Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Blog Post #24 Brave New World Topic Selection


Essential Question:

“What does it mean to be human?”

Final Topic Selection

How does culture shape morality?

The context of good and bad, is one such idea that possess to differentiate among countries to situations. The idea of good and bad can arise from the explaining of neuroscience (chemical imbalances) to the position that person is within political and cultural beliefs. Also, the perception of good or bad plays a major role in the characteristic of that person, and what defines them as a human. Therefore, these perceptions reside within that of the iceberg culture. Within a human there are deep roots that differentiate from one another. Mostly, the concept of “self” is one such phenomenon that defines a human being.

The idea of good or bad also stems from the ideology of the needs for an individual human being. How they achieve their needs is the definition of what makes one good or bad. Mostly, the security of morality is where human nature differs. Most humans obtain this position, but with a controversy edge. The meaning of one’s morality is prone to change depending on the situation.

In an article by Jay Parini, the idea of American exceptionalism has the potential to bend one’s moralities, as it attempts to cover the dark depths of history such as that of slavery. Therefore, trying to make one a hero despite the dark side is a questionable morality stance, especially in an instance where one’s nationality must be fueled.  

In addition, another article by David Robson, states that one’s beauty can bend the morality of others. Doctors are not very attentive to those patients who express a sense of extreme beauty, as it gives an outlook of a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, unintentional morality curve is caused, therefore forcing one’s perceptions to make them evil. As a result, the cultural identity of beauty can be a translation for the cultural identity of evil.

How Topic Connects to Brave New World:

There are no clear cut villains in the story of the Brave New World, there are only conformists and dissidents. Within this world, dissidents are the ones that carry very evil in their heart in the eyes of the conformists. But, John, Bernard, and Helmholtz are shown as protagonists in this very society. Therefore, this topic will allow me to the explore the perceptions of what makes one evil or good, in terms of the standards humanity has placed. In the Brave New World, the standards are maintained by Mustapha Mond, the world controller. Moreover, various human rights issues around the world are viewed heroically in some cultures, while others label them as dangerous behaviors. As a result, the restriction of certain freedoms is seen as a violation, while other countries views the violations as a necessity for morality. Morality is one such view that changes from culture to culture.

 

Quote
 Iceberg View of Cultureew of Culture
Maslow’s Hiearchy
Persuasive Technique
“Science is dangerous, we have to keep it much carefully chained and muzzled,” (Huxley 225)
 
 
-          Notions of past and Future
 
-          Security of Morality
 
-Plain Folks
“They’re so hateful, the woman here. Mad, mad and cruel. And of course they don’t known anything about Malthusian drills, or bottles, or decanting, or anything of that sort” (Huxley 123)
 
 
-          Rules of Conduct
 
-          Age
 
 
-          Security of Body
 
 
-Bandwagon
“Lot’s of men came to see Linda. The boys began to point their fingers at him. In the strange other words they said that Linda was bad,” (Huxley 129)
 
-          Definition of Obscenity
 
-          Personal Space
 
-          Security of Morality
 
-          Stereotyping
“Detestable thought! He was ashamed of himself. Pure and Vestal modesty,”(Huxley 145)
 
-          Courtesy
 
-          Definition of Obscenity
 
-          Security of Morality
 
“Murder kills only the individual – after all, what is an individual,” (Huxley 148)
 
-          Concept of Self
 
-          Security of Body
 
-          Security of Morality
 
 
-          Snob Appeal