The Humility of Autumn

Presenting itself as the humbler form of summer, the warmth of sun sufficiently absorbed so that its light is captured in the form of color, burnt-crisp to the touch and tactile only by the gentler chastisation of rain. Despite its exhausted state of popularity, its forgiveness is finally granted and sunlight –again received with thanks- returns amongst the fog of fall. Summer long enjoyed to the point of spoilage, autumn must be the result. However, it is not with despise that the change is made, for the transition it offers into the harshness of winter is very polite.                                                                                   

It seems that fall is a revealing season. Likewise to the baring of the trees is the soul as it stands scaled to the exposure of summertime secrets and of its body’s skin-deep, yet façade-like tan. The seasons of the school years commencement, of new relationships, of revelation and reevaluation of self, and of family reconciliation; each simultaneous to fall. Fall is a healing era within the year, but healing through assessment and activated by second chances. Similar to these revolutionary aspects, is the fact that fall is my most likely time for far-future dreaming. Spring holds opportunity, and marks the start for the improved version of life and that of reality. Summer is the living out of that hoped for and those expectations formed for the desirable version of ourselves. Where these are attainable they are sought, but where it is more unlikely, impulsive dreams take their place and we begin to drift whimsicality. Fall however –to me- is the season of raw reality; life as it truly is, and not that which we hoped for. In contrast, it is also a time for similarly realistic dreaming.                                                                                                                

As I am over-whelmed by the comfort and reoccurring familiarity of fall traditions on most years, I find a little bit of curiosity and longing for diversity among the season- and really, within life as a whole. The home-style foods long implemented within my heritage as it has been in America, and more specifically in Iowa are most prevalent in fall. As cliché as it sounds, this is the time of year in which the bounty is brought in and our plates are full of things of the earth planted and collected by the toil of my father and uncle’s. Aside from the fact that I am the youngest in my family of five children- the site of restlessness, these traditions are not my style. I prefer diversity and callowness.  Reoccurring as the season is my feeling of restlessness for further discovery of the nation I roam on minimal terms. Just as faithfully, I receive contact from my eldest sister, every fall season, who has fallen into the trance which the West Coast has to offer. Her annual longing for the Midwestern autumn is a black speck on a sheet of paper compared to her otherwise year-round babblings of mountain biking, hiking trips, visits to Seattle along the scenic coast, and the down-town life that Sacramento has to offer. Each of these are typically more exciting than that of the activities and amenities available in her home state of Iowa. The common homesickness between my three nationally spread sisters, is the longing for the sensation of the fall experience at home. It is sure that I will always have a place in my heart -no matter where I go- for fall in the Midwest. The most ideal version of the autumn season is due to the deciduous trees, cool temperatures which still include a variety of rain and sun, and –even to my occasional despise- the greatest production of the harvest can all be found in Iowa. I will especially remember to cherish my time here while I enjoy the exclusive epitome of autumn and its humbling characteristics in one of the more humble regions of America.

The American Obsession of Food

Naturally, with the melting pot composition of America there is much variety which places impact on the cultural aspects of the country. Within this diversified degree, I believe food to be the one area of culture which is the least “trendy” as opposed to those of music, art, or clothing. Food tends to be more traditional in relation to time. Although this more static manner is likely not specific to American foods but is likely typical to the cuisine status of most civilizations, I think that Americans hold a passion to their beloved aliment which would prevent any abandonment of those foods -which have become most symbolic to The USA- even aside from this cultural likeliness. I believe that this country as a whole is emotionally attached to food.                                                                                                                                                                   

It is far from possible to exclude food from every social enterprise selection in American society. Food is the usually expected element whenever we gather. It is one of the most symbolic details of holidays. It seems to take up so great an importance to pleasing our senses that we forget that nourishment is a necessity, simply because if it weren’t, we would likely still place such an importance on consuming it. However, what I find most intriguing about this is that the foods which the majority of us consume are far from gourmet and lack greatly in sophistication and creativity. The lot of our indulgences is of processed foods, and even those which do not fulfill a role in a meal. It seems extremely shallow and bashful of us that we not only fail to acknowledge the depth and potential interest which might be sought in more complex and exotic foods, but also that we are unwilling to decipher the personality of  them or simply even try them. These less complex foods are popularized because of their content of the things which are common and easy to become comfortable with such as those ingredients as oils, sugars, and carbohydrates. The collaboration of food is an art. How pitiful it is that the more common dare made about eating selection is made not on behalf of the flavor but rather on the poor substance of foods which are unhealthy. How often is it that we think it acceptable to purchase a box of donuts when we know it will be shared with a group? The common peer pressure acts in a way by which to stifle the guilt within the indulgence. With the horrible decision on hand to eat such terrible offal, we are able to smile at one another and say that “we could just use something like that to uplift our day”. When these situations become routine, there is always availability for the denial and justification which allow us to contain our taste buds within our narrow comfort zone. Perhaps however, it is not solely addiction to these junk foods which we deal with.                                                                   

When –on the rarer situation- food is selected with a high quality of taste, it still remains a center of attraction for the American gathering; although those typically of a higher class, the glorification of eatery remains. It is possible and much more reasonable in this situation that our love for food is because it is often a symbol of our gatherings. Particulars can have memories attached to them. I suppose when we want to revisit a situation or experience, sometimes the only thing we can do is stir up the dish which binds us to them by recalling the niche in the past with which was likewise shared. Tradition and symbolism, because such dominant forces upon the culture of American food, may with-hold valid enough reason for the adoration of food.                                                                                                                          

One final and obvious cause guiding America’s rave on food, is our economy. We have both the supply and the money to purchase food, which is relatively cheap enough to be a foster of senses, especially when it is technically imperative to life. Representation and addiction alongside this additional factor of prevalence having been each accounted for, there ought to be no question as to why it is that this nation is holistically a disciple of food!

Societial Trait: Formality- the Root of Relation

Recently I have closely observed the process of progression dealing with intimacy levels within a relationship. It is very interesting to me that upon the encounter of a new human being, we –as human beings- act as if we are so much more than which, or at the least choose to present the best attainable version of what we truly can be. Either selection, this behavioral alteration whether made for our own, false self-confidence or so simply and deceitfully devised with the intent of creating a quality impression for the perceiver, is typically one sought through formality. This common societal trait may be due to the standard of business, traditional proper etiquette, or self-motivation for apprehended magnitude. All of these serious and valid considerations taken into reprimand, I find it ironically and casually humorous that we put such effort and importance into simply meeting someone for the first time. It seems that no sooner after we have become familiarized, what began as a formal introduction could just as soon become the birth of a new soul- a collaboration of two in; familiarization to the point of spiritual simultaneity. Although we will each guilty of this common “social production” at one time or another, its distortivness is yet utilized with a static popularity. Why is it that we try so hard to make a façade when we are a single, united humanity made to rely on one another and become kindred so that we may learn from and of ourselves through companionship?  We have been created individualistically indeed, but not for solitude by any means. We ought to approach one another with the realization that we will never know less of the other from that instance into eternity. We ought to also enter introduction with the expectancy of an exchange; that we likewise to that of our understanding of the other have –undoubtedly- something to offer. It simple to divert from habitually and yet so such a widespread occurrence.

The Ideal, Significant Individual

So many dynamics there are to human society. All talents, abilities, mental states, perspectives are scientifically unique to each one of us. What widespread variety this should produce! As the Creator told us, we are all made equal under His dominion. This must mean simply that those individuals glorified by their community of surrounding are so as being symbolic to it. A person can occasionally protrude from a multitude as being better, these are those special people who are well-liked by the masses. It may be thought to more simply call this popularity. However, I do not believe that one has to be popular –in the sense of being well-known and out-going- in order to be well liked. Widespread appeal may lead to popularity, but is not the definitive of. It is natural I suppose, of our judgment to work in a way that allows us to differentiate between whether the things that make a person popular ore honest things, or whether they are truly comprised of a ruthless pettiness that is simply a cover to be played off of. In the midst of this case, it is sure that there are individuals who for whatever unique reasons, are people who are well-liked by most of the people they know. Besides these individually specific characteristics, I believe that there are common qualities which make a person likeable. Although it would seem these ought to be obvious and easily interpreted, it is of my interest to put these into words.      

Respectively every individual desires to be accepted at least, but greater more to be treasured and thought significantly of. There is an inquiring divide of understanding blockading the person whom has a sort of glow amongst a group and the rest of their surrounding fellows, providing them the luminosity to stand out against. I believe that the person whom is sincere in their worth by which to be favored is so because of their common understanding they have of their subjects, in general. They recognize the position of the admirer. A trend I also find among those people liked in society, is their boldness and leadership, or sometimes activism. Often times their broad view on things around them provide them with good judgment and especially if this is utilized in modesty after other attributes. A dependent of this is self-confidence. Although it is dependent, it can often be the founding internal characteristic of a quality person. When you consider someone you like as a person, do they not like themselves? This is very important that they at least act as thought they do -with integrity- for a person who does not like them self cannot possibly be liked by others. Self-confidence gives one reign over an aura about themselves which allows others to be comfortable around them, and if done humbly –which is vital- they will not only be appeased to, but also respected and looked up to. In addition to this, is a characteristic which has a slightly more concrete affect. That is the affect of laughter. Humorous people lighten the atmosphere of presence and literally cause the emanation of adrenaline. This is involved with natural addiction, which is tricky. If one has the ability to be funny, then people will almost automatically and inevitably be attracted.                                                                                                      

Along with keeping blithe in aloof situations, the grace to remain neutral in times of extremity is another notable characteristic in the ideal person. Neutrality works towards character in a multitude of ways because it is in opposition to moodiness, which speaks for itself. When a person is able to consider both halves of a situation, they will always have someone in favor of them. If they abide with distinct opinion, they know at what magnitude and in what situation to reveal it so as not to stereotype themselves and limit their agreeableness.                                                                                                                                       

Lastly, with all of these attributes accounted for, should follow the most obvious of all of these which is kindness. Some of these other qualities, such as humor specifically may be more God-given than others. However, we all have the ability to be kind and this –although maybe not superior on its own- is the most essential of them all. It is interesting to me to evaluate what we will all do with our characteristics if based around compassion and caringness. It seems that presentation in itself is all that is necessary, for any one person fit this ideology of “a well-liked person”.

Quoted With Reason

I wonder what the quality of society would be If we abided by the advice and outlook of those philosophers and people of influence whose thoughts and perspectives are centered by quotation marks, act as support stapled into newspaper editorials, can be found scrolled across walls, and symbolically placed within the “favorite quotes” section on facebook. If those are as true and tested as well as they ought to be for as often as they are heard of, then they should therefore simply become common understanding, effecting our perception intravenously. We all rush to record them, pass them on, change them only slightly with each encounter so as not to let the radical being of them become forgotten. Yet it is as thought they remain as distant as the long past minds by which they were devised; Ideas for a life more immortal through which perfection -sensibility and balanced, good things can be acted upon and produced. However I wonder then if we have forgotten that these things were the products not of perfection, but of the only state that we will ever be contained to on this Earth, which is that of imperfection. Rather, they are fragments of advice which will give us the best life possibly achieved in the mortal element. I say to my fellows, we ought to take heed to the moral which internally causes us to select these words of wisdom as significant. If we do so, they will fulfill their purpose and we will be of their benefit.

A Brief Insight & History of Art: Art Deco

As we approach the second decade of the century, we likewise approach the milestone of one art classification which has both historically and presently contributed to our cultural arrival at this niche in time. Art deco -an art influenced initially by French origin- began in the 1920’s. Its title is abbreviated for “art decoration” and derived after the “International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Art”. Art deco is also known as “style moderne”.

Art deco was become of simultaneously to the thoughts and ideas of modernism. With new technology impacting the design of architecture and structure of the early 1900’s, art deco was founded upon the inspiration from which -combining elegance and streamline appeal multifariously. This at first, revolutionary aspect of combination art design eventually produced the more exclusive sect of abstract art, but not until the mid-1900’s. Even later, art deco had an influence on well-known pop art.

Art deco includes some baroque style and eclecticism. Often time’s exotic animal skins were used in the earlier form of art deco as well as a great abundance of more basic materials such as chrome and inlaid wood. Patterns most specific to art deco include those with straight lines and proportional shapes. Sunbursts, chevrons, and retrospects are often utilized as well. All of these factors were done usually in a repetition which created a unified, amalgamated whole appearing precise and tidy.

The ambiance of the art deco style could be captured through all forms of art whether painting, photography, or sculpture. Because it was based off of concrete, structural forms, art deco could also be articulated in a more functional format such as through furniture or buildings. Because art deco was inspired by these it was likely occasionally considered to be a cliché when utilized in this sense, yet was in no way unacceptable during even its early emergence because art deco is certainly not limited to “art” alone per say, but it is rather a general style. In fact, art deco was also exemplified in the design of automobiles at the time of its emergence.

Although art deco became less-popularized in the 1940’s, it had a descent reoccurrence into the culture of the 1960’s and 1970’s where it begin its later effectuations on other styles.

Art deco is still implemented in current-day art, but its well-known historical remnants are what we know best of it today. Particularly, this includes the buildings and architecture which had the first influence on art deco and that were also vital to the evolutionary effect on the development of the art. Buildings of this style can be found in a varitey of develope countries. In America, some of the most famous art deco buildings are the Rockefeller Center, the Chrystler, General Electric, Waldorf Astoria, and Empire State Buildings.

The Emergence of the Present-Day Teeneage Generation Into Society

In present day America there is a great amount of interest and effort put towards the influence and education of American children. With the installment of the No Child Left Behind act, teenagers being the number one target of advertising, and the ever-present force placed on adopting the good morale necessary to achieve The American Dream, it is the hope of our government, our mentors, and our parents that we as the teenage generation of this day are properly prepared when it is our turn to control the nation. As a natural result of this, there is reason for the investors of these lives to monitor and take heed to the progress and direction of their dependents while they are yet premature and their product outcome able to be sculpted. Based on our current actions, I sense that our mentors have a good deal of skepticism towards the stability of our nation’s future as it is placed in our responsibility. I have reason to think that they find us insufficient in many areas that they believe will futuristically put us below the standard which America expects. Although I agree that there is some reason for apprehension, I also believe that our generation has many quality characteristics.  Whether our elders realize the value of these characteristics or even the presence of them at all, there ought to be surprise of the benefit these exclusive strengths will hold to our account. I believe that today’s teenagers are prematurely being cut short of our potential worth.                                                                                                              

Often times I have heard my parents make comments about the disrespectfulness, irresponsibility, and carelessness of the teenage generation. I fully agree with their conception on the matter. Although it may seem that carelessness would be the least iniquitous of the three, and typically it would indeed be trumped by the other two when compared in terms of slander. However, I find this particular situation to be contrary. When disrespectfulness is merely “suppressed” by carelessness, it seems to be more of an issue of laziness and selfishness rather than anything else. In one example, both of these attributes are accounted for within a single situation of carelessness, in addition to several other attributes.

Often times I have heard my parents make comments about the disrespectfulness, irresponsibility, and carelessness of the nation of my peers. Of course they usually always back this up with saying that “the apple doesn’t fall far from tree” implying that it is the parent who is almost nearly the sole source of culpability at stake if there should be any sort of blunder found in their child’s morale. It is true that we can only know what we’ve either been taught or made able to understand whether by experience or example, so I agree with this reasoning with respect for a latter contradiction to this claim.

More presently, I can think of many times that a teacher will ask of their class a favor or a request for a leader, or even someone just to answer a simple question, and not a single student will volunteer to even attempt assistance. Even though this could be in the least complex of positions, and aside from the fact that I see this encounter on a regular and nonchalant basis, it is as if something beyond reasonable is being asked of my peers and I when this instance occurs. We just don’t have the motivation to go much beyond what it is that is asked of us without there being an incentive. I gathered this specific paragon both for its inclusion of the attributes of disrespectfulness, irresponsibility, and carelessness along with an inclusion of several other weaknesses I find my generation to hold, which are that of a lack in activism, leadership, and motivation. Of these, perhaps it would seem that carelessness and lack of motivation might be the least iniquitous of all, and typically these two would indeed be trumped by the other two when compared in terms of slander; however I find this particular situation to be contrary.                  

It isn’t until upon the emergence of the child into situations of independence where a specifically generational diversity and variation eventuate. Apart from that fact that this is with expectancy, I believe that our generation has developed our best and most exclusive attributes -for the most part- among our own esprit de corps. One of these facets I have found is to be our acceptance towards diversity, both culturally and ethnically. Ethnic integration is probably the one aspect whose evolution has had the greatest impact on society between the prebaby-boom generation and that of my own. I think that our generation is a milestone in this progression as we were born into an era where ethnic tension was nearly non-existent, acquiring for us neutrality towards our racially integrated culture. This I believe holds the greatest benefactor towards American both as a culture and a society. It will contribute to our melting pot, broaden our mindset as a whole, and assimilate us to a point of comfort where there is acceptance in the midst of diversity. All of these achieved with a creativity which I hold hope to ultimately being the crafter of a more accepting community throughout our niche in humanity.                                                                                                                                                                                             

I hear relatively often of grandparents and even parents who will yet occasionally be heard in mumbling behind the scenes suggesting ethnicity as a factorization in a person. It is typically skimmed over and disregarded as impertinent to an individual’s quality, but occasionally mentioned even so. Although the issue of racial discrimination has not completely lost its relevance, it is obvious that as the generations have continued, it is not nearly as large of an issue. This is evident in the way that stereotypes are no longer limited by ethnicity as I believe they once were. Also, whether a benefactor of not, racial pun has taken some sort of evolution whether in depth or in classification. I think that maybe not directly positive, this consideration shows that we have become more impartial. One way that this situation could be perceived is by exemplifying ethnical dissimilarity as having shifted from a collective typing which heaps the racial group as a whole to a more individualized selection of popularity. It seems as the assimilation of the ethnicity is attacked more so than the group of people itself. This I believe is a theme among stereotyping today in more aspects than just that of ethnic diversity.                                                         

Naturally appended to ethnic diversity is cultural diversity. Whether due to or simply simultaneous to ethnic diversity, I have noticed that my generation is becoming more and more apprehensive towards the American variety of culture. Especially now that we are nearing young-adulthood, stereotypes and bigotry towards difference has become fairly irrelevant. I believe that my generation has been taught respectively by our elders, not to judge the group but the individuals themselves despite what the teachers of this message were previously accustomed to identifying people with. (Perhaps it is because they reaped the effects of discrimination in their own youth and wanted better for their children).  As a result of our close adhering to the golden rule as a basic principal, we have created diversity in and of itself because our quality of respect for people has been -in most senses- well fostered.                                                                                                                                                                                        As far as our down-falls go, these may be things that we will acquire a higher standard of through failure and more concrete discipline. I believe that any issues of irresponsibility and laziness or carelessness will be mainly abolished when we enter a greater reality. Whether we do or whether we do not follow through with our sample qualities of today in the future, I believe that we have been well enough equipped to fulfill our expected destiny as the leaders of a nation.  Some of the contributors of this most positive anticipation are definitely thanks to our parents, while others are thanks to them for the independence with which to discover them. Either way, I find reason to place a faith and pride in the fellow peers of my generation.