15/06/05

Goya, The Sleep of Reason Engenders Monsters , from Los Caprichos, 1799.

Travelling in life's journey, a man went astray and found himself alone in the woods. Exhausted, he lapsed into a deep sleep where he was propelled into a wilderness of the dark and dreary.

Amongst the many, this etching from the 18 th century Spanish Artist, Francisco de Goya (1746-1828) presents his work of art as a social critique. The importance of reason is crucial to the social harmony and function of society. The world in which we live, dream, love and aspire is purified by reason. When reason of rational thought is absent, then the emergence of superstitious themes, unnatural and barbaric thoughts may arise. Considering Goya's concern for destruction of war through his The Disasters of War collection, reason is also polluted by war and madness. The madness and evil took form in the physical world as cats, owls and bats, winged, furred and fanged; they leaped into the night, and filled the skies with frightening presence and uncertainty. Perhaps this is a calling to wake up and see the insanity, to see the suffering, and to change.

Yet he sleeps.

- Lucy Fang

 

 

 

 

 

01/03/05

Introduction

Ok, seeing this is my first entry I guess I should introduce myself. My name is Angella Nhan and I'm pretty certain when I say this, nice to meet you. Just a little bit on my thoughts and current state of mind, I'm not really sure what kind of person I am. I'm not sure whether I am optimistic or pessimistic or somewhere in between. There are certain things expected of you in this society, so as I run around uni, meet new people, go to parties I uphold what most people expect. You know, the regular small talk and chit chat, how are you, how were your holidays, oh that's great, that's great to hear are common phrases. To say I do this out of proper conduct is not an accurate assessment because really I do enjoy making conversation. Does this mean I am an optimistic person? Because I really mean it when I say “that sounds great” and my smile is always genuine (or so I think). Even if I don't want to smile just the thought that believing in being happy and bringing a smile to somebody else's face is enough to make me beam. Over the past couple of years I learnt a life skill, if you smile and act all genuine and happy then the dynamics and energy you create is so positive that the repercussions actually trick you into having a good time. A definite natural high! However there is a gloomy me. They've been many moments in my life I wish I could change and the sense of regret becomes so strong that it consumes my sleep. I'm a person of many regrets and probably destined to always be. I also have a fascination with Barbara Yung and Sylvia Plath, both dead and both share the same cause of death, suicide. It's not a healthy thing to be fascinated with but at least I admit it. They are people I feel I can relate to (both although I am no where near as talented and beautiful as those two) and through the way they lived their lives I hope to one day find peace in my own.

The task of introducing oneself is bewildering. Some people talk about their jobs, others talk about their studies, and other common gloss overs are sports, music, readings, hobbies, nationality and sexual orientation. There are many things you can learn about a person from their introduction, how they introduce themself is how they want you to perceive them and/or want you to know about them. If upon first meeting and a person introduces themself to you as gay then obviously not only are they gay but because they feel defined by such role they can't but identify themself as one, and immediately. If they talk about their nationality then obviously they believe their nationality has played a significant role in their development as a person. So I present to you what I believe has shaped me as a person – thoughts, reasons, empathy and compassion.

- Angella