You Have to Admit: Mona Lisa Probably Has ADHD.

"Art" is a word derived from the Latin ars, which translates directly to "skill." The Romans once believed aesthetics and the skills associated with it drew the line between civilization and barbarism. Since very many were these determining factors between the Romans and those who they declared barbarians, art came in many forms. Art came in the form of music, in literature, in sculpture, and in architecture. As painting was often used by the "barbaric" nations outside Rome to the north and so on, it was not yet considered "art" to the pompous Romans. Until the fall of the Roman Empire, drawing and painting was an art marginalized and looked down upon. So why, exactly, is the human race so addicted to art? For example, among the most respected in Rome were those who produced inspiring literature, such as Cicero or Vergil. The popularity of figures in the artistic trade got the populace talking. Though it was not generally encouraged, the low-middle class youthful were often interested in becoming musicians or poets so as to rise up in society and hopefully even attend to the court of a patrician to make money. Art was a way to prove that one was educated and civilized and worthy of respect.

In a modern context, art has become more of a topic of easily accessible intellectual conversation; it has long since passed out of practical use. It wouldn't normally be able to bring an impoverished person up in society to relative well-being. Art has been divided up into four main parts: The visual arts (e.g. sculpture and paintings), film and theatre, books, and music. Are are focused on displays of skill impractical to human survival in the environment and society, but inherently pleasing to the human intellect. Recently, film and music have overtaken every other form of art, as the world becomes more and more concerned with art that actively speaks to the observer with a de-emphasis on the perception of the observer to interpret the opus. There is then the world of modern books, which has, since the late 1800's, become more focused on idealistic representations of heroes and their struggles, romance novels, and thrillers. The average person who acquires more stimulation from literary work but is still a member of the fast-lane generation enjoys books such as any of the Harry Potter books, Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, or the Twilight novels.

This popular interest is most commonly attributed with a shift in the behavioral patterns of society. The children of the new generation have been accustomed to things being explained to them as opposed to developing explanations for themselves, being in a rush to keep up with the quick pace of technology. People have less time to spend hours reading and thinking of the profound significance of a sow's head on a sharpened stick. Few stop to consider what Rodin was trying to do when he sculpted The Age of Bronze. Not to mention many kids these days are easily bored by things that do not move, change, and/or make sounds before them. A child will grow quickly bored with a doll that does not come with many interchangeable accessories. The base visual arts have fallen out of the entertainment spectrum as simply too unstimulating.

Film and books have shifted to create an environment that accomodates this shift - things are explained more clearly, concepts and morals extremely apparent (if any are to be presented as a central theme), as well as obvious and easily understandable appeals to the target demographic. Action films, especially, are guilty of this - they abide by the GBE rule (guns, boobs, and explosions must each make at least a cameo appearance if not the central action), which is directed mostly at male audiences, while very openly advertising that courage, patience, and skill will bring the ultimate victory, such as Jason Bourne, or have (in addition to GBE) some sort of flawed hero who's most probably a horrible person but has winning characteristics that make him bearable, such as Tony Stark in Iron Man. Not only this, but even the thriller novels that are popular abide by the GBE rule - and on top of that, sometimes even appeal to women by adding in emotional angst or something regarding shiny vampires or unicorns or something - such as Angels and Demons, by Dan Brown. A good example of a thriller novel tailored to the needs of the new reading public, Angels and Demons contains guns, boobs, and explosions, has a mystery novel plot that is fully explained in the end so that the person can very easily understand everything that happened, if one had the patience to sit down and read the whole thing.

Music, however, overcomes the stigma of being influenced by the growing amount of ADHD in the new generation, in that it has more of a personal feeling. Music has moved to a direct communication with a target audience from a general appeal with intricate and multilayered sounds that create imagery without words or pictures - though this move has not occured recently; it was more of a 20th century movement in art culture. Popular music becomes popular because of its personal connection with lifestyles, personalities, or experiences of the target demographic, either with theme or musical tone (perhaps because people's lives finally became interesting). As a result, the image of art to the new generation has become one of self-expression instead of conveying profound messages, even more so than before in the century. For example, it happens that the new Green Day Album, "21st Century Breakdown," mentions the story of a young couple of the "Class of '13." Consequently the album's target audience is young teenage (girls) beginning high school, with all the angst and instability and insecurity jam packed within the album to make such an appeal. As music grows more personal, those who like the same music may be very similar in habit and mindset. As such, music is a very popular conversational topic amongst nearly every person who exposes himself to it.

Art in modern culture today has become an appeal to the self and the growing hyperactivity of the minds of the populace. Though it isn't necessarily a good thing that our attention spans are suffering, the development of art in tandem with technology in modern society has caused art to appeal on a very personal level to its audience and observers. Art has become mostly music, film, and fiction; actively changing and constantly differing with time and progression, as the world itself is. Perhaps the modern human adores art so much because it's simply a reflection of himself in different media, whether he realizes it or not.

NHS Application Essay

Why, indeed, would one wish to join the National Honors Society? The restrictions, limitations, expectations and requirements of being in such a prestigious society are numerous and often stressful, but perhaps the allure of this revered brotherhood of young scholars is the weight it has on defining the character of the perspective member, or perhaps it is because of the impressiveness of this title, the “NHS Inductee,” on the résumé and college application. Whatever the case, it is a powerful title to hold.

One can always assume that the NHS student is operating on a higher level than the common high school student in their classes, thus the person is an outstanding individual, at least in the concept of work ethic. The grade point average alone proves this quality. But the real definition of character comes from the long history of the NHS in the United States, operating in high schools since the 1920’s. The NHS has set a standard for the ideal student since then, and the NHS member becomes a sort of role model for peers and posterity. This weighty distinction, in anyone’s conception of success, is highly desirable.

This distinction’s effect on the way a college admissions dean (or any other admissions faculty member who reads the application) is overwhelmingly positive. It is a bright flag in the application that states “this student is responsible, intelligent, and resolute.” These are three qualities which colleges expect and respect in the transcript and résumé of the student in question. The admissions staff will most likely know that the NHS requires a heightened ethical standard as well; it helps single out the people with the most potential in cosmopolitan affairs; i.e., the person has the civil service experience to become a “citizen of the universe.” These scholars would be representative of the ideal students to the faculty of the college and, of course, every college wishes to have the ideal student studying within its campus. Even from the layman's perspective, being a member of the NHS seems to be something amazing and powerful - the academic elite, the intellectuals of our future, the cosmopolitans of the new generation.

In considering the merits of and motives for joining the NHS, one must consider this question: What would a resume look like without this distinctive honor in comparison to one that sports it? Sure, it seems to be all pomp and circumstance, but the NHS inductee is intended to be the role model for the scholarly individual. The respect earned will, in turn, earn one a higher chance of acceptance from the colleges to which one applies, and eventually will earn one a better impression in later years when one develops a job résumé. So, the faculty, I ask you this: Why, indeed, would one wish to join the National Honors Society?

Introduction

Thought and Circumstance is an experiment in the prose style of yours truly, after having posted verse in my other blog, http://anthologyofspirit.blogspot.com. I'm perhaps making a commitment to finally put to words my philosophical and logical musings and exert my energy to something productive, as opposed to, say, Call of Duty 4, or, dare I say it, Maplestory. To make a point here and now - commentary, suggestions, and counterarguments are accepted and encouraged, as this weblog will feature arguments on several of such philosophical and logical musings, and maybe occasionally a little mixing it up.
Perhaps Thought and Circumstance is my own personal journey into my thought to learn more of myself and work out along the way what exactly my beliefs and views are on the world - morally, sociologically, and logically. It is perhaps a curiosity of the human mind to see what effects his beliefs have upon others, and in exploring these effects and responses, the mind will mature and become more tactful, refined, intelligent.
Would those random children frolicking about on the interwebs even care? Well, that's up to whoever first reads this passage. If indeed you are a random child frolicking about on the interwebs, I behoove you to leave a suggestion for a topic. You took the time to read all of this. I'm proud of you. You have an attention span longer than that of a horny twelve year old. Maybe even longer than a goldfish. We'll see, hm? Let's start this little party on my free domain on our expansive internet.