application of Agamben's philosophy in this passage, one would see that his thought is incomplete and with fault. Formal education can also be merely a voice in the cave or another shadow cast on the wall. According to Agamben, we must dig deeper for truth. To optimistically take everything presented us by professors and teachers throughout our education, both elementary and advanced, is to only look to another kind of shadow in the two dimensional realm. It is not until we go deeper and further back to the roots of these ideas and lessons and, dare I say, real life application and experience with said ideas that we truly might emerge from the cave.
I believe Agamben's text here might be considered a sort of specifications list for Plato's AOTC, albeit too dense and roundabout for the common reader to really stick around for the moral of the story.
There should be no authority here on this earth that goes by unquestioned and without comparison. It is our responsibility as individuals to seek truth, and though we should take heed to wisdom of past, we must not be constrained to the traditional methods of such a critical journey. Cast off unbalanced subjectivity, and be prepared to have your world and what you believe turned upside down now and again. Push on upward towards truth and love no matter the pain or hardship.
"The day is soon coming when turning your back won’t be an option.
Keep telling yourself what you really don’t believe.
You can compromise what you know to be true,
and you can turn off all of your senses,
but in the end you’ll see nothing stands between a man and his maker.
No matter what it’s your decision."
-August Burns Red
See you guys on Monday.
Raul Moreno Jr
English 103
Cerritos College
Post: 3
This was just a little taste of what's in this passage, I'm sure. I read some religious undertones, especially in the title of the book in which Homonyms is contained: The Coming Community. Hopefully in class we can also touch on the ideas of communication, language and translation in the text, and if it gets deep enough we can get into his ideas of zoe and bios which is actually the real meat of this excerpt.
I'm still going over it all and I'm finding more and more to discuss so I guess I'll cut it short and save some for class.
I won't even elaborate on AOTC. Although I've picked that text apart beforehand, we could discuss and get deeper for hours. Besides, what fun would it be for all the new students who haven't had the pleasure of trying to figure things out for themselves.
It's only the first week and I've spent hours on the blogging assignment. ;/
Veronica Vasquez
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #2
Homonyms by Giorgio Agamben
First off, I'll admit the read was very heavy for my Saturday morning. Like many, I also had to go over the paper a couple times before I could get any type of connections between some of the ideas.
What was most intriguing about the read to me was when Agamben mentions the "threat" that posed on even Cantor's theory that so many Mathematicians followed. He seemed to have attacked "classes" that we put in language, or even mathematics, and to question the reason behind doing so. I'd have to agree with Raul that what seems to be the main point in this passage is to ask ourselves "why" every so often. In today's society where the majority of the people run scripted lives, where things are said that no longer have meaning (mostly for the sake of avoiding awkward silences), and accept everything that is told to them without finding out why it is what it is, it is no wonder why Agamben's free-thinking of questioning the world drives fear and anger into so many logicians. Toddlers do more than most adults nowadays with their simple questions of "Why is the sky blue?", and after a long logical explanation they proceed to ask, "But why?". Even then, who is to say what is logical and what isn't.
Of course, I'm sure this is just one of many basic ideas, if anything, from this passage. I definitely understand more with the ideas and opinions of others in this blog. Thanks!
Jenny Guzman
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #12
Homonyms by Giorgio Agamben
To understand this assignment, I had to read it about five times, and get my dictionary to explain some of the words. What these passages are saying is any word can mean two things, or not mean what is stated it means. How confusing it may sound and how hard it was to read I finally understood it. To Logicians everything is logic. Everything is what it is. Having "Agamben" write this theory just turned all the logicians’ world upside down. What they thought they knew started to be questioned. Thing were not as they seemed at all.
Horse and hoarse sound the same but they mean two different things. Horse is an animal and hoarse is when one's voice sounds rough, due from a cold. So when Frege wrote in paragraph 3 "how do our representations refer to objects?" I felt it meant when one is hoarse one voice sounds different due to a cold, it does not mean one is an actual horse. Then we have horsing around which means having fun/ rough housing, how a horse would be running around having fun.
So this theory is just words to make one think. How something so hard to understand can be so simple in the root of the theory. All these words as hard as they are to read or say (unless your Hsiao or Michael) can be so simple. I would have just wished someone would have been able to write this theory/ passages in a way normal people with normal brains could understand. If it was easy Hsiao would not give us this assignment.
Priscilla Daza
Cerritos College
English 100
post #2
homonyms by giorgio agamben
The two and a half pages was just a massive form of confusion swimming in my head. it was when i got to paragraph 8 where it made the slightest sense. as i continued to read and the comprehension was gone for me. the only sentence that ignited some fathomable idea was the bolded sentence on paragraph 8, "According to their participation, the plurality of synonyms is homonyms with respect to ideas". what i think i got from it was the fact that the ideas and objects are "classes" that have the same meaning or relation known as synonyms.it is only known as synonyms in respect to word because without the synonyms there is no meaning behind it. a non existent object if i may that is known as a hymonym.
i dont know...i think i need to read it over a couple of more times ha!
Zachary Duke
Eng 103
CC
Post # 3
Homonyms
This story is really interesting to me. It took me all night and into the morning to finally get it. I guess that is what happens when you go to 103. harder and heavier stores .
What I found intriguing about the story was when Agamben mentions the "threat" that posed on even Cantor's theory that states there are sets having cardinality greater than the (already infinite) cardinality of the set of whole numbers {1,2,3,...}. He seemed to have attacked "classes" that we put in language, or even mathematics, and to question the reason behind doing it. I'd have to say that the main point in this passage is to ask ourselves "why" every so often witch is the way of the philosopher . In the times we live, where the majority of the people run the same life, where things are said that no longer have meaning, it is no wonder why Agamben's free-thinking of questioning the world drives fear and anger into so many logicians. Like the ideas of the Hippies. they questioned everything and lived there life the way they wanted. not to have one mindedness.
Diana Amezcua
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #2
Hey, just wanted to bragg a little bit about yesturdays experience with the children from Kidworks. At the beginning I didn't know what we would be doing but then Mr. Hsiao assigned us a booth and explained the situation which was very helpful. Eventhough I was kind of tired and ready to go home at the end of the day, I can say that it was all worth it and wouldn't hesitate to help out again. I was in charge of the snow cone's and enjoyed every minute of it because of the joy the children expressed when getting their free snow cone. I got to meet a few students of Mr. Hsiao past classes and worked side by side with them. I feel that this trip was great because of the feeling you experience when helping others without receiving something in return. Not to mention that the people working in the other booths were very helpful and extremely nice, we even got POPCORN!!!
Maria Ascencio
English 100
Cerrtios College
Post #1
Allegory of the Cave
I read this a couple of times but I am still confused. To my understanding, what Socrates is sharing with Glaucon is how the slaves have been locked up their whole lives, what ever they are exposed to and what they see, which are the shadows, is how they believe things are. It is something they have concleded but in reality, it is not. It is like when we are too young to understand things. Our parents make us believe one thing, adn we grow with that mentality. As we grow and experience different things we realize that it was something way different to what we were taught.
Andy Tran
English 100
Cerritos College
Post#1
The Allegory of the Cave
As Socrates is speaking with Glaucon, they are speaking about how people perceive what reality and the truth are. People come quick to the conclusion about something by judging what is seen or heard. "The shadows" are what people perceive reality and the truth are. As a kid growing up, I believed almost anything possible. No matter how ridiculous it sounded. And if I was never told the truth, I would believe what was supposedly the truth, the truth and everything else is false.
I hope to see that everyone is shown the light and truth of reality.
Jenny Guzman
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #13
Music
No one can say I am picky about music. While doing my errands I maybe drove about an hour. In that time frame I may have went through quite of few genres of music. Normally I started with 80’s flashbacks then jump top rock enspanol, after some R&B , with a little of disco came classic rock ( along the watch tower the Jimi Hendrix version) then went to rap and I hopped to alternative then moved to chunt ( Mexican country) and finally had a some 50’s love song ( Etta James At last).
Arturo Lopez
Cerrtos College
English 103
Post 2
I read the short story Homonyms. I had a hard time rapping my head around this story. I am not completely sure what the other was trying to say. I guess what the author is saying is if you give something a name, that the name isnt the actaul thing. The name is the representation of the idea of the object or something along those lines. This story was deeply philosophical it definately got my brain going. Lets talk about it!
Cathrina Afusia
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #2
Okay, Okay Mr. H I will stop telling everyone not to be intimidated by the class! I just want as many people to stay as possible. I can relate to the intimidating feeling. Intimidation is what I was feeling the first time I took your class, but if only your new students can see how much they are going to figure out about themselves.
Now the reading..........
I am super lost. I have gone over the reading about five times now. I am now breaking it down into sections to see if I can get a better understanding. Stay tuned, I am stil at work.
Oh, and Michael from our class has really grabbed my attention. The first week of class he really made me laugh with the introductions. Reading Michael's words on the blogosphere has made me look at the reading in a different light.
Sarai Vazquez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #2
The Allegory of the Cave by Plato
I had to read this and discuss it with my sister a couple of times before i completely understood it. But this is what I got out of it.
I love the way that Plato described everything in this allegory. Getting the picture in my head was really good for me as it helped me better understand. It was interesting to me to think that people can actually think and live in such a sheltered way. I began to think about that and I realized that there are people nowadays that live in a cave. They live such sheltered lives and when they come out into the real world everything is a shock them. For example, there are Amish people that live their lives within their own kind. They all have the same belief system and genereation to generation they keep all things the same. When some of them leave their community, they come across different kinds of people and things that sometimes they did not even know existed. It blows me away to think that there are people that sometimes have never heard of or seen a cell phone before. Those kinds of things and others are some of the things that to some people are essential to their existence.
Monique Gutierrez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #3
The Allegory of the Cave by Plato
My interpretation of Plato’s, “The Allegory of the Cave” is that what you have been taught all your life by parents, teachers, etc. is nothing compared to what you are learning now as an adult. You are free to make your own decisions on how you want to live your life. I also got the idea that no one can tell you how to perceive things, because you have got to see for yourself. The excerpt “when any of them is liberated and compelled suddenly to stand up and turn his neck around and walk and look towards the light, he will suffer sharp pains…” made me think of the way I felt when I graduated high school. It was the time for me to grow up and figure out what to do with my life. You see, high school was not a prison, it was a society I grew accustomed to. I attended this place for four years and once my stay expired, I grew petrified. I had to come to the realization that I was put on this earth for a reason. It is up to me to decide what is to become of my life. To figure out what my purpose in life is and it would be my choice to show everyone what I’m capable of. Now that I am on my own I will see things in a whole new light. I may experience some pain in my life along the way, but I must learn to overcome it.
Jose D. Santos
English 100
C.C.
Post# 2
I read the Allegory of the Cave four times. It is kind of confusing because pretty much everything has a symbological meaning. Socrates is trying to illustrate to Glaucon how some people live as prisioners throughout their lives. People should reach out for positive things, a lot of them follow the wrong path(darkness). Instead of thinking negatively, people must work really hard. People are stubbern and no matter if they see the light of good they still held back.
Cathrina Afusia
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #3
Homonyms
Alright let me give this a try! Allegory of the Cave is like elementary compared to this reading. I have gone from mathematics, linguistics, logics, and some refrences to philosophy. I believe Agamben is trying to get everyone to think outside of the box. Just because something is said to be classified under a specific category, does that really mean it fits? I then came up with the question of who decided and agreed a particular object would hold a specific title? You start to wonder how the process came about? For example, who says a tire is an object used on vehicles? When I was younger I remember swinging from a rubber donut shaped object that I classified as a swing at the park. Was I wrong? I now believe that we cannot be stuck in one sense as our words of language and their meanings are. We should start to go beyond those limits that OTHERS have created for us.
Eric Contreras
Engl 103
Cerritos College
Post #1
Wow we are actually required to blog. Might i say i've never been so involved in to the class as a whole before... i wonder where this will take me throughout the semester. I also wonder if this is something Prof. Hsaio incorperated into his classes because he wants us to be more social and more involved in society. i hope it works...
Celina Rivera
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #1
This whole blogging thing is going to be an interesting experience for me. I have never blogged before, but I am familiar with the concept of blogging. I am looking forward to sharing my thoughts with everyone this semester via blogging. English 100 looks to be tough this semester with all the high expectations and demands of Professor Hsiao, however he seems to also have a huge following of returning students. I hope I do well this year and good luck to everyone.
Michael Swisher
English 100
Cerritos College
Post#4
Hello All (once again);
I would like to thank the commenters upon my previous blogs. I have no intention of speaking directly to anyone’s heart during the course of this class, but there may be “cardiallatoral damage” (see what I did there?... collateral damage… cardi… nevermind) Raul, on the other hand, I understand that you wrote the all too popular qualifying statement of “I’m sorry if I am out of line” prior to divulging the even more popular cry of the “teacher’s pet”… Get what we can out of it, but I must say my good sir I have taken offense. I propose a quandary. If one does indeed require a degree in philosophy to comprehend the “dense writings of Agamben, and we are all just “missing the point”, then explain the purpose of such literature. It appears malignantly obvious to me that one would write such a thing in order to gain acceptance of peers through muddled word-play, so ambiguous and vague that a vast majority of the reading audience are more lost than the missing person’s on America’s Most Wanted. (Yeah, that’s right… I said it). You see Raul, a name is a name, and names change, this much is true, but substantial interpretation of the natural world in all of its philosophical splendor requires naught more than a single well-functioning eye, a listening ear, and passion heaved by the mouth, but manufactured by the heart. Agamben, needless to say, strikes me as an opportunist, much like Plato or even J.K Rowling (sigh). So to suffice… still calling “bull****” and… sorry if I’m out of line ;-)
Ana Cervantes
Cerritos College
Post #3
The Allegory of the Cave by Plato
Well to be honest to all of u I had never read anything from Plato. Never the less, I had heard that he wrote some of best master pieces. I was not dissapointed to find out the humors were right. I can porbably give you a long paragraph about what I think the story means to me or what the fable is. However, what caught my eyes was that I got an idea why Mr. Hsiao gave us this story to read. I believe that Mr. Hsiao through this story is giving us a taste of what we are going to discover in his class and gain. We the students are like the prisoners in the story that have been chained to conformaty. We do not try to look for answers on our own or use our brains more and only agree to those answers that others gives us. That is why we are going go through the same pains that the prisoners went through when they realize the truth of things and started to actually branch out to reality. But the reward is going to be worth it, the knowleged we are going to gain when worked hard and deseried is going to makes us have our eyes fixed on the things we want and we are capable to obtian.
About the other story, I do not have a lot to say I found that one difficult I read it 5 times and just learned new words and that was it. I need help on that one, those of you that got it don't be stingy and share ur knowlegde =]
Brenda Flores
English 100
Cerritos College
Post#2
Allegory and the Cave
I had some help understanding the concept behind Allegory and the Cave from a lecture in my political science class. If I had read the story without the help fom my class, I more than likely would not have understood what I was reading, so I am glad I did. I feel that in one way or another we can all relate to what Socrates is talking about. I can relate with Adrian in the class to the Christianity thing to a certain extent. I attended a private Christian school since day care, but attended a public high school. I remember I was taught that God and his angels are watching everything we do and on judgement day, He would review everything we had done in life with us and determine if we were going to heaven or hell. The rules of the Bible were all I was taught and were all I used in judging people and making my descions. Once I started high school and saw the real world and how most people did not use the Bible like I did, I realized that I did not need or want to live my life in fear. "Better to be the poor servant..." I still have my issues with organized religion and the Bible, but be assured that the most important values stayed with me...IF there is a heaven I should make it in.
Tess Elizondo
English 100
Cerritos College
Post 2
Well after reading the story Homonyms by Giorgio Agamben I was a little confused. This story was hard for me to understand. I understood that the story was about concepts, and how there is not just one meaning to a word. This story made me question how people came up with words and the meanings of them. I had to read some paragraphs over and over just to understand what the author was trying to explain. Homonyms had my mind in three places along with curiosity. I have to admit I was a little burned out from this story.
Celina Rivera
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #1
This whole blogging thing is going to be an interesting experience for me. I have never blogged before, but I am familiar with the concept of blogging. I am looking forward to sharing my thoughts with everyone this semester via blogging. English 100 looks to be tough this semester with all the high expectations and demands of Professor Hsiao, however he seems to also have a huge following of returning students. I hope I do well this year and good luck to everyone.
Janice Silva
English 103
Cerritos College
Post#2
The Allegory of the Cave
I had to read this story a few times to put it in my own interpretation, but here it goes..
As children we are brought up with our parents values and morals, unable to fully think for ourselves, "legs and necks chained so that they cannot move, and only see before them, being prevented by the chains from turning round their heads" (Plato 1). At first are image is shaped by are parents, having the same morals as they do, but soon reaching a certain age were we are able to think for ourselves, seeing the world through our eyes. When the world hits in a certain way one is shaken, because what they thought at first is now shown in a different context, in a new light. Once reality hits, we are able to understand what is before us, but feeling bad for others that are not able to see what we see. Some challenge what one believes, saying they are a fool, but the one considered a fool has faith in what they believe, and will fight. It takes effort for anything, whether it be spiritually or morally, one has to see beyond the objects of the world, for something more.
Arcelia Swarr
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #2
I was reading through all the posts so far on the blog, and I hope everyone is able to figure out how to blog, what to blog, and where to blog! If anyone needs help, I can try my best to help, but don't be afraid to ask for help! Ok, now on to the homework, I read Allegory of the Cave, and I read Homonyms(or at least I tried to) and I am just going to post right now on Allegory. I really like this story, and I like how I can apply it to my life, or anyone's life for that matter. I do believe that everyone has a cave that they're hiding in. For some, the cave is obvious and easily conquered, but others may not have it so easy. I look forward to discussing these stories in class and hearing everyone's interpretations of each story.
The Allegory of the cave
Jaime Valadez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #2
Well after reading The Allegory of the cave 4 times i was still pretty confused. Im not sure if i am any where close to what the story is about ,but this is what i thought it meant. It seems to me like the people only see shadows because they are always followers and not leaders. Maybe they are afraid of new things and just choose to follow and do what others tell them to do because they feel safe that way. If this is true then this story may relate to me.The reason i say this is because i did not vote on the past presidential elections and i chose to have someone else make a decision for me while i stood just watching the shadows.
Sarika Vaswani
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #1
Woohoo! It's good to be back :)
The English 100 Hsiao experience was awesome. I'm looking forward to going at it again!
I expect English 103 to be a challenge, but I didn't realize our first assigned reading would be this difficult to understand (ha!). Agamben's short story, Homonyms, really boggled my mind. After thoroughly reading through it, I feel like the purpose of it is to get us to question anything and everything around us. As other bloggers have stated, It's sometimes necessary to simply ask "why?" for our own understanding of concepts and ideas to a greater extent. While reading, the first thing that came to mind was the always asked question, "why is the sky blue?" and how little kids are always so inquisitive and curious about the world around them (I believe Veronica also mentioned this). As a society, I think we tend to accept things as they are because it's so much easier to do so and because of this we start to become comfortable living in ignorance. We put limitations and restraint on our words of language and their meanings, but why? Who is to determine the logic behind a word or concept and what it means? This passage reminds me of my favorite line from the song, Clark Gable by The Postal Service:
"I want so badly to believe that "there is truth, that love is real"
And I want life in every word to the extent that it's absurd"
Actually, I'm starting to see how this can tie into Allegory of the Cave. I got the jist of it, but I don't think I'll be able to process this passage until we discuss it in class. I'm looking forward to it!
Michael, to see the relationship, if you might call it that, between myself and Prof. Hsiao would be to see that I am hardly a pet of his. A former student of his, I am, but let it be known that I truly bump heads with him more than most of his students. I don't mean to say that I have an unpleasant view of him, rather I enjoy the atmosphere of his classroom greatly. My fore-apology was only out of respect for the rules Professor Hsiao has established and strictly enforced on these blogs. This was directed towards him so my entire commentary on the passage might not be deleted for a side note.
My mention of affluence in outside subjects was not to say that people would never get to the bottom of things, but that it would appear and actually be dense the first few times around. To read the comments of those who have had a crack at it already is evidence of this. It was terribly dense for myself seeing as I have little background in philosophy, popular or not. It was not until I informed myself on those named in the article as well as the author himself that things started clicking for me. For some, reading at face is sufficient. Personally, I need, for the purpose of seeing a more clear picture, to know of the ins and outs--the logistics--you might say.
Further, without some sort of reference point, I don't understand how someone can really get to the originally intended message as a whole of any writing, which is what I am after aside from that which I can take personally from the text through personal interpretation and application. That's just the way my brain works, I suppose, being ill read on the more well known academic literature and philosophy. I don't quite have the foundation for such concrete criticism on the subject as the one you have built. Frankly, it seems like you are the top dog in this arena, so have patience with me as I learn and familiarize myself with such content.
In closing, I am of the thought, inside of class or out, that each and every experience or idea that we come across has something that we might get out of it. In this case, we speak of the literature presented us in class, which we have no choice on. This is part of the curriculum and if we do not like it, we cannot turn in a paper or short write up of it that simply says, in a subjectively roundabout way, "This is bull****." I am not taking this class and analyzing the content of it because I want to find a new personal philosophy, but instead I'd simply like to strengthen my critical thinking and analysis. I believe this is the general goal of others in the class as well. If what I am presented is Agamben and the ideas that come with his writings then so be it. It is my intent to find whatever there is to be possibly learned from anything and everything that I can.
Personal beliefs and opinions here in Mr. Hsiao's sphere of English must be cemented by sufficient evidence, otherwise they are simply gone to the wind.
Thanks for the discourse by the way. Hopefully, I'm not feeding into your need for attention in such a way that is negative. I would hate to be reinforcing something negative. ;]
Yi-Hui Chiang
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #2
The Allegory of the Cave
The allegory gave me a vivid picture while i was reading through it. I was trying to put myself into the story and to imagine how the people living in the den would feel. It gave me an idea and brought me into the thinking of my belief. I am just like on of them! I am so used to what I was taught without even thinking; I am too self-satisfied with what I have learned and experienced. However, sometimes what we think is true may not be the truth. We tend to limit ourself with our own bias and opinions of others. Because of these limitations we set for ourselves, we are not able to have an open-minded approach to new ideas. I think if we want to have a breakthrough for ourselves, what we really need is to come out of our shells and to be not afraid of any new thought.
Michelle Pachas
English 103
Cerritos College
Post: 1
Homonyms- Giorgio Agamben
This essay dissected and examined the roots, consequences, and theories behind the common yet substantial paradox “class of all the classes that are not members of themselves.” This is definitely dense reading and I still haven’t made complete sense of the whole thing but for the most part I find Agamben makes us question the bases of everything we are taught right down to why we have chosen to use the words we do to distinguish the things we do. If possible, how do we separate the idea behind a word and what the word itself is? Perhaps Aristotle’s anaphoric movement? Agamben stresses the importance of this “antimony” found by Russell when showing how this one philosophical idea became the undoing of the Cantor’s set theory. Even when logicians instilled the new rules to the theory to try to undue some of the harm done they immediately disproved themselves by using “illegitimate totalities” in these new guidelines. It really goes to show how they way of thinking of a logician differs immensely to that of a philosophers.
Michael Swisher
English 100
Cerritos College
Mr. Moreno you are far too long-winded for me good sir. I appreciate the intellectual tennis match, and I hope you will come to understand someday that simply because the "enlightened" portion of the world holds something idolic, does not necessarily make it so. (Sorry Mr. Hsaio for bogarting so much of the blogging space)
Nirzari Patel
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #1
Hello everybody... This is my first time blogging! I feel that this is a good way for students to participate and discuss their opinions without having to do it in front of everyone. I really hope this course can help me to be a better writer and speaker.I read the allegory of the cave. At first I was not able to understand it properly, but after reading it again and again I got little bit of idea. But I am looking forward to the discussion of this. Prof. H at first glance seemed very strict but later i think he helps alot. I enjoy his class though it had been just two days.
Amador Damaso
Cerriots
103
"AYO"
I want to welcome all the fresh meat, and I do mean fresh meat indeed. Welcome to the hardest semester of your life, and many of you will drop this class soon. This is not a class for lightwights, so I hope those who stay in this class do not take this lightly. Take it from a Prof. H vetran: THIS WILL BE THE HARDEST CLASS YOU WILL HAVE THIS SEMESTER!!!!!!! I can promise you that this class will be the equivlent to hell week in football. So to close, enjoy and wellcome to the first day of the rest your life....
Samantha Navarro
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #3
Homonyms
I read this essay twice and the main issue that came to me is the seperation of groups of people, such as from different backgrounds or people who form "cliques" because of their similar interests. How can one word describe so many different qualities contained in that group? When we classify because of one quality that a person posseses, it becomes hard to think of that person as having any more qualities. This idea tends to create seperation between different people who in reality might not be so different at all. If we say something is "....," then anything possessing that quality will be described as such without considering any other qualities it offers. I can give an example that happened on our second class. I sit next to a Korean girl in class (I am Mexican-American), and when we exchanged our answers to the questions Mr. H asked us to write, we found out we have many same interests, most of our answers were similar. I would not have known this unless Mr. H had not gotten us to open up. I live in South Gate, and my neighborhood is made up of mainly Mexican families, I went to school with nothing but Mexican kids and have only Mexican friends, not by choice but because of where I am located. I have been going to College for a year, but because I can be extremely quiet, I have not really made friends. I have already learned so much in my first week, probably more than in a year of college, not only from this class but what I am getting from all my classes as a whole (Latin American History and World Religions, also taking math). All I can say is I am excited about what this semester has to offer me as far as discovering about myself and what my inner thoughts really hold!
Jonathan Aguilar
Cerritos College
English 103
Post #4
I had posted our assignment on my blog page. It was on the Allegory of the Cave, but i'm not sure if i'm suppose to leave it on my profile or give it to you in a comment. So here is my paragraph on the reading.
The Allegory of the Cave
The Allegory of the Cave by Plato was about Sacartes speaking to Glaucon and giving him an image of what it's like to be a philosopher. Sacartes relates a philosopher to a prisoner in captivity who is later relased. He describes how in different habitats we stray from reality. While in captivity a prisoner feels like a chained puppet. Not being able to talk to or relate to those around them. Only able to see the shadows and hear the echoes of others. When the prisoner is relased he is introduced to a new world. In this new world he is required to grow accustomed to his surroundings. He must have his eye fixed on his ultimate goal in life. Prisoner and philosopher alike must expand their knowledge in order to fit in with the world around them.
Eric Contreras
Engl 103
Cerritos College
Post#2
Homonyms By G. Agamben
Hey /b/. Ok so after reading the essay about homonyms, i thought i understood it pretty well. My first response to it was "this has something to do with homonyms, i know it". But after reading it a few more times i understood it more and more. As i understand it, there are concepts have certain relationships with objects that describe them in different ways which can be categorized into classes. And in those classes are members in which describe them as the such classes, however they do not neccessarily describe th concept itself. The concept cannot simply decribe itself in its own name or by its own name, it needs other words to determine what it is supposed to mean. So if you have two words, like bear, that sound the same and can have different meanings depending on the way it is used, then those words are homonyms. Therefore a definition can belong to one word, however one word can have many definitions.
Brian Jimenez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post# 2
Well, first of all i want to say thanks to crazymommy also known as Jenny Guzman for answing my question.
The Allegory of the Cave
In the book The Republic, Socrates is taking about how certain people push there limits. There are certain points in people's life that will hurt as said in the story. At first it seems like an illusion and not real existence. Its sorta like our english 100 class. It will be hard but those willing to suffer will have wisdom unlike those that view it as as illusion and turn away learning nothing by taking the easy way out. Well, i hope i did somewhat ok first time reading this kind of story. I read it six times and this is what resulted.
Sorry i have not put a picture yet not sure how to put one..can anyone help?
Ibeth Rodriguez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #2
The Allegory of the Cave by Plato
Well I just finished reading The Allegory of the Cave by Plato. I have to be honest I had to read it about twice in order to understand what the meaning of the story was. I have to say I related to this story in many diffrent ways. I think what this story is trying to say is that when one grows up we are given ideas and belives by our parents. We grow up with those same ideas that our elders gave us and often when we are young we belive they are always right. We live in our own little world sorrounded by the ideas and belives they only want us to see. When its time for us to go out into the real world and start expiriencing life by ourselves we start learning and gaining new ideas and belives. We start seeing things diffrently from what our parents taught us. For example, I grew up thinking that gay marriage was wrong. My grandmother being a very religious women gave me the idea that gay marriage was wrong so I grew up beliving that it was wrong. When I finally started high school my view on gay marriage started to change. I started to view things with my own eyes and not with what my grandmother had told me. My views in gay marriage changed and now I think that gay couples should have the same rights as a heterosexual couples. My grandmother of course got offended by my views on gay marriage but I told her that now I have my own believes and my own ideas. This is exacly what The Allegory of the Cave is trying to say. We live in a world were at first we are given ideas and belives that we are expected to follow but when we finally go outside into the real world we start seeing this in our own way.
Sandra Valadez
English 100
Cerritos College
post # 4
I am not quite sure how to interpret the Allegory of the Cave. As I read the story once, twice, and a third time in my head I still thought one thing. These prisoners that were tricked into thinking a certain way and then relaesed and shown that what they had seen on the wall had been an illustion. I read some of the other post and people have compaired it to their religious beliefs and how they may have judged someone based on that, and once they have been shown the world it is not how they thought it was, right??? Here is where I am a little confused, why once the men were released were their images an illusion? What they saw before them was "their" reality. Even as I am writing this I find myself not being able to spit out what I want to say. The reality of something is whatever you want it to be. If you choose to conform to an idea and at no point question that idea (whatever it may be )than you live and carry on with your life believing that belief. Does that make sense to anyone??? I hope we an in class discussion about this to help me understand the concept/message of the story.
Martha Vazquez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post 2
The Allegory of the Cave
It took me reading a little slower, drawing a mental picture, and reading it to my sister to really understand what Plato was saying here...well, my understanding of it, at least.
I related the chains that bound the prisoners and wouldn't let them turn around, to what, and how we are taught to think. Everything we think we know is just an illusion. Its merely a shadow cast on a wall.
I grew up in the church. My family wasn't too conservative, but a lot of things were "black and white". There was a definite wrong and a definite right. Those were my chains. It was difficult for me to see beyond my own experiences, and what my religion taught me to be true.
Getting released from the shackles, and having "ascent of the soul into the intellectual world" for me, has been a slow process. It takes a while to undo the years of interpreting the shadows and learning to see things for what they really are.
Rayray J.
English 100
cerritos college
post # uno
Homonyms-
Reading the title i predicted that this was story was going to be another lesson in the mechanics of english and boy was I wrong.
This text hits hard some of the basic ideas of metaphysics. According to my understanding of this text, any object or a thing cannot be classified by a name since the object and the name of the given object are two different things (hence the title of the paper).
To me, this brings in question the basic principle of exsistence itself. Take for example the number five (5) it exsists in phonics as "five" and in graphics as "5" yet nobody has ever seen the number five only the concept of it. Giorgio Agamben states that "if we try to grasp a concept as such, it is fatally transformed into an object, and the price we pay is no longer being able to distinguish it from the concieved thing"
I suppose what Giorgio Agamben is trying to put in question is the paradox of existence itself since he says "the idea of a thing is the thing itself". Going by that assumption, i believe that it is necessary for an existence of a universal property that can both satisfy the objects in the real or the physical sense and the non real or the conceptual sense. the lack of this property would nullify the exsistence of all things such as the universe itself and all its inhabitants.
then again of course, i could be missing the thesis of this article and im just rambling.
Yesica Vasquez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post # 2
The Allegory of The Cave By Plato
My interpretation of this story, is that Socrates is trying to explain to Glaucon how many people live their life with their "eyes closed". Believing only what their parents have thought them and not being open minded. He explains how when the prisoner is released he is blinded by how different the world is to him, and since the prisoner lived in a dark cave his whole life the sun is his biggest challenge. Also, when he is released it takes time to slowly adapt to the new environment. This can relate to us in many ways because as young adults in middle school or high school we've always had someone to guide us through either parents or counselors. We were always protected from the troubles in life. But now in college, life completely depends on you. Classes are no longer randomly being picked for us like in high school, and its up to us to push on and work for our grade. So in a way I can say we were "blinded" up until adulthood and slowly we are trying to adapt to our new "adult" environment. I guess once we have fully adapted we can't ever go back to our childhood days.
Hope it makes sense..
Amador Damaso
C.C.
Homonyms
The first thought that was in my mind when I read this was "I think my brain broke", but after careful reading I began to understand this. The idea behind this writing is to get the mind pumping. It presents the idea that a name is only a name. Also that a name only represents the ideas you attach to it. The only reason people name and catagorize is for better understanding. A rose still has all the properties of a rose even without the name attached. A name doenst warrnet exsistance, for everything was in exstitance before man named it. A name is the most trival concept. It is always the idea of question what is in place. Why is a rock a rock? Why is a flower a flower? Why does any of it matter?
Cathrina Afusia
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #4
I am so ready for class. Here I am at work blogging! I cannot wait to hear what everyones interpretations of the readings are.
Steven Cordova
English 100
Cerritos
Post #1
Homonyms
This story takes a very simple concept and explains it in a very complex method and a "well...techinicly" sort of fasion. It explains the the words we use for objects are inadequite to describe the object acurately. Also there are too many features of many objects for them to be sorted into a catogory. All this could be interperated as a message agenct racial divercity. However its message is very suttle so I cannot say for sure if there is another message within the surface message.
Celina Rivera
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #2
The Allegory of the Cave by Plato
When reading the Allegory of the Cave I had a sense that there were many interpretations to the story. The one interpretation that stood out was that every person perceives their way of life different. The prisoners were so set in their ways of living that there was no higher expectations. When they were released or passed the wall. The illusions of life has changes on their eyes. The sun made their eyes hurt because they were not use to seeing what they saw. They thought that by keeping their closed it was shutting them out of reality. Another words by keeping your eyes closed you are not living your life.
Jenny Guzman
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #14
Fav's of Hsiao
I have enjoyed reading these talks about teacher pets and what not. As Raul knows Hsiao has no teacher’s pets. He does have some favorite people. I know most of his former students are his favorites. These people do not get any special treatment. The favorite are just people who talk in class and who really do the work. These people want to learn and do not slack off. Just with the first week I know who Hsiao is going to like next. Michael seems to be smart and knows what he is talking about. He kind of reminds me of Amador. (He is a former classmate of mine). Let’s hope more of my classmates will become part of the favorite group.
Brian….
Any pictures you have saved to your computer you can download them to your profile. Just think of it like myspace or facebook. You download them the sameway. Hope this helps.
Jonathan Aguilar
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #5
Hello everyone, today's class was great because now i know what Homonyms was all about. I read that story probably about 5 times and only knew what some of it was about. Today's class helped out a lot. Now all i have to do is try to write a great blog about it because the returning students are owning the new students on the assignments so far.
Yesica Vasquez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post # 3
I hope I make it to class on time today.. Parking is soo hectic and I would hate to have to stand in front of the whole class again..(and stay after class) grr.. Last time it took me 30 min to find a spot!!
Genevieve Madrid
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #1
Okay, I think I did this wrong the first time. I made an account and blogged but I don't think I did it in the right way. Sorry. Hopefully I'm doing this right. If anyone can give me a heads up, I'd appreciate it. Thanks a mil.
Genevieve Madrid
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #2
Allegory of the Cave
I read it and I have a quote that I think of from time to time to ... semi-sum up what the reading was about. It goes:
Open-minded people must accept the possibility that being closed-minded is better. Close-minded people can take comfort in knowing that they are right.- Steve W.
... let me know what you think.
Genevieve Madrid
English 100
Cerritos College
Posting 3
So, I feel like I cheated by just putting in a quote that I like, rather than talking about what the reading was about. So, let me back track.
The reading was about learning to live a life that is not the norm.
When Socrates explained to Glaucon the way the slaves lived, Socrates pained a horrible picture in Glaucons mind with fire, and learning to read shadows in the dark and being held down by shackles and chains.
Socrates then had Glaucon think about how the slaves would react when taken out of the shackles, removed the fire and placed them in the sun and let him be free. What kind of reaction would they have to the new life?
They would have a difficult time adjusting to the change. The things that they came to know and were used to, ... were no longer.
JAZMIN OZUNA
ENGLISH 100
CERRITOS COLLEGE
POST#1
When reading The Allegory of the Cave I could not understand the story, and as I read it two and three more times i started to understand what Socrates was explaning to Glaucon.
My understanding of this story was that people are taught how to live. If one lives a certain way one grows accustomed to it, and when shown different we in a way shy away from it for the fear of the unknown. Because of this fear one does not truely live, that is until they have no other option. Once one is forced to live is when one questions their own reality. We are prisoners of our own lives becasue we live the way others expect us to live, we live watching our every move.
Jean Carlo Morales
English 100
Cerritos College
Post 2
Homonyms
Wow, I think i would understand this story much better if it were much longer and had more information for me to understand. Each sentence was just jam packed with informationa after information. I had to literally cut sentences out into separate parts just to actually understand one sentence. I understood the part about the homonyms. Like how a concept can be the same in spelling or pronounciation , but different because of the idea of the concept. The rest is confusing to me because... well because I just do not understand it. What gets me confused is when the author tried to distinguish a shoe from its being-called-(shoe), from its being-in-language. What does being-called and being-in-language mean? I agree with Jenny when she said someone should write or explain this in ways that normal people can understand. Also, I can see how this story relates to Alegory of the Cave. Here is a thought that Veronica Vasquez from an earlier post said that reminded me of Allegory of the Cave.
"In today's society where the majority of the people run scripted lives, where things are said that no longer have meaning (mostly for the sake of avoiding awkward silences), and accept everything that is told to them without finding out why it is what it is, it is no wonder why Agamben's free-thinking of questioning the world drives fear and anger into so many logicians."
Alonso Llamas
Cerritos College
English 103
Post #1
Homonyms by Giorgio Agamben
I found this story extraordinarily interesting. The whole concept about how and why things are name is debated through out this paper. The paper focuses on how things are classified, and how the linguistics affects ones thought process of words. As a result, concepts can not be fully grasped because one associates that very word that describes the concept with an object. Therefore, the concept cannot be grasped because one will not be able to differentiate it from the object. Then there is the whole concept of homonyms and synonyms. The whole concept introduced in Metaphysics seems to boggle the mind at first, but then it becomes understandable when described in Aristotle’s example. The example of the horse’s and how it can pertain to a group of synonyms and homonyms at the same time helps explain the concept. However, later on one discovers that the idea of synonyms and homonyms is neither a concept or an object, but rather the idea of being its self and being in language. That one cannot be named by others and that the name of something does not really matter. However, the thing must have a name in order to belong, but it can only be named be itself. To me, the whole concept of homonyms and synonyms seems to be based around ambiguity. In other words, one can not be named, yet must be expressed verbally in order to belong. This has left me perplexed and I am not completely sure what the whole paper means.
Zachary D
Eng 103
CC
post# 4
AOTC
This story is about a Socrates and Glaucon discussing about a man that learns the truth after a life of "truth" (meaning the truth that others want him to know) by braking away from his normal life and went out to find the truth. he walks out and gets "blinded by the light"(Manfred Mann's Earth Band)
This story makes me think of the news. the news at least in the US is watched over by the FCC (The Federal Communications Commission). The news copays only show you what they want and nothing more or less. To find out our own truth, one must search it out oneself. not to wait and depend on others to tell us what we can learn ourself just by trying.
Celina Rivera
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #3
HUMMMMM....Where to start? Where to start? Today's class seemed a bit overwhelming, but I guess now I know to expect. I was a little bothered with myself and how I did on the mini quiz. When I sat and thought for a while I told myself " At least I can learn from my mistakes and know the pertinent information." So I now think that over all I will do better.
I was extremely amazed that we all were a little confused on both readings. When we broke up into our group it was easier to break down what each reading ment. I was also enlightened when we all had different interpretartions, but some how they all made sense. When I was in my group I was able to get my thoughts across. Sometimes my thoughts were gumbled, but my group was there to make sense of them. I look forward to learning more and opening up my brain waves.
P.S. Yesica and Jose (David) my group members I have both of your readings you guys forgot to take them. If you have school tomorrow I will be more than happy to meet you to give them to you. I say this because you might need them to do your next writing. Let me know!!!
Ronald Guerrero
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #3
Hello everyone, parked at the usual spot and ran into Professor Hsiao before I crossed the street. Class was interesting as usual. But I would have to say that the quiz got me by surprise haha and of course did not remember a thing that I read. Enjoyed seeing the same faces and hearing the same comedic voices in class. 'Til next time!
Esmeralda Orozco
English 100
Cerritos College
post#4
Its 10.50 pm at the time and my room is hot so im sitting out side. It is very calm there are no kids or people its nice. i really hope there are no spiders around me cuz i really really hate them so today after class i came home and finally faced reality. i remodeled my room i didn't move the bed or changed much but the little that i changed to me seemed as a huge change i took pictures of the wall and removed love letters and a little statue the has the engravings "I LOVE YOU" i removed a neckless from my neck and placed it in a bow. and as i closed the box a single tear escaped my eye. the last tear i hope will ever come from my eyes i also replaced a contact. what once was known as "BABE" is now a common name i hear on the streets. today i will take a final breath and try to release all the pain and sadness i hold inside as i sit alone outside i wish the days go by last and the pain i feel inside will dissolve so that i won't feel nothing
Celina Rivera
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #4
Hey Esmi....
As time passes all this pain will be a mere memory. The memory will not even be significant to think about as a huge part of your life. As we get older we have bigger issues that might have seemed big when we were younger. I am here if you need a ear, just let me know. At this point all you can do is let it ALL out till there's no more to let out. You will know when that point is. Keep your head up and remember the good.
PS. Spiders are gross especially if you feel something crawling on you. LOL!!!!
Esmeralda Orozco
English 100
Cerritos College
post#5
OoOohHhH.......
I FoR gOt To SaY i WaS WaThInG GoSsIp GiRlS aNd FoR sOmE sTrAnGe ReAsOn I wAnTeD tO bLoG lOl
iTs FuNnY bEcAuSe WhEn I bLoG i KiNd Of FeEl LiKe SaRaH jEsSiCa PaRkEr FrOm SeX iN tHe CiTy By ThE WaY i Am gOnNa MiSs It On Ch 13
XoXo
Yesica Vasquez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post # 4
Class was fun today, I just wish we had a little heads up about the quiz. Totally caught me off guard.
So for the first time today I'm not watching Entourage.. I finished all of the seasons... Now I have to wait till Sunday for the new episode.. Anyone else watch it?
Also, Celina what time do you have class? I'll be in school from 7-10pm..
Sandra Valadez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post # 6
call me punk becuse I wear a leather jacket,call me a hippy because I believe in love and peace, call me an idealist because of songs like this one,you can call me what you like I am all and none of these!! fix a label on me to keep illusions happy, fix a label on me does it make you feel secure? Fix a label on me to keep me at a distance and I'll label you as ignorant not wanting to know more. Before we understand ourselves do we have to fight each other? Before we share opinions must we keep them undercover? We classify and categorize to keep ourselves divided we are all individuals not the images provided. Labels are a subtle way of keeping us in line ,divided by conformity we waste away our time, we are all individuals divided by their rituals, think again like I have done--throw away the labels! (credit to Subhumans)
Yi-Hui Chiang
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #3
Today's discussion in class was great; it helped me better understand what Homonyms was talking about. I was surprised that all other students in class already got the whole concept while i was still struggling reading. It's tough for me, and now I know I need to work harder! Hope I can catch up...
Michael Swisher
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #5
Homonyms
I have read this 2 and a fraction page long assignment by Giorgio Agamben several times now. Upon my first reading (and I did understand a great deal of the reading even then) I purchased it at face value. I cant help but attribute my quick interpretation of the reading to my addiction to easier reads over the past few years. After reading Agamben’s words for the sixth time since just yesterday, I believe I can see more of what portrayal is being attempted. A first introduction to the read bears not an obvious illustration of its true intention. I did not realize this until this morning when I happened to re-read the words “if we try to grasp a concept as such, it is fatally transformed into an object, and the price we pay is no longer being able to distinguish it from the conceived thing”. Agamben is making a reference to people. I can now see the flaw in my original understanding of this “common sense” piece. I accepted the words for what they were, concerning objects and things, when in fact, Agamben is objectifying. When we “grasp a concept”, or make a decision, “it is fatally transformed”, or irrevocably labeled into something which inherently is uncertain. We cannot presume to make judgments of people, no matter the amount of certainty, or conviction we go forth in the name of. This is not simply a politically contrived ego-boost. Agamben is describing the heart. The way our hearts can dissuade, can deceive, and can irrevocably label another. So it may be common sense that we all have many faces, and we all are subject to the judgment of society, but frankly, the sense that we cannot hide from judgment, nor cease the onslaught without we ourselves understanding this “platonic tautology” is not common.
Eunisses Hernandez
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #1
Mr.Hsiao i was thinking about what you told me about following rules ,and I am a pretty rebelious person ,but that is not the attitude you sensed from me.I don't mean to come off as having a bad attitude I am just being hesistant.I really enojy your style of teaching because it scares me lol.I have had other classes that have been pretty deep ,but your class is a challenge that I hope I can over come.School has always been really easy for me ,but your class is going to require A LOT of effort, and I am willing to put in 100%.
Jenny Guzman
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #15
Work
I got to work on time today; I was ready for my day to start when I notice all of my friends are dressed up. Then I remember I was supposed to dress up to. When my supervisor asked me why I was not dressed up I stated "they told us on Thursday. I do not know about you but I have other things to on my mind." Knowing what I said was right he said I could go home and change and not get in trouble. So I did. Now I am back, I wished I could have stayed home.
Gabriela Tovar
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #2
Homonyms
I am not going to lie and say I read the letter... What i will say is that during the class discussion we had Monday, I got a sense of what the letter means, for example, how do we know that the color RED is in fact the color RED... A class member said that the first thing that pops to her head when she hears the word red is a "firetruck", but what if instead of being red it was colored blue, we can color over the red of the truck and now call it blue... what if we painted the truck, then what "COLOR" would it be? I do not know if you guys are understanding me... Also, in class we discussed what paragraph 5 means... would you like to be known by the "party girl", "asshole", "biatch"...etc... I for sure would not like to be known by the girl who is hyper all the time and very loud... I know i can be loud but that is when i am in my comfort zone, is anything wrong with that? I am not loud to the extreme, i get hyhper when i eat candy, but deep inside i am a shy, scared to say anything, and on top of that, i still get nervous when i confront any problems i have... Does that sound that i am loud and a very hyper person? No, it just means that that one time i was loud and hyper as hell, everyone thought i was that way... Well class, my name is Gaby and i am a very shy girl and when i get out of my shell i am being GABY...
Gabriela Tovar
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #3
Puente Club...
Hey you guys, if you guys are interested in a club that will help you be successful in school the Puente Club is right for you? Puente Club was also a program but was cut because of the budgets... The Puente Programs was a year of taking English 52 and English 100 with CG 1 and 200, it was a program to help you transfer to a four-year university... It still is but not fot the next year or so, is my duty as the Co-President of the Puente Club to foundraise money so the Program could come back... When Club Information Day comes please sign in... Come to the culb... We have a lot of great ideas to help out the students and the members... We are thinking of bringing speakers, have tutoring for students, we just want to be good role models... If you are interested in joining please talk to me or sign your name when Club Info Day comes (Sept. 2 & 3rd)... Also, if you think you can be a good candidate to tutor that will not also help us but it will help you too... Thanks classmates...
Jonathan Aguilar
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #6
Don't worry about it charleen don't feel bad. I felt the same way u did. But after the discussion we know the story a little better now and we can get through it. Trust me i'm gonna have to put a lot of work and effort into this class also. So don't worry too much because you are not alone.
Esmeralda Orozco
English100
Cerritos college
post#5
I JUST CAME BAK FROM HAVING A VERY FRIENDLY AND NICE CONVERSATION WITH A SPECIAL PERSON IM VERY HAPPY RIGHT NOW AND NOW I KNOW NO MATTER WHAT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OK I HAVE CLASS AT 3:30 SO SEE YA LATER
XOXO
ESMERALDA OROZCO
ENGLISH100
CC
POST#6
CELINA THANX FOR UNDERSTANDING
OoOhHh and i know i hate that feeling of the spider webs ewwwww
Edilu Medina
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #2
Homonyms
Im glad yesterday we went over homonyms because we digged in detail. Significance or interpretation can stand on object, color,person, label etc. As "red" many people identified color, football team, heat was the first thing that came to their mind. We can make one thing into our own certain class to our previous experiences, joys or even tears. What we claim to be known can be unknown to another person, or categorized as something else. I believe we can experience this everywhere we go.
Jenny Guzman
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #16
AOTC
The is the second time around reading the story of the AOTC and each time I have read the story it has a new meaning. I know my cave is Alcohol and it something I can not live with out. I do my best to try not to rely on alcohol for my daughter.
Now I am at work and just visualizing about the people in the cave chain make me think of my job. I am on the phones all day. I am attached to a head set for 7.30 hours. If we log off our phones we get question. If we say the wrong thing on a call we get money taken out of our bonus. Leaving work is the Sun. When we leave, the people that influence our money have no say in what we do. We are free to the world till the next day.
Some people have been in this cave for about 20 years and will not try anything new. They will not try to get knowledge to get a better job. Some feel they are too old to try. That is why I have seen the SUN.
I feel knowledge is my SUN to leave this place and do something that I love.
Cathrina Afusia
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #5
AOTC
I decided to take a different approach to this reading, especially since there are always two sides to a story. I seperated the reading into two seperate parts, one being the people on the inside and the second being Socrates and Glaucon on the outside. When I think about the two I ask myself, "had Glaucon and Socrates once been apart of that inside world, and were they just fortunate to have escaped?" Also, if they did find a way out, why haven't the others? I then related it to life. I myself would have to admit that I am afraid of failure, and at times rather be safe than sorry. I believe there are always two parts to life. There is the position we hold in the present, and the position we dream of filling in the future.This reading bascially seperated life into those two aspects.
Holding a position on the inside as the men did in the reading symbolizes comfortability. They were content with basically being slaves. How could they not? To those men there was no other world, and if there was it was merely an unreachable dreamland. In life there is a huge percent of people that is satisfied with settling. Many do not have much to gamble with, just as the men in the reading. In reality those men only had the value of their lives to gamble with, and one attempt to go beyond what they were given could cost them their existence. Who would gamble with something that is priceless?
Then there was Glaucon and Socrates on the outside. I believe they were once prisoners themselves. The way Socrates described the pain that one would encounter for trying to escape the inside world was too realistic. He knew the pain their bodys would feel, and how the eyes would no longer utlize their purpose. Socrates was different fron the others. Him escaping, and his understanding of how to defeat the cave is what seperated him from the others on the inside. I feel that one who has lived in a society where you are trapped, and stripped from the daily routine of life has to break you down physically and mentally. It was amazing how Socrates found the strength to enlighten another. In realtion to life, there are those who have escaped their inside life and has actually found that dreamland. To those who have defeated that obstacle are no longer in a dreamland but instead a new reality. At times we need to escape the cave we have trapped ourselves in. On the other side of life there are so many paths to take then just the one someone else has drawn out for us.
Arturo Lopez
English 103
Cerriots College
Post #3
In Platos Allegory of the Cave, Socates is explaining what it is to be a philosopher, a lover of knowledge. He uses this allegory to ge across the point that ignornance is not bliss. What one might think is reality is not reality at all. The imagery that he uses is that of prisoners who are chained together with their heads fixed towards a screen. A fire was lit behind them and their captures would present shapes and silhouettes of animals upon this screen. Anyone outside of the cave would instantly know that these images are not the real thing. To the prisoners that was the real thing. When a prisoner does escape this false reality he finds himself outside in the real world. It would be extremely difficult for the prisoner to believe that this is reality. In order to accept this new world as reality he would have to face the fact that the world he knew before was not which would be extremely painful. Socrates poses the question would one rather live or ignorance, or would one want to know the truth no matter how terrible it might be. After the free prisoner accepts this new reality as the truth he pity's the ones who are in the cave.
A light bulb just went off on my head and i do not know if i am right in this observation but i feel like AOTC and Homonyms are trying to convey some of the same messages. The shadows and silhouettes are a representation of the real figure and not the actual thing just like the words and classes are the representation of whatever is being named. YOu best believe im gonna bring this up in class.
Veronica Vasquez
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #3
The Allegory of the Cave by Plato
Right off the bat the passage begins with a pretty blunt thesis of the paper, which to my understanding is Socrates illustrating his follower Glaucon the way many philosophers view this sheltered world. He depicts the world as people only facing one way, never knowing what exactly they are looking at, and only knowing from what they hear and barely see. They don't see the big picture, but the shadows of items in the world above them. They are literally oblivious to anything that is going on, and when and if they are freed, sometimes they reject what their own eyes attempt to show them. I imagine this idea is describing the ignorant people whom accept everything they are told, and do not put the effort in finding out more truth in life.
When Socrates describes the "pain" these prisoners will feel when they attempt to look at the light, or rather, the truth as I see it, it is as painful as believing in something for so long and finding out the reality of it. Of course, the light is not just to hurt, in my opinion, although truth does hurt from time to time, but instead it breaks free of any doubts we've had of an object or concept in our lives. It was a good read, and I hope I'm not too far off from the main point.
Brenda Flores
English 100
Cerritos College
Post#3
Homonyms
So I have to confess that I still do not completely understand this letter itself. Without the help of our classmates and professor I would not be able to get through the first paragraph. I think what the writter is trying to explain is: who is to say what something is labled is really that thing, and what is that thing really. This is why it is confusing! I am labled as a good girl, but what is a good girl really, and who defines what a good girl is. I am interested by this letter, I think, because I do not completely understand it. I will definitely be getting more help.
Tess Elizondo
English 100
Cerritos College
I remembering the first time reading Allegory of the Cave in English 52. Reading it for the first time was so confusing, and I must admit I also felt burnt out. After discussing it in class and reviewing each detail it gave me a better understanding of the story. What made this story so much more interesting is when Prof. Hsiao gave the class an opportunity to write about our own caves. Allegory of the Cave made me realize that this story was for everyone to relate to. Metaphors were used to flicker that light on in our imaginations. This story let my mind run free, and helped me realize how stuck I once was in my caves of life.
Ana Cervantes
English 100
Cerritos Collge
Post#4
Homonyms
After reading it a few times and with the discussion we had on Monday it helped me to understand it more. My conclusion of this whole story is that we humans can obtain many labels and classes through out our whole lifes. In some cases us humans get carry away on that label and classes that we forget our true label, our true being. No matteer how many labels a human can have that persons true name will never change no matter what. Like the shoe example in the story, no matter the concept, the class, and, the extension that can bring about when you mention shoe or think of shoe it will never change from being a shoe. As significant as that might sound that is what makes is unique beacuse no other object can take on that name, that is what makes it differ from any other object.
Diana Amezcua
English 103
Cerritos College
Post#3
Homonyms by Giorgio Agamben
Russell's paradox just basically extends the concept of an object in order to see all the different properties it has. Furthermore, he talks about not being able to belong to only one class because that class is and isn't itselve. That is also what he means when he writes about "illegitimate totalities", not being able to label your self as one particular "class" because the deeper you dig the more similarities you can find in other particular "classes". I think that is what Mr. Hsiao was talking about in class on Monday when he said that if we would want to be labeled or seen by everybody as one particular term. I know that I wouldn't because I am not that term all the time, it like if we change our "mask" constantly. As a matter of fact, at work I wear a certain mask, then I put a different one when I am with my family and then change it again then I am with my friends. As Agamben wrote, "both are and are not members themselves." Which I interpret as one can not be labeled as one particular term because, all the different properties makes us stronger and unique.
Andrew Murphy
English 103
Cerritos College
Post#2
Homonyms
I love how some articles of literature can give so many people a headache just trying to fathom what the hell the writer is trying to get across. After studying and making light of the most perverse, sadistic, confusing piece of "literature" (James Joyce's A Portrait of an Artist of a Young Man) it's helped me tackle these behemoth articles that seem harder to crack then any algorithmic code. That being said I'd like to share my few interpretations of Agamben's world spinning letter.
In the second paragraph when the question ..."What does it mean to say that the concept "red" designates "red" objects?"... This ties in to what was said in AOTC in which how can we tell what what we see is what that object is. As in class when Mr. H discussed what a shoe looks like to us. To every individual, the image in their head of a shoe is different. But, when a actual shoe is brought out and labeled or put in the "class" as shoe that is what our new idea or image of a shoe is.
When trying to dissect this piece I always look towards the title for guidance. "Homonyms" helped me understand how Agamben was trying to state how even though objects name's our the same they can have extreme differences. For this I found the example of the homonyms "time" and "thyme". Both have the exact same sound when spoken. However one is something that our senses can pick up on (thyme) and the other is unseen or just an idea (time). Even though these sound the same they can't be placed into a category or class. These "illegitamate totalities" ..."pretend to be part of a totality"... (Agamben 3)
In the end my conclusion is more puzzling then my first mindset after my first read through of this. I believe what was said is "whatever" relates to everything. Every object that we see differently is "whatever" because that can't ever be put into a class, order, or categorized.
Yesica Vasquez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #5
Hello fellow classmates!
::::URGENT!!::::
For some reason my head keeps thinking its Wednesday, I guess I'm waiting for the weekend (going out of town) Any who, I completely forgot that the homework is due tomorrow!! Celina accidentally took my paper so I don't have the stories... I've tried searching for it online but had no luck. Would anyone be kind enough to scan it and email it to me?? I need Homonyms. I'm not sure if I can post my e-mail on this comment so if anyone is willing to do it for me & if I can post my e-mai addy please reply and I'll write back fast.. Comments/ e-mails go straight to my Blackberry so I can get back on fast. Thank you in advance =)
Andy Tran
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #2
To Yesica
The script can be found here...
http://books.google.com/books?id=6ekx1dg4nSgC&pg=PT80&lpg=PT80&dq=giorgio+agamben+homonyms&source=bl&ots=tFCtCPG_yu&sig=B4xea0-xVFrhKZIYqHBQ6RqEcwE&hl=en&ei=UdiUStzfHIi0sgPE79X9CA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Monique Gutierrez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #4
Homonyms
Reading Homonyms by Giorgio Agamben required me to use a thesaurus. I had to dumb it down a bit for a more better understanding. By using the thesaurus, it helped break it down. Also, listening to the concepts in class helped a lot more. First, let me start with the word Homonyms. Homo- meaning same and -nymous meaning name. For example, my name is Monique. I am not the only girl in this world named Monique and I am sure we all do not look the same. Another example, Miss referring to Miss Gutierrez and miss referring to the abandonment of something. You see, every person, place or thing has a classification. But, they all have different meanings. The example Agamben used for the “shoe” as an object was a good concept. Shoes are used for your feet right? Well, if you grew up in my neighborhood, you would see tied shoes hanging on the power lines. I am not sure what that stands for, but it has a significance to other people. Same name, different meanings. In high school I was seen as a “Miss Goodie Two Shoes” Some classmates thought I was really smart and I never partied. They labeled me. Boy, were they wrong. I had my fair share of partying and I was a C average student. The people who labeled me never took the time to get to know me. If they took the chance to know me personally, “grasp a concept” they would be able to “distinguish it” from the “conceived” thing that I was not this “sweet and innocent” girl. In conclusion, you cannot label something or someone you have no control over. If you do, you’re missing their/it’s purpose.
Monique Gutierrez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #5
Museum of Tolerance
I sure wish I could attend the Museum of Tolerance field trip. But, it's too late to request that day off from work. I've been to MOT before and let me tell you,bring some kleenex. The experience was very insightful. I had a idea of what these people went through, but to see it in my face was heartbreaking. Just thinking about the hardships these people went through brings tears to my eyes. I am a very sensitive person and I don't like to show it, but when I left MOT you could see how affected I was by it. I didn't get to hear the speakers and I would like to. One day I plan to go back and I can't wait to hear other people's reactions to the Museum of Tolerance. I think everyone should go.
Jaime Valadez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #3
You know if i had trouble understanding The Allegory of the Cave i really had a hard time with Homonyms. Let me give it try, after reading it and our class discussion i learned that a word can have many different meanings. One example i can use is a car, for a young kid a car is something cool where on the other hand a car to me is a necessity. In class someone mentioned that a word can be categorized just by the name. In the real world not only words get categorized ,but people themselves too.
Janice Silva
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #3
Homonyms
Honestly, i had a hard time understanding this story, but after going over it in class i understood it better.
Bertrand Russel countered The term "class" by saying that if we set an object or something in a class we are defining it to be strictly what it is to be. By looking in to that object more there would be more classifications, therefore no set class. We cannot set something in one class. At first, out mind put's everything in a class, for instance, there is a person that dresses a certain way, people that look at the individual judge them because what they see represents the whole package of who they are. In reality the way that person dresses is only one part of who he/she is, and not just stuck on that one image. The "apparent variables" are also redefined in Russel's paradox, nothing can be "all", "every", and "any". If we said that something was "all", "every" and "any" then it will be true to all that those words are applying to. For example, a ethnicity is called out to be a certain way: lazy, annoying, conceited, or fat. Not "every" person in that ethnicity is going to have those characteristics, exceptions are made for some but not "all".
Moreover, we cannot be defined as one class, but many, containing many characteristics that enlighten who we are.
Sarai Vazquez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #3
OK so this one was way harder for me to understand. I had to read through like every sentence and break everything down. My sister was a huge help! Having her in the class is a huge plus for me! :)
Homonyms
While reading this I began to think about how our world is so full on stereo-types. Even when we think of certain kinds of people or certain kinds of things we put them all in a general category. We mostly say like “all the time” “every single person/thing”. Everyone in some way or another has some kind of stereo-type, and some people might think that they are not but they subconsciously do it. There are many people that live their lives in a very close minded manner. They think that they are too good to talk to or in some cases even associate with certain people. They need to learn that everyone is made equal. No one person or one race is better than another. We have to understand, that not every single person in the world is the same. We all have different beliefs, live different lives, have different priorities, everything about us is different. So we all have to accept everyone the way that they are and not try to change them.
Andy Tran
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #3
Homonyms by Giorgio Agamben
Homonyms acording to Aristotle are objects that have the same names but different definitions. For example the word shoe refers to a shoe but can refer to any possible shoe out there. Another example would be red. Does red mean the color red or the objects in red? The concept red can be a handful of different meanings. Homonyms is mainly focused on how an object can have a handful of different meanings.
Priscilla Daza
Cerritos college
english 100
post #3
KEVIN! i didnt know you posted!?? MAN! keep posting yo!
kk serious business now
AOTC
to make a long story short i believe that socrates is explaining to glauson the form or way of life. after breaking it down myself and not looking back into my old notes (because i dont know where they are at) i pictured that life was looked at as puppets on stage and not making their own decisions on moving from on side of the stage to the other because of the strings that they are attached to or as it explains in the first paragraph "...here they have been from their childhood, and have their legs and necks chained...prevented by the chains from turning round their heads..." another thought i came up with was children being deprived from childhood. strict parents leading them the whole time.
for the long story i believe it is all just about a god and a man. god is showing this man a glimpse of how life can be without him/the sun. without the sun/god he would be a "prisoner" and only see the shadows in front of him and not even be sure what it is because they are not allowed to speak and what not. once this glimpse of life is over, god then shows the man realization. life. he shows him with the sunlight what the objects around him in life are without betraying him. it is then when the man realizes the truth and that god is everywhere through the light of the sun. which leada me to believe that the symbol of the sun is god. towards the end it explains how people think the worst of things first before the good things and accepting the good things with effort...as it reads in the last paragraph "...the idea of good appears last of all, and is een only with an effort;..."
Samantha Navarro
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #4
Allegory of the Cave
My interpretation of Allegory of the Cave is one's life and what one interprets as true is one's own prison. It is interesting that the prisoners are chained from childhood. This signifies that one is not imprisoned as punishment from an action committed, but is imprisonment from birth. Hindering one's ability to expand one's knowledge is not done out of cruelty, it is done out of customs passed down from the caregivers. We believe what is shown to us from childhood onto adulthood as the truth because there is no other influence to generate a different point of view.
In Allegory of the Cave, it is not clear how or why the prisoner slowly begins to be free from his restricted way of thinking. This demonstrates that every indivudual can have a different way of liberating oneself, there is no one right way or cause to desire and attain knowledge. As one begins on this path, however, the one thing that will be experienced for certain is pain. The light one experiences is distressful compared to living in darkness.
The importance of experiencing pain in life to achieve knowledge and reality is evident in Allegory of the Cave. One may experience too much agony in this process and turn back to the cave and imprison oneself, but the point is now it is a CHOICE. Though the path is in all aspects difficult and painful, the prisoner makes the choice to continue his journey. When he decides to return to the cave and share his newfound knowledge, the rest of the prisoners do not understand the point of experiencing pain if at the end one loses sight of the truth they know. But what the prisoners do not understand is that the newly liberated man has CHOOSEN to stop seeing the darkness as the only truth. One last note; as one attains wisdom, the tolerance and acceptance of other's points of views may also grow, even when they are contradictory perspectives.
Adrian Moreira
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #5
Homonyms
I have read this essay more than a few times now. It is as interesting as it is confusing. Agamben's verbiage is at times unnecessary yet everything somehow makes sense in a beautiful, chaotic sort of way.
The first thing that came to my mind was that Agamben is writing about stereotypes. Assumptions we make about the simplest things. He writes, "What does it mean to say that the concept is 'red' designates red objects? And is it true that every concept determines a class that constitutes its extension?". When someone says "red" one might instantly think of a fire truck or a red bandana or even a red nosed pitbull. But the word red is just that, a word. It is not designated to any one thing. When the word "pit bull" is said it is easy to think of a bad, malicious, killer dog. I actually own a pit bull named Jack that plays with cats. So in Jack's case, the concept of pit bulls being killer dogs doesn't pertain to him.
Agamden goes on to say (speaking of Bertrand Russell), "Russell linked these properties (and pseudoclasses that derive from them) with those in whose definition appear the 'apparent variables' constituted by the terms 'all,' 'every,' and 'any.' The classes that arise from these expressions are 'illigitimate totalities'". I think of how more than once in my life I have been referred to as Mexican just because I am Hispanic. I have even been asked if I speak Mexican. There are many different Hispanic countries and cultures. Not everyone that speaks Spanish or has "brown" skin is Mexican. There are about 20 different Spanish speaking countries in the world. I am sure that I am not the only one who is not from Mexico.
Towards the end of his essay, Agamden uses the word "whatever'' in a way that I have never thought it could be used. "Whatever does not therefore mean only (in the words of Alain Badiou) ' subtracted from the authority of language, without any possible denomination, indiscernible'; it means more exactly that which, holding itself in simple homonymy, in pure being-called, is precisely and only for this reason unnameable the being-in-language of the non-linguistic.". Simply put, the word "whatever" means exactly that, whatever. It is neither here nor there. It reminds me of when we were asked in class, "what clique do you belong to?", I thought to myself, "I am whatever." and I thought that because I do not feel like I can classify myself as a certain clique or just one style. According to Alain Badiou, "whatever'' is the anti-social of words. It stands alone and does what it wants when it wants, disregarding the authority and science of language.
Celina Rivera
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #5
Homonyms by Giorgio Agamben
A very interesting concept when Giorgio used the word shoe. Is a shoe just a shoe? Some would say that a shoe is just an material object that covers your feet. Well lets see! The definition of a shoe a covering foot, enclosing the ankle.
A shoe is not just what we take as face value. A shoe is also not something that we all wear. A shoe is an object that set everyone apart. For example when you see a person with a pair of Osiris you think skater. Going back to class we label based on what we see. So we assume that if someone has a certain brand or style that is what they idenifiy with.
When people have colorful shoes or what ever shoe they prefer the portraying part of who the are. When you read the passage a shoe is a way to bring out a part of yourself with out being judged. A shoe is also disguise that sets you apart from everyone. So what kind of shoe are you?
We all in one way or another have judged or labeled someone for what they wear. Whether it be clothes that were rags or clothes that cost a fortune. We look at that person and might say that person is a dumb or poor. When a person has Prada we tend to judge or label and say the person is rich or is spoiled.
What I got out of that section that I am pointing out is that we can not judge a book by its cover. This also means do not except things for face value. These small item have meaning too. This also means that we should watch watch what we think or say before we say it or think it. So the big question is what do you think about a shoe?
Sarika Vaswani
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #2
In Plato's, Allegory of the Cave, Socrates tells a story to Glaucon depicting two distinguishing worlds- one of fallacies and illusions, and another of truth and reality. He sets the image of prisoners who have been chained down in a cave since childhood with the ability of only being able to see what is right in front of them. With a fire lit behind them, they are forced to watch shadows being casted on a wall, like a puppet show. These shadows ultimately become their own personal reality. They knew of nothing else. It was easier for the prisoners to live as they did and accept what was shown to them, than to try to escape and face truths. However, when one prisoner managed to escape, he is faced with the unknown, a scary and painful sight to see. As harsh as the "sun" may have felt, the light brought him to a higher path of knowledge. His world was no longer tainted by shadows and misconceptions, and he felt sorry for those who were still stuck in that one track mind frame.
It's better for one to face reality head on, as difficult it may be, than to live in ignorance simply because it's easier to do so.
Arcelia Swarr
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #3
Good morning everyone! Ok, first, I had to re-read Homonyms another time or two after we talked about it in class so I could feel like I understood it a little more. I think I have a little understanding of the story now. By my understanding, Homonyms is about the labels given to items, people, situations, and how the labels are not always the true definition of the item, person, or situation. I have been labeled as a "Mom" for the last 7 1/2 to 8 years, basically ever since I got pregnant with my first. Although I do love my role as a Mom, I would also like to be able to blend a little more into other groups, or situations. I know a majority of my restrictions are self inflicted, but I have to get past them. Reading Homonyms made me realize that I am the only one who is holding myself back because I allowed the stereotype of a "Mom" dictate who I am and how I live.
Jonathan Aguilar
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #7
Homonyms
Homonyms was a difficult story for me to understand, but i finally understand it. It shows how there are no classes because we are all part of so many different classes. You can not put things in just one class because objects can mean something to someone; and mean something completely different to someone else. For instance "red" might mean blood to you, but to me it means wine or a fire truck. Also, it talks about labels.
Labels are used to categorize people or objects. But as a person i don't feel that i am under one specific label. You can not put us in one category because we are part of many different ones. We try different things and take part in different events. To categorize us in just one category would be inacurate.
Homonyms showed how things can't be labeled and cannot be categorized. It was difficult to understand at first, but now i can see the point of the story clearly.
Eunisses Hernandez
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #2
The Republic
This excerpt illustrated very well the life of a philosopher. His use of the cave was a good illustration in which average men live in. The darkness is the blinding factor keeping them from realizing the truths and knowledge in life. Socrates states that the "blind" men would say "He came down without eyes and that it was better not even to think of ascending.” The average man doesn’t concern himself with ascending into a life of knowledge and wisdom. They will not put themselves in uncomfortable positions like philosophers would. Socrates states that, "He would rather endure anything than entertain these false notions and live in this miserable manner." A philosopher the lover of wisdom will sacrifice comfort for knowledge. He who is a philosopher will not live with lies about the universe. A philosopher will be ridiculed and faced with struggles on his journey towards the "light" i.e. the truth.
Brian Jimenez
Enlish 100
Cerritos College
Post# 3
Homonyms by Giorgia Agamben
Giorgio Agamben explains how everything is set by classes. For example in the story he explains how the color red designates red objects such as a red Honda or a red apple. But people are also designated by class's. By that i mean that everyone could be in certain class's such as a rocker, nerd, all american kid, and even a jock. By the certain clothes you wear and or different music one hears, one is fitted into one of theses groups. Agamben also explains that people are pretenders. For example a teenager will act one way at home and another with friends. Good kid bad kid in a way. He also spoke about how its better to belong and keep a foot in different class's for it makes you a better and outgoing person. Giorgio also speaks about the basic form and potential we have.
Amador Damaso
C.C.
POST #3
AOTC
This is one story that will follow us through the entire semester. The entire story is laced with hidden meaning. The whole idea of the cave is a prison of the mind. Poeple become accustomed to their prison, so when those who escaped bring truth they are outcasted. People are born into caves, and that is what the chains represents. The fire and shadows inside the cave symbolize the half truths, or the truth that the masses want you to see. Everyone inside the cave is a prisoner of the powers that be, or the ones in control. The cave is either physical, mental, or socio-economic. They are barriers put into place so that those who have control can maintain it. Those who have managed to get out into the sun have seen the light, or truth. They bring the truth back to those who live in the cave, but those in the cave have embraced the lies fed to them. Those bringing the truth into the cave soon become the outcast of socicety. The moral of the story is that those who live in the cave are enslaved to the masters of the illusion. Those who have seen the reality of this Matrix type world are soon to be judged for their wisdom. The question you must ask is it better to be an accepeted slave, or an free outcast.
Jasmine Cano
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #1
HOMONYMS BY GIORGIO AGAMBEN
This story is very confusing. I read it about 3 times, and I think I understand it sort of.
To me it seems as if it is just saying that although something may be put into a "class" it does not necessarly mean that it will always be that. What I mean by that is even though one person may say this is this, someone else may see it in a whole different perspective. Not everyone thinks the same for that reason one cannot ever say that it is that "name" and nothing else.
Jasmine Cano
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #1
HOMONYMS BY GIORGIO AGAMBEN
This story is very confusing. I read it about 3 times, and I think I understand it sort of.
To me it seems as if it is just saying that although something may be put into a "class" it does not necessarly mean that it will always be that. What I mean by that is even though one person may say this is this, someone else may see it in a whole different perspective. Not everyone thinks the same for that reason one cannot ever say that it is that "name" and nothing else.
Jenny Guzman
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #17
Weddings!!!!
I am getting married and I just want to say, "I know now why women go crazy planning weddings!!"
AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH
Ok I feel better.
Haha I wonder what is in store for class today?
Christina Arredondo
English 103
Cerritos College
Post#1
In the story Allegory of the Cave by Plato, it is about how a Philosopher name Socrates gives one of his followers, Glaucon, sort of lecture to demonstrate the life of a philosopher. Through out the story, Socrates explains how every individual has a certain cave within themselves. The cave can be physically or mentally. All of us start off by seeing what others wanted us to see as well as what we were taught. As we grew, those according "truths" continued along, as it is said in the story " our shadows". It is like they were trapped inside a box since they were small and did not bother to question it, to see whether it was the truth or not. They saw only what they wanted to see. However, once they put effort into seeing the reality (the sun; light)they will break free and realized the truth that was always standing right infront of them. They are shocked with no movability and at first, it may seem like they are prisoners of their own reality yet they will get used to it. Finally from then on, they will be able to see the truth that was hidden inbetween the lines.
Martha Vazquez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post 3
Homonyms by Giorgio Agamben
I believe Agamben is talking about how things and people are put into certain categories, or classes, if you will. There is not one classification of things or people that is exactly the same. There are always variations, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem to be. So that slight variation becomes a subclass which also has a variation, and it goes on and on.
Labels are put on so many things. I love the "shoe" example he gave. "Even if we can completely distinguish a shoe from the term "shoe", it is still much more difficult to distinguish a shoe from its being-called (shoe)" I think what he means there is that terms are paired with people, and once its established, its difficult to break your mind away from making that association, or labeling them in that sort of way. For example: you see a tattooed, bald, young male wearing ten-sizes-too-big pants and an equally large shirt walking down the street. Some of the first things that come to mind are "troublemaker, gangbanger, uneducated, poor...etc". Even though getting to know them might prove the opposite, and might make us change our view on THAT person, it most likely will not change our view on the next person of that ilk we encounter.
We have all, either outright or subtly, been put into a "class". From the discussions I was hearing in class, I think its safe to say that not any of us fit in just one class. Not any of us can be defined as just one thing. So why is it so easy for us to classify and label other people?
Yi-Hui Chiang
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #4
(Jonathan, thanks for the encouraging words! :D )
Homonyms
After reading it again, finally I know why the title is Homonyms! Basically, the point of Bertrand Russell's letter is: nothing can be categorized into a particular class for that there is no class.
For some reason people create so many classes and tend to classify different things which have something in common into these classes. However, even in the same class, if one digs into it deeper, then one will find each member within the class is never exactly the same as another. The problem is that people would easily determine a concept based on their past experience and what is rooted in their mind. As the example in paragraph 2 said, "What does it mean to say that the concept "red" designates red objects?" Clearly, everyone will conceive and interpret red color differently; everyone will have a different picture of red color. People are so used to think of something in a certain way because what's rooted in one's mind will prevent him from knowing the true concept.
When someone thinks of something, it's hard not to associate the object itself with the term. Another example in paragraph 6 is "shoe." If one changes the word "shoe" and give it another name, essentially the object itself does not change at all. What really matters is not the linguistic expression but the concept of the object. In fact, nothing can be clearly defined by only considering the words. If People simply depend on the words in terms of grasping a concept, "the price we pay is no longer being able to distinguish it from the conceived thing."
At the end of our last class, Mr. Hsiao asked us to write down what we have been labeled and classified by other people. Now I can relate this article to myself and notice that I have always been doing this, labeling people, even people who i just met. It is funny that we always do the same thing to others as we would not have them do to us. Now when I think about it, everyone has his own uniqueness that no one else can replace. Even two twins will not be identical. How could one simply make a quick judgment on people before getting to know them? It is the same idea that we learn a concept not only by its term, and we know a person not just by his appearance or behavior. "The idea of a thing is the thing itself," and we have to keep this in mind.
Carlos Plaza
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #1
Allegory of the Cave
I enjoyed reading this story last semester and i continue to do so this semester. The cave that glaucon is talking about is a prison. The chains that are on the necks and legs of the prisoners are some forms of authority. These chains keep the prisoners from looking anywhere besides what is in front of them. What is in front of them are the shadows that are created by the men passing by the fire. These shadows are a mangled truth, or a controlled truth. The chains keep the prisoners in place so all they see is an illusion, but not the real truth.
Christina Arredondo
C.C
Post#2
When I read the story Homonyms By Giorgio Agamben, it was very confusing at first. I hardly understood it. After we discussed it in class and talked about it in groups, I got the idea of what the story was about. I believe that the message that is trying to get across is that an individual cannot be categorized nor labeled. Also, how one word can have one meaning to one person and a whole complete different one to another person. For example, the auther used the word "red". When I think of the word red, it reminds me of a red rose however, it reminds my friend of blood.
We have the tendency to stereotype and say that a person is a "blank", when in reality they are a part of many other things. We shouldnt be categorized just simply because of the events have gone through or such like. We have our uniqueness and I surely would not like to be put into a certain class or labeled. I am just me :D
George Romero
English 103
Professor Hsiao
post #....
Allegory of the cave
The first story i ever read within Professor Hsioas class, and yet its words of wisdom still send chills down my spine. One may not be able to tell at first but socrates begins by telling a tale of a being chained within a cave. This cave not only has one mere captives but many. Now with the tale going forth one may feel as though this tale is of a actual place, or even that this whole story is all giberish. It is not until the end of the story that you are givin the suprising truth that while many of the details may have been imagery devices the tale was meant to be a representation or sequence of events that take place within our own minds. i imagine that while many feel as though they do not have a cave one has to take into consideration the fact that there are many things that we do not even know about ourselves. In the end one must come to the conclusion that while we may all have caves does not mean that one can not do anything to change that.
Genevieve Madrid
English 100
Cerritos College
Posting #4
Homonyms
This reading was a little difficult for me to understand. I read it, and re-read it a bunch of times, but it was not until I got into class on Monday that Mr.Hsiao and everyone helped me get (somewhat) a better understanding of the story. Although, I will admit, I am still a little confused.
Homonyms describes how something, ie: a "shoe", means different things to everyone.
A shoe can be a sandal, a Nike or a boot. This all depends on who is asked what their idea of what a "shoe" is. Because items have been classifications, that doesn't mean that their depth stops at the name.
I apologize in advance, but I belive her name was Karolina, ... said when she was little, a tire was something that she swang on as a child. As she got older, it became something you put on your car.
A tire, shoe or the color red can be so many different things. They aren't limited to their classifications.
Ibeth Rodriguez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #4
Homonyms by Giorgio Agamben
When I first read Homonyms it was very difficult for me to understand. I kept reading it and reading it until I finally understood what Agamben was trying to point out, at least this is what I think he is trying to say. Basically what he is saying is why put something under a certain category when it can mean and be used as many other things. His example was the word "Red" does the word "Red" designates to only red objects? Whenever I hear of the word "Red" some of the things that pop up into my mind are a red car, red balloon, red jacket, a red ball, but red does not always represents materialistic things. Red represents much more than just objects for example whenever someone is hot you think of that person being red or whenever a person is mad you often think of the color red because it represents anger. Why limit certain words or things when they can be use for many things.
As for myself majoring in Psychology you often have to classify a person into a certain group. For example when it comes to parenting, parents are put into four different categories Authoritarian, Authoritative, Neglectful, and Permissive parenting style. In a Psychologist eyes Authoritative parenting is the best parenting style. They use high emotional support but they use reasonable limits. While a Permissive parent lets their child do whatever they want and is more like a friend rather than a parent to the child. But why can they not be both? A parent should be a friend to their child and have fun with them and at the same time give them love and care.
The point to homonyms was, why limit ourselves to something that other people label us as being. It is our choice if we want to live as something we are being label as. It is better to have one foot in everything for example in the community. You can be a school girl as well as a party girl. You limit yourself when someone labels you in a certain category and it should not be that way.
George Romero
English 103
Professor Hsiao
Post #....
English 103
Hello again professor Hsiao and hopes that you have been well. Another semester has begun and with prayers that i even get into the class. I am still trying to add without success, but i will not stop until the final minute of adding. For all those that are new to the Hsaio experiance I trully Hope that you drop if you are haveing second thoughts because in this class hesitation leads to mistakes which leads to failures. For those who have an idea of what to expect goodluck and godspeed. I say this because this semester will be our last semester and one would imagine that we want to go out with a bang. so if there are any debates bring your all (I will show not mercy), and for the home and class work........GET IT DONE!!!! DO NOT PROCRASTINATE!!!!!! IT WILL MESS WITH YOUR HEAD!!!!! I KNOW THIS FROM EXPERIANCE!!!!!!!.........................!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just wanted to blog about something random.
Just before class on Monday my cellphone was stolen in the girls bathroom near the library.
There was a girl nearby, and I asked her if she could please call my phone to see if MAYBE I unknowingly put it in my back pack. She called and my phone was turned off. Sure enough, it was gone.
I cannot believe that others can be so tacky as to steal someone elses phone. (It was not turned into the library either. I checked as soon as I left class)
What kills me most, is that I had all kinds of pictures and videos of my baby girl. She is 7 months now, but I had videos dating back to the day she was born. Those things I will never get back.
It just upsets me so much!
So, ... I was walking to my car after class (fuming, needless to say) when I decided to turn things around.
There was a lady that was trying to get a parking ticket from the machine and I saw that she did not have enough money to get one.
So, I told her that if she wanted mine, she could have it.
She was so happy that I was giving her my parking ticket because she needed to get to class, and she did not have enough money to get one.
It made me feel good that even though, someone stole something from me. I was still able to get over it and have good in my heart, to give to someone else.
I even told the lady I was giving my ticket to, that my phone was stolen!!! Haha. I know, right?! I was really that upset.
She then shared with me that her car got broken in to the day before, and someone stole her $240 book off the passenger seat.
::What is going on at our campus?!::
Rayray Jovellanos
English 100
C/C
Post numero dos
Allegory of the cave
First story I ever read in Hsiao's class.
The story, taking place in a cave is a symbol representing mankind's own barriers and limitations when it comes to the search for wisdom and knowledge.
this story shows how some are much more content with living a life void of truth and meaning. Socrates says that "At first, when any of them is liberated and compelled suddenly to stand up and turn his neck round and walk and look towards the light, he will suffer sharp pains; the glare will distress him, and he will be unable to see the realities of which in his former state he had seen the shadows; and then conceive some one saying to him, that what he saw before was an illusion"
this story also exposes the perils about one's search for truth. One can often be ridiculed for this very act. This has happened before many times and history and certainly mankind is not a stranger to it. Socrates says, "Men would say of him that up he went and down he came without his eyes; and that it was better not even to think of ascending; and if any one tried to loose another and lead him up to the light, let them only catch the offender, and they would put him to death"
Raul Moreno Jr
English 103
Cerritos College
Post: 5
Sorry about the last unmarked post.
AOTC
I'd like to hit specifically on the idea of finding truth and how one might get there. Surely there are those who grow up and stumble upon new truth contrary to what they were taught as children or contrary to what their fresh minds concluded. This new found truth being found almost on accident at times might, for the person, be sufficient. They might have the noxious notion that this stumbled upon nugget of gold is the light at the top of the cave and so believe falsely that their journey is over. They believe that they have come to the mouth of their cave and pushed further up the summit. On the contrary, Socrates in AOTC notes in the closing paragraph that"...the idea of good appears last of all, and is seen only with an effort..." I have seen too many people who find that what they have believed previously was false, and instead of taking on the arduous journey to find concrete truth, they stop halfway up the cave's ascent and come to their own conclusions with the fractured light that trickles down. It is absolutely essential that when we find something to be false, we don't rely on subjective interpretation with muddy facts and here-say. Have purpose in your search and don't settle for crumbs that fall from the master's table. We must be just as malcontent five feet from the mouth of the cave as were are when we are in the chains in the dark because half of the truth is no truth at all.
Alyssa Wall
Cerritos
English 103
Post 2
AOTC
Well, this has always been my favorite story for many reasons. This story really makes you think about life. It makes me think about what I can fix in my life, and what it will take to make things all better. I love reading this story because I always get something new out of it. I knew going into it this time that it talks about caves, and overcomming the things in your life that are hard. It talks about how caves can consume one's life. It is hard to get out of a habbit that you have been apart of for so long. It makes you think about things that are good for you. Although something is hard and hurts, that does not mean that it is not good for you. Sometimes the things that are the hardest, are the best. Life isn't easy, and this is one way to look at it.
Eunisses Hernandez
Einglish 103
Cerritos College
Post #3
Homonyms
Well…this was really tough to chew. What I got from this reading was that things cannot be put into classes. That’s what creates a paradox because this creates, “illegitimate totalities.” I believe what he is trying to say is that you can’t put something into a class because of its changes and extensions the words or things have. He states, “If we try to grasp the concept as such it fatally transformed into an object and the price we pay is no longer being able to distinguish it from the conceived thing.” We also shouldn’t ponder over this concept to long because it is almost impossible to distinguish something with a certain title and class.
Alonso Llamas
Cerritos College
English 103
Post# 2
Allegory Of The Cave
To my best knowledge Plato’s story is all about enlightenment. The process of enlightenment is not an easy one, much like in the allegory. In the story the prisoners are chained down forced into believing only what they are told and shown. This is more like a metaphor to our own reality. People are told what to buy and do by others, and some accept it with out question. The obvious example is television. Many people live their lives around a television. They do what it says and believe what it says, all without question. Instead of asking “why” people simply choose to accept what they are told. I believe the reason why people do not like to ask the questions is because they believe it is too difficult, and it could hurt. Much like in the allegory when the prisoner is being released brought up to the light, he is in pain. He has been used to the constricted by the chains all his life that he has grown accustom to them, and when brought to the light his eyes hurt because he is not become accustomed to the sun. In peoples daily life’s they choose not to question things because they might not be able to handle the truth. However, it is something everyone must go through. It would take time, like in the story, but one would eventually familiar with the truth and embrace its beauty. After such a process, one would never dare to go back into one’s cave and accept what they are told. In the allegory Plato argues that everyone must strive to find truth. Despite what one may have been or is going through one must endeavor to find truth. Only then will one see reality and be able to embrace it.
Maria Ascencio
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #2
Homonyms
So, good thing we went over it in class or else I'd be lost still. I reread it when I got home after the class discussin and it finally made sence. What I have understood from it was that it is difficult to classify anything for what it is because of its characteristics, when it can be classified differently by someone else.
It is true that for example the word "red". The word reminds me of blood, and when my brother thinks of it, it reminds him of a car. The "shoe" example is a good point. There can be boots, nike, reeboks, and so on. The point is that they all fall into the shoe category no matter what.
Maria Ascencio
English 100
Cerrtios College
Post #3
I HAVE A QUESTION?!
THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT AFTER A DISCUSSION I HAD WITH MY BOYFRIEND. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE GOVT. AND WHAT NOT. HE BROUGHT UP THE POINT ABOUT THE ANALOG TV. WHAT WAS THE POINT OF IT.WHY DIDN'T ANYONE GET TO VOTE ON IT? TO SEE TV BETTER, BETTER SIGNAL AND WHAT NOT? SINCE WHEN DOES THE GOVT. GIVE US "TREATS". WHAT SUCKS THOUGH WAS THE FACT THAT NOT ONLY WERE WE GETTING A BETTER TV SIGNAL, BUT WE HAD TO BUY A DAMN BOX FOR IT. YEA WE GOT COUPONS, BUT THE BOXES WERE STILL EXPENSIVE. WHAT MY BOYFRIEND WAS TELLING ME, WAS THAT IS WAS PART OF THE GOVERMENT TRYING TO CONTROL WHAT WE WATCH. SAME THING WITH THE INTERNET. HE SAID THAT THERE ARE VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE A GUY FROM A RADIO STATION POSTS ABOUT WHAT THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T WANT US TO KNOW, AND WITHIN A DAY OR TWO, THEY ARE REMOVED. WHAT WE WERE THINKING IS THAT SOON, THIS COUNTRY IS GOIND TO BE JUST LIKE CUBA..
BUT MY QUESTION WAS... WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THE SUDDEN CHANGE ABOUT THE ANALOG TV? WHAT WAS THE REASON BEHIND IT?
Audrey Valdivia
English 100
Cerritos College
Post 2
Ok. so reading the story the first time got me so confused i couldn't understand it. Reading it like 6 billion times you get a little more understanding about what exactly the author is wrting about. Okay so tell me if i'm wrong When we see a dance show we read the message that is sent from the movements of the body but whose to say that the message is right, and whose to say that the performance is called dancing for all we know it can be called something else just someone was smart enough to declare that it was called dancing it could have been "classified" as red ironic huh how if no one actually declared the name of something we could be calling them different things like red=dance and shoe= wall..but when we think of it it doesnt make sense because we are all taught the same to belive that dance is dancing and a wall is a barrier tha holds up a house and pictures. Someone someday just woke up and said hey i'll call this dancing..so thats kind of what i got from it. i know im confusing
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