Reflective June 2021
A Paradise Built in Hell, The Lion's Song, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Muddling through Sanitation Swamp Thesis.
Dear reader, carbon-based humans, meaning maker, earth habitant,
I reflect my June on my reading, gaming experience, movie experience, and thesis work. Here’s how they go.
June's Reading - A Paradise Built in Hell
I bought a secondhand book titled 'A Paradise Built in Hell'. Order it in early June and it came three weeks after. Haven't read that far actually. Just 50 pages deep. Nonetheless, I enjoy the reading. Six out of five stars. It's about stories during times of crisis, disaster aftermath. How ordinary people rise above the disaster and act altruistically, and bravely.
"This book is an account of that rising from the ruins that is the ordinary human response to disaster and of what that rising can mean in other arenas - a subject that slips between the languages we have been given to talk about who we are when everything goes wrong."
It's an optimistic sincere book. Let's leave it at that now. Would reflect deeper later when I finish the book.
Here's my favorite quote so far.
We speak mostly of happy and sad emotions, a divide that suggests a certain comic lightness to the one side and pure negativity to the other, but perhaps we would navigate our experiences better by thinking in terms of deep and shallow, rich and poor.
June's Video Game - The Lion's Song
A narrative and inventory adventure game. The story comes in four episodes with interconnected storylines. Each character in every episode has their own creative struggle and endeavor. Well, some might say Math subject is not a creative subject but I would argue problem-solving needs creativity, including building a theory.
The game is calming. The pixel art is amazing. Each episode felt like a tale waiting to be heard. Several important decisions must be made and some affecting the story development. Oh, and at the end of each episode, there are percentages showing me how many people took the same decisions. In one sense, I felt distinct and unique because of it. In the end, it also made me feel common, that I am normal but not an outcast, not a cog that could be replaced anytime.
June's Movie - Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 4 Ep 8-10
Some of you might not into star wars or might not into animation but hear me out. During these episodes, clone troopers, the white armored guy who barely shoot anybody in Star Wars movie get their moment to shine. Long story short, clones are replicated men specifically bred for war. During this film series, we get to know some clones' names and even characters. Now, there are parts where their general told the clones that their enemy has stolen their uniforms and weapons on the other side. Their task is to stop their advance and neutralize their threat. And so, spoiler alert, there is no real enemy. The clones were fighting each other. Fortunately, they don't totally kill each other. It stopped halfway.
It got me thinking (a bit far-fetched), just how do we perceive (or romanticized) the notion of us against the world even though each of us is just struggling the same. Like it's not a royal rumble to find last human standing. It's not we're intended to be evil. It's not me against the world. It's just me stuck in an organized irresponsible world (It would take another article to explain this very last sentence).
June's Thesis Work - Data Collection
I did my interviews and other data collection method. Not as smooth as it planned. Well, I'm still grateful that I'm still on the game. A plan always changed. At least, it gave me a glimpse of what's possible. To graduate before September is still possible so far.
I really want to reflect on my thesis in this newsletter but I'm afraid I cannot do it now. It would not be funny if I ended up self-plagiarizing myself.
Anyhow, four weeks ago, I lose the ability to imagine, to hope, and to believe in my own work. Current me have faith that I will do just fine. No, it will not be smooth but I have the strength to endure what will come. And well, rough seas make good sailors. Also, we need a pair of strong wings to be able to soar into the sky.
That's how my reflection on my June. Stay safe, stay awesome, and I'll see you next month.
Signing out,
Julivius