Freak factor

 Flawless: There’s nothing wrong with you

            I think this suggestion is completely valid. People are always so strung up on strengths and weaknesses and they do not realize that the two are one thing: a characteristic. There are not good and bad things about us. There are only things about us that have aspects that affect our lives in positive or negative ways. Also, the aspects may not always affect life in one way. In one situation the aspect could prove positive while serving as negative in another. The problem is that our minds think to comparatively. We must see things in ways that we can differentiate and categorize things so we can better understand them. This is the easy way of understanding things. However, it is not fully and truly embracing the ideas significance, only cheating its message. To actually understand ourselves and other concepts we have to see things multiple levels. We cannot just paint this black and white interpretation and distinguish between the two colors. The true thought should be in multiple colors, even ones we cannot see. Ideas should be contemplated with connections and flow. Barriers between aspects of the idea should be broken down and create a web of information in which we can decipher rather than group A and group B.  I think I can use this suggestion to not so much overlook my weaknesses, but feel less discouraged by them and know that they are connected with my strengths. I should view them as they were stated: characteristics.

Forget it: Don’t try to fix your weaknesses

        

         This suggestion is also valid in my opinion. From the “Flawless” point, we should know not to even see our personalities having weaknesses. However, we may have some negative aspects that were sparked from certain characteristics. Even if we do not like this aspects, the author is right. We should not try to ‘fix’ the weaknesses that we have. The so-called weaknesses are tied to our strengths and I feel that if we try to work on them and make them cease to exist, then the characteristic in which they are tied too will become damaged. The suggestion even says that it will not work. I agree with the statement that trying to fix your weaknesses is slow. It seems like when we are attempting to make progress on negative things about us, the amount of time we dedicate to it seems to crawl by. It is, if fact, painful also. This is probably why it seems like it takes so long. Time goes by slow when we are not doing something we enjoy. It will obviously not be fun trying to improve something that we were not meant to be good at, which ties to the last point made. The weaknesses we improve will not become strengths. If the weakness is messiness, trying to become an expert in organization will not make that our new strength. Eventually, we are bound to become disorganized again because we are creative, or we will lose our creativity because we have now become organized. Altering the weakness in any way is going to mutate the characteristic. The strength and weakness come hand in hand and will not be split apart. Opposites attract, that is why the positive and the negative aspects come in pairs.

Foundation: Build on your strengths

         Again, I find this point valid. The suggestion of building on our strengths is quite logical. The strengths, or positive aspects from our characteristics, are things that we are very good at. To build on these aspects is very smart. The aspects are usually things we enjoy doing, things we enjoy because we are good at them. If we build on these things we can become even better at them and possibly enhance that characteristic. This is not the same concept as working on weaknesses. Working on weaknesses and working on strengths are completely different. When we work on weaknesses our intention is to transform that weakness into its corresponding strength. Working on strengths consists of further building on your already advanced abilities. Hence the fix versus build. When working on strengths the characteristic that is tied to it will not be affected negatively. It will not throw the characteristic out of balance or change any other aspects like fixing weaknesses did. It will only enhance that characteristic because it is heightening the level of the strength. The strength still remains a strength, only in an enhanced form. That is the difference between work on strengths and work on weaknesses, reinforcing versus transforming. This suggestion would work because we are doing things in the area of an aspect we were meant to do. We like doing these things so the action should be successful. I could implement this in my own life by carrying out the old and original task of practice.  Performing abilities in which I am good at is the only way to enhance them.

My main strengths/weaknesses are creative/unorganized, enthusiastic/obnoxious, passionate/impatient, and dedicated/stubborn. I have recognized these traits about myself and already follow many of the suggestions that are mentioned in the writing. I have ceased to be disappointed in my weaknesses and attempt fixing them. I have embraced the things that I am good at and continue to better myself in those areas. My mind is extremely creative. Many times I have found people asking in awe where I came up with an idea like that. I love my creativity and embrace it in all things. Sometimes it can get away from me and cloud my thought process when doing things that do not require creativity, but those things that do not require it are usually things in which I am not good at. Unfortunately, I am unorganized along with my creativity, but have decent control of it. I am also enthusiastic about my work, which other can find as obnoxious. I feel like the enthusiasm outweighs the negative because it is needed for solid impressive work. I am also passionate about my creativity, which can become annoying impatience at times. Lastly, I find myself very dedicate to what I do. The negative aspect of this is that I can become stubborn when I have an idea or creation. I am dedicated to its process the way that I envisioned and have trouble allowing it to be altered. Overall, I value all of these aspects because they make me who I am today. If I did not have these positive or negative aspects, I would not be creating and enjoy thing things I have in my life. 

Brainwashed

The lizard brain is the part of us that detests embarrassment and discourages us to apply our ideas or utilize our creativity when we experience failure, disapproval, or embarrassment. Connect is about getting in touch with the rest of the world; not necessarily through communication but just to get your own ideas and creations into society.  Lastly, make art is our ability to convey ideas, expressions, and feelings through our creativity from one person to another.

These three layers of reinventing yourself certainly apply to the blog. The blog itself is a way of breaking free from the notion that all students are equal, mediocre, or average. The blog encourages all students to be creative and reach into their own interpretive thought pool and share their true ideas. Creativity and idea sharing is absolutely utilized in the blog.

            Connection is obvious when observing this aspect in the blog. The blog is shared with many others and the student’s ideas and thought can be spread to other minds. Acknowledging the lizard is present in the blogs as well. No matter what we do in them, we have to be confident and proud in what we post. If the ideas and feelings we post are not backed by our own true self then they are not nearly as affective. We should not be embarrassed by any interpretation, creation, or thought that we share in the process of our creativity. Even if the idea is laughed at or deemed unpopular, students should not stop their own creativity. The whole purpose of the blog is to promote creativity and thoughtful interpretation. If we are scared to do this because of even one person’s disapproval, the blog is completely waste and useless. I believe that part of the process of creativity is actually overcoming that fear of rejection and backing your ideas even if you are alone on them. Lastly, make art is important in the blog because that is exactly what we are doing. Some things make not be the typical idea of art but we are communicating an idea to someone else and it is our own.

            These layers together are certainly helpful in the creative process. They all build and layer on each other. This in turn makes each individual rule unique and important, but also a part of the whole. These layers make me a better student because I can connect with other students who I may need to communicate, work, or learn with in the future. They make me a better artist because I can learn to be proud of my creations, ideas, feelings, or thoughts and continue with the work that I love regardless of whether someone does or does not like the work that I do. With these layers, I can block out the worry and fear of rejection and ultimately harness my creative potential without restriction.

             

           

Scene Theme

The theme of this scene is most likely to be "never give into oppression." The entire scene portrays these ideas when the Spartans fight back even in imminent death against the Persians and Xerxes. They would rather die than give up the freedom of their own kingdom. This theme is observable when the Spartans surprise attack after pretending to surrender. Leonidas shows that he values a free Sparta more than all of the riches that Xerxes offers even with his own dying breath. Many Spartans, like the captain, even continue fighting when they are stuck full of arrows and bleeding to death.

This scene uses line and shape very much to support the theme of it. Overall, the two aspects create focus on the Spartans’ last stand, draw attention to acts that portray the theme, and provide insight to the motives of Leonidas.

            Line is used quite well in this scene with all of the arrows and spears. In most shots, the actual lines from these objects draw the eye to the Spartans in their fight against the oppressors. Also, linear contrast is utilized when Leonidas throws his spear in revolt. In that shot, many actual lines are vertical as his spear is directly horizontal. Several virtual lines are noticeable as well. The line of attention draw in the dialogue before Leonidas kneels is between Xerxes and Leonidas, Xerxes being on higher ground. This shot enhances the idea that even though Xerxes has the higher ground and victory, the Spartans will still fight to the end and never give in.

            Shape supports the theme also. The helmets of the Spartans are mostly a triangular shape, which speaks stubbornness and focused, relentless motives of fighting back and defending Sparta. The spear heads also receive some attention being of the same triangular shape. The fact that the triangle represents leader is also ironic because it is used to represent the Spartans who fight against the so-called leader Xerxes. Irony is also observed when we see that Leonidas’s kneel is not a true kneel of submission but just a tactical tool so another Spartan can jump over the line to kill the Persian. Overall, this tools support the scene’s theme.