𒊺𒀳(Še’um ikkarum)

I don’t think that intention matters in artistic creation. Although they were forgeries, each of Beltracchi’s works were beautiful in their own right and were still considered works of art. Knowing the intentions behind the work does not inherently change the physical artwork itself so I believe it should still be considered art even though they were intended as scams to profit from buyers. 

I think that Beltracchi does have some originality as each of his pieces are new and have never been painted before. Although he was imitating other artists the ideas he thought of were still original. The only thing that Beltracchi lied about was the person who painted the artworks. The fact that his works were displayed in museums shows that people were able to find meaning and value in his art. I think when it comes to ideas and execution, execution is more important, but ideas still play a large role. If someone has a very complex and abstract idea but they are unable to execute it then the idea may not come across in the work. Additionally, uninteresting ideas can become pieces of art with good execution which is why I believe that execution is a little more important in art.

The fact that the value of Beltracchi’s artwork plummeted after they were revealed as fake shows that we place a lot of value on authorship in art. The physical pieces themselves didn’t change, so I don’t think that the value should either. As a society, external factors like authorship and origin influence the value of an art piece more than the art itself. In the video, only a single person kept one of the artworks after finding out it was fake. The value of art should be in how it makes people feel and the piece itself, not the person who painted it.

Side by side, someone would consider a painting and a skilled forgery both art if they didn’t know the intentions. A piece created with deceptive intent—whether it’s meant to trick or scam people—can still hold artistic value.

Knowledge provides freedom to make one’s own decisions, understand our own situations, and can even transform people. The importance of knowledge can be seen in all the books (and movie) we studied this year as it helps characters grow and change to face their future.

In Genesis, knowledge helps Adam and Eve find endless opportunities by making them free. After eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil Adam and Eve gain the ability to make their own decisions and choices. Although this knowledge makes them lose the peaceful ignorance in which they lived before it also makes them free. In the poem “Autobiography of Eve” by Ansel Elkins the author writes “Let it be known: I did not fall from grace. I leapt to freedom.” (14-16). The reason Adam and Eve were able to “leap” to freedom is because they gained knowledge and lost ignorance. 

In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Enkidu begins as an ignorant, wild animal but by learning “the art of a woman” (64) he becomes a civilized individual with “the thoughts of a man [now] in his heart” (65). Enkidu had transcended his existence as a savage animal by gaining knowledge which transformed him into a man. The value of knowledge can also be seen in Gilgamesh’s search for immortality. Knowing that one day our lives will end forces us to cherish the moments we experience even more. While Gilgamesh is still searching for eternal life Siduri tells him “You will never find that life for which you are looking” (102). Gilgamesh’s search for immortality eventually ends in him realizing that he cannot escape death and could have lived his whole life while being ignorant about the nature of immortality, but accepting that he is mortal lets Gilgamesh leave a meaningful mark on the world and Uruk as he realizes we can live on through our legacies.

At the beginning of Oedipus Rex, when Tiresias shares his advice with Oedipus, Oedipus remains ignorant and tells Tiresias “Do you really think you can just speak out, say things like this, and still remain unpunished?” (20). Oedipus’s ignorance delays the truth but does not make it any less painful. Oedipus was also ignorant when he beleived that he could escape the prophecy he was told when he was younger. His ignorant confidence ultimately led to his downfall. Oedipus’s choice to pursue the truth even when warned of its nature is what saves Thebes from its state of chaos and disarray. Knowledge once again is more valuable than ignorance since its power helps save Thebes.

In Lone Star both Sam and PIlar learn to accept the truth even when it is painful. Although knowledge may bring pain it can also bring understanding. Sam and Pilar both chose to accept the truth that they’re half siblings and continue their relationship. They both “forget the alamo”, accepting the truth and past but not letting it dictate their lives. Another example of ignorance is how Colonel Delmore was ignorant when it came to his relationship with Big O, but after seeing the newspaper clippings, Delmore is able to realize that Big O never hated him, and in fact loved him. This knowledge allows Delmore to better the relationship that he has with his own son, Chet. 

Knowledge is a far better choice than ignorance as it can force us to grow and change while ignorance keeps us shackled. Through the stories of The Epic of Gilgamesh, Genesis, Oedipus Rex, and Lone Star we can see the value of knowledge. Without knowledge we are without part of what makes us human. 

Although it would be really simple if good was rewarded and evil punished, the real world just doesn’t work like that. I personally believe that good shouldn’t be done with the expectation of receiving something (at least in this life) because no one is obligated to reward you. For example, if you let someone borrow your pencil during class they don’t need to give you a reward. I think that people should do what is right out of their own wish or desire to be a good person and help others/the world. Some religions believe that good is rewarded and evil is punished but not in this life. In religions like Islam and Christianity, people are rewarded for their good actions or punished for their bad ones in the afterlife when they are either sent to heaven or hell. Another example is in Hinduism where what you do in this life (your karma) affects what you are reincarnated as. Those that have good karma from doing good during their lives are rewarded by being reincarnated into a better form. Personally I think that our actions in this life are rewarded and punished in the afterlife which is one of the reasons I try to do good along with my desire to be a good person.

I don’t really think I can justify my own fortune because a lot of it was predetermined and due to luck, God, or whatever higher power someone believes in. Some of my fortune and success has been because of my own hard work and determination in things like school, but the only reason I have a good education is because of my parents and where I was born, things which I can’t control.

People should act ethically even if it brings no reward because it makes the world a safer and better place. I think I speak for most people when I say that we want a world that is safe and one way to do that is by making ethical decisions and helping others. For me, just the feeling of helping someone or doing something good is enough of a reward for me. But that’s just how I feel and I know that lots of people don’t really care for being ethical because it doesn’t benefit them which is one reason why evil exists. 

When people are punished for good actions it’s often something that they couldn’t have predicted because we can’t see the future. If we don’t know the consequences of our decisions (whether good or bad) then I still think we should act ethically because just the feeling of being ethical is a reward itself. If we do know that making an ethical decision will result in you being punished then I think it’s on the person to decide if making the choice is worth it.

As for why God punished Job I don’t really know. As we discussed in class, if God is truly omnipotent and omniscient then we cannot understand or comprehend the reason behind his actions. The answer isn’t comforting and isn’t satisfying but there are some things that we just can’t understand which we have to learn to live with.

a) The first line of this poem characterizes Eden as an “old fashioned house”. When I think of an old fashioned house it reminds me of simpler times and an almost childlike innocence which sets a nostalgic tone for the poem. The next three lines explain how Adam and Eve didn’t fully recognize the good things about Eden until after they left it. It is important to note that Adam and Eve didn’t know anything else since they were created in the garden of Eden and were innocent. This notion of innocence is even further demonstrated by the word sauntered which suggests that their departure from Eden was relaxed and that they didn’t fully understand the significance of their departure. The last two lines show that Adam and Eve’s minds often return to Eden but they are unable to go back to how were just like we tend to dwell on the past.

b) Like Adam and Eve I’m about to leave a place that I’ve spent much of my time in and I’ll never be able to return to this point in my life. I can only understand the little things that I’ve taken for granted or overlooked when I have spent some time away from them. Unlike Adam and Eve though, I am not banished from my home like they were banished from Eden. I still have the ability to return and spend time with family during holidays and breaks which I intend to do often.

c) The thing I’m most afraid of that will be changed upon my return is that my friendships from high school won’t be the same at least with most people. My brothers have told me that there are a lot of high school friendships that won’t make it past college and I’ve seen that they’re only still close with a few people from high school. Although it is kind of scary, I know that I’ll be able to find new people in college that I can form new relationships with. I’m not really scared anything will change with my family because we’ve always been close and I plan to visit often since I’m not going to college far away. I’m also going to miss my cat (pictured below) because he’s a real one.

The best piece of advice I’ve ever received comes in two parts. The first is that you can’t know everything and the second is that you can learn from anyone. This story begins in 7th grade where I had done poorly on a test for the first time of my life. I remember coming back home upset and refusing to talk to anyone (I was a very dramatic 7th grader). As I sat alone in my room, I heard a knock on my door and when I opened it I saw my older brother. He told me to sit up straight and tell him what happened to put me in such a bad mood. I told him about the test and he let out a sigh and simply said “calm down, it’s not the end of the world.” I in fact did not calm down and continued to cry. Seeing my distraught state, my brother told me that you can’t know everything and that our brain can only have so much information inside it. I then asked him how you can fix not knowing everything and he responded by saying “there is no solution, you just have to learn what you don’t know and you can learn from anyone”. It took a few minutes for his words to kick in and I really started to think about what he had said a few minutes after he left my room. It was difficult for me to grasp at first since I had always thought that adults knew everything and that eventually I would too, but as I’ve grown up I’ve realized that my brother was right. When my mom, dad, or most other adults I know don’t know something they go out and learn that thing instead of moping around and complaining (like a certain 7th grader after failing a test). I certainly don’t know everything there is to know and that’s okay. The only thing that I can do is to keep on learning and that learning can be done from anyone because everyone possesses their own unique knowledge.

There is no one correct answer to the meaning of life. The meaning of life is something which changes from person to person, and culture to culture. Many find meaning through religion and the belief of an afterlife while others can find meaning through how much they enjoy their time on earth. Personally, I find meaning in my own life through how much I can enjoy it and the impact I’ve had on other people, but as with everything in this world, I am sure that my beliefs will change over time. Figuring out if a life has value is also different for every person, but many people consider a person’s actions and impacts on the people around them to be an important factor in judging how valuable someone’s life has been. In the end, judging if a person’s life is valuable is a difficult task because that person may have had very different values than you did.

By the end of my life I want to have started a family, gotten married/experienced love, traveled around the world, continued to learn new things, and owned a house. I realize that these goals aren’t the most unique but I’m sure my list will drastically change in the next 10 years because I’ll learn more about what I value. 

Starting a family is important to me because it is one of the most fulfilling and important experiences someone can have. Being a parent is a difficult yet rewarding experience because it is one of the biggest impacts you can have on someone’s life. Being a parent also allows you to have a very close bond with your children and helps you become a more understanding and responsible person in general. Raising a child is important to humanity because I would hope that my child helps the people around them and has a positive impact on the world. 

Love is one of the most important and strongest emotions that a person can have. Spending the rest of your life with someone is something that requires a strong connection which is what every human ultimately desires. Getting married is one of the first steps in starting a family which is what I want to do as I described above. This is also valuable for humanity because at the end of the day every human desires relationships with people which is what I hope to achieve.

I’ve always loved traveling. It’s a unique experience in which you get to immerse yourself in the cultures and traditions of other countries while simultaneously sharing your own culture and experiences with other people. For example, traveling to where my parents were born and meeting my relatives has allowed me to connect with my culture and learn to be proud of it. Additionally, I’ve always found it interesting how unique people’s experiences are, and traveling around the world allows me to meet new people and listen to their stories. This goal is helpful to humanity because it allows for an exchange of cultures, a vital aspect of society.

I never want to stop learning. I want to continue to learn about the world around me after college, after retirement, and during the rest of my life. Humans are naturally curious, it is an important part of who we are which is why I hope to learn everything I want before I die. Learning about the world is one of the things that motivates me to get out of bed whenever I wake up in the morning and I hope my curiosity never dies.

Most of my happiest memories come from my house and when I get older I would eventually like to own a house. Even though this goal is materialistic it serves as a marker for my own success because it proves to myself that all the work I did paid off. I also want to have a nice backyard and maybe even a garden because I think it would be fulfilling.

I would like to be remembered as someone who possessed the quality of humility. I find humility to be a beautiful thing because it shows that we are imperfect creatures. Everyone has their limits and there are things which we sometimes do not know. Practicing humility allows one to put others before themselves and to realize/accept our imperfections which in turn allows us to live a more fulfilling life. Humility also allows one to put aside their pride and form real bonds with people which makes it a quality i want to possess 

The idea that nothing is permanent means that humanity and its remnants will ultimately cease to exist; We will all eventually die and be forgotten. The only thing that is permanent in our lives is change. For example, our emotions are constantly changing, joy and despair are not permanent. Civilizations are also impermanent and they eventually all collapse such as the Roman or Mongol empires. Time is another example that demonstrates the idea of impermanence, especially in Western civilizations. Many Western civilizations view time as linear, having a distinct beginning and end, and every moment as new. Time is viewed as a limited commodity—we spend it, save it, and waste it– like money. Many non-western civilizations and older civilizations view time as cyclical: seasons cycle, the sun rises and sets, people die and give birth. Cyclical time is different from linear time since it is not limited. These cultures see time as something that comes back around and events often repeat. Considering both these perspectives is important to view how people live their lives in our fleeting world. Those with a linear perception want to utilize their limited time and spend it doing something important to them which motivates them to get up and go about their business. People with a cyclic perspective of time live life while paying attention to different cycles that are constantly happening. For example, the day/night cycle regulates our lives, telling us when to sleep and when it is productive to go about our business. While Gilgamesh is still searching for eternal life Siduri tells him “You will never find that life for which you are looking… fill your belly with good things; day and night, night and day, dance and be merry, feast and rejoice” (102). This reiterates the importance of cycles, especially in older civilizations, since Siduri emphasizes that day and night are constant cycles that control our lives and that we should fill them with things that bring us joy, this motivates us to go about our business.

What ultimately gives us meaning in life is our effect on the world and other people. After Gilgamesh talks with Utnapishtim he comes to terms with his mortality. Once Gilgamesh reaches Uruk again he asks Urshanabi to “Examine well the brickwork; see if it is not of burnt bricks; and did not the seven wise men lay these foundations?” (117). Gilgamesh realizes that people can be remembered and respected for their contributions to society. The seven men who laid the foundations of Uruk were remembered and respected for their contributions which gave their life meaning. Another way people find meaning in life is through knowledge. Humans are inherently curious creatures, we want to know how the world around us works which leads everyone to a quest for knowledge. For many, this search for knowledge and learning is a large part of what gives them meaning in life. Lastly, people can find meaning through religion. Although this world is impermanent and we all die, major religions– Islam, Judaism, and Christianity– have a permanent afterlife. A lot of people find meaning in this life by doing good deeds or following what religion they believe in to reach the afterlife.

Since all humans will physically die, a sense of eternal life has to be obtained another way. We create a sense of eternal life through our contributions to society which persist in common memory long after our deaths. For example, Gilgamesh’s legacy demonstrates a sense of eternal life; Gilgamesh “returning [from his journey] engraved on a stone the whole story” (117) which immortalized him as a “king… without an equal among men” (119). Although Gilgamesh has been dead for thousands of years, we still talk about him and his legacy today showing that he has obtained eternal life, albeit not physically.

Characters that are seen as heroic have similar qualities across time and in different works of literature. In all of the stories you mentioned, the protagonists are on some type of journey and face difficult obstacles. Historically, heroes are individuals who are brave, intelligent, strong, honorable, and/or altruistic. For example, heroes such as Odysseus and Achilles are strong individuals who had an extensive amount of courage, helping Greece during the Trojan War. We usually define heroic actions as actions that require courage to do but help others/society in the end. For example, in Lord of the Rings Frodo’s quest to destroy the ring requires a great deal of courage, but it benefits all of Middle Earth. Women can also be heroines since the traits of a hero aren’t exclusive to any gender. Any person can be selfless and brave, not just men. In stories like The Odyssey and other ancient literature, women generally aren’t portrayed as heroes because those societies were patriarchal and had stereotypical qualities attached to men and women. Although women can be heroines, it is generally less common because of cultural and historical biases that have been present for thousands of years, especially in Western Civilization. 

Heroes generally serve as models for behavior. They can teach people how to face challenges, become leaders, and help others. Heroes are crucial to humanity because they inspire and unite us. The story of a hero can be a powerful one; It can unite people in times of uncertainty toward a common goal and show us how to behave in different situations. The quotation from Bertolt Brecht, “Unhappy the land that needs heroes,” suggests that societies that rely too heavily on heroes are inherently flawed. An unhappy society needs more than a temporary hero to fix the underlying issues that plague it. An ideal society wouldn’t be reliant on heroes for help and would instead fix issues through a collective effort. Unfortunately, we don’t live in an ideal society and we need heroes, people who can stand up during times of crisis, and people who can inspire us.

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