A Hero...And Then Some

I'm so sorry I am getting to this late, guys.

You would not BELIEVE the issues I've had this week.

Anyway, let's talk about heroism.

What is heroism? Everyone has a different definition of the term "hero". Most people in society would define a "hero" as someone like Superman, or the Flash, or any sort of person with super abnormal abilities that betters society against an antagonist of some sort. Right?

But to Bernstein, "heroism" is something completely different.

In his essay, "The Philosophical Foundations of Heroism", Dr. Bernstein reveals 4 components that make a good hero. He believes that a hero must have moral greatness, a definition of itself. The hero must be a moral person and that the hero believes in holding high moral standards. He also believes that the hero should have some ability or prowess that makes him unique. When it comes to action, Bernstein thinks the hero should be able to act in face of opposition. And lastly, he should triumph not only in the physical, but the spiritual form as well.

I would agree with Bernsteins terms. I think a hero is not just a person with a costume and a cape, but a hero could be a pedestrian, a common person that seemed to be passing by. A hero is someone with good intentions that tries to make society better. Even if the actions affect the hero himself. While people with super abilities and awesome theme songs are generally good for a cinematic audience, why can't we consider the actual definition of a hero? A fireman for instance, fights fires to protect citizens from harm. This fireman has high moral standards, that it would be wrong to let the fire consume that poor woman's house. He has abilities that let him control the fire, the knowledge to pick up his hose. He puts out the flames, even when he can feel the heat himself. This is a true hero.

I guess it would be kind of cool to have a cape though...

Peek-A-Boo World

In the 1800s, Americans weren't concerned about cellular devices, computers, ipads and arbitrary, everyday problems that arise with our technology. In that time, they were developing ways to get word out faster then a carriage ride. The train, the fastest form of travel at the time, still only carried people and things at a slow steady rate that could still take days to get halfway across the country. The concern inspired the invention of the telegraph. This new form of communication enabled news - irrelevant and relevant - to be transferred across the nation at a faster rate then the train.

This began our technological revolution that would last for over 200 years, and still be occurring today.

The issue at hand is that before the invention of the telegraph, people were able to control what was in the news, or what they heard of news. The only things that were headlined in the "daily" news were important information. But, with the invention of the telegraph, much news was now considered irrelevant. They were random facts that came through and were more for entertainment. The telegraph, though now more speedy than trains, was ineffective in that it only gave short messages that the receiver would have to decypher. To further this, the invention of "photography" came about. But photography lacked any understanding and any words. It could not capture the essence of objects and the symbols for it, but it could capture a visual of a word. Combining this with the telegraph provided for the epistemology of media.

No matter how slow the process of the telegraph was back in the 1800s, technology was able to advance to what we now have today. We can get headline stories or everyday misdemeanors in the palm of our hands in like, seconds. Technology gives us a whole new world, one that opens us up to other countries and other people. Though we still lack the epistemology of media and the effectiveness of weeding out irrelevant information, technology has saved in one way or another, despite Postman's thoughts on it.

Again with the Metaphors?!

Have you ever considered the world around you? How almost everything you see can be turned into a  symbol? Some symbols found in our everyday lives are almost anywhere. Take a hospital sign. This, though not a metaphorical symbol, is a symbol telling you about the location of hospital. Symbols like these give direction, get the attention of its audience, and serve to inform.

Though these kinds of symbols are important, the symbols we, as a society, need to understand are metaphorical symbols. Almost everything about our society can be turned into a metaphor. One common symbol is the American flag, symbolizing our freedom.  As pointed out in Neil Postman's book Amusing Ourselves to Death, even major cities can be a metaphor for our society as a whole.

I find myself agreeing with Mr. Postman about metaphors and how "conversation" is a metaphor for every technological way of communicating with one another or modes of communication. The way to communicate new products, or new ideas is to express through the best way possible. As Americans, we watch tons of commercials depicting good looking people advertising products. Would that product still sell the same if someone like myself(average-looking, non-actor) was trying to sell you the same product? Everything from our Presidents down to the lowest forms of advertising are all based on the metaphor of the person or the metaphor of communication.

Symbols have always been around us, and always will be. Our society should not take these symbols for granted, as symbols can change through time.


And to be funny,

Ha Ha Ha Ha,

Alyx