As I sat at my local coffee shop sipping my artisanal latte
I had an epiphany. What is with it with people reading at coffee shops and why
has it become such a universally accepted thing. Not that I am one to talk, here
I am drinking coffee and reading what seems to be the longest not so short
story ever by Alice Munro. Well drinking is the same eating so why is that
reading the dinner table is considered rude, and reading at a coffee table is
more than just the norm but considered weird if you doing anything else (tested
that one by playing temple run on full volume in a quite café). The thing the
stuck me is that this isn’t something that’s just a thing in India, but it
happens worldwide, so how or rather where did this universal tradition come
from? From my understandings afternoon is considered to be a moment of relaxation
therefore a coffee in needed to wake you up, but doesn’t reading a novel just
make on want to fall back asleep? I did a little research on ye old faithful
internet and found a few interesting theories. First of all people who sit
alone at coffee shops don’t look “lonely” if their noses are buried in books,
which is actually quite clever, points to that kid. Secondly the amount of caffeine in your
coffee and how much you actually understand from the book go hand in hand. Finally
international corporate companies such as Starbucks and Barnes and nobles push
one to indulge in both their products at once by putting their shops inside each
other by selling this ideal of comfort in a chair with a book in one hand and a
coffee in the other. They obviously have a secret agenda but the truth of the
matter is, I too indulge in this international tradition and can honestly say I
enjoy it, so I will go back to my not so short story and my latte. Byrista
(coffee humor)
Post 2
Over this
summer the idea of archetypes were something that stood out to me. I am not
sure why, but after seeing multiple plays and constantly rereading the tempest
was getting to me to the point where I was seeing a recurring role which in a
sense made me curious about the basic archetypes good and evil. Looking back at
my life I could see that there are extremes but not in my everyday life. I
decided to reflect on myself and see where I fit on this scale of archetype
extremes.
I am many
things. The little intricate details make me. I reflect myself and my family
both physically and mentally. If one had to pick an archetype that most fits me
they would choose the innocent but I see myself as a rebel.
Carl Gustav
Jung a psychologist came up and used this theory of archetypes to help us better
understand the human psyche. He came up with a concept which would help us
identify and relate to common types of people in stories and life. He believed
that we all could relate to these characters/archetypes from our collective
unconscious. There are a variety of different archetypes from the bold and
courageous heroes to the rebels.
The rebel in
me comes out every day. In context of my family my rebellious qualities are
quite bold. Being the oldest in a family one is expected to set a good example
for the younger children but in the eyes of my parents I am not a good role
model because I do the opposite of what they ask. Small examples include not
listening to simple commands like clean your room to or large ones like
sneaking out. By managing to lock myself
out from them, tension has been raised. Disrupting family traditions and
etiquettes by shocking actions has cast me out to be an outlaw. Love was once
there for and in me but with the years of hurt, anger, and pain my mind has
automatically turned off to building strong relationships with my family and
peers.
My biggest
fears are of being the worst in activities which I practice strenuously in and
enjoy. Dance being one of these, is something I have received adulations in.
Dance has always brought joy to both me and my family and it is one of the only
things we can connect in. Being average is out of the question for me because
when there are people who excel me I feel like I have lost the only connection
I have with my family. Being ineffective in what I love the most is both scary
and motivational for me.
In my recent
17 years I have not displayed my rebellious qualities publically because I did
not see the need to show them. Society sees me as they do every other teenager
rebellious and repulsive. Acting without thinking. The only intentional way I make
myself to be is strong. Weakness for me is looking weak and powerless as for I
feel people will have leverage over me and can easily manipulate me. Coming
from a country where crime is at a high toll I’ve been taught how to act in
order to sustain myself in society. Almost every woman can relate and think I
may have gained this quality from family stories.
