In my opinion, the poem's main message is that nobody can live without the connections from other people. The line "each is a piece of the continent" conveys that every person on earth is connected in some way, and we cannot be isolated from one another.
I think this poem says that we are all joined together in this life by our humanity. It implies that we cannot (and perhaps should not try to ) escape the ties that bind us together. None of us can exist emotionally without another, and in our film text "About a Boy" Will learns that reaching out and connecting with ohters brings emotional reward and allows him to grow as a person.
John Donne's poem focuses on the idea that no man can live in isolation from others; that a man can't live sufficiently on his own for too long whilst remaining happy. Humans need to be in contact with others to thrive. "Each is a piece of the continent, A part of the main." to me suggests that everyone is connected somehow which is I think is greatly tied in the title out our blog "Archipelago" as an archipelago is a cluster of islands all connected under a large body of water. So here it's obvious that there are major simularities between the title of the blog and John Donne's poem. "Each man's death diminishes me, For I am involved in mankind," suggests that everyman can be affected by another man's death. When I read this line, I think of world tradegies, where i may not have known anyone in particular but I still felt affected by the great loss of man. John Donne has essentially introduced and explained the idea that no man can function emotionally without others and when reading into Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs we know that "Need 3" is that of Love and Belonging, therefore without it we can not be happy within ourselves and live a fulfilled life.
The poem "No Man is an Island" I beleive the message that is trying to be conveyed is that, we are all joined together, with the influential factors in our lives. No one is is entirely alone, we are all joined in society with other people and are all apart of a 'continent' in one way or another. We can not live in isolation away from other people as we become reality on having others around us to be there and guide us when we need it. " For I am involved in mankind." We are all esentially involved in mankind, and we all evolve the same way.
The poem 'No man is an island' by John Donne is trying to say that no man can live isolated from a community. When the john mister says 'A part of the main' he refers to the communial connection that is needed to survive. Everyone is connected through hummanity and needs each other to survive. eg if in a farming community someone supplies the carrots and someone suplies the pork. Everyone needs everyone.....!
Good Morning, 11D Now that we are all(almost) in, we can begin our work. Your first task is to read the John Donne poem this week and post a response of at least 100 words. You need to discuss the key ideas in the poem and, if possible, make some links to the other text(s) we have looked at("About a Boy" and, most recently, Ms Williams has posted a music clip "The sounds of Silence") What are all these texts saying about connection and the needs of individuals? How important is it to each of us to "belong"? Each week you need to respond to the texts that are posted on this site in at least 200 words (100 is not enough) and you also need to fulfil the additional tasks (see Students' Instructions. Good Luck. Enjoy... Mrs Anderson
In my view, I see that the poem's main contention is that no matter how isolated or distant you feel from the people who surround you. Everyone is in some way connected in different ways, even something as small as having something in common with somebody else. It provides some form of connection.
I think that the poem porttrays the key idea that everything we do has a consequence on something or someone else. Each action has an alternative reaction. In our film text "about a boy" william realieses that when he begins caring for Marcus, he becomes happy, and so the he learns that he needs emotional comfort such as Marcus to survive.
Hey guys! heres my opinion on the No man is an Island poem. I hope you like my post and give me heaps of comments!!!! thanks guysss really appreciate your efforts to get back to me.
No man is an island is a saying that implies no one is self-sufficient and everyone relies on others. An archipelago is a chain or cluster of islands that is formed tectonically. The meaning of archipelago ties in well with the phrase "No man is an island". As they are small islands that are seperated from others.
To me personally the poem is implying that mankind are individuals andand through relationships and interaction we are sane, civil hu8man beings. I agree with the poem to a certain extent because we need to have other people in ouer lifes, but i do not agree with the lime death diminshes me as theer have been people in this life that have died that have not affected me.
Interesting view Matthew; My view of the the John Donne poem "No Man is an Island" is that everyboy on earth is connected through binds that tie us together. The line "each is a piece of the contient" conveys to the reader that everybody draw connection through other, and we cannot be isolated.
Responding to the poem, "No man is an island", I believe the message is that nobody can survive being isolated from the outside world. This is evident in the film "About A Boy" when Will understands that he needs Marcus involved in his life. "Each man's death diminishes me" conveys that every time an individual dies, we are all affected in some way. We all need someone.
My interpretation to the John Donne poem " No man is an island" is that there is nobody in the world who can surivive being isolated without being tied to one another, reflected in the line "Each is a piece of the continent, A part of the main". John also describes that "Each man's death diminishes me" meaning that each connection he has with someone is a piece of his life, if severed, will kill him slowly. Refering to the movie, "About a Boy", Will's life was becoming diminished with each connection he severed or each person he tried to shut out only to realise that he was a lifeless person.
Matt i completely agree with you, I think if we take your view further you might be able to say that when you reach out and find that "common ground" with someone you encounter some rewards; just like in "About A Boy" when Will reaches out and finds people in his life that are connected and have common ground, he builds a non-blood related family for himself and loves it.
Well addressed Budge, as do i agee with Matt and Tom, although my view on this fantastic piece of writing is much broarder than just the boundaries of the poem and the movie "About A Boy" the ideas presented in the poem elict that everything in life is connected in a physical, mental or sub-conciuos way, whether we are aware of it or not. The peom by Donne reveals that no man can is an island, this is entirly correct as without outside moral or emotional support you would not be able to live life as a person dependant on yourself, isolated from everyone.
I believe the phrase "no man is an island" relects directly on the individual person. The poem by John Donne is saying that no one can be exactly like an island. John says this because if a man was an island they would not be connected to anyone at all, which is pretty impossible not be to conneced to anyone at all. Everyone is connected one way or another through religion, beliefs, thoughts, relationships and even daily encounters. We are all connected whether we want to be or not, no one is isolated.
After reading John Donne's poem "No man is an Island", it is clear that the meaning this poem expresses is that no individual can live entirely on their own.
Every single one of us are a part of a community, no matter what size; be it family, members of the school, as Australian citizens, and as human beings in general. This community is referred to as the “continent” in the poem, and we are all the “clods”. This blog is also a community; it perfectly demonstrates that we can be represented by an archipelago.
The lines "Each man's death diminishes me/ For I am involved in mankind" sparked my interest the most. I chose to not interpret these lines literally. In my opinion, this refers to the butterfly effect; that is, every little action creates a chain reaction. We are all affected by another person’s actions, whether it be a large impact, or a small impact. Sometimes we are unaware of the butterfly effect that has been created because we are only part of a small section of the chain reaction.
Certain traits of this poem can be reflected in the film “About A Boy”, Will was secluded in his home, living without anyone else in his life, but he was still interconnected with the people surrounding him; the hair dresser, the women of S.P.A.T, etc. He was a clod that made up part of the continent. Even after trying to cut out Marcus in his life (“If a clod be washed away by the sea”), he was still connected to him. He finally knew what it felt like to have a connection with someone, perhaps even something to live for. After he realised this, he felt as if he could not live the way he did before meeting Marcus, (“Europe is the less”). He felt like less of a person, and longed for the feeling of having personal relationships with others again.
Thats very insightful of you Budge to refer to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, because if you dont have acceptance and belonging you cannot function to your full potential in life. Budge also makes a good point on Matt's comment when he says that that when you reach out and find that "common ground" with someone you encounter rewards just as Will did in becoming a more mature and self-less individual.
To everyone else good points so far guys, keep up the good work! Hope to see that everyone continues these posts over the holidays,I will keep checking for more interesting points good work guys!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the encouragement Snapey, it has given me the confidence to make more comments. I liked your knowledge of geography and how tectonics forms an archipelago. This opened up the idea for me that everyone in the world is naturally connected just like an archipelago.
I had to agree with you Brooke, that we are all connected somehow and that it is impossible to not be connected to anything at all. The boys in our class also make some very valid points, Budge i like your talk about Maslow's hierarchy of needs and how it is linked to 'no man is an island." Matt also makes a vlaid point in saying that it porvides a form of connection between people, and Tom and Andrew you points about no one is able to be isolated is a very interesting view, that i agree with. Tim you point about “no one is self-sufficient and everyone relies on others” could bring a good discussion and some people would agrue that they could be self-sufficient if they really wanted to be.
yeah good point budge I am also very excited to read the text #2 ideas, I believe they will be very interesting and hopefully more of our class mates become active in the wonderful blog.
When looking at film extract "Powder" it is evident immediately that the main character is different which is in line with the character Marcus in "About A Boy." This character explains that everyone is connected to everything and everyone else. He speaks of this spot that people can't see past, referring to the connectedness people feel. Maybe if one can see past this spot they might be able to find belonging and acceptance with someone or something they might not necessarily have thought was possible. Maybe one might encounter a new happiness. The simple act of holding hands at the end shows the power that togetherness and affection can bring to someone.
However when I watched this extract for the second time, I thought that the main character could be a hypocrite. The main character walks down the centre of the carnival wearing a dark and and glasses, with his head down. This shows that he is in fact not comfortable or acceptant of himself and makes his statements hard to believe. In fact I don't believe he has seen past this spot he speaks of, he seems only comfortable with someone he has obviously previously known.
The points he made were valid though, regardless if I found them believable or not. The link directly to "About A Boy" when Will "sees past the spot" and realises that his relationship with Marcus isn't silly and inappropriate and figures out that he is now an integral part of a young boy's life.
After watching the film "Powder" the first question that came to mind was, why did the girl Jeremy was talking to find it so hard to believe that she was a part of 'everything and everyone?' Was it due to insecurity, or because she didn't want to believe that she could be connected to everything in this world? Budge, when you talk the main character being a bit of a hypocrite i can't help but agree. He doesn't seem to be comfortable or accepted of himself, and I also don't think he has looked past this 'spot' that is spoken about. So that then raises the question why is he contradicting himself? Why does he talk about acceptance and belonging when he doesn't accept himself?
At the start of the video I believe Jeremy is seen amongst others as different, and that he doesn't belong in with where they are. He is looked upon as an alien and is somewhat isolated from the rest of the society. He needs something or someone to fill that 'spot' to help him fit in. As Marcus in "About a Boy," said 'two is not enough.' I believe just like Marcus, Jeremy is also looking for a person to fill that empty spot to help him feel as sense of belonging, because clearly 'two is not enough.'
"Inside most people there is a feeling of being separated, separate from everything... but they're not, they're a part of absolutely everyone and everything." When Jeremy says this and the girl he is talking to doesn't believe that she can be a part of absolutely everything I personally believe that is because she has a lack of insecurity. Until she thinks about it she finds it hard to believe that she could be a part of a big picture and not just a small area she thinks she is a part of. Once she opens her mind to these different ideas, I believe she has realised that she can do so much more that she thought she could and is a part of something bigger than she had expected.
After watching the film "Powder" the first question that came to mind was, why did the girl Jeremy was talking to find it so hard to believe that she was a part of 'everything and everyone?' Was it due to insecurity, or because she didn't want to believe that she could be connected to everything in this world? Budge, when you talk the main character being a bit of a hypocrite i can't help but agree. He doesn't seem to be comfortable or accepted of himself, and I also don't think he has looked past this 'spot' that is spoken about. So that then raises the question why is he contradicting himself? Why does he talk about acceptance and belonging when he doesn't accept himself?
At the start of the video I believe Jeremy is seen amongst others as different, and that he doesn't belong in with where they are. He is looked upon as an alien and is somewhat isolated from the rest of the society. He needs something or someone to fill that 'spot' to help him fit in. As Marcus in "About a Boy," said 'two is not enough.' I believe just like Marcus, Jeremy is also looking for a person to fill that empty spot to help him feel as sense of belonging, because clearly 'two is not enough.'
"Inside most people there is a feeling of being separated, separate from everything... but they're not, they're a part of absolutely everyone and everything." When Jeremy says this and the girl he is talking to doesn't believe that she can be a part of absolutely everything I personally believe that is because she has a lack of insecurity. Until she thinks about it she finds it hard to believe that she could be a part of a big picture and not just a small area she thinks she is a part of. Once she opens her mind to these different ideas, I believe she has realised that she can do so much more that she thought she could and is a part of something bigger than she had expected.
After watching the short film “Powder” I was immediately reminded of the statement “No man is an Island” as quoted by John Donne. Jeremy, probably the main character in the short film appears to look different, this could perhaps be due to a serious illness that has resulted in Jeremy having no hair. Although Jeremy’s physical appearance is different, he shows and demonstrates a very strong-minded opinion that each person is a part of everyone and everything no matter how distant they may feel. At the beginning of the short film Jeremy is shown walking through what looks to be a carnival or fete, as Jeremy walks past all the bystanders, they all instantly stop and don’t just look at him, but stare. This reinforces the theme from “About a Boy” where Marcus is bullied while at school. The girl Jeremy sat down and spoke with for most of the short film found it very difficult to comprehend and grasp the fact that people are “absolutely a part of everyone and everything” as quoted by Jeremy.
The significance of the short film became evident when Jeremy asked his friend to place her hand out and let him touch it. Immediately Jeremy’s friend’s opinion had changed. She quoted that she could feel Jeremy’s heartbeat. By Jeremy’s friend being able to feel his heartbeat simply demonstrated the sense of connection and the realization that maybe people really are “a part of everyone and everything” in one way or another. This part of the short film allows the sense of connection to become evident, and significantly eliminate the feeling of individuality in the mind of Jeremy’s friend.
After watching the short clip from the film, it was clear that the main character was a victim of society being quick to judge others based on appearances. The film expresses the idea that people generally shun others who are different to themselves; such as race, gender, religion or disabilities. The contrast of the main character walking through a happy setting (the carnival), yet his feelings of negativity due to being judged by the regular people emphasises the feeling of separation and alienation he suffers.
The film "Powder" once again links to the theme of "No man is an Island". Jeremy informs his friend that we are all connected and a part of everything. I found it ironic that even though he was someone who was separated from the public and society in general, he still had the mindset that everyone and everything on this planet is connected.
In the short film "Powder" I immediately saw the link between the short film and the poem by John Donne. The character Jeremy says that while people on the outside appear separate and disconnected from one another, the fact is that we are all connected to one another. The girl's disbelief of Jeremy's could be a sign of her wishes to be isolated from the community. When Jeremy holds his friend's hand, she is amazed at how easy it is to feel a connections between two human beings, as her surprise is fuelled by her lack of belonging in society.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the poem's main message is that nobody can live without the connections from other people. The line "each is a piece of the continent" conveys that every person on earth is connected in some way, and we cannot be isolated from one another.
ReplyDeleteI think this poem says that we are all joined together in this life by our humanity. It implies that we cannot (and perhaps should not try to ) escape the ties that bind us together. None of us can exist emotionally without another, and in our film text "About a Boy" Will learns that reaching out and connecting with ohters brings emotional reward and allows him to grow as a person.
ReplyDeleteJohn Donne's poem focuses on the idea that no man can live in isolation from others; that a man can't live sufficiently on his own for too long whilst remaining happy. Humans need to be in contact with others to thrive. "Each is a piece of the continent, A part of the main." to me suggests that everyone is connected somehow which is I think is greatly tied in the title out our blog "Archipelago" as an archipelago is a cluster of islands all connected under a large body of water. So here it's obvious that there are major simularities between the title of the blog and John Donne's poem. "Each man's death diminishes me, For I am involved in mankind," suggests that everyman can be affected by another man's death. When I read this line, I think of world tradegies, where i may not have known anyone in particular but I still felt affected by the great loss of man. John Donne has essentially introduced and explained the idea that no man can function emotionally without others and when reading into Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs we know that "Need 3" is that of Love and Belonging, therefore without it we can not be happy within ourselves and live a fulfilled life.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe poem "No Man is an Island" I beleive the message that is trying to be conveyed is that, we are all joined together, with the influential factors in our lives. No one is is entirely alone, we are all joined in society with other people and are all apart of a 'continent' in one way or another. We can not live in isolation away from other people as we become reality on having others around us to be there and guide us when we need it. " For I am involved in mankind." We are all esentially involved in mankind, and we all evolve the same way.
ReplyDeleteThe poem 'No man is an island' by John Donne is trying to say that no man can live isolated from a community. When the john mister says 'A part of the main' he refers to the communial connection that is needed to survive. Everyone is connected through hummanity and needs each other to survive. eg if in a farming community someone supplies the carrots and someone suplies the pork. Everyone needs everyone.....!
ReplyDeleteGood Morning, 11D
ReplyDeleteNow that we are all(almost) in, we can begin our work. Your first task is to read the John Donne poem this week and post a response of at least 100 words.
You need to discuss the key ideas in the poem and, if possible, make some links to the other text(s) we have looked at("About a Boy" and, most recently, Ms Williams has posted a music clip "The sounds of Silence")
What are all these texts saying about connection and the needs of individuals? How important is it to each of us to "belong"?
Each week you need to respond to the texts that are posted on this site in at least 200 words (100 is not enough) and you also need to fulfil the additional tasks (see Students' Instructions.
Good Luck. Enjoy...
Mrs Anderson
In my view, I see that the poem's main contention is that no matter how isolated or distant you feel from the people who surround you. Everyone is in some way connected in different ways, even something as small as having something in common with somebody else. It provides some form of connection.
ReplyDeleteI think that the poem porttrays the key idea that everything we do has a consequence on something or someone else. Each action has an alternative reaction. In our film text "about a boy" william realieses that when he begins caring for Marcus, he becomes happy, and so the he learns that he needs emotional comfort such as Marcus to survive.
ReplyDeleteHey guys! heres my opinion on the No man is an Island poem. I hope you like my post and give me heaps of comments!!!! thanks guysss really appreciate your efforts to get back to me.
ReplyDeleteNo man is an island is a saying that implies no one is self-sufficient and everyone relies on others. An archipelago is a chain or cluster of islands that is formed tectonically. The meaning of archipelago ties in well with the phrase "No man is an island". As they are small islands that are seperated from others.
To me personally the poem is implying that mankind are individuals andand through relationships and interaction we are sane, civil hu8man beings. I agree with the poem to a certain extent because we need to have other people in ouer lifes, but i do not agree with the lime death diminshes me as theer have been people in this life that have died that have not affected me.
Thanks Guys!!!!!!!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteInteresting view Matthew;
ReplyDeleteMy view of the the John Donne poem "No Man is an Island" is that everyboy on earth is connected through binds that tie us together. The line "each is a piece of the contient" conveys to the reader that everybody draw connection through other, and we cannot be isolated.
Responding to the poem, "No man is an island", I believe the message is that nobody can survive being isolated from the outside world. This is evident in the film "About A Boy" when Will understands that he needs Marcus involved in his life. "Each man's death diminishes me" conveys that every time an individual dies, we are all affected in some way. We all need someone.
ReplyDeleteMy interpretation to the John Donne poem " No man is an island" is that there is nobody in the world who can surivive being isolated without being tied to one another, reflected in the line "Each is a piece of the continent, A part of the main". John also describes that "Each man's death diminishes me" meaning that each connection he has with someone is a piece of his life, if severed, will kill him slowly. Refering to the movie, "About a Boy", Will's life was becoming diminished with each connection he severed or each person he tried to shut out only to realise that he was a lifeless person.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMatt i completely agree with you, I think if we take your view further you might be able to say that when you reach out and find that "common ground" with someone you encounter some rewards; just like in "About A Boy" when Will reaches out and finds people in his life that are connected and have common ground, he builds a non-blood related family for himself and loves it.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWell addressed Budge, as do i agee with Matt and Tom, although my view on this fantastic piece of writing is much broarder than just the boundaries of the poem and the movie "About A Boy" the ideas presented in the poem elict that everything in life is connected in a physical, mental or sub-conciuos way, whether we are aware of it or not. The peom by Donne reveals that no man can is an island, this is entirly correct as without outside moral or emotional support you would not be able to live life as a person dependant on yourself, isolated from everyone.
ReplyDeleteI believe the phrase "no man is an island" relects directly on the individual person. The poem by John Donne is saying that no one can be exactly like an island. John says this because if a man was an island they would not be connected to anyone at all, which is pretty impossible not be to conneced to anyone at all. Everyone is connected one way or another through religion, beliefs, thoughts, relationships and even daily encounters. We are all connected whether we want to be or not, no one is isolated.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading John Donne's poem "No man is an Island", it is clear that the meaning this poem expresses is that no individual can live entirely on their own.
ReplyDeleteEvery single one of us are a part of a community, no matter what size; be it family, members of the school, as Australian citizens, and as human beings in general. This community is referred to as the “continent” in the poem, and we are all the “clods”. This blog is also a community; it perfectly demonstrates that we can be represented by an archipelago.
The lines "Each man's death diminishes me/ For I am involved in mankind" sparked my interest the most. I chose to not interpret these lines literally. In my opinion, this refers to the butterfly effect; that is, every little action creates a chain reaction. We are all affected by another person’s actions, whether it be a large impact, or a small impact. Sometimes we are unaware of the butterfly effect that has been created because we are only part of a small section of the chain reaction.
Certain traits of this poem can be reflected in the film “About A Boy”, Will was secluded in his home, living without anyone else in his life, but he was still interconnected with the people surrounding him; the hair dresser, the women of S.P.A.T, etc. He was a clod that made up part of the continent. Even after trying to cut out Marcus in his life (“If a clod be washed away by the sea”), he was still connected to him. He finally knew what it felt like to have a connection with someone, perhaps even something to live for. After he realised this, he felt as if he could not live the way he did before meeting Marcus, (“Europe is the less”). He felt like less of a person, and longed for the feeling of having personal relationships with others again.
Thats very insightful of you Budge to refer to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, because if you dont have acceptance and belonging you cannot function to your full potential in life. Budge also makes a good point on Matt's comment when he says that that when you reach out and find that "common ground" with someone you encounter rewards just as Will did in becoming a more mature and self-less individual.
ReplyDeleteTo everyone else good points so far guys, keep up the good work! Hope to see that everyone continues these posts over the holidays,I will keep checking for more interesting points good work guys!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the encouragement Snapey, it has given me the confidence to make more comments. I liked your knowledge of geography and how tectonics forms an archipelago. This opened up the idea for me that everyone in the world is naturally connected just like an archipelago.
ReplyDeleteI had to agree with you Brooke, that we are all connected somehow and that it is impossible to not be connected to anything at all. The boys in our class also make some very valid points, Budge i like your talk about Maslow's hierarchy of needs and how it is linked to 'no man is an island." Matt also makes a vlaid point in saying that it porvides a form of connection between people, and Tom and Andrew you points about no one is able to be isolated is a very interesting view, that i agree with. Tim you point about “no one is self-sufficient and everyone relies on others” could bring a good discussion and some people would agrue that they could be self-sufficient if they really wanted to be.
ReplyDeleteGood assessment and recognition of Tims post Budge, i like your ongonig involement and commitment to this blog....
ReplyDeleteCheers Andy, I'm looking foward to reading your Text #2 ideas.
ReplyDeleteyeah good point budge I am also very excited to read the text #2 ideas, I believe they will be very interesting and hopefully more of our class mates become active in the wonderful blog.
ReplyDeleteWhen looking at film extract "Powder" it is evident immediately that the main character is different which is in line with the character Marcus in "About A Boy." This character explains that everyone is connected to everything and everyone else. He speaks of this spot that people can't see past, referring to the connectedness people feel. Maybe if one can see past this spot they might be able to find belonging and acceptance with someone or something they might not necessarily have thought was possible. Maybe one might encounter a new happiness. The simple act of holding hands at the end shows the power that togetherness and affection can bring to someone.
ReplyDeleteHowever when I watched this extract for the second time, I thought that the main character could be a hypocrite. The main character walks down the centre of the carnival wearing a dark and and glasses, with his head down. This shows that he is in fact not comfortable or acceptant of himself and makes his statements hard to believe. In fact I don't believe he has seen past this spot he speaks of, he seems only comfortable with someone he has obviously previously known.
The points he made were valid though, regardless if I found them believable or not. The link directly to "About A Boy" when Will "sees past the spot" and realises that his relationship with Marcus isn't silly and inappropriate and figures out that he is now an integral part of a young boy's life.
After watching the film "Powder" the first question that came to mind was, why did the girl Jeremy was talking to find it so hard to believe that she was a part of 'everything and everyone?' Was it due to insecurity, or because she didn't want to believe that she could be connected to everything in this world? Budge, when you talk the main character being a bit of a hypocrite i can't help but agree. He doesn't seem to be comfortable or accepted of himself, and I also don't think he has looked past this 'spot' that is spoken about. So that then raises the question why is he contradicting himself? Why does he talk about acceptance and belonging when he doesn't accept himself?
ReplyDeleteAt the start of the video I believe Jeremy is seen amongst others as different, and that he doesn't belong in with where they are. He is looked upon as an alien and is somewhat isolated from the rest of the society. He needs something or someone to fill that 'spot' to help him fit in. As Marcus in "About a Boy," said 'two is not enough.' I believe just like Marcus, Jeremy is also looking for a person to fill that empty spot to help him feel as sense of belonging, because clearly 'two is not enough.'
"Inside most people there is a feeling of being separated, separate from everything... but they're not, they're a part of absolutely everyone and everything." When Jeremy says this and the girl he is talking to doesn't believe that she can be a part of absolutely everything I personally believe that is because she has a lack of insecurity. Until she thinks about it she finds it hard to believe that she could be a part of a big picture and not just a small area she thinks she is a part of. Once she opens her mind to these different ideas, I believe she has realised that she can do so much more that she thought she could and is a part of something bigger than she had expected.
After watching the film "Powder" the first question that came to mind was, why did the girl Jeremy was talking to find it so hard to believe that she was a part of 'everything and everyone?' Was it due to insecurity, or because she didn't want to believe that she could be connected to everything in this world? Budge, when you talk the main character being a bit of a hypocrite i can't help but agree. He doesn't seem to be comfortable or accepted of himself, and I also don't think he has looked past this 'spot' that is spoken about. So that then raises the question why is he contradicting himself? Why does he talk about acceptance and belonging when he doesn't accept himself?
ReplyDeleteAt the start of the video I believe Jeremy is seen amongst others as different, and that he doesn't belong in with where they are. He is looked upon as an alien and is somewhat isolated from the rest of the society. He needs something or someone to fill that 'spot' to help him fit in. As Marcus in "About a Boy," said 'two is not enough.' I believe just like Marcus, Jeremy is also looking for a person to fill that empty spot to help him feel as sense of belonging, because clearly 'two is not enough.'
"Inside most people there is a feeling of being separated, separate from everything... but they're not, they're a part of absolutely everyone and everything." When Jeremy says this and the girl he is talking to doesn't believe that she can be a part of absolutely everything I personally believe that is because she has a lack of insecurity. Until she thinks about it she finds it hard to believe that she could be a part of a big picture and not just a small area she thinks she is a part of. Once she opens her mind to these different ideas, I believe she has realised that she can do so much more that she thought she could and is a part of something bigger than she had expected.
After watching the short film “Powder” I was immediately reminded of the statement “No man is an Island” as quoted by John Donne. Jeremy, probably the main character in the short film appears to look different, this could perhaps be due to a serious illness that has resulted in Jeremy having no hair. Although Jeremy’s physical appearance is different, he shows and demonstrates a very strong-minded opinion that each person is a part of everyone and everything no matter how distant they may feel. At the beginning of the short film Jeremy is shown walking through what looks to be a carnival or fete, as Jeremy walks past all the bystanders, they all instantly stop and don’t just look at him, but stare. This reinforces the theme from “About a Boy” where Marcus is bullied while at school. The girl Jeremy sat down and spoke with for most of the short film found it very difficult to comprehend and grasp the fact that people are “absolutely a part of everyone and everything” as quoted by Jeremy.
ReplyDeleteThe significance of the short film became evident when Jeremy asked his friend to place her hand out and let him touch it. Immediately Jeremy’s friend’s opinion had changed. She quoted that she could feel Jeremy’s heartbeat. By Jeremy’s friend being able to feel his heartbeat simply demonstrated the sense of connection and the realization that maybe people really are “a part of everyone and everything” in one way or another. This part of the short film allows the sense of connection to become evident, and significantly eliminate the feeling of individuality in the mind of Jeremy’s friend.
After watching the short clip from the film, it was clear that the main character was a victim of society being quick to judge others based on appearances. The film expresses the idea that people generally shun others who are different to themselves; such as race, gender, religion or disabilities. The contrast of the main character walking through a happy setting (the carnival), yet his feelings of negativity due to being judged by the regular people emphasises the feeling of separation and alienation he suffers.
ReplyDeleteThe film "Powder" once again links to the theme of "No man is an Island". Jeremy informs his friend that we are all connected and a part of everything. I found it ironic that even though he was someone who was separated from the public and society in general, he still had the mindset that everyone and everything on this planet is connected.
In the short film "Powder" I immediately saw the link between the short film and the poem by John Donne. The character Jeremy says that while people on the outside appear separate and disconnected from one another, the fact is that we are all connected to one another. The girl's disbelief of Jeremy's could be a sign of her wishes to be isolated from the community. When Jeremy holds his friend's hand, she is amazed at how easy it is to feel a connections between two human beings, as her surprise is fuelled by her lack of belonging in society.
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