brandondinner-blog

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Interesting recap and interpretation of the mechanisms of “cool” through the ages from Vsauce. I disagree with Michael that the Skrillex concert at the beginning of the video is cool, but maybe that’s what we consider cool today. Who knows?

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Sunday Reflection: A Memoir Written on Own Free Will and Accord

After a long weekend visiting the parents, I have decided to sit and jot down some thoughts about myself and the person that this semester has molded me into. I’m neither happy nor disappointed in myself, I just feel different. I have definitely changed as a person since the innocent first semester Brandon that nervously stepped foot into “What Matters?” almost 10 months ago. At the end of the “What’s Cool?” course, I question my being and the person that I want to be. Am I cool? Do I care what people think of me? These are questions that still plague me. I’m writing this as a memoir to myself, and I don’t fully expect it to be read by anyone. I needed to write this for me, and I do so teary-eyed and with much nostalgia. “What Matters?” and “What’s Cool?” are courses that have changed my outlook on life and myself. This piece serves as a method for me to unpack how and why I have changed since first semester.

So here I am, questioning who I was first semester. Was I cool? Pfft, probably the furthest thing from it. I didn’t go out much (probably went out to the grove once a month), I studied every chance I got, and had one of those weird “first semester freshman year” girlfriends that I  met within the second week of school starting. I hadn’t understood the concept or significance of love and thought it was a word that could be thrown around casually, kinda like the word “cool” itself. I had a very close relationship with my parents, almost too close at times (which I examine in retrospect). They knew every aspect of my life in college; I told them everything thing. Every time I was stressed with school or was having trouble with the girl I was dating, I would turn to my parents. I remember that I began to feel isolated with the kids on my floor. They all got along so well off the bat and I tried so desperately to fit into the newly formed friend group. I remember conversations with my parents relating to them how I didn’t quite understand why I didn’t fit in. I went to school with pretty much the same kids since first grade (my school was K-12), so making friends was a skill that I hadn’t practiced in a while. I took everything that they said to me to heart, every joke a tease, and over thought everything. Their opinion of me mattered so much for some odd reason. Essentially at the beginning of first semester, I had the maturity of a kid in grade school. I was afraid to grow up; I was afraid of being an adult. I was comfortable with my parents always being there and making decisions for me. Even though I was out of the house, I was still pretty much living under their roof.

My level of maturity began to change about halfway through “What Matters?” I started to deeply analyze what was important to me in my life. I learned that friends are important to me, but I don’t have to be friends with everyone. People that don’t enjoy being around me don’t matter to me or my life. My family is important to me, but I began to question how much they should know about my life. At what point do I grow up? I reevaluated my concept of love and realized that the idea that I had of a relationship was, in truth, unfair to the both of us. I decided to end the relationship -- we wound up getting back together for a brief period of time -- and then she ended things. I figured it was the best for me to grow and figure out what I truly wanted, and what was healthy for me in my life. I decided that the relationship that I was in was not healthy, yet the experience and breakup were significant to my personal growth.

This takes us to second semester, and already I have gone through experiences that have helped change me into the person that I am currently. Little would I know that these were only the beginning. In “What’s Cool” I decided to dive even deeper into who I am through the cool lens. Simultaneously, I decided to pledge a fraternity. I know, so cool bro. I know how uncool the stereotypical frat guy asshole is now, and I never want to be viewed as that (this condition extends to all of my brothers as well). The main principle that I learned about cool, which I did not realize that I have applied in my own life until after the fact, is independence and/or separation. As discussed in class, this semester I began distancing myself from my parents and began solving my everyday issues independently. It’s not so much that I pushed people out of my life, I just chose to tackle my problems on my own and experience my life more on my own. I also began to detach myself from my friends from high school. We began to grow apart and I chose to focus more on making connections with people at college. Was this a cool move? Am I proud of myself for disbanding friendships to establish new ones? This is something that I will continue to explore in paper 3.

Ideas to be further developed and continued...

[brandondinner-blog]

How to kill the mook and midriff.

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Interesting article on how and why the mook and midriff were developed. Additionally, it describes the role that these caricatures play in our lives today.

^ Ultimate mook?

[brandondinner-blog]

The Truth About College

Three Monster Energy drinks in, I had just completed reviewing for one out of the five chapters that I was tested on this past Wednesday in Evolutionary Biology. It was half-past 2:00 in the morning and I was wondering what I was still doing up. I started thinking about why I even decided to go to college.

Class on Wednesday helped me sort my thoughts on the matter. Exhausted and unfocused, I attempted to participate in the conversation on whether the college experience is one that forces engagement or escape from reality. I believe that it depends on who you talk to. The rich white kid who receives all the pampering he can get from his parents is going to college to delay entering the real world for a few years -- and to party. He can do this because he does not have to have to join the real world, and there is little that he has to fear. He can escape and delay all he wants and he will be fine, he will just wind up working at his father’s company. College for this type of person is a bubble, no expectations, and no consequences. For others, college serves as a stepping stone for the real world. Not necessarily an escape from the real world, but a place that can build connections for kids my age. Some use college to their advantage, putting all the effort in that they can academically and socially so that they have the chance of networking with a future college. Personally, I stayed up to study for my exam because college matters to me. It may not comply with the rules of cool, but in order for me to pursue the field of medicine, I need to excel academically and be able to make strong connections with doctors that can mentor me. The university system can provide this to me. Alternatively, there are people who do not believe in the university system and / or were not fortunate to have the opportunity to attend college, whatever the reason. For instance, take YouTuber and filmmaker Casey Neistat. Neistat could not attend college because he had to raise his son at a young age and could not afford to go. He dropped out of high school, and immediately joined the real world as a dishwasher at a restaurant. Neistat was faced with an obstacle and engaged head-first. Today, he is extremely well-read, and successful filmmaker. He pushes the idea that college should not be a necessity for young people today, and from example, shows that people can be successful even if they have not gone to college. In a way, Neistat argues that going to college is a waste of time, and that people should directly enter the real world.

[brandondinner-blog]

Unpacking James Dean

James Dean, one of the most influential and short-lived cultural icons of the 20th century, celebrated and thoroughly explored the complex thoughts of rebellion, sexuality, and death. Dean argued that “the prime reason for existence, for living in this world is discovery,” and he was not afraid to build a persona capable of such discovery. I hope to unpack the persona James Dean created to better understand how a person should be and explore how his persona can influence my own.

I was first introduced to Dean in my junior year of high school in my Film as Literature class. Like Dean, I am an only child with an exceptionally close relationship with my mother. However, unlike Dean, I have kept this closeness with my parents. Sadly, when he was nine, his mother passed away and he was sent to live with his aunt and uncle. When he was older and in college, he decided to change his major from pre-law to drama and became alienated from his father and family. These events prelude the persona that Dean creates, and while alienation from one’s family can be difficult to rationalize, the study of “cool” argues that it is a necessary formative experience. I still fear separation from my parents and am dependent on them for many aspects of my life. Recently, I fell off my longboard and got pretty hurt. The first thing I did was call my mother telling her that I needed to come home to get treatment. Oddly, I wasn’t so much concerned with my injuries as I was with disappointing my parents for being so reckless. James Dean likely was more independent of his parents and cared less about what they thought when he was nine than I do at 18. Additionally, Dean was not afraid of disappointing his father when he changed his major -- he rebelled and pursued what he loved. On the contrary, one of my biggest fears is disappointing my father by not showing interest in medicine. Since the time I was young, my father has aspired for me to follow in his shadow of becoming a doctor. Now that I am in college, I am still deeply fascinated by medicine and science, but I am also exploring my interests in other fields such as psychology, philosophy, and English. I fear that my focus may be leaning towards these disciplines and away from medicine -- something that I am afraid to discuss with my father. His dream is for me to go to medical school, but I am still trying to figure out if that is my dream. This may be among the many reasons “cool” argues to venture away from family and other outside influences: it gives people time to make up their mind on what they truly want. I think what “cool” and Dean argue -- as will be seen through other aspects of his persona as well -- is that we shouldn’t waste our time or be fearful of the opinions of others. We have to concern ourselves more with what we want to do, and not what will appease others. Doing what will make others happy is not always the best decision, no matter who that person is.   

As a method actor, Dean essentially redefined masculinity and “cool” both on and off screen. Who he was and the person he portrayed were very closely related people. In his title role, Jim Stark in Rebel Without a Cause -- my first introduction to Dean -- he plays a sensitive, troubled character. This is in sharp contrast to what was expected of the American male in cinema. Additionally, in contrast to the “preppy,” masculine style of the 1950s, Dean wore jeans, a white t-shirt, and a red jacket. Jeans, the clothes of youth and the common person were the ultimate sign of rebellion. As Jim Stark, just as in real life, he is trying to find his true identity and does not conform to expectations. He asks his father in the film, played by Jim Backus, “What do you do when you have to be a man.” This was something Dean himself questioned in the 1950s, and something people are questioning even today. I see too often guys my age trying to “prove” their idea of masculinity. People can do this by not showing emotions, boasting about how many girls they pick up, or showing how much weight they can lift in the gym. Dean did not feel like he had to fit this cookie cutter mold of masculinity. Rather, he experimented with homosexuality and was true to himself. Dean once said, “No, I am not a homosexual. But I'm also not going to go through life with one hand tied behind my back.” As someone that identifies as straight, I do not question my sexuality. But, for those that are homosexual, or have homosexual tendencies, they should not be afraid to express or explore those feelings. As “cool” reminds us, the opinions of others are not the most important and we should not let negative voices affect us.

Dean also flirted with the idea of death and lived on the edge. Dean enjoyed racing and was interested in building a career out of it. “Cool” argues that it is important to flirt with these concepts and not be afraid of dying. He once said, “Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today.” “Cool” people are not afraid of death and typically enjoy living life to the fullest. This may result in death at an early age. However, some might agree that Dean was careless. While driving his Porsche to a car race, he got into a fatal car accident. Now, I would say I like to feel rushes of adrenaline as well. For instance, I enjoy hiking on steep and difficult paths. Climbing Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park was one of the most thrilling experiences in my entire life -- my feet literally inches from a cliff 1,500 feet high. While this is true, I do not like to be careless. I ensured that I was safe from harm's way. The lesson is that it is important to have thrill in our lives, but carelessness is not acceptable.

While dying at a mere 24-years-old and starring in only three films, Dean left a profound legacy. In fact, he was the first actor to receive an Academy Award nomination posthumously. He not only redefined fashion and acting styles, many cite James Dean as having an important influence on the origins of rock and roll. He has been cited as formative influences for icons such as Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, and David Bowie. Even today, James Dean serves as an influencer. In my life, I attempt to take attributes from Dean’s persona to incorporate into my own. Namely, I try to be more comfortable with expressing myself for who I am, and not who others expect me to be. In an attempt to become more comfortable with expressing myself, I have begun to introduce myself to uncomfortable situations. For instance, the other day I decided to strike up a conversation with a stranger at a tea shop that I frequent at home; speaking to random people is generally a difficult task for me to perform. I think that the most important point that Dean makes is that there are a lot of pressures on us to conform to certain expectations, but we must keep our interests at heart.

[brandondinner-blog]

Is Ultra too Much?

With Ultra taking place this weekend, there is a lot of energy on campus. And to be clear, when I say energy I am referring to f’d up college kids screaming senseless words and girls spending outlandish amounts of money on “Ultra outfits.” The kids going to this festival want to feel out of control, taking MDMA and God knows what else to have an out-of-body experience and in their words “a great time.” I begin to question this behavior: is it fun to feel out of control? I believe that wanting to feel this way to have fun is an expression of an underlying issue. People today find that they have to play by the rules and, in a sense behave. Life is too routine for most. As a result, they take opportunities like Ultra to let themselves free. The issue I see is that we don’t realize that we can still have fun and bend the rules without losing control. Children are allowed to lose control and have meltdowns because they don’t know any better, but to be a contributing member of society, one must be in tune with who they are. Some even enjoy getting so messed up that they can’t even remember their name, but I prefer remaining in control and enjoying the taste of the mojo we discussed in class. I’m not saying that I don’t like to party, but I do put on a mask.

Stay safe at Ultra for those who will be there

[brandondinner-blog]

How to Think Creatively

Think back to when we are first taught how to problem solve. Most likely, we learned to use the scientific method: a structured set of steps for answering and solving science-based questions. I have always found this method quite limiting and wonder why this is the only way we learn to think about science. The challenge is that we traditionally do not learn how to solve queries on our own; rather, we learn about structured principles that can solve problems for us. The current classroom minimally fosters critical thinking thus, many of us are not equipped with the skills necessary to innovate. The question then becomes, how can we improve learning environments to further facilitate and accelerate lateral thinking?

Lateral thinking is answering questions or solving problems using an indirect or creative approach. It is finding a solution using methods that deviate from “vertical thinking,” or traditional, step-by-step logic. Some might call this looking at a question from a different angle, or “thinking outside of the box.” The aim of lateral thinking is to apply an innovative mindset. I discovered that many have difficulty answering questions using this approach. The reasons behind this difficulty intrigued me, so I researched the founder who proposed this way of thought, Dr. Edward de Bono, and realized that “thinking is a skill that must be learned.”    

At the beginning of junior year in high school, I heard talk about starting a new club at school that focused on the idea of innovative thinking. Having a passion to help people reach their fullest potential, I knew that I needed to be a part of this endeavor. While attending a Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) meeting, I took the initiative to introduce myself to the founder of the Entrepreneurship Program, Yash, and proposed my vision. He recognized my enthusiasm and agreed with my agenda to develop a club program to spawn creative ideas. Driven by my passion and commitment to lead others in this movement, I quickly assumed the position as vice president of the Entrepreneurship Program.

In our weekly meetings, we quickly found that our members had difficulty coming up with new ideas to solve even the most non-perplexing challenges. The issue was that these aspiring entrepreneurs were accustomed to an environment where they had only use of one specific method to solve problems. As a result, they either could not think of innovative solutions to challenges or they were afraid to voice their opinions. To remedy this setback, we divided the members into teams of four, all from diverse backgrounds, and effectively formed focus groups, and asked them to ideate on Post-it notes. We asked them to think of solutions, no matter how seemingly ridiculous, and jot them down. Engaged in a think tank design, members eventually gained confidence knowing that all suggested solutions would be well-received and not judged. While the ideas that initially presented seemed as if they were either too rudimentary or implausible, with positive encouragement and inter-team communication, we soon witnessed the development of truly incredible ideas. One idea, RentAll, which I co-founded with Yash and another club member from the senior class, turned into a feasible business venture. Currently in the development phase and preparing for phase one launch, RentAll has been met with strong positive feedback from the Miami Herald, successful entrepreneurs, and visionary investors.

In my short, 2-year period with idea acceleration and incubation, I found that lateral thinking, within a supportive environment, can lead to huge success in developing innovative ideas. While I cannot change the world alone, I am a firm believer that curricula supportive of lateral thinking will help mend the intuitive gap associated with innovation. Although my interests have now changed from business to medicine, I believe that this system of thinking can be used in a variety of fields. Allowing students to embrace and incorporate a variety of disciplines to tackle challenges, I think, will lead to more creative and educated individuals.

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Originality v.s. Authenticity

When we think about the concept of cool, we often concern ourselves with complete originality. However, due to misuse of words, when we talk about originality we are actually referring to authenticity. Jim Jarmusch writes, “Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent.” We must steal things that speak truly speak to us. To speak the language of cool, we must be fully true to ourselves and others. German poet Bertolt Brecht relates that we must “have the courage to write the truth when truth is everywhere opposed.” Essentially, even when we are surrounded by BS, when have to be woke enough to recognize this. Even Migos recognizes this in their song “Walk It Talk It.” Migos member Quavo recites repeatedly, “Walk it like I talk it,” implying that his actions do in fact speak up for his words. Classically narcissistic, Quavo is aware of his incredible accomplishments and is not afraid to tell others about them.

The members of Migos dress how they want and party like rockstars. But, this is not a lack of control. In fact, it is just the opposite. Migos is constantly making a statement to their fans and their public. But, we must remember that Migos is not the first of their kind. Rap / Hip-Hop groups like OutKast, A Tribe Called Quest, and N.W.A. predate the trio. What set’s Migos apart is their authentic sound. They were able to take ideas from their influencers and make it their own. As Jarmusch says, “It’s not where you take things from -- it’s where you take them to.”  

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What Does Cool Look Like?

As the only child of two, well-off parents living in the upscale suburbs of Ft. Lauderdale, I was raised with a level of comfort and pampering that at times was frustrating in public. My mother, the stereotypical Jewish helicopter parent, ensured that I was never out her sight. I used to joke with my dad when I was younger that when I was ready to take someone on my first date, she would be sitting at the table behind us. I feel incredibly privileged to have been born into a community where these are my biggest concerns; however, after living away from my community and parents, I now understand that these blessings have caused me to miss out on significant opportunities of growing into a better person. It seems that characteristically, cool -- the way people should be -- implements the traits of individualism and complete self-control. I am now attempting to analyze the aspects of my community that continue to shape me into the person I am today through the cool lens, and through this, my goal is to become a cooler person.

One of the main pressures that limits our ability to fully embrace the “cool” religion is the fact that the community and society around me has lost individualism. We have become sheep, doing little more than copying the opinions and actions of the status quo. It’s a very interesting time where, in the words of Oscar Wilde, “Most people [have become] other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.” Social media influences our minds and lives so much that original thinking has become almost nonexistent. For instance, we read something that sounds intelligent on our Facebook feeds, and we think to ourselves, “Wow, this person seems really smart … maybe I should think like him.” We literally copy and paste the opinions of others, to the point where we actually begin to think and act like others. I remember in high school, a heavily opinionated article spread on Facebook concerning abortion. Whenever we had conversations about this topic in class, my friends would simply repeat these opinions as if they were theirs. They put no effort into developing their own opinion, they simply found a well-developed argument and repeated it. If we only copy the mentality of our peers, it is simply not possible to continue the quest of finding the truth. If there is no argument or questioning of thought, we cannot develop new ideas. This will lead to the eventual destruction of society.  

What I find to be the scariest development of copying thoughts is when we begin to copy the wants and desires of other people for the sheer purpose of acceptance. W.E.B. DuBois recognizes in The Souls of Black Folk that African Americans after the emancipation attempted to incorporate the opposing ideas of both Africans and Americans to live as both people -- a double-consciousness. In doing so, black people inadvertently adopted the wants of another race in the process of seeking acceptance. DuBois relates that seeking to be like or embracing the ideas of others leads to confusion of identity and loss of courage. But, we see this even presently. Just the other day, I overheard a conversation by the library. One person said, “I think Trump is an idiot for phasing out DACA. I want children who came here illegally to be protected from immediate deportation.” Their friend responded, aiming to receive acceptance and approval, “I completely agree. It is an issue that matters to me too. I always forget, what does DACA stand for again?” At this point, we only say things to receive approval from our peers. To grow as individuals, we need to educate ourselves and pay attention to the things that matter to us, and not the things that matter only to our peers. Cool people don’t care what other people think, they say only what they truly believe. I think that people should not be afraid to express their individualism or live in fear of rejection because they have differing opinions; conforming does not lead to progress.

Cool also emphasizes other characteristics, as described in Cool Rules: Anatomy of an Attitude. The principles that I believe in, I’ll choose to mention. Rebellion is an important trait in this religion. Growing up, I was always taught to follow a path. More specifically, a path that would ensure I would be able to provide for my future family. There are no variables, no unpredictable moments, only a sure path that will take me from where I am to where my parents want me to be. Since the time I can remember, my parents ingrained in me that I should become a doctor because it is a fulfilling, stable job. Other paths were not a consideration. For a while I played along with it, and then in my Junior year of high school I took a risk that caught them off guard. I decided to join the Future Business Leaders of America, and I told that I wanted to become an entrepreneur. Growing up as a single child with pretty overbearing parents, it was not common for me to go against my parents’ word. I chose to do this because I truly wanted to at the time; I wanted to experience something that my parents had sheltered from me and grow from it. As Wilde puts it, “Disobedience, in the eyes of anyone who has read history, is man’s original virtue. It is through disobedience and rebellion that progress has been made.” I craved risk, and deciding that I want to someday pursue one of the riskiest job fields is exactly what I was looking for. I particularly enjoy it because it requires constant original and creative thought, as well as rebellion against current methods by creating something better and more efficient.

In my family and community as a child, hedonism -- a vital feature of cool -- was never something that was expressed. My parents are older and a bit more conservative when it comes to these things, so expressing my interest in women was very reserved. Sure, I have a great relationship with my parents; this was just something we never talked about. It wasn’t really something anyone in my community growing up talked about with their parents. I remember bringing up a crush I had once to my mom, and she responded with an awkward, overly joyous reaction that freaked me out. It is something that my mother never really approved of me talking about. My mother is also one to treat me as though I am much younger than my years -- I am her only “baby” as she would say -- so talking about girls was always something I wanted to keep to myself around her. I guess this conditioned me to stay distant with my relationships, but it also forced a sort of innocence on me. As Nietzsche mentions, “All strong feelings of pleasure have been branded as sinful, seductive, and suspicious by psychology.” However, as he would agree, these are feelings that come naturally and should not be repressed. It seems that it is unhealthy to ignore these feelings, so we should as a society embrace them. As Wilde says, “The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.” Cool people understand this, and even if they are shunned for it, they attain feelings of pleasure whether via sex, drugs, or both -- the classic rockstar.  

If cool knows anything, it is narcissism. Cool people know that they are the best and that everyone is watching them, even if they appear as if they are oblivious. Behind the sunglasses, perfectly messed up hair, and straight face indicative of complete self-control is someone incredibly aware of their surroundings and appearance. In high school we wore uniforms every day, with the only real leeway being what we wore on our feet. Some took full advantage of this, and joined the “sneakerhead” culture. They, including myself for a brief moment, would take every opportunity to find the most coveted shoes they could get their hands on and wore them to school. The sneakerheads at my school knew that everyone envied their Yeezys or their Jordan 6’s. I knew it when I was in the sneaker “game.” They called their shoes neckbreakers, named after the motion required to take a second glance at these fashion statements while passing by them. The thing that makes sneakerheads cool, even growing up, is the immaculate attention to detail that they give to all of their shoes. Most sneakerheads care about the appearance of themselves, and the shoes that they are “rocking.” Each shoe that they own is in pristine condition, as if they have never been worn. I know some people that literally clean their shoes with a toothbrush after they’ve worn them. Even the shoes that appear to be worn out and dirty -- take Golden Goose sneakers -- were done so purposely and are eye-catching. Cool people do always do things on purpose, even if it seems out of place or unusual.

I think in order to truly understand cool, pain and suffering must be experienced. Of course I’ve had breakups, been pushed to physical exhaustion, and called names throughout my life, but I have never gone to bed hungry, ran out of money, or been rejected from society. I have always had a place in this world, even when I feel like I don’t. For many, this is unfortunately not the case. But, through suffering and rejection comes culture and personal growth. It is difficult for me to understand this aspect of cool because I have never fully experienced it.

I have realized that cool is not tangible, rather, it is a complex school of thought. Some would go as far to compare it to a religion. And just as someone cannot be more or less Jewish, someone cannot become more “cool.” Someone can, on the contrary, become more religious. I plan to follow the guidelines closer to become a more religious follower.

[brandondinner-blog]

Cool and Me

As I sit down to write this, contemplating my relationship with cool, I am realizing how uncool I really am. Similar to Fight Club, the first rule is to never talk about it. “Cool” is not tangible, rather, it is a complex school of thought that people either pick up or leave. And just how someone cannot be more or less Jewish, you cannot become more “cool.” Someone can, on the contrary, become more religious. As things are right now, I see myself as someone trying to learn the religion better so that I can better follow its traditions. 

I wouldn’t say that I’m in the dark about cool. I think I am cool to some extent -- at least as cool as a well-off, white kid from the suburbs can be. People have told me that I’m cool. Okay, well, one person once did: my mom. I guess I can never really call myself cool because there is one major contingency of cool that I have never felt: true suffering. Of course I’ve had break ups, been pushed to physical exhaustion, and called names. but I have never gone to bed hungry, ran out of money, or rejected from society. I have always had a place in this world, even when I feel like I don’t. People who have mastered cool can make it seem like they have a place, even when they don’t. Even more interestingly, vice versa. I hope to one day be able to grow more as a follower of cool, but as it is right now, I would consider myself in a state of purgatory between pathetically lame and dope: lets call this phenomenon chill. 

[brandondinner-blog]

Thoughts from last week (Tumblr wasn’t allowing me to post) -- Who are we?

For some of us, it takes a lifetime to figure out who we really are. Many of us live in delusion: we think we know so much about ourselves, yet in reality, we really don’t know anything. Take the classic interview question, “Tell me about yourself.” I don’t know anyone so in tune with themselves that they can answer this question without fumbling or bullshitting, at least I know I can’t.

In an age where impressing people on social media has taken precedence over being true to yourself, it is even more difficult to figure out who we are. We post things that our friends/followers find interesting, and not necessarily what we enjoy. As DuBois would agree, this molds us into someone that wants what other people want, even when a lot of time we should not conform. Side note, I am now starting to see that we value our friends for likes on Instagram and attention, rather than for true comradery. I have friends nowadays that will go to places like the Wynwood Walls not for enjoyment but, rather, for a “dope” photo for their Instagram. It seems that art is becoming more so novelty, and less about interpretation and catharsis.

Even closer to home, college students at the University of Miami are under the impression that the cliche, “college is a place to find yourself” holds true. In reality, this could be furthest from the truth. In college, we are safe. Let’s be honest, the stakes are pretty low and if a kid’s family has enough money he doesn’t have a worry in the world. We don’t have fear or discomfort when we come to college. Nietzsche would argue that to really grow as a person, we need to experience pain or discomfort. We need to feel what it’s like to be lost, confused, and lonely. We don’t have any of these experiences, as the University ensures that we always have something to do. Is this to keep us numb? What’s even crazier is that when we come to college, we often redefine ourselves -- become the person we want to be or wish we were in high school. We create this new persona based on people we think are cool, only further masking and repressing our true identities. It’s always an interesting sight when a person’s true character is able to shine through the veil for a split second during times of stress.

[brandondinner-blog]

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.

Oscar Wilde

Wilde comments on the condition that all of us, as people, have felt worthlessness, emptiness, and lack of direction. We are not alone or special in that case. However, some of us are able to make meaning out of an inherently worthless world. Some are able to use pathos -- meaning both experience and suffering -- and, in Nietzsche’s words, turn muck into gold. For instance, in the real world, some people are able to embrace their unfortunate experiences growing up -- i.e. bullying or poverty -- and look to new horizons. The kid who was bullied in high school and told that he would be nothing becomes Robin Williams. Still, some are not dreamers or capable of creating meaning and finding direction. These people, as harsh as it sounds, remain suffering in the “gutter.”

[brandondinner-blog]

Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone elses opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.

Oscar WIlde

Living in a time where social pressures and expectations are so heavily weighted, it’s often very difficult for us to, well, be us. Coupled with the influence that social media has on our minds and lives, how is it possible for us to form our own opinions anymore. We read something that sounds intelligent on our Facebook feeds, and we think to ourselves, “Wow, this person seems really smart ... maybe I should think like him.” We literally copy and paste the opinions of others, to the point where we actually begin to think and act like others. I’ve reflected on my times waiting on the line at Subway and saying, “I’ll just have what they ordered.” If my friends are trying to figure out a place to go eat, and I mention Chipotle, and then two other people say Chipotle, there is a pretty good chance that the rest of my friends will agree on where we are going to eat. The mob mentality is real, and we have lost our individuality.

The person that is cool is the rebel. The person that speaks their opinion because they truly believe it -- not because that’s what they have heard others say or because it is a popular opinion -- deserves my respect and should be embraced, not outcasted. I think people who embrace their individuality and uniqueness are cool. 

[brandondinner-blog]

The Antithesis to Übermensch: Untermensch

A Term used by Nazis to describe people who they considered inferior. Nietzsche used this term to describe semi-human creatures in mythology. Stoddard constructed this term as an opposite to Nietzsche’s Übermensch. The Nazis then adopted this term to support their ideologies. 

[brandondinner-blog]

“Beyond Good and Evil” Documentary Summary

“Beyond Good and Evil,” an episode within the television series Human, All Too Human, details the life of Friedrich Nietzsche, his work, and the legacy of his thought. Described as one of the great philosophers and pioneers of thought, Nietzsche was born on October 15, 1844. Five years later, both his father and his brother died. At this point, Nietzsche began to grow suspicious of God and religion. He could not understand why God would treat devout worshipers so badly. On Easter Sunday, 1865, Nietzsche refused to go to church. Rather, he began to look to philosophy for meaning to make sense of what he believed was a godless universe.

Nietzsche believed the death of God gives rise to absolute freedom and pioneered the thought that there is no absolute truth. In his earlier years, he believed that life is inherently meaningless and it is not worth searching for meaning. He stated that the best is to not be born, and the second best is to die quickly.

Later in life, Nietzsche began to think less pessimistically. The philosopher wanted to be the moralist of a new, post-god society. Essentially, he wanted to help create meaning in a meaningless world. Out of this new thought process came the term Übermensch, which describes a person who justifies the human race and overlooks in man’s search for meaning. Nietzsche battled between his animalistic needs and quest to become a god-like Übermensch figure. After realizing that he was just a man full of human weaknesses, Nietzsche went insane.

Offering his life and sanity as the supreme sacrifice, Nietzsche died in 1900. His sister, Elizabeth, continued and edited his works to make them support nazi ideologies. He became the official philosopher of the 3rd Reich even though he openly stood against Nazism and any form of nationalism during his life.