“We mask our fears about our morality in the importance we place on the death of celebrities.” (Janaro & Altshuler) pg 448
Personally, I always thought it was weird how people mourned celebrities as if they knew them. As if it’s a significant moment in history and a sad one at that. I don’t really have any personal connection to any celebrities and I don’t feel as if I’m attached in any way so that might the reason why. I also am not obsessive over celebrities as many people are as I really couldn’t care as it has no effect on my life. I’m not trying say the sadness people feel when celebrities die isn’t real I just can’t relate to those emotions.
“A prevalent idea about death is that it doesn’t really exist, that life continues beyond the grave.” ( Janaro & Altshuler) pg 456
I think the concept of life after death is much easier for people to cope with rather then that life really does end and for this reason I think religion’s often use this as an exploitation. From Christianity with people being able to repent for their sins with money or other commodities. To rising terrorist groups promising eternal happiness in the afterlife in exchange for the lives of easily manipulated kids. Even Norse mythology had the concept of Valhalla to ensure fearlessness on the battlefield. All of these religions used the concept of an afterlife to bring fortune in the current life. I also, don’t believe that’s all these religions do as in pure practice almost all religions are peaceful.
“A contrary belief is that art should reveal the truth of human experience, some of it life-affirming, some of it not; and we harm ourselves by hiding from the truth.” (Janaro & Altshuler) pg441
I believe that humans learn from their past and without shedding light on all of the past good and bad we as a species will not learn collectively. The bad is just as necessary as the good in my eyes. The worst parts of humanity are what we can learn the most from so that we don’t repeat the same mistakes. I believe in our current society we try and protect people and not share the bad and this only weakens our society as a whole.
Janaro, R. P., & Altshuler, T. C. (2017). The Art of Being Human: the Humanities as a Technique for Living (10th ed.). Boston: Pearson.
