Seminars
Brave new world - happiness seminar (in class)
seminar pre-write
1. What is the overall message of BNW?
The overall message of Brave New World seems to be more or less of a warning of our not so distant future. The dystopian lifestyle in BNW which is government controlled seems a lot like several places in today’s world. Even though Huxley may have written this based off Ford’s model T; he also in a way predicted the future of the world itself. In general cases there’s is a large amount of consumerism in their world and our world.
2. In what ways has Brave New World made you think about the concept of happiness?
Huxley’s writing in BNW has in a way made me think deeper into happiness. It pertains to all of us; we as people like to take things for granted and believe that money is happiness, or having sex is happiness. In Brave New World, sex to them is a norm and is encouraged; and also seems that it makes them happy since they are told to have as many partners as they want. As said in the book “Everyone belongs to everyone else.” But in the real world, money isn’t a tool to make us happy, neither is just sex. It’s what we have in our lives that makes us happy! Our family, our friends, our pets, even the one we are in a relationship with. BNW has really made me think about and appreciate what I have that makes me happy.
3. What does John mean by saying nothing in civilization costs enough?
What I think that John could possible mean is, he needs change in his life. “What you need is something with tears for a change. Nothing costs enough here.” John could be referring to that the reproduction process is wrong but it could be taken and interpreted in so many ways. “With tears for a change,” to me is suggesting change and being able to feel something, and when John says “Nothing costs enough here” is his way of saying all of the things in the civilized civilization is nothing near as great as it is to have and keep the things that are true to us as people.
4. How much of our society do you think is focused on comfort and how much do you think is focused on truth and beauty?
To me, it seems that a majority of the world’s people which seems about 60 or 70% who are more on the side of the comfort life, involving sex, looks, reputation, status, and whew they live. I feel and think this because these things bring pleasure to these people. Good looks will get you hooked up with someone just as good as you in looks. Or your status will get you in bed with someone else who has the same status as you. It ca be opposite if you’re not the best looking, you have slim chances; if you're status is not great, your chances with someone are slim as well. A great number of people like to live in comfort and have all the luxuries and look down on other people below them. It’s like it’s own little dystopia within people. The other 30 or 40% like to live and see the world the way it really is. Or they live the life of truth and beauty; these people are the percent that see the world the way it is and see everyone as equal. They probably live this life because of how their parents had raised them. Which they don’t tend to look down upon people, but see them as people like themselves.
The overall message of Brave New World seems to be more or less of a warning of our not so distant future. The dystopian lifestyle in BNW which is government controlled seems a lot like several places in today’s world. Even though Huxley may have written this based off Ford’s model T; he also in a way predicted the future of the world itself. In general cases there’s is a large amount of consumerism in their world and our world.
2. In what ways has Brave New World made you think about the concept of happiness?
Huxley’s writing in BNW has in a way made me think deeper into happiness. It pertains to all of us; we as people like to take things for granted and believe that money is happiness, or having sex is happiness. In Brave New World, sex to them is a norm and is encouraged; and also seems that it makes them happy since they are told to have as many partners as they want. As said in the book “Everyone belongs to everyone else.” But in the real world, money isn’t a tool to make us happy, neither is just sex. It’s what we have in our lives that makes us happy! Our family, our friends, our pets, even the one we are in a relationship with. BNW has really made me think about and appreciate what I have that makes me happy.
3. What does John mean by saying nothing in civilization costs enough?
What I think that John could possible mean is, he needs change in his life. “What you need is something with tears for a change. Nothing costs enough here.” John could be referring to that the reproduction process is wrong but it could be taken and interpreted in so many ways. “With tears for a change,” to me is suggesting change and being able to feel something, and when John says “Nothing costs enough here” is his way of saying all of the things in the civilized civilization is nothing near as great as it is to have and keep the things that are true to us as people.
4. How much of our society do you think is focused on comfort and how much do you think is focused on truth and beauty?
To me, it seems that a majority of the world’s people which seems about 60 or 70% who are more on the side of the comfort life, involving sex, looks, reputation, status, and whew they live. I feel and think this because these things bring pleasure to these people. Good looks will get you hooked up with someone just as good as you in looks. Or your status will get you in bed with someone else who has the same status as you. It ca be opposite if you’re not the best looking, you have slim chances; if you're status is not great, your chances with someone are slim as well. A great number of people like to live in comfort and have all the luxuries and look down on other people below them. It’s like it’s own little dystopia within people. The other 30 or 40% like to live and see the world the way it really is. Or they live the life of truth and beauty; these people are the percent that see the world the way it is and see everyone as equal. They probably live this life because of how their parents had raised them. Which they don’t tend to look down upon people, but see them as people like themselves.
Seminar reflection
I don't remember much of the actual seminar, but most of the key ideas were based around the ideas of consumerism and happiness. But every statement made was interesting thus agreeable. Everyone seemed to be on the same page including myself at the time, no one seemed to be criticizing but more analyzing the questions we were asked which gave it a very professional feel to it.
I feel as though I did great in the seminar, I somewhat grew in a way to where I listened rather than shut off anyone. I had paid more attention to the other students as they voiced what they saw, which made me see more in what was being said. Also I feel as though I grew in a way where I am more comfortable with speaking in general. Seminar or not.
I'm not sure what I could take away from the book, or seminar. If I were to, it would be from the book which is something I had already known before hand. In the book, having multiple partners is okay and rather encouraged. In our world it seems as if it were okay to sleep around with other people at the same time. Even though it is wrong, not many people seem to care and it seems more and more accepted in corrupt parts of the world, such as the United States itself. Another take away is the drug they used. Soma, which to me is like marijuana, ecstasy, and possibly LSD mixed together into a drug that's even worse. But all those drugs are used to escape reality when times are tough, as is Soma.
I feel as though I did great in the seminar, I somewhat grew in a way to where I listened rather than shut off anyone. I had paid more attention to the other students as they voiced what they saw, which made me see more in what was being said. Also I feel as though I grew in a way where I am more comfortable with speaking in general. Seminar or not.
I'm not sure what I could take away from the book, or seminar. If I were to, it would be from the book which is something I had already known before hand. In the book, having multiple partners is okay and rather encouraged. In our world it seems as if it were okay to sleep around with other people at the same time. Even though it is wrong, not many people seem to care and it seems more and more accepted in corrupt parts of the world, such as the United States itself. Another take away is the drug they used. Soma, which to me is like marijuana, ecstasy, and possibly LSD mixed together into a drug that's even worse. But all those drugs are used to escape reality when times are tough, as is Soma.