Passage from the book:

"But he does not reject meaning in total or that there is no meaning in the world, but that the traditional ways of uncovering meaning will not lead you there, and that it can only be learned through experience it cannot be taught."

           Personally, the meaning of this passage is related with the fact that people learn from their own experiences. In other words, you may try to prevent somebody from a painful situation (maybe because you already went through that situation) but it is impossible for that person to learn a lesson from other people 's experience (even went they when through that). One of the reasons is because each experience and each process is different. For this reason, I strongly believe that each person should take his/her own chance and risk. Likewise, living your own experience and dealing with your own struggles is the best way to learn and gain experience. This passage is important to because I at one point in my life I made a decision to follow my instinct even with my family disagrees with me. I know they want the best for me but at the same time it was time to follow my own path. Today, I'm happy that I took that risk because I reached my goal. In, conclusion, I think that you only learn from your own experience.

Picture Assignment:

Biography Vincent Van Gogh

He was born in Groot-Zundert, a small town in Holland in March 1853. His father was a Protestant pastor and he had three uncles who were art dealers.

His early life seems generally to be unhappy, after a period of working in his uncle’s art dealers, he became frustrated and so became a Protestant minister. He became a preacher in the poor agricultural districts of Brabant. He empathized with the poverty of the inhabitants and began to share their poverty and rough living conditions. Despite trying to live according to the gospel message of poverty, the churchauthorities were displeased that Van Gogh seemed to be undermining the ‘dignity of the priesthood.’ He was relieved of his post and Van Gogh turned to art. Despite always disliking any formal training, he studied art in both Brussels and Paris. He began painting seriously, and in Paris was influenced by the new impressionist painters of Monet, Renoir and others. Financially helped by his close brother Theo, Van Gogh later travelled to Arles in the south of France were he continued his painting – often outside – another feature of the impressionist movement.

In Arles, he had a brief, if unsuccessful, period of time with the artist Gauguin. Van Gogh’s intensity and mental imbalance made him difficult to live with. At the end of the two weeks, Van Gogh approached Gauguin with a razor blade. Gauguin fled back to Paris, and Van Gogh later cut off the lower part of his ear with the blade.

This action was symptomatic of his increasing mental imbalance. He was later committed to a lunatic asylum where he would spend time on and off until his death in 1890.

In 1890, a series of bad news affected his mental equilibrium and one day in July, whilst painting, he shot himself in the chest. He died two days later from his wound.

Title:"The Starry Night," Vincent van Gogh.

Date:1889

Interpretation: I think the many stars and moon in the sky represent the light that he needed. The irregular and nebulous sky represent his feeling and all his mental issues. At the same time, the stars and moon lights provide proofs of the hope he was waiting for. Personally, I love this paint. The color blue gives a different connotation of the night. In the same way, it is like the picture is in constant motion. I think that was exactly how he was feeling. Looking for help where nobody was able to do so. 

1. Edvard Munch

   Painter
2. Edvard Munch was a Norwegian painter and printmaker whose intensely evocative treatment of psychological themes built upon some of the main tenets of late 19th-century Symbolism and greatly influenced German Expressionism in the early 20th century. Wikipedia
4. Born: December 12, 1863, Ådalsbruk, Norway
5. Died: January 23, 1944, Oslo, Norway
6. Periods: Expressionism, Symbolism, Modern art
7. Children: Jacob Munch
8. Siblings: Johanne Sophie Munch, Peter Andreas Munch, Laura Catherine Munch, Inger Marie Munch
9. Artwork 
   

   The Scream

   1893

   

   Madonna

   1895

   

   The Sick Child

   1885

   

   Puberty

   

Title:  The Scream Date: 1893

Interpretation: I believe that the Scream is a representation of fear, anxiety and personal feelings. In the same way, The Scream gives me that sense of isolation and panic with the red sky as a background. I think that Munch was dealing with his own demons where he did not see any light at the end of the tunnel. Added to that, the texture and exaggerated colors create that endless circle of desperation. That being said, that is why this picture is related to Nihilism because it has that sense of nothing and hopeless. In other words, it is telling you that the situation is bad and it is going to get worse.  

Friedrich Nietzsche

Title "Portrait of Friedrich Nietzsche"

Date: 1906

Interpretation: One more time, the exaggerated color and the hopeless expression are present on Munch's paints. I think that Munch presented Nietzsche's ideas of a death God and pessimism. In other words, both ideas of believing in nothing and pessimism go along with the Nihilism.

Dada Manifesto

by Hugo Ball

“Dada world war without end, dada revolution without beginning, dada, you friends and also-poets, esteemed sirs, manufacturers, and evangelists". (Hugo Ball, 1916)

I believe that Hugo Ball showed all his frustration and anger in that manifesto. According to the quote, I think that Hugo Ball could not find a valid reason for that war. It was totally unjustified what was happening around the world. Similarly, “dada revolution” came out to state that art should reflect what was happening. In other words, Hugo Ball felt such a discomfort, that he could not accept the creation of art that did not reflect the reality. That is why in the quote, he called out friends, poets, manufactures and evangelists to open their eyes to the reality of the world.

            I agree with Hugo Ball because I think there is no reason that justifies people killing people. I strongly believe that there are other polite and diplomatic ways to solve problems. Added to that, I think that quote challenges me because some times I face difficult situations dealing with problematic and stressful people. However, I look for my self-control and patience. I also think about the consequence before taking any action.

            Similarly, that quote also relates to a present situation.  As an illustration, the conflict that ISIS has against many countries around the world.

CIA WORLD FACTBOOK

Germany- Economy

The German economy is the fifth largest economy in the world. In the same way, Germany is a leading exporter of machinery, vehicles, chemicals, and household equipment and benefits from a highly skilled labor force.  Germany has agriculture products as well as industry productions.   In terms of agriculture products, Germany counts with: potatoes, barley, sugar, beets, fruits, cabbage, milk products, cattle, pigs and poultry. Likewise, Germany’s industries produce: iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, automobiles, food and beverages, shipbuilding, textiles.

Similarly, Germany labor force is divided by occupations: agriculture (1.6 %), industry (24.6%), and services (73.8%). Added to that, past reforms carried out by the government helped to reduce the unemployment rate (decrease to 5.3% in 2013). Also, the new German government introduced a minimum wage of $11 per hour to take effect in 2015. Equally important is the fact that Germany population below poverty line is 15. 5 % (in 2010).

Following the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, Chancellor Angela MERKEL announced in May 2011 that eight of the country's 17 nuclear reactors would be shut down immediately and the remaining plants would close by 2022.

Germany hopes to replace nuclear power with renewable energy. Before the shutdown of the eight reactors, Germany relied on nuclear power for 23% of its electricity generating capacity and 46% of its base-load electricity production.

Nihilism in Germany: Introduction. 

Quote Assignment. 

Not enough!-- It is not enough to prove something, one also has to seduce or elevate people to it. That is why the man of knowledge should learns how to speak his wisdom: and often in such a way that it sounds like folly!

My interpretation to that quote is that Nietzsche knew that sometimes it is not enough to work hard to obtain desired results. In the same way, as he says, it is not enough to prove something because even when you prove it, you may find people that do not believe on your proofs. In reality, you should prove your facts to satisfy those that need proofs. But at the same time you need to convince, enthuse and persuade those (that proofs) are not enough for them. By the time that you reach that point of proofs and leadership, you will get practically everybody.

I think that quote it applies today because in our society people are never agreed. For example, many people record a case of police abuse but the police officer is declared innocent. Even though there are proofs of his crime, those proofs were not enough to convince the Jude. As a result, I agree with Nietzsche, It is not enough to prove something.

Expressionism: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

 

My favorite scene from the movie is when Dr. Calagari says that Cesare can predict the future. Then, Alan asks how long he will live and Cesare answers, “You will die at dawn”.  Alan was terrified. In other words, Alan’s eyes grew twice its size in less than 5 seconds, his entire body was paralyzed and his face was totally perplexed. In the same way, the simultaneous shock between his face and his body was the best example of expressionism that I saw in the entire movie. My interpretation of the scene is the absolute power that Dr. Calagari has over Cesare. In other words, Calagari's power over Cesare is strong enough that Cesare killed Alan just to show to the public that his sleepwalker's predictions are totally accurate. In like manner, I chose that scene because I love Alan’s expression and at the same time I fully understand his reaction. I think that scene goes along pretty well with the topic (expressionism) and the power of German military force.