Oh the Humanities!

(Or Why I decided to major in Philosophy)

First off I couldn't resist:


Caption: I just Kant do it!

Okay, okay Horrible, aaah-I-want-to-hit-my-head-against-the-wall pun I know! =P

On a more serious note, here are some main reasons, not all of them, but a good overview I think...

1. It's something that I think I want to do for the rest of my life. Learning to love God with all my mind, is it not a worthy goal? Essentially, I want to wake up everyday, go to work and teach people how to love God. The best thing is, it's a journey that carries over into the next life. Who can know the depths of God? There is no end to His Love.

2. It seems like a good avenue through which I can channel my talents. I'm not spectacular, but I'm not totally incompetent either.

3. It's a great springboard for studies in Theology. Which I plan to pursue in graduate school.

Thinking back, the book of Proverbs has also highly influenced my decision.

My only regret is that with Torrey Honors on top of this major, and all my spare units devoted to Business classes, I won't hardly have any time for music classes. =[

But that will be a moot point if I don't first finish my application essay...haha...

Does anyone know of any people who are affiliated (teach, have taken this major, etc.) with this major at Biola? Is this a wise decision? I want input! (Please)

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

2007-2008 Alphabetized

I found I had more to say than 10 things so I'll try for an Alphabet. =]

A - Annabelle - My lovely, lovely piano who (like me) is quite talkative at the moment (her dampers don't come down quite like they're supposed to so she tends to be long winded whenever I give her something to sing). I think I can safely say that Annabelle is an amazing piano.

B - Buhler - Mr. Buhler is an awesome teacher. He's crazy, but he's awesome. I think I've praised him before in another post, but for this one I shall say that FAT year would not have been as funny/silly/thought provoking/and interesting if not for him.

C - Christian Bearup - Always towering over us and making me laugh and talking about movies and generally being an all around great guy. I am very very very glad of your friendship.

D - Dante - Is definitely going to be a huge favorite of mine. (Going through Purgatory now) =] (Gasp!)

E - Edwards - I need to re-read a Divine and Supernatural light. In fact, I need to re-read the whole Foundations curriculum! I don't think I'll ever understand them completely. I don't think we even read them completely!

F - Foundations - I've often wondered about the structure of the Three TA classes. Why are they put in that order? Inklings, Foundations, Faith. Hmmm. From Inklings to Faith. Someone should write a memoir. =]

G - Gabriel - Is a name an inseperable part of a person? Would a person still be that person if they had a different name?

H - Hobbes - AHHHHHHHH!!! (H could also stand for um let's see...HERESY!) But it's okay Hobbes, at least you can pull some weight against Calvin in Faith.

I - Independence - That and Freedom. They are way more complex than I ever imagined. We're just a few wrong words form being a nation of rebels.

J - John Locke - I like Locke; in fact, Locke could possibly be my favorite political text of the year, after Tocqueville, of course, but then that defeats the purpose of saying that Locke was my favorite in the first place; oh well, I guess I should find something else to say about him; I think his views on property were quite ingenious, the way he gets us from the State of Nature to having the right of owning things, mixing ones labor, man, what a genius; in conclusion, Locke makes me think of a long long long car ride with no bathroom breaks, in fact, I'd tell my mother, "Just one more sentence" instead of "Just one more paragraph"; I think I over did that a bit. =]

K - KUSC - Last classical radio station in SoCal. If you listen, go support. I cannot imagine losing this station to pop.

L - Learning - A supreme joy.

M - Montesquieu - 20 years! A third of his life! "If anyone worked as hard as I did, he would have done better." I really want to be able to say this. haha.

N - Nelsons - A lovely, lovely clan. Charming and very sweet except when they decide to take advantage of my gullibility. Jessie, Katie, Kevin, and Mrs. Nelson. I am very glad I had so many study hall sessions. =]

O - Oh, Emily - We have very much in common. Insecurity, enthusiasm, indecision, love of food, many questions, borderline neurotic Asian drive to excel, etc. Yay for being able to talk more next year! It is a priviledge to know you. =]

P - Peterson, Danielle - Wonderful, Artistic, funny, undeniably intelligent, lover of chocolate, wholly herself. I think I win the title of supreme procrastinator of emails. =] I can't think of many other people I'd rather talk to than you. Hope to see you soon friend!

Q - Questions- "Further up and Further in!"

R - Rachmaninoff or the Reynolds - I can't decide! They're both so absolutely amazing. Really! Mary Kate and L.D. and Jane and Ian and Dr. Reynolds and Mrs. Reynolds. If they were characters in a book it would be my favorite on in the world. But they're not, (Aren't we glad they're not!) they are too good for words. =] Very Rachmaninoff - ish.

S - Shakespeare - With Mr. Bartel! The greatest playwright and a highly intelligent poet. I am very happy I get to take this class next year. =]

T - Thoreau - Had his suits laundered twice a week. Turns out he lived only about a mile from town. Isolation my foot. =] Civil Disobedience. Good idea.

U - Unworthy - Jesus spoils me. (not enough smilely faces in the world).

V - Vision - Can we trust memory? (you can tell I'm starting to run out of things, problem is the moment I hit "publish post" I'm gonna think of something)

W - Wheatstone - Enough Said. http://www.wheatstoneacademy.com/content/

X - X-Files - Our Foundations class should be writers on that show. We had Wyoming seceeding from the union on the count of not being able to wear big hats. That and Iran managed to seperate the state and invaded it. In mid-air. Don't ask.

Y - Yes? - I seem to be saying that alot these days.

Z - I need to get some of these. =]

Lux Aeterna

It's really really awesome having a sister whose teacher is getting her master's at USC. Two words: Free Concerts. Yeah.

This would be the third time we've gotten to go. =]

Tonights performance of Durufle's Requiem and Lauridsen's Lux Aeterna was conducted by Paul Salamunovich who also conducted the 1997 premier of the latter piece.

Both Choral works were deeply moving (at least for me, I'm always a sucker for choral works, think Vespers by Rachmaninoff).

The awesome thing was that the composer showed up on stage and took a bow! I know it's sounds silly, but being less than five feet away from a composer of such beautiful music does something to you. =]

Here I must lament my ineloquence and merely say a few words on each piece (which by no means do them justice, in other words, go listen to them).

The Requiem is set the the standard latin text of the mass for the dead. Wonderful. There's something about the human voice that cannot be rivaled by anything else. The Dies Irae section here gave me chills. The terror of judgement day really comes across. But then again, so does the redemption and love of Christ. Some theological points that I don't agree with, but that doesn't keep me from enjoying this. =]

Lux Aeterna. I first heard this on KUSC the day I took the SAT...hmmm.... Beautiful piece. Especially in conjunction with the text. According to the composer, it is a meditation on light in all forms. Spiritual, physical, etc. I was blessed. (Note: both pieces are set to sacred texts so it was really almost like church). The conductor, orchestra, and choir recieved standing ovations. The conductor went on and off stage about 5 times. Yeah. =]

I wish I could say just how wonderful it all was but then music wouldn't be music would it?

Have a wonderful evening Ladies and Gentlemen. God Bless.

Dies Irae II

Apparently a whole lot of other composers use the Dies Irae plainchant melody in they're works. In fact its pretty much a musical idiom for death.
I was extremely priviledged to attend a performance at USC of Totentanz by Franz Litz. The work is a paraphrase of the Dies Irae. An astounding and jaw-dropping display of brilliant pianistic virtuosity. I was pretty much in awe for a day or two. Just listen to a recording of it! I also got a really good seat! All those octaves, jumps, glissandos, etc. Absolutely amazing. I was also able to listen to the live radio broadcast of Gustavo Dudamel's conducting. =] Prokofiev's first piano Concerto was amazing. At moments very lyrical and joyfully exuberant. I was reminded constantly of a child just beginning to learn his Alphabets. =] And then there was the Fantastic Symphony by Berlioz. And here's where the Dies Irae comes in. I think during the Movement known as the Witch's Sabbath. The Dies Irae does all kinds of transformations. Plus Berlioz has these awesome 2,500 pound church bells clanging away. Yeah. I'm sure there is so much more I'm unsure of. =]

Out of the Tunnel...for now.

I suspect that in most things, as in piano, there comes a moment or any particular lull of time where you can step back take a breath and proudly yet humbly look over what God has helped you to accomplish. It's like driving up a mountain and you're going through this long dark winding tunnel and all of a sudden there's light and boom! you're looking down at the valley you just came up from and if you squint you can barely make out the tiny little cars that are at the same place you were a while ago. =] The funny thing about this mountain is that the top is a long, long, long way off, and you still have to go through quite a few more tunnels. But it's nice to know you have a few behind you. =]
I was finally able to finish Anna Karenina and I realize now how naive my first thoughts were. Some more hopefully less naive thoughts: Tolstoy has an amazing ability to find the perfect analogies that just completely embody the situation! And the whole book is just permeated with reality. All the characters are so, so well, it's almost like I wouldn't be surprised if I met them. An example of this is how often the characters are doing this pendelum (I spelled that wrong, but you get the idea) between sanity and insanity, grace and damnation, truth and lies. Ahhhh! I certainly am not the first or the last to gush over Anna K (A good thing!) but I just couldn't help writing out how wonderful the book is. I still don't think I get more than half of it. (Not get as in understand, but the impact of the book, the depth the hidden gems to be mined, those.) Yeah. It was amazing.
Term Papers are due tomorrow.
Gotta go. =] Be well. God Bless.

Back from China

Hi! I love my room. I love Annabelle (the piano). I love Maple (my dog). I love my books. I love being home again. =]

Some quick points which are certainly not summaries. More like random thoughts.

1) In China, the great monuments and artifacts are treated more as a means of making money rather than invaluable pieces of history. This is partly because China emerged from the worst famine in history about 40 years ago which was caused by a communist government. I've seen more care given to an old 200 year old cottage in America than to the thousand some year palace... erg.

2) I watched Moulin Rouge for the third time on the plane. I was sobbing almost uncontrollably. That's new...I almost always cry more easily on the plane. My sister says it's the higher air pressure squeasing the tears out. =]

3) My 70+ year old grandmother is more fit that I am. (I got a lovely cramp climbing the Great Wall. She didn't.) Yeah...just slightly embarassing...

4) I am horribly out of practice at the piano. =[

5) Beijing is horribly polluted. The sun is a barely visible speck in the sky even at 1:00 in the afternoon. (Pictures at Out of the Blue on the right).

6) It's wonderful to be home. =]

7) I liked my trip, I learned alot, was spoiled, am trying to retain some things, and trying to unlearn others.

Well, more later. =]

Thoughts on Creation

(This came about while reading Emerson and loathing the twisted shadows of truth which he propounds for the real thing. Wishing to right his wrong, I (though if presumptuous, time will tell) endeavored to articulate feebly an aesthetic which is based upon Dorothy Sayers essay, but also, hopefully sheds some light on what creation of art, literature, or music is.
We esteem great men because of their ability to see what is true and to communicate that truth. By learning from them, we also learn to see the truth and hopefully will see more truth. But the truth is not new, it was not created, it always was. The truth did not come from men, but from God. Why then should I seek truth within when it is without? What I say will simply be feebly articulating what has always been and always will be. True, anything I create will have my unmistakable personal stamp, but what I do either conforms to the Good, True, and Beautiful or it does not. A story may have been born of the author’s personal experience, but we esteem it because it is true, good, or beautiful and because it says something that is universal. The very fact that we can recognize it as truth proves that it is saying what already existed in some form. By conforming to these principles, we articulate some aspect of reality in the unifying context of God’s goodness, truth, and beauty. By the mere fact that another man can recognize what I say as being true, I prove that all truth is God’s truth. When we see Rembrandt’s painting or listen to Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto and rightly agree that it is beautiful and admire the author for seeing what we did not see, we come to know and see what the author saw. Art is communication. Proving that by being able to see what he saw, there is an underlying reality of which he is only uncovering our eyes from. Human creation, if good and true is showing others the reality which we glimpse. If art is creation, then creation is a mirror through which we see God, Reality itself, reflected. A mirror because the there are varying degrees of light and truth which are shed from an object.
This whole argument needs clarification in that I still have not made the important distinction between good, true, and beautiful art and just plain bad music, art, literature, etc. This difference does exist, but I will need further reflection to come to an articulation of its cause.
The passage that specifically prompted this barrage of incoherency and muddled thought was this.
“Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life’s cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another you have only an extemporaneous half possession…Where is the master who could have instructed Franklin, or Washington, or Bacon, or Newton? Every great man is a unique.” (Emphasis mine, from the essay Self-Reliance page 199) I apologize for the pompousness of this post. Emerson’s radical individualism is starting to affect me. =] I humbly submit this little kernel of mine to the scrutiny of anyone who happens to read this. Feel free to rip, tear, and batter it to pieces, hopefully we will gain a sliver of silver from all this dross.

Plutarch and Shakespeare

This is such an awesome coinkidink. =]

The Great Books series published by Britannica is a much better compilation of great Western classics than Harvard Classics. Not only are the choices better but the Great Books series is much more comprehensive. For example, for the Plutarch volume, the Great Books contains all his works (a total of about 900 words, plus its a bigger book than Harvard). On the other hand, Harvard Classics only has selections from his Morals. But all is well, because! (And please don't laugh at me for just realizing this) All the selections in the Harvard Classics cover the ones in which Shakespeare wrote plays for! YES! Specifically, Pericles, Coriolanus, Julius Caesar, and Antony and Cleopatra! (those are all plays by Shakespeare). So, all is well. After Anna K, I shall try my very best to read Plutarch's work on Pericles, read Shakespeare's play on Pericles, read Plutarch's work on Coriolanus, read Shakespeare's play on Coriolanus, etc. etc. =]

In Which I Remember I Forgot Something...

Then remember exactly what it was that I forgot. =]

I forgot that I had bought ...wait for it.....

THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS OF RACHMANINOFF!!!

*Heavenly choir sings*

Yes, this indescribably wonderful set contains every known recording that Rachmaninoff ever made. =] I am incredibly excited about it!

From the liner notes:

"Rachmaninoff was a pianist after my fancy. He was the most fascinating pianist since Busoni. He knew the secret of the golden vivid tone, the inimitable tone coming from the heart. In my strong opinion he was a greater pianist than a composer."

-Arthur Rubenstein, My Many Years

If that wasn't from Rubenstein I'd find that hard to believe! He does have a point though, (as I've said before) Rachmaninoff seems to have bursts of beautiful ecstatic genius rather than a flatline of quality (Mozart for example).

I also bought C.S. Lewis' Four Loves and Pilgrims Regress.

G.K. Chesterton's Everlasting Man, St. Francis of Assissi, and St. Thomas Aquinas

The Illiad and the Odyssey! The Aeneid as well. =]

Oh and I found a wonderful wonderful blessing in hand copying the letter of Philipians, my hand is a bit sore, but truly, truly, I have been blessed. No better way of conveying what it was like except to say: Go do it! (When you can find time of course, preferably on the weekend).

Further up and Further in!

On Reaching Part II of Anna Karenina

Stupid Vronsky. I harbor an intense dislike for his innards. Translate: hate his guts.

And I feel as if I should hate Anna, but Tolstoy is such an absolute genious!!! I am almost as attached to Anna as I am to Levin. Tolstoy has made me love the sinner and hate the sin(!)

Each of the characters are so real. I seriously felt like crying when Anna decided not to reject Vronsky. =[

Which brings me back to the theme of this post: I hate Vronsky.

Maybe we could start a club....

Salvation?

John Wesley has got to be my favorite author so far in Foundations.

So our class was discussing the topic of Justification and Sanctification and Faith. (Oh Boy!) This has got to be my favorite discussion so far too! It's going to be hard to distill our entire ream of thought but I shall try:

3 Analogies

1)
Good Tree=Good Fruit,
Good Faith=Good Works

The whole relationship is organic. By not doing some good works your faith doesn't automatically shrivel up and die, it moves in degrees towards being alive or dead. Also, when too many fruits are being supported and there are not enough resources to go around, all the fruits suffer. Same with good works. When one is spread too thin, all good acts suffer. This is, of course, a very incomplete and inept summary of this (awesome) analogy.

2) A Muscle is either: Healthy and Fit, weak and flabby, atrophied, or dead.

Same with Faith. It works (so we think) like a muscle. More it is used, the stronger it gets. When it doesn't get used, it starts getting weaker then shrinks then dies. (eventually...I think)

3) Vine:

Sometimes the vine needs to be pruned in order to be able to focus it's resources in order to produce better fruit. Same with us. In order to produce a few excellent good works, sometimes it requires just focusing on those few.

Those were the main analogies we had. We only had two hours but we covered alot! However we didn't go too much into what we meant by good works. Or maybe we did....Anyway, these questions about Faith, Justification, and Sanctification are some of the Cornerstones of Christianity. I hope I never stop learning about them.