final exam 12/16

Final exam 12/16/2011

1.b)
2.d)
3.b)
4.c)
5.c)
6.a)
7.c)
8.b)
9.a)
10.b)
11.a)
12.a)
13.b)
14.a)
15.d)
16.c)
17.d)
18.c)
19.d)
20.b)
21.b)
22.c)
23.a)
24.d)
25.c)
26.d)

Benjamin VS. Junger

Assignment: Compare Benjamin and Jünger's views on photography. Why does Jünger refer to the camera as the "evil eye". How does Benjamin's views compare?

      Junger views on photography are negative or evil rather than positive or good. It captures and records images of past events that were destructive, violent and evil. It demonstrates the aftermath of war and the pain individuals encountered during these memorable events. He states, “One can tell that the event photographed is seen by an insensitive and invulnerable eye”. To not recognize the pain and suffering of the photographs show humans are not vulnerable or sympathetic. These photographs exhibit malicious acts of our own people being murdered, hurt and tortured. According to Junger photography is the cruel way we view situations. “It is a kind of evil eye” as Junger said.

      Benjamin views on photography were positive, useful and good. With photography a person can examine and analyze images in a way other materials can’t. It let us see the unknown or a moment lived in a prior time. It is up to us to enjoy the images or not. It makes the images come alive instead of being a mystery or being unrealistic. It takes art to another level in which is not only considered traditional or religious. Art can help individuals get a visual outlook of what occurs around them. Photographs freezes the moment occurring in the images so we can analyze it from different angles or aspects. It helps us become more knowledgeable of past history and connect it to present events. In my opinion photography can demonstrate evil events but it can also help us individuals to realize the events that occurred in the past. It is up to us and government to use it for evil or something positive.

Quiz #2 

1. Which critical event happened in January 1919 in Germany?

A.  Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht are murdered in Berlin

2. What article in the Weimar Constitution gave the legal pretext to suspend liberty?

A.  Article 48

3 . Which political party was the most dominant after the German revolution in 1918-1919?

C.   Social Democratic Party (SPD)

4. What does Völk mean?

C.   People

5. What are the three forms of domination (authority) that Weber speaks of and describe what they are?

(1)Charismatic Domination: it is found in a leader or master whose goals and visions inspire others. It is mostly based on the intellectual characteristics of a individual. Leaders take advantage when individuals start losing hope or interest.

       (2)Traditional Domination: This is the type of authority where the traditional rights of a powerful and dominant individual or group are accepted and passed down. It can be religious, sacred  and changing to another culture or family structures.

      

       (3) Rational-legal Domination: it is the belief in the content of the law (legal) or natural law (rationality). Weber thought that legal-rational authority was a perfect example of bureaucracy (political or economic).

6.Weber defines the state as...

               D.   an organization that monopolizes the use of force in a territory

       7. What year did Hitler assume power in Germany?

C.   1933

Nazism

Assignment: Choose either a passage from this blog and write out the way in which we have done all the assignments 1) Quote; 2) Interpretation; 3) Why you chose the quote. Or choose a scene from the movie, describe it, interpret it, and explain why you chose this scene. 

Major corporations in Germany benefited during the Nazi regime. Especially in the first few years of the Nazi regime, Hitler believed that automobile production was the key to reviving German industry (much as it had become the cornerstone of American industry). Companies like BMW profited under the Nazi regime. BMW actually stands for Bavarian Motor Works, it was founded in 1916 producing airplane engines for the German air force. This origin can be seen in the BMW emblem which is actually a plane propeller spinning against the blue sky. After the Treat of Versailles was signed in 1919, a stipulation of the treaty made it illegal to produce airplane engines in Germany for five years. The company switched to making motorcycles and cars, part of the reason why BMW’s are so powerful is because they started off by taking stripped down airplane engines and putting them in cars and motorcycles. After 1924 they were allowed to resume making engines. During the Nazi era after 1933, production of airplanes increased dramatically. The No. 2 person in the Nazi regime was Hermann Göring, the head of the Air Force (Luftwaffe), which was a key element in the German strategy of warfare the Blitzkrieg (lightning war). BMW now admits to using as many as 20,000-30,000 slave laborers during the Nazi regime as well as producing military equipment for the Nazis.

                                                                                                                              

The passage means how corporations in Germany benefited during the Nazi regime. Companies like BMW profited because they produced airplanes engines for the Germany air force.  After the treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919, it was illegal to produce airplanes engines in Germany for 5 years. BMW then started making motorcycles and cars but then resume to making engines again. During the Nazi era productions of airplanes increased. BMW admitted to using many slaves to produce military goods for the Nazis.

I chose this passage because I really like BMW cars. It surprised me to know how the BMW Company goes back in history. From making airplane engines to making cars, motorcycles and even military equipment. It shocks me how the Nazi influenced these major corporations to make weapons for violence or war. What really bothered me is that the BMW Corporation admitted to using 20,000 to 30,000 slave laborers during the Nazi revolution. This explains Hitler’s and Herman Goring priorities and self interest. To have innocent individuals or slaves produce violent weapons for them. It demonstrates form exploitation from these leaders’ behalf.

Please choose a passage from “Politics as a Vocation”, write out the passage, and give the meaning of the quote as well as you chose the quote. How does Weber’s writing on technical leadership, rationalization, and bureaucracy anticipate Jünger's later writings on technology? 

Passage:

Organized domination, which calls for continuous administration, requires that human conduct be conditioned to obedience towards those masters who claim to be the bearers of legitimate power. On the other hand, by virtue of this obedience, organized domination requires the control of those material goods which in a given case are necessary for the use of physical violence. Thus, organized domination requires control of the personal executive staff and the material implements of administration.

The passage means that a dominating organization requires individuals to obey their masters or leaders. By standards of obedience if their leaders tell them to use weapons or material goods they must use them in case of violence or war. Leaders or masters have total control of the people in their organization and the materials that are used. I chose this passage because it demonstrates the power leaders had on other individuals, countries, decisions and even material goods. It demonstrates a form of militarism in order to maintain a strong military or organization individuals have to be prepared to use their weapons aggressively. It also shows imperialism which is total control over other. In my opinion using weapons does not resolve the issues it makes situations worse. Individuals should seek proper ways to solve a problem instead of using violence.

            Weber’s writing on technical, rationalization and bureaucracy anticipate Junger’s later writing on technology. It anticipated Jungers later writing on technology because as the years went by battle operations increased and new weapons for war were constructed. New strategies were created and soldiers became more invulnerable. Everything Weber wrote emphasizes the present which inspired Junger to write about the new revolution. Technology brought new war machinery for violent purposes. There was renewal in strategies because of technology, leaders demanded higher standards for soldiers. Junger states,” This is seen most clearly in fact that the instrumental characters of these changes is not restricted to the zone of technology but strives to place the human body under its command”(42). Humans are more demanding of technology and creating a new way of live.

Weimar Constitution

Assignment: I am providing a link to the actual text of the Weimar Constitution. Please choose TWO sections, one from the first part on the structure of government, and a second from the second section on rights. Please write out the passages, interpret the meaning of them and explain why you chose these passages

Article 17
Every state must have the constitution of a free state. State parliament must be elected in a general, equal, immediate and secret ballot, in which all Reich German men and women participate, according to the principles of representative election. The state government requires the confidence of state parliament.
The principles for the election of state parliament also apply for local elections. State law may determine if those who lived in the community for one year or less may participate in the election or not.

The passage is saying that every state should be formed or made up as a free state. Every Reich German men and women should have the equal rights to participate. Each branch of the government should have their own representative. The people should have a saying on who represents them when it comes to government decisions. The state government needs assurance from the legislature in order to make decisions .It also says that the state law has the decision to choose who can be part of the election if they have a year or less living in the state. I chose this passage because I agree that individuals should be part of political and governmental decisions. I disagree that all because a person has lived in the state for a year or less may not be able to elect. They should have the chance to elect or be part of it because they are not part of the state population.

Second Part
Basic rights and obligations of the Germans
First Chapter: The Individual
Article 109
All Germans are equal in front of the law.
In principle, men and women have the same rights and obligations.
Legal privileges or disadvantages based on birth or social standing are to be abolished.
Noble titles form part of the name only; noble titles may not be granted any more.
Titles may only be granted, if they indicate an office or occupation; academic degrees are not affected by this regulation.
The state may no more bestow orders and medals.
No German may accept titles or orders from a foreign government. 

The passage is setting forth the Germans rights as individuals. All Germans are equal and should be treated as such. Both genders have the same rights and responsibilities. No one is superior or inferior than the other based on who they are or what they have. Title of nobility is abolished as well as privileges. They were also protected from foreign countries that tried to manipulate command. I chose this passage because I thought it was interesting how the government was changing. They wanted the Germans to become more equal don’t matter who they are and what they have. By doing this they help abolish discrimination and imperialism. They wanted to renew justice and liberty decisions within the country to advocate social progress.

"The Junius Pamphlet"

Assignment: Please read “The Junius Pamphlet” and select a passage from the essay. Write out the essay, explain what the passage means, and then explain why you chose this passage.

If it is true that this war is really a fight for national existence, for freedom, if it is true that these priceless possessions can be defended only by the iron tools of murder, if this war is the holy cause of the people, then everything else follows as a matter of course, we must take everything that the war may bring as a part of the bargain. He who desires the purpose must be satisfied with the means. War is methodical, organized, gigantic murder. But in normal human beings this systematic murder is possible only when a state of intoxication has been previously created. This has always been the tried and proven method of those who make war. (Chapter 2)

In the passage Rosa Luxemburg is trying to make a point that if war is really the solution to solving individual freedom, conflicts between nations, materialism, imperialism, what is ours and what is not. She is saying that if the nation caused the war then as an agreement we have to accept all the negative things that can occur and come with the war. Luxemburg says that he who seeks war has to accept and be satisfied with the aftermath or conclusion. War is known to be an organized plan of murdering a nation or group of people that can’t come to an outcome. In a nation when a situation doesn’t go in the favor of the government or leader they create problems and feel that war is the best option to end the disagreement. It is known to be a consistent method used in the past and present to start a war in order to resolve the issue.

The reason why I chose this passage is because it was interesting, I agree to the passage and I clearly understood Luxemburg’s statement. Rosa believed in anti war and witness German militarism and imperialism.  In my opinion war is not the solution to solving issues because it actually brings destruction. During wars many innocent individuals die and they shouldn’t pay for other people’s choices and mistakes. Individuals that cause war should know and be aware of the consequences that come with it. War is not the best solution it makes situations worse then what they are. As much as the method of war is used other nations are going to always want payback. When people see that things didn't go there way or feel defeated they gonna strike back. It’s a back and forth situation and preventing war is the best solution for the sake of everyone.

Midterm 10/21

4) Explain the statement, "boredom is nothing other than the dissolution of pain in time", (Jünger p. 13) and its relationship to nihilism

            Pain is a strong mournful feeling hidden within us and individuals have different ways of reacting to it. Ernst Junger stated in his essay, “Boredom is nothing other than the dissolution of pain in time”, (Junger P. 13). The quote means that if an individual is experiencing boredom they are feeling disconnected from feeling pain at the time. If the person tries to alleviate the pain by acting differently they still can’t escape from the harsh reality of pain waiting for them. Even if an individual tries to hide their pain it will still remain there. The statement relates to nihilism because it refuses to believe that their actions demonstrate denial of pain and reality. It also relates to nihilism because pain had an influence on past events and attitudes changes towards war, traditional values and liberalism.

            Through out the years war has caused destruction and pain to our world. Instead of making the situation better, it affects everyone and the environment in which we live in. War doesn’t resolve our issues but create more pain. Like Junger states in his essay,”In war, when shells fly past our bodies at high speeds, we sense clearly that no level of intelligence, virtue, or fortitude is strong enough to deflect them, not even by a hair. To the extent this threat increases, doubt concerning the validity of our values forces itself upon us. The mind tends toward a catastrophic interpretation of things wherever it sees everything called into question”. (pp. 5-6). When war occurs there’s nothing us human can really do to stop it. Threats of war increased and individuals started doubting their traditional values. During the war many people suffered and got killed which caused pain to those who were at war, their families, friends and people around them. Experiencing this destruction of war makes us doubt our values because we still feel the pain and our old values isn’t making the situation better and its meaningless. Individuals start considering new values in order to help eliminate pain but in reality it still remains there.

            Liberalism in a society contradicts Christian values because they feel good will always conquer evil. Junger states “Pain’s disregard for our system of values greatly increases its hold on life...Our children’s tales close with passages about heroes who, after having overcome many dangers, live out their lives in peace and happiness. We hear such assurances with pleasure, for it is comforting for us to learn about a place removed from pain. Yet, in truth, life is without any such satisfying end...” (p. 4). In society we are fed with unrealistic affirmation about how good can always defeat evil. In reality individuals need to see life for what it really is. This makes our individual ways of thinking meaningless because it is not real or true. It is satisfying to hear and live positive and where pain doesn’t exist.  It is important to know how to differentiate between being positive and seeing life clearly without being blinded.

            In conclusion, many events throughout the years have caused pain. Many individuals start losing their traditional values and even themselves. People shouldn’t have to hide pain or lose hope by believing new things. Individuals have to look at life for what it really is and start confronting the pain instead of hiding from it. Nihilism for sure has a relation to many of Ernst Junger’s quotes in his essay and past events. Pain shouldn’t be something we should hide inside but something we should learn from and change.

2) Discuss the relationship between nihilism and changing attitudes on sexuality. In what ways did traditional values place prohibitions on sexuality? Why did these prohibitions lose their power after the first World War? Using The Blue Angel and Dream Story as a reference discuss the new attitudes towards sexuality that developed during the 1920s and early 1930s.

          Attitudes on sexuality has changed and caused controversy among the years. The new attitudes on sexuality can relate to nihilism because individuals started losing their values and morals. They decided to withdraw from their former values and find better and improved values to accommodate their ways of living at the time. Their past values banned sexuality so it became meaningless to follow their old value especially after the First World War New attitudes towards sexuality started developing during the 1920s and early 1930s.

            During the 1920s individuals didn’t want to keep their values and morals. They couldn’t rely on their old ways because they lost interest and individuals needed to do what they can to survive regards if it’s positive or negative. Traditional values places prohibitions on sexuality because in the past in order for two people to have sex they needed to be married. Individuals couldn’t have sex outside the marriage in order to avoid scandals. Women were also more respectable and were not as provocative or revealing as women today. After the First World War women were forced to prostitute themselves as well they were living in poverty and needed money. There was also rapes involve during the time by their own soldiers.

            In the film “Blue Angel”, Lola worked at a cabaret as a singer which demonstrated how liberal women were at the time. They were not just house wives but were entitled to make their own decisions when choosing where to work. In the past women were not allowed to be open with themselves and sexuality. Lola was with Rath a school professor that decided to risk his job for her. Their relationship was short lived and she decided to move on to be with another man. That shows how sexuality has changed because right after she was with Rath she was embracing another man.

            In the novel “Dream Story” by Arthur Schnitzler, Dr. Fridolin and Albertina is a young couple who fantasizes about being with other people. In the film and novels it seems like everyone is just interested in sex just like the 1920s and 30s. In the novel Fridolin tries to attempt his sexual desires which demonstrate disrespect to his relationship to Albertina. There was certainly a new attitude towards sex that developed during that time especially in the scene where there is an orgy. Schnitzler states, “For a second he thought of leaving, but his curiosity, the allurement and above all, his pride, were stronger than any of his misgivings… Now that I’ve gone this far he thought, I don’t care what happens” (p.65).It shows how engaging people were to having sex deliberately with multiple partners and even outside of their marriage. Fridolin didn’t care if the opportunity came for him to have sex with other women he was up to it.

            In conclusion, sex has grown to be part of what people do. Individuals are interested in having sex outside their marriage, with different people, for self pleasure and use it as an occupation. People have lost their values and morals and no longer cherish their traditional ways. It has become a lifestyle and individuals are liberal with their sexuality.