318: Thank the Virgin It's Friday!
Had my group presentation on Chile today--the general consensus: I talk too much, but it's funny. I just knew so much! I wanted to share the information! But, supposedly, I was supposed to be concluding, so I think I was pretty coy with it... Amia had to touch my arm and eventually take up the conclusion, so it was kinda flubby. Norden didn't seem too disapproving, but I still think it's another B performance. Oh well; at least this time I didn't stand in front of anybody and I looked forward most of the time. *le sigh*
Lecture was very interesting, with a digression about wikipedia. Now, we all know teh wiki is mind crack, but Norden's jiff is that it's prolly all wrong information. I don't necessarily agree with this--my problem is there's not *enough* info. But I do treat everything with a grain of salt... I would never dare cite wikipedia, and use other, legitimate sources to corroborate the info there before I take it to heart.
We're now going from gender to religion--Catholicism, ho! Now, the revelation of the marianismo culture has been clarifying for me. It's official: I'm a marianist. Mariologist. The Cult of the Virgin, pretty much. Most people fell asleep during the documentary on the mix of Catholicism, paganism, and social justice in Brazil, but I found it quite interesting.
Now, those pentecoastals are pretty presumptuous, in my opinion, making overt commands of God and stressing the fact that God's presence must be felt. Catholocism *is* dry, very theological, but I like that about it. I distrust evangelical emotion; it can be blinding, deceitful, and lead to mob mentality. Plus, I just like Latin and ritual. :P The idea of a highly educated priest appeals to me.
But I deny a patriarchal Christianity. It would not be going too far to say I have created my own radicalized version of it that stresses matriarchy and pantheism; my Virgin Mary prolly has more in common with the Earth Mother than anything. The idea of a deity who represents purity, selflessness, kindness--a kind of welcoming mother, y'know? This may be tied to the fact that I feel a disconnection with my own mother.
My own mother was always the breadwinner, and I was closer to her when I was younger--but as I entered adolescence I became more resentful of her passive, victim-hood attitude. So I'm not looking for a martyr--but someone who understands me. The traditional Madonna is a very passive figure, but I think my reimagining of her is decidely more feminist. But I do concur with that overwhelming kindness and unconditional acceptance and forgiveness that I think the Holy Mother encompasses.
Supposedly, Jesus Christ is supposed to represent this, but... I believe in saving myself. The Virgin does not save--she simply forgives. This can lead to escaping from self-forgiveness and actual repentance, but I think she can serve as a base from which to build that. It's important to have someone love and support you, the kind of thing where they're a silent figure, and it's really up to you to do the hard work.
I don't know if this makes any sense... but just for those of you who wanted a little insight into my obssession with the Virgin Mary.
***
Anywho, spent the past hour hooking up the new headphones in the language lab. Can you believe there are only *two* left from last semester? People keep on stealing them. I suspect the WoW crowd, personally, because they have those little microphone things (which I think are stupid, but there you go). I am going to make a big sign that reads: PLEASE DO NOT STEAL THE HEADPHONES.
The Mystery of the Stolen Headphones... I can make so many creative representations of that...
***
Oh, the good soft serve was also back in the cafeteria. It comes randomly and goes. It's smoother and richer and by far the best thing in the T.I. It made me a happy Andy today.
And that's about all for now... Oh, there's another HUGE development, but I'll save that for until I know more...;P
Lecture was very interesting, with a digression about wikipedia. Now, we all know teh wiki is mind crack, but Norden's jiff is that it's prolly all wrong information. I don't necessarily agree with this--my problem is there's not *enough* info. But I do treat everything with a grain of salt... I would never dare cite wikipedia, and use other, legitimate sources to corroborate the info there before I take it to heart.
We're now going from gender to religion--Catholicism, ho! Now, the revelation of the marianismo culture has been clarifying for me. It's official: I'm a marianist. Mariologist. The Cult of the Virgin, pretty much. Most people fell asleep during the documentary on the mix of Catholicism, paganism, and social justice in Brazil, but I found it quite interesting.
Now, those pentecoastals are pretty presumptuous, in my opinion, making overt commands of God and stressing the fact that God's presence must be felt. Catholocism *is* dry, very theological, but I like that about it. I distrust evangelical emotion; it can be blinding, deceitful, and lead to mob mentality. Plus, I just like Latin and ritual. :P The idea of a highly educated priest appeals to me.
But I deny a patriarchal Christianity. It would not be going too far to say I have created my own radicalized version of it that stresses matriarchy and pantheism; my Virgin Mary prolly has more in common with the Earth Mother than anything. The idea of a deity who represents purity, selflessness, kindness--a kind of welcoming mother, y'know? This may be tied to the fact that I feel a disconnection with my own mother.
My own mother was always the breadwinner, and I was closer to her when I was younger--but as I entered adolescence I became more resentful of her passive, victim-hood attitude. So I'm not looking for a martyr--but someone who understands me. The traditional Madonna is a very passive figure, but I think my reimagining of her is decidely more feminist. But I do concur with that overwhelming kindness and unconditional acceptance and forgiveness that I think the Holy Mother encompasses.
Supposedly, Jesus Christ is supposed to represent this, but... I believe in saving myself. The Virgin does not save--she simply forgives. This can lead to escaping from self-forgiveness and actual repentance, but I think she can serve as a base from which to build that. It's important to have someone love and support you, the kind of thing where they're a silent figure, and it's really up to you to do the hard work.
I don't know if this makes any sense... but just for those of you who wanted a little insight into my obssession with the Virgin Mary.
***
Anywho, spent the past hour hooking up the new headphones in the language lab. Can you believe there are only *two* left from last semester? People keep on stealing them. I suspect the WoW crowd, personally, because they have those little microphone things (which I think are stupid, but there you go). I am going to make a big sign that reads: PLEASE DO NOT STEAL THE HEADPHONES.
The Mystery of the Stolen Headphones... I can make so many creative representations of that...
***
Oh, the good soft serve was also back in the cafeteria. It comes randomly and goes. It's smoother and richer and by far the best thing in the T.I. It made me a happy Andy today.
And that's about all for now... Oh, there's another HUGE development, but I'll save that for until I know more...;P