Representation through Paint

                Before I attended the art gallery I thought that generally art was an esoteric pleasure of the wealthy, or elite with intrinsic value, but that depended on the form that it was presented to me generally. However, after attending the art display for class my perspective is very much changed, and hopefully I continue to be surprised by artistic representation like this. The expression portrayed in each piece surprised and captivated my emotion and imagination. It is by means of art that the very passions enjoy themselves. I would contend that the piece “In the Strength of the Lord” by Emily McPhie, has interesting contemporary as well as classical themes that increase its aesthetic value, is made up of a multi-layered construction of beauty, and is an interesting example of female empowerment and expression.

            Mrs. McPhie stated that this piece was centered on the dependence of family connections and existence in the framework of motherhood. This is a position that has been recently perceived as being disconnected from power, or certain values that are attained by women who work, or who have other duties that they feel are more exigent. I don’t doubt the validity or their arguments or positions, however motherhood is something that goes beyond traditional or even modern depictions of its value. This piece of art reflects a redescription of the traditional feminine role. Often mothers are seen from very conservative roles where they have strict objectives that have to be attained, and institutionalized guidelines that are often determined through a patriarchal lens, and demand to be followed. However, this piece of art portrays the role of motherhood and femininity as a synthesis of particular physical beauty with traditionally understood roles as a portion of her life, but she goes beyond them. This portrayal is unique because she remains partially unchanged, while rejecting traditional values. Mrs. McPhie emphasized that the new values that result ought to be a potential new description of motherhood.

            This reminded me of a very common idea in Nietzschean thought, the value hammer. Nietzsche proposes a creation of new values in the wake of rejection and deconstruction of prior ones, the metaphor that he often uses is the value hammer. In Beyond Good and Evil page 107 section 211, he says “Whatever is and was becomes for them (the Real Philosopher) an instrument, and a hammer. Their knowing is creating,” this reflects a theme from  the portrait in that, the woman turns the old values into instruments that transform themselves, but simultaneously bring her closer to God, and allow room for the new construction of values and interpretation. This is truly a beautiful as well as great example of the power of artistry and aesthetics.

            One of the themes that was emphasized in this particular picture was the use of color. Most of them are very light and author said that contrast was one of her objectives. Despite the use of fairly bright colors, the lines that separated them were very distinct, and it was easy to discern the separation of colors. The use of bright colors was well chosen because it reflected a tone of uplifting flow, but the contrast projected a feeling of underlying seriousness. The colors were well chosen. 

Great Works Paper Part 1 (World of Dance)

Critical Analysis

Whether it’s swishy skirts, bold colors, or sweater vests; clothes make a lasting impression. World of Dance takes this sentiment to heart by combining fantastic costumes with brilliant routines which are sure to make a lasting impression.

Guys in tuxedos. Girls in shimmery elegant dresses. Immediately, the brain keys on to these visual cues and lets us know that what is coming is supposed to be classy and elegant. The Ballroom Dance Company’s piece “A Daisy in September” and “Wheelenese Waltz” by Contemporary Dance Theatre. The ballroom waltz is very elegant and the grace of the performance is enhanced by the sumptous costumes. The long dresses the ladies wear complement the dance by twirling around the performers. Likewise, the tuxedos make the men in the ballroom piece look classy in a way that simple denim jeans would not.

In contrast, the “Wheelenese Waltz” plays on the audiences expectation for class and elegance. They give it to us--but with humor! The performers all wear tuxedos, their movements are smooth and beautifully choreographed-why then is this performance so amusing? Because their “dance partners” are female dolls attached to the heads of scooters! The choreographers combination of the classic cliché of performance dancing with these zany elements creates a stunning presentation that both entertains and astonishes.

Costumes are a powerful element when creating the mood of a dance, however; they can also aid in telling “the story” of a choreography. The Contemporary Dance Theater performers in “Excerpts From Barefootin’” all wore casual clothing that would have been worn by adolescents during the 1950’s. This clothing, coupled with music and dancing, allows us to picture a group of high school students gossiping and eventually dancing. If the performers had worn business attire from the 1950’s, the setting of the dance’s “storyline” shifts to a business and perhaps more adult environment.

Whether it be the story or the mood, effective costuming is crucial to a successful performance. World of Dance presents a myriad of diverse dance routines; and the costuming of each is as different from the next as the dance steps themselves. Despite their differences, the performances in World of Dance have at least one thing in common: they’re dressed for success!

Life is Oh So Beautiful

“Life is Beautiful” addresses the social and philosophical issues of the Holocaust. It shows how good, innocent people were targeted and treated unfairly. The point of view is that of Guido’s, who is a prisoner in the camps, along with his son and wife. It shows the awful occurrences that happened not so long ago. Socially, it brings up the question, “Did this really happen?” Were millions of people killed for this? Did the rest of the world really just stand around and watch as the German Nazis were killing hoards of innocent people who were just like everyone else? All of this is just wrong. The whole “argument” or “meaning of the film” is based on those questions. It expresses the survival and hope that was in the camps. This demonstrates the story of a man who remained positive through the hardships he faced, despite the fact that he knew the ultimate consequence. It also shows an aspect of human nature. Guido was happy and playful before he was sent to the camps, and he continued to be the same way while he was detained. He wanted his son Joshue to be the same way and to see their hardships as a game that they could conquer and survive. Guido ultimately succeeded and saved the life of his son. That was his ultimate sacrifice. He had the will to carry on and to succeed, and he accomplished that goal through the sacrifice of himself to save his son. Philosophically, it gives another account of an event that really occurred. It proves to the world that this was a real thing, and many people really did die. Philosophers can’t argue with the cold, hard truth. It’s as simple as that. How can people deny something if they have accounts from people who really witnessed these events? This movie targets audiences that are mature enough to handle the sight of death and torture. It’s definitely not a show that is or should be directed for children. It would give them nightmares for weeks. Even adults can’t handle the horror of the Holocaust. No one likes to see the death and torture that was so natural in places like that. It was horribly frightening for them, and it’s horribly frightening for us as we look back on the events of history and realize that it’s not just a bad nightmare, but it really did happen. Also, the movie is in Italian, and to understand what’s going on, one must be able to read the subtitles. That is another way that this show is for adults. Children would not understand what was going on, whether it was the events themselves, or the difficult language on top of it all. It’s targeted towards adults because they are the leaders of society. For society not to repeat it’s awful history, it must learn of it and realize its flaws. Hopefully this movie will help accomplish that goal for people who see it.

Ping Pong as a Great Work (parts 1 and 2)

Growing up as a United State’s citizen, my perception of the scope and magnitude of ping-pong has been limited to a summer camp favorite or a Friday night fallback. Until my experience at the International Cinema, I was tragically unaware of the significance of the sport in Japanese culture.

Likely beginning as a social hobby in England during the late 1800’s, the phenomenon did not take hold in Japan until the formation of the International Table Tennis Federation in 1926. Japanese competitors dominated the sport throughout much of the 1950’s and 60’s, until China began to make a name for itself in the sport. To this day, ping-pong brings players throughout Asia, and around the world, together in a form of competition that requires both athleticism and finesse.

In addition to highlighting the influence of table tennis throughout the country, the film explored the nature and values of the Japanese people as seen in both the storyline and filming techniques. There were several instances when certain techniques were evident, but perhaps the most obvious effect came during the semifinal round of the tournament. Just prior to Peco’s defeat of the defending champion, known as the “Dragon,” the two competitors are transported to an ethereal location in which the audience disappears, leaving only the two players and the ping-pong table, surrounded by infinite white space. This instance seems to reflect an idea of a peaceful, transcendental state of mind. Such outlooks are often related to Asian culture, and are not typically seen in America.

A second example that seems to be extremely indicative of the film’s Japanese nature comes when Smile’s coach is reflecting on his final ping-pong match. “Butterfly Joe,” as he was often known, is seen in a state of deep concentration in the locker room, adorned with a set of butterfly wings. The laughter from the audience at this point was evidence enough that such a scene would not typically be found in American movie making. It does, however, seem to depict a certain relationship with nature that is generally associated with those of Asian descent.

1984's Lesson on Nature

1984's Lesson on Nature

In 1984, George Orwell shows his view of the human relationship with nature through the significance of events that happen in places unable to be monitored by Big Brother and telescreens, the “wilderness” of 1984's dystopian society. Through the deviant acts that take place in nature, Orwell shows that the more noble and courageous side of human nature is brought to the forefront when a person is in the natural or “wilderness” setting than in an urban city scene.

Historical Contextualization

George Orwell was disgusted by the totalitarian government of Nazi Germany and fascist government of Italy during World War II. His political opinion shaped 1984 into a dystopia intended as a warning to what could become of human society if totalitarian governments were not restricted in some way.

Critical Analysis

Winston's first deviant act in the book is buying the diary. He buys the diary from a prole shop, and although Winston is not forbidden from going into the prole's part of town, it is discouraged, and therefore dangerous. Winston buys the diary on impulse because although he is not yet conscious of it, he wants more from life than the controlled existence he already has. The beauty of the diary moved him; that stirring emotion combined with the wilder setting of the prole shop drove him to act upon emotion rather than reason, a sign that the more natural environment of the proles unwatched by telescreens gave Winston the courage to buy the diary. This single event set off the chain of events that led to his ultimate realization of the true nature of Big Brother, his rebellion against the governmental regime, and his eventual succumbing to the doctrines of the Party.

The Family (great works paper 2)

The Family

The art exhibit “Nature and Nurture: Narratives of Family” contains various art forms, styles, and intentions: all ultimately trying to depict typical relationships in the family. This exhibit, set up in the Harris Fine Arts Center at BYU from Oct. 5-28, contains ten artists, including Brian Kershisnik, Lee Udall Bennion, Janis Wunderlich, Madison Smith, Annie Poon, Lisa Jackson and many more. Coming from many different backgrounds such as fathers, mothers and single adults; each artist depicts the family in different ways, with different attitudes, resulting from drastically diverse emotions. The main purpose of this exhibit is to “explore the complex relationships between mothers, fathers, daughters and sons through a diverse range of artistic media and styles” (James Swenson). This diversity of “etchings, linocut prints, paintings, ceramic sculptures and animations” plays a key role in showing the incredible wide range of emotion encompassed in the atmosphere of the family.

Within this exhibit, I noticed the recurring themes juxtaposing both solemness, as well as love and compassion in many displays. A lot of works in this exhibit were focused on solemn attributes, such as “Forces” or “Lehi’s Dream”. In each of these cases, first impressions are limited to a dark feel associated with hard work, pressure, and even just depression. This feeling goes along with many attributes of a family. Often times, a functional family requires hard work, pressure and sometimes even hard emotional times in order to receive the benefits of such a unit. For example, fathers may find themselves working overtime in order to get enough money to provide for their dependents, while mothers may often stay up all night helping kids. Families take much sacrifice, and work. The initial solemn emotion expressed in these paintings reflects the seemingly forgotten parts of being a part of a family.

Life of Pi part 1 paper

I think science is benefited through being explored through literature because it integrates science into a story that holds our attention. “Naked science”, the bare facts and principles, can be fascinating in their own right. Unfortunately, for many of us, it is difficult for scientific concepts to hold our attention in this way. By integrating scientific information into Life of PI, Yan takes the effort out of learning. Scientific principles that normally would have to interest us based on their own merits suddenly become beautiful descriptions of what is happening around Pi, or important elements to the story. If we are interested in the plot and want to fully understand Yan’s writing, we must pay full attention to the scientific tidbits abounding in Life of Pi. Thus, the less scientifically inclined are “tricked” into learning about science of their own free will.

Playing opposite to the role of science is religion. The protagonist Pi is both deeply scientific and religious, which appears to be a contradiction. However, it is quickly apparent that Pi is the ultimate contradiction when it comes to religion. He purports to be Muslim, Christian, and Hindu. Belief in any one of these religions should necessarily negate belief in the other two, however this is not the case. Similar (though obviously with much more innocent and virtuous intentions) to the concept of “double think” in 1984 by George Orwell, Pi completely believes in each of these religions and devoutly observes each. To Pi, belief is necessary to have a meaningful life. He has no problem with atheists, he says, because they believe, even if it is in the power of science. He dislikes agnostics because they do not know what they believe in. When Pi is shipwrecked, he must combine both his beliefs in science and religion in order to find what Yan portrays as perfect balance.

Pi and Gods

Critical Analysis

In the telling of the story, the narrator gives us many chances to believe in God. He shows us the world of Islam, the influence of Hinduism, and the saving grace of Christianity. Pi defines religion as “showing love for God,” while his religious leaders think of religion as the one true path to salvation. But just like there is not only one right way to solve a problem, so is there flexibility in the saving of a soul.

Hinduism presents Pi with a multiplicity of gods, some comedic, some mischievous, some stoic and imperturbable. Islam lets Pi feel the comfort of frequent prayer to a specific God and place. Christianity gives Pi a Savior, someone to feel indebted to, someone to be His advocate to the Father, someone who cared so much for him that He would sacrifice himself, make himself “unholy” to redeem the world. Christ led a difficult life, because He believed that we we more important that His own personal comfort.

Personal Reflection

To me, Life of Pi is first and foremost, a story to make you believe in God, because that is what I think each person needs most. Even if you already have a testimony, you could always use another reason to believe in God and rejoice in His goodness. After reading the first hundred pages, I recommended this book to a friend going through a rough patch in her religious life, hoping it would help her at least as much or more than it helped me.

Pi as a Metaphor for India

The Life of Pi is framed against the period of Indian history that was known as the Emergency.  Indira Gandhi, called Mrs. Gandhi in the book, declared a state of emergency when she was called to resign, suspending the constitution and justifying it by calling it a response to rising protects against the government. Lasting for 18 months, the Emergency left a confused legacy: while liberty was severely limited and political opponents to Mrs. Gandhi  were jailed, the economy flourished. It is under these circumstances that Pi’s father grows nervous. According to Pi, “to prosper, a zoo needs parliamentary government, democratic elections, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of association, rule of law and everything else enshrined in India’s constitution.” The Emergency had none of these, and for this reason Pi’s father decides to leave India, putting in motion the main events of the book.

Pi is an interesting amalgamation of religion and culture. He is a practicing member of Hindu, Islam, and Christianity, was born in formerly-French Pondicherry, ends up on the coast of Mexico and spends the rest of his life in Canada. Pi seems to be a metaphor for India itself, with its diversity of religions and culture. He offers an interesting viewpoint on Indian spirituality. The three religions do live in close quarters inside the borders of that country, and Pi seems to be saying, “Look! Harmony can be achieved. We all believe in God, we are more similar than you think.”

Life of Pi

When I first heard that we would be reading Life of Pi, I was far from excited. I had read this book already in high school and I had no interest to re-read it. I admit; the first time I read Life of Pi I enjoyed it. Frankly though, unless the book is Harry Potter I would rather read a new book than have to read the same one again. However, I have come to realize that there is more to this book than just black words on a white page. Just like with the scriptures, new meanings and understanding can be uncovered the more you study text. With a new mentality and thirst for knowledge and understanding, Life of Pi came to life. It became a novel that encompassed aspects of science through excitement, suspense, religion.

Loving Pi

I have heard about Life of Pi for years, and for many years it has been on my ‘books to read’ list. I had no idea what this book would be about; I honestly expected some sort of math related book (having Pi in the title and all). However, the book exceeded all previous notions I had made. The book helped me realize that I can make it through any trial and that God loves his children. He loves his children who are Hindu, Christian, Muslim, and the ones who practice all three.
I thought the set up of the novel as Pi retelling his story was an excellent choice. By setting the story in such realistic circumstances it made the story come to life. At first, I didn’t even notice that it was just a novel, and believed that Yann Martel was really recounting a story he had once heard. This format drew me in at once. I was slightly disappointed when I learned that it was simply a novel. However, Yann Martel’s superb story telling ability is evident throughout.
A captivating element of his story is the promise in the beginning, “I have a story that will make you believe in God” (Martel x). Pi’s tale of survival in the ocean would have been a great story, but Martel wants to enrich our lives in a way an adventure story alone cannot. Pi spends a great deal of time learning about different religions and then practicing the things he’s learned. He states it simply, “I just want to love God” (Martel 66). Loving God is at the heart of many religions despite other differences they may have. From this, I gather that we should love one another and embraces our similarities rather than dispute our differences.
As human beings we all share a common bond of humanity. Martel takes that one step further and creates a bond between Pi and his animals, Richard Parker in particular. While the relationship is not always the same between animals and humans, Pi learns that neither he nor Richard Parker could not survive on their own so instead of trying to kill him, he’d learn how to live with his furry friend. By the end of the story, Pi goes from being terrified of this tiger to missing him deeply when he goes. We can draw a parallel to our lives and learn to love those who are not always easy to love.

My mom's apple pie is better

Spencer Tolson

Katherine Cowley

Writing 150 Honors: Writing and Rhetoric

5 October 2010

The life of Piscine Patel is one of the most unique and interesting ever read, on both a shallow and allegorical levels. As a reader, I felt intrigued, sickened, and incredulous all while reading the same page. Such a book has great effects on the world of the reader. This effect is made greater by knowledge beyond the book, analysis of the book, and understanding the changes taking place in the reader. All have had a great effect on my understanding and reflection of the Life of Pi.

Personal reflection- I was very interested in this book that was assigned as a textbook. The cover revealed it was a novel, and a fictional one at that! I opened and read with great interest. I read the authors note first. Towards the end, it explained it was a book telling a story that would make the listener believe in God. After reading that line, the way I read the rest of the book was changed. Constantly I was looking for ways that the book proved this statement. At first, it seemed obvious that religion was important. Pi is invited and takes an active part in three separate religions, all with millions of believers. Personally, I was inclined to sympathize with the Christian minister first. Then the book began to open my eyes. All religions portrayed in the book have one thing in common- a belief in a higher being. They might differ in how this and that happened, but Pi understands that simple truth, and uses it to combine all the religions in his beliefs. As a reader, what can be learned? Pi is a shining example in a day and age where people have killed others for having different beliefs. Instead of asking ourselves what differences we have, we can ask ourselves what do we have in common. Pi’s simple innocence when the three separate religions confront him is a touching lesson that I constantly reflected on while reading the story of his amazing feat. He constantly turns to this idea of religion in his thoughts while trying to survive. When he had nothing else to turn to, he turned to God. In my life, I need to realize that God is always there, and it needs to be recognized not only in times in hardship but in times of prosperity. Also, several times I had to lay my head back in disbelief at the brutality of this young boy. This brutality comes from his need to survive. While reading this book, I felt naïve. Questions often arose, such as, ‘did he just do that?’ Much was learned about human nature while I read this story of Pi. What would I do in that situation? Would I be able to survive? Could I do what it takes? It is a question few could answer till the situation presented itself.

Critical analysis- Life of Pi is a unique book that explores many areas of human nature. Namely, religion and survival. These two instincts have been around since the beginning of man. Survival is an instinct. Every person feels the need to survive. Whether it be going to a restaurant to eat, or eating a rotten dead fish, people are willing to go to extraordinary lengths to provide the basic needs of life for themselves. The Life of Pi explores this in a unique and vivid, if not gruesome, way. Pi, a vegetarian, finds himself stuffing raw bird and fish and at one point human flesh to survive. Society’s boundaries are destroyed in a case of life and death. The Life of Pi suggests that a man will do anything if presented with dire circumstances. This is seen in real life as well. Humans cut off their own limbs to survive. People will lift gigantic boulders or cars that are crushing them to death. The human body is an amazing thing that will do what it has to do. Life of Pi does an amazing job of explaining that to the reader. Religion is also something people have questions since the beginning of time. Where have we come from? What is the point of this life? Wars and started because people have felt differently- but religions have been born also. In the book, Pi find three major religions that all have many differences. However, he incorporates them all. While this at first seems unrealistic, the innocence of Pi at this time allows the reader to believe this. Pi is interested in God. Any religion that believes in a higher being is a good enough religion for him. Love allows Pi to do this in his life, while others could not. Why did the author put this in? I believe he is trying to make the reader understand that the world does not deal in truths. Most of the book portrays a shocking and unbelievable story. Pi goes back and changes much of his beliefs, as he is forced to choose between survival or death. While there are many themes, two of the most stressed are that of religion and survival.

Give Me Some Pi

The extreme situations experienced by Pi if read metaphorically could have almost infinite meanings attached to them, but I find a couple of the more obscure, and possibly unintended, themes particularly captivating. The events that are described by Yann Martel in his book, though fictional, have some interesting significance if we were to look for applicable lessons. To analyze this book effectively, evoking the historical contextualization to understand the background and events leading to the end of the book are necessary, as well as careful evaluation of the significance this novel possesses.

            As Pi begins to describe the turmoil that is occurring in India at the time, I made some quick assertions that this would have a significant role in the way that the novel turns out. One of the first things that occurred to me as I was reading the book was the interesting contrast in religions and things that he encounters. In small discussion with Mr. Kumar he encounters atheism, but the book never really goes deep into trying to describe whether or not he ponders on this deeply. The possibility for an atheist deeply entrenched in a sort of positivism, as well as an Islamic baker, a tremendous influence of Hinduism, and the meeting of a Christian priest who reforms a young boy’s beliefs, could only happen in a more modern period of peaceful coexistence. India was the perfect setting for a novel of this type to be placed. It’s home to the largest democracy in the world and because of imperialism has been influenced and shaped by so many cultures, and styles of governance. The moral pluralism that Pi practices could only happen in a place where religious tolerance and freedom have been seen or perhaps even emphasized. The revolutionary turmoil that was happening in India at the time was mainly trying to establish individual freedom and a stronger democracy. Yann Martel described this book as one that was written when he was looking for direction in his life, and this book ultimately guided him. The background of chaos in India could perhaps be very representative of the way that Martel felt. The historical context was chosen very carefully by the author.

             Some of the best parts of this book are connected with realizations that nature is everything. Nothing exists outside of it. This is perhaps one of the bridges that Pi crosses in his connection of beliefs, and especially in the way that he isn’t bogged down by atheism. However an interesting contradiction to his beliefs occur on page 241 in the discussion of what an animal is, and he says that he is a’ human being.‘ The response to his assertion is, ‘What boastful pride.’ In this moment he affirms that he is beyond nature, yet one of the interesting beliefs that was possibly assumed by Pi was that he was a part of nature. Here we come up with a dualism that occurs a couple more times where Pi says that he is a part of nature, and even an insignificant part of it, but at the same time he believes he’s beyond the cruel animalistic processes that nature exhibits. Is anthropocentrism damning to his religious beliefs? I would argue that it is not. His final conclusion is that nature was what kept him alive and the personification of animals proves that to an extent, the beliefs of inferiority and superiority he perceives can be synthesized. The way that he combines seemingly contradictory ideas really is interesting, and gives insight into each of our own lives. 

A Slice of Pi

Mark Woodbury
Professor Cowley
Writing 150H
4 October 2010
A Slice of Pi
Recently, I had the opportunity of reading the publicly acclaimed book, Life of Pi. This book is one of works listed on the Science Literature section of the Great Works list. It is chuck full of examples of the laws of nature and the interactions between humans and our fury and sometimes not-so-fury companions here on earth. Yann Martel is able to effortlessly synthesize a beautiful compound between science and religion in a gripping prose fiction novel. Lending to this creation are Martel’s use of vivid imagery, detailed descriptions, and poignant illusions. These factors, when employed by the author, lead to a stunning scientific novel.

And this is all I have for now...

The Context of Life of Pi

Historical Context

The tragic journey of Piscine Molitor Patel began with the sinking of the Tsimtsum on July 2^nd, 1977. The real story, however, can be traced to the election of Mrs. Indira Gandhi six years prior. Defeating Raj Narain, Gandhi served as the Prime Minister of India for six years before she was charged of election fraud and the misuse of state machinery. Having been found guilty of the charges, Mrs. Gandhi was unseated from her position, and the election was declared null and void. In a wild attempt to maintain her position of authority, Gandhi advised President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed to declare a State of Emergency on the grounds that “there is an imminent danger to the security of India being threatened by internal disturbances.” And so began one of the darkest periods in democratic India’s history: the Emergency.

While there have been noted benefits of Gandhi’s reign, including the significant stabilization and growth of India’s economy, the period was most heavily associated with a blatant attack on civil liberties. Elections were suspended, and political opposition became almost entirely ineffective. As such, many citizens of India lived in some degree of fear or their families and property. Pi’s father was one such concerned citizen. Fearful that his Pondicherry zoo would be taken over by the corrupt government, he decided that the best course of action would be to lead his family to a better life across the seas.

The Patel family accordingly packed their belongings and set sail on the Japanese cargo ship known as the Tsimtsum. Leaving their home in the midst of economic woes, Pi and his family were not able to afford any mode of transportation other than the shoddy likes of the Tsimtsum. While not a great deal of the political environment is explored throughout the novel, it is clear that the historical context plays an important role in establishing and initializing the plot.

I wish I were eating Pie

Initially, I was excited to read “Life of Pi”. The cover was engaging, the plot creative, the illustrations beautifully done, and initially I was right. The first few chapters captured my attention and pulled me into the intriguing world of Pi. Then came chapter eight.

I read to escape the world. I read to put myself in another place and time and get swept away in someone else’s story. I read for enjoyment and pleasure. These are not the things I found in chapter eight. After the first paragraph I was feeling a little depressed. Paragraph two brought revulsion and sickness. By paragraph three, I was ready to put the book down and never open it again – if I had been reading the novel of my own choice I would have – but for the fact that it was required for the course. Maybe I am more sensitive than others. Maybe I am just weak stomached or faint of heart, but when I read about meaningless pain or suffering described in graphic and evocative terms, I feel that I lose the companionship of the Spirit. I cannot feel its presence near when I am focused on gruesome experiences. This fact alone tainted the rest of the novel for me. I couldn’t fully enjoy something that kept leaving me feeling so awful. Nevertheless, I continued onward, hoping that I could find something within the book that would redeem it for me, but to no avail.

I had nightmares. I’ve been blessed with a very active imagination, which translates into vivid and realistic dreams. This is a wonderful thing when you’re dreams are about a handsome Prince Charming, but a horrible thing when you’re dreams are about a man eating tiger trying to eat you or fighting for your life on a sinking ship or worse watching those you love be murdered and eaten by a crazy Frenchman. Each time I opened the book I was filled with dread. I would think to myself, “I wonder what happens in this book today that is going to leave me in a cold sweat tonight?”

At this point, I must give some credit to Yann Martel. True, his novel completely horrified me; however, I respect his ability to do so. Martel’s writing was so lifelike, so descriptive. The words on the page held such power that they affected my life drastically and continually after I put down the book. This is the mark of a great writer, and one reason why I believe “Life of Pi” is categorized as a Great Work. My favorite writers are the individuals who can, like Martel, change my daily existence with mere words. I simply prefer to read works that make positive changes instead of negative ones.

My personal dislike of survival stories because they are just plain gross aside, there was one more detail that slammed this book to the bottom of the heap for me: the ending. While the final chapter of the book is well written and sums up the main story, I felt that the side story, that of the supposed author gaining a belief in God through Pi’s experience, could have been developed better. The whole lead into the story was that it was meant to make the supposed author believe in God. In the introduction, it does say that after hearing the tale the author agrees with that statement, but frankly, by the end of the novel you don’t remember that it says that in the introduction. You reach the end and think, “Wait, what about the author’s belief in God?” Even knowing that the question is resolved in the introduction, one still wonders how the story and belief in God changed the author’s perspective.

While I have the utmost respect for the skill in which “Life of Pi” was crafted, I can’t say that the novel left any lasting impact on me besides the knowledge that if I were ever put in such a life or death situation, I would not survive. Gruesome imagery, inducing nightmares, and an ending that left me feeling unfulfilled, “Life of Pi”, three strikes and you’re out.

Life of Pi Uncovered

Life of Pi is a fantastic book. It’s full of interesting story line, adventure, and fantasy. A reader finds himself hooked when he begins reading it for one of two reasons: first of all, it’s an attention-grabbing story that is different than any other and attracts the senses; second, it contains many different points that can be analyzed for deeper meaning. Life of Pi by Yann Martel is viewed as a scientific novel because it deals with psychological, biological, and religious aspects; each a certain characteristic of science.

Psychologically, Life of Pi could be analyzed in many ways. Pi is stranded on a boat for many grueling days. Not only that, but he’s threatened by vicious animals on every side of him. First there’s the hyena and the zebra (though the zebra is not quite as menacing). Next comes the orang-utan who appears to be kind and nurturing, but also shows its aggressive animal nature. The ever-present Bengal tiger, Richard Parker, is also a major threat as well. On top of all these obstacles, Pi has to worry about sharks all around him and an engulfing ocean just daring him to take a swim. Talk about emotional overload! It’s a wonder that he survived as long as he did, not even mentioning the fact that he had little food and water. All these stresses were sure to perform wonders on his brain: not the happy type of wonders either. Because of all this psychological stress, the reader begins to question what is truth in Pi’s account. He tells the two interviewers his story as outlined throughout the whole book, but they don’t believe him. Because of this, he starts a different narrative that is actually quite gruesome. The reader begins to question: which account is true? Also, the two stories have parallels. Could he be mixing truth with what he wanted to be reality? Was his first account an interesting story to make his fate seem less tragic? Or could it be the other way around? Either way, this brings up an interesting question that one cannot overlook and takes a look at the psychological feature as presented throughout the story.

(This is just the first couple of paragraphs from my paper and definitely needs some touching up!)

Pi

Rachel Zitting
Kathy Cowley
4 October 2010
Writing 150 Honors

The Life of Pi ‘s context is extremely unique when compared to many works of writing. Yann Martel’s plot is strange and different, and factors like politics, social problems, and economics relate to the story in a different way than most. Taking place in the 1970s, The Life of Pi is about a boy who becomes stranded on a life raft in the ocean with a Bengal tiger.
Moving across the sea from India to Canada, sixteen-year-old Pi Patel has prepared to live in a new country with a new lifestyle. Little does he know, he will have to survive in an even harsher and foreign ecosystem than he expected. At the time of his family’s departure from India, Prime Minister Indira Ghandi had thrown India into a state of emergency. Pi’s father becomes nervous that his zoo will not prosper or will be shut down by a stricter government and he decides to move the family and sell his zoo animals. The economic conditions of the society do not look promising.
Pi has grown up in a highly concentrated area of Hindus. Through a search for God, Pi ends up becoming a Muslim and a Christian also. This range of religion brings context from each religion into the story, as Pi ventures to find out the different stories. Socially, Pi does not fit in. He was teased because of his name—Piscine—and has just now begun to feel slightly confident in himself. He is also looked down on by many because of his peculiar religious choices. Even his parents do not understand him completely.
The Life of Pi is a story full of surprises, survival tips, and spiritual epiphanies. The plot is intriguing and new, and there is a dominating theme of ‘beating the odds.’ Pi is an example of what kind of risks and decisions people will make when they have no other choices. Previously a vegetarian, Pi has to eat all sorts of animals and he also has to watch animals consume one another. The novel is, at times, vivid and graphic. When Pi finally makes it to Mexico and is interviewed, he first tells the version of his story which includes the tiger and all the animals he encountered. When asked for the straight facts, he tells the story which involves his mother and the ship’s chef instead. This version is even more morbid, grotesque, and unimaginable than his previous story. The reader has to decide for himself whether this is the true story that Pi couldn’t bring himself to believe, or whether he knows no one will believe his tiger tale and is just replacing it with something more reasonable. The reader is left to decide many things for himself throughout the book. Either way, the book is fantastical and involves the use of imagination.
I enjoyed reading The Life of Pi because of its uniqueness and the knowledge I gained about survival. Although at times I found myself skeptical like the men in the end of the novel, wanting things to make more sense. I loved how Pi accepted all kinds of religion and had no prejudices against anyone just because they were different. This helped him get along with Richard Parker—the tiger—and he was able to adapt easier to conditions because of his open mind. The novel was creative and many hidden meanings with every chapter. Now that I know the purpose of the novel and the outcome, I would consider reading it a second time just so I can delve into the novel’s messages.

Pi and Science

Jacob Bagley

Kathy Cowley

Writing 150

10-5-2010

The Life of Pi: A Science Reflection

Historically the sea has been, in works of literature, a great metaphor for almost anything. It can represent isolation, or home; fear, or freedom. Truthfully, the sea is a paradox if ever one could be found. It is the source of immense amounts of life, yet through its power it also causes great destruction. It is the duality of this nature that has caused it to recur in literature as a powerful metaphor. In “Life of Pi” the sea is no different, it serves as both the life giver and the proving ground for Pi, his greatest asset and test combined into one. This modern metaphor for life, and faith within life, is canonized by Pi’s experience on the high sea, and his interpretation of it.

Pi is not the modern man. He believes in God, he chases morality and faith, and he loves to make and keep covenants with God. This attitude is symbolic of older, more antiquated notions of man’s existence, yet Pi throughout the novel does not seem false, or preachy. His identity as a modern person of faith is the defining point of his character; as later in the novel he is trapped in a “no-escape” kind of situation that, to many, may seem like a “punishment from God”. Historically, people have always blamed, or at least attributed, accidents on the high sea as “acts of God” or “providential”. It is within this context that we see Pi turn, not away from God, but to himself and his faith to solve his problem and survive.

The novel as a whole reads quickly; the pacing is well done and easy to follow. Yann Martel gives decent exposition, but wastes little time (only what is needed to explain Pi’s religious affiliations and upbringing) before diving (pardon the water pun) into the meat of his story: Pi’s life on the ocean with his faithful sidekick Richard Parker. The short length of the 1^st and 3^rd parts adds weight to what they say, and also serve to emphasize the main point of the story: Pi’s survival skills.

Perhaps the most interesting point of Yann Martel’s novel comes from the fact that he spends so much time on the middle section, only to cast shadows on what is said there by what is given in the 3^rd part, and also indirectly by what is said in the 1^st part. A fantastical tale of animals, algae, and high sea adventure is given in part 2, but an alternate explanation is offered that casts doubts on the truth of that entire part. Our question must be: why would Martel take so much time explaining part 2 if it were not what we were meant to believe? There is no simple answer, but perhaps we are meant to take from that what we are to take from Pi’s multiplicity of belief. Belief is real regardless of how perception accepts it; Pi believes his story to be true, and though the harsh light of reality may try to destroy that for him, his belief remains, and his faith as well.

I loved the book. Pi’s faith, his love for life, and his eventual banishing of the demons of loneliness, fear, and doubt stand as strong testaments to the reality of God and the reality of man’s faith in Him. The contrast between what the world constantly seeks to force Pi into; harsh dreams, one dimensional beliefs in God, and “the truth” is a metaphor for us: the youth of the world. We stand on uncertain ground, crossing an Ocean of falsehoods and disbelievers and we too, like Pi, reach a point where we tell our story. Sometimes, the world will not believe it. But we do, and like Pi, we keep our eyes out for Richard Parker.

Life of Pi Great Works

Life of Pi by Yann Martel was published in 2002 and has since won the Man Booker prize for writing. This seemingly new novel has made the great works list for science because of its intense use of scientific themes, as well as because of Martel’s scientific style of writing. Martel continually questions the role of religion in such a scientific world. Martel’s immense discussion of religion, amongst his use of such a scientific story, brings to pass many themes that relate and distinguish the differences and similarities between science and religion.

Within Life of Pi there many themes stand out concerning science and religion: the most being credibility of logical science versus faith and religion. Pi lives most of his life in the faith of many religions. Pi’s odd open-mindedness allows him to pick out pieces of truth from all religions, while not being entirely apart of any faith. Pi, however, was also raised in a very scientific way; forced to learn many scientific facts about animals resulting from his dad being a zookeeper from India. When Pi becomes stranded on the life boat, it becomes evident the need for both faith in religion, and a use of practical science. Pi begins by immediately falling into despair and depression. Feeling a sense of hopelessness, Pi faces the reality that his family is dead. Instead of being consumed in his feelings, Pi demonstrates an immense faith in his knowledge of religion, enabling his to power through these feelings. Pi soon realizes, however, that pure faith alone is not going to get him out of this situation; Pi must struggle himself to fix his own problems. Pi immediately begins making observations, recording ideas and sightings in a journal, and using them to make predictions about the best way to survive on a life boat. Pi uses this scientific method when he trains Richard Parker, finds ways to stay hydrated and get food and to just stay alive. Pi, however, also knows that science alone will not get him through his struggle: he must continue to use faith. By using faith and prayer to keep him sane, and logical science to fix seemingly impossible problems, Pi is able to overcome many challenges on the life boat, that otherwise would have led to death.