The Beltracchi Question:

Wolfgang Beltracchi created paintings in the style of famous artists that fooled experts for years. While replicated art such as paintings and even covers of songs may not be seen as original, I would consider them to be art. I would actually classify a lot of art as a form of imitation or at least inspired by someone or something. Because of this, I have trouble drawing a line, or having a point where imitation is no longer art.

Originality vs. Technique:

Beltracchi used his trained extraordinary artistic abilities freely, and in this case to imitate others. The question of originality vs. technique made me think of skilled tattoo artists that use photos or work by another artist as stencils, or singers that have someone write songs for them. Despite a lack of originality, I would consider both of these examples to still be art. Unique personality or technique is inevitably present in all forms of art, even imitation. Just because the naked eye or experts may not be able to distinguish small differences, it doesn’t mean they aren’t there.

The Value Paradox:

I think the fact that Beltracchi’s work only sold for millions of dollars when they were thought to be authentic shows the fact that despite whether or not one see’s imitation as art, originality is a deeply rooted human value. Despite the saying “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”, being copied or disregarded for one’s efforts is frustrating, which I see as a reason for people to value their own and others’ individuality. Along with this, I would say that people tend to look for one figure or group to idolize or give credit to for something, whether it be political ideologies, global affairs, and even smaller scale things like technological advancements and art. Because of this, I consider external factors like authorship to be more influential to many people’s appreciation of artwork.

Artistic Intent:

As I said previously, I would consider a lot of art to be a form of imitation. If using an object or being as a reference can be seen as a form of imitation, I would say that it goes the same way for artistic forgery. Despite this, traditional artists incorporate more personal interpretation when creating art, contrary to those who practice forgery. In examples like these I would say that intent has a larger impact on a possible scale of originality, not on whether or not it is really art.

How is knowledge more valuable than ignorance?

The Epic of Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh begins as a king whose ignorance about mortality ultimately led him down a path of destruction and oppression as a leader. The death of Enkidu and Gilgamesh’s search for immortality resulted in knowledge and insight, even though the newfound information was a hard pill for Gilgamesh to swallow. When faced with the truth through Utnapishtim, Gilgamesh’s trajectory of life changes. While discovering mortality could be seen as devaluing someone’s life, raising the question of the meaning of life, etc., Gilgamesh’s newfound knowledge led him to value his life, legacy, and those of others. By accepting the inevitability of death allowed Gilgamesh to achieve deeper wisdom and compassion, proving even when difficult, knowledge is infinitely more valuable than ignorance.

Genesis

Even though in the story of Genesis the pursuit of knowledge plays a huge role in the fall of mankind, it acknowledges that knowledge is essential in experiencing life to the fullest. Despite the burdens Adam and Eve faced after eating from the tree of knowledge, flaws can be seen as what makes us human. Knowledge of good and evil allows people to feel a full array of emotions and grow as people. Similarly to The Epic of Gilgamesh, understanding vulnerability fosters compassion and places a higher value on human life. Knowledge is truly a transformative force, and in this case allowed humans to grow, procreate, and have the human experience of fear, anger, joy, grief, and more.

Oedipus

In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus’ pursuit of knowledge becomes both his strength and his downfall. His determination to understand the prophecy, or the truth, despite warning shows how knowledge can be both liberating and destructive. Oedipus’ inevitable fate was so unbearable that he blinded himself as a result, further pushing the idea of how knowledge can open old wounds, rather than bring closure. Regardless, the truth is that Oedipus would have been the most blind if he had not discovered the truth. Similarly to Gilgamesh, initially blinded by ego and ignorance, Oedipus’ discovery of the truth allows for acceptance, and in this case accountability. Ultimately Oedipus is a more morally developed person by the end of the story.

Punishment has always been a confusing topic to me, as I’m not sure what makes a person truly good or evil. When focusing on simpler things, like one’s physical actions, it is easier to distinguish whether or not something was done maliciously. Despite this, I often find myself empathizing with people who have grown up in an environment where violence or disrespect is normalized. I believe that people can do evil without being evil. I’m not sure if this means that people themselves can’t be evil, but I do think that upbringing has a huge impact on behavior.

I have never found myself trying to justify my good fortune, but I do find myself feeling grateful for privileges I was born into, like being a citizen of a first world country, and trying to make the most of the opportunities I was given. I can imagine how hard it would be to continue doing the right thing in an environment where you do not get ahead, or maybe even get put at a disadvantage because of it. I think in cases like these natural instinct and religious affiliation can positively affect one’s behavior even during difficult situations. Growing up without religious guidance has made me assume that man’s suffering is caused by another man’s actions. Experiencing loss has made me question God’s existence, and I feel that I could spend my whole life trying to understand something that I never will.

To me, the book of Job represents human’s way of justifying suffering in a world with God. Christianity relies heavily on the belief that one will be punished or rewarded in the afterlife, based on their actions and intentions in life. This fact and the book of Job’s contents lead me to believe that they are strategies to keep one’s devotion to God throughout life regardless of hardships. As it is a confusing topic to me, I’m not really sure if this is positive or negative. I think that in most cases being closer to God leads people to behave in ways they see to apply to the Bible, usually in a positive way valuing morals like truthfulness and kindness, which could be another influence on people to behave ethically.

a. Emily Dickinson’s poem is very similar to Adam and Eve leaving the Garden of Eden. The first lines of Dickinson’s poem suggest that Eden may not be what we expect or value. “Eden is that old-fashioned House / We dwell in everyday” (lines 1-2). Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden without understanding the privilege of their innocence until it was gone. The next lines, “Without suspecting our abode, / Until we drive away” (lines 3-4) connects to how Adam and Eve being expelled from the Garden of Eden was a result of their own disobedience. The following piece, “How fair, on looking back, the Day / We sauntered from the Door” (5-6), represents Adam and Eve’s innocence when leaving Eden, soon transforming to knowledge and regret when they understand they can no longer return, just like in Dickinson’s poem. “Unconscious our returning / Bit discover it no more” (7-8).

b. In a way, I feel that Adam and Eve’s leaving of Eden was necessary. God made humans to be complex and emotional creatures, and the lack of knowledge seems to defeat the purpose of humans’ unique souls. Despite the more serious side of being unable to return to a treasured or nostalgic place represented in Dickinson’s poem, I see Adam and Eve as a story of strength and the ability to be independent. Similarly to how some parents coddle their children, Eden is safe but restricts knowledge. Knowledge of good and evil is important to form opinions and develop maturity. Innocence is a common trait of children, and just like Adam and Eve, people must eventually learn to adapt to a world where evil does exist. Leaving my hometown and family is overwhelming, but more than anything I am excited to become independent and maintain relationships with the people from my Eden.

c. I am the most worried that relationships with my friends and family will change. It is hard for me to connect with people on a close level, so I deeply value my close friends. Distance from people I love makes me anxious, so moving out will definitely be a big adjustment. Although I know things will be different when I return from college, it is important to acknowledge who has been there for me.

Some of the most valuable lessons I have learned have been through observation. I grew up in not a hostile, but tense household. I lost my father when I was very young, so having a 31-year-old single grieving mother was hard growing up. Seeing someone I look up to and ask for advice be affected so negatively by a situation out of her control opened my eyes to real world struggles from a young age. My sister and I saw plenty of emotions growing up and have become observant people because of it.

A lot of the lessons I learned growing up went without saying. I learned very young that nothing is permanent. Leaving an entirely different life behind after losing my father was extremely hard on my family, making change hard to accept. Loss and frequently moving growing up made me nervous to settle and feel comfortable. Despite the anxiety it caused, I would consider it to be a good lesson and has made me more prepared for changes in my life.

I took on a very parental role from a young age after losing my dad, so my relationship with my mother wasn’t as typical as others. Putting others first has been important to me since I was little, as I felt responsible for my siblings and mother at times. Learning to prioritize myself during hard times took me years to realize. Staying true to myself while doing what is right have shaped my morals and made me a more empathetic person.

The fact that many of my most valuable lessons have been learned on my own make them even more important to me. As someone who is more of a listener than a speaker, I tend to read people well and feel that my experiences have made me a more open-minded person in general. Understanding that people are so much more than they who present as has made me feel more connected to others without it being said.

Speaking on a general social level, all life is seen as valuable from birth. Scientifically proven facts regarding the chances of one being born the way they have contributed to this value and highlight the fact that it is truly one in hundreds of trillions that you were born. Despite this, the importance of life seems to sometimes be forgotten with age, for example, people walk by homeless people on the street every day without looking their way. I would argue that there is no true or definitive meaning of life, buy many consider it to be the legacy they leave, or impact they have on other’s lives.

5 things I wish to have before I die

1. To be doing what I love

I am passionate about leading and teaching others. While coming out of my shell has been a big part of my growing up, I continue to work every day to make others comfortable and be a better person. To me, one of the most important things is making it known to others that they are not alone in any hardships in life. In my view, becoming a teacher and providing a comfortable atmosphere for my students would be my ultimate goal to be doing what I love.

2. To be able to continue to express myself artistically

I have always been a creative person and intend to continue pursuing art into my adult life. As a quieter person, expressing my emotions through art has always relieved me of stress. Regardless it be making sculptures in ceramics, or expressing myself through piercings and my clothes, it is important to me to remain in touch with something that has been so important to my development.

3. A loving partner and family of my own

Maintaining relationships with my current friends and family is important to me. Despite a sort of complicated family, relationships with others have shaped my morals. Looking forward, I am excited to hopefully get married and settle down. I hope to be able to raise children of my own and be the best mother I can be. I also intend to continue reaching out and making more connections with friends.

4. Cats of my own

I absolutely love my cats, but they have favorites. My cat Presley is obsessed with my stepdad Rick, and my other cat Puff is always following my mom. I would like to be a cat’s favorite owner.

5. Peace and comfort in how I have led my life

I hope that at the end of my life, I am proud of who I have become. I hope that I feel that I have been true to myself, regardless of whether or not everyone is supportive of it. To me, this means continue to follow what I have listed above.

While the things I have listed may be specific to myself, values like being a caring person can apply to anyone. For me, doing what I love makes me happy, and I think that everyone should be doing something they enjoy, as work is such a large part of one’s adult life. Whether it comes to customer service, or teaching, if you don’t enjoy your job, it is difficult to do it well. More positive people in professional environments would make society operate more smoothly. Expressing oneself is important to a diverse society, and the overall confidence of the general population. Not feeling pressured into acting or dressing a certain way is crucial to self-expression. I think that many people value family, sometimes depending on upbringing. Valuing family has been seen globally throughout history, but specifically to the United States it could be observed in the idea of the “American Dream”. This dream seemingly always surrounds a stable family and income.

Utnapishtim replies to Gilgamesh’s painful search for immortality with simplicity: “There is no permanence” (106). Regarding humanity as a whole, this quote refers to the fact that no one can avoid death. Regardless of power or wisdom, no one can outsmart the inevitable. Utnapishtim’s response also pertains to the fact that nothing on Earth is physically permanent. This fact evokes different emotions out of different types of people, sending some into spiral, and some into a never-ending quest for power. On one hand, people dedicate their lives to creating a legacy that they see as honorable, in an attempt to become eternal. On the other hand, people spend time devoting themselves to the ones they love, intending to make a positive impact on their family or others despite personal gain.

As seen in the Epic of Gilgamesh, relationships with others create a sense of meaning to one’s being. As Endiku and Gilgamesh’s become great companions, Gilgamesh becomes more in touch with reality and his subjects. Despite the fact that Endiku’s death could be seen as the beginning of the fall of Gilgamesh, it shows that no matter positive or negative, relationships do affect one’s outlook on life.

In general, the notion of impermanence is represented in our world through the fact that humans understand that they will die, something that is unique from other creatures. Obviously aside from human impermanence, our environment is everchanging as physical objects do not last forever either. Mortal humans create a sense of order in a constantly changing environment through social and legal organization such as countries’ governments and policies used and passed down through generations. While policies and organizations change with time, order is maintained through general principles in founding documents such as the Constitution.

Harry Potter, Star Wars, Hercules and more can all be seen as building blocks for one’s personal idea of a hero. These staples of childhood are all examples of how heroes become more complex when faced with adversities that test their character. Only with age will people develop their own meaning of a hero, through personal experiences and judgements. Heroic behavior in general can be described as making the right decisions. Despite plenty of classic literature and films do not include women as the main protagonists, it doesn’t mean it isn’t possible. Female main characters in general are becoming more common and will positively affect future generations opinions on heroic characters.

While one could argue that heroes follow a moral code of conduct, it’s important to notice controversial or difficult decisions for the character. Relatability is an important aspect of modern heroes, acting as motivation for people to keep going regardless of failure or difficulties. Fictional heroes are important for the development of young minds, gaining morals and confidence. While this pertains to fictional heroes, it does not apply to modern day and historical political “heroes”, as in many cases people form extreme opinions based on the public opinion usually in their area. Admiring others for their values and actions is reasonable, but throughout history political discourse has followed people idolizing others as God-like figures.

Bertolt Brecht once said, “Unhappy the land that needs heroes”. I believe that this quote regards heroic figures, crucial to childhood development. Hard working people should be recognized in society, and it is important that children learn that making good choices reflects on one’s character.