12/09/2014 Ian Crowley

For my final essay I will be comparing various movies, television shows, video games and comics that exist within the zombie genre. Specifically I will discuss how the zombies and human characters are portrayed in each type of media. I will analyze the weak points and the strong points of each type of media and their portrayal of a zombie apocalypse. Furthermore, I plan to explain what makes some shows, movies, video games, etc. better and more successful than others. Some media from the zombie genre that I will be discussing in my essay may include, The Walking Dead series, Shaun of the Dead, Zombieland, and I am Legend. I may also try to include an analysis of what the zombie genre represents and explain what makes it a significant form of expression in our contemporary society.

Ian Crowley 12/4/2014

The Walking Dead does a good job of illustrating how people change when they are faced with adversity. It could be that when people are put in difficult situations such as an apocalyptic event, their true personalities come out. It could also be that people lose sight of what is really important, which causes them to react poorly to the situation. In any case, one person that goes through a dramatic change as a result of the outbreak is Shane. Shane used to be cop and was a partner as well as a best friend of Rick. After the outbreak, however, something happened to Shane. He was disloyal to Rick by sleeping with his Lori. Shane also deliberately goes against everything that Rick says. For example, Shane kills the prisoner in season 2, episode 12 when Rick says they should let him go. In the end Shane even tries to kill Rick so that he can continue his relationship with Lori.

Another thing that I found interesting in the Walking Dead is how responsibility is forced on people. It is clear that Rick has taken the leader role, however, another person that is forced to take on some responsibility is Carl. I believe Carl is twelve years old, and he is forced into a world where he must grow up unusually fast. He is given a gun and even has to shoot Shane in walker form in order to save his dad. This is such a cruel world for a young boy to grow up in and it is sad that so much is forced on Carl all at once.

11/19/2014 Ian Crowley

"My days in this northern hole of Rochester were speechless and dark. I saw no sun, never felt the sky darken. No authentic sky prevailed in the Forsythe recovery wing, no windows through which the light might fail. Ruptured mattresses littered the floor, sleeping bags with the bottoms kicked through. A brittle pillow bore the facial welt of the last patient who slept here. A man’s work shirt had been chewed, swallowed, spit up in a glaze of bile."

Marcus, Ben (2012-01-17). The Flame Alphabet (Vintage Contemporaries) (p. 153). Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

I chose this passage because I think it truly portrays the level of despair that comes along with apocalyptic events. The mood of this passage is very heavy and it really paint a picture of the societal anguish in the mind of the reader. Samuel is in the Forsythe recovery wing, however, the way he describes it isn't how one would expect. A recovery wing should be bright and hopeful, however, this one is sad and gloomy. This passage really illustrates the brokenness of society due to the disease. It not only paints a picture of Samuel suffering, but other individuals as well. Samuel points out all of the sleeping bags on the floor where people had slept before. There is even still the impression of a man's head on a pillow. When reading this passage I couldn't help but feel sympathy for Samuel, and even the unknown individuals who were there before him.

11/18/2014 Ian Crowley

"I required Esther’s total silence. When I looked at her— a young girl dipped in a shell of unkillable health— it was with pure, scientific ambition. I had a technical, professional need, and it wasn’t personal , or of course it fucking was. I needed my daughter to disappear from my sight. If I could have had a wish, I would have wished her away."

Marcus, Ben (2012-01-17). The Flame Alphabet (Vintage Contemporaries) (p. 20). Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

I was very surprised and a little disturbed when I came across this quote in the novel. I think this quote truly shows the severity of the situation at hand. When Samuel says "If I could have had a wish, I would have wished her away" I was somewhat taken aback. I never would have thought that under any circumstances a father would say that about his daughter. It is very sad to me that Ester has driven her father to the point where he doesn't want to be around her anymore. This quote also shows that Ester's words do not only affect her parents physical health, but their mental health as well. Because of this, I am very curious to find out what the exact nature of this disease is. It is clear that Ester is very disrespectful towards her parents, however, earlier in the book Samuel explains that no matter what Ester says it still makes him cringe. Overall the plot line of this book has really captured my attention and I am very curious to find out what will happen next.

11/11/2014 Ian Crowley

I really enjoyed reading the novel Bounty by George Saunders. To me this novel truly encompasses everything that we have discussed in class so far this year. This story shows how differently people react when they are in the middle of though times. Some individuals, like Father Oswald believe in God the most when being faced with adversity, however others begin to questions their beliefs. If there is a God, then why would he allow bad things to happen in the world? This story also made me think about our tendencies to take things for granted. Cole lives in a society where the flawed are oppressed by the normal. Cole wishes that society would go back to the way it used to be, so he could go about his day doing simple things and not worry about being arrested. People all over the world are oppressed like the characters in Bounty, and sometimes I think we forget that. We take our freedoms in life for granted, while others face abuse and injustice on a daily basis.

11/5/2014 Crowley Ian

I was not able to post a picture in my blog post, so I will just describe the part that I chose to analyze. It is the part where Rob, Pearson, and Keith are smoking in the woods, and Pearson tells them about how Chris went swimming in the lake. Pearson tells Rob and Keith that she stripped down to her underwear there was a big split in her skin going down her back. She has the bug. At this point in the graphic novel there is some serious tension being created. As a reader I could really feel the suspense building up. Rob knows that it is his fault that Chris has the bug, and I am very interested to see what happens next. I am excited to find out how Rob reacts to the new he has just heard. I enjoyed this graphic novel because it is very different from anything we have read in class. I like how informal it is, and it is very easy to relate to because the it is all about the lives of teenagers. I also just wanted to point out the similarities between this graphic novel and Y: The Last Man. The idea of the plague is very similar because in both novels it attacks specific groups of people. In Y: The Last Man the disease only affects men, and in Black hole it only targets teenagers.

11/4/2014 Ian Crowley

Epistemic Toleration and the New Atheism
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/doi/10.1111/misp.12001/full

In this article, the author, Richard Fumerton, discusses atheists' views of secular beliefs. They argue that religion is irrational and that it only brings about problems. According to Fumerton atheists argue that very bad things have happened due to religion. A lot of unnecessary pain and suffering has resulted from religions and their need to convert non believers through force in an attempt to "save the world". Atheists are concerned for peoples lives and that is why they feel that science and religion cannot both exist. Fumerton argues however that religion could possibly be a symptom of the conflicts in the world rather than the cause. He also brings up the fact that we would not have many of the man made wonders of the world if it weren't for religion. It is clear that while religion appears to be irrational to one person, there are others who think differently. Both sides have arguments to support their views.

Atheism
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/doi/10.1111/phc3.12037/full

In this article, CM Lorkowski defines the differences between atheism and theism and examines their arguments regarding the existence of god. Lorkowski defines an atheist as a person that actively denies the existence of the God of theism, and a theist as a person that affirms the existence of the God of theism. One of the main points discussed when debating the existence of god is the creation of the universe. Atheist question why god, who has supposedly always been in existence, wouldn't have created the universe sooner than fourteen billion years ago. 

Religion and the New Atheism: A Critical Appraisal
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/doi/10.1111/j.1467-9809.2011.01079.x/full

In this writing, Christopher Cotter discusses the claims and practices of atheism in relationship to those of the Christian religion. He points out the flaws in the arguments of both sides stating that they both base arguments on empirical evidence. Cotter argues that whether it is atheists who argue that science disproves religion, or theists who argue that religion is entirely correct, empirical evidence is preventing meaningful discussion. Some believe that theists should be able to tolerate religion rather than making a mockery of theists. Instead of criticizing one another, theists and atheist should be able to engage in intelligent and respectful conversations. 

10/29/2014 Ian Crowley

"She was a logical child, as children go. She did not understand how such a nice, kind, good God as the one they prayed to, could condemn the whole earth for sinfulness and flood it, or condemn his only Son to a disgusting death on behalf of everyone. This death did not seem to have done much good. There was a war on. Possibly there would always be a war on. The fighters on the other side were bad and not saved, or possibly were human and hurt" (Byatt 11).

I picked this passage because it brings up an argument that we have recently been discussing in class. The little girl asks the same question that has been asked so many times in our discussions: if there is a god, why would he allow so many bad things to happen in the world? To me this is a very interesting question because it can never truly be answered. People can only speculate why God would let war, natural disasters, and so much unwarranted death to occur. Why would God not step in and prevent terrible events like these from happening? Is he trying to teach the human race a lesson so they can learn from their mistakes? As for me, I have to side with  the little girl. Although her innocence and naivety are apparent in other selections, she makes a valid point about God. I don't understand how someone who is supposed to support and love all could allow such horrible things to happen.

10/28/2014 Ian Crowley

I have never read anything from the Qur'an before, and I was very surprised by the how similar it was to the Old Testament. It is told in the Qur'an that the gods punished earlier generations for sinning, by removing them from existence. They did this in order to give future generations the opportunity to have a clean slate and to change their ways. This seems to be a reoccurring theme in the various religious texts that we have read. This reoccurring theme of being punished for sins should make us stop and think more about our actions and how they affect ourselves and others. It was also very interesting to me to be able to see the different translations of the Qur'an. I found that by reading multiple translations of the text, I was able to understand the message much easier.

10/23/2014 Ian Crowley

The way that The Book of Daniel was written in first person immediately captured my attention. Since the book was written in first person I felt that it was much easier for me to relate with Daniel's emotions. It definitely allows the reader to connect with Daniel because they can see the events through his perspective. One thing that I found particularly interesting about The Book of Daniel was the idea of dreams revealing "the end" to Daniel.  I thought the interpretation of Daniels dream in chapter 7 was quite interesting. Daniel dreams about the four beasts, which represent four kings rising from the earth. Only one of these four kings, however, will be the Most High and gain possession of the full kingdom. I find dreams and the interpretation of dreams to be a fascinating subject, so I really enjoyed reading this.

10/21/2014 Ian Crowley

I had no prior knowledge of Babel before reading these texts, and I found it quite interesting. I had never though that at one point in time all humans on earth were unified and spoke the same language. Whether or not this idea is realistic, I find it fascinating. Before reading Babel I had never though of the cultural divide between different nations to be a form punishment. To me it seems to be more of an inconvenience. It is interesting to see a new perspective on the way different languages and cultures were developed. I don't necessarily believe that a god could have scattered humans all across the earth and forced them to speak different languages, however I still find the idea intriguing.

10/16/2014 Ian Crowley

I have never heard of The Epic of Gilgamesh before, and I found the video about it to be quite intriguing. It was interesting to see how similar the story of Gilgamesh is to the Bible. In both the stories of Gilgamesh and Noah's Arc, animals are corralled onto a boat in order to outlast a devastating flood. I find the way people in today's society interpret the rediscovery of Gilgamesh to be particularly interesting. In the video it was stated that religious individuals said that Gilgamesh was proof that the flood did occur, however more secular individuals said that Gilgamesh discredited the Bible. I personally do not have an opinion on the matter. I would like to continue reading the story of Gilgamesh and researching more about it, and then maybe I could take a position.

10/8/2014 Ian Crowley

In Sam Harris TED talk he argues that science should be used to solve problems in human morality. When it comes to science things are either right or wrong. That is not the case with humanity however. All humans interpret morality in different ways, and Harris believes that science is the way to clear up the grey areas in morality. I thought that Harris' point on how women are portrayed in differently based on culture. In Palo Alto the women are forced to completely cover their bodies when they go out into public. In the United States and many other countries however, women are portrayed as sexual objects. It is clear that these are two opposite ends of the spectrum. The question is where is the perfect medium?

Ian Crowley 9/29/2014

I was pleasantly surprised by Y: The Last Man. Usually I don't enjoy reading comic books because they seem to have little depth to them. That was not the case with this graphic novel however. I was never bored while reading this comic book; I was always on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. As I was reading Y: The Last Man I was also able to make connections between it and other reading that we have discussed in class. The story plot of some sort of disease wiping out all of the men reminds me of William S. Burroughs piece The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse. Burroughs discusses our potential to create viruses and use them as weapons to wipe out specific races or genders. To me the plot line of Y: The Last Man seemed very similar to what Burroughs was talking about. Although this is just a graphic novel, the idea of an epidemic like this still worries me because creating a virus that could do something like this is within our scientific capabilities.

Ian Crowley 9/25/2014

I really enjoyed reading Megan Mayhew Bergman's article "My Imaginary Bunker." It is refreshing to see how conscious Bergman is about her carbon footprint. It appears that she really does her best to preserve the environment. For example, she drives a hybrid car, is trying to convert her farm to solar energy, drinks out of salsa jars, and has her own garden. I think that Bergman is a model citizen, and each individual should aim to mirror her actions in order to help the environment. When I read about these little things that Megan Bergman does to diminish the size of her carbon footprint I cannot help but feel a little selfish. Things like recycling and turning of the faucet when you brush your teeth are so simple, however I find that I rarely do them.

Ian Crowley 9/22/2014

In The Shock Doctrine, Naomi Klein discusses how capitalists take advantage of natural disasters, using them to implement radical or previously unpopular market types. According to Naomi these capitalists thrive when countries and individuals are in shock from disastrous events. They wait until the proper moment when a nation is weak and vulnerable to promote their radical ideas, knowing that countries are looking for a quick fix. In my opinion the predatory nature of these capitalist is a bit disturbing. I think it is cruel that they would take advantage of people's suffering in order to introduce their radical forms of capitalism. I think it is important that Naomi Klein is working to spread awareness about what she calls "disaster capitalism." I agree with Klein when she explains that if citizens are aware of the capitalists' manipulative actions after disasters, then we resist them.

9/18/14 Ian Crowley

I found "The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse" by William S. Burroughs to be a very interesting read. Burroughs explains in his reading that the Four Horseman (the four contributing factors to the apocalypse) are Famine, Plague, War, and Death. Burroughs states that at the moment humans have the ability to somewhat control the Four Horseman, and I agree when he says that this may not be beneficial to us. For example, humans can control these four factors through chemical warfare. The idea that we have the capability to introduce viruses in order to wipe out entire races and civilizations is frightening to me. I understand that it is in human nature to explore scientific possibilities, however, I believe there is a point where science can be taken to far.

I also found Burroughs ideas about humans not working to their full potential to be quite compelling. I do disagree, however, that humans do not reach their full potential. For example, Burroughs reveals that humans didn't invent exploding cannon balls until five hundred years after the cannon was introduced. In my opinion, at that point in time, humans were living up to their full potential given the knowledge and resources they had access to. I believe that inventions and ideas can always be improved. It would be impossible for the Wright brothers to create a current commercial jet, with the little knowledge they had on the subject at the time. Based on Burroughs philosophies humans will never reach their full potential because we are constantly gaining knowledge and trumping past creations.

9/16/14 Ian Crowley

I find what Zizek has to say about the United States living in an isolated, "safe sphere" in Welcome to the Desert of the Real to be fascinating. I agree that the United States often seems to be out of touch with the events going on in the rest of the world. According to Zizek it wasn't until 9/11 that Americans were truly able to understand the tragedy that occurs throughout the world. I think it is essential that Americans raise their awareness of events similar to 9/11 that take place in other nations on a daily basis. To me Zizek's view on the bombing of the twin towers is interesting, but also a bit disturbing. He points out that the United States got what it had fantasized about in movies including Escape from New York and Independence Day. On 9/11 Americans' fantasies came true and the metaphorical bubble burst. It became evident that the United States isn't impenetrable and Americans are not completely safe.

09/11/2014 Ian Crowley

In "Apocalypse: What Disasters Reveal," Junot Diaz's main point of discussion is the earthquake in Haiti in 2010. This natural disaster in Haiti is considered an Apocalyptic event because it resembled the imagined final ending of the world. It was very interesting to me that Junot Diaz states that the earthquake revealed Haiti to the rest of the world. Before the earthquake people payed little attention to Haiti. This disaster revealed to the world the economic desperation that was taking place in Haiti. According to Diaz, 80 percent of the population of Haiti is living below the poverty line. Factors such as deforestation, and poor political structures contribute to the failing economy in Haiti. To me this story was very eye opening. I never thought about the fact that people only directed their attention to Haiti due to the earthquake. I think that maybe we should direct our attention toward other suffering countries as well.