views on Grizzly Man

When viewing Grizzly Man I realized how spiritually connected Treadwell was with the animals. He really took the time out of his life to love and take care of the animals. The video at some points when showing what he had taped during his time with the animals seemed like a joke. You can tell that Treadwell had a very different, outgoing personality... It seemed as if he just did whatever he pleased and he didn't care what other people thought of him. He devoted his life to protecting the bears and foxes, etc.. He documented all actions of the animals that he would see. Including fights, eating, other interactions with animals, etc..

Overall I thought the documentary was very interesting. It showed many different views of surrounding nature. The view of Treadwell as well as the narrator. - Who had a much more negative take on nature. It is awful thing that he had to die from a bear attack, but from what it seemed like thats how he would of wanted to go.

Treadwell and Herzog's Views on Nature

Treadwell seemed to understand something about nature that most people do not.  He was able to live with the bears and other creatures for years without harm.  I think that shows a deeper understanding of nature, since that is something most people can't, or won't, do.  Treadwell, however, let his emotions cloud his judgement.  He grew to care very deeply for the animals he lived with, so he let his guard down.  The animals that were fond of him let their guard down some too, but they grew up in the wild and knew that they still had to be cautious of him.  Treadwell wanted so badly to connect with living things that his emotions became his demise.

Its easy to say that Treadwell was dumb because of his actions and Herzog was smarter because he was more aware of the dangers, but Herzog had advantages that Treadwell did not.  Herzog, like the rest of us, had hindsight bias.  Herzog also didn't have this huge disconnect with humans and confusion about his own humanity that Treadwell did.  Its obvious that Herzog was right to be cautious of nature, but Treadwell wasn't at fault for wanting to connect.  He likely had mental illness, and since he struggled with alcoholism, he had demons to fend off as well.  Fleeing to nature is what Treadwell believed helped him the most.  It's understandable that he would want to run away from his problems.

Treadwell believed in nature.  He viewed it as this amazing, spiritual force that other humans could not handle.  He was protective of it, and heavily romanticized it.  Herzog didn't wear the rose colored glasses that Treadwell did.  Herzog was aware of the dangers, but still had profound respect for nature.  He cared for nature, but understood that that was a one way street.

Emotional vs. Logical Thinking

The narrator of the movie Grizzly Man, Werner Herzog and the subject of the documentary, Timothy Treadwell, have conflicting ideas on man’s role/relationship with nature. Though these men both admire and appreciate what nature is and what it has to offer, they have very different opinions on how we should interact with it. It was very interesting to listen to the differences in opinion between Herzog and Treadwell. I think the fact that Herzog was criticizing Treadwell's actions but Treadwell was not able to explain/defend himself made me more apt to take Herzog's "side".

Herzog, the narrator, often uses a critical tone and offers many arguments against Treadwell’s actions. Herzog seems to adopt the view of many scientists who have experience with wild animals, like bears. Herzog is a more analytical, sensible person about the idea of humans living with bears. He seems to be taking more of a “left brained” approach in that he is not allowing his emotions and desire to “love the cute bears” overtake the logical thinking to leave deadly animals alone. 

Treadwell’s life is built around his own selfish desires even though he is saying he “does it for the bears”. I think it is ridiculous for him to try to make up for what he is lacking in his life by attempting to fill this void with “love” from a deadly, wild animal. I do not agree with this approach to fixing his problems. Overall, I initially agreed with Treadwell in some ways in the beginning of the film because I, too, think bears are cool and want to help them. As I watched more, however, I began to resent the clear disillusionment in Treadwell's thinking. It seems so obvious to me that Treadwell is being selfish and trying to cover up that deep down, he knows what he is doing isn't actually benefitting the animals he is supposedly “helping”.

In my opinion, Herzog has a more sensible approach and well thought out arguments against Treadwell about how it is appropriate for humans to interact with nature. 

Grizzly Man: First Thoughts

           Initially, after watching Grizzly Man, the first thought I had was that Timothy Treadwell had lost his mind. I don't necessarily think that this had anything to do with the bears or the passion that he expressed when it came to caring for them. I just think that his focus on them was so strong that this is where his instability manifested itself the most. However, this post isn't an analysis on everything wrong with Treadwell's mental state so I'm going to move on before I digress.
           One thing that I quickly gathered from Grizzly Man  was that while Treadwell and Herzog both have very strong, distinctive views on nature, those views are extremely different. Treadwell comes across a little extreme and "out there" with his beliefs that nature is pure and free of all harm or evil while Herzog has a more realistic view of nature, recognizing the dangers that exist within and the need for humans and nature to remain separate. Treadwell believes that he not only is meant to be in nature as opposed to civilization, but that it is his sole duty to protect the grizzly bears in their habitat from their biggest threat: humans. Herzog seems to think the complete opposite, seeing grizzly bears as the ones who are the threat and humans as the ones who need to be protected.
          However, I feel like it's important to point out the one similarity between the two that I picked up on relatively quickly. Both reflect at the least, a respect for nature. While Timothy Treadwell may take this to extremes, showing not only a respect, but an extremely emotional, empathetic connection to nature, Herzog at no point, claims that nature should be stopped or anything along those lines. At the very least, we can say that Herzog respects nature while maintaining a realistic view of all of nature's capabilities.

Me, Herzog, and Grizzly Man

Herzog and Treadwell are somewhat similar in the way they view nature but Treadwell is much more a part of nature and helping nature than Herzog is. Treadwell sees nature as something that we should help and protect. He believes that we are able to fight our human instincts and fight other animals instincts and overcome the fact that bears are supposed to eat humans. Treadwell believed that in the woods with the bears was his place to be he thought that it was his sanctuary and longed to be there even in his winter days while they're hibernating.

Herzog, however thought Treadwell was a little crazy. He thought that the bears were bears and we are humans and there's a fine line that shouldn't be crossed in that territory. He believes that the world is full of sadness and death and negativity, while Treadwell believed there was peace and happiness that outweighed the bad. I think that Treadwell and Herzog might have had similar views on nature and its beauty, however their views on the outside world differed extremely.

I think as far as my views on the world, I tend to lean more towards Herzog's views but my love and eye for nature and animals tend to be more on Treadwell's scale. I would never camp out with a creature that could potentially eat me at any point in time but I do have a special place in my heart for the beauty and peacefulness of nature and love for animals is similar to Treadwell's

Treadwell Controversy

Timothy Treadwell, aka the Grizzly Man, aspired to live as a spirit within the wilderness. By forming a connection with the defenseless, easily manipulated grizzly bears, he could mutually mutate into the wild animal; or so he thought at least. Treadwell had the mindset that if he died, doing what he loved so dearly, his message would be better put across for the entire world to understand. His perspective on the natural world and the animals within it was a delicate one. He saw no boundary between humans and the natural world; he thought humans could live within nature, without interrupting it and all of its inhabitants; there would be no repercussions, one would be safe and sound. The implication that human beings were under threat and in danger amongst wild animals held no bearing to Timothy Treadwell as he lived in nature everyday, invading the place where these wild animals roam Freely. He believed in his connection with these grizzly bears and even a couple of foxes so much, that he had names for them; almost as if they were his pets, or maybe even his friends.

Herzog, the narrator of Timothy Treadwell's documentary, thought Treadwell "got what he deserved" as he was invading the natural world. Losing sight of how disrespectful he was truly being, implementing a discourtesy to the grizzly bears and what they represent. According to Herzog, Treadwell seemed to ignore the fact that there are predators within nature. It was the narrator's perspective that the true common denominator of the natural world is chaos, hostility , and murder. Treadwell could never have the heart to see this, to grasp it. When the invasion of wilderness was not enough for him, Treadwell evoked to a higher power. Treadwell thought as if God would be so proud of him for being "one of them" (the bears.) He was so thankful for the animals, they gave him a life, one that was worth living. Herzog viewed Timothy's separation from human civilization Treadwell's way of escaping from reality- it was a metaphor to his lonesomeness.

Although Treadwell and Herzog's perspectives on the boundary between humans and the natural world were distinctively different, Timothy Treadwell's death was a tragic one. I do not believe he "deserved it" however, I do believe it could easily have been avoided. Nature is beautiful, and should be respected. But, there is a fine line between respecting nature, walking through it and being amongst it peacefully, and tampering with it trying to manipulate the neutrality of the animals within their own habitats.

Grizzly Man VS Herzog

Timothy Treadwell is dedicated to saving the bears. He believes that he is one with them and he understands the bears language. Although he suffers from Bipolar disorder, he has really good intentions of helping the bears. He does understand that sometimes his message of saving the bears is not well received by humans. Treadwell says that he would die for the bears. His view of nature seems to be that we as humans are here to protect the nature, but because we haven’t he is now trying to fulfill his duty that he feels he has.  

Herzog has a much more realistic view of nature. He believes that there is a line in nature that should never be crossed and Treadwell crossed it. Herzog thinks that nature is amazing, but does believe that humans need to leave it be to some extent and living with bears crosses that. Overall Herzog, believed that Treadwell got what he deserved.

I think that I am more of a Herzog, except the part about he got what he deserved. That is just horrible. He did not deserve to die just because he was trying to save the bears. I do think that Treadwell was crazy and you would never pay me enough to live with bears, but that is just me. I do agree with Herzog that their are invisible lines in nature that should not be crossed. Nature is beautiful and I feel so fortunate to have it all around me, but I do think that as much as we enjoy it we need to leave it alone. In scouting we always say “leave no trace”.

herzog and Treadwell's views on dangerous nature

Herzog and Treadwell both had strong and different views on nature. Treadwll was very close to nature and wanted to get as close as possible. Herzog did not agree with treadwells views and didn't feel the same connections with nature. Herzog viewed Treadwells  approach to nature as crazy and did not feel humans needed to become a part of nature.

Treadwell believed he was a part of nature. He thought that it was his duty to protect the bears from any enemy. He hated the government and hunters and felt threatened by them. Treadwell wished he could have become a bear because he felt he didn't fit in with the normal human society. He got very close to the bears, even touching and petting them, which ultimately took his life. Although I think Treadwell was absolutely crazy, I do agree with the idea that humans should try to be a little closer to nature. I think if we were closer to nature, we would realize the true value of it.

Herzog believed that nature was aggressive, harsh, and murderous. He did not agree with Treadwell's ideas and thought he was insane for continuously putting his life in danger to protect the bears. He did not see a reason to try to become one with nature but still appreciated it.  Herzog did not think it was healthy for Treadwell to approach the bears and thought that he failed to see the violence of the creatures. He said that Treadwell had a false idea that the bears had some secret niceness, and clearly he was wrong when it cost him his life. I agree with Herzog in the sense that nature has the power to be destructive, but I don't think it takes away from the beauty of nature. I think the aspect of danger increases the beauty and we need to appreciate it more.

Opposite Views of Herzog and Treadwell

The most interesting quote in the film Grizzly Man was spoken by Herzog. Herzog said, "I believe the common denominator of the universe is not harmony, but chaos, hostility, and murder." This quote highlights the contrasting views of nature that Herzog and Treadwell have. While both men care for nature, Herzog sees the negative qualities in nature, and Treadwell sees the positive qualities. In reality, nature is a balance between the two views of the men.

Treadwell had such a passionate love for protecting the Grizzlies. He dedicated his summers to living out in Grizzly territory during hunting season. Treadwell made a spiritual connection with the bears and the nature he lived in with them. He felt it was his true home, and that the bears were his true friends. Many of his human friends speculated that Treadwell actually wanted to become a bear. He was fearless, and believed he had nothing to fear about living with the bears. Nature, to him, was harmless and misunderstood. He felt it was his job to correct the general opinion about nature, especially the bears. He also wanted to bring awareness to the public and be the voice for the bears. I think Timothy's motives were inspirational. His dedication and passion were admirable. It is obvious that Treadwell has an optimistic view of the bears. I think he feels so strongly about the bears because he feels they saved his life, so he wants to repay them and protect their lives. Although his views on nature are extreme, it is important that more people open their eyes to the potential damage that humans are causing the earth.

Herzog had a much more pessimistic view of nature, yet he respected it. He realized the dangers that lived within nature. However, he lacked the empathy that Treadwell possessed. Herzog was very much anti nature, and didn't believe the bears needed the protection that Treadwell was providing them. In a way, he saw Treadwell's protection as a fight against civilization. I think Herzog was a little harsh on Treadwell. He was basically saying Treadwell got what he had deserved. However, I think it's better to be more cautious about nature than to be too fearless about it like Treadwell. I think Herzog respects nature in that he realizes the power it possesses. Just like nature, I think there needs to be a balance between the views of the two men. Its important to have a passion for nature and a desire to protect the earth; however it is necessary to be careful with nature, and never underestimate the strength and power it contains.

Treadwell vs. Herzog

In watching Grizzly Man, it was incredibly interesting to compare the differences in how Treadwell and Herzog viewed the natural world. Primarily Treadwell viewed nature in a more optimistic light that stressed unity with the wild. This is evident in how he treated not only the grizzly bears but the smaller, less aggressive animals as well, with love and respect. Herzog had a nearly flipped opinion of nature, pointing out that humans should not interact with animals in the wild because they are dangerous and murderers. It seemed that many of the clips Herzog showed of the bears were of fights or how aggressive they are, giving the viewer insight on how he truly depicts the natural world and the grizzly bears Treadwell cherished. I can see where both sides are coming from, and I would say that most of what I believe is of Treadwell's view of the natural world and the grizzly bears, but I cannot ignore the danger these animals are capable of. 

Treadwell viewed the wild as being a place of comfort and serenity, and felt as though he had the responsibility to protect it. He had such a strong urge that he actually ignored the park laws in order to be closer to the grizzly bears and even alter the course of the fish in order to feed to bears. The natural world should not be altered in order to protect any creature, which is one aspect of Treadwell's actions that I do not agree with. Despite this, I do believe that nature, and those within it, need to be left alone by humans who mean them harm. When the men showed up to the island and threw rocks at the bear, it hurt my heart because there the humans were, intruding upon the home of another creature, and harming it because of human fear. It is unacceptable because there is no reason to do so... no reason to harm an innocent creature in a place we do not belong.

Bears have instincts which often can put humans in harms way. Herzog is much more aware of these dangers and many times speaks of them and how they effect humans. It would be unwise of me to ignore the striking danger that these creatures possess, which is why I find that keeping our distance from them is much smarter than to involve ourselves like Treadwell did. He had managed to last many years before his tragic death, but he always knew that this type of ending was a high possibility. I respect him for knowing the boundaries, though I agree with the Alaskan natives that these boundaries mean you do not physically cross them.

I find that it is important to respect the natural world and those within it but one cannot disrupt nature's life cycle. If the bears do not have enough to eat, it is not the job of humans to exert their dominance on their lives in order to save them. They have lived thousands of years on their own and it is disrespectful to nature to assume that they cannot last thousands more without our help. It may seem as though I favor Herzog's view on the natural world, but that is hardly the case. Treadwell was brave and had learned a lot about the grizzly bears that he wouldn't have learned without living among them for many summers. I agree with how we need to leave them alone and respect the natural boundaries, because they are created for a reason. We were not meant to live with them, we just need to respect they have more power in the wild than we do. I believe Herzog was much too harsh, because the bears are much more than just murderers, they are creatures of the Earth, just as we are, and have a way of life that does not involve us. They have much to offer in their world, and their world does not involve us. So when we intrude upon their environment and they protect themselves, how does that make them murderers?

Grizzly Man; Treadwell and Herzog

Nature is the name point in the movie Grizzly Man. Treadwell and Herzog have almost completly different views of nature and I can relate to both of them in different ways, so I related to both of them. I completly understand where Herzog is coming from when he states that Treadwell over stepped his bounderies. I relate to this because I do not see the point of going to extremly dangerous places to try and save and protect these bears because nature has its own mind and to me, going out and trying to train wild animals to like you, and come close to you and not hurt a person is not save for the bears more than Treadwell not being there would.

I also though, do see Treadwells point of view. He wants to save nature and help be apart of that and that is extremly amazing for a person to do, yet he doesnt think of him sefl as he person he looks at himself more apart of the human and nature world. I can relate to him in the way of wanting to better than bears and protect them, but it is not a realistic thing to be doing. He knows that these bears can hurt him yet he still goes ahead and gets way to close to them and puts all his trust in them that they won't hurt him, yet they are wild animals.

I do not lean more to one person in the film more than the other because I understand and recognize where they are both coming from. Treadwels views on nature are astonishing to me yet I still have this thought in the back of my mind that is thinking like Herzog and how it i wrong to be doing what Treadwell is doing.

Treadwell and Herzog and Nature

Treadwell and Herzog have polar opposite views of nature. Treadwell feels its healing power; he believes that the grizzly bears and the Alaskan outdoors cured his alcoholism and are fulfilling his life's purpose. Herzog feels that nature has a rather grand indifference to the lives, goals, and existence of human beings, and he believes that the "common denominator" of all nature is destruction and murder.

I think that my view of nature is somewhat in between these two polarities. On the one hand, I acknowledge and feel the beauty of nature. It is enormous and vast and can fill a person, so I understand how Treadwell feels solace in the wilderness. My disagreement with Treadwell comes when he begins to believe that he can influence the lives of the bears. I think that Herzog is right about the impracticality of Treadwell's view of nature; there may be a kind of harmony within nature, but that harmony is contingent upon the sacrifice of some lives. Mourning the natural death of a grizzly cub at the paws of another bear is ridiculous; as humans, we have to accept that individuals are meaningless; it is our contributions to the greater circles of the world that give us meaning.

Treadwell sees the beauty and greatness of nature, but he also sees himself as a kind warrior and the protector of the bears. I see the beauty of nature, but I agree with Herzog that humans cannot interfere with nature in that way. I don't know if I agree wholeheartedly that nature's initial and intrinsic power is one of destruction and death, but I do believe that destruction and death are part of the greater beauty. Nature is neither perfectly good or entirely evil. It must be allowed to be a neutral force in order to function as it is meant to.

Poems on Nature (unit project)

January Sky

----------

The sky hates winter just as much as I.

He, too, feels paler,

drowned,

as his color recedes

like a horizon hairline.

The wind keens and soughs against him,

through him,

and he stings with bitter blunted cold.

For all his sweet murmurings

into the ears of summer trees’ soft leaves,

he now feels sharply stabbed by barren branches;

as if they found him out,

his cheats,

with hill and rain and sun and stars.

And, as the moon is brightest now

since moisture sleeps inside the earth

and doesn’t fog or haze,

the sky feels blinded,

night and day.

Yes, the sky hates winter just as much as I.

We both can feel ourselves

sleeping behind the sun

and dreaming oceans,

closer to the clouds.

***

It Snowed Today

----------

The skin under my fingernails

is blue today. Sleeping,

like the hardened earth

beneath this blanket --

like the bears

under this hardened earth.

It took the shape of the grass,

long since withered and crisped

from the filmy touch of autumn,

and it filled the spaces

between the blades.

It clings to the feathered boughs

of evergreens, cloaking them

under the guise of everwhite.

And it shrouds the hills,

like a whisper-breath of wind

kissing the leaves of a beech,

or like a sliding seeping tongue of wave

covering the roughness of the sand.

The beauty of the earth fades in and out

as the snow melts and falls

and the clouds collect, descend,

disperse and soar.

The snow, the melt, the sun, the freeze:

in week-by-week rations.

Today is winter.

***

Sonnet for Winter Sunrise

----------

When Sun comes orange-flying from his sleep

and Moon slips palely past the russet hills,

the frosted headstones shed their nighttime chills

and Daylight sweetly through the grasses seeps;

Then, climbing nimbly, warm and morning-burned,

the Clouds are tumbled ruffled feathered smooth.

And Lake and Sky feel clean: no dirt, no grooves

to force their always-union to adjourn.

Though Trees are bare and skeletal in frame,

and Grass is dry and muffled under snow,

and Sun himself no warmth or comfort brings;

the Morning welcomes something of the spring,

and Sunrise calls the greening things to grow:

And we can hope for blessings of the same.

My thoughts on Grizzly Man

When watching Grizzly Man, my first thoughts were that Timothy Treadwell seemed to be a little insane! The way he pet the bears and approached such large, wild, and dangerous animals went against the human instinct to protect ourselves from danger, which was unsettling to me. He challenged the normal boundaries between animals and human beings, and made the conscience decision to live with the bears. For this reason, Timothy and his girlfriend paid the ultimate price and were consequently eaten by one of the bears he loved so dearly.

It was evident that Timothy crossed the distinct line between animals and humans because he believed that human beings should become part of nature in the most literal way possible. We should embrace the life of the bear, and find peace in their simple way of life. The way that Timothy approached the bears suggested that he didn't believe that anything in the physical world could harm him - it was all good and wonderful. This is why it was such a shock to him when he saw the bodies of dead foxes and the remains of baby bears. Treadwell held the unrealistic belief that there was no evil within nature, and that it only served as a beautiful and therapeutic force. He was an idealistic version of nature, and failed to recognize it's reality.

The narrator of Grizzly Man, on the other hand, viewed nature as something that was powerful and overwhelmingly. He recognized the evil and murder nature composed, and the chaos it contained. When the fox and baby bear died, he understood this as the simple way of life and one of the inevitable circumstances of the physical world. Even though Herzog noticed and understood that nature was not always nice, he still saw the magnificent beauty of Earth. The images that Timothy Treadwell captured of the Alaskan wilderness were simply stunning, and Herzog truly appreciated this side of nature.

Treadwell and Herzog definitely had different perspectives of nature, and human beings place in the world. After watching the film, I think I agree with the way in which Herzog viewed the physical world. He understood that nature was sometimes ugly and harsh, but that it could be equally beautiful and magnificent. Like Herzog, I believe that there is a line between human beings and animals that should not be crossed because it is disrespectful to the animal and what it represents. Human beings and bears are different, and it is not our place to live among them or interact with them at such a close proximity. Timothy Treadwell crossed this line, and was killed because of it. In his final moments he was a victim of nature, and I believe that is when he truly understood that the physical world is not as picturesque as we wish it to be.

My Approach to Nature

When it comes to nature, I feel as if I relate more to Herzog. He seems to be more in touch with reality than Treadwell is. I do care for nature and the environment around us, don't get me wrong! But I would not go to the great lengths Treadwell went to because I feel like ultimately, it wouldn't make a difference in that specific environment and it was extremely dangerous. Herzog also specifies the danger behind nature, and although Treadwell acknowledges that the bears he is surrounded by are dangerous, that is all he seems to do. Acknowledges it. He doesn't seem very careful in the sense that he believes he can fully connect and communicate with the bears, which to me personally, seems unrealistic (the communication aspect, not the connecting.)

Herzog almost DID seem negative towards a lot of Treadwell's views, and that where this opinion on my perspective are hard to distinguish when being compared to both Treadwell and Herzog. Although I feel as if I relate more to Herzog in a logical and realistic sense, I also believe in Treadwell's determination and passion towards the natural world. Everyone is passionate about SOMETHING in their life, so I can relate on a personal level with Treadwell in that sense. And I also agree with the comment Herzog made that it was a way for Treadwell to be able to find himself as well.

Both of these individuals have viewpoints and made comments that I disagree with and agree with. But I would think I lean more towards Herzog's point of view. As I said before, he seems more in touch with the reality of things, and recognizes what things are feasible and safe, and what is not. I respect Treadwell's feelings and intentions but he put himself in a dangerous situation and seemed a bit unrealistic in his actions.

A Tonalist Use of Nature

Throughout history, there have been an abundance of artistic movements that explored the natural world and our place within it. Primarily, techniques are used in order to persuade or drive the viewer to depict nature in a specific light, as done in many Naturalistic paintings. Tonalism, a movement of art that includes equal parts of Naturalism and Romanticism, differs in that it focuses on the viewer’s experience in response to the nature depicted. Though it’s popularity was limited to the time period of 1880 through 1920, this movement had a strong impact on later art forms, such as Realism, due to its ability to address present societal difficulties through unique portrayals of the natural world, and emotionalism. Unlike other artistic movements, Tonalism utilizes the simplicity of nature and  unique visual techniques to expose the artists’ overarching purpose, to evoke a thoughtful and intimate experience for their audience.

Nature plays a crucial role in how Tonalist artists develop emotions within their pieces, and propose the purpose of these emotions to those exposed. Landscape paintings are most common for these artists to create because it usually simplifies the natural world for the viewer. The purpose of these landscape paintings is not to tell a story, but to create an “intriguing visual poem” (Cleveland) which causes the viewer to have an emotional experience (Glueck). George Inness, one of the first Tonalists, believed “the artist’s central task was to elicit an emotion from the viewer,” (Bissett), which was supported by Ralcy Husted Bell, a contemporary art critique, in his statement that “dramatic landscapes arouse an emotional intensity fed by the tragic associations of human experience” (Cleveland). Bell was referring to the difficulties that Americans were going through, such as reconstruction from the Civil War and the first World War, during the height of the Tonalist movement. As tonalist artists had aimed to reflect the emotions of the American people in their pieces, it is most common to feel melancholy or moody from the landscapes. These landscapes, though simple in contrast to other movements, were purposefully broad in order to focus on the emotionalism of the piece. It was a way for the artist to connect with more than just a select few viewers, and allow them to interpret the emotions for themselves. The atmosphere these early artists depicted were flooded with mysticism and depth, which enhanced the emotional experience of the viewer due to its almost spiritual-like intensity.

Tonalist paintings are sparsely decorated and simplified so not to distract the viewer from the details put into the color and effects of the landscapes. James A. M. Whistler was an American Tonalist who had a strong influence on the movement’s use of color and finish, one of which was the use of one hue mixed with every color on the palette (Cleveland) to create a painting of one tone. Perhaps the most important visual aspect of Tonalism is the traditional smoky quality that is seen in nearly every painting. This is a key aspect of the movement because it creates a bewitched hue that aids the viewer in developing a spiritual association that they would not have gotten from a clarified painting. Whistler was most famous for his piece Nocturne in Blue and Silver which highlights nearly every traditional Tonalist technique, from the detail the brush strokes, to the use of a dominantly neutral and cool palette, to the simple, calm, interpretation of natural elements. The depth and mysterious, almost haunting, detail put into Whistler’s Nocturne in Blue and Silver gives the impression Tonalist artists “favored unconscious states and psychological experiences over reality” (Cleveland) and had used the nature in landscape paintings as a way to portray these experiences to the public.

Tonalism utilizes the simplicity of nature and  unique visual techniques to expose the artists’ overarching purpose, to evoke a thoughtful and intimate experience for their audience.

The natural world had a great impact on the Tonalist movement as it built a foundation for the audience’s interpretation of the artist’s effort in evoking emotion. As the art form saw it’s highest popularity during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, melancholy and enchantment often reflected the lives of the audience at the time and sought to bring upon a view that strayed from reality. Artists like Whistler and Inness were some of the first to capture these emotions in their paintings and successfully develop a movement that changed the public’s emotional association with the natural world. Though it was a “low profile movement” (Glueck), it had influenced following artists to use some of the same techniques to attract a specific audience. Tonalism was an art movement that brought to light the realities of the present and used the familiarity of nature to blur the lines between what was real and what was a dream.

Whistler's Nocturne in Blue and Silver

American Culture and Complex Nature

    When people think of nature they think of trees the that guard the blazing hot sun from us in the summer, the weather that can change instantly, the birds that sing and wake us up on a spring morning, the dogs you see being walked downtown that you so anxiously want to pet. But what else is nature? Nature is the very aspect that shapes every human into their own person. Every moral, value, like, dislike a person has, effects their nature and in a bigger sense, affects America and its culture.
    Now.. when people think of American Culture, they think of music, food, books, and clothes. They typically go to the things they are most familiar with, such as THEIR FAVORITE music, food, books, and clothes. Every person, famous or not, has an impact on what you are wearing, eating, reading, and listening to every day. People do not realize how much other people influence our ways.
    Now that we have a picture of both of these topics, how do we put them together? When people are on social media, facebook, snapchat, instagram, or twitter they are constantly being exposed to other people and what those other people are eating, buying, reading, and thinking, every second of the day. Whether people realize it or not, we are taking that information in and it is being absorbed into our brains. So now, when we see that person in school, or out in public, all we can think about is that awesome day at the gym they had, or how delicious their food from that delicious new restaurant was. People depend on others opinions of them even if they say they don’t.
    Individualism is definitely an ironic thing because us as humans, are all about “being ourselves” yet, on the other hand, are constantly wanting others opinions of everything we do in life, or we wouldn't post about it, talk about it, or ask our friends about it. We as teenagers, especially, are constantly looking to our friends, family, and significant others to convey their opinion of what we are doing into us and to give us feedback on it. I know personally, I always go to my mom when I am upset, confused, and just don’t know what to do. In some ways, others opinions can be really meaningful and sincere, but at the same time, might not be exactly what we want to hear.
    American culture has always been teaching us about the “ideal person”. The prettiest, richest, skinniest, healthiest, nicest, person you SHOULD be. So why wouldn’t we as teenagers want to be how our society tells us to be? It’s not our faults, social media and other things expose us to the most expensive, cutest, most in fashion things and not expect every teenage girl to want to be that way.
    In today’s society it is known that the celebrities are the ones that we all look up to for the latest trends on food, clothes, shoes, hair styles, and music, but why? What makes that famous person any different than us? The fact that they have money, a TV show? Or that they can sing, dance, or act better than us? It is all about how you present yourself to your peers. As people would say, “confidence is key”. You could be the worst dancer, singer, or actor but as long as you are confident and expressing yourself in your own way, you are being unique.
    Every person is uniquely different, no two people have the same personality, every person likes and dislikes different things, and it is those simple things that make us unique. The fear of not belonging is frightening to us, we constantly want to be accepted in society and would do almost anything to not jeopardize that. We think that having our own opinions, likes, and dislikes, will make us unlikeable. People who are genuine people admire the people who are brave enough to stand up for themselves and can take advice or criticism without taking to heart, but by taking it in, and working on it.
    Now, I am not trying to say that people are incapable of expressing themselves, and being their own person. I am simply saying that American Culture, and society make it very hard for us to know what being unique is. It is in our nature to want to fit in and be someone we are not because we are afraid of being an outcast and not being accepted by society. American Culture is a very complex thing, and when you try and mix it with the nature of us as humans, it becomes much more complex, in the sense that, people try so hard to be themselves, and yet, society makes it so hard for that to happen.

The Secrets of the Traveling Space

Maddie Powers

Ms. Levin

Humanities Comprehensive

3/16/17

The Secrets of the Traveling Space

Have you ever been so connected with someone that when you’re apart your heart aches, but when you think about them you can’t help but smile? I have this relationship with my horse, Scout. To most people he may be just another horse, but he is everything to me. Scout and I are incredibly connected; the bond between us will never break regardless of any distance between us. Despite the fact that someday we will no longer be together, and I know that my heart will break on the day we part, my soul knows that he will always be with me. My bond with Scout is sacred. Because of this, regardless of where we go, the places we travel to also become sacred. In these sacred spaces, Scout has helped me develop self-worth, resilience and responsibility.

All horses have a certain undeniable beauty and dignity to them. However, Scout’s many different qualities make him my favorite horse. Scout is a strong, powerful gelding. He stands with his head held high and his curiosity showing. His eyes have a kindness like no other and a coat that shines as bright as the sun. Scout’s breed is a black and white tri-colored pinto. Because he is thirty seven and a half inches tall, Scout is considered a miniature horse.

I have learned many lessons over the years by spending time in my sacred space with my horse. For example, one of the most important lessons Scout has taught me is resilience. Three years ago my world with Scout turned upside down. It was my first horse show driving him. We got twenty feet into the ring when Scout became frightened and took off. I had no control over him and was dumped in the dirt. While I was lying in the dirt, my mind was both racing and wondering what had happened. Scout was running around the ring with the cart dragging sideways behind him, terrified. Many leaders and spectators worked together and eventually they caught him.

I am incredibly thankful that Scout came out with only a few minor cuts, and I came out with only a few bruises. After the show I worked and worked, spending countless hours trying to fix my failure. When I realized I could never fix him on my own, something in our relationship changed and I did not know how to fix what had been broken. Finally, I talked to some friends for advice and decided to get professional help.

Scout was sent to a trainer in Massachusetts to get the guidance he needed; he was there for six weeks. I drove an hour and a half every week to work with the trainer. After the six weeks, and a lot of practice, I was finally able to drive Scout with confidence. I had once thought that our special bond was broken, but I realized that we grew as a team and our bond became stronger than ever. I learned resilience because without it I could have lost my relationship with my sacred space forever.

My accident happened at the Cheshire Fairgrounds. The fairgrounds are where Scout and I have changed the most. Many of the horse shows we go to are at the Cheshire Fairgrounds. On the flipside of my accident, Scout and I have made amazing strides at the fairgrounds.  For example, one show in particular where we defied expectations was the New Hampshire 4-H State Horse Show. Friends and 4-H leaders were afraid of me trying to drive Scout again. They were afraid of another accident, but they did not know about all the work we put in. I was nervous for the show, but Scout and I trusted each other. We ended up doing very well at the show, and I could not have been more proud of Scout! As a team we qualified for the Eastern States Exposition down at the Big E. I was amazed. When I think about the Cheshire Fairgrounds I think about the history we have shared there. Because I have had the privilege of working with Scout at the fairgrounds, it has become a truly sacred space. Every place we go turns sacred because of the memories that are made between a partnership so strong that it will never disappear. When I reminisce about horse shows, I will always remember how sacred each place we have shown at. While every place we go, we grow, the Cheshire Fairgrounds will always hold a special place in my soul.

Another space that is sacred to me because of Scout is the barn where he lives. Every week I go to the barn. The barn’s hay and manure may not be all glorious, but it is still sacred because of Scout. He pushes me to work hard and follow through with my responsibilities. For example, an important chore I have to do every week when I’m there is mucking stalls. I hate mucking stalls. Not because it’s gross, but because I don’t like cleaning up after people who don’t do their share of the cleaning. When I’m there Scout drives me to do my chores, so that I can work or play with him. Even when I catch myself just standing there watching him play in the paddock, the barn is sacred. There is magic in the air that I only get when I’m around him. Scout turns the bad into good, and then all my cares disappear, I lose track of time and let my heart run free.

Pride, resilience and responsibility are important characteristics that some people never find. I was lucky enough to have Scout to guide me. He lead me through some tough times, but I always came out on the other side stronger. Scout took ordinary places and made them sacred. As a team, we made memories and crossed hard paths. Sacred spaces can be anywhere and can travel if you packed your suitcase and are up for the adventures of life. “ If you want to travel fast, go alone, but if you want to travel far, go together”.(African Proverbs)

Russian Folktales

Throughout my readings in Russian Folktales by Ivan I. Bilibin and Robert Chandler I have learned that the Russians have a beautiful way of writing their stories. They write them with beautiful artwork to portray the story that is being told. The author of the story Ivan uses his own name in the stories (most likely trying to interpret himself through his characters) the poems are very fun and interesting to read yet have a deeper meaning that can sometimes be overlooked. It's very interesting to have Russian in the poems and then being able to go look them up and figure out what they mean in English. The other often uses humans and animals in his poems, treating them as equals and gives the animals almost "human like" qualities. Throughout the poems Bilibin often uses the same characters just in a different story. At first he has his main character have three brothers and a few stories in he has three sisters. It's almost as though the poems are a big long story of tue same character, broken up into a bunch of little stories.

Nature vs. Nurture with Technology

Technology affects our natural world because you see people paying more attention to electronic devices rather than the beauty around us. There is a big issue with people who spend more time indoors with technology, rather than playing outside and enjoying nature. I believe that if you spend more time with technology rather than in nature, it all depends on where and how you grew up. Nurture plays a big role in this topic because who and where spend your time builds you as a person. For example growing up in a city vs. and a farm. I see a beautiful world around me that I should appreciate more. I try to control the way I handle my technology and also getting outside evenly.

Research Topic: Frank Sinatra

I had recently selected Frank Sinatra for my research project. My brother, Justin had always listened to him and would tell me how amazing he was. I want to learn more about him, and see how amazing he really is. When picking a topic I really thought this fit well. I want to learn more about Sinatra's music and how he lived. When reading more about Frank I hope to learn more about the culture of music. I hope to learn what influenced him to become a musician.

Kickboxing - My sacred space

A place that is sacred to me is going to my kickboxing class. There I am surrounded by friendly people with the same purpose as me. It is a small studio gym on Marlborough Street. They allow classes most nights of the week, and on Saturday mornings. When you first walk in, there is a burst of chilling air that makes you want to warm up. The room is filled with punching bags, yoga balls, weights, etc..

 It allows me to release built up anger and stress. The experience energizes me, and pushes me to work harder. I've built relationships with friends and my instructors. They all allow me to be myself, and push me to go the extra mile.

My time at Kickboxing influences my life by wanting to try and experience new things. It makes me a stronger person, with bigger ambitions to hold.

A Damaged Relationship with Nature

The relationship between humans and nature is damaged. Nature, which was once the center of our world, is know undervalued and taken for granted. It is possible that this change in appreciation is due to other factors other than the expanding of technology, but all signs point to technology as the divide between humans and nature. Nature is undervalued in that humans don't take the time to appreciate the beauty and wonders nature beholds. For example, today, New York City is one of the most visited places on earth, much more visited than the state parks. I think the lack of appreciation for nature can be seen in the amount of money that is invested into advancing technology, versus the amount of money our government put towards preserving and healing the environment.

In my life, I travel through big cities a lot to go to soccer tournaments. The disregard to the harm of nature is very concerning. While traveling through Long Island last weekend, there were countless of factories located on the shores, and the harmful chemicals being released into the waters are toxic. This again displays how the production of goods using technology is a higher priority than keeping the environment protected. The more damaged the relationship with nature becomes, the more damaged our earth will be. Sadly, disrespect towards nature can be seen in small towns like Keene as well. My road contains a swamp, and in the warmer days, it becomes a dumping ground for junk people don't want to keep. I've seen everything from sofas, televisions, and tires thrown into the swamp. In addition, beer cans and litter is scattered across many of the streets in Keene.

I hope one day more people can see the world as I see it. The world to me is a beautiful place. I don't know where my passion for the environment comes from, but I've always enjoyed the outdoors. With technological advances, nature can easily be forgotten, and we can forget the beauty that surrounds us. Technology is a distraction for humans, and I hope that one day nature can get the recognition is deserves. I think the children growing up today are growing up in a society that is desensitized to harming nature, which is a troubling sign. Children are surrounded by so many technologies, that they grew up with a skewed vision of nature truly is. In order to heal the earth, our relationship with nature needs to be repaired.

Pros and Cons of Technology in Nature

Today, in the twenty-first century, it seems that every human being has some sort of electronic gadget. A smart phone, laptop, kindle, touch screen this and touch screen that, the list of new technologies we use could go on forever. Now, although these new inventions have further empowered us as a species, while being useful and efficient to our everyday lives, it all comes with a major consequence. Technology, like everything in life, has good and bad aspects to it. Unfortunately, there are more downfalls to our advancements in the digital world than benefits. But that is just it, connecting to the digital world instead of the physical world, the nature around us. Technology has deprived and separated us from nature, pushing us away from our roots so far that the connection between human and nature has almost vanished.

In some ways, the digital world has improved our sense of our surroundings. Over time, the advancements of the camera have given us the ability to see the minuscule details in any picture or video just from our phones. Even action cameras, such as the GoPro, has allowed us to safely video our adventures through nature by skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and other activities with high definition. Cameras now give show us what we may often miss with the bare eye, further connecting and appreciating the nature we live in. Although, does today's society need technology to be able to see the beauty we are surrounded by? Before the time of technology, absolutely not. Today, we see nature through a screen first, then only to miss it with our own eyes afterwards.

The camera is great for seeing the things we may miss in nature, but the technology itself does more harm than good. I, personally, do not know a single person who does not have their smartphone on them at all times. Humans have become glued to their devices, as if we cannot be without the digital world in our pockets. We choose to be hunched over, scrolling through posts and pictures of nature as we walk through it, when instead we could simply look up and see the nature around us with our own eyes. It has become that sad reality of humans and nature being separated. What we have failed to realize is that nature does not need us. The physical world could very well thrive on its own without any human influence, but it is humans who can not live without nature.

The separation that technology has caused between humans and nature has affected my own life as well. Talking about negative aspects of a device glued to our hands is ironic, when I myself am guilty of this action. It seems that being a teenager in today's world means it is in your DNA to be attached to some sort of electronic gadget, which to me is sad. I see it on the sidewalks and the hallways of high school everyday, kids hunched over looking into social media rather than watching their surroundings while they walk. Again, the sad reality of this new generation. I also see it in my four year old cousin, who seems to love watching videos more than being outside playing in the snow, experiencing nature. So, not only are we teaching our new generations that technology is a necessity, but also that nature is not a beauty we need to continue our lives as a growing species. Perhaps in order to get back this vital relationship between mankind and nature is to eliminate technology all together.

Finding my sacred space

When I was younger I would go anywhere that was away from people and the man made objects we see everyday. I would constantly observe the wood near my grandmothers house and I came across a place that I automatically got an overwhelming sense of hope, love, and security. This is my sacred spot since the moment I found it. When I started to go to my sacred space I would start to feel like I belonged there, and this space made me feel all my emotions. The place I constantly went to was a wooden house build into the trees and it looked to be at least 5 years old.

The way it smelled made me feel at ease and relaxed. If I had a hard day at school or if I was in an argument with my friends I would go here and it would help me clear my mind and to calm down. This wooden house was my security blanket and sounds of the wood crackling under every step I took in the small wooden house I came to love. My sacred space is so beautiful. It is in the middle of nowhere, where no one would find me and I could be at peace with myself. I took time in my life to personailze the house and to make it mine. Spending all the time in my sacred space shaped my life. While I am in my space I am able to learn more about myself, in the quiet, reading, doin homework, whatever I need to do at the time, I am able to create a new being for myself. Without havin my sacred space I would not be who I am today and that little wooden house has so much meaning to me.

Lost in the Woods - My Sacred Space

Sacred space is a place where one can go and be consumed with their thoughts. It provides a sense of safety, but yet you don't feel restricted. In a sacred space, a person doesn't feel judgement, and it is a place where your thoughts can take shape and be examined without overwhelming you. Sacred spaces are often associated with religious means; however, many non-religious people have spaces they consider sacred, because they are spaces where they feel peace and calm. A space that is sacred to me is simply just the woods.

Being in the woods is very peaceful to me. The only sounds outside are the sounds of the wind and some creeks and rustling from other critters nearby. The space is sacred to me  because it is one of the few places where I am truly alone. While in the woods, I am able to breathe fresh air, and forget about the stresses that exist back at home whether its chores, school, family, relationships, or all the other stresses that come with being a young adult. The woods also is as close to nature as I can get. While in the woods, I leave behind technology and other distractions that allow me to be fully focused on my thoughts.

The experiences while in sacred spaces are usually soothing. In the woods, I feel calm and relaxed. My experiences while in my sacred space differ from just any quiet location. When I'm in the woods, there's something about the combination of fresh air and silence that allows me to fully concentrate on my thoughts. It helps me to become rational. For instance, in my room its easy to feel cramped and negative. When I'm in my sacred space, I am able to wrap my thoughts around an issue at many angles, which enables me to reflect on my experiences.

While in this space, I am much more clear headed. I need this time in order to slow down and reflect. Time within this space influences my life because it is also a place where I am able to think about difficult topics and form opinions. My time in the woods can help form my beliefs and opinions because it is the time where I am the less biased. It can also influence my life because my sacred space is also a place I go when I need to make tough decisions. With my sacred space, my purest thoughts are able to be revealed, which influences the beliefs in which I live my life. 

Angels and Death Gods

The book that I read was “The Mysterious & Unknown: Angels,” by Stuart A. Kallen. The concepts of evil spirits, death gods and angels are extremely unique pertaining to how they came to be based on different culutre. In American culture and religion, death gods are either good OR bad. They can be viewed as angels or an eil spirit, and I can see why that is so. Angels usually have a positive connotaion when dicussing them, while evil spirits and demons are exactly what tey sound like...evil.

I really do have a whole new persepctive on demons and angels as I found out more information on them. It’s truly not what we see on tv, it’s so much more than that. Things such as the afterworld (the space between heaven and earth), and there is a lot of greek mythology involved as well, which I really idn’t have a clue about. There are also many specific angels and demons that people believe in strictly, which I also didn’t know. There is a lot more information that I had ever thought, and learning about American culture and religion is new and exciting as well. I’m eager to keep researching and learning more.

Experiences of The Eyes

Technology has made a direct, negative impact on our experience of nature. Over the years we have made great advancements in technology that have their benefits, but they also ruin how we view the natural world and what we do within it. Before I dive into this topic, let me propose a few questions that I would like you to think about. How often do you go outside just for the sake of being outside? Why do you have a phone? What would you do to fill up your day if televisions and computers did not exist? Keep these in mind as you continue reading. 

There is no better setting for this topic than Mt. Monadnock. Of the few times I have hiked this mountain, I have never had my phone out as I made my way up, and as I trekked down. Why? Well, for one, I would probably fall and get seriously injured. Mostly, however, because I can better enjoy the beauty of the mountain through my own eyes than a screen. When I reach the summit, I often take out my phone to take pictures. This is something that I will work on next time that I go. If you think about it, pictures can capture some of the beauty, but it cannot capture the whole experience from head to toe. A camera cannot recreate the wind as it brushes your skin, or the shifting of your sight from the rock of the summit to the trees and city below and then to the sky. It is just not possible to capture the whole experience of being on the summit.

We view the natural world as a place for our own desire and benefit, not as a being in itself. There are many opinions in that the Earth has its own energy flowing throughout its roots, and as intelligent living beings we should know to pay more attention to the actual Earth that we live on. There is a possibility that this energy can be felt by every human being, I just find that technology has hindered our ability to do so. How can we build this connection with the land if we never go outside because of the latest Netflix original series, or because of the work we have to type up on our computers? We need to recognize that technology is going to get more advanced and the Earth is going to get more sick. It is our duty to create a better relationship with the Earth before it is too late, because in the end there will be no need for technology if there is not a planet for it to exist on. 

The Farm Barn at Kroka - My Sacred Space

One of the spaces in my life I consider sacred is located at my long time summer camp and also the base camp of the program I will spend a semester in Ecuador through this fall. My sacred space is the "Farm Barn" at Kroka Expeditions in Marlow, NH. Kroka is an organization that offers summer camps and semester programs for children/teenagers ages 9-19, interested in learning about nature and conscious living. Their mission statement, practiced throughout every physical and mental aspect of the organization, is "Kroka Expeditions is committed to awakening in young people a connection to nature and the spirit within, and a capacity for conscious living and compassionate service. We strive to achieve this through wilderness adventure, community living, farming, and the practice of traditional and indigenous skills."

The Farm Barn at Kroka was built to support the farming they do at their base camp. Many Kroka alumni, current students and generous donors worked together to construct a barn to both house their large farm animals (a horse and cows) and process food for students, staff and local community members. After participating in many summer programs, I chose to volunteer as a farm apprentice in the summer of 2016. This was the first summer that the brand new Farm Barn was available for use; I speak of the barn specifically as my sacred space, but in truth, any space I am with my Kroka family is sacred to me. I felt especially drawn to the Farm Barn as a sacred space for me because of the individual time I got to spend here - the past summers I had spent at Kroka had been with a group of ~10 other girls, but last summer, I was much more independent and in charge of myself as an apprentice rather than a student.

In summer 2016, I came to Kroka with a love for animals, but learned a lot about how to handle and work with them. Living in the Farm Barn, there are five cows and a draft horse used for hauling wood and other materials and tools. Throughout the day, I worked with the animals; feeding and watering, exercising and bonding with them. I think that these animals make this beautiful space even more special because there is a constant essence of love and innocence in the space. Another part of the space that I adore is its capability to process the raw foods grown on the farm into more complex foods. There is a walk-in freezer used to store the organically grown fruits and vegetables; a milk room used to process milk from the cows and make it into cheese and yogurt; tools for cleaning and packaging eggs from the chickens. This barn makes me feel so much more connected to the Kroka community and the most raw and real parts of my soul because I am caring for creatures I love and working to provide nourishment and joy for my family and myself.

To be even more specific about the setting, my favorite time of day in the barn is at night when the sun was setting; dinner was at six every night and after I finished eating with other apprentices and counselors, it was my job to put the animals inside for the night. I loved getting to know each of the animals’ unique and beautiful personalities. Seeing the calves interact with their mothers and being able to take Brita, the horse, for evening rides as the sun set on the horizon each night brought an unmatchable sense of peace, calm and oneness with myself and my world on those warm summer nights.

Often when I am in an undesirable mindset or situation in my life, I find myself barefoot, sore muscles from working all day and hair wet from a dip in the pond, relinquishing the last minutes of daylight at the Farm Barn at Kroka.

I’ve attached some pictures of my time here if you’d like a better visual picture of my sacred space.