I am not sure if it is required that we post about The Mission, but i am thinking about it. The movie illustrated the one of the very things that bother me most about religion (Christianity to be specific in this case). Religion is something that i assume is suppose to be a personal connection with a higher power, and that connection i am sure vaires within each individual, but how does one go about sharing that connection when in reality no one can feel what that individual feels the way they feel it. Chrisianity is especially good at trying to share/spread this connection with a higher power upon other people. This is always something that i looked down upon and found it irritating. I call this act 'fishing'. Fishing for people to listen and to accept that they too can have the same uplifting connection with a higher power. This spread of religion in this way is disgusting in my eyes, and predadory to an extent.
The movie The Mission was a prime example of fishing for people. The jezawits (i KNOW that is not spelled right!) appeared to have stumbled upon a civilization "above the fours" who were living and had not been influenced by progressions of society going on, i guess, under the fours. (was the "fours" referring to the waterfalls?). It was illustrated in the beginning of the film that this civilization appeared "barbaric" and "uncivlized" and as a community their greatest threat was the growing profitability of the slave market taking place under the fours. This is where my problem with Christian fishing became illustrated. The movie percieved this community as an unstable community who needed to be saved from their own simple existance. Someone, a prophet perhaps, was truly needed to go up into their jungle home and make them aware of the fact that they were in fact in need of being saved. (the prophet also in this movie that was couragous enough to climb the dangerous waterfall barefoot and risk his life to "save" these people was of course a white (heterosexual?) male. and of course he would be, Jesus was supposedly white. right?)
Their "need to be saved" puts them in a situation that the jezawitts view as vulnerable, there for the "uncivililzed" community is weak and easy to take advantage of. This is what the Christian religion i have observed is where how they prey upon people. Finding people in weak states, whether emotionally or physically or any other, and taking advantage of their simple need for positive human interaction.
The community did change and maybe to some "progressed" to a better living situation, but how can anyone judge what is best for them? People, including the jezawits in the movie, have a very narrow view of what it means to be civilized, for what they know of civilization is all created in white heterosexual norms. Perhaps this community above the fours was civilized, they just had a different definition of what being civilized means.
As the village became more "civilized" in the white definition of the term, the community seemed rather akward. The people of this community before the jezawitts came wore very little clothing, but as the white civilization progressed they began covering up more and more. The scene in which the high powered authority figure (i think he was the King, but never quite got exactly what his title was) is taking a tour of the Mission above the fours as he walked into the church the people in the church were all wearing white tshirts and covering themselves. This illustrated the progression into white norms, for good christians dont show off their naked bodies in public. It was rather akward seeing and hearing them sing these christian songs. It seemed like it just didnt fit. Christianity was like a plague that intruded upon this community and was changing every aspect of these peoples prior existance. This bothered me.
Then in the end what happened? To be honest, Christianity is what killed these people. Would the King have ever wandered up above the fours to learn of such an existance if the jezawitts hadnt invited him? The villian (the selfish rich slave trader whom was seeing the mission properties with the king) also had the opportunity to see these Missions which even more enhanced the idea that these people made good workers, as illustrated by their elaborate and profitable missions, which just fueled his desire to claim/hunt these people for slavery and turn a mighty profit for him. Christianity did nothing for these people who had been living above the fours, maybe they did learn some simple social skills and had some fun at times, but as far as Christianity as a saving mechanism, it was in fact the opposite, the reason for their death.
and DeNiro was pretty sexy huh!!!
liz
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Liz!
Hi! since i have not done it yet, here is my introduction. first off, somehow technology left me behind in the last 7 years and i have no idea how to work this blog page , but i think i am kind of figuring it out. it seems like this class hasnt really started yet for some reason. we go to 2 classes, then have 2 weeks off, it just feels odd like its really not part of my schedule yet. but i am sure that will change in the next couple weeks. I did read Ishmael and it wasnt the spiritual uplifting experience that everyone seems to see it as. Maybe i am spiritually stunted or something. My mind just doesnt think like that, or perhaps it does and i just dont stop to take the time to realize it. So this semester is going to be interesting to say the least.
Anyway. my introduction. My name is Elizabeth Mackey, i go by Liz as you all have probably figured out. Its funny when sitting writing about myself i have to stop and think, people actual read this?! Josh Homme from Queens of The Stone Age said once that people who are "bloggers" like on myspace or livejournal are dillusional in thinking that people actually read their "blogs" and care. that always made sense to me because in reality, do you ever read anyone's blogs on myspace or livejournal? Which is a interesting turn because people usually write very well and elaborate on ideas about themselves rather extensively in "blogs", just sucks that they dont get read...
I am 25 years old, ill be 26 in March. I have the life experiences of a 150 year old, but my lifestyle and mindset is that of a 18 year old. I am blissfully unemployed and go to school full time. I am a Women's and Gender Studies major with a minor in Women's Health and i have no intentions of doing social work when i am done with my schooling. Madeline Albright said "there is a special place in hell for women who dont help other women", and that is entirely true, but social work is not what i see myself doing, but i do intend to surround myself women in my career field.
I am a single mother of a little boy. His name is Avery Vengeance Mackey, named after the RAD guitarist of Avenged Sevenfold (that is a story in itself that i shall spare you.). he turned 2 on january 12th and i am very thankful that i chose to have children, well A child, in my young adult years because i dont think that in 10 years my body would have the energy that it takes to keep up with a 2 year old. Me and Avery's life is one giant learning experience for the both of us.
i am obsessed with music and everything about music. its what i live my life in and what i live for. and i think the best place in the world to be is at a live show. (thats where the only spirituality really exists in my life) standing there at a live show closing your eyes and feeling the music is the best high anyone could ever ask for.
i live in Novato CA. i love Novato, its my town and my people. i have moved around a whole lot all over the country, but always end up back in novato.
anything else, just ask, i dont hold anything back and tell the truth, so shoot!
love liz
Anyway. my introduction. My name is Elizabeth Mackey, i go by Liz as you all have probably figured out. Its funny when sitting writing about myself i have to stop and think, people actual read this?! Josh Homme from Queens of The Stone Age said once that people who are "bloggers" like on myspace or livejournal are dillusional in thinking that people actually read their "blogs" and care. that always made sense to me because in reality, do you ever read anyone's blogs on myspace or livejournal? Which is a interesting turn because people usually write very well and elaborate on ideas about themselves rather extensively in "blogs", just sucks that they dont get read...
I am 25 years old, ill be 26 in March. I have the life experiences of a 150 year old, but my lifestyle and mindset is that of a 18 year old. I am blissfully unemployed and go to school full time. I am a Women's and Gender Studies major with a minor in Women's Health and i have no intentions of doing social work when i am done with my schooling. Madeline Albright said "there is a special place in hell for women who dont help other women", and that is entirely true, but social work is not what i see myself doing, but i do intend to surround myself women in my career field.
I am a single mother of a little boy. His name is Avery Vengeance Mackey, named after the RAD guitarist of Avenged Sevenfold (that is a story in itself that i shall spare you.). he turned 2 on january 12th and i am very thankful that i chose to have children, well A child, in my young adult years because i dont think that in 10 years my body would have the energy that it takes to keep up with a 2 year old. Me and Avery's life is one giant learning experience for the both of us.
i am obsessed with music and everything about music. its what i live my life in and what i live for. and i think the best place in the world to be is at a live show. (thats where the only spirituality really exists in my life) standing there at a live show closing your eyes and feeling the music is the best high anyone could ever ask for.
i live in Novato CA. i love Novato, its my town and my people. i have moved around a whole lot all over the country, but always end up back in novato.
anything else, just ask, i dont hold anything back and tell the truth, so shoot!
love liz
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Ishmael post.. i posted in the right spot i think now.
Liz Mackey
Ishmael
This book surprised me in many ways that I did not expect it to. First, in asking around and wondering what people thought of this book that had already read it, they expressed great satisfaction in the book and seemed to explain it with some sort of excitement as if I was reminding them of a past time that they were greatly invested in. I was not surprised by people’s descriptions, what I was surprised about its why didn’t I experience this book the way that other people had. I did enjoy the ease of the book but still after reflection I am not getting this great profound experience.
Another issue that surprised me was the white male patriarchal views expressed throughout the book. Even the fact that there was a giant black gorilla in explaining to the white student (assuming he was white) what exactly captivity meant and the way in which the white male society has seemed to mess up the civilized experience for all, especially the ones who live within captivity. This is what I saw as “man’s greatest flaw’ the act of one human objectifying another human being and force them to live in captivity. Yes, the “white, patriarchal man” has succeeded in systematically destroying the earth and robbing the earth’s natural recourses, but he has also been very successful in the downfall of civilized people. Essentially this “white, patriarchal man” is the threat that is the main focus point within the interaction between Ishmael and his student.
Ishmael
This book surprised me in many ways that I did not expect it to. First, in asking around and wondering what people thought of this book that had already read it, they expressed great satisfaction in the book and seemed to explain it with some sort of excitement as if I was reminding them of a past time that they were greatly invested in. I was not surprised by people’s descriptions, what I was surprised about its why didn’t I experience this book the way that other people had. I did enjoy the ease of the book but still after reflection I am not getting this great profound experience.
Another issue that surprised me was the white male patriarchal views expressed throughout the book. Even the fact that there was a giant black gorilla in explaining to the white student (assuming he was white) what exactly captivity meant and the way in which the white male society has seemed to mess up the civilized experience for all, especially the ones who live within captivity. This is what I saw as “man’s greatest flaw’ the act of one human objectifying another human being and force them to live in captivity. Yes, the “white, patriarchal man” has succeeded in systematically destroying the earth and robbing the earth’s natural recourses, but he has also been very successful in the downfall of civilized people. Essentially this “white, patriarchal man” is the threat that is the main focus point within the interaction between Ishmael and his student.
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